Cult of Mac

Update: Dialog Semiconductor says that its relationship with its key customer Apple hasn’t changed, despite what reports claim.

Apple currently employs around 80 engineers developing a proprietary power-management chip, claims a new report. If the effort succeeds, the company could ditch Anglo-German chipmaker Dialog Semiconductor, which it currently relies on for the iPhone, by 2019.

The news follows speculation that Apple is building its own GPU for iOS devices, after parting ways with British company Imagination Technologies, which previously provided Apple with graphics processing units.

Apple is suing Swatch over the Swiss watchmaker’s “Tick different” trademark.

Apple claims the trademark is a play on the “Think different” slogan it used for an iconic ad campaign in the late 1990s. To win the legal battle, Cupertino must prove that at least 50 percent of consumers associate the phrase with Apple branding.

Tech innovators have yet to create a device that activates a personal defense shield to ward off would-be attackers. But a small gadget called Revolar can discreetly alert the cavalry.

A smartphone in hand means you can make an immediate call for help, but some dangerous situations leave no time to fumble with a phone. Its presence could escalate tensions. Even if you fire off a 911 call, the location info sent to dispatchers may not be specific, unless you are able to talk.

The iPhone has never been more popular with teens, according to a new survey that found 76 percent of U.S. teenagers with a smartphone own an Apple.

Investment firm Piper Jaffray’s semiannual teen survey discovered that iPhone ownership among teenagers rose seven points from spring 2016, when 69 percent of U.S. teens owned an iPhone. The news gets even better for Apple — 81 percent of teens surveyed say they plan to buy an iPhone the next time they upgrade.

Apple’s most important manufacturing parter is getting ready to make a huge investment that could make it one of the world’s biggest chipmakers.

The Japanese government is hoping Toshiba will sell itself to a domestic company, but Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industries (aka Foxconn) is preparing to make a huge offer for the company that could shake up the tech world.

Apple is busting out a big batch of beta updates for developers today, bringing a host of new bug fixes and performance improvements to every single one of its platforms.

Developers can now download the second beta builds for iOS 10.3.2, macOS 10.12.5, watchOS 3.2.2 and tvOS 10.2.1 directly from Apple’s developer center, adding new fixes to iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV and Apple Watch.

Apple’s reputation as the world’s best laptop maker took a serious hit in 2016, due to the new MacBook Pro’s adoption of USB-C.

In the latest brand rankings by Laptop Magazine, Apple’s slipped five spots as Lenovo and Asus surged to the top of the pack with their affordable and dependable wares.

Check out the full rankings:

An Apple hiring spree in the United Kingdom shows just how serious the company is about building its own graphics technology. Apple recently parted ways with British company Imagination Technologies, which previously provided the graphics processing units for iOS devices.

Advertisements posted by Apple include positions in graphics unit design at the company’s U.K. Design Centre. Jobs listed include engineering program manager, design verification lead, emulation engineer and other roles described as requiring GPU knowledge.

The only thing better than a great iOS game is a great free iOS game, and thanks to a new special offer, space flight simulator Hyperburner now fits the bill.

Launched in June last year, Hyperburner is a futuristic sci-fi jet simulator that’s bound to please any fans of Wing Commander or the classic WipeOut series, with its fast-paced, responsive, obstacle avoidance gameplay. And if dodging obstacles is your thing, now you can dodge paying for it, too!

The cables we use to keep our iOS devices charged and synced are prone to fraying and breaking. Pleasing as the soft white standard Apple cables are, they’re fragile – you want a tougher cable. That’s why this pair of cables from Toughlink is worth checking out. They’re something like Iron Man would carry around to charge his iPhone, super tough, MFi-certified, and built to last. And right now you can get a pair of Toughlink MFi-Certified Metal Braided Lightning Cables for just $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

An ultra-rare Apple-1 prototype used by Steve Jobs as a demo unit is going on display at a Seattle computer museum. It’s the crown jewel of an impressive collection of vintage Apple gear that will be housed in a new wing opening Friday at Living Computers: Museum + Labs.

Lāth Carlson, the museum’s executive director, calls the Apple prototype “the most important computer in history” — and also “the most boring to look at.”

Apple’s iconic retail store on Fifth Avenue will reopen with a Beats 1 broadcasting booth after being renovated, according to a new report.

The booth could become a new home for Beats 1 DJ Ebro Darden, who currently broadcasts from another location in Manhattan — or it could host occasional musical guests.

Apple is planning a second flagship retail store in Mexico City, claims a new report.

The retail store will reportedly feature a design reminiscent of Apple’s World Trade Center location in New York City, and be around twice the size of Apple’s current Mexico City store, which is located in the Centro Santa Fe mall.

Apple is expected to ditch the Home button with the iPhone 8, but that could create some new problems, like, “How will you get back to the Home screen?”

Switching between apps wouldn’t be the same without a Home button to click. An interesting new iPhone 8 concept out of Italy explores how changes within iOS could provide a seamless experience if Apple removes the only navigation button on the iPhone.

Check it out:

Apple’s new Clips app wants to be your go-to for making short, fun videos geared for social networks. Clips is the perfect tool for the social media generation, allowing users to bust out engaging videos in seconds.

While the user interface is pretty simple, Clips packs a bevy of tools that help put a unique spin on your shots. Getting the hang of all the features can take a while, so we’ve rounded up some pointers on how to make the most of the new app.

Follow these Clips tips to make your videos pop.

If you’re looking to unwind this fine Sunday by sampling the latest App Store delectables for your iPhone or iPad, look no further: Cult of Mac has your hookup!

Whether you’re seeking a fun party game, a great minimalist puzzler, or Apple’s new video and photo-sharing Clips app, we’ve got what you’re searching for.

Check out our picks below. You won’t be disappointed.

Best List: Nomad Stand for Apple Watch

While Nomad’s Stand for Apple Watch could easily be mistaken for a futuristic tchotchke, it packs high function in its curvaceous form. This sleek Apple Watch stand fits perfectly with the modern simplicity that marks Apple’s aesthetic.

Fusing tech and fashion is the cornerstone of Rilee & Lo — makers of highly stylish stainless steel Apple Watch bands. Patent-pending for a reason, these bands fit perfectly and come in a range of beautiful finishes.

The bands contain a stretching mechanism allowing them to expand and contract for a super-comfy, close fit.

Grab a band for yourself or a give as a gift — for both sexes. Check out the full lineup of  Rilee & Lo’s stunning bands in our Watch Store.

April here, and along with the flowers and allergies comes the deadline to file taxes. You can take a bunch of the toil out of taxes with one of the newest deals in the Cult of Mac Store, a convenient expense tracker for iPhone. Also new to the store are a digital data shredder for iOS, a Bluetooth speaker straight out of Tron, and a set of totally wireless Bluetooth earbuds. Everything is available at a massive discount, read on for more details:

Spring is in the air after a long winter. But while seasons change, one thing never will: the great deals on gear and gadgets at the Cult of Mac Store. This week, we’ve got a lifetime of access to a painless VPN, a sleek adapter that can add up to 256GB to your MacBook instantly, a rough and tumble Bluetooth boombox, and a comprehensive set of lessons for coding in iOS 10. Everything is discounted heavily, read on for more details:

This week on The CultCast: Apple just revealed its future Mac plans … on purpose! It’s unprecedented, and we’ll unpack it all for you. Plus: Apple promises an all-new, “rethought” Mac Pro and Apple display; Apple’s plans to make the Mac “pro” again; new pro-level iMacs coming this year; and we review a top-secret new smart speaker and a clever  Watch stand that true Mac fans will love.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off any hosting plan.

Apple excited us all this week by revealing it is finally planning a major redesign for the neglected Mac Pro. Although we don’t know much about it just yet, we’ve been promised a modular machine that will be easier to update.

This signals a return to a more traditional desktop form factor with user-upgradeable parts and more flexibility. But is it too little, too late? Has Apple already lost too many pro users, and will its next Mac Pro do enough to win them back?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over Apple’s efforts to win back the professionals.

Tidal owner Jay Z has decided to pull all of his albums from rival streaming services Apple Music in an apparent effort to woo over new subscribers, or increase piracy of his music.

Apple hasn’t done much with the Smart Connector since it debuted on the iPad Pro in 2015, but according to a new rumor, the data and charging port could finally be headed to the iPhone.

iPhone ads are about to get a lot funnier.

Apple is reportedly planning to inject some much-needed humor into a few of its upcoming commercials after striking a deal with NBC that will see the team behind Saturday Night Live write a few ads for the iPhone-maker.