Get a refurb 2024 iPad Pro for a fraction of the original price. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you want a screaming-fast iPad Pro with a gorgeous, 13-inch screen, consider this refurbished M4 model. Released in 2024, it delivers the goods when it comes to working (and playing) at home, in the office or on the go.
Plus, it’s on sale for just $899.99 — while our limited inventory lasts.
Apple will take the hit to its profit margins instead of raising prices. AI Image: ChatGPT
Despite a steep rise in NAND and RAM prices, Apple will supposedly not increase iPhone and Mac prices. Instead, TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will take the hit to its gross margins to increase market share.
The supply-crunch has already forced Apple to negotiate prices with its vendors every quarter, rather than the usual six-month cycle.
Grab this 1TB cloud storage deal that nobody else can beat. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It’s annoying getting notifications that you’re almost out of storage on your phone or computer. But you can quit playing that ridiculous game with one of the cheapest cloud storage deals around. With this lifetime Koofr plan, you can free up space on your iPhone, Mac or iPad with cloud storage accessible from an unlimited number of devices.
Koofr offers this discounted 1TB cloud storage plan with a lifetime subscription you can’t beat. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to Koofr cloud storage for just $129.99 with code KOOFR.
Sonos Amp Multi could be the beating heart of a large home's customizable sound system. Photo: Sonos
The first new Sonos hardware product in over a year is the Sonos Amp Multi, a professional-grade multi-channel streaming amplifier designed specifically for large-scale residential audio installations, the company said Tuesday.
“Sonos Amp is the most widely used two-channel streaming amplifier in residential installation because it’s powerful, dependable, and intuitive,” said Tom Conrad, CEO of Sonos. “Amp Multi takes that same philosophy and applies it to larger systems. It makes ambitious designs more efficient to build and install, and easier to live with.”
The announcement marks a significant expansion of Sonos’ product lineup into the custom integration market, targeting professional installers rather than typical consumers. And it’s the first hardware to come out in a while following shakeups at the company.
You can pause them without losing your streak. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The Apple Watch doesn’t just count your steps — its three Activity rings track different levels of energy you burn throughout the day. And the perpetual challenge to “close your rings” provides a motivational push that gamifies fitness.
Apple’s smartwatch gives you a bunch of options for customizing your Activity rings (and for taking a break when you need it). You can set different goals for each ring for different days of the week to fit your workout schedule. When you want a rest day or if you fall ill, you can take up to a month-long break without losing your streak.
If you’re all-in on the fitness tracking, you can add widgets that show your rings on your Apple Watch face and widgets on your iPhone. Or, on the other hand, if you find it all a bit annoying, you can turn off all the notifications so they won’t bother you anymore.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch’s Activity rings.
January 27, 2010: After months of rumors and speculation, Apple CEO Steve Jobs publicly shows off the iPad for the first time. Aside from the name, which some people joke sounds like a female sanitary product, the first-generation iPad immediately earns critical acclaim.
“The last time there was this much excitement over a tablet, it had some commandments written on it,” The Wall Street Journal quips.
OhSnap Mcon iPhone game controller is simply packed with innovation. Screenshot: OhSnap
The OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller magnetically attaches to an iPhone to add joysticks, buttons, triggers and a D-pad. It’s very portable and uses an innovative design that includes flip-out grips for more comfortable play.
OhSnap unveiled the Mcon a year ago, and it finally reached customers on Tuesday.
Apple's performance during the holiday quarter should make Wall Street smile. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Get set for Apple to report boffo results from its latest financial quarter on Thursday. Wall Street expects Apple’s earnings report to reflect a record-breaking holiday season, with analysts anticipating significant growth driven by strong iPhone 17 demand.
Revenue may be up as much 11% year over year. Apple hasn’t seen revenue growth that strong since 2022. This should lead to truly stellar earnings per share.
Two things I use all the time in one elegant shortcut. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
I finally figured out the perfect set of controls to assign to the iPhone’s Action button. I created a shortcut that cleverly combines the two controls I want to use it for.
The Action button can toggle the flashlight, mute audio, toggle an accessibility feature, open the camera, start translation, run any shortcut of your choosing and more. It’s so open-ended that figuring out what to use it for can trigger decision fatigue.
Don’t panic — I discovered what you should use the iPhone’s action button for. And I’m sharing the shortcut, which combines two actions into one elegant system, so you can use it, too.
You might want to reconsider handing your health data to an AI bot. Photo: OpenAI
When Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler gave ChatGPT access to a decade of his Apple Watch data, he expected useful insights. Instead, the AI delivered wildly inconsistent health assessments that left him questioning the readiness of AI-powered health tools.
But the feature will only come to select iPhones and iPads. AI Image: ChatGPT
Apple will introduce a new privacy feature in iOS 26.3 exclusive to iPhones with its C1x or C1 modems. The feature will prevent cellular carriers from seeing iPhone owners’ precise location data.
“With the limit precise location setting, you can limit some information that cellular networks may use to determine your location,” says Apple in its support document.
Apple forges ahead (slowly) with beta testing iOS 26.3, macOS 26.3 and more. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple made the third betas of iOS 26.3 and macOS 26.3 available to developers on Monday. This comes two weeks after the second round, double the usual time between new versions.
The same goes for iPadOS 26.3 beta 3, watchOS 26.3 beta 3, tvOS 26.3 beta 3 and visionOS 26.3 beta 3.
Bet you can't wait to pin Siri to your shirt collar. Image: Cult of Mac
On the latest Cult of Mac podcast: Details emerge about Apple’s work on an AI pin, and we’re all wondering the same thing. What the heck will it do?
The AirTag-size device that Apple’s testing reportedly packs multiple cameras and microphones. And it will work with the new, chatbot-style Siri that’s also in the works.
We might get our first look at (and first earful of) the new, super-chatty Siri at WWDC26 in June. Please, for the love of all that’s holy, let’s hope it works (and that it ships in a timely fashion).
Uh-oh. It looks like price hikes for iPhones and Macs might be in the works. Who can you blame? AI, of course.
Griffin walks us through the benefits of using Hot Corners on your Mac, including some masterful techniques that simplify his workflow.
And we wrap up the show with a look at some cool setups that show the importance of lighting.
Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
iOS 26.2.1 is only one of the operating system upgrades Apple just released. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
There’s a fresh round of system software updates for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch on Monday. Apple released iOS 26.2.1, iPadOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1 to support AirTag 2, a tracker tag also introduced on Monday.
Note that Mac users didn’t get an equivalent macOS 26.2.1 update — likely because Macs and AirTags aren’t truly intended to be used together.
The built-in tools make it easy to partition your Mac hard drive. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you want to install a beta version of macOS, either for software development or for simply poking around, the smartest way to do it is to partition your Mac’s hard drive. That will create a new storage area just for the different installation, with entirely separate data, so none of your precious documents are at risk.
You also might want to have different versions of macOS on hand for testing old versions of the operating system, too. It’s easier than keeping a pile of aging Macs around (my go-to strategy).
Luckily, the Mac comes with a very handy tool to partition your hard drive for free. Read on to find out how to partition your Mac’s hard drive with Disk Utility.
Some feared we officially hit "peak iPhone" in 2016. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
January 26, 2016: After nine years of spectacular growth, iPhone sales flatline for the first time. Some observers say the sales plateau means that “peak iPhone” has finally arrived.
Numbers posted by Apple show that during the final three months of 2015, iPhone sales grew by only 0.4%. The crucial holiday season sales compare quite unfavorably with the 46% jump recorded during the same period a year earlier.
Slide this slim tracker into your wallet or onto your ID badge and feel the Find My love. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
While the AirTag is a handy tool to keep track of things like your car keys or luggage, there are things that Apple’s tracking tag isn’t designed to keep tabs on, such as a wallet or your office card key. That’s precisely why the KeySmart SmartCard wallet tracker makes a terrific addition to your tech arsenal.
Like the AirTag, the SmartCard works seamlessly with Apple’s Find My app. Unlike the bulkier AirTag, the SmartCard’s discreet form factor ensures it can be tucked away easily. The tracker’s ultra-slim, credit-card-like design makes it incredibly easy to fit into tight wallet slots, small compartments or the narrowest of pockets. Plus, it’s rechargeable!
For a limited time, you can get a KeySmart SmartCard for just $29.97.
Apple released its latest item in the Black Unity collection. Photo: Apple
The new Apple Watch Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop honors Black History Month, coming up in February, while celebrating themes of human connection and community bonds, Apple said Monday.
AirTag 2 improves on Apple's original tracker tag in multiple ways. Photo: Apple
Apple launched the second-generation AirTag on Monday, upgrading the tracking tag with a new Ultra Wideband chip and improved Bluetooth connectivity so it can be located from much farther away. Apple also built in a louder speaker.
Like its predecessor, you can use AirTag 2 to find lost items — and get reminders if you inadvertently leave items behind.
Are you ready for M6-powered iPads and Macs? AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple’s M5-powered Macs might have a short shelf life, with the M6 chip possibly debuting “in the near future,” according to a new report.
But first, Apple will unveil MacBook Pros, Mac Studio and MacBook Air equipped with the M5 chip in the first half of 2026.
iOS 26 adoption isn't as bad as reported earlier. Not that it's great. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple’s attempt to keep online advertisers from tracking Safari users had the unintended effect of completely throwing off reporting on iOS 26 adoption.
Rather than only a small percentage of iPhone users installing some version of Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 26 adoption is only a bit below average.
Sun Microsystems was a major Silicon Valley player back in the day. Photo: Brendan Gregg
January 25, 1996: Rumors circulate that Sun Microsystems is in talks to acquire Apple.
With Sun at the peak of its power, and Cupertino struggling, the rumored $3.89 billion deal would see Apple snapped up for between $5 and $6 a share.
Next-gen Siri is almost here. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple could take the wraps off the Google Gemini-powered Siri update as early as the second half of February. It’s unclear if Apple will hold a major event or a small media briefing to unveil the next-gen assistant.
The public release likely will happen in late March or early April with iOS 26.4.
Make Control Center your own with these customization options. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
If you want to make your iPhone easier to use, you can customize its Control Center to gain faster access to the buttons and toggles you rely upon to perform frequent tasks.
Plus, you can remove all the junk you never touch from the iPhone Contol Center, putting the vital controls you actually use front and center.
Keep reading to find out how and why you should customize the iPhone Control Center to make the device your own.
Apple lays out the strengths of the revolutionary Macintosh 128K. Photo: Apple
January 24, 1984: Apple ships its first Mac, the mighty Macintosh 128K.
Bringing a mouse and graphical user interface to the masses, and heralded by an acclaimed Super Bowl commercial that’s still talked about today, the first-gen Mac will quickly become one of the most important personal computers ever released.