December 23, 2005: Apple files a patent application for its iconic “slide to unlock” gesture for the iPhone.
At this point, the iPhone remains a secret research project. However, the ability to unlock the device by sliding your finger across it signifies Apple’s big ambitions for its smartphone. Cupertino wants the iPhone that it’s racing to develop to be easy to use, intuitive and miles ahead of the competition technologically.
As 2025 draws to a close, the Apple community mourns the loss of four remarkable individuals whose contributions shaped the company’s history and the broader technology landscape.
From revolutionary software engineering to visionary leadership and marketing genius, these pioneers left indelible marks that continue to influence how millions interact with technology today.
Apple is opening up its walled garden further with iOS 26.3. As part of the update, it will allow third-party Bluetooth earbuds to pair with an iPhone just as seamlessly as AirPods.
It will also enable third-party smartwatches and wearables to receive and mirror notifications from the iPhone.
In 2025, Apple moved several well-loved gadgets to its dreaded obsolete list — including the original and popular iPhone SE — meaning hardware service is no longer available. Also chopped were the Apple Watch Series 1, second-generation iPad Pro (12.9-inch), and Apple Watch Series 4 Nike and Hermès models.
There’s often a fuss when Apple makes products obsolete, stemming from frustration with planned obsolescence. A lack of parts makes these older devices unrepairable, forcing upgrades and creating e-waste. Here’s the list of products Apple killed in 2025, and the ones heading to the chopping block in 2026.
December 22, 2013: After months of false starts, Apple finally secures a deal with China Mobile to bring the iPhone to the world’s largest telecom company.
With 760 million potential iPhone customers in the offing, the deal shapes up as Apple’s most important yet for growing its brand in China. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook says the country will soon become the company’s biggest market.
December 21, 1994: Mac gamers get their hands on Marathon, a sci-fi first-person shooter designed as an answer to the massive success of PC title Doom. Created by Bungie, the team that would later create the Halo franchise, the new Marathon game introduces important features to the FPS genre.
Just as importantly, it isn’t available on PC. Marathon quickly becomes a favorite among Mac gamers.
If you’re strongly tempted by an iPhone 17, but haven’t yet found a reason to make the jump, then you must not realize how amazing the phone’s new Center Stage selfie camera is. It’s my favorite feature of Apple’s latest smartphones because it makes video calls so much easier on me, and smoother for the people I talk to.
Even better: The base model iPhone 17 gets this great feature, not just the Pro variants.
When it comes to charging an Apple Watch, you typically have two choices: Use a wired charger that plugs into a power source or go with some sort of battery pack. This portable Apple Watch charger is different — it can do both. It comes with built-in USB-A and USB-C and USB-A cables so you can plug it into a computer or wall wart, and a 1,200mAh battery so you can use it to charge wirelessly wherever you go.
It’s ideal for anyone who’s always on the go and wants to keep their Apple Watch powered up without needing an outlet. At just $29.99, it’s a surprisingly capable Apple Watch charger. And it makes a great stocking stuffer for anyone who wears an Apple Watch!
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Leaked code indicates Apple is working on a new iMac Pro, years after the powerful all-in-one faded from the scene.
Does a new iMac Pro make sense in the Apple silicon era? And what price point would make it appealing? We discuss the possibilities.
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.
December 20, 1996: Apple Computer buys NeXT, the company Steve Jobs founded after leaving Cupertino a decade earlier.
The deal costs Apple $429 million. It’s a massive price to pay for the failing NeXT, a computer company that already saw its hardware division crash and burn. But the price is worth it when you consider what Apple gets as part of the deal: the return of Steve Jobs.
2025 was a big year for Apple. In this end-of-year roundup, we gathered up the most consequential news, groundbreaking rumors and biggest surprises of the last 12 months.
There were plenty of leaks — in fact, the entire iPhone 17 lineup was exhaustively shown off in the months leading up to September. We also knew most of the other product releases, from the MacBook Air and iPad Air to MacBook Pro and Vision Pro, would consist of simple spec bumps.
But there were tons of curveballs, too. Tariffs rattled Apple’s international supply chain. The Blood Oxygen app for Apple Watch made a sudden return. And no one was expecting a UI redesign quite like Liquid Glass.
Here’s our look back at 2025.
The SyncPen 4 smartpen makes note-taking easy. Just jot your notes on the system’s reusable notebook, and the smartpen automatically digitizes your handwritten notes and drawings in real time. It also translates your notes, captures audio and performs other neat tricks.
This unique smartpen set is on sale for $129.99 (regularly $139).
Whether you’re shopping for an Apple aficionado who still treasures their original iPod or the productivity ninja who lives and breathes the latest iOS updates, finding the perfect geeky gift can feel like searching for a needle in a digital haystack. Fear not! We gather some of the most ingenious, innovative and downright cool gadgets that’ll make any Apple user’s heart skip a beat.
From retro-inspired accessories that pay homage to Apple’s legendary design heritage to cutting-edge smart home integrations that would make even Tim Cook jealous, these gifts bridge the gap between nostalgia and innovation. Each selection celebrates the unique blend of form, function, and pure geek appeal that defines the Apple ecosystem. And return to this post, because we’ll keep adding to it.
Although the Mac offers fantastic support for opening and editing PDFs in the built-in Preview app, the simple act of copying and pasting text from a PDF can still be a nightmare. For instance, selecting text on a two- or three-column document often selects across the whole width of the page, which is totally useless.
Luckily, there’s a better way to copy text from a PDF on a Mac using Apple’s Live Text feature.
Taking a quick screenshot and using Live Text often yields better results when you need to copy text from a PDF or an image. (It also works with photos and old document scans.) Here’s how to do it.
The Safari web browser on your iPhone got a minimalist toolbar with iOS 26. You don’t have to use it, though. You can restore the full-featured Safari t00lbar — with all the traditional browser controls like sharing, bookmarks and tabs — by simply changing one setting.
Here’s what to do if you want to restore Safari’s toolbar to the way it used to be.
The Casa Hub 360 lifts laptops and tablets off your desk to make them more ergonomic to use. But this iPad and MacBook dock stand also packs a happy surprise in its incredibly flexible (and sturdy) arm. The load-bearing arm — capable of holding aloft nearly 10 pounds — doubles as a USB-C hub, offering multiple ports.
It moves elegantly, something like the iMac G4, and spins around 360 degrees, so you can get your viewing angle just right. (See it in action in the video below.) Right now, you can grab a Casa Hub 360 on sale for just $93.99 instead of the usual $129.
December 19, 2007: Apple settles a lawsuit with reporter Nick Ciarelli, resulting in the shuttering of Think Secret, his masssively popular Apple rumors website. Writing under the screen name Nick de Plume, the Harvard University student broke a number of Apple stories on the site, raising Cupertino’s ire.
The terms of Ciarelli’s settlement with Apple remain secret. In a statement, he says he will “be able to move forward with my college studies and broader journalistic pursuits.”
Whether you’re creating engaging social media content, restoring precious home movies or producing professional presentations, video quality matters. For Mac users seeking an all-in-one solution that combines cutting-edge AI technology with practical everyday tools, Digiarty’s VideoProc Converter AI is a standout choice for making videos look as good as possible.
And during the VideoProc 2025 Christmas Super Sale, you can save big on a lifetime license to this powerful video editor — plus snag free gifts and unlimited upgrades.
Apple’s long-rumored folding iPhone — expected to be one of the most significant new product launches in years — is generating strong buzz, with a respected analyst warning that consumer interest could far outpace Apple’s ability to supply the device when it hits the market.
And a separate report may have revealed the sizes of the two screens coming in the first foldable iOS device. The large internal display is what’s expected to drive demand.
December 18, 2006: Apple fans mourn the death of the iPhone before it even launches. Linksys begins selling a new handset called the “iPhone,” and Cupertino watchers must come to grips with the fact that Apple’s rumored smartphone probably won’t bear that name after all.
How did this happen? Linksys’ parent company, Cisco Systems, owns the iPhone trademark. While Apple previously released the iMac, iBook, iPod and iTunes, Cupertino didn’t own the name “iPhone.”
An iMac with an OLED display is in development, according to a fresh supply-chain leak. This would bring a significant upgrade to the look of Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer for the consumer market.
The report comes shortly after a new professional-grade iMac was rumored. Clearly, it’s a big week for Apple desktops.
Apple’s App Store will introduce additional ad placements in search results beginning in 2026, Apple said Wednesday. The move represents a significant shift in how users will encounter sponsored content while browsing for new applications. And the iPhone giant took pains to explain why it’s making the move.
Running a small business often means you end up handling branding, admin, marketing and content all at once. That workload can prove daunting — but ChatGPT can help, if you know the right skills. The AI courses in this training bundle will teach you those skills.
Rather than letting your day-to-day demands drain you, learn how to tap AI to lighten the load. The 2025 Complete ChatGPT Skills & Business Mastery Bundle is an all-in-one training package that will improve your output and reduce the amount you spend on outside contractors. And right now, it’s on sale for just $24.99 (regularly $197).
iPhone screenshots can be simple again. Change a setting, and you can get rid of the complex new system Apple created for iOS 26 to capture an image of your iPhone screen.
Here’s what to do. Don’t worry — switching back is easy.
This amazing ear camera will help you combat earwax buildup that can seriously impact your hearing. Earwax impaction occurs in 57% of older adults and 10% of children, But you don’t have to be stuck blindly going at it with a cotton swab (which experts recommend against, BTW). Use this earwax removal tool instead!
The Smart Visual Ear Cleaner gives you a clear view of what’s happening in your ear — and a better way to clean up shop in there. You can get this earwax removal device for just $19.97.