The A9 processors inside Apple's new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come from two different manufacturers and appear to perform differently. And thus "Chipgate" is born. Image: Austin Evans/YouTube
As iPhone 6s owners freak out over whether their new smartphones might be saddled with a performance-deficient chip, an app that makes it easy to identify the type of chip inside the new smartphones mysteriously vanishes from the App Store.
It’s enough to get “Chipgate” conspiracy theorists churning, but the reality is a little less dark than all that.
This bundle of six courses will provide a complete foundation and advanced command of Python, one of the most widely-used coding languages. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages out there, a clear but powerful and perfect for projects big and small. It’s a perfect addition to anyone’s resume, but like any new language it takes practice and guidance to master. This bundle of 6 lessons is like a full-immersion language course for Python, covering everything from general web development to data analysis to games, a wealth of skills and knowledge that can be yours for $29, more than 80% off the normal price.
Look, ma, no hands! Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
I just leveled up while I was driving to pick my kid up from school. I set up a digital battle using my iPhone while sitting in my driveway, hit “Go,” and then just put my iPhone down on my dashboard while I drove to get him.
I’ve been calling these types of games “auto-battlers” for their central feature: letting you skip tedious, grinding gameplay that tends to be a feature of traditional role-playing games. I don’t have time to micromanage my iPhone; chances are neither do most people, which explains the rise of casual gaming over the past five years or so.
Here are three fun mobile games that let you experience more depth than a typical Flappy Bird clone, but still don’t require too much input to enjoy.
Who wouldn't want wireless charging for their iPhone? Photo: USPTO/Apple
Wireless iPhone charging is a feature Apple fans have dreamed of for years, and it could finally be on the way — with an interesting twist that takes advantage of Apple’s unique technology.
Stomp your way to glorious sound. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Best List: Bullseye guitar effects pedals by GMF
These tiny guitar effects pedals from GMF Music will fit on any pedalboard or stage setup thanks to their unique, top-loading design. Sure, they’re small, but boy do they pack a powerful punch.
All four Bullseye pedals feature a fully shielded steel case (to minimize that hum you’ll hear at most live shows) crammed with some serious circuitry that makes it super-easy to dial in the perfect guitar sound.
Michael Dell is most familiar to long-time Apple fans as the man who told a crowd in the late-1990s that, if he was running the company, “I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”
With Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs movie currently making waves, Conan yesterday unveiled his hilarious trailer for what a Michael Dell biopic might look like.
If you ever wanted to see a Hollywood version of the Dell story — complete with inspirational lines like “Don’t think different; think same” — this is probably the closest you’re ever going to get. Check it out below.
Should we call him Harr iPotter now? Photo: Warner Bros.
Apple today announced the launch of special “Enhanced Editions” of all seven Harry Potter books, exclusively on iBooks.
Featuring interactive animations, elaborate artwork, custom covers, exclusive annotations by J.K. Rowling, and, of course, the original text, the books can be downloaded individually for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
It’s no secret that the iPhone 6s packs a pretty darn great camera, but how does it compare to a professional DSLR like the Nikon D750?
A recent 4K video shootout compares the two and, wouldn’t you know it, finds that Apple’s next-gen handset pretty much owns the Nikon in terms of filming beautiful, crisply detailed footage.
Jimmy Iovine shares a similar philosophy to Steve Jobs about music. Photo: Vanity Fair
Jimmy Iovine used his appearance at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit in San Francisco to take swipes at Spotify and, in particular, to underline his hatred of free music streaming.
“Free is a real issue,” he said. “This whole thing about freemium, maybe at one time we needed it. But now it’s a shell game … These companies [offering a free music tier] are building an audience on the back of the artist.”
There's no shortage of enthusiasm for iOS 9. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Not content with selling a whopping 13 million iPhone 6s handsets in their first weekend on sale, Apple is also smashing records with iOS 9 adoption.
According to Apple’s latest developer figures, just three weeks after its public debut, 57 percent of users with compatible mobile devices are already running iOS 9. Meanwhile, 33 percent are still using the last-generation iOS 8, while just 1 in 10 users is stuck on an earlier version.
He hasn't seen the movie, but Ive has his doubts. Photo: AP
Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive said in an interview that he has a “primal fear” over the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, and particularly the possibility that the movie could portray his former boss and friend in a negative light. He did say he hasn’t seen the film, but remains skeptical.
“I’ve talked at length with friends of Steve and of me who have seen the film,” Ive said, before later adding that there are “sons, daughters, widows and very close friends who are completely bemused and completely upset.”
But ... Apple Watch doesn't even connect to Wi-Fi. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
A new study suggests that the increased popularity of wearables like the Apple Watch and fitness trackers in the workplace is giving information technology professionals the willies.
IT tool and service provider Ipswitch polled 288 workers who feel like the burgeoning devices might present some problems, especially if they’re connected to company-owned Wi-Fi networks.
Which streaming box has earned a place by your TV? Photo: Evan Killham
Those on the lookout for a new streaming box this fall will have a tough decision to make when the fourth-generation models of both Apple TV and Roku hit the market. And while they both have some solid features, which one you end up buying depends a lot on what you already own.
Print out your own specialized sneakers with Adidas' new tech. Photo: Adidas/Futurecraft 3D
Imagine a day when you can turn on your 3D printer and just print out running shoes that match your feet perfectly.
That day may be sooner than you think: sportswear company Adidas let loose a new proof of concept it wants to bring to market soon: 3D-printed running shoes.
Called Futurecraft 3D, this lightweight, high-performance footwear boasts a running shoe midsole that you can tailor to your foot’s own cushioning needs, a clear advantage over buying off the shelf.
The new Low Battery Mode in iOS 9 means your device will last even longer than before. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
A new controversy is brewing online after it’s been revealed that not all iPhone 6s units get the same amount of battery life. The apparent culprit? The new A9 processors, which power Apple’s latest iPhones and were sourced by two chip manufacturers.
The Aeon is a hand stabilizer that keeps your GoPro footage from looking jittery. Photo: áetho
The GoPro action camera has turned average consumers into cinematic artists. But sometimes the star is not the camera itself, but the accessory that helps the camera get that award-winning clip.
A new handheld stabilizer by áetho could be the next star, preventing jerky footage with a professional smoothness that uses sensors to adjust to movement at an astounding rate of 1,000 times per second.
Hullo pillows are a sustainable, long-lasting and cost-effective way to sleep ergonomically. Photo: Hulltex
This post is brought to you by Hulltex, maker of the Hullo Buckwheat Pillow.
If you’re one of the millions of people sitting at a computer for eight hours a day, keeping proper posture is a constant concern. You buy all kinds of stopgaps — yoga ball chair, curved keyboard, ergonomic mouse — but how often do you think about keeping your spine lined up while sleeping?
The ChargeStand in the resting position. It then folds up and functions as a portable battery. Photo: Ventev Mobile
The ChargeStand is a device with a static name, one that suggests its place is on a desk or end table. But the combination charging dock and portable battery is only meant to rest when you do.
It elegantly holds your smartphone in portrait or landscape position as it charges, but as your day begins, it folds up, fits neatly in a pocket or bag and, with a 3000 mAH battery, can lend an ample supply of juice to a battery near empty.
Susan Prescott presents News at WWDC 2015. Photo: Apple
Apple is making it easier than ever for developers to find the precise instructions they need to build apps. A new tool allows devs to search for keywords within Worldwide Developers Conference videos — and then jump right to the time when the words were said.
Keep your Amazon details safe with two-step verification. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
We received a message today on our Cult of Mac Facebook page asking about calls showing up on an iPad when the call originated on an iPhone.
There are a couple of different places to turn this feature off so you’re not juggling all your iPads and MacBooks when you make or receive phone calls.
Prepare for better browsing on mobile. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Google wants to make your mobile browsing experience better than ever with its new Accelerated Pages Project. The company hopes to dramatically improve the performance of the mobile web so that pages, videos, animations, and graphics load “instantaneously.”
The new Beats Pill+ is a bigger one to swallow. Photo: Beats
The Beats Pill+ is on its way and equipped with that Apple lovin’. The successor of the Beats Pill takes a somewhat different design approach from the Beats Pill and comes with some terrific improvements to sound and battery life. Most interestingly, the speaker is the first the company released since Apple’s acquisition last year.
The next big update for OS X El Capitan is nearing completion with the release of OS X 10.11.1 beta 3 to developers and registered public beta testers.
OS X 10.11.1 build 15B30a comes just over a week since the last El Capitan beta was released. It’s available in the Apple Developer Center, as well as through the Software Update option in the Mac App Store.