Can Apple buy its way to AI dominance? Image: Steve Johnson/Unsplash License/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly purchased DarwinAI, a small startup previously based in Waterloo, Ontario. The company developed software that might make artificial intelligence systems running on an iPhone or other computer more efficient.
Apple promised that it’ll have big AI-related announcements later this year, and the acquisition will help the company build the necessary software.
Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton, played by André Holland, fled from the FBi to Cuba. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ unveiled a first look Thursday at The Big Cigar, an upcoming limited drama series starring André Holland as Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton. The show traces his wild escape from the FBI to Cuba.
The Big Cigar debuts on May 17 with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Friday through June 14. “It’s all true,” Apple TV+ said. “Mostly.”
All the games? No blackouts? Yes, please. Photo: Apple
This weekend, March 16 and 17, everyone can watch all Major League Soccer matches for free on the Apple TV app. So that’s not just the typical one or two free games.
In other words, you won’t need MLS Season Pass to watch Lionel Messi do his thing with Inter Miami CF against D.C. United — or any of the other 13 matches.
This is the kind of promotion designed to get you hooked so you subscribe to MLS Season Pass, in this second year of 10 in the deal between MLS and Apple.
These security updates come to macOS and iOS users first and to Android users later in the month. Photo: Google
Privacy-preserving URL protection and beefed-up password protection are coming to Google Safe Browsing for the popular Chrome browser for macOS and iOS, Google said Thursday. The Chrome security update comes to Macs, iPhones and iPads first. Android devices will see them later in March.
M3 Max MacBooks are rarely on discount. Photo: Apple
Want a laptop that can easily handle your demanding video editing or data processing workflow? The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max should be your top choice.
Find the laptop’s $3,499 price tag steep? Amazon is knocking $250 off the M3 Max MacBook Pro, making it a little more affordable.
The new Apple Sports app for iPhone got an update for basketball and baseball fans. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
The new Apple Sports iPhone app just received its first big update. It’s now ready for basketball’s March Madness and baseball’s Opening Day.
The free sports app that debuted in February gives fans access to real-time scores, stats and more for their favorite teams across a wide range of sports leagues.
This Unlocator VPN and Smart DNS package can keep your digital activity private and help you avoid geo-blocking. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you are concerned about online privacy and security, you have options to secure your digital experience. If you also want to avoid geo-blocking while enjoying fast internet speeds, we’ve got a great combo for you. Together, these two services from Unlocator will help you stay safe online while getting around geographic restrictions.
Pick up the Unlocator VPN and Smart DNS duo while it’s on sale for just $29.99. You can use it on up to five devices, and the services work on multiple platforms.
Apple's $3,500 headset might launch in nine new countries. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro is only available in the US right now. But this could change soon, with the company purportedly preparing to launch the headset in nine new countries.
As a part of the AR headset’s international expansion, Vision Pro’s virtual keyboard will gain support for 12 new languages.
See your BMI, muscle mass and much more with this affordable smart scale. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Let’s face it. For those trying to lose weight, stepping on the bathroom scale can be the last thing we want to do. We assign too much emotional weight to that single number, when it only tells part of the story. A smart scale can help put things into perspective.
The Roomie Sophie is a smart scale that uses pinpoint sensors to measure various factors related to your overall health. For a limited time, you can grab this innovative scale for only $25.97 (regularly $79).
The Blade 2 is super-thin for portability. Photo: Baseus
Baseus’ new Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank provides enough portable power to keep MacBooks and other devices going. It also adds some interesting advanced features designed to make it even more useful.
The 65-watt, 12,000mAh power bank, released Monday, includes a charge information display and offers intelligent app control. Plus, it can charge two devices at once. If you’re looking for a reliable Baseus power bank, this model is an excellent option.
Bonus: For a limited time, the super-slender power bank is available at 30% off with promo code 30OFFBLADE, which drops the Blade 2 price to just $69.99.
Vision Pro is an exciting new tool in the surgery theater. Image: Apple and Olga Guryanova/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
Vision Pro demonstrated its healthcare chops recently, assisting a surgical team operating on a patient’s spine in the U.K., reports indicated. It marked the first Vision pro surgery in Europe and one of the first worldwide, undoubtedly.
Because a nurse assisting the surgeons wore the device, they could efficiently help prepare for and track the procedure.
When it comes to OLED smart TVs as computer displays, how big is too big? Photo: [email protected]
Is bigger always better? Nope. And the debate rages on over how big an OLED smart TV display should be to best-suit a computer setup. Would you go large at over 50 inches, or stick to, say, 42 inches or smaller?
Today’s MacBook Pro setup raised the issue again, surfacing some sensible advice. And the smart TV in question is on sale!
Owen Wilson tees up in an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series about golfers. Photo: Markus Spiske/Pixels
The list of comedies on Apple TV+ will expand with the addition of one starring Owen Wilson as a washed-up golf pro stepping up to coach a teen in the sport.
The series — which does not yet bear a name — seems to have a lot in common with Ted Lasso, another sports-themed comedy that was an enormous success for Apple TV+.
AirPods Pro and Transparency Mode make for fine hearing aids. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
AirPods can work surprisingly well as hearing aids. Thanks to Transparency mode, AirPods Pro will boost the sound of your environment around you. They can give you freaky Spiderman super-hearing if you boost input volume to the max. And Conversation Boost on the latest AirPods Pro 2 can intelligently raise the volume of people talking to you (while lowering the volume of your music or podcasts).
My prescription hearing aids were out of action recently due to a battery problem, so for a few weeks, I used my AirPods Pro as hearing aids.
For the most part, they’ve been pretty good. They work best when set up properly, which is a bit of a chore, but here’s how to do it.
It could be hard to get your hands on the 11.1-inch iPad Pro at launch. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will soon debut the M3 iPad Pros with OLED screens, but perhaps not as soon as many had hoped. And a new leak indicates the smaller 11.1-inch model could be in short supply at launch.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro apparently won’t have any supply issues.
Upgrade your iPhone photography with this $23 portable LED stream light. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Social media and FaceTime mean we’re all shooting more iPhone videos and photos than ever — sometimes in lighting conditions that are far from ideal. This Mini Foldable Stream Light is easy to take anywhere, so it provides better lighting anytime (and anywhere) you plan to be streaming video or taking pix.
This unusual but gorgeous iPhone 15 Pro mod borrows design elements from the Apple Vision Pro headset. Photo: Caviar
iPhone 15 Pro Max Vision is a version of Apple’s premier handset modified so it matches the look of the Vision Pro AR headset. It’s from Dubai-based Caviar, and is actually a beautiful option for someone who uses both devices.
But buyers will need deep pockets. The modification adds tremendously to the cost of the iPhone.
And you have to see Caviar’s crazy mod that turns a Samsung S24 Ultra into a Tesla Cybertruck. Both creations are part of Caviar’s Future collection, designed to reflect “the most prominent futuristic hits,” according to the company.
★★★★☆
Say goodbye to virtual controls and hello to precise joystick and trigger inputs with GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The GameSir X2s Type-C Mobile Controller is ready to make your mobile gaming so much better. Wrap the telescope design around your iPhone 15 to be ready for your favorite RPG, FPS and other advanced games.
It boasts Hall Effect sticks and triggers in a familiar arrangement, but is always ready for you to pick it up and go.
I tested it with my iPhone 15 and had quite a lot of fun. It also works with Androids. And if you’re still rocking a Lightning-enabled iPhone, don’t feel left out — GameSir has a version for you, too.
M3 MacBook Pro becomes even more affordable after a $199 discount. Photo: Apple
Apple’s M3 MacBook Pro packs the best bits of its more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max siblings at a lower price point. At $1,599, the laptop is also $400 cheaper than its siblings.
Amazon’s latest deal drops the price of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro by $199. The discount means you can get the machine for as low as $1,399.
Get 5 charging options in 1 with this $70 Apple-compatible power bank. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Keeping powered up on the go is always a challenge, and there’s nothing worse than your iPhone giving out while providing directions or your Apple Watch shutting down during a workout. Fortunately, you can bring on-the-go charging anywhere with this 5-in-1 Multi-Device Power Pack.
The core of this power pack is a 10,00mAh battery holding enough capacity to charge multiple Apple devices several times. Now, you can snag this nifty charging solution for only $69.99 (regularly $119).
iPhone sideloading just got much closer to actual sideloading. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
EU developers can forgo the App Store entirely and distribute their apps directly to iPhone users from their own websites, Apple said Tuesday. This is a significant reversal from Apple’s original rules, which required devs that wanted to skip the official App Store to place iPhone software in third-party software marketplaces.
In another major change, Apple also will allow EU developers to create app marketplaces that sell only their own software.
Cedars-Sinai’s Xaia app offers patients AI-enabled, conversational mental health support in relaxing spatial environments where they can also do deep breathing exercises and meditation. Photo: Apple
Powerful new health and wellness apps take advantage of visionOS’s “infinite canvas” to use spatial experiences to improve patient outcomes in clinical settings and at home, Apple said Monday. It seems that Vision Pro health apps are changing medical care.
“We’re thrilled to see the incredible apps that developers across the healthcare community are bringing to Apple Vision Pro,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “The imagination and drive of our developers, combined with the technical capabilities of visionOS, are igniting new possibilities for physicians, frontline workers, and even students, and we can’t wait to see what’s to come.”
A classic Macintosh SE sits off to the right of the M1 MacBook Pro and Studio Display setup, and it actually gets some use. Photo: [email protected]
Pimping out a computer setup with vintage gear is super-cool, even if the old stuff doesn’t get much use (or is solely for display purposes). Today’s M1 MacBook Pro setup recently added a new Studio Display, and both of those modern machines bask in the glory of a nearby classic Macintosh SE from the 1980s.
The ancient all-in-one computer still works and it even gets some use.
Killers of the Flower Moon got 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. But it didn't win any. Photo: Apple TV+
No Apple TV+ film won an Academy Award on Sunday, despite 10 nominations for Martin Scorsese’s historical epic Killers of the Flower Moon — including Best Picture — and three for Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon.
Despite the final results, Apple made it clear that it is honored to be nominated. And both films have drawn large audiences since they debuted on Apple’s streaming service.