Microsoft has just announced new Software Developer Kits (SDKs) for its Cortana virtual assistant, allowing developers to create new Cortana skills, as well as to integrate it into smart devices.
Check out the video below for a look at some of the skills Microsoft’s Cortana can offer when incorporated into a smart device.
Apple was quick to rectify the “random shutdown” problem affecting some iPhones by offering in-store battery replacements for affected customers. Unfortunately, it seems that already-busy Apple store employees aren’t too happy about the replacement program.
Given that each replacement takes between 20 and 45 minutes, and staffers are doing 15 to 30 replacements per day, it’s quickly adding up to “more than we [can] replace,” according to a longtime Genius Bar guru.
Apple has launched its new Support app in the U.S., giving customers the ability to get expert help with devices and software — as well as scheduling repairs at the Apple store if necessary — from the comfort of their iOS device.
Handily, the app also provides a catalog of support articles designed to help users fix common issues.
Google is giving iPhone users yet another easy way to switch to Android.
The latest update to its Google Drive app for iOS brings the ability to backup some of your most important data in just a few taps before migrating it all to a new Android smartphone.
To promote his new design book, Jony Ive has made a video giving a very rare peek inside Apple’s ultra-secretive design studio.
The video is only the second one that I know of that shows the inside of the “studio behind the Iron Curtain” — so called because it’s so sealed off from the outside world. (The other was last year’s 60 Minutes episode).
While watching it, I recognized a lot of details that I mention in my book about Jony Ive but I don’t think are generally well-known. So I screenshot the video and made a few notes. Warning: This one’s for the design nerds.
Apple’s new AirPods have finally arrived after months of waiting.
Shipping estimates for the new wireless earbuds have already been pushed back to 2017, thanks to the overwhelming demand, but if you’re lucky enough to get them in your ears this week, you’ll need some tips on getting started.
Here’s everything you need to know to use AirPods:
Mac owners can now take advantage of all the new emoji iPhone users got earlier this week, thanks to today’s release of macOS 10.12.2.
Apple launched the macOS update this morning, bringing a host of performance enhancements to users, as well as couple new features and small tweaks.
You can find some incredible new gadgets on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that often go unnoticed. We’re rounding up some of the best every week to help them get the funding they need to become a reality.
This week, we’ve got super smartwatches that keep your kids safe, incredibly intelligent headphones with artificial intelligence, a device that measures your nutrient levels, and more!
Already thinking about how to fulfill your 2017 New Year’s resolution of becoming a rock god?
If so, check out the jamstik+. This MIDI guitar, and its associated collection of apps, promises to help anyone who wants to learn to play guitar or improve their existing skills.
360-degree photography is all the rage these days, and a new third-party iPhone accessory could further add to that — by giving users the chance to easily record 360 photo and video using their trusty iPhones.
Designed to allow for live-streaming via Facebook and YouTube, the iO device takes both 4K still photos and enhanced 2K video. Check out a video demonstration below:
The year’s almost over, so it’s time to review the best deals that graced the Cult of Mac Store in 2016. Our top deals include a bundle of three extra long, MFi-certified Lightning cables, a lifetime of VPN protection, a powerful planning tool for turning to-do lists into flowcharts, and a comprehensive set of lessons for coding in iOS 9 and 10. They’re all massively discounted, but you can shave off another 16 percent by using the code: “BESTOF2016” (some exclusions apply). Read on for more details:
Apple’s much-delayed AirPods may be shipping in time for Christmas, but if you’re after the BeatsX in-ear headphones announced at exactly the same time, you’ll be waiting a bit longer than that.
That’s according to Apple, which just updated its official webpage to note that the new headphones won’t be shipping until February — or considerably later than the Fall release date they originally had.
Update: Well that didn’t last long! Already it seems that AirPod demand has exceeded supply, as shipping times have been pushed back past Christmas into 2017.
Apple’s long-awaited, sometimes derided wireless AirPods are finally available to buy through Apple’s online store — priced at $159.
While it’s not known when they’ll be available for sale in brick-and-mortar Apple retail stores, you can breathe a sigh of relief, since orders placed through Apple’s online store are currently showing a pre-Christmas delivery date of December 21.
Samsung may spin off its chip-making business as part of a company-wide restructuring, claims a new report.
The move would be a response to Samsung’s loss of Apple’s A-series chip orders to rival chipmaker TSMC for the iPhone 7 and, potentially, future iOS chips as well.
When Nintendo announced they’d be working with Apple to launch Super Mario Run on iPhone, the partnership made a lot of sense. After all, both companies share a similar arc in the history of their respective industries, each defining the early decades of the home gaming and computing industries, respectively. But perhaps the most relevant similarity is in the two companies’ focus on design.
The new MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar might not be the most useful tool for professionals quite yet, but it’s quickly becoming a perfect playground for retro gaming. Two new hacks bring classic games Pac-Man and Lemmings to the Touch Bar.
The MacBook Pro’s tiny OLED display seriously limits gameplay, though: You can barely make turns in Pac-Man, but it still looks better than Doom on the Touch Bar.
Get a peek at the Touch Bar gameplay in the videos below.
Our new App Business section is brought to you by MacPaw, maker of proven Mac apps.
For independent Mac developers, one of the big, daunting tasks that the Mac App Store efficiently handles is app licensing. You just submit your app, then the store manages the actual app license through its user accounts. But this unquestionable convenience comes with a few critical downsides.
Apple TV owners can finally start using the new TV app that Apple unveiled at a keynote in October.
Apple released tvOS 10.1 to the public this morning, giving users their first taste of the grand TV-watching experience Cupertino hopes to create by wrangling all your favorite video content into one app.
The long wait for iOS 10.2 is finally over. After weeks of beta testing, Apple made the big iOS 10.2 update available to the public this morning, adding a host of new features that make the iPhone and iPad better than ever.
The new MacBook Pro apparently has been great business for Apple rival Microsoft.
Mac users are switching to Microsoft’s Surface more than ever before, claims the PC-maker in a new blog post that takes several shots at Apple’s new MacBook Pro and Touch Bar.
Macs are renowned for “just working,” but sometimes you might run into problems while downloading software from the Mac App Store. You might encounter files that say they’ve downloaded despite evidence to the contrary, or face verification errors or other installation difficulties.
If so, a relatively common fix involves emptying your Mac App Store temporary download cache folder. If you find yourself running into any of the Mac installation problems mentioned above, cleaning out this folder should be one of your first tasks.
But how do you do it? Follow our easy “how to” guide below.
So far, most of Apple’s wrangles concerning its European tax issues has been carried out by the company’s accountants and legal team.
That could change in 2017, however, when none other than Tim Cook has been requested to attend a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, alongside the EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
You’re probably already familiar with the uber popular language learning program Rosetta Stone. It’s long been renowned as an intuitive and effective language learning tool. But it’s also well known for being pretty expensive, and that makes this a great opportunity for anyone who’s been put off by the price. Right now you can get levels 1 through 4 in Spanish, French, Italian or English for just $139.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Samsung has decided to abandon its attempt to bring its mobile payment service to iOS after Apple rejected the company’s new Samsung Pay Mini app.
The app would have allowed users to checkout with Samsung Pay when shopping online on their iPhone, but Samsung says it will now focus exclusively on Android.
Tim Cook is one of a number of tech executives who will meet with President-elect Donald Trump this week, a new report claims.
The meeting will take place at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Wednesday, and will also be attended by Alphabet CEO Larry Page, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, alongside a handful of others.