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iPhone 17 Pro camera could blow away expectations with 8x lens

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iPhone 17 and 17 Air may lack ProMotion display features
8x optical shooter with a moving lens on iPhone 17 Pro — Too good to be true?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro may pack bigger camera changes than initially rumored. It could sport a higher resolution 8x zoom camera, a new pro camera app with advanced manual controls, and another Camera Control button on the phone’s top edge.

The information comes from a tipster working for a company producing an iPhone 17 Pro commercial.

Today in Apple history: Mac marketing guru Joanna Hoffman is born

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Kate Winslet (left) plays Joanna Hoffman (right) in Steve Jobs.
Kate Winslet (left) played Mac marketing guru Joanna Hoffman in Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs biopic.
Photos: Kate Winslet/Apple

July 27: Today in Apple history: Mac marketing guru Joanna Hoffman birthday July 27, 1955: Joanna Hoffman, who will join the original Macintosh and NeXT teams and become Steve Jobs’ first right-hand woman, is born in Poland.

Six months younger than Jobs, the marketing executive is one of the few people willing and able to stand up to the oftentimes-fierce Apple co-founder during the first part of his career.

3 reasons to watch Stick on Apple TV+ (and not as a Ted Lasso clone)

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Apple TV+ Stick review: 3 reasons to watch
"Stick" is the nickname pro golfers give the greats -- sometimes before they flame out, like Owen Wilson's character.
Photo: Apple TV+

Popular Apple TV+ sports comedy Stick just completed its first season and got its green light for season two. So while comparisons to feel-good soccer phenom Ted Lasso seem inevitable, this Owen Wilson-led golf series carves out its own distinctive identity.

Rather than trying to replicate the wholesome optimism and wildly unbelievable story that made Ted Lasso a cultural phenomenon, Stick takes viewers slightly further into somewhat darker territory and into a slightly more believable story with suburban grift, sardonic humor and complex characters navigating grief and redemption.

Hey, I said somewhat darker, slightly further and slightly more believable, OK?

In a nutshell, Stick, like Lasso, is danged wholesome and all about redemption. And both series are feel-good shows people want to watch right now, given the societal circumstances. But for my Apple TV+ Stick review, here are three compelling reasons why Stick deserves your attention, regardless of how you feel about its more famous predecessor.

Catch an odd glimpse of Breaking Bad creator’s new sci-fi, Pluribus [Apple TV+ trailer]

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Pluribus season 1
Rhea Seehorn stars in Pluribus, coming to Apple TV+ in November.
Photo: Apple TV+

It’s hard to tell from the weird little teaser trailer Apple TV+ dropped Friday, but subscribers may get their next must-watch series when Pluribus — the highly anticipated sci-fi drama from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan — debuts on the streaming platform November 7.

The nine-episode series stars Emmy-nominated actress Rhea Seehorn, best known for her critically acclaimed role as Kim Wexler in Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul.

Today in Apple history: The last iBook laptop goes on sale

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Rugged and pearly white, the iBook G4 becomes the last of its line.
Rugged and pearly white, the iBook G4 was the last of its line.
Photo: Hannes Grobe/Wikipedia CC

July 26: Today in Apple history: White iBook G4, the last laptop in the popular lineup, goes on sale July 26, 2005: Apple debuts the opaque white iBook G4, the last of its laptops to launch under the iBook name.

The portable computer adds Apple’s scrolling trackpad for the first time. It also incorporates Bluetooth 2.0 as a standard feature, and becomes the last Apple laptop with a PowerPC chip.

All the new Apple products coming in the next year

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Apple roadmap 2025-2026
Here’s everything rumors told us to expect from Apple in the next year.
Photo: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple is gearing up for a blockbuster year, with a packed product roadmap that spans nearly every category in its lineup. From an iPhone redesign to upgrades for the Mac, iPad and Apple Watch families, the next twelve months promise a steady stream of hardware refreshes, software milestones and perhaps a few surprises.

Whether you’re a casual user or a die-hard fan, here’s a look at every major Apple product expected between now and next summer.

Even killer OLED monitor can’t touch Studio Display [Setups]

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240Hz OLED monitor
If this MacBook and PC user could only have one, he'd take the Studio Display over the 240Hz OLED display.
Photo: [email protected]

Though relatively high costs is a perennial complaint about Apple’s popular Studio Display, the 5K resolution monitor with a fair number of bells and whistles continues to gain fans willing to pay. Today’s setup belongs to a gamer with a MacBook Pro and a gaming PC, plus a Studio Display and a 240Hz OLED monitor.

He said if the house caught fire and he could only choose one display to save, it’d be Apple’s.

Blender 3D software heads for iPad with Apple Pencil

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Blender for iPad mockup
Blender for iPad will look something like this mockup.
Image: Blender

Blender, one of the best 3D creation tools, is getting ported to iPad. And it won’t be some dumbed-down “lite” version, but a full version of the application.

It’s coming to others tablets too, but iPad Pro will be first.

Today in Apple history: Windows scores big victory over Mac

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Windows used a number of elements of the Mac UI
Windows used a number of elements of the Mac UI.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

July 25: Today in Apple history: Windows scores big legal victory over Mac when judge throws out Apple's copyright infringement claims July 25, 1989: Apple suffers a major setback in its copyright-infringement lawsuit against Microsoft for allegedly stealing the Mac’s “look and feel” to create Windows.

Apple sued Microsoft on 189 counts of copyright infringement relating to Windows 2.0.3. The judge overseeing the case throws out 179 of them. This paves the way for Microsoft’s dominance over Apple in the coming decade.

How to download the watchOS 26 public beta

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Get New Features Early
If you really want that Workout Buddy.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can download the watchOS 26 public beta right now. With it, you can try out the great new Liquid Glass design coming to the Apple Watch before Apple ships the update to everyone. And you can check out Workout Buddy, the AI-powered coach that gives you encouragement during your workouts.

Of course, there are a few things you should look out for. Beta software is buggy and can lead to data loss or apps that don’t work. This particular beta is a rough one, with lots of broken animations and features. A lot of apps you use probably won’t work correctly. I strongly recommend that you at least wait for the public beta — it’ll be available starting in July.

If you’re still sure you want to try it out, you’ll need to install iOS 26 on your iPhone first. I’ll show you how.

How to download the macOS 26 Tahoe public beta (if you dare!)

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Get macOS Features Early
If you want Liquid Glass now!
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can download the macOS 26 Tahoe public beta right now. You can get a look at the exciting new design coming to the Mac before the update is shipped to everyone. And you can try out the new super-charged Spotlight.

Of course, there are a few things you should look out for. Beta software is buggy and can lead to data loss or apps that don’t work. This particular beta is a rough one, with lots of broken animations and features. A lot of apps you use probably won’t work correctly. You’ve been warned.

If you’re still sure you want to try it out, you should make sure you have a backup of your most important data with two copies of your photo library before you try installing. I’ll show you how.

Acapulco comedy series returns to Apple TV+ for season 4

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Acapulco season 4
Apple TV+ subscribers can now laugh along with Acapulco season 4.
Graphic: Apple TV+

Acapulco returned to Apple TV+ on Wednesday for its fourth and final season. While bilingual shows often struggle on American TV, this comedy earned high praise from critics.

With Apple more willing to cancel underperforming series, keeping Acapulco going for this long means it must have found an audience. It certainly earns top ratings from viewers.

Today in Apple history: Mighty Mouse goes wireless — with lasers!

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Mighty Mouse
The images Apple submitted to the FCC of its new mouse.
Photo: Federal Communications Commission/Apple

July 24: Today in Apple history: Apple Mighty Mouse goes wireless -- with lasers! July 24, 2006: The world gets its first glimpse of Apple’s new wireless Mighty Mouse, a multibutton Bluetooth device with super-accurate laser tracking.

Photos of the accessory come to light through an Apple filing with the Federal Communications Commission. Apple will launch the device the very next day.

How to download the iOS 26 public beta (if you dare!)

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Get New Features Early
Give me Liquid Glass now!
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Anyone interested can download the iOS 26 public beta for free — right now. You can get a look at the exciting new Liquid Glass design coming to the iPhone before the update is shipped to everyone. The iOS 26 public beta also comes with a new Camera and Phone app, new Apple Intelligence features, 3D photos and more.

Of course, there are a few things you should look out for. Beta software is buggy and can lead to data loss or apps that don’t work. Battery life will suffer and your phone will often get hot. You have been warned.

If you want to try it out, you should make sure you have a backup of your most important data with two copies of your photo library before you try installing. I’ll show you how.

Apple showcases second retail hub in heart of Osaka, Japan [Photos]

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new Apple Store opens in Osaka
Apple previewed it's new store in Osaka, Japan, opening Saturday.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest retail destination opens its doors to customers Saturday in the heart of Osaka, Japan. That’s two decades after its first store opened in the city, located in Japan’s Kansai region. The new Apple Umeda store promises to deliver the full Apple experience to one of the country’s most vibrant commercial districts. It includes an exclusive Vision Pro demo area and a Today at Apple session on Apple Intelligence.

“I am very pleased to open Apple Umeda, a wonderful space that reflects the energy of the vibrant city of Osaka,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail and Human Resources. “This new store is a place to walk with creative communities and local businesses in Kansai.”

You’ll want a folding phone when Apple makes one

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Folding Apple phone
Don’t think you want a folding phone? Wait until you see the one Apple makes.
Image: ChatGPT/Apple

Consumers stay away from foldable handsets in droves, and a new survey found that a majority of Americans are not interested in one. So it might seem surprising that Apple reportedly plans a folding iPhone for 2026. But it’s typical of Apple.

Apple doesn’t make what you think you want. It never has. It makes what you don’t yet realize you want, and it’s been fantastically successful at it for decades.

BMW rejects CarPlay Ultra in favor of its own tech

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entertainment in CarPlay Ultra
You'll have to keep admiring CarPlay Ultra in renders for now.
Photo: Apple

CarPlay Ultra’s adoption keeps hitting one roadblock after another. German automaker BMW has decided against integrating CarPlay Ultra into its vehicles.

Instead, BMW will focus on bringing its revamped iDrive experience to its future vehicles.

Get lifetime access to 1,000-plus career-building courses for $19.97

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A photo of a person writing on a tablet with a laptop nearby, used to illustrate a hot deal on a StackSkills Unlimited subscription.
Want to learn coding, marketing, music, investing or something else entirely? Get a lifetime pass to a bigger brain with StackSkills Unlimited.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

StackSkills has a news flash for anyone who got a little too comfortable after high school: It’s not smart to stop learning. That’s especially true in this accelerated stage of the information age, where new tech skills are increasingly in demand.

The good news is that it’s easier than ever to catch up to the needs of today’s job market, thanks to resources like StackSkills. This vast platform for online education can help anyone chart a path to a new career. And lifetime subscriptions cost just $19.97 (regularly $600).

Wireless chargers accelerate to 25W

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Qi2 25W
Qi2 25W makes wireless charging up to 70% faster.
Image: Wireless Power Consortium

Wireless charging just got faster. A new version of the Qi standard brings power transfers up to 25 watts — it’s dubbed Qi2 25W (logically enough).

Over a dozen devices already support it, including recent iPhones. And the Wireless Power Consortium once again teased that Android handset makers would adopt the new standard… finally.

User ponders M3 iMac vs. M4 MacBook Pro [Setups]

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iMac vs MacBook Pro
This user ponders replacing both the M1 MacBook Pro and the M3 iMac, possibly with an M4 Pro MacBook Pro.
Photo:

Today’s featured setup user seeks out and gets good advice on his upgrade questions. He runs an aging MacBook Pro and a more recent iMac, but wonders about replacing them both with a newer MacBook Pro, perhaps an M4 Pro model. Commenters on his post offered useful thoughts, below, on future-proofing choices of Mac models as well as external display options.

New case gives Lightning iPhones a USB-C port

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case gives Lightning iPhones a USB-C port
That's one less reason to upgrade your older iPhone with a Lightning connector.
Photo: Obsoless

Swiss robotics engineer Ken Pillonel just developed a commercial solution for iPhone users with Lightning connectors who want fully functional USB-C connectivity without upgrading their devices. The new case gives Lightning iPhones a USB-C port.

Known for his viral 2021 project that added USB-C to an iPhone X through hardware modification, Pillonel has now created a snap-on case that brings the modern port to any Lightning-equipped iPhone. You can watch his video below.

UK regulators target Apple and Google mobile ‘duopoly’ with antitrust measures

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UK regulators target Apple and Google
UK regulators armed with new antitrust rules go after Apple and Google.
Photo: hozinja (CC BY 2.0)

Apple users in the UK could see significant changes to how they download apps, browse the web and make payments on their devices following new regulatory proposals announced Wednesday by Britain’s competition watchdog.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed designating both Apple and Google with “strategic market status” under new digital competition laws. That gives regulators unprecedented power to force changes to how the tech giants operate their mobile platforms.

“The targeted and proportionate actions we have set out today would enable UK app developers to remain at the forefront of global innovation while ensuring UK consumers receive a world-class experience,” CMA head Sarah Cardell said.

New AppleCare One makes protecting your Apple devices simpler than ever

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AppleCare One streamlines AppleCare+ coverage for all your devices.
Pay $19.99 per month to protect three Apple devices.
Photo: Apple

Like Apple One, Apple on Wednesday introduced a new AppleCare bundle for protecting multiple Apple devices. Dubbed AppleCare One, it extends the warranty and provides accidental damage protection to three Apple devices.

Pricing starts from $19.99 per month, with an option to add more devices by paying an additional $5.99 per device every month.

Folding iPhone could favor portability over screen size

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Folding iPhone Rumors
Will you buy the iPhone Fold if it sports a 5.5-inch cover display?
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first folding iPhone may sport a display smaller than Samsung’s recently unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 7. It will supposedly pack a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch internal screen — both smaller than the Z Fold 7.

Other book-style foldables from Chinese companies also pack larger outer and inner displays.