The Disco drone looks more like a hawk. Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac
It looks like the new hotness in drone technology — which many of us associate with quadcopters — is wings. Parrot, the company most well-known for its AR Drone and various mini-drones, is bring an all-new entry into the drone space: the Disco fixed-wing drone.
If you’ve ever wanted to fly your own remote-control plane and haven’t gotten into the technology yet, this just might be your time.
The bed that might know more about how well you sleep than you do. Photo: Sleep Number
Sleep Number is perhaps one of the very few companies at CES that actually wants to put us to sleep instead of keep us awake with bright screens and games all night. It’s very latest method for accomplishing that goal is the It bed: a bed that will track different aspects of your sleep patterns during the night to inform you on just how well you’re sleeping at night. Plus, it’ll integrate with its own app and other third-party apps to do that.
For when Apple Watch needs an energy boost. Or four. Photo: Griffin
Griffin Technology introduced several new products ahead of CES 2016 that aim to improve the way you charge your Apple devices. A prominent pick is a tiny portable battery called the Travel Power Bank that delivers much needed on-the-go power to the often inadequate Apple Watch.
“With our compact, all-in-one battery and charging cable on hand, users can leave their Apple Watch charging cable safe at home with no worries about running out of power,” said Andrew Biddle, Category Manager of Power Products at Griffin Technology.
When Apple left off MagSafe connection to its USB-C MacBook, Griffin came up with a solution. Photo: Griffin
In making a smaller MacBook, Apple took away one little thing that could have us tripping – literally. Gone with all the ports on the slim 12-inch MacBook with a single USB-C port is the magnet in the connector that kept your charging cord securely plugged in.
Trip over the cord on earlier MacBooks and it broke away cleanly without sending your laptop flying. Foreseeing the accidents, tech accessory company Griffin has created a USB-C power cable with a quick-release magnetic feature.
Now find PBS Kids shows with your Siri Remote. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
It looks like Apple has expanded its killer Apple TV feature again, with Siri searches now turning up shows from PBS and PBS Kids.
This is the first sighting of the universal search feature finding results from more than just the apps included in Apple TVs initial launch, which included iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, HBO, and Showtime.
Now when you ask your Siri Remote to find shows that are available on PBS and PBS Kids, like the show about that curious monkey, you’ll see another option to watch via the Apple TV screen.
Reboot your Apple TV with style. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Is your Apple TV glitching out in some way? While I’ve not personally seen any weirdness with the rock-solid OS that comes with the Apple TV, it’s possible that you might have.
As most of us know, rebooting our Mac or restarting our iOS devices can save us from all sorts of odd behaviors; the same could be said of Apple TV. Here’s how to restart that little black box of joy, plus an easy way to get it into low-power sleep mode.
Stay organized and productive by visualizing your data and notes in a brand new way. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you spend any amount of time at the computer, there are lots of ways you can save time by making easy changes. That can be a change of habit or a solid productivity app, and we’ve found deals on three great ones for you to take advantage of. Whether visualizing your notes and data or keeping distracting websites out of the way, there’s something here to help anybody make better use of their screen time.
Tech is taking over Vegas for the week. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
2016 is here and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for CES.
The world’s biggest consumer electronics show, CES 2016, is getting underway this week in Las Vegas, which means nerds and all the companies that make the gadgets they love are instinctively flocking to the desert oasis like the salmon of Capistrano.
This year’s show promises to be bigger than ever, with all the latest tech trends on full display. Cult of Mac will be on the scene all week long bring hands-on looks at the coolest and weirdest gadgets CES has to offer.
A new type of Wi-Fi is on the way. Photo: Ming Xia/FlickrA new type of Wi-Fi is on the way. Photo: Ming Xia/FlickrWith CES, aka the world’s biggest consumer electronics show, coming up this week, we’re about to hear a whole lot more about the Internet of Things and smart, connected gadgets.
Which makes this the perfect time for the announcement of a new type of Wi-Fi called Wi-Fi HaLow, which is an extension of the upcoming 802.11ah Wi-Fi standard, designed to end up inside fitness trackers, home sensors and other smart gadgets.
Is Apple about to surprise us with a new MacBook Pro? Photo: Apple
The latest MacBook Pro has made waves, not least by adding a brand new Touch Bar feature. If you’re hankering for the latest powerhouse productivity station from Apple but don’t want to wait in line or drop the $1,800 to get one, today’s your lucky day. Right now, we’re giving away a brand new 13″ MacBook Pro at Cult of Mac Deals.
Obama decided against an Apple Watch. Photo: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
When it comes to wearables, Barack Obama has given the POTUS stamp of approval to the Fitbit Surge, leaving the Apple Watch out in the cold.
Viewers got a glimpse of Obama’s presidential wrist during his recent appearance on Jerry Seinfeld’s web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Given that Obama’s previously been open about his inability to own an iPhone (which the Apple Watch needs in order to operate) due to security concerns, it’s no surprise he would opt for a Fitbit.
Still, it’s another compelling example of why the Apple Watch 2 needs to be more of a standalone device!
Samsung is in trouble. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
In a not-exactly-happy New Year message sent to employees, Samsung chief executive Kwon Oh-hyun has warned that growth will continue to slow over the course of 2016 — with the reason being weak global economies and increased competition from the likes of Apple.
Ford is embracing the future. Photo: FordFord is bringing CarPlay and Android Auto to its new vehicles. Photo: Ford
Ford has announced that both Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto are set to be available for all its 2017 vehicles equipped with SYNC 3, beginning with the new Ford Escape.
Unfortunately it looks like they’ll be continuing into 2016, too, with Beyonce’s celebrity stylist Ty Hunter recently unveiling her own contribution to humanity’s downfall: the Ty-Lite protective case for iPhone 6 and 6s, which basically turns your handset into a light-up dressing room mirror.
Someone named a narcissistic iPhone accessory after themselves? Why am I not surprised?
Steve Jobs, Master of Magnetism. Wait, that was the other Fassbender movie, wasn't it? Photo: François Duhamel/Universal Studios
Steve Jobs may have bombed worse than the Power Mac G4 Cube, but that’s not stopping the movie from being lavished with prizes on the film festival circuit — en route to the upcoming Oscars.
This weekend, Steve Jobs actor Michael Fassbender was awarded the International Star prize at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, presented by his Steve Jobs co-star Kate Winslet.
Welcome to 2016 — if this is the year you planned to start getting your tech career off the ground, you’ve got studying to do. Luckily we’ve collected some world class educational deals related to tech industry. IT security, project management, data analysis — there’s something here to upgrade any resume.
This week on The CultCast: Why 2015 was one of Apple’s best (and worst!) years ever; what Apple needs to improve in 2016; and future tech that could change the world. Plus, stick around for our deep dive into The Force Awakens, our in-depth review of the magic, delight and heartbreak of J.J. Abrams’ new Star Wars universe.
Our thanks to FreshBooks for supporting this episode, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast.
Germany's raising prices on iPhones and iPads. Photo: Stilgut
German iPhones and iPads are going to cost more in 2016, thanks to pesky copyright laws that will up the price of every Apple smartphone and tablet sold in the country.
An iPad Air 2, running Mac OS 7.5.5 Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Since it was first released, people keep asking when the iPad will be able to run OS X, and while iOS keeps on becoming more like OS X with every passing version, you still can’t run Mac apps on your iPad… right?
Not quite. Technically, it’s possible to run Mac apps on your iPad Air 2. But prepare for it to be sloooooooow, and don’t expect El Capitan, Yosemite, or even Snow Leopard compatibility. This technique tops out with Mac OS 7.5.5, which was first released 19 years ago.
You might never need one of these again with the iPhone 7 Plus. Photo: Apple
The iPhone 6s Plus is already a monster phone. It boasts a 2,915mAh battery that can last up to two full days without recharging. But battery life could get even better with the iPhone 7 Plus. And storage space? It could double.
Back up and expand your mobile capacity by 32 gigs without having to sign up for cloud storage. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
iPhones, iPads, and Macbooks are great, but they can always be improved. Whether you’re looking to game better on your mobile or just make sure you’ve got a spare charger when your old one goes kaput, we’ve collected some of the best deals on peripherals for your portable tech.
Spot the difference. On the left is Apple's $450 Link Bracelet for Apple Watch. On the right, a $90 knockoff that gets 4.5 stars on Amazon. Photo: Apple
The internet is awash with knockoff bands for the Apple Watch that are almost as good as the genuine articles.
Knockoff products are traditionally cheap and nasty, but tons of these replica Apple Watch bands are so good, they rival Apple’s own products — at a fraction of the price.
We’ve taken a tour of knockoff band land, and found that there are lots of cheap, inexpensive bands on eBay and Amazon that are high in quality and are getting glowing reviews from customers.
“My black Apple Sport band has started flaking off, while the third-party knock-offs still look brand new,” said Neven Mrgan, a designer for Panic software in Portland, Oregon who bought a less-than-half-price band on Amazon.
Attract more users with this live course, and earn two diplomas in the process. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Marketing in the digital age comes with a whole new set of tools, concepts and challenges. Social media, SEO, video content, the range of avenues to promote a brand or product are are a vast topic, but we’ve found some great lessons for helping you chart your way to marketing mastery. Most of them are 98% off, and it doesn’t take any marketing knowledge to know that’s a good deal.
We’re finishing up 2015, and now that you’re all good and tired of your families, we’ve checked out some great December iOS games to help you decompress in solitude.
This month’s offerings should cover all of your needs, whether you like to relax with a simple match-three title or need something more strategic. We have high-def graphics, pixel art, orchestrated music, chiptunes, straight-up fighting, and strategizing. December had something for everyone.
In no particular order, here were our favorite diversions from the December rush.
Happy New Year everyone! Cover Design: Stephen Smith
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. We take a look at them all from 2015 in this end-of-year issue of the delightful and informative Cult of Mac Magazine. We’ve got Apple’s best and worst wins and fails of the year, the must-have apps on Apple TV, Mac, iOS, and Apple Watch, how to keep your toughest New Year’s resolutions with your iPhone, a quick trick on adding emojis just about anywhere, and our thoughts on why 2015 was actually Apple’s most important year since 2007.
Dive in with your own copy of Cult of Mac Magazine. Below is the rundown for this week.
Happy New Year from all of us here at Cult of Mac.