Mobile menu toggle

Developers will soon be able to reply to your mean app reviews

By

Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
You'll soon be able to turn off app review requests.
Photo: Apple

Apple is planning to make big changes to the way iOS and Mac users leave reviews for developers.

With the release of iOS 10.3 beta 1 and macOS 10.12.4 beta 1 this morning, Apple introduced two highly requested features for the developer community: a standardized method to ask for reviews, and a way for developers to reply to individual reviews.

Remove DRM from iTunes and Apple Music to play your audio on any device

By

Apple Music Converter
This app converts audio files into MP3, removing their DRM restrictions so you can play them on any device.
Photo: Convertanymusic.com

This post is brought to you by Convertanymusic.com, maker of Apple Music Converter.

When we download music from iTunes, or audiobooks from Audible, the files that get onto our devices are DRM-protected. That means they can’t be played on “unauthorized” devices. This, let’s face it, is pretty inconvenient.

Night Shift arrives on Mac in first macOS 10.12.4 beta

By

15 inch MacBook Pro Silver
There's a new beta out for Macs.
Photo: Apple

A new macOS beta finally brings the popular Night Shift feature from iOS to the Mac.

Apple seeded macOS 10.12.4 beta 1 to all registered developers today, bringing Night Shift plus a host of bug fixes and performance improvements for Apple’s computers. The new macOS beta comes alongside the first betas for iOS 10.3 and tvOS 10.2.

Apple seeds first iOS 10.3 beta with Find My AirPods feature

By

AirPods in case
AirPods now work with Find my iPhone
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Finding your tiny AirPods charging case is about to get a lot easier, thanks to a new iOS 10 beta that adds a Find My AirPods feature to iPhones and iPads.

Apple seeded iOS 10.3 beta 1 to registered developers this morning, bringing new hope for lost AirPods, plus a host of other new features and bug fixes. Unfortunately, there’s still no sign of the long-rumored Dark Mode.

Apple’s next iPhone may come with enhanced Siri

By

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Siri may be set to get a serious upgrade when Apple launches its next iPhone later this year.

According to the latest rumor out of Asia, Apple is planning to catch up with the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant by creating a better version of Siri that comes with more artificial intelligence skills.

How to get the most out of Instagram

By

These Instagram tips will help you connect with photographers who share your interests.
We don’t want to see photos from everyone we follow.
Photo: Lee Peterson/Cult of Mac

Instagram isn’t simply a social network for sharing images. Used properly, it’s a powerful tool for connecting with like-minded photographers and getting feedback about your images.

I’m passionate about photography, and finding communities I can engage with is really important when it comes to helping me improve and get ideas for new projects. These Instagram tips and tricks, which I use on a daily basis, can really help you grow as a photographer.

If cowboys carried MacBooks, they’d use this bag

By

Bring old-West style to your modern life.
Bring old-West style to your modern life.
Photo: WaterField Designs

There is little about a shoulder bag that is personal. Sure you can pick something with a color and shape you can live with, but utility drives the design.

The Maverick, as the name suggests, aspires to stand out from the pack. Created by San Francisco’s WaterField Designs, the full-grain leather bag cut from a single hide presents like a Pony Express satchel begging for a dustup on some dry Western trail.

Secure your iPhone power port with a MagSafe connector [Deals]

By

CoM - Plugies Lightning
Charge your iPhone with this handy fast-charging magnetic clip

One of the most useful features on MacBooks are the MagSafe connectors. They keep the power cables magnetically in place, but break free to keep it from going down when you inevitably snag them. Plugies Magnetic Charging Cables let you add this convenient feature to your iPhone and Android devices. This adapter will change the way you charge, and right now you can get one for just $27.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

New iOS controllers give you that Nintendo Switch feeling

By

GV140-Minecraft-min
The new Gamevice controller for iPad mini.
Photo: Gamevice

If you like the idea of the new Nintendo Switch but you do all your gaming on iOS, the latest controllers from Gamevice are going to be right up your alley.

Like Nintendo’s latest console, they slap physical buttons and analog sticks onto the sides of your iPhone and iPad. They’re also powered by your iOS device so there’s no need to charge a battery, and they bring the headphone jack back to your iPhone 7.

Future Apple Watch straps could hide extra components

By

Apple Watch
Could this concept be the Apple Watch's "killer app"?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Future Apple Watches could be customized by their users thanks to modular accessories built into their strap links, suggests a newly-published patent.

These add-ons could include everything from extra displays and batteries to blood pressure and sweat sensors, GPS trackers, speakers, and even additional inputs devices such as force sensors.

Qualcomm could slap Apple with a lawsuit of its own

By

16538416979_13d6221fde_k
However, their current business relationship won't be affected.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

Qualcomm is reportedly considering countersuing Apple after Apple filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the company on Friday.

Apple’s lawsuit against Qualcomm relates to the fees Qualcomm charges for use of its licenses, which Apple says amounts to, “at least five times more in payments than all the other cellular patent licensors we have agreements with combined.”

Tax guru thinks Apple’s bill from Europe could be overturned

By

money
Apple's tax structure landed it with a massive bill last year.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s massive tax bill from the European Commission is tantamount to an ill-advised “land grab” and could be reversed in court, claims Feargal O’Rourke, the man who heads up the tax practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Ireland.

Speaking at the Irish Times corporation tax summit in Dublin, O’Rourke said he is confident the Commission’s decision will be overturned by the European Court of Justice.

This is what the iPhone 8 might look like

By

iPhone8
We hope the iPhone 8 is this beautiful.
Photo: Imran Taylor

An iPhone 8 mockup based on all the latest rumors looks like quite a hit. The iPhone concept art from designer Imran Taylor builds on rumors that Apple might ditch the iPhone 7’s aluminum frame in favor of a stainless steel band sandwiched by two pieces of curved glass.

Taylor’s detailed renders show how incredible the 10th anniversary iPhone might be, if it brings an all-new look rather than relying on the unibody design of the past few years.

Take a closer look.

Anyone can get in shape in 2017 with the CultFit Home Workout

By

Get fit in the privacy of your own home using everyday objects
Get fit in the privacy of your own home using everyday objects
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

CultFit Home Workout If your New Year’s resolution is to get in shape in 2017, but you spend all your waking hours in front of your MacBook, we’ve got the answer: our new CultFit Home Workout.

All you need is your iPhone, plus your Apple Watch if you have one, and some everyday objects you’ll find around your home or office. No gym membership required. It’s a great way to get started on your fitness journey, and it only takes 10 minutes a day.

Xiaomi the exit: Hugo Barra leaves struggling company

By

xiaomi-mi-5s-1340x754
Barra led Xiaomi's international expansion.
Photo: Xiaomi

Hugo Barra, probably the most famous Xiaomi executive to stateside audiences, has left the Chinese smartphone maker — apparently prompted by an incredibly disappointing quarter for Xiaomi.

Having once used its strategy of producing low-end iPhone clones to become the world’s most valuable startup, Xiaomi has had something of a fall from grace lately. Having dropped out of the top five smartphone makers in China last year, Barra’s departure is the latest piece of bad news for the company.

Samsung will make fans wait longer for its iPhone 7 rival

By

Samsung Galaxy
The Galaxy S8 won't appear at MWC.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Galaxy fans who are clinging onto their wallets in anticipation of Samsung’s answer to the iPhone 7 will have to wait a little longer.

The South Korean company was expected to announce the Galaxy S8 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. It’s thought the launch was delayed so that Samsung can carry out additional battery checks to avoid another Galaxy Note 7 disaster.

This Mac app lets anybody build a sweet website [Deals]

By

This web design app is a powerful tool whether or not you know how to code in HTML or CSS.
This web design app is a powerful tool whether or not you know how to code in HTML or CSS.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

These days, almost anybody can benefit from knowing how to build websites. The sixth and latest release of web design app Flux offers a user-friendly, powerful tool for quickly drafting fully functional sites, whether or not you know any code.

Everything is drag-and-drop, but for those who do know a little bit of HTML and CSS, this Mac app is an especially powerful tool for web design. Right now you can get Flux 6 for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Samsung blames Note 7 explosions on 2 battery faults

By

160927142551-samsung-note-7-fire-1-780x439
The Note 7 was one of the last year's hottest phones. And not in the good way.
Photo: Hui Renjie

Samsung has pinned the blame on its exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones on two separate problems with the handsets’ lithum-ion batteries — one problem affecting the first units the company released, and a second issue affecting the replacement units Samsung rushed out.

Stay strong in 2017 with CultFit Home Workout, Week 2

By

Kill it with a skillet in Week 2 of our CultFit Home Workout.
Kill it with a skillet in Week 2 of our CultFit Home Workout.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

CultFit Home Workout If you got started on your 2017 New Year’s resolution last week with our CultFit Home Workout, we’re here to help you keep up the good work with Week 2. (If you missed it, it’s still not to late to start with Week 1).

All you need is your iPhone, plus your Apple Watch if you have one, and some everyday objects you’ll find around your home or office. No gym membership required. It’s a great way to get started with your fitness journey, and it only takes 10 minutes a day.