Mobile menu toggle

Watch Microsoft CEO’s demo with ‘iPhone Pro’

By

Microsoft's CEO loves the iPhone.
Microsoft's CEO loves the iPhone.
Photo: Salesforce

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was spotted using an iPhone at Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference this week, and while Nadella insisted the device wasn’t actually his, he was all too proud to show off the amazing apps his company is making for it.

Nadella even gave his device a new name, dubbing it the ‘iPhone Pro’ (a little knock on the iPad Pro that was recently announced) because it was running all of Microsoft’s apps.

Check out Nadella’s demo below:

The greatest (bike) show on earth

By

Uvex's Variotronic sunglasses darken up at the touch of a button.
Uvex's Variotronic sunglasses darken up at the touch of a button.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

LAS VEGAS — If you noticed a substantial drop in leg-shaved and Lycra-clad bicyclists on the roads in your part of the world it is because they are all taking a spin in Sin City.

They didn’t come for the penny slots, forced air and big-ass beers, though. They made the pilgrimage to Vegas to attend the annual mega-bike show known as Interbike. It brings out industry giants like Giro and Shimano, but the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well too, with small builders and garage tinkerers showing off their latest big ideas.

Cult of Mac walked the show floor on day one look at it all. Here is some of the coolest new stuff we found.

Smart necklace keeps you connected and looking fabulous

By

The Miragii pendant can project messages onto your hand and stores an earpiece for calls or music.
The Miragii pendant can project messages onto your hand and stores an earpiece for calls or music.
Photo: Miraggi

Some fashion and tech pundits have written that the Apple Watch is a little industrial looking or too geeky to appeal to women. Why can’t a woman be connected in feminine style?

A startup company says she absolutely can with a smart necklace that looks like a stunning piece of jewelry while equipped with a tiny projector that displays texts and calls onto the hand.

Just like Ahmed: Woz got arrested for building gadgets in school

By

Irving MacArthur High School student Ahmed Mohamed.
Irving MacArthur High School student Ahmed Mohamed.
Photo: Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News

Ahmed Mohamed can count Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak among his many supporters in the tech world. According to Woz’s most recent Facebook post, he sees a lot of himself in the 14-year-old Texas boy who was arrested for bringing a homemade digital clock to school.

While Ahmed’s teacher mistook his clock for a bomb, Woz says he built a similar gadget when he was in high school — only he actually wanted people to think it was a bomb. Woz even spent a night in juvie for the stunt (where he used the opportunity to teach inmates how to shock guards).

Here’s the story in Woz’s own words:

Rocky launch puts a damper on iOS 9 adoption rate

By

iphone-transit
iOS 9 adoption isn't as fast as iOS 7's was.
Photo: Apple

The public release of iOS 9 got off to a rocky start yesterday but it appears that Apple’s problematic servers didn’t stop the big software update from gaining faster adoption in the first 18 hours than iOS 8.

Even though iPhone and iPad users are downloading iOS 9 at a slightly faster rate than they installed iOS 8, the number crunchers at TapyJoy found that iOS 9 is still lagging way behind iOS 7’s adoption rate.

Check out the race in the comparison chart below:

Find My iPhone reunites family that escaped California wildfire

By

Find My iPhone
Find my iPhone helped reunite a separated family.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection was reunited with his family after they fled their burning home — thanks to Apple’s “Find my iPhone” feature.

Paul Duncan was on a job fighting a forest fire in Hidden Valley, California, when he received a panicked call from his wife saying that his family — consisting of his wife, son and two teenaged daughters — had escaped from their neighborhood when another major wildfire broke out.

New Steve Jobs trailer shows Jobs’ triumphant return to Apple

By

Screen Shot 2015-09-17 at 16.15.27
Steve strikes a pose.
Photo: Universal Pictures

The forthcoming Steve Jobs movie just got a brand new trailer and, to use a Jobsian cliché, it really is insanely great.

Taking a more positive spin than some of the earlier ads — and showing Jobs’ triumphant late-90s return to Apple — it should silence critics (Tim Cook, we’re looking at you!) suggesting the movie is a muck-raking exercise about Apple’s former CEO.

Check it out below.

You’ll want this pretty leather sleeve for your iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

By

pad-apple-pencil-ipad-pro-sleeve
The Pad & Pencil sleeve is for your iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.
Photo: Shawn Saunders

Well that didn’t take very long. A little over a week after Apple announces the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard accessories, a leather sleeve has emerged on Kickstarter to nicely pair your new 12.9-inch tablet with the stylus.

The new Pad & Pencil is a snazzy case for your iPad Pro made with high-grade, oil-tanned leather. It slips on and covers your entire iPad Pro, plus has an extending pocket on the side for safely storing your Apple Pencil.

Mercedes won’t become Foxconn for the Apple Car

By

Mercedes concept car from CES 2015. Photo: Mercedes
A Mercedes concept car shown at CES 2015.
Photo: Mercedes

Steve Jobs may have famously driven a silver Mercedes SL55 AMG without a license plate, but don’t think that Mercedes-Benz is lining up to be the company that builds Apple’s much-rumored electric car.

“We do not plan to become the Foxconn of Apple,” said Dieter Zetsche, chief executive of Daimler, the company which builds Mercedes vehicles, speaking at this week’s Frankfurt International Motor Show.

Amazon beats Apple to 4K with Fire TV, Fire TV Gaming Edition

By

amazon-beats-apple-to-4k-with-new-fire-tv-and-fire-tv-gaming-edition-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Fire_TV_Gaming_Edition_highres-jpg
Fire TV Gaming Edition.
Photo: Amazon
Fire TV Gaming Edition. Photo: Amazon
Fire TV Gaming Edition. Photo: Amazon

Disappointed the new Apple TV doesn’t support 4K? Then get Amazon’s new Fire TV instead.

Two new versions of the device — Fire TV and Fire TV Gaming Edition — are here with updated internals that make them 75 percent faster than their predecessor, plus Alexa, Amazon’s own virtual assistant that is the brains behind the Echo speaker.

There’s also a new Fire TV Stick that promises the best Wi-Fi performance in a media-streaming dongle.

Carly Fiorina got a call from Steve Jobs after getting fired

By

17209610097_0089a67d86_k
That's the Apple fan vote sorted, then.
Photo: John Pemble/Flickr CC

For most people, the most memorable event coming out of yesterday’s CNN debate was the face-off between Donald Trump and Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina.

For Apple fans, it was the news that Steve Jobs had once called Fiorina at home to offer his condolences on her losing her job at Hewlett-Packard.

Is there a better way to appeal to tech fans in a campaign than to name-drop Steve? Except offering everyone brand-new iPhones, of course.

Extra! Extra! Apple wants to keep fighting its eBook price-fixing lawsuit

By

gavel-court-hammer-judge-lawsuit
This is like a really, really long John Grisham novel.

In a story that would, ironically, make a pretty good eBook holiday thriller, Apple has dredged up its seemingly-ended eBook pricing conspiracy lawsuit — asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling stating that Apple conspired to fix eBook prices when it launched its original iPad and iBook store in January 2010.

Yep, it’s the return of the lawsuit that will never end!

Fandroids are crying over Apple’s Move to iOS app

By

fandroids-are-crying-over-apples-move-to-ios-app-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Screen-Shot-2015-09-17-at-130058-png
Yep, this clearly struck a nerve. Photo: Google
Yep, this clearly struck a nerve. Photo: Google

Android fans have made it clear that they are not happy that Apple’s first-ever app for Android is an undisguised attempt to get them to pack in their Samsung Galaxy S5 or Moto X for a shiny new iPhone 6s.

Since debuting yesterday in time for the launch of iOS 9, Android lovers have “awarded” Apple’s Move to iOS app a massive 2,736 1-star reviews in the Google Play Store, with reviews ranging from the angry to the… well, angrier.

The best apps already equipped for iOS 9

By

Siri
"Hey Siri, which iOS 9 apps should I download?"
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

iOS 9 is out and, unsurprisingly, app developers are springing to take advantage of its new features.

There are already too many to provide a fully comprehensive list of every iOS 9-optimized app out there, but we’ve pulled together a selection of some of the best — to give you a test drive of some of the best features of Apple’s latest mobile OS.

Read on for our picks.

Apple snaps up company to improve its Maps

By

iOS 9 transit maps
Now live in France, Germany, Spain, and more.
Photo: Apple

A new acquisition from Apple suggests that the iPhone maker might be getting into the map-making business.

The company paid as much as $30 million for a 12-person San Francisco startup that specializes in parsing location data into visualizations, according to reports.

First Siri Remote cover advocates safe gaming

By

Survivor Play for Siri Remote Apple TV
Griffin Technology's Survivor Play hopes to help you get a grip on your Apple TV remote.
Photo: Griffin Technology

The sweatiness of your hands may no longer be a concern when you upgrade to a new Apple TV this fall. A newly announced cover for the Siri Remote claims it will provide grip and comfort while you play iOS games on the big screen.

The accessory is called Survivor Play for Siri Remote, and it comes courtesy of Griffin Technology, known for its rugged and durable phone and tablet cases.

Pro Tip: New emoji aren’t out for iOS 9 yet

By

Emojis
How will we express this emotion?!
Photo: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bugSome iPhone and iPad users upgrading to iOS 9 today have been looking forward to expressing their love of tacos, burritos, and unicorns — and their disdain for everything else — using the much-touted new emojis, which include the coveted and versatile “middle finger” icon.

But unfortunately for those folks, we’re going to have to wait a little longer to start flipping things the bird.

Our biggest app bundle ever has something to improve anyone’s Mac & right now it’s 94% off [Deals]

By

This bundle of 15 apps will give your Mac a whole new set of skills, streamlined performance, and security features.
This bundle of 15 apps will give your Mac a whole new set of skills, streamlined performance, and security features.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You could be doing a lot more with your computer. The Mega Mac 2015 Bundle will help you get better performance, security and even a couple new tricks out of your Mac. From remote file access to HDR photography, enhanced web searches and tapping into Google’s Deep Dream, and a lot more in-between, there’s something in here for everybody.

It’s all going for a whopping 94% off, just $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

How to use content blockers in iOS 9 (and whitelist Cult of Mac!)

By

Silentium (left) and Purify, two great content blockers for iOS 9.
Silentium (left) and Purify, two great content blockers for iOS 9.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

iOS 9 includes a new feature that desktop users have had for a while: content blocking. More conventionally known as ad blockers, this software cuts out all the advertisements and other cruft from web pages, allowing faster load times and a more streamlined experience.

Of course, most websites you read these days (including Cult of Mac!) rely on advertising to keep the lights on.

Luckily for all of us, most new content blockers let you whitelist specific sites so you can continue to help them pay their bills.

Apple’s first Android app is a poison pill

By

apple-makes-its-first-android-app-move-to-ios-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Move-to-iOS-jpg
Get a move on...to iOS! Photo: Apple
Get a move on…to iOS! Photo: Apple

In a bold new move, Apple has just placed its first Android app on the Google Play Store.

No, it’s not Apple Music for Android, but rather Move to iOS, a new app that lets Android switchers easily transfer all their data and information over to a brand new shiny iPhone.

Apple’s iOS 9 update woes break the Internet’s heart

By

iOS 9 not working Twitter
We know you're upset, Sir, but please stop fueling our nightmares.
Photo: @YunnqPrince (via Twitter)

If you’re having trouble downloading iOS 9, you’re not alone.

Apple released the latest version of its mobile operating system today, but a lot of users are getting download errors when they try to snag the new firmware. With nowhere left to turn, they have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations.

Here are some of the more interesting reactions we’ve seen from people who just can’t seem to get that download started.

17 secret iOS 9 tricks everyone should know

By

iOS 9 has tons of little tweaks waiting for you.
iOS 9 has tons of little tweaks waiting for you.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Once you get your iPhone upgraded to iOS 9, you might be overwhelmed. While Apple’s new mobile OS doesn’t pack a lot of grand new visual features, the update does include tons of little tricks that make using your iPhone and iPad even more ridiculously easy to use.

Here are all the secret iOS 9 tricks every user should know:

Why Apple TV’s strict new gaming mandate is a good thing

By

The best controller for Apple TV is the one you'll use.
The best controller for Apple TV is the one you'll use.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s flip-flop on game controllers for Apple TV might be bad news for developers, but it’s great news for gamers.

It’s a virtual guarantee that all games will work better out of the box when running on the refreshed Apple TV, which will have its own App Store for the first time.