Mobile menu toggle

7 days with the Apple Watch, this week on the CultCast

By •

Siri's humor circuits are as lively as ever. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Siri's humor circuits are as lively as ever. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Photo:

It’s been a week now that we’ve been living with Apple Watches affixed to our wrists, and in that time, we’ve curated a list of what we love, what we don’t and our overall impressions of Apple’s newest trinket. Is Apple’s timepiece the next must-have gadget? Some of us are smitten, but not all of us are sold.

Our thanks to Automatic for supporting this episode. Plug Automatic into your car’s data port, and their beautiful app will show you where you parked, learn how to save fuel with tips based on your actual driving, and even diagnose and turn off your car’s check engine light.

cultcast-177-post-player-image-thin

Full show notes ahead!

The trouble with Apple Watch’s fitness tracker

By •

Your
Your "other" workout had better be cardio. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s approach to fitness is all about cardio and burning calories.

That’s great if you’re into running or cycling. But for other kinds of exercise, like bodybuilding or yoga, it’s not relevant at all. And if you want to lose weight, cutting the calories you eat is usually more important than burning calories through exercise.

So why does Apple Watch focus exclusively on cardio, and what does this means for people using one to get in shape?

This is what new Star Wars droid BB-8 would look like in space gray

By •

What if Jony Ive designed BB-8? Photo: Martin Hajek
What if Jony Ive designed BB-8? Photo: Martin Hajek

With its roly-poly looks and infectious personality, new droid BB-8 looks primed to be a real scene-stealer when Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits theaters at the end of the year.

And now we know what the ballsy little bot would look like if Jony Ive replaced its orange-and-white color scheme with something a little more subtle.

ICYMI: Why we love the Apple Watch (and you will too)

By •

We love the latest wrist-bound gadget from Apple, and we're betting that you will too. Photo: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac
We love the latest wrist-bound gadget from Apple, and we're betting that you will too. Photo: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

You’re bound to love the Apple Watch as much as we do, and we’ve got a fantastic issue of Cult of Mac Magazine to prove it.

Buster and Rob team up to review the fan-flipping-tastic Apple wrist-held, while Leander waxes rhapsodic about how great this new Apple gadget really is. Rob takes a look at 7 stealthy tips along with 12 things the team noticed after a week with Apple Watch. Alex chimes in with 10 of the weirdest Apple Watch apps, plus much, much more, all in this week’s installment of the greatest Apple digital mag you’ve ever read.

How to fix a busted Apple Watch on your own

By •

You can make repairs to Apple Watch on your own. Photo: iFixit
You can make repairs to Apple Watch on your own. Photo: iFixit

The Apple Watch is one of the most impressive feats of engineering to come out of Cupertino. When it comes to repairing Jony Ive’s wearable yourself, you’re not going to get much help though, so the brilliant minds at iFixit have already come up with a few repair guides.

iFixit published four guides today on how to repair various parts of the Apple Watch that will help make your fixes a breeze. Unfortunately, iFixit says pretty much any repair you make yourself will break the Apple Watch’s NFC chip, but they’ve got a guide on how to fix that two.

Here’s are some of the quick fixes you can make to Apple Watch yourself:

7 stealthy tips and tricks for Apple Watch

By •

Learning the user interface can take some time, and then there are all the subtle tricks.
Learning the user interface can take some time, and then there are all the subtle tricks. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

So, you just got your shiny new Apple Watch and you’ve doubled down on learning how to use its all-new interface. That should keep you busy for a while.

There are still a few things that you might not know about it, however, especially these not-so-obvious tips and tricks for Apple Watch we’re going to share with you right now.

Apple patent explains how USB-C will make every other connector obsolete

By •

USB-C: The one connector to rule them all. Photo: Apple
USB-C: The one connector to rule them all. Photo: Apple

Apple still hasn’t owned up to inventing USB-C, the brand new connector featured on its 12-inch MacBook — but Apple patents have all but tied the technology to Cupertino. The latest describes how a do-it-all connector that fits USB-C’s description is going to make every other port you’re using obsolete.

Video will help you wrap your head around iPad Pro’s massive size

By •

Photo:
Yep, a 12.9-inch tablet is pretty much a monster. Photo: Unbox Therapy

Using cases reportedly created for Apple’s rumored plus-size iPad Pro, Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy has put together a new video showing off just how massive the next-generation iPad might be.

At 12.9 inches, it’s definitely a significant step up from the current iPad Air 2 — but would it be enough to turn around Apple’s declining iPad business? Check out the video below.

Get your Mac game on with these great guides

By •

Mac gaming  just keeps getting better. Photo: Aspyr
Mac gaming just keeps getting better. Photo: Aspyr

If you’re looking for new games to explode onto your Mac, look no further than these three “best of” gaming guides from one of the most Mac-centric gaming voices on the web, Mac Gamer HQ.

Featuring the 10 best strategy games, the 10 best first-person shooters, and (just published!) the 10 best MMORPGs — all only for Mac gamers — these three lists are bound to point you in the right direction, letting you set your sights on some amazing Mac gaming experiences without having to buy and try them all yourself.

Upper East Siders snub their noses at Apple Store

By •

IMG_0390.JPG
Not all New Yorkers want another Apple Store. Photo: Apple

Most neighborhoods would kill for an Apple Store, but if you’re an elitist living in New York City’s Upper East Side, the thought of Apple fanboys camping out near your five-story townhouse is just absolutely horrid.

Residents and businesses of the posh neighborhood are banding together in opposition to the construction of an Apple Store that might attract flocks of peasants along with all their shouting, and screaming, and barbecues. Ewww!

Steve Jobs’ business cards from Apple, Pixar and NeXT go up for auction

By •

stevejobs1
Kate Winsley praised the Steve Jobs biopic and co-star Michael Fassbender.

Steve Jobs memorabilia collectors can now grab the holy trifecta of business cards while also doing a bit of good along the way.

Three of Jobs’ business cards from his days at Apple, Pixar and NeXT are up for auction, with proceeds going to The Marin School in California. Bidding started at $600 but it’s already up to $2,405.

Here’s a look at the cards you’ll win if you place the high bid:

Apple admits the Watch doesn’t work well with tattoos

By •

Using an Apple Watch with a tattoo gives some users a (s)inking feeling. Photo:
Using an Apple Watch with a tattoo gives some users a (s)inking feeling. Photo: Guinne55fan

Apple has issued a statement on its website confirming that rumors about a so-called “tattoogate” are accurate.

Reports that the Apple Watch ran into problems when being worn by a person with dark tattoos cropped up earlier this week, when Redditor guinne55fan wrote how his Watch kept locking and failing to send him notifications.

Best List: Gear that will take your adventures over the top

By •

WaterField Designs' Bolt briefcase is not for hoarders who want to carry every infernal gadget with them everywhere they go. Like the impossibly thin new MacBook, it's stripped down to the essentials — and the essentials are stylish, sturdy and compelling.


The $249 Bolt will surprise you with its slimness. It comes in two sizes — the small one I tested holds up to a 13-inch MacBook Air (the larger model holds up to a 17-inch laptop). After sliding in an 11-inch Air, an iPad and an envelope full of documents, the Bolt was fairly full; there was barely room to toss in a pair of headphones. 


But that's the point of the Bolt. It's designed for carting around your must-have gear in a sleek, pleasing package. The brown waxed canvas bag looked good out of the gate (and even better after a few trips gave it more character). The chocolate leather accents, including a thick bottom that's perfect for keeping grime at bay, seem like they will only look better over time.


The craftsmanship employed by the San Francisco bag maker is evident from the first zip of the Bolt's hefty, waterproof zipper or the first flip of the

WaterField Designs' Bolt briefcase is not for hoarders who want to carry every infernal gadget with them everywhere they go. Like the impossibly thin new MacBook, it's stripped down to the essentials — and the essentials are stylish, sturdy and compelling.

The $249 Bolt will surprise you with its slimness. It comes in two sizes — the small one I tested holds up to a 13-inch MacBook Air (the larger model holds up to a 17-inch laptop). After sliding in an 11-inch Air, an iPad and an envelope full of documents, the Bolt was fairly full; there was barely room to toss in a pair of headphones.

But that's the point of the Bolt. It's designed for carting around your must-have gear in a sleek, pleasing package. The brown waxed canvas bag looked good out of the gate (and even better after a few trips gave it more character). The chocolate leather accents, including a thick bottom that's perfect for keeping grime at bay, seem like they will only look better over time.

The craftsmanship employed by the San Francisco bag maker is evident from the first zip of the Bolt's hefty, waterproof zipper or the first flip of the "snaps" that close the front pockets. (They're not really snaps: They look like snaps, but in reality they're magnets that effectively hold the pockets shut but are 1,000 times easier to work than your typical closure.)

A leather-faced pad on the removable shoulder strap boasts a grippy, rubberized back that keeps the Bolt from sliding around. And speaking of not sliding around, the simple pass-through on the back of the Bolt is perfect for sliding the petite bag over the handle of a piece of carry-on luggage.

If you go from a backpack to a Bolt, you will undoubtedly miss all that extra space for cramming in jackets, water bottles and half-eaten sandwiches. But, like a decluttered house, the Bolt's wonderful minimalism will grow on you. — Lewis Wallace

Buy from: WaterField Designs

Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac


Photo:

Cracking down on police brutality? There’s an app for that

By •

Photo:
Mobile Justice CA app will help protect your rights. Photo: ACLU 

Whichever side of the political equation you fall, there’s no denying that complaints about police brutality are all over the news at the moment.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California thinks its got the solution, however: a new Mobile Justice CA app, designed to help individuals track and record misconduct among law enforcement officers.

Tesla’s new battery will ‘change the way the world uses energy’

By •

Heading
Elon Musk wants to change the way the world uses energy. Photo: Zobacz Zasady/Wikipedia CC
Photo: Zobacz Zasady/Wikipedia CC

You don’t have to have had your iPhone die at an inopportune time to conclude that current generation batteries kind of suck.

Unlike most of us, however, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has the resources to do something about it.

In a press conference late on Thursday, Musk unveiled Tesla Energy: a line of new 7-10 kwh lithium-ion batteries aimed at homes, companies and utilities.

Glide into one of the best iPad publishing tools around

By •

This is one brilliant way to publishing on the iPad. Photo: Glide
This is one brilliant way to publish on the iPad. Photo: Glide

Glide helped Jim Dalrymple reboot The Loop into a gorgeous digital magazine way back in October 2013; we’re excited to see how much progress the Glide publishing app, invented by Chris Harris, has made during the time between then and now.

We’re not the only ones, either: With 15 days left to go on its Kickstarter campaign, iPad publishing app Glide has already garnered $12,000 over its goal.

“I’ve been following Glide since the release of ‘The Loop’ app, and I’m so excited to see it finally approaching release,” says Kickstarter commenter Nick R. “I didn’t know much about ‘The Loop’ at the time, but was blown away by the functionality of the app itself. Amazing to see how far its come in 2 years. Glad they took their time and did things right. —- Good job Glide team.”

Apple Store’s neutered Watch app won’t let you shop

By •

Photo: Apple
Photo: Apple

Amazon and Target have already embraced the wearable-future, where all the hassles of online shopping can be managed from your wrist. Today, the official Apple Store app is getting into the game too, with a new update that finally brings support for Apple Watch, even if it doesn’t have a buy button.

You won’t be able to purchase your next Apple Watch from your wrist, or check out different Sport band options, but there are still some pretty useful features for shoppers on-the-go.

Check out some of the things the neutered app can do:

Ford CEO refuses to let Apple and Google take the wheel

By •

Don't expect pure CarPlay in Ford vehicles anytime soon. Photo: Apple
Don't expect pure CarPlay in Ford vehicles anytime soon. Photo: Apple

Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are the two hottest options right now for car infotainment systems, but if you’re hoping that Ford will give you a pure CarPlay experience in one of their upcoming vehicles, you might as well keep on waiting for the mythical Apple Car.

Ford currently supports both CarPlay and Android in a limited capacity, but for now its CEO says the company will only allow the two systems to serve as secondary interfaces to its primary navigation system, SYNC.

Steve Jobs’ favorite musician thinks we’re all going to own an Apple Watch

By •

John Mayer and Steve Jobs at the iPod Mini unveiling. Photo: Apple
John Mayer and Steve Jobs at the iPod Mini unveiling. Photo: Apple

John Mayer is world renowned for his skill at plucking strings on a guitar while singing breathy love lyrics. He’s also well known as a lover of expensive mechanical watches, but when it comes to the future of wrist wear, Mayer admits pretty much everyone’s just going to buy an Apple Watch now.

“We’re all going to end up with the Apple Watch, I don’t care what you say,” says Mayer. “Even if you have to wear it on your right hand.”

HBO’s fictional startup Pied Piper is hiring

By •

Would you want to work for this group of high-acheivers? Photo: HBO
Would you want to work for this group of high-acheivers? Photo: HBO

As I was scrolling down the page over on Facebook, reading the latest posts from friends and family, i noticed a new ad to the right: Pied Piper, the fictional company from HBO’s hit show, Silicon Valley, is hiring!

The ad is pretty convincing; here’s hoping no one actually clicked through hoping for a tech job.

Apple Watch Sport may cost less than $85 in components

By •

The guts of the Apple Watch are shockingly inexpensive. Photo: iFixit
The guts of the Apple Watch are shockingly inexpensive. Photo: iFixit

Tim Cook told investors on Monday to not even try to guess how much Apple’s supply chain costs are, but that’s not stopping some analysts from trying to determine the cost of Apple Watch components

IHS Technology toredown the 38mm Apple Watch Sport this week, and according to the firm’s estimates, Apple’s $350 timepiece costs less than $85 for all the components.

Play with Jobs & Woz phone phreak machines without breaking the law

By •

A phreaker box on display. Photo: Marcin Wichary/FlickrCC
A phreaker box on display. Photo: Marcin Wichary/FlickrCC

Way back in the day (1972), Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak designed and started selling “blue boxes,” devices that generated specific tones that would game the telephone networks of the day (called “phreaking.” These would allow phone phreaks to make free long distance calls, for instance.

It was illegal then (the two Steve’s inspiration, “Cap’n Crunch” Draper, was sent to prison for five years for his own phreaking attempts), but you can get the same fun minus the jail time now at a new website that emulates the blue boxes of yesteryear.