Mobile menu toggle

How to set up your Apple TV the right way

By •

Ready. (tv) set,  go!
Ready. (tv) set, go!
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV is out and it’s pretty fantastic.

Running through setup is fairly simple, but we all could use a little advice on how best to make our choices along the way.

With that in mind, then, let’s run through the Apple TV arrangements in order.

Tiny preamp will solve your biggest audio problems

By •

beachtek dxa-slr ultra
Filming Leander for his Kahney's Korner videos is always a challenge, but thanks to the DXA SLR Ultra, now there's no need for a hissy fit.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Best List: Beachtek DXA-SLR Ultra preamplifier

Hssssssssss.

Hssssssssss.

I told one of my favorite photographers, Mike Kepka, that I was trying to shoot a little video, but that my audio sounded horrid. He happens to be pretty decent videographer. And a little bit of a gearhead (at least in comparison to me).

“Get a Beachtek,” said Mike.

“What is the hell is that?” I said. “And do you have one?”

How to access open Google Chrome tabs on Android and iOS

By •

how-to-access-open-google-chrome-tabs-on-android-and-ios-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201511Chrome-open-tabs-syncing-jpg
Syncing open tabs is easy in Google Chrome. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Syncing open tabs is easy in Google Chrome. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Did you know that it’s incredibly easy to access open Chrome tabs on your Android and iOS device? So if you’re reading an article on your computer and you have to dash out, you can access it later while you’re on the go without having to search for it again, type in a URL, or email links to yourself.

Here’s how.

Facebook orders employees to switch to Android

By •

facebook-orders-employees-to-switch-to-android-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201409IMG_2466-jpg
Facebook's chief product officer has had enough of workers preferring the iPhone.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Facebook-Android
Facebook’s chief product officer has had enough of workers preferring the iPhone. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Facebook has a problem of iPhone love: too many of its employees prefer Apple’s device when given the chance between an iPhone and Android smartphone. This means that up until now, far less workers have been able to truly live in an Android environment where they can identify bugs within Facebook and fix them. Now, the chief product officer is changing that by ordering some employees to switch to Android.

Yes, your glass Apple TV remote will break if you drop it

By •

The first known casualty of the new Apple TV is this dropped remote.
The first known casualty of the new Apple TV is this dropped remote.
Photo: right2pandaarms/Reddit

The tech accessories industry had better get to work on coming up with a protective case for a new Apple product that appears to be fragile – the remote control for Apple TV.

The above remote fell onto a tiled floor from a person’s lap and shattered. It does not work, costing the owner an extra $79 to replace it (nope, he did not purchase Apple Care).

This tiny black brick adds a layer of backup to your regular Apple charger [Deals]

By •

NomadPlus mounts the regular white Apple USB hub, turning it into a portable 1800mAh battery.
NomadPlus mounts the regular white Apple USB hub, turning it into a portable 1800mAh battery.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

All of us iPhone users know the feeling of having to pull the plug and get out the door before the battery’s done charging. The sleek white charging block that comes with our phone channels the charge but can’t carry it, but with the NomadPlus it can. Designed to snugly fit Apple’s USB hub, it’s a great way to turn your average wall charger into a portable battery for just $24.99.

Apple says ‘screw you’ to Europe’s largest hacker conference

By •

Apple offers up to $1.5 million to anyone who spots a software flaw
You know, hackers like these guys!
Photo: United Artists

The Chaos Computer Club, Europe’s largest collective of hackers, claims that Apple rejected the group’s streaming video app — which would allow users to watch talks from its Chaos Communications Congress event.

Why? Because members of the conference had previously hacked iOS, and Apple doesn’t want to help spread the hacking word.

Steve Jobs had another disastrous weekend at the box office

By •

giphy
Steve Jobs biopic in one sad GIF.
Photo: Reddit

Yikes! Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs movie is now being talked about as the year’s most disappointing box office flop, after taking a beating in its second weekend in theaters — dropping from a dismal $7.3 million opening weekend to just $2.58 million over the past couple of days.

I’m guessing at this point there’s no talk of Steve Jobs II: Think Differenter in the making!

Apple testing out indoor location-tracking app

By •

CSwhfgIW4AEe556.png_large
It's like Apple's version of the Harry Potter Marauder's Map.
Photo: Apple

Apple is currently letting developers test a new Indoor Survey iOS app, which would allow iPhone users to use indoor positioning technology to pinpoint exact locations in real-time, without the need for extra hardware.

The app is part of Apple’s continuing quest to up its game when it comes to mapping technology.

Bond producers rejected $50m offer so 007 wouldn’t have to use an Android

By •

bond-producers-rejected-50m-offer-so-007-wouldnt-have-to-use-an-android-2-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201511maxresdefault-jpg
The name's Sung. Sam Sung. Photo: MGM
The name’s Sung. Sam Sung. Photo: MGM

James Bond depressed the brake in his Aston Martin, slowing the silver beast down to stalking speed. As the car dawdled outside the six-star Maldives hotel, he rolled up the sleeve of his Giorgio Armani shirt, checked the time on his gleaming $20,000 Omega watch, and then reached into his pocket and withdrew the middling Samsung Galaxy S6.

Something’s wrong with the above scene — and Bond producers seemingly thought so too, because apparently they turned down a massive $50 million marketing and promotional package from Samsung, which would have seen Bond carry a Samsung handset in the new movie Spectre.

Why? Because Bond only uses the best.

This is what a full-screen iPhone 7 could look like

By •

iPhone 6s
An edge-to-edge display would look great on the iPhone 7.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

There have been plenty of rumors about Apple creating a bezel-less iPhone, but a new concept by designers DeepMind, in collaboration with SvetApple, may be my favorite yet.

It’s a nifty feature which would keep the iPhone looking like the current model — only with the neat addition of letting users enlarge photos and video right to the edge of their devices.

Check out the video below.

Who’s Down, Lumino City and other awesome apps of the week

By •

appsoftheweek_1024
'Appy weekend all!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

How does this happen? Already the weekend is halfway over, but — don’t worry — before Monday hits, we’ve got some great app suggestions for you.

Whether you’re looking for a fun socializing app, or a zanily original iOS puzzle game, we’re certain that we’ve got what you’re looking for.

Check out our list below.

Top tools and tips for mastering the modern design landscape [Deals]

By •

Macaw's Web Design Tool makes coding an simple matter of moving visual elements around on the screen.
Macaw's Web Design Tool makes coding an simple matter of moving visual elements around on the screen.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The way we use technology to communicate is transforming, and design is changing right along with it. Being caught up with the tools and techniques of web, visual and interactive design is key to being effective in the field of technology, which makes these deals especially exciting and useful.

Giant discounts on a pair of Monster portable storage drives [Deals]

By •

Monster's 128 gigabyte flash storage drive is sleek, lightweight, capacious, and secure.
Monster's 128 gigabyte flash storage drive is sleek, lightweight, capacious, and secure.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s Halloween season, but prices of these two Monsters are anything but scary. With cavernous storage and solid state storage, these are two devices you can take with you free of the worry of a dying motor or a scratched disc. And at more than half off, they’re going for a price that can’t be beat.

Shadowy messenger bag will thrill gear-hauling ninjas

By •

What's inside? Only the Shadow knows.
What's inside? Only the Shadow knows.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Do you want to be known for carrying a stylish computer bag or would you rather be known for being stylish? The Shadow by booq will let you stand out without calling attention to itself while it works to earn a different label: your everyday bag.

The Shadow blends seamlessly with whatever personal style you front with a simple silhouette sans leather or metal accents. You have to look hard to find the brand name. Thick, water-resistant ballistic nylon conceals the ample padding that protects any laptop up to 15 inches.

Nintendo’s first ever iOS game and Apple’s insanely great year on The CultCast

By •

From N.E.S. to iOS: Nintendo is coming to your iPhone.
From N.E.S. to iOS: Nintendo is coming to your iPhone.
Photo: Howard Phillips

This week: Apple just had their best year ever, and it’s hard to fathom how much cold hard cash they made—we’ll put it in perspective. Plus: Nintendo’s first iOS game confuses us; the new Apple TV isn’t quite the revolution Apple promised; and stick around for a spooky new Get to Know Ur Cultist… if you DARE.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Build a beautiful website quick at Squarespace.com, and enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off.

How to set personal fitness goals with Apple Watch

By •

Positive goals, like training for a marathon, tend to be more effective than negative goals, like losing weight.
Get creative with your goals to achieve greater results.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch gives you three goals: standing, moving and exercise. But these aren’t really goals. They are actually more like targets.

A real goal is something you want to achieve — an outcome you have in mind that is so important, it motivates you into action. Starting a fitness program without this kind of goal is like going on a road trip without any idea of your destination. Maybe you’ll arrive someplace nice, but don’t count on it.

So when it comes to fitness, the big question is: What are you trying to achieve?

Amazon barges into mobile payments ring

By •

$1 trillion
Pay with Amazon buttons have plenty of ammo given the over 200 million Amazon accounts.
Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web

Amazon will start taking more advantage of the millions of credit cards it has on file with new “Pay with Amazon” buttons. The expansion to Amazon Payments will allow third-party developers to include these buttons in their mobile apps and have users quickly sign in to process payments. Since all their payment information is already with Amazon, checkout processes should be much speedier without having to reenter everything. It looks like Apple Pay and PayPal need to watch out.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Apple TV Review – The good, the bad and the ugly

By •

We've got your Apple TV review right here, baby, yeah.
We've got your Apple TV review right here, baby, yeah.
Screen: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s finally here! The Apple TV we’ve all been waiting for should be arriving in homes across the world today. We’ve got our review of the cute little black box, plus a ton more, including the biggest takeaways from Apple’s recent earnings call, how Google is facing its own Bendgate issues, 10 delightful new iOS games from the month of October, and how to get those gorgeous Apple TV screensavers right on your Mac.

All that, plus the usual plethora of news, reveiws, and how-tos, and you’ve got yourself a hot new free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Be sure to download our fantastic app today.

Here’s the rundown of the top stories this week:

Apple Watch alligator bands are not a croc

By •

Prime American alligators have some skin in the Apple Watch accessories game.
Prime American alligators have some skin in the Apple Watch accessories game.
Photo: Bianca Mosca

Cupertino, Calif. and the swamps of Louisiana may sound like a mismatched marriage. But the luxury design house Bianca Mosca knew the two would make a beautiful pair when it launched alligator bands for the Apple Watch.

If the Apple Watch fell flat with some fashion critics when it first arrived earlier this year, it could possibly change some minds with a lushly-textured exotic skin band that comes in 11 colors.

Is the new Apple TV this year’s most exciting release from Cupertino?

By •

Have you got yours yet?
Have you got yours yet?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new Apple TV is here, and there’s no doubt it’s the best set-top box we’ve seen from Cupertino, with powerful new hardware and the tvOS operating system, Siri integration — and most importantly, support for third-party apps and games.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2If you’re into movies and TV shows, or playing the greatest iOS games on your big screen, the new Apple TV is probably at the top of your wish-list if you haven’t already bought one. But how does it compare to the other products Apple has launched this year? Is it better than the rest?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over that very question!

Ready up for Titanfall’s mobile debut next year

By •

ready-up-for-titanfalls-mobile-debut-next-year-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201510titanfall-jpg
Free-to-play games set in the Titanfall  universe are coming to your mobile devices next year. Photo: Respawn Entertainment
Free-to-play games set in the Titanfall universe are coming to your mobile devices next year. Photo: Respawn Entertainment

Ready to boost you and your giant mecha fighters into battle on your Android or iOS phone?

Looks like you’ll only need to wait until 2016, says developer Respawn Entertainment, for several new mobile titles set in the popular first person shooter franchise, Titanfall.