Mobile menu toggle

Apple TV+ racks up 4 Daytime Emmy Awards

By •

Apple TV+'s newest animated series Stillwater
One of Apple's big winners in the kids' category.
Photo: Apple TV+

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.

iPhone 13 could be Apple’s first with an ‘always on’ display

By •

A signature feature of the iPhone 13 might be an always-on display.
One of many hot features that could make the iPhone 13 a big winner?
Artist’s concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

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.

Third-gen iPhone SE will launch in first half of 2022

By •

The budget 2020 iPhone SE comes in a range of colors.
Apple launched its last iPhone SE in 2020.
Photo: Apple

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.

Last chance! Win a MagSafe-compatible Perfect-Clear case from Speck [Cult of Mac giveaway]

By •

Presidio Perfect-Clear iPhone 12 case
Speck's most protective iPhone case yet.
Photo: Speck

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.

Play god. Drive safe. Flip birds. Search secret. [Awesome Apps of the Week]

By •

Apple Arcade delivers blasts from the past, but there's new stuff in the App Store this week as well.
Apple Arcade delivers updated blasts from the past, but there's totally new stuff in the App Store this week as well.
Image: Cult of Mac

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?

Get unlimited lifetime access to this stock photo service for less than $30

By •

Get unlimited high quality stock photos for your business for life
With this incredibly priced sub, you get more than 400,000 royalty-free images from around the world.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether they’re for your website, social media profiles, sales presentations or marketing materials, every business needs great images. That’s not just a nice-to-have, but a fact: 90% of all data processed by the brain is visual, making images more memorable than any text. And when it comes to online content, images have been shown to perform 4.4 times better than text-based content alone.

However … producing your own photoshoots can be extremely expensive. And getting the rights to use great photography can prove even more pricey. Thankfully, Scopio Stock Photography is changing the game when it comes to making great images affordable. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to the service, plus $30 store credit, for just $29.99. That’s a staggering 99% off the value of $3,480. And yes, that’s even one cent less than the store credit you’ll get back with this limited-time deal.

Why we want iPhone wireless charging in reverse [Cult of Mac Magazine 410]

By •

iPhone reverse wireless charging. We want more.
We want more!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12’s secret reverse wireless charging capability will work with Apple’s new MagSafe Battery Pack. That’s great and all, but Apple should let the iPhone charge other gear, too.

Think how cool it would be to top off your AirPods Pro simply by setting them atop your iPhone.

It’s a logical next step (and it might even be coming soon). Find out why we think Apple should go all in on iPhone reverse wireless charging in the cover story of this week’s free Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it in the app on your favorite iOS device, or get the links to the stories below.

Launch websites in seconds with this unlimited web hosting subscription, now less than $100 

By •

Get unlimited web hosting for life
Launching websites doesn't get any more affordable than this.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you run a business or have a personal website that cements your professional reputation and visibility, you need great web hosting to do it. The not-so-small obstacle to a professional website, though, is that web hosting can cost thousands of dollars a year. 

Thankfully, some revolutionary tech companies are changing the game when it comes to making web hosting accessible for everyone. Case in point: iBrave Cloud Web Hosting, which is offering a lifetime subscription on sale for an outrageously affordable $99.99. That’s a 93% discount off the regular price of $1,497.

Steady your MagSafe Charger with ElevationLab’s new MagBase

By •

ElevationLab's new MagBase makes it easy to grab your iPhone 12 off the charger with one hand.
ElevationLab's new MagBase makes it easy to grab your iPhone 12 off the charger with one hand.
Photo: ElevationLab

ElevationLab launched a deceptively simple accessory on Thursday called MagBase. It helps with one of the more frustrating aspects users find with the Apple MagSafe Charger. Using the base, you can easily pick up your iPhone 12 with one hand, still attached to the charger — or not.

Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging

By •

Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging
What if you could charge your AirPods just by putting them on your iPhone?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Turns out the iPhone 12 could do reverse wireless charging all along — Apple just didn’t talk about it until this week. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, Apple should embrace the capability and let iPhones wirelessly charge any other compatible device.

Take a gamble on Schmigadoon!, the inventive Scream of musicals [Apple TV+ review]

By •

Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key in Schmigadoon!
Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key wind up in a surreal situation.
Photo: Apple TV+

With a murderers’ row of talent behind and in front of the camera, and nods to handsome musicals and TV of the past, Schmigadoon! could become a major crossover hit for Apple TV+.

The new musical comedy injects a thoroughly modern sensibility into the classic Brigadoon storyline. Loaded with the obligatory singing and dancing you’d expect, it’s good and occasionally great.

If you like musicals, you’ll almost certainly love Schmigadoon!. The only question is, is the public’s thirst for musical theater enough to sell this high-concept gamble?

Belkin rolls out Always-On Laptop Cases for MacBooks and more

By •

Whether you're feeling super-protective or just lazy, you never have to take the Belkin sleeve off your laptop.
Whether you're feeling super-protective or just lazy, you never have to take the Belkin sleeve off your laptop.
Photo: Belkin

You know that kid in school who never took his jacket off? I think his name was Belkin. The accessories maker launched a pair of Always-On Laptop Cases that pretty much ensure your MacBook always keeps it coat on.

A Mac mini, a PC and a G4 walk into a podcasting primer … [Setups]

By •

See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
Photo: omgaporksword@Reddit

It sounds like the setup to a punchline: A strapping young Mac mini, a yoked gaming PC and an elderly Power Mac G4 walk into a podcasting primer. Then what happens?

Well, if we’re talking about Redditor omgaporksword’s recent setup post, you learn a few OS-switching tricks, share some old-school Mac nostalgia and see how to position your USB microphone using a boom arm.

There is no punchline and there are no laughs. But please, people. Not everything is about humor. Except maybe omgaporksword’s Reddit handle.

How Apple uses US Customs and Border Protection to bust bogus AirPods

By •

AirPods
Not exactly authentic AirPods.
Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

When you think about the types of items typically seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you might picture contraband like drugs or weapons. You probably don’t imagine knockoff AirPods as a target.

In fact, bogus earbuds are a big deal. Customs and Border Protection seized “roughly 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones with a retail value of $62.2 million” since October, according to a story in The Information, citing previously unreported government data.

Apple is one several predominantly larger companies that work with Customs officers to help weed out copycat products upon their entry into the United States. And the counterfeit goods are not necessarily packaged to look exactly like actual Apple products. Here’s how it works.

Improved Alto’s Odyssey, Angry Birds arrive in Apple Arcade

By •

‘Angry Birds Reloaded’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade.
“Angry Birds Reloaded” is one of the classic games now available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases.
Photo: Rovio

A trio of classic games have been updated just for Apple Arcade. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.

All three debuted Friday on Apple’s subscription gaming service.

Lisey’s Story finale cements show as one of Apple TV+’s finest [Review]

By •

Lisey's Story finale review: Lisey learns to carry on.
Lisey, played by Julianne Moore, learns to carry on as the Stephen King-penned mini series concludes.
Photo: Apple TV+

The time has come for a bool hunt in Lisey’s Story! In the Apple TV+ series finale, Lisey and Dooley reach their final showdown — and get their last look at the brutal past just in the rearview mirror.

It’s a fitting end to the Stephen King-written miniseries about the widow of a famous writer and the crazed superfan who hunts her down. If you’re an Apple TV+ subscriber and haven’t watched this show yet, a rewarding binge awaits.

Make your MacBook a double-wide with this portable second screen

By •

Increase your workflow with this 11.6
Enjoy twice the screen space with this 11.6-inch portable display.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Laptop screens are large enough to enjoy movies and work efficiently, but sometimes a little more screen space proves beneficial. Whether you’re developing crucial IT skills or writing the next great American novel, having an additional screen provides more space to work.

That’s why this portable second screen from Ofiyaa is a must-have for laptop-toting professionals. And it’s available for a limited time at just $249.99.

How to send Soundmojis in Facebook Messenger

By •

Amp up your emoji game with Soundmojis in Facebook Messenger.
Amp up your emoji game with Soundmojis in Facebook Messenger.
Image: Facebook

Emoji just got a sonic boost in Facebook Messenger. The social network’s chat app added Soundmojis on Thursday, giving users the option of sending audio snippets with some key emoji.

At launch, you can send catchphrases from TV shows, bits of hit songs, and garden-variety stock sounds. If your conversation demands the world’s tiniest violin emoji, your chat partner can actually hear it!

Microsoft just won’t let Clippy die

By •

It looks like you're digging a shallow grave. Would you like help?
Shockingly, Microsoft’s Clippy has fans. and they’re responsible for bringing it back — in a limited form.
Image: Microsoft

Windows users can’t escape Clippy. The much hated personal assistant is coming back. Fortunately, it’ll be far less prominent than back in 1997. And Mac users won‘t have to see it at all.

Apple has made its share of mistakes over the years. But few of these can compare to Clippy’s irritating attempts to help people using Microsoft Office.

Save more with a year-long Sam’s Club membership for $19.99

By •

Score a Sam's Club membership and complimentary meal for $19.99
This discounted Sam's Club membership includes a free rotisserie chicken and cupcakes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Walmart ranked as the world’s largest company by revenue in 2020, experiencing a 79% boost in e-commerce sales as a result of the pandemic. Similarly, Sam’s Club also boomed for pandemic-related reasons — it’s preferable to stock up on bulk items and save hundreds each shopping trip.

Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand

By •

Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand
The Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger can juice up your iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods.

You can charge an iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously with the just-released Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger. Apple likes it so much the product is listed on the online Apple Store, an honor that doesn’t go to most accessories.