Will the new Apple TV have exclusive shows and movies? Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
It looks like a small number of third-generation Apple TVs, the ones on sale right now, are being quietly recalled by Apple. There hasn’t been a public notice of an Apple TV recall, which could mean only a few units are defective.
If yours is among the faulty Apple TVs, chances are you’ll get an email offering to replace it — and Apple might even drop you an iTunes card for your troubles.
Haptic feedback is a major component in this new technology invented at the University of Tokyo. Photo: Shinoda LabHaptic feedback is a major component in this new technology invented at the University of Tokyo. Photo: Shinoda Lab
HaptoClone is a new creation from researchers in the Shinoda Lab at the University of Tokyo that can let you practically feel what isn’t actually in front of you. It at least gives you the illusion that you’re feeling it. The technology is trippy in theory, but in practice it very well may lead to a more personal level of communication through our smartphones and computers – or dare I say more intimate.
The new waterproof case for the Apple Watch by Catalyst. Photo: Catalyst
While Apple doesn’t recommend submerging the Apple Watch in water, there have been a number of swimmers who say their watches have held up to workouts in the pool.
But since Apple probably won’t honor a warranty for a Watch that stopped after a shower, why risk it? Catalyst, whose waterproof iPhone cases come highly rated by customers and tech journalists, has introduced a line of waterproof cases for the Apple Watch.
Worried about the security of your Dropbox files, even if you use two-step verification? Dropbox has your back now with a new USB key-based system to ensure that you are the only one able to access your files in the Dropbox cloud.
“Today,” Dropbox writes on its website, “we’re adding Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) security keys as an additional method for two-step verification, giving you stronger authentication protection.”
Keep your iPhone humming for up to three hours until your next charge. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
iOS 9 brings a bunch of battery-boosting features, most of which work right out of the box. But there’s one battery-saving feature you’ll have to enable yourself.
Called Low Power Mode, this new feature should prove super-useful when you need to eke out just a bit more time with your device — provided you’re not doing anything intense.
Picorama's cute, but it will also mess you up. Photo: MicroCosmos
I like strategy games as much as the next person, but they’re all missing something. Like maybe they could use a pink bunny that tickles opposing pieces to death, or a little, blue, tentacled … thing that can distract enemies with its soothing singing voice. And for good measure, maybe they could throw in a green guy who can fire deadly shots out of his head and an orange monster that eats lightning and fireballs.
Picorama has all those things, and it’s as weird, silly and fun as it sounds. But the iOS game’s innocent art and adorable characters belie a title that will quickly test your strategic and problem-solving skills and have you staring at your iPhone or iPad trying to plan your next move.
Apple's looking for a new home in Chicago. Photo: Zeller Reality
Apple is planning to open a magnificent new flagship store in the heart of Chicago, according to a new report that claims the iPhone maker has zeroed in on 401 N. Michigan Ave. Apple already has one retail store on Michigan Avenue, but supposedly plans to shut down that one and move a half-mile south to the southern tip of the Magnificent Mile.
Carbon-fiber Apple Watch concept. Photo: Feld and Volk
The Apple Watch is the most functional smartwatch you can slap on your wrist, but when it comes to style, it still leaves a lot to be desired. Russian design team Feld & Volk is ready to fix that, though, with an Apple Watch concept that draws upon the latest watchmaking trends used by top manufacturers.
Twitter is now a better place to chat. Photo: TwitterTwitter is now a better place to chat. Photo: Twitter
Twitter has finally delivered on its promise to remove the 140-character limit from direct messages, so you’ll no longer have to send several of them when you’re feeling chatty. The new 10,000-character limit will be available on the web, and in first- and third-party Twitter apps.
Apple Pay is ready to dominate CurrentC. Photo: Wells Fargo
Tim Cook has claimed that 2015 is going to be the year of Apple Pay, but it might not even face serious competition until 2016.
CurrentC, the payments app in development by the consortium of retailers called MCX, might not launch as soon as the company had hoped, the company’s CEO revealed in a recent interview.
If you want to beat Shooting Stars, make sure you buy it. Photo: NoodlecakeIf you want to beat Shooting Stars, make sure you buy it. Photo: Noodlecake
App developers are fighting what seems like a losing battle against software pirates, but some of them are finding new ways to deter users from downloading their latest titles illegally.
Noodlecake, the publisher behind games like Super Stickman Golf and Mikey Shorts, has created the ultimate troll for those who choose not to pay for its newest game: a pirate version that’s impossible to beat.
The Coding 101 Bundle is a comprehensive course in web development, going for less than 1% the normal price. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Saying “I really should learn to code” is like saying, “I really should start going to the gym” — We often say it before thinking of something else to do. This bundle of coding courses will leave you without any excuses, with more than 31 hours of stem-to-stern lessons covering everything from basic web concepts through various key coding languages and the how-tos of developing for multiple platforms.
It usually goes for over $6,000, but right now the price has been slashed to $49 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Breaking news! Apple's shrewd when it comes to driving a bargain! Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apple is playing off TSMC against Samsung to negotiate better prices for its A9 chips for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, according to a new report.
Competition between TSMC and Samsung to win Apple’s business has been fierce over the past year, with the conflict even going as far as a lawsuit over the alleged leaking of trade secrets.
With both companies having the 14/16nm FinFET process capacity to build A9 chips to Apple’s specifications, Apple is reportedly asking both sides to cut their prices — or potentially lose out on future business.
RollerCoaster Tycoon finally gets the port we needed. Photo: Frontier Developments Ltd.
No-one wanted to love last year’s RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile more than I did. And no-one was therefore more crushed when the “game” turned out to be the soulless, cash-demanding corpse of a once-great franchise-turned-freemium nightmare.
If you join me in that opinion, you can rest easy since RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 just hit the App Store — bringing iOS gamers the straight-up port of the PC classic they deserve, complete with touch controls and not an in-app purchase in sight.
It's not new, but for $50 you can't go wrong. Photo: Mccullagh.org
A Michigan school district is selling off close to 800 iMacs, MacBooks and iPads for astonishingly low prices ranging from $50 to $100.
The schools are in the process of upgrading their classroom technology, and made the decision to sell off the old equipment instead of adding it to the tons of unwanted computers and other gadgets that get thrown away each year.
Apple may not be bringing 6c back, 4-inch iPhone customers unsure how to act. Photo: iPhonesoft
Looking at web logs to see which iPhones are currently being tested, a prominent mobile marketing company says there is evidence for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus — but no iPhone 6c.
Rumors about a 4-inch, low-cost iPhone 6c have been ramping up as of late, with recent reports claiming that it has been spotted in Apple’s manufacturing facilities and may even be released as early as next month. Now Fiksu’s report suggests it might not exist at all.
What is this — iPhone product launches by M. Night Shyamalan?
Siri's original U.K. male voice is putting his successor on blast. Photo: Cult of Mac
We’re used to having virtual assistants like Cortana diss Siri, but it’s not every day you hear one Siri voice insult another.
Now Siri’s original U.K. male voice — actor Jon Briggs, who also performed on the U.K. version of the Weakest Link — is hitting out at his replacement, calling the new British male Siri “a little insipid if I’m honest.”
Apple is working to improve its mapping technology. Photo: Apple
The Apple Maps Flyover feature has been updated for the first time since June, adding an additional 20 places for users to explore from the skies. New locations include destinations in Italy, France, Mexico and Japan, bringing the total number to more than 150.
A small but welcome change: Gift cards are now supported in the Apple Store app. Photo: Apple
Apple updated its Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad today to include support for something it probably should have supported a long time ago: gift cards. If you have an Apple Store gift card – or multiple gift cards – you can now successfully apply them to an order within the app.
Stylish and attractive, the Kastel Donjon is a constant companion. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
I’m always on the lookout for a better, more efficient, useful and stylish bag to carry my MacBook Pro, iPad 3, and various electronic accoutrements, including an external battery, noise-cancelling headphones, and a ton of different cables to power and charge everything in there.
I also like to add a paperback book, various papers and flyers (if I’m covering a conference) and room to drop in a little reporter’s notebook, a pen or three, and a digital audio recorder for interviews. Oh, and it helps to have an easy pocket to slip my iPhone 6 Plus and wallet in if I need to go through security at the airport.
The Kastel Donjon bag is a European-style messenger bag that meets all these needs in an attractive, useful way.
Facebook's alleged breaking news app would send out bite-sized alerts similar to tweets. Photo: Cult of Mac
Facebook is working on a breaking news app that would deliver news outside of the main Facebook app, according to a report. The app would ask users to pick out publications and topics that interest them, then it would broadcast bite-sized news alerts when new articles get published.
Publications that get on board would be able to send out instant notifications to all of its followers for the latest news. They’re allowed 100 characters of text and a link to the news article. Sounds pretty much like a tweet, right?
Tired of Apple Music's playlists? Try something even more indie. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apple Music has some amazing playlists created just for you, with humans behind the scenes making perfect mixes of music that fits your specific style and music tastes.
You can make your own playlists, too, and share them out to friends and family, but what if you want to see other people’s playlists? There’s just no way to pop on to Apple Music and see what playlists strangers are making.
Now, however, a new website called Playlist Hunt brings you the next best thing: a site dedicated to sharing and playing playlists by its members.
The Aerelight uses OLED technology and is the next big thing in home and commercial-space lighting. Photo: OTI Lumionics
Few of us have ever given much thought to the building of a better lightbulb. But technology has forced us away from the incandescent bulb to LED lights which are more efficient, last longer and, in some cases, provide a variety of color.
The design and engineering team behind the Aerelight isn’t riding the LED wave. They are instead coming in on the wave after that with OLED lighting technology for its elegant razor-thin table lamp.
Why didn’t they just…Google it? Photo: Alphabet/Google
When Google reorganized itself into a subsidiary of a new over-arching company, Alphabet, you’d think that they’d have checked to see if anyone else was doing a similar business with the name.
In fact, BMW also does business as Alphabet, and they own the trademark and the .com URL to boot.
BMW makes cars, and Google is working on a self-driving car. That seems like possible grounds for a trademark infringement suit, right?
Hip-hop is the most-played genre on Beats 1. Photo: Apple
Beats 1 radio has been arguably the best feature to come out of Apple’s foray into the streaming music world. With its fabulous lineup of rotating DJs and artist radio shows, Beats 1 has become a great place to discover new music, but many users have complained the station focuses too much on hip-hop and plays the same songs too often.
To identify Beats 1’s true taste in music, a new study analyzed data on more than 12,000 songs played on the station from early July to early August. After crunching the numbers, they found Beats 1 has something other radio stations lack: scarcity.