Season four of For All Mankind is only a couple of months away. Photo: Apple TV+
The alternative-history sci-fi series For All Mankind returns to Apple TV+ in November, according to the streaming service. And Apple also released a teaser trailer for the upcoming season 4.
In these future episodes, the colony on Mars is fully established so the focus moves to mining the asteroids.
Keep using your Lightning cables and earbuds with iPhone 15 thanks to this adapter from Apple. Photo: Apple
Anyone unhappy that the iPhone 15 series dumps Lightning in favor of USB-C should consider a just-released adapter from Apple. With it, an old Lightning cable can be plugged into a USB-C port — and for more than just power.
You can store 6X as much with an iCloud+ subscription than was possible before. Image: Apple
Apple added two tiers to iCloud+ online storage, allowing Mac and iPhone users to keep as much as 12 terabytes of data on the service. That’s six times as much as before.
The storage plans also come with additional features, many of which are focused on privacy.
The iPhone 12 can no longer be sold in France. The handset reportedly emits more electromagnetic radiation than is allowed in that country, and retailers have been ordered to take it off its shelves.
The order applies to only one model that Apple released in 2020. And the problem is fixable with a software patch.
Apple included some features in its new products we weren't expecting. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Although tipsters worked overtime spoiling the new Apple products, revealing most of the details of the iPhone 15 series and the new Apple Watch models, Tim Cook and Co. still managed to surprise us here and there during Tuesday’s “Wonderlust” event.
Fortunately, most of the surprises were good ones.
Here are three ways Apple gave us more than we expected, but two where the tipsters steered us wrong.
Give your videos a professional gloss with this $49.99 software. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
When you’re video conferencing, well-shot presentations can be a powerful way to sway new clients and impress employers. And despite what you might think, you don’t need a studio full of expensive gear to knock people’s socks off. FineCam Pro is virtual camera software for recording video and video conferencing.
Cult of Mac readers can score lifetime access to FineCam Pro, which works on Mac, iOS, Windows and Android, for only $49.99 (regularly $84) for a limited time.
Its final form is here. Its release is a little later. Image: Ed Hardy/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Shortly after today’s announcements, Apple pushed out the release candidates for iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10. These operating systems will all be available on Monday, September 18.
macOS Sonoma has a later release date of September 26 and did not receive a release candidate today. Update: The macOS Sonoma release candidate is now out.
There are two important PSAs for developers: The release candidate of Xcode 15 does not support the visionOS SDK. App submissions for the new operating systems are now open, though.
Even when facing off with a skeptical Mother Nature, Tim Cook never backs down! Photo: Apple
Tim Cook and a surprisingly stone-cold Mother Nature had a staring contest at Apple Park during the Wonderlust event Tuesday. And in Apple’s telling, Tim Cook won.
He played himself in the keynote segment while Octavia Spencer, star of the canceled Truth Be Told on Apple TV+, played a feisty Mother Nature taking executives to task on environmental-initiative progress.
But in the end she chilled out, because Apple had some progress to show, including its first carbon-neutral products.
The iPhone 15 Pro models feature a strong and lightweight new titanium design. Photo: Apple
The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max handsets feature a lightweight titanium design with contoured edges, a new Action button, powerful camera upgrades and the A17 Pro chip to jack up mobile gaming, Apple said at its Wonderlust event Tuesday. And surprisingly, only the Pro Max’s price went up.
“This is the most pro lineup we have ever created, with a state-of-the-art titanium design, the best iPhone camera system yet that enables game-changing new workflows, and the A17 Pro chip, which ushers in a new chapter of performance and games never before seen on iPhone,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release about the new models. To know more, read why the iPhone 15 might be Apple’s cheapest since 2007.
Apple has a new material for its watch bands and iPhone cases. Photo: Apple
To make its products more eco-friendly, Apple introduced a new material it calls “FineWoven” today. This material, which Apple says has a “suedelike” feel, will replace the company’s existing leather accessories for the iPhone and Apple Watch.
The move is another step in Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus come in a range of pastels, plus basic black. Screenshot: Apple
The just-launched iPhone 15 and 15 Plus include the Dynamic Island previously reserved for Pro models. And they’re enhanced with another previously Pro feature: a 48 megapixel camera.
What they don’t have is a Lighting port or screen notch. These have been replaced with better options.
“iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and features like Roadside Assistance via satellite that make a real difference in users’ lives,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
The handsets were unveiled Tuesday at Apple’s Wonderlust event, along with two iPhone 15 Pro models andnew Apple Watch iterations.
Updated AirPods Pro 2 look the same, but feature a new connector on the bottom. Photo: Apple
At Apple’s “Wonderlust” event today, the company released an updated version of AirPods Pro 2 and EarPods with USB-C connectors. The earbuds themselves are largely unchanged from before, but the AirPods Pro 2 charging case and wired EarPods have switched from the once-inescapable Lightning port to the universal USB-C standard. Minor improvements to the former include dust resistance and lossless audio when paired with Vision Pro.
The new earbuds were announced alongside iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which also come with a USB-C port. Both pairs of buds are available to order today at the same price as before and will be available on September 22.
The aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 comes in a new pink color. Photo: Apple
Apple Watch Series 9 brings a faster S9 chip that the company says will boost performance, make Siri more usable, and enable an entirely new “double tap” gesture.
“Apple Watch Series 9 has been redesigned on the inside with the all-new S9 chip, giving it a big boost in performance and capabilities,” said Deidre Caldbeck, director of Apple Watch product marketing. “It’s our most powerful Watch chip yet.”
Aside from the impressive internal updates, the 2023 Apple Watch lineup looks much the same as last year’s models.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks the same, but packs some big upgrades. Photo: Apple
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here. And it builds on the original model in all the right ways.
Announced today during Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 packs a faster S9 chip, a newer Ultra Wideband chip and longer battery life.
Tim Cook kicks off Apple's Wonderlust event Sept. 12, 2023 Photo: Apple
Today at Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, while people tuned in to hear about iPhone 15 and Apple Watch, Cupertino had just one piece of news to share about Vision Pro. Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the event saying the device is still “on track to ship early next year.”
EpicBoom promises immersive sound wherever you bring it. Photo: Ultimate Ears
The new oval-shaped EpicBoom Bluetooth speaker joined Ultimate Ears’ lineup Monday, promising loud, bass-driven, 360-degree portable sound, the Logitech subsidiary said.
You can preorder the $349 boomer now for September 15 shipping.
Transfer data at crazy fast speeds with Thunderbolt 5. Graphic: Intel
Those working with very large files should be pleased that Intel keeps improving the Thunderbolt standard. The newly announced Thunderbolt 5 doubles the speed of its predecessor, and can even go up to three times faster for video connections.
It’s virtually certain Apple will build support the system for high-speed data transfers into future Macs.
These new cans try to restore some of the warmth and realism that digital compression takes away. Photo: Morpho MFG
This post’s headline sounds like a joke, invoking technology used in antique radios, TVs and amplifiers, but the wireless headphones behind it seem entirely serious.
“écoute: the world’s only vacuum tube headphones, designed to compensate for the deficiencies of digital listening,” say the Indiegogo and Kickstarter funding-campaign pages. The French word “écoute” translates to “listen” in English.
The new EP800 system can easily power your home in an outage. Photo: Bluetti
Not long after the successful debut of its EP900 system, Bluetti is set to electrify the energy-storage sector again with its powerful new EP800 energy storage system launching September 15.
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Read on to find out what sets the new system apart — and how to use it to back up your home’s power supply. What’s more, you can even try it for free.
It seems iPad 10 will remain Apple's newest tablet for some months to come. Photo: Apple
Don’t expect an updated iPad to wrap up Tuesday’s Wonderlust event. A trusted source of Apple insider information says Apple probably won’t introduce any tablets this year.
Snag a Windows 11 Pro activation key you can use on up to three devices for only $29.97 (regular price: $199). Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Hey PC fans — when was the last time you updated your computer’s operating system? There’s no point in waiting any longer. We’ve got a limited-time price drop on one of the best-reviewed OSs out there. Get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro on sale for only $29.97 (regularly $199).
Apple's online store is down for the next few hours. Screenshot: Rajesh
Apple took down its online store this morning ahead of the “Wonderlust” event scheduled for later today. The company should announce the iPhone 15 series, new Apple Watch models, and more at the event.
Over the last decade, the company typically has taken down its online store ahead of major product launches.