OWC's new adapter helps you drive two displays with your Intel-based Mac or iPad. Photo: OWC
At Cult of Mac we’re always going on about M1 Macs, but here’s something for the Intel Mac crowd. OWC launched a new DisplayPort adapter allowing you to connect two 4K displays or one 8K display to your Intel-based Mac or iPad using a single Thunderbolt port.
Center Stage is Apple’s best creation in years. Photo: Apple
A highlight of the just-released budget iPad and iPad mini is the addition of Center Stage, a feature that lets the front-facing camera follow someone on a video call. It’s brilliant. It makes FaceTime and Zoom calls so much simpler.
This is perhaps the best new feature Apple has come up with in years. If you have a recent iPad and aren’t using this videoconferencing feature, you’re missing out. And here’s hoping it gets built into the 2022 iPhone.
The Moft Snap Set is available for preorder now. Photo: Moft
Moft said it designed its stylish new MagSafe-compatible Snap Case with extra magnetic strength to ensure secure attachment of the company’s updated Snap-on Stand & Wallet as well as other MagSafe accessories to your iPhone 12 or 13 series handset.
Unified endpoint management gives you complete control over organization's critical devices (and the sensitive data they contain). Image: Hexnode
This health care data security post is presented by Hexnode.
The health care sector is under tremendous stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the persistent threat of hackers, phishers and other bad actors. Staffers are overworked and under-resourced, while hackers employ ever-more-sophisticated methods to compromise sensitive health care data.
The solution is a unified endpoint management system such as Hexnode, one of the market leaders. The platform can be employed to enhance the security of any health care enterprise and safeguard critical patient data against breaches.
Hexnode perfectly aligns with the capabilities of Apple devices, streamlines various processes, and makes it easier for organizations and end users alike.
The long list of problems that have surfaced in iOS 15 continues to grow as iPhone 13 owners report new issues with CarPlay.
Some say they are unable to play tracks in Apple Music or third-party apps like Spotify without the system crashing completely. There are some fixes you can try, like disabling the equalizer if it’s active, that may solve the problem.
Jon Stewart is back in the anchor's chair. Photo: Apple TV+
Jon Stewart is back on TV with more control, more freedom and more gray hair. His new Apple TV+ show, The Problem With Jon Stewart, debuts Thursday and promises to tackle the tough questions facing the world.
But has America missed its smart-ass in chief since he departed The Daily Show in 2015? Is there still a place for Stewart’s left-leaning (fire)brand of comedy in the modern media landscape? Can TV actually exert any kind of power on public opinion anymore? Tune in every week on Apple TV+ to find out.
Got gadgets? Our VIP Sale delivers the goods. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are a lot of things you can get to improve your quality of life, your comfort and your downtime. Get yourself some cool gadgets during our VIP Sale and enjoy an extra 15% off. And if these aren’t enough for you, there are plenty more fun accessories and tools where that came from. Happy shopping.
Topping up your iPhone is faster than ever before. Photo: ChargerLAB
iPhone 13 Pro Max charges faster than its predecessor, with speeds hitting up to 27W when connected to a 30W (or higher) power adapter, new tests reveal. That’s up from a maximum of 22W in last year’s iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The smaller iPhone 13 Pro maxes out at 23W, while all iPhone 13 units — with the exception of iPhone 13 mini — can receive up to 15W when charging wirelessly using an Apple MagSafe charger.
Not a lot, apparently. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Siri is widely considered the dumbest of the smart assistants (although I would argue that Samsung’s Bixby easily takes that crown) and it just got a little dumber. Apple has removed a whole bunch of useful Siri features that iPhone users — particularly those with vision impairment — relied on.
Siri can no longer play your voicemail messages, check your call history, send an email, and more. “Sorry, I can’t help with that” is the response that greets iPhone users who attempt to use the features that were available before iOS 15 made its public debut almost two weeks ago.
Security researchers just uncovered a big flaw. Photo: Apple
Security researchers have discovered a major flaw in Express Transit on iPhone that allows hackers to steal money from a user’s Visa card. They say the problem can be easily fixed, but neither Apple or Visa seem interested.
The flaw makes it possible for iPhone’s contactless payment system, designed to make it easier and faster to pay for public transport, to be charged arbitrary transactions by a device that imitates a transport terminal.
If you can't watch Jon Stewart's new show because you can’t find Apple TV+, don’t blame him. Screenshot: Apple TV+
Jon Stewart wants to be sure everyone knows how to find Apple TV+. So much so, in fact, that he created a public service announcement to help all the “innocent people who may never know the pleasures of Schmigadoon.” Stewart has an ulterior motive, of course: His new talk shows debuts Thursday on the streaming service.
Watch the wackiness now. That way you can be sure to see the first episode of The Problem With Jon Stewart on Apple TV+ for free.
Right now, you can save an extra 40% on these nine must-have apps. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With the sheer number of security tools and productivity-boosting apps on the market, it can be difficult to sift through the chaff and find the best ones to purchase. But we did the hard work for you with this roundup of nine premium utility, security and entertainment apps for Mac, iOS and other platforms. Plus, with coupon code VIP40, you can save an extra 40% off their already-reduced sale prices.
Most of these deals offer lifetime subscriptions. Act quickly, though, because the deals themselves will only be around for a limited time.
Expand the capabilities of your Mac or iPad with the OWC USB-C Travel Dock E. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The OWC USB-C Travel Dock E adds the most commonly used ports to your Mac or iPad. It lets you use an HDMI monitor, two USB-A accessories, Ethernet and more. And the stylish hub ready to be used in your office or on a business trip.
I put the accessory through a battery of tests. Read on to see how well it stood up.
UPDATE: The brilliant Elago Quattro bumper is now available in new color options, including shark gray and light pink, and it now supports 40mm Apple Watch models. Get yours today for just $11.99 from the Cult of Mac Store.
Don’t let your precious (and pricey) Apple Watch fend for itself in harsh environments. Pick up this tough Quattro Bumper Case from Elkson for essential protection against scuffs and shattered screens.
It protects the sides of your Apple Watch that are prone to scratching when you’re hard at work. It also has a lip that helps prevent its screen from rubbing up against anything rough.
You can get yours for Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 for just $11.99.
Maybe "1 cord to rule them all," but not replace them all. Photo: [email protected]
You’ve got to love somebody bragging about getting their computer setup’s cable management down to one cord, because it’s never really one cord. They don’t mean it literally. It’s just that one cord to a hub or dock helped reduce their previously tangled mess of cables splaying out all over the place.
A shortage in an iPhone 13 camera component is reportedly reducing production. Photo: Apple
Production of the new iPhone 13 series isn’t catching up to demand. A shortage of a critical component is keeping wait times long for many versions of the handset.
But heavy demand is also reportedly adding to the delays.
Dodocase offers fine leathers and textiles in its iPhone 13 case collection. Photo: Dodocase
Dodocase has come out with iPhone 13 series versions of its popular collection of leather and textile-based iPhone cases, including the Durable Wallet, Shockproof CardCase, Lorna Wallet, All-Leather Angle Viewer and custom-made options. Pricing starts at $45.
For a limited time only, just enter the code VIP15 at checkout to get an extra 15% off this fitness-focused smartwatch, making it just $33.99 (regularly $149).
How's your iPhone holding up after updating to iOS 15? Photo: Apple
Some iPhone models are being plagued by touchscreen issues under Apple’s newest iOS 15 firmware. The problem, which seems to affect iPhone 13 owners most, causes devices to not respond to touch inputs.
A restart temporarily fixes the issue, though it does appear to resurface again soon after. Some say that repeated touches can get the screen working normally again, though.
2021 iPad mini owners who are hoping for a fix for its mysterious “jelly scrolling” effect will be disappointed to learn that Apple considers this “normal behavior for LCD screens.”
Cupertino said uneven scrolling can occur because of the way in which its Liquid Retina displays refresh line by line. However, the behavior has not been spotted on other Apple devices with LCD screens, like the newest iPad Air.
Get the best performance when you need it most. Photo: Apple
Apple is working on a new “High Power Mode” that could boost MacBook performance when the device isn’t connected to a power source, according to the latest macOS Monterey beta.
The feature is thought to be similar to the “Pro Mode” that was first spotted in a macOS Catalina beta early last year. Pro Mode never made its public debut, but it seems Cupertino hasn’t given up on the idea.
Behold the iPhone 13 Pro, a true Goldilocks smartphone. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Is there such a thing as the fabled Goldilocks phone? You know, a phone that is just right? Not too big. Not too small. Great camera and screen. Amazing battery life.
Well, the new iPhone 13 Pro is that “just right” phone.
Mask-wearers must enter their passcode to unlock iPhone 13. Photo: Apple
Apple has promised to fix an iPhone 13 bug that prevents owners from using Unlock with Apple Watch. In the meantime, users can disable the feature to prevent an “Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch” error from appearing.
Unlock with Apple Watch was first introduced last April with iOS 14.5, giving iPhone users with Face ID the ability to easily unlock their devices while wearing a mask, which prevents facial recognition from working.
Update Sept. 28: iOS 15.1 beta 2 includes a fix for this problem. However, it’s not known when iOS 15.1 will be released to the public.
The folding MagSafe Duo wireless charger is compact and portable. Photo: Apple
You can charge your iPhone and your Apple Watch at the same time with Apple’s extremely portable wireless charger. During our VIP sale, the MagSafe Duo Charger is on sale for $114.99, more than 10% off its usual price.
Skydance Animation produced Blush about a stranded astronaut meeting an ethereal visitor. Coming soon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple and Skydance Animation teamed up to create Blush, the story of a stranded astronaut falling in love. The sci-fi short debuts October 1 on Apple TV+.
The trailer dropped Tuesday with a first look at the adorableness. Watch it now: