Apple's Self Service Repair Program now includes M3 MacBook models as iPhone and other products. Photo: Apple
The Apple Self Service Repair program just expanded to include MacBooks and iMacs with the M3 processor released in 2023.
The program provides customers access to parts and tools they need to fix their own devices, and already includes many models of iPhone plus earlier Macs. But there are some big gaps.
Here's your chance to meet some of the real people who inspired "Masters of the Air." Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ dropped a trailer Wednesday for a companion documentary film to hit World World II drama series Masters of the Air. The documentary, The Bloody Hundredth, tells the stories of the airmen in a particularly hard-hit B17 bomber group through some of the survivors themselves as well as series filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
“Watch The Bloody Hundredth and get an in-depth look at the real stories of the brave Airmen that inspired Masters of the Air,” the streaming service said. “Streaming March 15th on Apple TV+.”
Apple pulled the plug Tuesday on the doomed Project Titan, its decade-long attempt at building a self-driving electric car. The company reportedly will reassign software engineers from the autonomous vehicle project to work on generative AI.
Some of my colleagues here at Cult of Mac find the Apple car cancellation depressing and sad. And, yes, it was always fun imagining what an Apple car would be like. However, Apple’s now-abandoned car strategy is already being executed at the peak of what’s possible by every other automaker. And whereas OpenAI, Google and Facebook clearly aren’t remotely interested in waiting for an ethical solution to their many, many problems, I think Apple has the best chance of bringing about positive change in this field.
A smoking-hot deal on an Apple Watch Ultra refurb is just one of several bargains here. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Like clockwork, Amazon bargain site Woot! comes out with great deals on Apple gear, including refurbished Apple Watch deals. So now it’s time for what looks like the lowest price we’ve seen on Apple Watch Ultra and a bunch of other deals on older Apple Watches for those who don’t want to pay typical Apple prices.
“Well, movies taught me that I’d have a wrist communicator in the far future but they didn’t say anything about ten F&F movies, that’s cray …” the site joked, apparently name-dropping the Fast & Furious movie franchise.
It seems way, way fewer people return Vision Pro than you might think. Screenshot: Apple
Very few Vision Pro units are being returned to Apple, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He pegs the Vision Pro return rate at less than 1%, which flies in the face of previous reports that many of the headsets bought by early adopters would wind up in the refurbished bins.
The reason Kuo states for a large percentage of those Vision Pro returns is even more surprising!
That is an awful lot of screen real estate. Photo: [email protected]
How many external displays would you consider ideal in your computer setup? Surprisingly, a lot of folks who assume it’s at least two end up regretting the idea. Today’s Mac Studio rig with triple 4K displays — three 32-inchers — sparked some debate on the matter.
That’s an awful lot of screen real estate that calls for a lot of head turning.
Apple Pay Later can boost your credit score now that these small loans go on consumers' credit reports. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Experian now includes small consumer loans made through Apple Pay Later on consumers’ credit reports. That makes Apple the first “buy now pay later” provider to supply this information to the credit reporting agency.
Now you have a curated playlist of favorites updated daily on Apple Music. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The next time you open Apple Music, you should notice a new feature called Heavy Rotation at the top. The new collection behind the fiery orange, yellow and red card is yet another way Apple surfaces the tunes you play most. But unlike the others, Apple Music Heavy Rotation playlist updates daily instead of weekly.
Personally, I’d rather have the service nudge me in new directions, as with the recently added Discovery Station. And maybe it will build out further in that direction, too.
U200's integration with smart-home platforms and compatibility with Home Key are subject to upcoming software updates. Photo: Aqara
Aqara launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign Tuesday for its new Smart Lock U200. Built on the Thread networking protocol and native to the Matter standard, the lock will integrate with many smart home devices. But its compatibility with smart-home platforms like HomeKit — and its support for Home Key in particular — will come from future software updates.
Charge up all the tech in the house at this 5-in-1 station. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We all love our devices, but it can be a nightmare hunting for the appropriate charger. And if you have limited desk space, the last thing you want is a mess of cords when you’re just trying to get through the workday. This 5-in-1 MagSafe charging stand is an elegant, simple charging solution that can power up to four devices at once, without overcharging.
Plus, it even doubles up as a lamp with three different brightness levels. It’s available for just $54.99 (regularly $79.99) — the best price you’ll find on the web.
Apple's now-canceled car project was one of Silicon Valley's worst-kept secrets. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s reported cancellation of its electric car project strikes me as one of the most demoralizing decisions the company has ever made. And I’m not sure which is worse, the Apple car cancellation, or the revelation of how Cupertino plans to reroute most of Project Titan’s brainpower.
The long-rumored Apple car was never a done deal, obviously. But it stood out as a moonshot project capable of transforming transportation and improving our everyday lives.
Now we find out that Apple won’t be going to the moon. Instead, Cupertino might be taking a me-too detour to Gibberish City.
Apple pulls the plug on one of Silicon Valley's worst-kept secrets: its self-driving electric car project. Photo: Precious Madubuike/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
In a somewhat shocking development, Apple reportedly completely canceled all development on its self-driving car program on Tuesday.
The company is shifting its emphasis to artificial intelligence, instead.
iOS 17.4 will bring changes, but you'll have to live in Europe to get most of them. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple just seeded the release candidate of iOS 17.4 to developers. When it goes to the general public — probably next week — it’ll bring in a collection of new emoji to iPhone, and a more secure version of iMessage. For Europeans, the update will be a major one, as it’ll usher in sideloading and other changes.
The release candidate for iPadOS 17.4 also came out Tuesday. However, macOS Sonoma 14.4 is still on beta 5.
Huge numbers of Chinese appear eager to try out Vision Pro -- not yet released there -- and they'll pay to do it. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple hasn’t released Vision Pro in China yet, but that hasn’t stopped scads of merchants from offering the headset for rent to enthusiasts. Many of them appear to think the AR headset may go beyond typical gaming uses, a new report says. Vision Pro rentals in China have attracted tens of thousands of customers.
Some eager testers think Apple’s pricey Vision Pro bests competitors like Meta’s Quest 3, as well.
You don't want to miss these deals on Apple Watch Series 9 Photo: D. Griffith Jones/Cult of Mac
Despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for your iPhone. And if you take advantage of Amazon’s Apple Watch Series 9 sale, you can get the smartwatch with up to $70 off.
The savings mean you can get the 41mm Apple Watch Series 9 for just $329, down from $399. As for the bigger 45mm variant, it’s available for a low price of $359.
Get ready for a screen upgrade in the iPhone 17. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus will have the same type of screen as the Pro versions, according to a new report. That means all four 2025 iOS handsets will offer 120Hz ProMotion, always-on displays.
If true, it means Apple will have to come up with new ways to differentiate its top-tier models.
iPhone is unlikely to get Center Stage, Apple’s brilliant addition to video conferencing. Photo: Apple
Center Stage is a brilliant feature that lets an iPad’s front-facing camera follow someone on a video call. Center Stage is not available for iPhone, though. And apparently, it never will be.
Apple developed an alternative version called DockKit, but this requires an add-on accessory.
Save hundreds of dollars on flights for life with a $50 Dollar Flight Club subscription. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Seeing the world doesn’t have to be expensive if you’ve got the best travel tools by your side. If you want to save on airfare forever, you can grab a Dollar Flight Club lifetime membership at a deep discount right now.
Good news, fans of British crime thrillers: Criminal Record season two is coming. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has not officially said if British crime drama series Criminal Record is a go for season two. But its star and executive producer, Cush Jumbo, says it’ll happen.
Games with an established brand aimed at children -- like SpongeBob -- are apparently the future of Apple Arcade. Photo: Apple/Nickelodeon
Apple Arcade now focuses so heavily on family-friendly titles from well-known franchises that some indie game developers feel abandoned, according to a new report. Some even predict doom — or at least creative stagnation — lies in Apple Arcade’s future if things don’t change.
Cupertino’s shifting priorities leave the developers, who Apple once wooed for the service, with few incentives for creating new Apple Arcade games.
These MacBook deals at Best Buy range from $150 to $400 off. Photo: Best Buy
Looks like the end of February is a great time to score an incredible deal on MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. And that’s because Best Buy offers save $400 on MacBooks. Various models on sale include a powerhouse 15-inch MacBook Air at a record low price.
So if you’re ready to save, check out select sale items below.