July 20, 1978: Apple DOS makes its debut on the Apple II, giving Apple its first official operating system.
A command line interface with green text prompts on a black background, Apple DOS looks incredibly primitive next to today’s graphical user interfaces. Nonetheless, for Apple users, this was the macOS Sierra of its day.
Tim Cook has been open about the fact that he views China as Apple’s future biggest customer, but right now it sure seems like the company can’t get too many breaks there.
Not only has Apple had its products booted off the list of approved state purchases in China, been forced to shut down its iBooks Store and iTunes Movies in the country, and been sued for broadcasting an obscure patriotic movie from 1994, but now young people are reportedly smashing their iPhone to protest U.S. foreign policy.
We’ve got deals on a wide array of Apple products this week, whether you’re looking for a phone, laptop, streaming device or even just a fun freebie app. Read on to see the week’s best Apple bargains.
The next time you make a purchase at your local Apple Store, expect to be asked if you want to buy your items with Apple Pay.
Apple is launching a new promotion for its contactless payment system this week that will emphasize paying with your iPhone or Apple Watch rather than busting out a credit card. And those that haven’t signed up for Apple Pay yet will get some free money.
You won’t be able to get your hands on the real iPhone 7 until it goes on sale in September, but gadget vendors in China have the next best thing: For just $150, you can pick up an iPhone 7 clone that looks just like the real thing.
Apple’s jam-packed iOS 10 update has gotten even better in its third beta, which brings a bunch of tiny new features that start to make iOS 10 feel like a polished product.
The list of changes in iOS 10 beta 3, which was seeded to developers this week, isn’t as long as the last update. But Apple has added some really nice tweaks to the lock screen, Apple Music, iCloud Drive and Messages, in addition to a ton of bug fixes and stability improvements.
Check out the most important new additions to Apple’s upcoming mobile OS, which is slated to launch on iPhones and iPads this fall:
Kia is offering free CarPlay or Android Auto upgrades for some of its latest vehicles, allowing drivers to get their hands on the smartest in-car platforms. Cars equipped with the AVN 4.0 navigation system or the UVO3 dash interface are eligible.
When Apple launches watchOS 3 to the public later this fall, Apple Watch wearers will be able to automatically call for help if they find themselves in an emergency situation.
The new SOS feature in watchOS 3 will make Apple Watch even more of a lifesaver for wearers by placing a 911 call within 10 seconds, even if they don’t have their iPhone.
Here’s how it works:
Getting online means getting in line for a whole bunch of headaches — identity theft, data surveillance, hackers, location restrictions. A virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to protect and anonymize your online activity, and TigerVPN is offering a great deal on a lifetime subscription.
Right now you can get a lifetime of TigerVPN for $49 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Apple’s internal code names for this year’s iPhone upgrades have leaked out — and there are only two of them. The leak could confirm that there will be no “iPhone 7 Pro” model sold at a premium, as some reports have suggested.
The iPhone 7 is sounding like it will be one of Apple’s least dramatic “full number” iPhone upgrades in years, and according to polling data, it’s not exactly going to be a “must have” item.
July 19, 2000: Apple launches its futuristic-looking Power Mac G4 Cube. The clear computer is one of the company’s most jaw-droppingly gorgeous machines, but ultimately becomes one of its biggest disappointments.
Technologically, the G4 Cube was a game-changer. Financially, it was one of Steve Jobs‘ most notable failures.
Iranian officials have issued an ultimatum to Apple: telling the company that it must officially register in Iran or have its products banned.
“If Apple will not register an official representative in Iran within the next few days, all iPhones will be collected from the market,” the local Tasnim News Agency quotes the director of Iran’s anti-smuggling office as having said.
Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” ad campaign got a tiny dose of nature with the company’s two latest video ads that highlight the iPhone’s ability to capture amazing close-up macro videos.
The two new ads star a nut loving chipmunk and an ant on the prowl, and somehow manage to be incredibly captivating.
Watch them both below:
Following the launch of three new beta builds this morning, Apple has now made a new beta of macOS Sierra beta 3 available to developers this afternoon.
The new beta is available for download directly from the Mac App Store and comes two weeks after Apple dropped the second beta build of macOS Sierra that brings a ton of new features, including Siri for Mac, auto-unlock with Apple Watch, Apple Pay, better iCloud integration and more.
Apple Music’s matching software has a terrible history of replacing artists’ live songs with a studio version, but that will finally be a thing of the past, thanks the addition of audio fingerprints from iTunes Match.
A quiet rollout of the iTunes Match audio fingerprint to all Apple Music subscriber is currently underway, fixing the less accurate metadata version of iTunes Match that was currently used on Apple Music.
We know this year’s iPhone 7 refresh won’t be a big one, but just how similar will it be to the iPhone 6s? Find out in the video below which compares last year’s iPhone with the one we’re all expecting to see this September.
Fitness trackers are a leaky haven of data for hackers, according to a new study that found if you want a device with a high security rating, you better buy an Apple Watch.
Along with seeding a batch of new beta builds for developers, Apple has a slew of new updates for the public this morning, bringing bug fixes and other software improvements to every single one of its platforms.
The public release of OS X El Capitan 10.11.6, iOS 9.3.3, watchOS 2.2.2 and tvOS 9.3.3 are now available to Apple users, after five beta builds were seeded to developers.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command is planning to tell Android to stand down.
Charged with overseeing the Army’s elite special forces operations, the command is reportedly making a switch to iPhone because Android is unstable compared to iOS.
Apple has today seeded new beta releases for iOS 10, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10.
These are its third updates to each platform since they were first previewed at WWDC last month, and they should all make your testing devices that little bit more stable.
A new photo of Apple’s next-generation iPhone lineup all but confirms there will be an iPhone 7, an iPhone 7 Plus, and an iPhone 7 Pro. Only the latter will be blessed with a dual-lens camera and a Smart Connector, which means you’re going to have to pay a premium for them.
We’ve gathered the latest and greatest headphones for review, and will update you regularly on our favorites. Whether you’re looking for the best over-ear headphones, the best wireless, Bluetooth or sports-specific headphones, Cult of Mac has you covered.
Check back often for our latest picks!
Did you buy a DSLR camera without knowing what any of those letters stand for? The modern digital single lens reflex (you’re welcome) camera is a marvelous tool for creative expression, but without a proper introduction you might just find yourself asking, “What’s this button do?”
The Digital SLR Photography for Dummies course is perfect for anybody who wants to really make use of their camera, and right now you can sign up for $35 at Cult of Mac Deals.
British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has become the first drugmaker to use Apple’s ResearchKit platform to carry out important clinical research — with an investigation into the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.