CES 2022 Innovation Awards honoree: The Cypress Hero Backpack with Find My Technology from Targus. Photo: Targus
Plenty of backpacks have an AirTag tracker attached by their owners, but Targus is making one with Apple Find My tech built in. This will allow users to locate the backpack with their iPhone if it gets lost.
The Cypress Hero EcoSmart Backpack won’t launch until spring, but has already been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree.
You don’t have to splash out on an Apple TV to enjoy Apple TV+ and Apple Music alongside all your other favorite streaming services. They’re now available on a whole host of brilliant third-party devices — many of which are on sale now.
Unlike Apple, the likes of Amazon and Roku are offering big Black Friday discounts that are already live. Here are our picks of the best Apple TV alternatives that you can buy today from just $19.99.
It's also coming to iPhone and iPad next year. Image: okayjosh/YouTube
Glorious new gameplay footage captured from Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition has leaked before it makes its official debut on consoles and PC tomorrow, November 12 — and lands on mobile next year.
The rather lengthy clips, taken from GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas, give us a closer look at the games’ improved graphics and significantly faster frame rate. They also show off some user interface enhancements.
This unbeatable deal gets you a lifetime subscription to AdGuard for just $30 -- with a bonus! Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
AdGuard combines a potent ad blocker with the best privacy and security features of a virtual private network and a parental-control app. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for only $30. Plus, to make this deal even sweeter, it comes with $20 in store credit to spend on other Cult of Mac Deals!
So, basically, 10 bucks for a lifetime of ad-free web browsing with additional privacy and security benefits (and $20 to spend on something else to make your life more joyful and carefree).
Who'd have thought Microsoft Paint could produce art like this? Images: Concha García Zaera
Who needs expensive Photoshop subscriptions and fancy drawing hardware? 91-year-old grandma Concha García Zaera creates and sells beautiful and insanely detailed masterpieces using nothing but a mouse and Microsoft Paint.
Zaera’s artwork, which is all put together using a Windows 7 PC, has attracted more than 300,000 followers on Instagram. It features everything from serene and colorful landscapes to cute and cuddly pet portraits.
Enjoy Home screen widgets and Picture in Picture support. Photo: Google
Google this week rolled out a bunch of rather significant updates for Gmail, Meet, and Sheets on iPhone and iPad that add a number of neat new features and improvements. You can download them from the App Store now.
Gmail now offers a Home screen widget that lets you see your inbox at a glance, while Meet now features Picture in Picture support so you can carry out remote meetings while you continue to do other things on your device.
Setting Legacy Contacts in the current iOS 15.2 beta is simple. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple apparently intends to launch a promised Legacy Contacts feature in the upcoming iOS 15.2 and the iPad equivalent. This will allow friends or family members to access your data after you die.
It will prevent pictures and phone numbers from being permanently locked on an iPhone or iPad if someone passes away without giving out their passcode.
Don't let lousy weather or pricey green fees keep you from perfecting your golf swing! Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’ve been wanting to practice golf in the house, but without breaking everything in sight, we have a safe and easy way to do that. This golf simulator stick allows you to work on your swing indoors. That way, when the weather is unfavorable, you can still get in some practice.
There are multiple new features in the PC version of the iCloud app. Photo: Apple
Apple threw a bone to iPhone owners who are also PC users on Wednesday. iCloud for Windows version 13 adds support for Apple ProRes videos and Apple ProRaw photos.
And there are other new features in the free app too, like greater control over iCloud Drive and the ability to generate strong passwords.
The new Keychron M1 Mouse is billed as slim, lightweight and customizable. Photo: Keychron
Over the past several years, Keychron has gained justifiable fame for its affordable mechanical keyboards, which appeal to a variety of users. Now it plans to release its first mouse, the M1 (not to be confused with Apple’s world-beating Silicon chipset).
Keychron said its M1 mouse comes with the “strongest, most competitive grade” sensor chip available — as well as a raft of RGB light effects.
Connect RiotPWR’s Rotor Riot iPhone game controller to your iPhone for quick and easy fun. Photo: Apple/RiotPWR
RiotPwr is out with a new version of its iPhone game controller with a Lightning connector. This mimics the design of Microsoft’s Xbox controller, and new version adds a pair of buttons needed to play many games.
Apple likes this accessory so much it just began offering it in the Apple Store, both online and brick-and-mortar locations.
The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat now works with HomeKit and Siri. Photo: Residio
After a couple of years of promises, one of the first consumer smart thermostats to support remote temperature and humidity sensors, the Honeywell Home T9, finally features support for Apple HomeKit and Siri voice control.
Turn your Pages document into a stunning ebook. Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Creating a killer app isn’t the only way to make an honest buck in the Apple ecosystem. You can publish an ebook quickly and easily on Apple Books.
It’s a straightforward way to sell your ideas, and doesn’t require any coding. In fact, the only software you need is probably installed on your Mac already: Pages. You still need to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the writing. But publishing an ebook using Pages takes very little effort. And the ebooks you create support a surprising amount of functionality.
This guide will show you how to publish an ebook to Apple Books using Pages.
BEFORE: A fine Dell Inspiron laptop perched atop a mess. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Not long ago I sold, gave away or trashed most of my possessions and moved across the U.S. Soon after arrival, I found my computer unresponsive. The ol’ HP Pavilion laptop stopped powering on reliably. So I borrowed a perfectly good Dell laptop from my brother and kept on writing, mainly for Cult of Mac. I just happened to be “between Macs” at the time. But now I have a brand new 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook.
Thanks to the swanky new Apple laptop plus a few other bits and pieces I quickly acquired, as of today I no longer wallow in a PC laptop pigsty (yeah, the photo above is genuine, though I swear it wasn’t always quite that messy). I’ve got a proper Mac computer setup for the first time in a while.
The new Apple Business Essentials service brings device management, support and storage into one subscription for small businesses. Photo: Apple
Apple launched a new service aimed at small businesses Wednesday. Now in beta, Apple Business Essentials bundles device management, Apple support and iCloud storage into flexible subscription plans for companies with up to 500 employees.
Cupertino also unveiled an app for the service that enables employees to install apps for work and request support.
Apple’s entrance into comprehensive small business tech services by subscription could spell trouble for companies already in the space, such as Jamf and Hexnode.
The Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Stand looks good on a desk but is ready for on the go, including as part of a video setup. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Stand offers 10,000 mAh — enough to come close to recharging an iPhone 13 twice. It uses MagSafe so handset and charger cling together. And it has a kickstand, making it useful even when your handset is fully charged. If all that wasn’t enough, a tripod socket lets you make this power bank part of your video setup.
I tested all the features of the external battery to be sure there’re ready for real-world use. Here’s how this accessory stood up.
Plug the Satechi Pro Hub Mini into a 2021 MacBook Pro to add USB-A and other useful ports. Photo: Satechi
While the 2021 MacBook Pro brings back some classic ports, those who want USB-A need to turn to an adapter like the Satechi Pro Hub Mini. The accessory clips to the side of the notebook and adds a pair of USB-A ports and Ethernet.
Preorders began Wednesday with a 25% discount until the launch.
"Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops." Photo: Apple
The new MacBook Pro lineup is an exceptional upgrade over its predecessors, with new M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets that offer more mobile computing power than ever before. And big companies are scrambling to reap the benefits.
The likes of Reddit, Twitter and others are rolling out 2021 MacBook Pro units to employees so that they can take advantage of the massive performance gains. “Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops,” one said.
You can't go wrong with these accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and other Apple gear. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Apple people are the hardest — and the easiest — to shop for. On one hand, you know they’d love a new Apple device or accessory. On the other, there are a lot of great Apple accessories to choose from.
To help you decide what to get the Apple fanatic in your life (even if it’s you), we gathered up some of the best deals you’re going to see anywhere during our Pre-Black Friday Sale. And if you use code SAVE15NOV, you can get anything below for an extra 15% off.
Included with your Netflix subscription. Image: Netflix
Netflix Games is now available on iPhone and iPad, just over one week after making its debut on Android. Users can access all titles through the main Netflix app, but — as expected — they must be downloaded individually.
The service offers five games to begin with, including the two Stranger Things titles that were already available on iOS, and is available at no extra cost to those who already have a Netflix subscription.
Apple doesn't want AirTags and other devices to be used to track others. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new iOS 15.2 beta gives iPhone and iPad users the option to scan for nearby AirTags and Find My devices that may be tracking their movements.
The beta adds a new “Items That Can Track Me” button to the Find My app. Tapping it will display a list of “Unknown Items” — if there are any nearby. The app then provide users with instructions on how to disable anything that shows up.
Apple motion for a delay has been denied. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Apple to add third-party payment options to the App Store by December 9, after denying the company’s motion for a stay in Fortnite developer Epic Games’ case against Cupertino.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said the motion, which argued that Apple needed time to implement the changes, was based on “a selective reading of the Court’s findings” and “ignores everything” in favor of an injunction.
These smart bands come in a variety of fabrics and colors. Photo: BluShark
Our latest giveaway is from BluShark, maker of high-quality watch straps. Three lucky winners will each win a $100 BluShark gift card to buy Apple Watch bands.
BluShark bands comes in a variety of materials, including leather, canvas, silicone, knit weave and Cordura. If you win, you can keep the gift card all for yourself and/or buy something for a friend. Whatever you do, make sure you enter this giveaway for your shot at winning.
Built-in games make this tiny console a real gem. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With so many people getting tired of Triple-A games, it’s worth looking back at the nostalgic history of gaming. The Mini Game Entertainment System with 620 Built-In Classic Games is styled like a Nintendo Entertainment System. It comes with 620 classic games, and you can get it for 15% off ahead of Black Friday if you use code SAVE15NOV.
It’s not just nostalgia that you’re buying, either. The console works like a dream and comes packed with games that made history because they’re genuinely fun. If you happen to have some great memories from your childhood playing them, it’s a bonus. If this is your first first experience with classic games, you’re in for a definite treat.
Apple is reportedly walking back a policy that might have put many small phone repair shops out of business. It promised to stop disabling Face ID on iPhone 13 units that have had their screen replaced by anyone other than Apple-authorized techs.
The change will come in the form of a software update.