Covering Cupertino is more than just statistics and rumors about upcoming products. There’s plenty of weird Apple news, whether it be a Chinese billionaire buying iPhones for his pet dog or the revelation that, in some alternate universe, Tim Cook could become vice president of the United States.
With that in mind, here are the weirdest Apple news stories of 2016.
Rocket League is undoubtedly one of the finest and most enjoyable games to grace the current generation of consoles, but it’s yet to make its way to mobile. Soon we won’t need it, because Turbo League for iOS promises to be just as good.
Space sims — like flight sims — maintain a niche following. The game genre mixes the fun of flight with the extreme physics involved in sending things to freaking space. Mac (and PC) game Kerbal Space Program manages to scratch the rocket science itch while also being genuinely entertaining and accessible.
This great take on the space simulator is winning praise all over the gaming world and boasts an active community of modders and enthusiasts. Right now you can get a Steam ticket for Kerbal Space Program $13.59.
A new report claims that the next-gen iPad Pro, set to be unveiled early in 2017, could be delayed due to lower-than-expected yield rates on the 10-nanometer A10X chips used in the device.
Consumer Reports just unloaded a mighty smackdown on the new MacBook Pro lineup, citing “highly inconsistent” battery life as the reason the latest Apple laptops failed to earn a coveted recommendation.
It’s the first time the well-regarded reviews organization flunked an Apple laptop. And the test results should give serious pause to anybody who is considering buying a new MacBook Pro.
Apple’s EarPods have always been a go-to favorite for me. They’re included with every iPhone, always sound good enough for what I need, and I’ve always found them comfortable. Even going back to the good old iPod days, I’ve always kept a pair close to hand.
But now Apple’s moving on into the “wireless future” with its new AirPods. These completely wireless earphones let you listen to music and podcasts, make phone calls and talk to Siri. But just how do they measure up?
Pokémon GO is finally ready for Apple Watch. The iOS game, one of 2016’s biggest breakout hits, got an update today that includes the long-awaited Apple Watch app.
According to the game’s maker, Pokémon GO is a perfect match for Apple’s wearable.
This post is brought to you by Digiarty.
Unless you’re a teenager, you’ve probably got some DVDs lying around from back when people still used DVDs. Ripping those old movies and TV shows not only keeps their contents from being lost or damaged, it also means you can print fresh copies from scratched discs (without those annoying FBI warnings or region codes, thanks to built-in DVD decryption), and have digital versions ready to edit for your own projects.
The holidays are a great time to hide away from visiting relatives and enjoy a good book. Fortunately, when it comes to tech-centric books released this year, there’s a great crop to pick from.
Here are our choices for the best tech books of 2016 (and no, we’re not including Jony Ive’s $300 tribute to himself).
Apple is reportedly replacing or repairing iPhone 7 Plus units that have developed camera faults.
Some users on Reddit and around the web have complained of black and purple screens and error messages when opening the camera app, supposedly due to a dodgy iSight sensor.
Musicians who can’t read sheet music play by ear. What about a photographer who doesn’t fully understand the science behind imaging software?
That’s me and I’d call myself a fiddler. When it comes to toning an image in Adobe Photoshop, I don’t analyze the spikes on a histogram or adjust pixel color values. I fiddle with a picture until it looks right.
Macphun seems to design photo imaging programs with my brain in mind. Its newest app, an all-in-one program called Luminar lets photographers of all levels quickly improve the look of a photograph without even knowing how certain tools work.
Just in time for the holidays, RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic has arrived in the App Store — giving would-be theme park designers the perfect $5.99 early Christmas gift to themselves.
Combining features from the acclaimed RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, this title offers a touch-optimized take on the classic management sims which swallowed up so many, many hours of my teenage years.
As wireless Bluetooth earbuds become the norm, Apple’s expensive, stormtrooper earing-looking buds look less appealing. Instead of AirPods, consider AirBeans — they’re a high quality, noise-canceling, more affordable, and honestly just cooler looking set of buds. Right now you can get a set of AirBeans for $69.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Apple has another iPhone-unlocking conundrum on its hands! This time the request reportedly comes from Russian and Turkish authorities, who want Apple to help bypass the PIN code on an iPhone 4s recovered at the scene of the recent murder of Andrei Karlov, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey.
The big day is almost here, but there are still plenty of options if you want to pick up a Christmas gift for the Apple fan in your life. From expedited shipping to in-store pickup, MacBooks to accessories, here are the week’s best Apple deals.
The 2016 holiday shopping season is rapidly winding down, but we’ve saved some of the best for last: instant savings of up to $274 on Apple’s brand new 13-inch MacBook Pros.
Losing an AirPod can be a pricey mistake, but if you’re not afraid of a little body modification, there’s a way to ensure Apple’s new buds stay in your ear forever.
We roll our eyes when Tim Cook introduces a new iPhone and says, “This is the best iPhone ever” each year. But the iPhone 7 Plus will be different.
Sure, ambitious upgrades remain in the pipeline, but the remarkable camera in the iPhone 7 Plus will make this year’s model memorable. Fifty years from now, photography historians will talk about the iPhone 7 Plus they way they do the first Leica or the first Polaroid.
The Apple store in Birmingham, England, was temporarily evacuated today after a package that employees feared might contain an explosive was delivered.
Visitors were removed from the recently opened store and police cordoned off a section of the shopping area in which the retail outlet is located. Trains were also temporarily affected due to their proximity.
Most of the videos we watch these days come to our screens thanks to streaming sites like YouTube and Hulu. Obviously we don’t always have the opportunity to connect to these sites when we want to, which makes saving them to our computers and mobile devices a great option. MovieSherlock Pro makes that easy, a powerful tool for downloading and converting video from a range of sites and for a wide range of devices. And right now you can get MovieSherlock Pro for just $15 at Cult of Mac Deals.
The European Union’s highest court has ruled that the U.K.’s Investigatory Powers Act, aka the “snooper’s charter,” is illegal.
The EU objects to the government’s “general and indiscriminate” retention of emails and other electronic communications. While the EU acknowledges that this information can be helpful, they argue that it should only be gathered in specific targeted instances to stop terrorism or serious crime.
Apple is now selling refurbished Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 models.
These devices aren’t outdated: They debuted back in September, when they got unveiled alongside the iPhone 7. You can find them cheaper if you buy them second-hand on eBay or Craigslist, but refurbished units from Apple offer a number of advantages.
The Japanese government has bailed out struggling Apple display supplier Japan Display with a 75 billion yen ($636 million) aid package, the company admitted today.
The government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan owns 36 percent of Japan Display, which works on Apple’s iPhones.
Super Mario Run only shipped late last week, and already it has set a new download record of 40 million downloads in only its first four days.
That may be where the good news ends, however.
Apple’s “thin and light” approach for its latest laptops totally breaks down when it comes to charging, due to the sizable power adapter that ships with the computers. Luckily, a tiny new USB-C charger will let you leave Apple’s ungainly charging brick at home.