Cult of Mac

If you don’t have your phone on silent, you may as well have a fun, custom iPhone ringtone. After all, custom Home Screens and Lock Screens are all the rage — you can create a ringtone that matches your aesthetic.

Between wearing an Apple Watch and leaving my phone muted, I almost never hear my ringtone, but needs and preferences vary. If you don’t wear an Apple Watch and you carry your phone in a bag or purse, a ringtone is the only way you’ll hear a call coming in.

It’s not super straightforward, but here’s how you can make a custom iPhone ringtone out of an MP3 using just your phone. Keep reading below or watch our video.

Delta, the all-in-one retro game emulator for iPhone, will soon be available on the iPad. Riley Testut, the game emulator’s developer, confirmed its imminent launch on the App Store.

Apple recently changed the App Store guidelines, opening the platform to retro game emulators.

Apple could upgrade many of iPhone’s built-in apps with iOS 18 later this year. Reportedly, this includes Notes, Mail, Photos, and Fitness.

However, there’s no word on how Apple will improve these core iPhone apps and what features to expect.

Apple’s upcoming OLED iPad Pro reportedly will begin the company’s shift into AI hardware. The new tablets could sport the next-gen M4 chip to power all the AI features.

If this report proves accurate, Apple will skip bringing its existing M3 SoC to its flagship tablet lineup.

Apple is reportedly mere days away from launching Beats Solo Buds truly wireless earbuds. And Beats Solo 4 over-the-ears headphones will also premiere on Tuesday, April 30, according to an unconfirmed report.

Both will supposedly cost significantly less than similar AirPods models, though without all the same features.

You want to wake up with your iPhone charged. And you want a soothing night light to set the perfect mood during your downtime. If that sounds like you, this night light charging station is your perfect iPhone accessory.

Get a 15W wireless charger that doubles as a night light for just $39.99 (regularly $99).

We know new iPads are on the way, but the one thing we don’t expect at Apple’s May 7 event is a price cut. If you want a budget tablet, a refurbished iPad is the way to go. For a limited time, you can get a refurbished sixth-gen iPad for only $154.97, accessories included.

There’s a good chance watching video on your iPhone is about to get better. Net neutrality rules passed by the FCC this week reportedly forbid U.S. wireless carriers from lowering the quality of streaming video to throttle the amount of data its consumes.

So if you watch Apple TV+, Netflix, etc. on your iPhone, your carrier is no longer allowed to reduce the video quality.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The surprise Apple event on May 7 looks like an iPad and Apple Pencil extravaganza. What’s on Cupertino’s agenda? We discuss all the latest iPad rumors.

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple might finally fix one of the iPad’s most glaring omissions. Can you say iPad calculator app?
• iOS 18’s big push into artificial intelligence leaves some of us hopeful and others of us skeptical. Same goes for the iPhone 16’s rumored move away from physical buttons.
• Some new Apple Watch Series X concept art gets our hearts pounding. (Better check that ECG!)
• Plus, an instant tangent where we hear all about Erfon’s failed attempt at buying his dream camera.

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.

While it might seem a little dystopian, the Pop-A-Shade tent is an excellent way for techies to spend time outdoors while staying plugged in to their work or creative projects. Protection from water is great for laptops and tablets. And shade from the sun is essential for preventing eyeball strain and sunburns. This pop-up tent does it all … and it’s on sale, just in time for your sizzling summer.

The Pop-A-Shade tent is 65% off right now at only $27.99 (regularly $79.99).

Many Apple users report suddenly being locked out of their Apple ID account on their devices. Worse, they could not log back into their account with their password, forcing them to reset their login credentials.

Apple has not yet acknowledged this issue, and it does not appear linked to any iCloud server outages.

Apple has reportedly resumed talks with OpenAI about using its technology to power iOS 18’s AI features. The company will use OpenAI’s LLM model to seemingly power an AI-based chatbot.

OpenAI and Apple are also discussing how they can integrate OpenAI features into iOS 18.

Applications that advertised the ability to use AI to turn regular images into nudes have reportedly been removed from the iPhone App Store.

Apple needed to be notified of their existence, though.

A new 75% compact mechanical gaming keyboard with a retro look includes a decidedly modern and unusual feature — a customizable LCD screen. The Epomaker TH80 Pro V2 VIA is “designed for an extreme gaming and typing experience,” the company said Thursday.

The cool new keeb is an update on Epomaker’s popular TH80 Pro keyboard.

Monitor stands, aka monitor risers or desk shelves, are often unsung heroes of computer setups. Even just a single shelf can add so much in terms of organization and ergonomics. In today’s colorful and artistic Mac mini workstation, the Fenge monitor riser is crucial. Without it, the desktop would devolve into chaos. 

If Earth Day got you thinking about ways to reduce your carbon footprint, check out these rechargeable batteries. They can prevent up to 2,000 disposable batteries from entering landfills — and save you hundreds of dollars in the process.

Plus, these batteries come with a twist. Unlike other rechargeables, you don’t need a clunky charging station. They recharge with an included four-way micro-USB cable you plug directly into them!

Get a four-pack of rechargeable AA batteries for $15.99 (regularly $49.95). (AAA batteries are also available.)

A juicy and lurid new documentary crime series is coming to Apple TV+ soon with Hollywood Con Queen, judging by the fast-paced trailer the streamer dropped for it Thursday. It “explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams.”

The three-part docuseries premieres May 8 on Apple TV+.

Although Apple’s chip-maker TSMC will start making processors with a 2nm process in 2025, production could begin too late for next year’s iPhone.

Still, TSMC says 1.6nm chips will go into production in 2026.

The new iMazing 3 app redesign brings a fresh user interface and Vision Pro connectivity support to the software, developer DigiDNA said Wednesday. The widely used software helps you manage iPhone, iPad and iPod content and functionality from a Mac.

“In the eight year since we released iMazing 2, regular updates have improved functionality and expanded device and OS support,” said DigiDNA CEO Jerome Bedat.

“To achieve our vision for iMazing 3, we had to redevelop our approach, with a modern user interface and new codebase that will allow us to deliver features in the future that no one else can offer,” he added.

You don’t need to dust off your old Atari (if you even still owne it) or travel back in time to play your old favorite arcade games. This retro-inspired Atari console from My Arcade comes with officially licensed titles like Pong, Asteroids and more than 200 others.

And, dare we say, it’s also a bit cooler than the original.

Plus, it’s on sale. While the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro regularly sells for $99.99, you can get a new, open-box model for only $69.99.

Apple Pencil 3 is apparently right around the corner, and leaks indicate the next iPad stylus will offer several features not in the previous one. That includes a new “squeeze” gesture, haptic feedback and Find My support.

Plus, it might also work as a Vision Pro stylus.

WhatsApp is making it easier to log into your account on your iPhone with passkey support. The feature will allow you to verify your identity through Face ID, Touch ID, or device PIN.

Once you have set up a passkey for your WhatsApp account, you can set up the app on a new iPhone through biometric authentication, skipping the SMS code entirely.

Apple saw iPhone activations decline to 33% of new smartphone activations in the US in Q1 2024, the lowest number in the country since 2017, according to a market-research firm. In the year-ago quarter, iPhones accounted for 40% of new smartphone activations in the US. In just 12 months, the company has seen its share fall by 7%.

The decline doesn’t necessarily stem from a lack of interest in Apple’s products — iPhone’s share of the installed smartphone base has actually increased. Partly it’s because iOS handsets last so long.

Savvy shoppers can now buy Apple Watch Series 9 from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store. It’s a no-risk way to pick up the wearable at up to $110 below the usual price.

These are primarily devices that consumers bought then returned so supplies and selection are somewhat limited.

Two concurrent Apple sales at Amazon bargain site Woot! run for the next week or so — one on iMacs and Accessories and one for a selection of Apple Accessories. It’s a good chance to stock up on big and small stuff alike.

“An Apple a Day… is really expensive!” the site quips. Both sales run through May 1 at 10 p.m. PT.