A fortunate few will soon get their hands on the Apple Vision Pro. Developers can now apply to get a prerelease loaner unit with which to test the applications they’re creating for the upcoming AR headset.
But don’t expect to see people walking the street with a Vision Pro anytime soon. Apple’s rules for the loaner units are extremely restrictive.
Apple TV+ made a hit with the fictional remedial British spies of the series Slow Horses, and now it’s adding a documentary about the real former British spy-turned-author who essentially defined the spy thriller genre: John le Carré.
That famous name is not his real one, of course. It’s David Cornwell. And now his two sons are teaming up with legendary documentary filmmaker Errol Morris on the story of the author’s life, The Pigeon Tunnel, a title shared with his memoir. The film debuts October 20.
iPhone and Mac users can now install iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5. These are mostly bug-fix updates with only a few tweaks, but are still worth installing.
Apple also launched iPadOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6 and tvOS 16.6.
The iPhone 14’s ability to tell when it’s been a car crash saved the life of a California man after he drove off a cliff and fell 400 feet. The Crash Detection feature automatically called for emergency assistance.
One of the rescuers says the man probably would have died without the quick aid made possible by the iPhone.
The streaming music service Spotify just increased its prices across the board. The costs of most subscription options are now the same as the prices of its arch rival, Apple Music price increase 2024.
These increases are occurring in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and many other countries around the globe.
Mechanical keyboards are all the rage for those who love the old-school typing feel and don’t mind the clackety-clacking noise. Today’s featured MacBook Pro and Studio Display setup features an old Apple A1048, which certainly looks the part of a mechanical keeb (but it’s not).
Read on the learn more about Apple’s past keyboards that are mechanical — and some that only look like it.
The shrinking screen bezel supposedly coming to the iPhone 15 Pro models are apparently only the start. Apple asked makers of OLED panels for iPhone to develop ones that have no bezels at all, according to a report coming out of Asia.
If true, it will enable Apple to put larger displays into future iPhones models without increasing the overall size of the device.
No matter how many apps you have on your smartphone, it can’t do everything. It can’t, for example, serve as a reliable flashlight. Sure, it does have that function — but try using that meager and unwieldy beam to change a tire or find your way down a hiking trail at night.
Luckily, there’s a lighting solution that’s compact, easy to handle, and powerful: the Cob mini keychain multifunction flashlight.
Apple is mulling raising prices for the iPhone 15 Pro and its Pro Max sibling in the United States. The company has yet to make a final decision on the matter, though.
The Cupertino giant has also asked its suppliers to manufacture about 85 million iPhone 15 units.
A version of the inexpensive Mac mini desktop upgraded with a faster Apple M3 processor will not be on the market for over a year, according to a reliable source.
However, there are other Macs with the M3 chip expected before the end of 2023.
Apple ended its famous “Think different” ad campaign more than 20 years ago, so perhaps it’s time for a reboot. Business.com challenged a generative AI to create new ads for the classic campaign featuring more current entertainment icons. The images produced for the AI-powered “Think Different” update look surprisingly good.
See for yourself.
Languages: They’re key to traveling the world like a local, making lasting friendships, and have even been shown to add a significant chunk of change to your salary. To learn a new one, you don’t need to sign up for expensive or time-consuming classes. Instead, you can learn on your own time, from anywhere, with one of the world’s most trusted language-learning platforms.
Cult of Mac readers can now grab a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone for only $159.97 (regularly $189.99) with code VACATION15 at checkout. You’ll have to act fast, though, since this deal ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific tonight.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors point to impressive iPhone upgrades on the horizon. Stacked batteries might deliver the holy grail of longer battery life as early as this year. And in 2024, the iPhone Pro Max camera might graduate to a mind-blowing 12x zoom. Excuse if we’re a little excited!
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.
Most of us know to double-check for the physical necessities before we travel outside the country. That includes (but isn’t limited to) passports, phone chargers, swimsuits, etc. What less experienced travelers don’t know is that it’s just as important to prep your smartphone for the trip. Once you cross international borders, you might not be taking your mobile plan with you, and that can mean expensive roaming charges for text messaging and internet use. That is unless you’re prepared with an eSim card from aloSIM.
Just in time for upcoming trips, you can now score the aloSIM Lifetime eSIM Plan for only $21.99 (regularly $50) and even get an additional $50 of data credit with your purchase. You’ll have to act fast since this deal only lasts until July 23 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
★★★★★
Swagger takes a hard look at incarceration this week in a season-best episode of the Apple TV+ basketball drama.
With the eyes of their community on them, Jace and Team Swagger head to a juvenile detention center to learn and to play as they sweat their futures. Entitled “Are We Free?,” it’s a terrific episode filled with great performance notes and stunning direction.
Anybody that’s ever tried to touch up patchy paint knows that you should never try to “eyeball” the right shade. Even subtle color differences can result in a wall that looks like a crazy quilt. And cans of paint are not cheap.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to match that color right the first time: the Nix Mini 2 color sensor. This tiny but mighty gadget should become an essential part of any home improvement or decorating toolkit. And through July 23, you can grab this helpful color-matching device for only $59.97 (regularly $99).
★★★★☆
The SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand can wirelessly power up a MagSafe iPhone while also juicing up an Apple Watch, AirPods and more. And it even has a nightlight as a bonus.
I’ve had the stand either on my desk or beside my bed for a couple weeks now. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.
Note: This stand is currently on sale in the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy flash sale.
La Maison is a one-hour drama set within a contemporary French fashion house. It focuses on the lives of powerful families involved in the world of fashion, aspirational French elegance and luxury.
The upcoming Apple TV+ series stars a who’s who of French actors, including Lambert Wilson and Amira Casar.
TSMC reportedly can’t get enough skilled workers to build its processor factory in Arizona. The company’s CEO warns that this means the start of chip manufacture in the United States won’t begin as soon as had been earlier projected.
That’s not good news for Apple, which has committed to sourcing processors from the plant.
Soccer legend Lionel Messi recently joined Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF, and Apple TV+ hopes to score off the Argentine star’s high-profile arrival. The streaming service is offering a range of MLS Season Pass content complementing the games it will air, starting July 21 with Leagues Cup coverage.
“Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami marks a historic moment for the sport in the U.S. and reflects the incredible momentum behind Major League Soccer,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a press release Friday. “We couldn’t be more excited to give fans around the world the opportunity to watch the greatest footballer of all time on MLS Season Pass.”
★★★☆☆
Apple TV+’s epic science fiction series Foundation deals with the fallout from an assassination attempt, a potential marriage and the opening of a puzzle cube this week.
In the episode, entitled “A Glimpse of Darkness,” Salvor and Gaal have their overdue reunion with Hari Seldon. Plus, some new converts are betrayed by their faith. And Hari, like Schrodinger’s cat, may or may not be in a box. It’s a very good episode between major developments.
Popular farming simulator Stardew Valley+ is now playable via Apple Arcade. The game promises many hours of entertainment, with farming, ranching, fighting monsters and even getting married.
It’s one of a number of classic titles to hit Apple’s gaming subscription service in recent weeks.
Nomad introduced ChargeKey in 2013, and at long last the popular little keychain charging cable got an update. Now it sports a fresh design and USB-C and Lightning versions to help you power up today’s devices on the go.
★★★☆☆
New Apple TV+ sports doc Stephen Curry: Underrated follows the Golden State Warriors star and his quest to bring his team back after a bad season.
The film documents the various rises and falls of the player with the three-pointer record and the slim build, showing us who Curry is off the court as well as on. It’s a very conventional but likable look at the kind of talent that doesn’t come along every day.
Our travels online among computer setups show that a great many Apple users don’t choose Magic Mouse — and many even detest it. So they select popular products from Logitech and other makers. But some people, like graphic designers, passionately defend Apple’s sleek and slippery mouse, and today’s featured MacBook Pro-and-custom-PC setup is a testament to that. Long live Magic Mouse!