Cult of Mac

In iOS 18, you’ll be able to use the power of Apple Intelligence to generate fun, relevant images in your Messages conversations. You can create brand new emoji and personalized artwork.

Apple calls the features Genmoji and Image Playground. “The Image Playground is going to make everyday conversations a whole lot more fun,” said Cyrus Irani, Apple’s Director of Human Interface.

With the Photos app, you can more easily search through the content of your photos and videos, and build custom memory videos without pilfering through your library by hand.

Apple Mail for iPhone, Mac and iPad is getting a real dose of artificial intelligence. When it next version launches in the autumn, it will be able to summarize emails, assign them to categories based on their contents, and draft replies to messages so the user doesn’t have to.

“Staying on top of emails has never been easier,” promises Apple.

Apple’s Safari web browser will learn a few new tricks across Apple devices, including web page highlights and summaries, as well as better-integrated control of videos online, the iPhone giant pointed out Monday in its Safari updates at WWDC24 section of the Keynote.

“In this release, we’re making it even better with easier ways to discover content and streamline your browsing. When you’re on a site Safari can now help you discover more about the page with highlights,” said Beth Dakin, Apple’s senior manager, Safari Software Engineering.

The new Apple Passwords app “makes it easy to access your credentials and have them securely stored all in one place,” said Craig Federighi, the company’s software chief, Monday during the WWDC24 keynote.

Apple is upgrading iCloud Keychain to become a full-fledged password manager in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia.

Apple showcased iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia on Monday during the kickoff keynote that kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. With so many new features and improvements, you might wonder if your iOS 18 will be among Apple’s supported devices. Same goes for other older devices and Apple’s other upcoming operating system updates.

Below is a list of all the iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs that will get the iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia update later this year. Note: The AI-powered Apple Intelligence features the company unveiled at WWDC24 won’t work on many older devices. So even if your computer can run the latest operating system, you still might not benefit from the AI stuff.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will introduce “new levels of customization and capability to Control Center, helping you access many of the things you do every day even faster,” said Apple software chief Craig Federighi during Monday’s WWDC24 keynote.

The revamped Control Center features multiple groups and offers easy access to media playback controls, smart home devices and more.

You will soon be able to send and receive texts via satellite, Apple said Monday.

In addition, the Messages app will also support message scheduling, plus reacting to texts with any emoji.

“Now you can use the satellite capabilities on iPhone 14 and later to connect to satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth to text your friends and family when you’re off the grid,” said Apple exec Ronak Shah during Monday’s WWDC24 keynote.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 remove many of the previous restrictions on Home screen customization. User now have far more control in placing app icons. And they can even change the color of icons.

macOS Sequoia brings the “incredible features” of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 to your Mac. This includes improvements to the Messages app, Math Notes and more.

Craig Federighi, the Apple software VP who unveiled macOS Sequoia during Monday’s WWDC24 keynote, said the new Mac operating system “introduces even more features to help you effortlessly get things done.”

At WWDC24 today, Apple announced that its spatial computing headset will launch in many countries across Europe, Asia and North America.

“The enthusiasm for Apple Vision Pro has been extraordinary, and we are thrilled to introduce the magic of spatial computing to more customers around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in today’s press release.

After the fervor surrounding its launch in the United States, sales have slowed down — a combination of the high price and a lack of specially-made content.

Launching the device internationally will not only broaden the customer base but the number of developers who can create new experiences for the headset.

visionOS 2, the first major update to the Vision platform, will bring Spatial Photos, a rearrangeable Home View, a bigger Mac Virtual Display, new gestures and other nice quality-of-life improvements.

Apple Vision Pro can “unlock completely new possibilities for entertainment, productivity, collaboration, and more” says Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision Products Group.

Announced right at the top of WWDC24 on Monday, visionOS 2 will be available in developer beta and will release publicly for everyone this fall. This came alongside news that the headset will soon be available in other countries.

At Cult of Mac, we love great audio. So when a computer setup comes along on social media showing off a killer system, we love to feature it. Today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup kicks out the jams — we also love obscure references to cult-favorite bands of yesteryear — with Audioengine A2 Plus speakers and a Kanto Sub6 subwoofer.

So, as nice as the MacBook Pro’s six speakers may be, they don’t have a chance against that sound system.

iOS 18 could add a dark tint to the iPhone’s Home Screen app icons in Dark Mode. This should give them a stealthy look and help them blend with the system’s overall dark theme.

Additionally, Apple will allow you to lock first-party apps like Mail and Messages in iOS 18 using Face ID.

Whether you use the 10 photography courses in this bundle to spread your creative wings or start a side hustle, it’s an affordable option that covers a wide range of topics. The Photography Master Class Bundle offers comprehensive training and invaluable insights to elevate your photography skills.

For a limited time, you can get lifetime access to this turbocharged suite of photography courses for just $39.99.

You can now buy a refurbished M3 MacBook Air directly from Apple in the US. The company recently updated its Certified Refurbished store, listing the new Air.

Depending on your desired model, you can save up to $200 on the refurbished M3 MacBook Air.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: With Apple’s big Worldwide Developers Conference hurtling at us like an AI-powered hype train, we once again put our professional reputations on the line. That’s right, it’s time to make our WWDC24 predictions.

We’ve got a special wild-card question this time around. And you can play along, if you’ve got the nerve!

Also on The CultCast:

• iPhone 16 Pro could bring some crazy new display tech.
• Marvel Studios’ new Vision Pro app is the kind of content Apple’s headset needs. The “I’m a Mac” guy’s latest PC ad is the kind of marketing the world can do without.
• Invidia’s stock price overtakes $AAPL as Wall Street goes gaga for AI.
• We discuss the latest iPhone 16 rumors as well as some last-minute iOS 18 leaks.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Apple reportedly will focus heavily on AI when it announces the next major versions of all its operating systems Monday at WWDC24. Everyone expects an upgraded Siri, summaries that’ll catch you up on a flurry of notifications, image editing that can cut out parts of a picture and the like. But none of that is on my WWDC wish list.

Personally, I’m not convinced that Apple needs to go all-in on AI (or “Apple Intelligence,” as it reportedly will be called). I’d rather see fundamental fixes and long-missing features finally added. Plus, I find Apple’s rumored partnership with OpenAI, of all companies, pretty troubling.

Here’s my WWDC24 wish list of everything I hope Cupertino has been cooking up. Read the full list below or sit back and watch the video.

New artificial intelligence features are likely to make iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 the biggest upgrades to Apple’s platforms in many years. Leaks say AI enhancements are coming to most of Apple’s standard apps, helping users write, summarize information, clean up images and more. At their announcement coming at next week’s WWDC24, these will all come under the heading of “Apple Intelligence.”

Plus, Siri reportedly will get a significant intelligence upgrade.

WWDC24 kicks off on June 10 but you don’t need to wait until then to find out what’s in store for iPhone, Mac and other Apple computers. Leaks already revealed much of what to expect at Apple’s annual developers conference, at least in broad terms. Here’s your WWDC24 spoiler alert: “Apple Intelligence” in the form of AI, AI and more AI.

Here’s what will be on the agenda when Apple unveils iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 next week.

When it’s unveiled at WWDC24’s Keynote on Monday, the new iOS 18 update — codenamed “Crystal” — is expected to be one of Apple’s biggest updates of iPhone software since the handset came out in 2007. Artificial intelligence (AI) should play a big role, along with other new features, redesigned elements and plenty of app updates. See our summary below, with links to Cult of Mac coverage.

Not everybody needs, wants or can afford an Apple display. Luckily, many good options abound for use with a Mac, including the 34-inch BenQ Ultrawide Creator Monitor featured in today’s exceptionally nice M3 Pro MacBook Pro setup. And it’s ideally situated on a handsome Oakywood dual-monitor stand.

iPhone users spent almost $25 billion in the App Store during Q1 2024, according to a market research firm. In contrast, Android uses spent only $11 billion on Google Play in the same time period.

This despite the number of downloads from Google Play more than tripling App Store downloads. Clearly, a great many Android users aren’t willing to pay for apps.

The CdkeySales Mid-Year Sale is in full swing, so now’s the time to score excellent deals on all kinds of Microsoft software. It’s your perfect opportunity to find remarkably low prices on productivity software like Windows and Microsoft Office. That includes Windows 10 Pro for just $17.05 — and a free upgrade comes with it! Or you can cut straight to the chase and get Windows 11 Pro for only $22.71.

You can find surprisingly low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com now and throughout the year. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And don’t forget: When you buy Windows 10, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11!

Sometimes people take car chargers for granted as merely functional necessities. But Pitaka challenges that with its new MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2, a sleek and innovative device that fast-charges your iPhone or other smartphone and streamlines your in-car experience. It takes up little space as it brings your handset’s screen in sight.

As as a Qi2 device, it gives everyone MagSafe-level charging. And the company also makes a MagSafe edition, of course. It’s a great accessory to keep in the car, especially if the car lacks CarPlay on its infotainment screen.

Beats Fit Pro earbuds deliver rich, immersive sound and powerful bass. These noise-canceling earbuds are serious AirPods Pro competitors (see our comparison), and they bring your music, podcasts and calls to life. Grab a pair, and you’ll enjoy every note and beat with clarity and depth, whether you’re using an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy.

Wirecutter recently called Beats Fit Pro “a great choice for Apple fans who want the easy pairing and ‘Hey Siri‘ voice-control convenience of AirPods, but with a more-secure fit and better controls.” And now you can get these high-quality earbuds at a massive discount, thanks to our new, open-box sale.

For a limited time, snag a pair of Beats Fit Pro earbuds for just $109.99 (regularly $199.99).