Mobile menu toggle

One iWatch To Rule Them All: More Incredible iWatch Concepts By Martin Hajek [Gallery]

By

iWatch_2-640x480

I’ve never been convinced by Martin Hajek’s iWatch concepts. They’re beautifully done, but the stitched leather band is hideous and very un-Apple-like, and I can’t help but feel that whatever the iWatch is going to be, it isn’t going to be an unusably small iPod touch strapped to your wrist.

That said, Hajek’s just unveiled a number of high-quality renders of his iWatch concept that he did for MacUser, and if you’re a fan of his take on Apple’s upcoming smartwatch, there’s a lot here to get you salivating. A lot more shots, after the jump.

iPad Mini 2 Could Come At WWDC, But Not With A Retina Display [Analyst]

By

ipad-mini-front-back-small

The iPad mini is the best iPad Apple has ever released, except for one damn thing: the screen. Even if you love your iPad mini, everyone agrees that the inferiority of the screen compared to other tablets like the Nexus 7 — let alone the 9.7-inch iPad — is the only thing that is holding it back. The iPad mini needs a Retina display.

Sadly, hopes of getting a Retina iPad mini this year have recently been dashed by reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who poured water on the rumor of a Retina iPad mini launch by saying that that the Retina Display needed for a higher-res iPad mini won’t even start manufacturing until later this year, ruling out an October launch.

So what’s Apple’s plan? According to a new report, pretty much what you’d expect: they’ll release a spec-bumped iPad mini in the second half of this year, possibly at WWDC, then follow it up with an iPad mini with Retina Display in Q1 of 2014.

Budget iPhone “Confirmed” For This Year, Says Leaker Of Previous iPhone Components

By

Apple-low-end

Last year, electronics supply company ETrade Supply lucked out and was one of the first companies to obtain parts of the iPhone 5 before release: first the FaceTime cam, then the front panel and then the back panel.

Whatever ETrade Supply’s sources, then, they clearly have a solid connection inside Foxconn. And now that source is telling them that the ‘budget’ iPhone is a very real product.

Free ‘Subtitles’ App Automatically Grabs Subs For TV Shows And Movies

By

1367834820.jpg

You know what I find really impressive about the whole TV BitTorrent scene? Subtitles. The folks who manage to get accurate, well synced and almost error-free subtitles up for an hour-long TV show almost as soon as they have aired are not only hard-working but essential. Thanks guys!

You know what’s not impressive? Finding those subtitle files. Most of the sites that maintain listings and downloads force you to click through about a zillion pages to get to a file, and then it might not even be the one you’re looking for.

But there’s help, in the form of apps like the brand new Subtitles.

MiniCinema iPad Mini Case Sure Is ‘Handy’

By

1367828007.jpg

Having spent far too long browsing the shelves of the local hardware stores (plural) trying to cobble together my own iPad mini hand strap, I’m glad to see a proper case featuring one. I gave up on my DIY efforts, having decided that even as a weak-armed geek I’m strong enough to hold an iPad mini in one hand.

But if I was going to buy a case, a strap like the one on the Luxa2 MiniCinema sure would tempt me.

The Best Real-Time Tactics Game for Mac Gets Skirmish Mode, Now on Sale for $10

By

company-of-heroes-1

 

Company of Heroes: Campaign Edition is hands-down the best pure real-time tactics game available on the Mac to date; there’s nothing yet ported to the Mac that can even come close to matching the WWII squad-based game’s tactical action and realism.

While you won’t get many arguments about the above statement, gamers have had plenty to say about the fact that the Mac port has lacked a sorely needed skirmish mode since the day it arrived at the Mac App Store.

Not any more though — skirmish mode has just been added to the Mac App Store version. And Aspyr has sweetened the pot further by slashing the title’s price to $10.

A Retro Phone For Your Smart Device [Deals]

By

CoM - Retro

Smartphones are all starting to look more and more alike – no matter who is manufacturing them. wouldn’t it be great to add a “retro” touch to your smart device? Well…look no further.

For a limited time, Cult of Mac Deals is offering a cool retro phone (available in black, red, white, orange, or pink) that is compatible with your smart phone or tablet. All you’ll need is a standard 3mm jack – and you can have it for $15 while this offers lasts!

Five Sweet Tips To Help You Master iTunes On Mac OS X [Feature]

By

Mastering iTunes

iTunes has gone from a basic mp3 player based on SoundJam in 2000 to a full-fledged movie and music media player, digital media distribution center, and repository of all your iOS apps. That’s quite a lot of functionality for a music player.

iTunes is still a pretty decent media player, even if it feels rather bloated at times when your music and movie collection grows out of control. However, like anything else complex, it can be a little tricky to figure out how to use iTunes most effectively.

Here, then, are five simple yet helpful tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your iTunes experience.

Ace Patrol Is Sid Meier’s Newest Strategy Game, and It’s iOS-Only

By

air-patrol-1
Image -- 2K Mobile

With deep strategy titles Civ Rev and Sid Meier’s Pirates in back catalog, just-released Haunted Hollow and the hotly anticipated iOS version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown due out this summer, one could argue that 2K Mobile isn’t the hottest name in iOS strategy games right now — but it’d be a steep uphill battle.

Then add this bombshell to support the argument: Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol, due out next Thursday, may be the best 2K iOS strategy game yet.

All Mac Aspyr Star Wars Titles 66 Percent Off Through Sunday

By

empire-at-war-1
Rebel forces about to be crushed under the hoof (?) of an Imperial AT-AT.

Today is Star Wars day (for the less nerdy, here’s the punchline: “May the Fourth be with you.” Now look at the date.)

In celebration, Aspyr has drastically cut prices on all five of their ported Star Wars titles — both at the Mac App Store and at Aspyr’s own GameAgent site (though they’re slightly more expensive at the former). Two of the titles can be had for as little as $3.30 each.

Why The iPhone Is Falling Behind

By

glass

 

Apple haters, Android geeks and misinformed Wall Street analysts will tell you that Apple’s iPhone is falling behind because Apple can’t innovate anymore.

I don’t buy the Apple-doesn’t-innovate BS. Apple is super innovative, and their innovation is focused, disciplined and ultimately results in industry-dominating revenue and profits.

But iPhones are still lacking some of the best innovations out there. This isn’t because Apple can’t innovate. It’s because Apple can’t share. Apple can’t play nice with others. Apple wants to control the user experience, even at the expense of the user.

Apple isn’t open.

This quality used to be a benefit because it prevented the platform from becoming an ugly, confusing, fragmented mess.

But in the past month, Apple’s lack of openness has become a serious problem.

Here’s what I’m talking about.

Five Ways To Really Master Mobile Safari On Your iPhone And iPad [Feature]

By

features_safari

Somehow, Apple managed to cram in a ton of web browsing functionality into a teeny, tiny package called Safari. To distinguish the mobile web browser from the one of the same name on OS X, we’ll call it Mobile Safari and be done with it.

Regardless of the name, the mobile version of Safari is chock full of features both subtle and hidden. Here are five great tips and tricks to help you master Mobile Safari on your own iOS device, whether that be an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Military Networks Will Be Ready For iPad, iPhone Use In About Two Weeks, Says Pentagon

By

armyipad

You may remember a post I wrote a while back about the Pentagon’s plan to get mobile devices working on military networks, and how we were able to ascertain that yes, they were working on testing iPhones and iPads and no, they were not planning on jettisoning support for Blackberry devices.

According to Spencer Ackerman at Wired today, iPads will finally have passed the rigorous security review set out by the US Military at the Pentagon in about two weeks, allowing the Apple-powered mobile devices onto the military networks. The Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) for BlackBerry 10 devices and Playbook tablets, along with those for Samsung’s Knox Android phone, have already been released.

Social Networking App Path Makes Things A Bit More Private With New Update

By

Path Update

Path is a social network for our more private groups of friends and family, distinguishing itself from services like Facebook and Twitter in two ways. One, it’s not on any website, as it’s only accessible from your iPhone or iPad. Two, while it can be connected to those services, it does not have to, allowing you to keep things as private as you’d like, depending on the number of people you invite to the service as connections.

The new update, which went live just a few minutes ago, brings a new option to the app settings, allowing you to hide yourself in global search, which will keep even your friends from finding you or your activities if you don’t connect to them directly. This seems like a direct move to help Path feel more private, adding to a previous update, which brought private messaging (and stickers) to the app itself.

Got A Dollar? Then Check Out This Hilarious Game, Fester Mudd: Curse Of The Gold, On The App Store

By

festermudd5

If you’re a fan of Lucas Arts and Sierra Games adventure games like Grim Fandango, The Dig, Monkey Island, or King’s Quest, you’ll dig this fun game from Replay Games, Inc. Fester Mudd: Curse of the Gold, Episode 1 is a spot-on tribute to the gaming days of yore, with hilarious writing, painterly-yet-pixelly artwork, and some quirky puzzles to solve with various items needing to be used with various other items.

It’s also by the guys who are working on the upcoming Leisure Suit Larry remake for iOS, so you know it’s gonna be good.

5S Snaps Cuter Selfies And Tim Cook Wins At Secrecy On The CultCast

By

cultcast-iPad-Mini-new-logo.jpg

Slip on your Nikes and grab your Kool-Aid, dear brethren, it’s time for a new episode of The CultCast. This time around, iOS 7 takes over your car; 5S gets better at selfies; Jony Ive is under pressure; Tim Cook really doubles down on secrecy, ya’ll; and we pitch our favorite tech and apps on an all new Fave’s ‘N Raves.

All that and more on this week’s CultCast! Stream or download new and past episodes on your Mac or iDevice by subscribing now on iTunes, or hit play below and let the good times roll.

Break on through to the other side for the show notes.

Cultcast 70 post player image

Briefs Looks Like The Ultimate iOS App Prototyping Tool For Designers

By

Screen Shot 2013-05-03 at 6.35.48 PM

Briefs is a new Mac app that allows designers to create interactive mockups of iOS apps. Developed by MartianCraft, Briefs can build iPhone and iPad app mockups without a single line of code. It looks like the ultimate tool for prototyping app ideas to clients and developers.

Different elements of an app can be assembled on the desktop and sent to the Briefscase iOS client via a shared WiFi network. From there, the mockup can be used like a real app on an iOS device.

Berlin’s First Apple Store Opens To Huge Crowds

By

Germans love their Apple products!
Germans love their Apple products!

There are 10 Apple stores in Germany, and another was opened today in the nation’s capital. After two years of construction, Berlin’s first Apple store was welcomed by thousands of eager customers and nearly 200 cheering employees. Lines started wrapping around the block 10 hours before the doors opened.

Last Chance To Watch TV And Movies Anywhere With One FREE Month Of Hulu Plus

By

CoM - HuluPlus

Hulu.com has long enabled us to watch our favourite content when we want on our computers. But what if you could add a whole other layer to your Hulu experience – one that gives you unlimited streaming on a myriad of devices, with access to entire seasons of your favorite series – and all in high-definition?

Well, that’s what Hulu Plus delivers.

Hulu Plus gives even more control over your entertainment options – and Cult of Mac has a deal that will help you take control of your entertainment: one month of Hulu Plus for absolutely free!

Skip The Domain Suffix And Prefix To Get To Websites Faster Via Mobile Safari [iOS Tips]

By

Web Prefix Suffix

Want to get to websites faster using mobile Safari? No, I’m not talking about upgrading your internet or data plan to LTE or something, though that will obviously help. No, I’m more interested in showing you how to get to most major websites with just a bit less typing involved.

It’s pretty simple and straightforward, to be honest. Here’s how.