Mobile menu toggle

Mac division has ‘lost clout’ with Jony Ive and Apple design team

By •

The 2009 unibody iMac proved a watershed design for Jony Ive and Apple.
Has Apple forgotten about the Mac?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s Mac team has “lost clout” with the company’s industrial design group and software team, claims a new report, arguing that Cupertino has “alienated Mac loyalists.”

The picture painted by the article is of a division with a lack of clear direction from senior management, departures of key employees, and technical challenges — all conspiring to make the Mac one of Apple’s forgotten divisions.

The 10 best Apple ads of 2016

By •

Best Apple ads of 2016
You want innovation? Look no further than Apple's advertising.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review Cult of Mac Apple may not have launched its most innovative products in 2016, but when it comes to marketing, Cupertino is still killing it.

By utilizing celebrities, musicians, athletes and everyday iPhone owners, Apple created some of its most memorable ads ever in 2016. Whether they were touting Apple TV with Kobe Bryant, or using the story of an autistic boy to show how technology can change the world, Apple ads entertained us and gave us all the feels.

These are our favorite Apple ads of 2016.

Apple wants India to make local manufacturing worthwhile

By •

Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple wants to move some of its manufacturing to India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is continuing to consider manufacturing its devices in India — but it wants the Indian government to make it worthwhile.

That’s according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, which notes that Apple recently outlined its wish for financial incentives in a letter to officials in India, and that the country’s Senior Trade Ministry authorities have since met to discuss the matter.

Google’s self-driving minivans are finally here

By •

Meet Waymo's self-driving minivan.
Meet Waymo's self-driving minivan.
Photo: Waymo

Waymo offered a first look at its fleet of hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivans today, showing off vehicles that pack an array of sensors and software that enable autonomous operation.

The self-driving fleet of 100 minivans from Waymo (which is run by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) will hit the streets in early 2017.

Best Mac accessories of 2016

By •

Best Mac accessories 2016
From dongles to docks, these are the year's best Mac accessories.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review Cult of Mac We value our Mac computers. Whether on a desk or in a lap, they help us complete many life tasks. But you and your machine wouldn’t make it without reliable accessories — especially now that we live in the USB-C era.

Storage drives, hubs with extra ports, a good pair of headphones, maybe a bag to carry your tech — all these Mac accessories play important roles. They often remain unsung, but sometimes come through to help us avoid a devastating loss of hardware or important work.

So if you are looking to bolster your Mac support team, look no further than this list of some of Cult of Mac’s favorites accessories from 2016 for iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

You can finally play Minecraft on your Apple TV

By •

Minecraft
The popular building and exploration game is finally on tvOS.
Photo: Mojang

2016 is certainly ending with a bang for Apple customers. Just days after Nintendo dropped Super Mario Run for iOS, Mojang’s smash hit Minecraft has landed for Apple TV.

Costing $19.99, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition isn’t cheap, but it’s something which is sure to be very popular among the game’s ultra-passionate fanbase.

Super Mario Run gets off to a flying $4 million start

By •

Super Mario Run on iOS
Where's he running to? The bank, apparently.
Photo: Apple

The eagerly-awaited Super Mario Run made upwards of $4 million worldwide in its first day on the market, according to analytics company App Annie.

The analytics firm suggests that the game — which represents the first official appearance of  Mario on iOS — was downloaded around 10 million times, and was the top-ranked game by downloads in 60 of the 151 countries it launched in within hours of its debut.

Cram this MIDI guitar in your backpack and hit the road [Deals]

By •

Carry a fully equipped, digitally enabled guitar in your backpack
Carry a fully equipped, digitally enabled guitar in your backpack
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The guitar is a fantastic instrument, but it’s not exactly convenient to travel with. However, with the Jamstik and an iPhone or an iPad, you can shove a digital six string in your bag and play it pretty much anywhere. It packs all the features of a real guitar into an uber-portable package, with the versatility of MIDI. And right now you can get one for just $149.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

AirPods unboxing: First look at Apple’s new wireless headphones

By •

AirPods
Apple's wireless AirPods have finally been released!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AirPods were due for release in late October, but the wireless headphones didn’t become available until last week from stores and via online orders (expect a six-week wait for the latter!)

Fortunately, we were able to get hold of a pair first thing today. Check out the video below to see what’s inside the box and get our first impressions.

Apple: Massive EU tax bill is just about making headlines

By •

money
Apple's general counsel thinks the move against Apple is basically clickbait.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has launched its legal challenge against the European Union’s demand of $14 billion in allegedly unpaid back taxes.

In a statement, Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell said Cupertino has been targeted because of its success, implying that European legislators picked on the company for largely symbolic reasons.

Uber-tough smartwatches, universal charging cables and more [Week’s Best Deals]

By •

Organize your devices and charge them all at once with this convenient power hub.
Organize your devices and charge them all at once with this convenient power hub.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Cult of Mac Store keeps managing to top itself with great new deals on gear and gadgets. This week’s best new arrivals include a charging and storage hub for five devices, a single cable that connects USB, MicroUSB and USB-C, a rugged smartwatch that puts Alexa on your wrist, and a powerful VPN going for a mere fraction of its usual price. All of them are massively discounted, and great ideas for gifts and stocking stuffers.

Read on for more details:

Super Mario Run and other awesome apps of the week

By •

Awesome Apps
'Appy holidays. Almost.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s the week before Christmas and, if you’re tired of buying gifts, decorating trees, or complaining about the weather, why not download some of the week’s hottest App Store titles?

Check out our picks below. From the long-awaited Super Mario Run and beyond, these are the most notable app launches of the past seven days.

iXtra case brings more storage and battery life to iPhone

By •

storage case
This smart case will boost your iPhone in more ways than one.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

You can never have too much storage or battery life with your smartphone. The iXtra case adds more of both to your iPhone, with up to 128GB of built-in memory and up to 2,000mAh of additional juice.

It could be the perfect iPhone case, and you can claim yours now on Kickstarter.

Telephoto iPhone lens, lifelong cloud storage, and more [Week’s Best Deals]

By •

Getflix lets you go anywhere without losing your favorite movies and TV shows.
Getflix lets you go anywhere without losing your favorite movies and TV shows.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The year’s coming to a close, but the great deals on gear and gadgets just keep coming in. This week, we’ve got a service for sidestepping geo-restrictions on your favorite video channels, a full blown telephoto lens for the iPhone, a rock solid car mount for your mobile devices, and a lifetime of super secure cloud storage. Most of them are discounted by 80 percent or above. Read on for more details:

AirPods alternatives and the best TV shows of 2016 on The CultCast

By •

AirPods aren't the only wireless buds in the game.
AirPods aren't the only wireless buds in the game.
Photo: TBS

This week on The CultCast: An honest look at Super Mario Run; we review better-sounding AirPods alternatives; the cool new stuff in the iOS and tvOS updates; and we reveal the hands-down best TV shows of 2016!

This episode supported by: Jamf Now, the affordable, cloud-based solution you can rely on to manage the iPads, iPhones and Macs in your workplace. Manage three devices for free at jamf.com/CultCast.

As fitness trackers converge, everyone’s sprinting toward confusion

By •

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker GG
Is it an activity tracker, a sport watch, a smartwatch or all three?
Photo: Fitbit

2016 has been a tough year for fitness trackers, with scientists questioning their effectiveness and headlines boldly proclaiming that “fitness trackers don’t work.”

And yet, sales of fitness trackers are healthier than ever, while struggling smartwatch makers are desperately trying to reposition their gadgets to muscle into the fitness market. So what is going on? If fitness trackers really don’t work, why are consumers still buying them?

Apple adds 21 gorgeous screen savers to Apple TV

By •

The new Apple TV packs a lot of surprises.
The new Apple TV videos are incredible.
Photo: Apple

One of the best things about owning an Apple TV — staring at the hypnotically beautiful screen savers — just got a whole lot better.

Apple published 21 gorgeous new videos today that give Apple TV viewers a bird’s-eye view of fantastic cityscapes in Hong Kong, China, Dubai and other beautiful locales.

Should Apple take on Xbox and PlayStation? [Friday Night Fights]

By •

fnf_gaming
Would you buy an Apple console?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s product portfolio is crying out for something new. Fans and investors are itching to see where the company will go next, and whether it can revolutionize yet another industry. Should a games console be top of its list?

Friday Night Fights bugSome fans may not know this, but Apple has produced a console before. It wasn’t too successful, but Apple is a different company now, and it’s already serving hundreds of millions of avid gamers with its Apple TV and iOS devices. In some ways, a console makes a lot of sense.

But could Apple really topple the PlayStation or Xbox? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple should build its own console!

Super Mario Run copycats invade Android

By •

Super Mario Run on iOS
Super Mario Run clones are already bounding onto the Google Play store.
Photo: Apple

Super Mario Run, Nintendo’s first major game for mobile, is already a huge hit on iPhone, but Android users will have to wait until 2017 to get their fingers on the real deal.

However, a ton of Super Mario Run clones are already springing up on Google Play — trying to steal Nintendo’s thunder.

What they said: Best Apple quotes of 2016

By •

Best Apple quotes 2016
If you can't say something nice ...
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review Cult of Mac The world of quotes is a poorer place without Steve Jobs, who was a quote machine. Nonetheless, plenty of people talked about Apple this year, whether lauding the company’s successes or damning its strategies.

Here are the most memorable Apple quotes of 2016.

Carry an iOS drive expansion on your keychain [Deals]

By •

iKlips has created a thumb drive that does double duty for Lightning and USB connections alike.
iKlips has created a thumb drive that does double duty for Lightning and USB connections alike.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Like a computer, we use our iPhones and iPads to store all sorts of data. Unlike a computer, you can’t just plug in a USB thumb drive to expand storage or transfer that data. Unless of course you have an iKlips DUO+, an dual sided Lightning and USB-compatible thumb drive that you can carry right on your keychain. It’s a sleek and simple upgrade for any iOS device, and right now you can get one for $69.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple orders mystery folding displays from LG

By •

LG-flexible-OLED
LG's flexible OLED displays.
Photo: LG DIsplay

LG Display is to start mass-producing folding OLED displays in 2018, and new reports claim Apple is one of the first companies to have already placed an order. The displays pave the way for smarter flip phones that can be folded in the middle.

Drone flyover video reveals latest state of Apple’s new spaceship campus

By •

Apple-Campus-2-updated
How the new campus will eventually look.
Photo: Apple

A new drone video provides the latest glimpse at how Apple’s futuristic “spaceship” campus is coming together, three years after the company broke ground on the impressive HQ.

Rather than just showing us the massive Apple campus as it looks today, YouTuber Matthew Roberts gives us a “year-end” montage, showing progress made since the middle of the year.

$44 million investment buys Apple the right to sell iPhones in Indonesia

By •

iPhone 7 back
Apple can sell iPhones to 250 million new customers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has secured the right to sell the iPhone 7 in Indonesia after committing to investing $44 million in the country in the form of an R&D center.

The investment helps Apple get around a law stating that, from January, all 4G handsets sold in Indonesia must comprise 30 percent of “local content.” This can include hardware, software, or an investment commitment.