Samsung used a short video to join Google in urging Apple to add support for Rich Communication Services to iMessage, which would end the blue bubble vs. green bubble divide.
The reason for their campaign is obvious: if Apple made the change, people would be more likely to switch from iPhone to Samsung’s Androids.
Is Apple’s switch to USB-C from Lightning driving you a bit bonkers searching for the exact right cable? The inCharge X Max — a six-in-one cable with swappable tips that can handle USB-C, Lightning and more — can ease the transition.
It’s 5 feet long, tough as nails and serves up just about any combination of connections that you could need. And for a limited time, it costs just $16.97, thanks to an exclusive price drop.
The Espresso 17 Pro answers the demand for a high-end portable monitor for MacBooks. It sports a 17.3-inch display at a 4K resolution, but it comes in a sleek package ready for on-the-go use. (Update: For a detailed Espresso 17 Pro review, check out our in-depth analysis of its features and performance.)
Beyond increasing the user’s workspace, the display includes a touchscreen for digital artists looking to add this capability to their Mac.
It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, few people had heard of Python, even in the programming world. Now it’s hard to imagine any major software project being done without it.
That means new programmers need to make this versatile language one of the first things they learn, and now there’s a way to do it without breaking the bank: The Premium Python Programming Certification Bundle, which is now on sale for less than $24 through October 15.
![Make iPad into HDMI monitor with Lux Orion [Awesome Apps]](https://www.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lux-Orion-1-1.jpg "Make iPad into HDMI monitor with Lux Orion [Awesome Apps]")
You can make your iPad into an external screen for your Mac, a Nintendo Switch, a camera or another device. All you need is the free Lux Orion application and a relatively cheap adapter.
Lux, the maker of the brilliant Halide camera application, made Orion just for fun. But it’s very useful, too.
Apple shipped 7.2 million Macs in the third quarter of 2023, according to a market analysis firm. That’s a whopping 23% decrease from the previous year, but Q3 2022 was one of the best quarters Apple has ever had for a bad reason.
Ignoring last year’s unusual quarter, Mac shipments are holding steady despite the end of the pandemic. Windows PC makers certainly can’t say that.
Amazon is starting its Prime Big Deal Days early by discounting the 15-inch MacBook Air to its lowest price. Apple wants $1,299 for the entry-level 15-inch Air, but Amazon currently drops the price to just $1,049.
That’s a whopping $250 off the machine’s MSRP, making the world’s slimmest 15-inch laptop an even better offering.
Today’s MacBook Pro setup presents a strange picture not just because of the image repeated on the four screens. It’s just weird seeing dual “flying” MacBooks and an iPad as part of a quad-display setup.
After writing about hundreds of computer setups spotted in the wild, we can’t remember one that featured a pair of MacBooks open on stands like that. And the user questions the choice, too, seeking to possibly save a ton of desk space.
If you haven’t looked at any of Apple’s accessibility features because you’re not blind or deaf, and don’t think they would make your life easier, you might be surprised.
Apple built a handful of accessibility features into iOS 17 that let people with various disabilities use the iPhone in new and unexpected ways. However, absolutely anyone can take advantage of these tools, which prove surprisingly helpful in certain situations.
You can already get live captions to watch videos silently, lock your phone into one app to keep people from snooping around, play soothing ocean or forest sounds and more.
In iOS 17, five accessibility features take things even further. Assistive Access simplifies your phone to its bare features to make it easier to use; Live Speech and Personal Voice let you type on the keyboard to speak using your own voice; Detection Mode and Point and Speak help you get around using your iPhone camera.
Our hands-on demo will show you what these features can do for you.
Amazon bargain site Woot! offers great deals in its MacBooks sale on both new and refurbished MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
As usual, Woot! has a little fun in the description at the top: “Somewhere there’s still an Apple IIe running ‘Leisure Suit Larry,'” it wrote.
The sale ends October 15 at 10 p.m. PT.
★★★★☆
Summer outdoor activities are no more, but if you’ve got a fall hike or hay ride coming up, bring Soundcore’s compact new Motion 300 portable speaker. It’s one of the best of its kind.
It’s small, it’s tough, it looks good, it sounds great and it goes on sale today for $80. Soundcore got it right with the Motion 300, a 30-watt speaker with Wireless Hi-Res Certification and 13 hours of playtime.
Ridley Scott’s epic film Napoleon may come in a shorter theatrical release at 2 hours and 38 minutes as well as a director’s cut of 4 hours and 10 minutes (as of its last editing), the legendary director said. He suggested the long one will air on Apple TV+ after the short one’s theatrical release.
From international travel to business dealings or personal interactions that require a global reach, communication can become a challenge when you’re not able to rely on your primary language. Avoid having things lost in translation by picking up an innovative product designed to relay information in nearly 40 different languages.
During our Fall Deal Days event, the Mymanu Clik S translation earbuds are available for only $89.97 (regularly $157) with no coupon required. This 42% savings lasts through Oct 15 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, providing a low-priced opportunity to expand your conversation reach.
Got a new Apple Watch? The spending doesn’t stop there. It’s time to pick up some awesome Apple Watch accessories that will make using your device even better.
You’ll want a charging stand to enjoy Nightstand mode (and maybe even StandBy on your iPhone), a portable battery for top-ups on the go, a screen protector to keep your display free from scratches, and more. We rounded up the best options for you, so all you have to do is grab your wallet.
This week’s Awesome Apps include a comprehensive skiing and snowboarding app with a ton of features, an app for running every aspect of a freelance business, a social network for photographers that isn’t Instagram, and a simple iPad game for dogs that also helps some humans with their anxiety.
Apple intends to update the entire iPad lineup in the coming months, according to information leaking out of the company. Details have come to light about models from the smallest iPad mini to the largest iPad Pro.
Included on the list are tablets that haven’t been updated in a couple of years.
Here’s what to expect.
iOS 17.0.3 increases the battery life of nearly all older iPhones. However, tests done on a variety of models found that the patch released this week generally doesn’t make dramatic improvements.
That said, there’s very good news for anyone still using an iPhone XR.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest MacBook rumor sounds enticing, but will it come true? It’s time to speculate. Meanwhile, the real fire talk is all about that big, toasty iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s iOS 17 update fixes the overheating problem. (Frankly, “Thermalgate” seems about as overblown as “Printgate.”)
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast 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.
Your computer is only as good as its operating system — and for millions of PC users, that means Windows. Now there’s no reason to go without the latest version of Microsoft’s OS (even on used devices), thanks to a special fall promo price of $29.97 on Windows 11 Pro.
Note: This deal, which lets you install Windows 11 Pro on up to three computers, is only good through October 15.
The transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon changed every Mac for the better … almost. But there are a few niches in the lineup that have yet to be filled.
While Apple’s computers are best-in-class, there are a few categories the company does not currently compete in. These are the top seven Macs that Apple doesn’t make.
If you run any sort of business, you need an online presence, and that means you need web hosting. But, subscribing to cloud hosting can become expensive, especially with monthly or annual subscriptions that lock you into indefinite payments.
Fortunately, you can pay once and forget ever paying again with lifetime access to iBrave cloud web hosting. Usually priced at $539, you can now grab it for only $39.97. You’ll have to act fast, though, since this exclusive price drop only lasts through October 15.
Jolly Dog, an iPad game for dogs, is rapidly climbing the App Store charts, thanks to viral gameplay clips on social media.
Originally released in 2016, the app currently ranks No. 27 on the top free iPad apps in the United States, according to App Figures, a market research firm that provides app analytics.
I couldn’t get our dog interested in it, but plenty of pet owners say it provides lots of gameplay fun — and not just for their furry friends. Some humans enjoy playing it, too.
iFixit brought in a new toy for its iPhone 15 teardown video Friday — an Olympus DSX1000 digital microscope. That enabled magnification of up to 7,000x on the tiny bits inside Apple’s newest base handset.
Watch the video below and see some shots from it above and below.
One of my favorite iPhone cases of all time is Spigen’s Classic C1 MagFit case. Inspired by the iconic iMac G3, the translucent case is strong, protective, easy to get on and off, and inexpensive.
I used a similar Spigen case all last year to protect my iPhone 14. The case now looks worse for wear, but the iPhone remains pristine.
Spigen updated the case in a limited run for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and in my hands-on testing, it’s as good as ever.
Apple CEO Tim Cook place fourth on a list ranking CEOs by popularity according to employees. Blind Workplace Insights released it this week.
Tech, e-commerce and finance leaders dominated the high end of the Blind professional social network’s list. But tech firms were no stranger to the low end, either.