Cult of Mac

Even though they’re not leading in marketshare, Apple’s iOS devices account for more than 60% of all mobile web consumption. Because of this, many websites provide custom layouts for multiple devices so that users can enjoy an optimized experience regardless of whether they’re viewing a website from their iPad, iPhone or MacBook.

However, with the new iPad mini Apple has made it impossible for developers to deliver an optimized experience for the device, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

Prediction: A lot of East-Coasters are going to be getting solar panels and hand-cranked battery chargers this Christmas – what better stable-door/bolted-horse gift could there be?

So, if you are somehow optimistic enough to think that the sun will shine in New York in the winter, and pessimistic enough to think that global warming will send yet another squall of squirrelly weather this year, then the Switch 8 is for you.

The Speck CandyShell is a dual-layer case with a patented design that aims to give you all-around protection for your iPhone 5. It combines a soft, rubber interior with a hard outer shell that offers plenty of impact resistance for those unfortunate yet inevitable drops.

The CandyShell also provides protection for your volume keys and sleep/wake button, while providing access to your headphone jack, Lightning connector, mute switch, and camera.

It costs $34.95 and comes in a plethora of color combinations, including black and slate, white and charcoal, raspberry and black, grape and malachite, and many more.

If you own a lot of shares of Apple stock, today is going to be a great day. For the second time this year, Apple is set to give its investors $2.5 billion worth of dividends. This is the second time Apple’s done a payout this year, with the first payout occurring on August 16th 2012.

Apple announced their $45 billion stock dividend and repurchase plan back in March 2012, and they expect to spend $45 billion over the next three years.

Meet Dave. Here he is. Dave Pell. He writes one of the best internet newsletters there is, and now his newsletter is an app called NextDraft.

JBL has become the first accessory maker to announce a duo of Lightning-compatible speaker docks for Apple’s latest iOS devices. Priced at $99.95 and $199.95, the OnBeat Micro and the OnBeat Venue Lightning are both available to pre-order today.

You know what kids really love? They love it when they ask you to buy them something, and you cheap out and buy them a kids’ version, a cut-price imitation of the original. Oh yeah. They totally dig that.

And you know what else they love? Garish colors. “Cool” names. And extra-long battery life. Wait, they actually do like that last one…

A person’s birthday is the one day of the year where it’s totally ok to gloat as people shower you with their affections throughout the day. It’s the one day where it’s ok to want to feel a little special.

Even Siri wants to make you feel special. If you tell Siri, “It’s my birthday,” she’ll start singing a sprited version of “Happy Birthday” before remembering that, oh crap, that song is copyrighted. Better luck next year.

Via: Reddit

You know what your super-slick, plain and simple AirPort Express needs to complement its minimalist design? A pair of rabbit ears, that’s what. And QuickerTeck, purveyor of crazily-priced Apple accessories, isn’t one to shy away when it sees a revenue opportunity.

Behold: The Antenna Express.

We’ve been talking about it for several weeks, and today, Evernote 5 makes its public debut on the Mac — exactly a week after touching down on iOS. This mammoth update brings over 100 new features, in addition to a swanky new user interface. The whole thing has been “re-imagined” to make it more accessible and more useful than ever before.

$1.5 million worth of iPad minis were stolen on Monday night from New York’s JFK airport, and if that wasn’t enough, it all happened in the same cargo building that was the site of the Lufthansa heist featured in Martin Scorcese’s famous 1987 gangster flick, Goodfellas.

After breaking the news that iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular units were slated to deliver to customers by November 16th, we’re now hearing reports that some lucky customers are receiving their LTE-equipped iPad minis a day earlier than expected, with units already out on FedEx trucks for delivery. We’re seeing lots of confirmation on Twitter as well, with some customers saying they’ve already received their units.So if you’re expecting a cellular iPad mini tomorrow, check your tracking info: you might just get it a little earlier than expected.

Thanks: MacGeek4Life!

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was at the Churchill Club in Santa Clara this week to be interviewed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. One of the most interesting subjects he talked about was Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, and how it compares to its two main rivals, Apple’s iOS, and Google’s Android.

As you might expect, he didn’t have many good things to say about his competitors. In fact, he called Android “wild” and “uncontrolled,” before saying the iPhone is too expensive and too controlled. Windows Phone, he feels, sits in a sweet spot between the two.

Flipboard’s already one of the best ways to read and discover web content on the iPad and iPhone, and now they’re taking that to the next level, integrating e-book discovery by tapping right into the Apple iBookstore. It’s like browsing in a virtual e-book shop.

For quickly punching up a photo on your iPad or iPhone, it’s hard to beat the amazing Snapseed. At other times, you want a little more control, so you may pick something like Photogene. But what if you kinda want both? Then go grab Pixlr.

Memory. Not only do you have one, but you’ve probably played any number of card-flipping memory games in your life… possibly on the App Store, where there are over 50 of such games that promise to test the limits of your recollections.

Those games are now under attack, as Apple is sending notices to developers demanding that they remove the word “Memory” from their titles. It’s not Apple’s fault, though: rather, a German company is gunning for them, claiming it owns the trademark for the word in dozens of European, African and South American countries.

AirDrop is a pretty slick app that was first available in OS X Lion. It basically allows any Mac see any other Mac with the protocol enabled on the network, with no configuration or knowledge of file sharing needed. You just drop a file onto any available AirDrop icon, and your file heads over to that user’s Mac. No muss, no fuss, just simple.

At least, that’s the concept. In reality, I’ve not seen AirDrop ever work that easily. Luckily, there’s an alternative that’s even simpler: Any Send, a free Mac app that lets you send files to any other Mac using WiFi.

It’s not very often I write on my iPad without a real Bluetooth keyboard. While I don’t mind the virtual, on-screen keyboard for responding to the odd email, anything more than that and I need real keys. For those of you who are in the same boat, check out Belkin’s new Portable Keyboard Case for iPad mini.

Some of the biggest and best games available via the Mac App Store have seen some big reductions today, with BioShock 2 down to just $12, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic, Galaxy on Fire 2, and Tomb Raider: Underworld down to less than $10.

Wouldn’t you love to be able to measure the temperature of something simply by pointing your phone at it? That’s the promise of a tiny new gizmo that’s just been patented. The question is: will any phone manufacturers decide to include it?

Aspyr Media has issued an update to Call of Duty: Black Ops for the Mac, which hit the Mac App Store back in October, that introduces the Annihilation & Escalation DLC bundle. It’s available to download now via an in-app purchase, which is priced at $24.99.

Let’s face it: the more you surf the web, the more sites you’ll see that look similar to others. And t often doesn’t matter how great the content is on those sites – if they don’t stand out then they don’t get the attention they deserve. This is especially so for those sites trying to establish themselves.

Chances are, yours is one of those sites.

This latest Cult of Mac Deals offer serves up just what you need to ensure that your site stands out from the rest, with these 4 polished sets of Flash templates for just $25!

Finally.

Logitech’s Alert security system seemed pretty impressive when it first popped up on our radar: advanced indoor and outdoor cameras, night vision, lots of options — and here’s where your ears should perk up — the ability to view and control the cameras from an iPad or iPhone through the Logitech Alert iOS app. Only problem was, Logitech somehow forgot to make a Mac version of the Alert Commander software that comes with, and controls, the system.

But today Logitech has indeed released the a Mac version of the Alert Commander software (available as a free download at the App Store). Better late than never, and now we’re happy. But did it really have to take this long?

Hello, reader. while you’ve obviously found a source of news you like for Apple-related info, where do you go for non Apple-related news? (I know: “If it’s not Apple-related, I don’t wanna read it!” But just bear with me here).

Expedia launched an all new updated mobile app today for both Android and iOS. Bringing new flight info, an updated interface to browse and search across hundreds of hotel properties and airline flights, and special mobile-only deals. The updated app is only available in the US at this time, and brings functionality closer in line with Expedia’s web-based features.