Epic Games came out ahead in the latest skirmish between the developer and Apple. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Epic Games can release Fortnite in the EU and open an App Store rival after Apple restored the company’s developer account. This came as the European Commission was starting an inquiry into why the account had been cancelled.
Apple called Epic Games “untrustworthy” when it pulled the account.
Generative AI features will almost certainly be the centerpiece of iOS 18. Concept: Kevin Kall
New generative AI features are expected to be a highlight of iOS 18, and a skilled artist created a concept video that presents an early look at how they might work.
The video also shows other suggested upgrades, like bringing Split View — Apple’s multitasking feature that lets two apps appear side by side on iPad (and Mac) — to the iPhone.
Don't miss this chance to get a great iPad for almost $400 off. Photo: Apple
With Apple expected to release new iPad models anytime now, Amazon bargain site offers a doozy of a deal on the still-awesome 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro: $389 off. Getting almost $400 off iPad Pro is not a deal we see every day.
“iHad an iPad but iLost it and now iSad,” Woot says at the top of the sale page. No need to be sad when you can bag a fantastic, brand-new, full-sized M1 iPad with 128GB of storage for just $809.99.
This audio interface turns your Mac into a music studio for two microphones and two instruments. Photo: Focusrite
If you’re going to make and manipulate music or other sound with your Mac setup, odds are you need a good audio interface. Today’s Mac Studio workstation relies on a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 USB audio interface when the user makes YouTube videos, for example.
Check it out below, along with the rest of the setup’s gear.
Enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software. Photo: CdkeySales.com
March may come in like a lion and leave like a lamb, but it also offers fantastic deals on Microsoft software, thanks to CdkeySales.com’s March Sale. Bargains galore await on Microsoft productivity software like Windows and Office, including a great Windows 10 Pro deal for just $17.05.
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You can find surprisingly low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com now and throughout the year. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And what’s more, if you buy Windows 10, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Apple expects the larger 2024 iPad Pro model to be the more popular. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly ordered 8.5 million OLED screens for the iPad Pro models it’s expected to launch soon. More of these panels are for the 13-inch version of the tablet than they are for the 11-inch one.
Leaks indicate the next generation iPad Pro will reach store shelves later this month. Possibly even next week.
Making the switch from iPhone to Android will get easier. But there's a caveat. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple is building a way out of the iOS “walled garden.” It promised on Thursday to make it easier to switch the data from an iPhone to an Android or other handset.
That said, the migration tool is part of Apple complying with the European Union’s Digital Market Act so the solution might not be available outside of the EU.
Record your trips, and back up safely, with this dual-cam touchscreen that mounts on your rearview mirror. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The more time you spend in your car, the more dashcams seem like a really good idea. They’re a great way to monitor the road and protect yourself in case of an accident, but a cheap cam can be more trouble than it’s worth. This 4K dashcam/backup cam combo covers all the bases — and it’s on sale for a limited time.
When it comes to features, this 4K touchscreen dashcam and backup cam delivers everything a safe driver needs. The 10-inch IPS touchscreen attaches easily to your rearview mirror. And for a limited time, you can grab one for just $76.79 with code ENJOY20.
Maya Rudolph stars as Molly Wells on season two of Apple TV+ comedy series "Loot." Photo: Apple TV+
Ridiculously rich people are the problem, ridiculously rich person Molly Wells (Maya Rudolph) says in the season two trailer for comedy series Loot, out Thursday. And that’s why she’ll give away her whole $120 billion fortune. Or she’ll try, anyway.
Loot season two debuts with two episodes April 3 on Apple TV+.
macOS Sonoma 14.4 brings in a couple of nice tweaks. Photo: Apple
The wait is over for macOS Sonoma 14.4, with the new version going out a bit sooner than expected. It brings in new emoji plus auto-generated transcripts in the Apple Podcasts app.
watchOS 10.4 also went to all users on Thursday, as did tvOS 17.4 and visionOS 1.1.
This one with the gold stainless steel case and matching Milanese Loop is $60 off. Photo: Apple
We often point out sale prices on basic Apple Watch Series 9 models — usually the more-affordable ones with aluminum cases and GPS only. But now Amazon is rocking great low prices on the fancy stainless steel models with cellular coverage plus GPS. You could save up to $227!
BenQ's new PD3225U Designer Monitor packs features ideal for Mac and MacBook users. Photo: BenQ
BenQ rolled out a new 32-inch 4K display Wednesday aimed straight at Mac and MacBook users. It’s the BenQ PD3225U Thunderbolt 3 Designer Monitor. At $1,100, the 4K display packs features that might tempt you away from spending more on a Studio Display or another 5K monitor.
“Featuring IPS Black for 2000:1 contrast ratio, Color Match with Mac devices through M-book mode, and iKeyboard Control, the PD3225U is the perfect creative complement for Mac users in need of color accuracy and enhanced connectivity,” the company said.
This concept could be an early glimpse of the MacBook of the future. Concept: Astro HQ
Apple continues to work on a MacBook with a 20-inch folding screen, according to a reliable source of insider information. It could set a new pattern for notebooks for the coming decade.
The product has been on the drawing board for quite some time, but isn’t scheduled for release until 2027.
One Apple car prototype reportedly looked something like one of Canoo's microbus-style vehicles. Photo: Canoo
The history of the Apple car is littered with wild prototypes, astonishing hubris and a deadly dose of crippling indecision, according to a damning report that offers the best picture yet of the secretive Project Titan.
It sounds like many Apple employees — and even key execs — viewed the self-driving car project as a doomed effort nearly from the start.
“The big arc was poor leadership that let the program linger, while everyone else in Apple was cringing,” said an anonymous Apple executive who worked on Project Titan.
If you want to know how a massive research and development project can crash and burn, this new behind-the-scenes account of Project Titan will show you how. It’s filled with gory details of unachievable goals, chaotic management, bad decisions (and sometimes no decisions at all).
The battle between Epic Games and Apple is as cut-throat as anything in Fortnite. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Epic Games will not be able to bring Fortnite back to the European Union. Apple canceled the company’s developer account (again) and called Epic “verifiably untrustworthy.”
Shutting down the developer account also means that the game-maker won’t be able to open its promised rival to the App Store.
Get an Apple Pencil alternative for less than $40. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Using a digital pen with your iPad (or other tablet) can open up a whole world of new everyday uses. And you don’t need to invest in an expensive Apple Pencil to try it out. This iPad stylus is a much more affordable Apple Pencil alternative, and it’s even cheaper during our limited-time sale.
Right now, you can grab the top-rated Digi Pen for iPad and other tablets for just $31.99 with code ENJOY20. Don’t miss this hot deal on a great accessory for stepping up how you use your tablet.
MacBook Pro models account for a bit more than half of Mac sales. Photo: Apple
MacBook Pro and MacBook Air combine to account for a staggering 90% of Apple’s Mac sales. That’s according to a new report Wednesday about best-selling Macs from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
The laptops’ dominant popularity over desktop Macs has long been evident. But the new report showing 2023 data really puts an exclamation point on it.
Aside from a faster M3 processor, what upgrades did Apple add to the 2024 MacBook Air lineup? Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh
The 2024 MacBook Air lineup looks a lot like the previous models. However, the M3 chip inside gives the laptops a performance boost, and the new laptops come with several additional upgrades. But in an M2 vs. M3 MacBook Air showdown, what are the differences? And is the new model worth paying more?
The business version includes the AI feature. Photo: Logitech
Logitech’s new MX Brio and MX Brio 705 for Business 4K webcams combine ultra high-definition video performance with artificial intelligence to help find your best look, the company said.
“We know that MX users collaborate and communicate from many different environments, and need a versatile webcam offering the best video and sound quality,” said Anatoliy Polyanker, general manager of Logitech’s MX Business, in a press release Wednesday. “MX Brio is our highest-quality webcam, featuring customization and the ability to show themselves or their work in the best possible way.”
Every episode on Apple Podcasts now has a written transcript, ready for you to read. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
It just became a lot easier to read along with a podcast, or pull an interesting quote out of one. The Apple Podcasts app now automatically generates transcripts for series and episodes.
Here’s how to find and read these transcripts in the iPhone Podcasts app.
This Keychron mechanical keyboard beat out a couple of Razer keyboards to be here. Photo: [email protected]
Some people love peace and quiet. Others love mechanical keyboards. That clackety-clacking noise is the very sound of productivity, isn’t it? The feel of the keys. The way you can practically make a lifelong hobby out of customizing a “hot swappable” model with different keycaps, switches and more. Today’s Mac Studio and Studio Display setup relies on a Keychron K8 mechanical keyboard.
The user swears by it, having chosen it over a couple of well-regarded Razer keebs. He’s still got the Razer wrist rest, though.
Colin Farrell stars as a private investigator in Sugar, debuting April 5 on Apple TV+. Image: Apple TV+
Colin Farrell takes the lead in Sugar, an upcoming Apple TV+ series about a private detective searching for the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood magnate.
The trailer shows the series coming in April will be dark and violent.
Midnight is a film adaptation of a classic by the Father of Manga. Photo: Apple
Osamu Tezuka’s Midnight manga gets adapted to live action in the latest “Shot on iPhone” project. It’s an action film about a mysterious late-night taxi driver.
Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the movie was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro.