Mobile menu toggle

Taron Egerton’s crime drama Smoke burns up the ratings charts

By

Smoke season 1 on Apple TV+
Smoke stars Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett.
Image: Apple TV+

Smoke is getting into plenty of people’s eyes. The new true-crime drama on Apple TV+ that stars Taron Egerton made it into the top 10 most popular streaming series, according to two companies that track ratings.

Plus, the Apple TV+ sci-fi action comedy series Murderbot stayed strong in the run-up to its season finale, and the sports comedy Stick still draws a large audience, too.

Today in Apple history: ‘Antennagate’ scandal hits its peak

By

Steve Jobs stands onstage with the word
"Antennagate" caused big problems for Apple.
Photo: Apple

July 12: Today in Apple history: Antennagate scandal hits its peak July 12, 2010: The iPhone 4 suffers a major blow when respected trade publication Consumer Reports says it can’t, in good faith, recommend the new Apple smartphone. The reason the magazine refuses to give its vaunted “recommended” label to the previously top-ranked device in its devastating iPhone 4 review? A little Apple scandal called “Antennagate.”

2013 Mac Pro enters Apple’s vintage hall of fame

By

The 2013 trash can Mac Pro is now marked as vintage.
Two years from now, the trash can Mac Pro will become "obsolete."
Photo: Apple

The iconic 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro took its first step towards official retirement, as Apple added it to its vintage product list.

Apple also added several iPads launched in 2018 and the 2019 13-inch MacBook Air to its vintage products list.

Expect to see these 9 colors in iPhone Series 17 models

By

9 colors in iPhone Series 17 models
These camera ring protector rings always match the iPhone colors.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 should offer a fresh take on color options, with new leaks suggesting five colors for the base iPhone 17 and four for the iPhone 17 Air model. The latest information comes from leaked images of third-party camera lens protector rings. They’re designed to match Apple’s official iPhone color offerings.

This portable monitor proves that a smaller screen can be better [Review] ★★★★

By

KYY 14” Portable Monitor★★★★
The KYY 14” Portable Monitor pairs well with a 14-inch MacBook or a 13-inch iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The KYY 14” Portable Monitor challenges the idea that bigger is always better. It’s much smaller than the external display I usually travel with — and that’s exactly why I love it.

As a bonus, it’s very affordable, especially with an Amazon Prime Day deal.

Complex and thrilling Foundation returns for season 3 on Apple TV+ [Now streaming!]

By

Foundation season 3
Foundation season 3 debuts with its first episode on Friday, July 11.
Photo: Apple TV+

Rejoice, fans of deliciously complicated and marvelously cinematic sci-fi! Apple TV+’s adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s iconic Foundation stories finally returns for a new season Friday. So now you can stream Foundation season three’s first episode, “A Song for the End of Everything,” in which intergalactic supervillain The Mule wreaks havoc.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 3G brings a big speed boost

By

iPhone 3G
Did you own the iPhone 3G?
Photo: Apple

July 11: Today in Apple history: iPhone 3G goes on sale, brings big speed boost July 11, 2008: The iPhone 3G goes on sale. Expectations for the smartphone sequel run high, and Apple delivers with the addition of GPS, faster 3G data and a higher-quality build. The iPhone 3G launch also brings a new mobile operating system packed with features.

Apple’s second smartphone runs iPhone OS 2, which introduces a better Mail app, turn-by-turn navigation and a little something called the App Store.

Apple TV+ greenlights Murderbot season 2 as season 1 wraps up

By

Murderbot season 2 get a greenlight from Apple TV+
Jump for joy! Murderbot season 2 is on the way.
Photo: Apple TV+

Murderbot season 1 did well enough in the ratings that Apple TV+ committed to season 2 on Thursday.

The news comes as the season 1 finale of the sci-fi comedy thriller becomes available to stream. A renewal isn’t surprising, given that t series stayed one of the top 10 most-watched shows every week during its entire run.

The Wild Ones unleashes intrepid, tech-wielding conservationists [Now streaming!]

By

The Wild Ones documentary series Apple TV+
The title of The Wild Ones might describe both the filmmakers and the animals they stalk with good intentions.
Image: Apple TV+

A new documentary combining high-stakes adventure with groundbreaking wildlife conservation started streaming on Apple TV+ Friday. Previously the streamer released a new trailer for The Wild Ones documentary series, below, promising all sorts of high-tech derring-do in the name of saving threatened animal species all over the world. Now you can watch it.

The six-episode documentary, premiering July 11, follows a team of elite wildlife experts as they venture into Earth’s most remote and dangerous environments to protect critically endangered species.

Update: The Wild Ones began streaming Friday. As one critic cited on the reviews site Rotten Tomatoes put it (though it’s too early for a fresh or rotten rating): “The Wild Ones is a triumph of storytelling, a visual feast and a heartfelt plea to cherish and protect the natural world.”

Next iPad Pro could be Apple’s first device with M5 chip

By

M5 iPad Pro rumors
Apple plans to launch a bunch of devices in late 2025 and early 2026.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Instead of new Macs, Apple will reportedly use the next iPad Pro refresh as the debut device for its M5 chip. The new tablet could launch “as early as October.”

It’s also working on an M4 iPad Air refresh and iPhone 17e for a possible early 2026 launch.

M5 MacBook Pro no longer coming in 2025

By

M5 MacBook Pro rumors
The latest M5 MacBook Pro rumor says the updated macOS notebook won’t be out until next year.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple might not get the next-generation MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor out this autumn, as had been expected. The notebook will instead launch early next year, according to a respected source of insider information.

If true, it means that Apple’s new Mac processor will once again launch in an iPad.

Top picks: Prime Day MacBook dock and charger deals from Anker

By

Prime Day Anker
The Anker Prime Docking Station is a formidable tool for your laptop charging and connectivity needs.
Photo: Anker

Anker’s a top accessories maker for Apple users — maybe most of all for charging needs related to MacBooks and other devices. As usual, Anker Prime Day sale items could fill a dense catalogue. So we thought we’d put together some top picks for MacBook users. Namely, a choice multiport charger with solid wattage, a great portable power bank with retractable cables and a highly functional docking station with fast transfer speeds and ample connectivity. Check them out below.

All the best Apple deals this Amazon Prime Day

By

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals
All the best Apple gear at a steep discount — right here.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

It’s that time of year again — Amazon Prime Day. The summer deals run from July 8 – 11. So the early deals flowed starting over the weekend, with the full-on sale hitting with even better deals on Tuesday through Friday.

We’ll show you the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to the Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too. Click on the links below, and return to this page often — deals are subject to change, often for the better, and we’ll add more as we find them.

Crease-free folding iPhone screen (probably) just launched in Samsung Z Fold 7

By

Samsung Z Fold 7
The bendable screen in the Samsung Z Fold 7 is likely headed for the folding iPhone, too.
Photo: Marques Brownlee

Those eager for a folding iPhone should glance at the beautiful, bendable screen in the Samsung Z Fold 7, which launched Tuesday. If rumors are correct, this display will also be part of Apple’s foldable. Or something very close to it.

There are no in-depth reviews of the new screen yet, but early indications are that Samsung finally virtually eliminated the crease that’s been the fatal flaw of all previous flexible displays… which is very good news for the folding iPhone.

New Aqara doorbell camera hub brings HomeKit Secure Video and Matter support

By

Aqara G410 doorbell camera hub
The new Aqara G410 Doorbell Camera Hub should please HomeKit users.
Photo:

Aqara’s new G410 Doorbell Camera Hub delivers a compelling package for Apple ecosystem users who want comprehensive smart home integration without recurring subscription fees. Priced at $129.99, this battery-powered video doorbell stands out as one of the few devices on the market to offer full HomeKit Secure Video support alongside extensive Matter smart-home standard compatibility, the company said Thursday.

Today in Apple history: App Store opens its virtual doors

By

App Store
What was the first app you ever downloaded?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

July 10: Today in Apple history: Apple launches the iPhone App Store July 10, 2008: Apple launches the App Store, an online hub that lets iPhone owners browse and download apps made by third-party developers. Transforming the iPhone from a locked-down platform to a generative one, the App Store means that every iPhone user can have his or her own “killer app” depending on the software they want — from social networking to composing music to playing games.

One of the most significant launches in Apple history, the App Store opens up a whole new revenue stream for Cupertino. It’s hard to believe that Steve Jobs was originally dead-set against it!

Ready for sublime headphone sound? Get my top Prime Day Sennheiser deal. [Still going!]

By

Prime Day Sennheiser
$305 off is a great deal on these phenomenal wired headphones.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I’ve long been a fan of great sound. But I hesitate to call myself an “audiophile” simply because I’m not a wealthy man. And yet even I can dabble in solid audio because so many affordable products continue to up the ante — including my favorite personal headphones. Behold the Sennheiser HD660S2 open-back cans. An audiophile of means might scoff at spending only several hundred bucks, but the joke’s on them. Thanks to Amazon, this Prime Day Sennheiser deal gets you these great wired, open-back cans for a mere $375 (as of Wednesday evening; the fluctuating price went up about $14 as of Thursday morning).

That’s not nothing, obviously. But it’s a lot more affordable than the $1,000 or more that many audiophile cans command.

Give your ears the Prime Day gift of great headphones for (much) less [Buying guide]

By

Prime Day headphones
There's nothing like a great pair of insanely expensive headphones. But Prime Day helps!
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you’re like me, Amazon Prime Day is partly about scoring cool stuff you otherwise find uncomfortably pricey. I can’t go around buying every set of headphones and earbuds that catch my eye. But with Prime Day headphones deals, maybe I can sneak something sweet-sounding past my sense of guilt, you know?

And so can you! Check out some of the absolute best Amazon Prime Days deals on headphones and earbuds below. I found wishlist-worthy cans and buds with savings of $100 or more (in some cases, much more — even discounts of $305 off primo open-back cans, $315 off top noise-canceling headphones and $150 off some seriously nice earbuds).

Prime Day slashes $400 off Apple’s best Mac monitor

By

Silver iMac next to a Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display in an Apple Store.
Like other Apple products, the Studio Display features a sleek design.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If not the best, Apple’s Studio Display is among the best displays you can get for your Mac. The nano-texture glass makes it an even better monitor, cutting down on unwanted reflections.

But despite its age, Apple wants a steep $1,899 for the Studio Display with nano-texture glass. Amazon’s amazing Prime Day deal makes things a lot more reasonable, by slashing its price down by $399.01.

Apple could wirelessly update sealed Macs with macOS Tahoe

By

Green iMac box sitting on a brown desk.
Your next Mac could come with the latest macOS release pre-installed.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

With ‘Presto,’ Apple devised a way to wirelessly update iPhones without right through their retail packaging. With macOS Tahoe, the company could bring the same technology to Macs.

This change will ensure your new Mac runs the latest available macOS version, no matter how long it’s been sitting in inventory.

Apple preps Vision Pro 2 with M4 chip and comfort upgrades

By

Vision Pro 2 with M4 chip
An update on the original Vision Pro headset will boost processing power and improve comfort.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple prepares to launch its first major update to the Vision Pro AR/VR headset as early as this year, featuring a faster M4 processor and a redesigned strap aimed at addressing comfort complaints that have plagued the $3,499 device since its launch, according to a new report.

Today in Apple history: Apple reclaims top spot in education

By

On this day in 1998, the world says
The easy-to-use iMac spurred Apple's return to dominance in schools.
Photo: Apple

July 9: Today in Apple history: Apple reclaims top spot in education July 9, 2001: Apple earns the title of No. 1 computer manufacturer in the education market, with twice as many machines in schools as runner-up Dell Computer.

It marks a big turnaround from a couple of years earlier, when Dell overtook Apple and people accused Steve Jobs of abandoning this important market.

Up to half off: Prime Day bargains on multi-device MagSafe chargers

By

Prime Day MagSafe charger deals
This 3-in-1 MagSafe charging pad from Belkin is 43% off for Prime Day.
Photo: Belkin

There’s still plenty of time left in Amazon Prime Day this week to snag deals on multi-device MagSafe chargers from Belkin and other makers. So if you want, say, Belkin’s MagSafe 3-in-1 Fast Wireless Charging Pad for nearly half off — or other good deals on chargers for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods from various companies — see the Amazon links below. And note that Prime Day prices may fluctuate.

Yamaha studio monitors power MacBook Pro rig’s sound [Setups]

By

Yamaha studio monitors
This MacBook Pro setup features great speakers and other audio gear.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured setup sports an M1 Max MacBook Pro still going strong, but the user posted the workstation on social media to show off a newly added Mchose mechanical keyboard — an unfamiliar but solid-looking brand. And I couldn’t help notice the stellar audio gear in the mix, including excellent Yamaha studio monitors for focused sound in the room, plus a surprising array of great headphones and audio interfaces.