You can tell Siri to turn a HomeKit accessory off in a few minutes and it’ll happen. Here’s what you do. Photo: Cult of Mac
You know you can turn on a HomeKit accessory by talking to Siri, but are you aware you can order devices to turn on or off at some point in the future just as easily?
Here’s how to set impromptu schedules for your HomeKit accessories with Siri commands — and why you might want to.
One of the most hotly anticipated products of 2022 could be delayed until 2023, according to an unconfirmed report. Apple’s VR/AR headset might not be announced until late this year and not ship until next year.
Mechanical and software problems reportedly delayed the device, which supposedly will offer both virtual reality and augmented reality capabilities.
Translate almost anything in an instant. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Live Text in iOS and iPadOS 15 is a terrific new feature that makes the text in your photos interactive. You can use it to copy and paste quotes, call phone numbers, find addresses and more.
Here’s how to use Live Text on your iPhone or iPad to translate signs, posters, and other things written in a foreign language.
The standard iPhone 14 is expected to look much like the iPhone 13. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The displays in the two “standard” iPhone 14 versions will be upgraded to 120Hz ProMotion, according to a prediction by an industry analyst. And they supposedly will come with 50% more RAM.
There’ve been plenty of rumors about the iPhone 14 Pro models, so those interested in the two standard ones should be pleased to get some leaked details.
Basic Apple Guy's setup, the "kitchen edition," needs to be easy to clean and move. Photo: BasicAppleGuy.com
Blogger Basic Apple Guy, whom we’ll call BAG, has been an Apple fan since high school shop class, when he convinced the teacher that making an iMovie on the teacher’s iMac G3 should fit into the curriculum. Now, decades later, BAG’s passion lives on. It showed when he recently shared one of his computer setups, the “kitchen edition.”
When you buy Windows 10 at CDKeylord.com, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11. Image: CDKeylord.com
This discount software activation keys post is brought to you by CDKeylord.com.
In its new Flash Sale, software seller CDKeylord.com offers sweet deals on genuine Microsoft software. Cult of Mac readers can get 35% off the regular price of a Windows 10 Pro key. And when you buy a Windows 10 key, you can get a free upgrade to Windows 11! Just enter the special discount code CULT when you check out to snag the exceptional savings.
See all the currently available discounts on Microsoft software in the list below.
Kathryn Hunter casts a spell over The Tragedy of Macbeth. Photo: Apple TV+
The Tragedy of Macbeth is probably the most experimental thing to stream on Apple TV+ so far.
On its face, the film doesn’t seem all that odd. It’s an adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most well-regarded and most frequently performed plays, starring the biggest male lead on earth. It’s directed by a multiple-Oscar-winner and features his similarly lauded (and extremely popular and talented) wife in a lead role.
So, while Apple TV+’s most exciting feature film since Wolfwalkers might not sound like much of an experiment, the devil’s in the details. This adaptation is both expected and unexpected — in frequently thrilling ways.
The Tragedy of Macbeth hits Apple TV+ today after a theatrical run. Here’s why you should add it to your Up Next queue.
You have until January 31 to save your games. Photo: Humble
Humble, the subscription service that offers a bunch of popular games for an affordable monthly fee, is dropping support for Mac and Linux.
Starting February 1, the company will roll out a new business model for Humble Choice, which will require a brand-new app that’s only available on Windows. You have until January 31 to download games you already own.
With GameGuru, you can quickly start building your own games. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Game design is a huge and exciting industry, but it’s also hard to learn when you’re first getting started. Even making simple games and learning what’s fun and what isn’t is locked at the bottom of a steep learning curve.
Luckily for would-be game devs, The Complete GameGuru Unlimited Bundle helps you ride that learning curve. With it, you get an easy-to-use game design program and a ton of assets you can use to build your own games. And right now it’s on sale for just $49.99 (regularly $384).
New renders of an “iPhone SE 3” show off a gorgeous design upgrade with an edge-to-edge display and no Home button. The device looks a lot like iPhone XR, but with the same dimensions as the current iPhone SE.
These images are said to be based on leaked CAD drawings, but before you get too excited, they’re probably not accurate. At least not for iPhone SE 3.
Apple won't offer security updates on iOS 14 anymore. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple is more aggressively encouraging users to update to iOS 15 by stopping security updates for those who don’t.
Cupertino previously made security improvements available as a separate release — and vowed to keep delivering them for those who stick with iOS 14 “until you’re ready to upgrade.” Just a few months later, that’s changed.
AirPods 3 are brilliant… and on sale! Photo: Apple
Amazon has an answer for what to do with that gift card you received over the holidays. The recently released AirPods 3 are once again selling for their lowest price ever: $139.99.
And there are significant deals on AirPods Pro and AirPods 2 as well.
The MagSafe-compatible Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus power bank can charge up to six Apple devices at once. Photo: Chargeasap
The Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus is for those who want a single battery that can replenish all their gear. All at once. It holds 25,000mAh and can charge a MacBook at up to 100W though USB-C, and has three other ports. But that’s just the start, as there’s a built-in MagSafe iPhone charger and an Apple Watch charger, too.
The power pack went through a round of crowdfunding but has moved past that stage. It is available to order now.
This one's reinforced and waterproof, its maker said. Photo: Gernot Jöbstl
First a robotics engineering student made a splash late last year by modding an iPhone X with a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port — and sold the device for big money. Now someone else is touting a similar modification, but this time the handset boasts a reinforced port that includes waterproofing. And yes, the tinkerer’s going to sell it soon — probably for more money than most people make in a year.
Bad news: looks like iPhone 14 won’t be Apple’s first with an in-display Touch ID scanner. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple won’t build the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system into the 2022 iPhone, according to a very reliable tipster. That’s bad news for those who aren’t fans of Face ID, or who just want a second option.
There haven’t been any specific reports that the iPhone 14 will include Touch ID, but Apple is supposedly working on an in-screen version.
The new SVS Prime Wireless Pro speakers with AirPlay 2 support will come in black or white. Photo: SVS
Audio company SVS rolled out new wares at CES 2022 — Prime Wireless Pro Speakers and an accompanying SoundBase multi-room amplifier. Both have added support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 streaming over previous Prime Wireless models’ capabilities, among other new features.
They want Garena Online's Free Fire to be pulled. Photo: PUBG
The developer of battle royale hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, more commonly known as PUBG, is suing Apple and Google for refusing to remove an alleged clone from the App Store and Google Play.
Krafton Inc of South Korea and PUBG Santa Monica have filed a complaint that focuses on Free Fire, a battle royale game developed by Garena Online. They want the game pulled from Android and iOS, plus monetary damages.
Who needs the App Store? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Fortnite is returning to iPhone and iPad — but you won’t find it in the App Store. Starting next week, the hit battle royale game will be available to stream through Nvidia’s GeForce now, complete with brand-new touch controls.
Players will initially have to sign up to join the closed beta, which requires an active GeForce Now membership, designed to help Nvidia test server capacity and performance. But Fortnite eventually will roll out to all GeForce Now subscribers.
The move is somewhat of a kick in the teeth for Apple, which has been determined to block Fortnite on its own platforms since it booted Epic Games, the game’s creator, from the App Store for breaking the rules.
Cloud gaming is taking off in a big way, and Apple isn't part of it. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple is missing out on another major revenue stream by ignoring cloud gaming services, according to market experts.
While rivals like Amazon, Nvidia and Microsoft are reaping the rewards of a gaming industry boom that’s only expected to get bigger, Apple is leaving money on the table. But there is a simple way it could enjoy a piece of the pie.
Block harmful blue light with these medically approved glasses and an iPhone screen protector. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Staring at screens all day can cause headaches, eye irritation and even mess with your body’s sleep cycle. The secret to protecting your eyes and freeing yourself from screen fatigue is anti-blue-light glasses.
Why is Apple struggling to hold onto its chip-makers? Photo: Benjamin Balázs
Another key chip designer has left Apple for Microsoft. Mike Filippo, who joined Cupertino in 2019 after a decade with Arm, is the second processor engineer Apple has lost in as many weeks after Jeff Wilcox left to join Intel.
Filippo will reportedly work on server chips for Microsoft’s Azure group, which is said to be pushing forward with its own silicon for cloud computing services.
Firefox is broke. But you can fix it. Image: Firefox/Cult of Mac
A growing number of Firefox users on Mac (and Windows) are reporting that they are unable to load any websites. The browser hangs indefinitely and shows nothing at all, thanks to what seems like a background server error.
The good news is that there is a relatively simple fix that you can implement yourself until Firefox eliminates the problem for good. We’ll show you how.
It's now available to all. Image: Dropbox/Cult of Mac
The next-generation version of the Dropbox app for macOS, which finally adds native support for Apple silicon chips, is now available to all in beta.
It comes less than a week after Dropbox began testing Apple M1 support with a small number of users. You can try it out for yourself by enabling “early releases” in your account preferences. We’ll show you how.