Maybe this wasn't a fake after all? Photo: Gizmochina
Not content with competing with Apple in the smartphone and wearables category, noted ripoff artists Xiaomi are reportedly considering unveiling their very first notebook computer early in 2016.
You can save yourself from headaches with this subtle new iOS 9 feature. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Finally! Apple has added a small yet incredibly useful feature to the way iOS 9 handles Bluetooth devices.
In the past, you’d have to drop into the Bluetooth settings, tap on an offending Bluetooth device, and tell your iPhone or iPad to Forget the device, just to re-pair it or use the built in speakers. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent doing that, especially when I get a call while connected to a speakerphone-capable audio device; I have a lot of Bluetooth speakers.
Now however, Apple’s added a little extra so you can disconnect from a Bluetooth device instead of Forget it entirely, making it much easier to, say, stop using a specific speaker and return to your iPhone’s built-in speaker.
Who knew coloring could be so restful, even for adults? Photo: Recolor
One way I can often determine if an app is worth my time is by putting it through a specific test. If I get so sucked into an app that I forget I’m actually supposed to be gathering thoughts to write up a review, it’s because that app is generally pretty awesome. I had this somewhat rare experience with Recolor, a new coloring book app for adults on iOS.
Bill Simmons nearly signed with Apple. Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE
Apple is looking to create its own original content, and according to a new report, that almost included signing former ESPN ‘Sports Guy’ Bill Simmons to provide an exclusive podcast for Apple users.
ESPN abrupty announced that they would not be renewing Simmons’ contract earlier this year, which led Apple media boss Eddy Cue to gauge the ESPN star’s interest in creating an exclusive audio podcast deal, before he decided to sign on a multi-platform deal with HBO.
With a mere $1,259.95, you can now buy a professional camera drone from the Apple Store.
Called the DJI Phantom 3, it shoots 4K video with a bottom mounted 12 megapixel camera, has a 3-axis stabilization system, and you can run it all from your iPhone or its own remote controller.
You know, for all those legal drone shots you want to take.
The power of the internet lies in the conversations it carries. If you’re looking to build an online reputation for your business or brand, you’ve got to make sure your voice is heard where it counts.
Wherever someone is talking about something you can relate to, there’s an opportunity to attract new followers and customers. The trick is finding them, and BuzzBundle can help.
The makers of the SNOOZ white noise machine vow to turn your bedroom into a "haven for sleep." Photo: SNOOZ
Maybe the problem with your sleep is the noise. You actually might need a little.
A startup called SNOOZ has developed a white noise machine based on the premise that quiet rooms make our hearing acuter. The breeze-like sound coming from its machine will provide a gentle buffer between you and sudden startling sounds.
New social features add solid functionality to both iOS and Android versions. Photo: Instagram
Photo-sharing service Instagram takes another step closer to becoming its own self-contained social network today with features aimed at the 85 million folks using Instagram Direct, which lets you send direct messages to individual users or groups of up to 15 people.
The new features include threaded messaging and a new way to share Instagram videos or photos within those direct messages.
The International Space Station occasionally has to dodge pieces of debris floating in space. Photo: NASA
To see a satellite image of the field of space debris that floats around the earth is like looking at fleas swarming an unfortunate dog. About a half-million pieces of debris are the size of a marble, but even tiny pieces that travel more than 17,000 miles per hour could be deadly to a spacecraft with astronauts.
Researchers from the University of Michigan and NASA have developed a self-healing material that could instantly plug up a hole in the hull of a ship just milliseconds after impact.
The new Google logo is simpler than ever. Photo: Google
Google revealed it’s getting a new logo today that ditches its rough edges for a more simplified (some would say childish) design. The change comes just a month after the company announced it was being restructured with Sundar Pichai taking the CEO reigns of the company now owned by Alphabet.
The new logo was introduced this morning on a blog post from Google’s VP of product management, Tamar Yehoshua, and UX director Bobby Nath, who justified their kiddie logo, saying it’s supposed to reflect the many platforms users interact with Google on throughout the day.
Name your price to get these 10 productivity-boosting apps for your Mac. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Want to give your Mac a +10 level-up without your wallet taking a hit? Then we’ve got the deal for you. With these 10 apps, your computer will be capable of a whole new level of productivity, from running Windows applications to optimizing your calendar, building websites to instantly converting media files. And right now you can pay what you want for the whole lot at Cult of Mac Deals.
Apple Stores are about to look like this inside and out. Photo: Apple
Memphis will be one of the first cities in the U.S. to get a ‘next generation’ Apple Store, as part of Apple’s big retail revamp that’s expected to start later this year.
Apple has applied for a $1.5 million building permit for a new storefront and interior renovation at 2031 West St, according to a new report that claims the store will be one of Apple’s first new stores with the next-gen design. It’s unclear what kind of layout the new stores will have, but Apple’s application does reveal a few details on how the company plans to gussy up the new retail locations.
The Holga, a favored toy camera of artists and photographers, will have a digital model thanks to Kickstarter. Photo: Holga
I have three Holga cameras sitting in a box with at least one still loaded with film. Plastic and unpredictable, the low-fi aesthetic makes portraits and landscapes look dreamy and from another time.
But film isn’t as easy or as cheap to develop, scan and print as it once was, so many photographers like me have watched the dust build up on these cameras while hoping a digital alternative would come along so we could relive the surprise and magic in a Holga picture.
The Hong Kong company that has been making Holga cameras since 1981 now has a digital offspring available on Kickstarter.
Former senior director of Apple Music has a new job in Paris. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Departed Apple Music senior director Ian Rogers will join French luxury company LVMH — the company which owns iconic luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Bulgari — as its new chief digital officer.
Prime Video now works offline. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of MacPrime Video now works offline. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Amazon Prime Video today took a massive step toward beating Netflix by adding offline video to its growing list of advantages. The feature allows users to download movies and TV shows and enjoy them without a data connection while they’re on the go.
Like them or not, Beats are one of the most popular headphone makers around. Photo: Beats
In a new interview, Beats President Luke Wood — the man in charge of hardware for the Apple-owned brand — talks life after the Apple acquisition, and answers long-standing criticisms about the bass-heavy quality of Beats headphones.
However, Apple may wind up having the last laugh, since a newly-granted patent describes how Apple hardware — including iPhones, iPads and other devices — could one day include sensors which allow them to function as smoke detectors in their own right.
The iPhone 6s Plus is almost here. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 6s Plus is less than two weeks away but, like last year, photos of the larger iPhone have been decidedly scarce compared to its 4.7-inch baby brother.
That appears to have changed thanks to two new photos leaked from supply chain sources in Taiwan that show off the iPhone 6s Plus display and internal Force Touch component.
Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers. Photo: SamsungGear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers. Photo: Samsung
After teasing the new Gear S2 smartwatch during its Galaxy Note 5 unveiling earlier this month, Samsung has confirmed all the juicy details we’ve been waiting for.
The new wearable will be available in two flavors — the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic — both of which have round faces and are aimed at consumers who “prefer more timeless watch design.” But will the devices be good enough to trip up the Apple Watch?
Apple Pay just got a bit better for U.K. customers. Photo: Apple
There’s no logical reason why Apple Pay transaction costs should be limited, but in the U.K. users have been stuck with a limit of £20 ($30) since the service first debuted in July.
Thanks to the rise of people using both Apple Pay and contactless cards in general, however, that number has now been increased by 50 percent to £30 ($46).
More and more jailbreak software, such as Pangu, has come from China. Screenshot: John Brownlee/Cult of Mac
If you enjoy customizing your iPhone, jailbreaking can be a positive thing — although that doesn’t mean it comes without risks.
According to a new report, around 225,000 Apple accounts have been stolen by malware on jailbroken iPhones, in what is claimed to be “one of the largest known thefts of its kind.” In some cases, this data was then used to make unauthorized purchases.
Watch out Netflix, Apple might start making shows too. Photo: Netflix
Apple is planning to unveil its new Apple TV set top box in a little over a week, and it looks like the company may be considering funding its own TV shows to go with its big play to dominate the living room.
The iPhone maker has held preliminary conversations in recent weeks with executives in Hollywood to feel out interest in Apple spearheading efforts to produce original entertainment content, according to a new report that claims Apple is ready to take on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime video.
Here's how to get YouTube back on your second-gen Apple TV. Photo: FireCore
Although Apple’s September 9th event looks like it will super charge the Apple TV into a PlayStation-killing video game console, it’s not the indisputable king-of-the-hill of streaming media boxes right now. Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast… all have their advantages over the Apple TV except for one killer feature: AirPlay Mirroring, which allows the Apple TV to stream anything running on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Unless you have an Apple TV, you can’t use AirPlay Mirroring… right? Actually, you can, as long you have a Raspberry Pi.
The Weather Network's latest app update might make this a reality. Photo: Universal Pictures
We’re not quite through 2015 yet, so app developers still have time to make the prophecies foretold by director Robert Zemeckis’ documentary Back to the Future: Part II come true. And to that end, The Weather Network’s latest app update uses radar and algorithms to predict when, exactly, it is going to start and stop raining.
The new feature, appropriately called “Rain Start Stop,” claims to give you a few hours to finalize the details on your outdoor activities.