Cult of Mac

The United Kingdom is developing new antitrust measures and could fine tech giants up to 10% of their annual revenue for breaking the rules. The Digital Markets Unit’s plan is intended to make it easier for U.K. businesses — such as startups, news publishers and advertisers — to compete with established giants like Apple and Amazon.

“Tech has transformed our lives for the better, whether it’s helping us to stay in touch with our loved ones, share content, or access the latest news,” said Kwasi Kwarteng, the U.K.’s secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, in a press release Tuesday. “Nobody wants to see an unassailable monopoly, and our common sense reforms will help protect consumers, support ground-breaking new ideas and level the playing field for businesses.”

Want the newest iPad Air? Now’s a great time to bag yours on Amazon, where prices start at just $499.99 — the lowest price yet —for a 64GB model after a $99.01 discount.

Some 256GB models are down to as little as $639 after Amazon slashed $110 off. These are the biggest discounts we’ve seen so far.

Apple is looking to lease a massive production campus in movie capital Los Angeles for future Apple TV+ productions, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The Cupertino company is looking at several possible locations for the hub, which could exceed half a million square feet. Apple already leases several soundstage in LA and elsewhere.

Even the most experienced computer users make mistakes. Working quickly, moving files around, and juggling multiple tasks at once can sometimes lead to the accidental deletion of important files. Disk Drill Pro 4 is the perfect solution for anyone with a Mac.

NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware is making headlines again after it was reported that a number of governments around the world have been using it to hack the smartphones of activists, politicians, journalists and other individuals.

A list of potential surveillance targets, which includes more than 50,000 phone numbers, was leaked and obtained by a number of news outlets over the weekend, reigniting concerns over government surveillance.

So, what exactly is Pegasus? And who might be a potential target of an attack? How can you tell if your iPhone already fell victim to the spyware? We rounded up everything you need to know about Pegasus.

In order to quell the spread of COVID-19, at least one Apple supplier set up coronavirus “bubbles” for employees on its production lines, essentially sealing off workers from the outside world.

According to a Tuesday report by Nikkei Asia, several factories in Vietnam — including one owned by AirPods manufacturer GoerTek — took this precautionary measure as COVID-19 cases ramp up in the country.

Apple has delayed its call for employees to return to the office by at least a month, Bloomberg reported Monday. Employees will now return to Apple Park and other locations by October at the earliest.

In June, CEO Tim Cook said that employees should get ready to return by early September. This would be according to a hybrid model in which employees would work at least three days a week in the office, and the rest working from home. But COVID-19 has seemingly (temporarily) scuppered those plans.

It’s easy to set alarms or timers on a HomePod smart speaker with Siri voice commands, but HomePod Software Version 14.7 adds the ability to make manual changes to of these with an iPhone or iPad. No Siri required.

Here’s how.

Amnesty International accuses governments around the world of using NSO Group’s Pegasus iPhone hacking tool to illegally spy on journalists and human rights defenders. Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture condemns this type of hacking, but also says that such attacks “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.”

A rewarding career in the cybersecurity field is within reach if you have the right knowledge and training to get your foot in the door. And once it’s there, the possibilities are endless. One of the best ways to get that knowledge is with a platinum membership to Infosec4TC, an online training program that puts you in control of how much and how fast you learn.

Apple recently added hydrogen peroxide to the list of cleansers not to use on its products. The chemical is often employed to disinfect surfaces, but it’s not recommended for wiping down your iPhone, Mac or iPad. Or your Apple peripherals, either.

The warning comes as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on.

A Federal Communications Commission certification reveals Bose may be about to roll out a long-awaited new version of its classic noise-canceling headphones. The company’s popular but long-in-the-tooth QuietComfort 35 and 35 II headphones appear to have a new sibling or, more likely, replacement: new Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation.

And the new headphones could arrive quite soon, bringing no telling what sort of upgrades to ANC, Bluetooth and audio quality.

macOS Monterey makes it easier than ever to remove all your precious data from your Mac when it’s time to sell it or make a fresh start. Its new Erase All Content & Settings feature wipes your machine without forcing to you to reinstall its operating system, just like on iPhone and iPad.

Here’s how to use it.

iPhone users can now download iOS 14.7. The update, released Monday, adds reverse wireless charging to the iPhone 12 series, albeit in a limited way. It also includes some promised improvements to the Apple Card, and allows users to manage timers on a HomePod.

In addition, Apple released watchOS 7.6.

Redditor mnsl0826 decided to save some space by standing up his M1 Mac mini vertically at the base of his monitor, rather than laying it flat. It worked for him, but posting about it on Reddit generated heaps of concern about whether you’re supposed to do that.

Anker’s first announced its new PowerWave Go 3-in-1 Stand for charging iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods back in January. Well, it just came out. The cool wrinkle here is a removable power bank to charge devices on the go.

Apple’s VP of Technology Kevin Lynch, one of the key figures in bringing the Apple Watch to market, is now working on the Apple Car project, Business Insider reports.

Lynch, who joined Apple from Adobe in 2013, will be taking on a leading role on the project, which has been going on for almost as long as he’s been at Apple. At present, the Apple Car project is under the leadership of Apple’s AI and machine learning boss John Giannandrea. Giannandrea in turn took over from Bob Mansfield, who retired in 2020.

Whenever you use the internet, you leave a trail of information. That information makes you, your devices and your peace of mind vulnerable. When you browse without something keeping you safe, you open yourself up to malicious software and companies that store and sell your information.

However, using a virtual private network can keep your information safe and give you open access to the internet. And KeepSolid VPN is one of the best ones on the market. It gives you lifetime protection for five devices, and right now, it’s on sale for just $39. Plus, you’ll get a $30 store credit!

Breaking up is hard and painful, unless you’re an AirPod. They’re far from loyal, and they will leave you any time and anywhere. That’s why you need Elago’s awesome EarHooks.

EarHooks prevent an ugly breakup by ensuring AirPods and AirPods Pro always stay in your ear — whether you’re working out or squeezing onto a busy train. And you can get yours today from just $10.99.

iOS has clawed back enough market share in the US that it is now approximately even with Android in terms of number of buyers, claims a Monday report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), seen by Cult of Mac. The results, which cover the calendar quarter ending June 30, are a far cry from just four years ago, when US mobile market share approached 70% in Android’s favor.

It speaks to the greater level of loyalty of iPhone users over their Android-loving brethren and sistren.

Apple TV+ won four Daytime Emmy Awards over the weekend, with Here We Are: Notes For Living on Planet Earth picking up Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Program and an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for 3D animator Anne Moth.

Apple also won Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program for editors Jill Calhoun and Jack Paulson on Stillwater. And Helpsters picked up the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing.

In total, Apple’s streaming service earned 25 Daytime Emmy nominations this year. The four wins is two more than Apple TV+ received last year, when it won for Ghostwriter and Peanuts in Space.

The awards were handed out Saturday night.

Apple could bring an “always-on” screen, which it debuted in the Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019, to the iPhone for the first time this year. The latest rumor says the display on at least some 2021 iPhones might show information on the screen at all times.

Already a prevalent in Android devices, such a display lets users see time, date, notifications, missed calls and more when their phone is locked. Bringing the feature to iPhone could be one factor driving Apple’s high expectations for sales of its next-gen handsets.

Apple will reportedly debut its third-gen iPhone SE handset in the first half of next year, a Monday report from Digitimes claims.

Apple has been making its (comparatively) low-cost iPhone models for the past five years, releasing its two previous versions in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

You know that feeling of dread when you drop you iPhone for the hundredth time? As you slowly pick it up and pray that it’s not cracked, you remind yourself, “I need a better case.” Well, here’s your chance. This week’s giveaway is for a Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe case, worth $50. It’s Speck’s most protective clear case yet.

Show off your iPhone and keep it crack-free by entering this week’s giveaway. Enter and you could win one of four Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe cases.

Some classic iOS games got upgraded for their Apple Arcade debuts this week, but that’s just the start of this week’s roundup. A new iOS app gives you the chance to win prizes for not driving like a jerk. And a new Mac app lets you effortlessly declutter your presentations.

Plus, a couple of heavy-hitter apps got updates — one kind of serious from a privacy perspective, and one almost completely frivolous. Are you ready for your app upgrades?