Mobile menu toggle

Apple shares WWDC24 schedule highlights, Design Awards finalists

By

WWDC24 schedule
Apple confirmed the WWDC24 Keynote for June 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific, among other details.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s much-anticipated Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24) will kick off with a 10 a.m. Pacific keynote address on June 10, followed by the Platforms State of the Union address at 1 p.m. Pacific, Apple confirmed Tuesday. Along with the WWDC24 schedule information, it also presented the finalists for the Apple Design Awards it will bestow at the show.

As usual, the conference will highlight what’s new and upcoming with the company’s software ecosystem.

Slim new Find My tracking card recharges via MagSafe

By

Nomad Tracking Card with iPhone
You can use Find My on your iPhone or another device to track the card.
Photo: Nomad

The slim new Nomad Tracking Card works with Apple’s Find My app on your devices and recharges via MagSafe to help you keep tabs on your wallet, purse or other valuables, Nomad said Tuesday.

The credit card-sized tracker goes for $40 individually or $120 for a four-pack.

Apple Magic Keyboard expands M4 iPad Pro to its full potential [Review] ★★★★

By

Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro★★★★
Every M4 iPad Pro buyer should at least consider getting the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With its cool cantilever design, Apple Magic Keyboard was a standout iPad Pro accessory even before its recent upgrade. Now that Apple fixed some of the original’s problems by adding a glass trackpad, a row of function keys and an aluminum palm rest, it’s even better. Especially with an improved USB-C port.

But does the functionality (and sheer coolness) justify the epic price of the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro? Read on to find out.

Apple Hearing Study sounds alarm on high rates of tinnitus

By

Apple Hearing Study's tinnitus update
The Apple Hearing Study's tinnitus update sounded off about the condition's prevalence and characteristics.
Photo: Apple

In one of the largest surveys on tinnitus so far, University of Michigan researchers participating in the Apple Hearing Study released data and insights Tuesday that could help lead to future treatment.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound, often ringing, that others do not hear.

“The Apple Hearing Study gives us an opportunity that was not possible before to improve our understanding of tinnitus across demographics, aiding current scientific knowledge that can ultimately improve management of tinnitus,” said Rick Neitzel, a University of Michigan School of Public Health professor of environmental health sciences.

Beats Studio Buds+ offer impressive noise cancellation for less than $100

By

Enjoy immersive noise-canceling audio with these $100 Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds.
You can score Beats Studio earbuds with noise-canceling for less than $100.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Noise-canceling earbuds can take your entertainment to the max, offering excellent audio whether you’re commuting, flying or cocooning at home. But they’re not all fun and games. They also can help you focus on work calls or sleep in a noisy environment. And these deals on open-box Beats earbuds and headphones mean you can enjoy excellent noise cancellation for less.

For a limited time, you can score a pair of Beats Studio Buds+ for just $99.99 in our sale. That’s a 41% discount off the regular price of $169.99. And we’ve got an even bigger discount on Beats Studio Pro noise-canceling headphones!

OLED MacBook might be 2 years away

By

OLED MacBook is possible… and probably inevitable
Your next MacBook might have an OLED display.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A MacBook with an OLED display in place of the LCD could be on the market in 2026, according to an industry analyst.

This should noticeably improve on the already excellent displays used in macOS notebooks.

iPhone sales in China rebound thanks to discounts

By

The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera array, pictured in front of a green plant.
iPhone sales in China reportedly spiked by 52%.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments apparently bounced back sharply in China in recent months. Apple reportedly saw a 52% increase in shipments following heavy discounts by third-party retailers.

Since the beginning of 2024, Apple has seen a double-digit decline in iPhone demand in China. A resurgent Huawei also made things difficult for Apple, as the Chinese company registered a sales growth of 69.9% in the first quarter.

Apple considers two large touchscreen sizes for MacBook [Updated]

By

MacBook with 20-inch folding screen still on track for release
This concept could be an early glimpse of the MacBook of the future.
Concept: Astro HQ

Apple is developing a MacBook with a folding touchscreen that might come with either a 20.25-inch or an 18.8-inch panel, according to a trusted analyst. And new info from the analyst indicates the slightly smaller is more likely.

In addition to the size, it’ll have another immediately noticeable advantage over current foldable displays: eliminating the visible crease is reportedly one of Apple’s goals.

iOS 18 could feature generative AI-powered custom emoji tool

By

Emoji search coming in iOS 14
iOS 18 might let you create custom emoji using generative AI.
Photo: Bernard Hermant

Apple might use generative AI in iOS 18 to allow iPhone users to create custom emojis, letting them express themselves just the way they want. The company is already at the forefront of adding the latest Unicode emoji to iOS.

Additionally, Apple is working on an AI-powered smart recaps feature. It will provide you with a summary of your missed notifications, new messages, documents, and more.

iOS 18 could bring new Home Screen personalization options

By

iOS 18 concept video
iOS 18 could allow you to change the app icon colors on your iPhone's Home Screen.
Concept: Kevin Kall

iOS 18 reportedly will let iPhone users change app icon colors on the Home Screen. Plus, they would be able to put the icons anywhere they want.

Since iOS’ inception, app icons on iPhone’s Home Screen have snapped to a grid, much to the dismay of some users. However, Apple could finally tweak this behavior with iOS 18.

iPhone 16 rumors, M4 iPad Pro raves and … Siri+?!? [The CultCast]

By

iPhone 16 rumors on The CultCast episode 648
The blue iPhone Pro might be a goner this year.
Photo: Sophia Stark/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: First we get into what makes the M4 iPad Pro so fabulous. Then we discuss the latest rumors about iPhone 16 and beyond. And then we ponder the unthinkable: A Siri that’s actually smart!

Also on The CultCast:

  • A preview of the AI features coming soon to iPhone, Mac and iPad. Some of them sound pretty useful, actually. Maybe Tim Cook is onto something. But if Siri really does get a brain boost this year, will we be paying extra for Siri+?
  • Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list comes to a surprising end. Really, though, it was an impossible task. No way Apple was gonna please everyone. Or, frankly, anyone.
  • Finally, Erfon and Griffin showcase a couple things they’re testing in a new edition of Under Review.

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.

Snag the best Memorial Day deals on Apple gear and accessories [Updated]

By

Memorial Day deals on Apple gear
Memorial Day weekend is a great time to bag bargains on Apple gear, peripherals and accessories.
Photo: Apple

Memorial Day weekend has arrived in the United States, and you know what that means — widespread sales on Apple gear and accessories (and pretty much everything else you can buy). Memorial Day deals on Apple gear can be irresistible.

We’re building a list, below, of solid deals at major retailers for Apple deals on gear, peripherals and accessories. Check back, because you might find something new.

What’s the best Mac for video editing?

By

Best Mac for Video Editing
Really, it’s… all of them.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Whether you run a video production studio or you’re starting a hobby YouTube channel, you’ll want to make sure you have the best Mac for video editing. 

Video editing is a good stress test for any computer. Cutting together an epic two-hour video essay requires high-speed storage, a lot of memory, processing power and GPU power. Apple silicon delivers all this in spades. Apple’s chips also come with special built-in hardware for processing video — the Media Engine. 

These days, every Mac is capable of 4K video editing. The best Mac for you comes down to whether you want a desktop or a laptop — and the size of your budget. Keep reading or watch our latest video.

iPhone 14 listed on Apple’s refurbished store with big discounts

By

iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max brought big-time camera-system upgrades.
You can now buy a refurbished iPhone 14 directly from Apple.
Photo: Leander

Nearly 20 months after its launch, Apple has started selling refurbished iPhone 14 through its Certified Refurbished store. For now, the refurbished units are only on sale in the US.

You can purchase any model from the iPhone 14 model from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store, including the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

How to sell your old Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard

By

Sell Apple Pencil 2 or Magic Keyboard through Cult of Mac buyback program.
Apple won't buy back your old Apple Pencil, but we will.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

With Apple’s release of new iPads, an updated Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and the brand-new Apple Pencil Pro, many people are looking to upgrade all three. (Because of course all your old iPad accessories won’t work with the new tablets.) However, apart from going the DIY route on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, it can be difficult to find a trade-in site where you can sell an old Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard.

Even Apple’s own trade-in program won’t buy back these iPad accessories. However, there are several other options for selling a used Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard — and we’re here to help!

Use Live Voicemail and Silence Unknown Callers together for call-free bliss

By

Talk After The Beep
Don’t want to miss those important calls about my Lightning cable wholesaling business.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Using two iOS 17 features in tandem gives you a great way to stop unknown callers on iPhone. The Live Voicemail feature pairs very well with Silence Unknown Callers. With both of these turned on, unwanted calls will be far less intrusive, but you will still be able to pick up the important calls as they come in.

Here’s how to use Live Voicemail and Silence Unknown Callers to avoid phone spam and other annoyances without missing crucial calls.

This microphone boom arm is ‘in a class of its own’ [Setups]

By

Logitech G Compass microphone boom arm
If you need a reliable boom arm to swing your mic around, look no further.
Photo: [email protected]

If you use your computer setup for podcasting, streaming, gaming or just a whole bunch of video calls, you may have a microphone in your face a lot. It’s great to easily move it out of the way when you’re not speaking into it, of course. And for that you need a reliable boom arm. Today’s M1 Max MacBook Pro user swears by his Logitech G Compass microphone boom arm.

iPad mini with OLED screen on course for release

By

OLED iPad mini concept
Add iPad mini to the list of Apple devices getting an OLED screen.
Image: Cult of Mac/Apple/Paul Inkles

An OLED screen intended for iPad mini is active development, according to an unconfirmed report coming out of Asia. Apple’s smallest tablet will get the improved display in a couple of years.

The news comes on the heels of the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, the first in this line of tablets with an OLED screen.

Ikea Sjöss 45W charger: Why buy anything else? [Review] ★★★★

By

Ikea Sjöss 45W charger review★★★★
The Ikea Sjöss 45W is the best dual USB-C charger you can buy for cheap.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Plenty of power bricks with dual USB-C ports give you options for charging your Apple devices. But Ikea — yes, the company known for its DIY furniture — has a new offering that trumps them all from a value viewpoint. As you’ll find out in our review of the Ikea Sjöss 45W charger, it packs two USB-C ports and supports all popular fast charging standards.

The effective power adapter stands out for its super-low price, which significantly undercuts the competition. Below is our quick review of the Ikea Sjöss 45W USB-C charger.

These bone-conduction headphones with LEDs boost your nighttime safety

By

These $64 bone conduction headphones have an LED neckband for safety.
These $64 bone-conduction headphones have an LED neckband for safety.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you like wearing earbuds outside at night, and you don’t like getting creamed by cars or aggro bicyclists, a pair of bone-conduction earphones with LED lights that wrap around your neck is a solid safety option. And these Dashlyte Bluetooth headphones check all the boxes.

They keep your earholes open so you can stay alert to sinister sounds around you. Plus, they light you up like a Christmas tree so you’re far more visible to jerks driving around while typing out text messages on their iPhones. They won’t kill your wallet, either. You can grab a pair of these bone-conduction headphones with LEDs for just $63.96 using coupon code: DASHLYTE (regularly $99).

How to silence your Apple Watch, use Do Not Disturb and theater mode

By

Keep It Quiet, Please
Keep your Apple Watch from dinging in the library.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If your group chat or work messages start blowing up in the middle of a meeting, you’ll want to know how to silence your Apple Watch quickly. You have a few options: Silent mode controls whether a notification makes a sound. Do Not Disturb controls whether you receive notifications. Theater mode turns off the display.

You can also use a quick shortcut to turn on silent mode in a pinch.