Mobile menu toggle

iPhone 13 event rumored for September 14, Apple expectations sky high

By

Apple_Keynote-Event_Phil-Schiller-iPhone-11-Pro_091019
Get ready for the next iPhone keynote!
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 12 has been a major success for Apple, but Wedbush analyst Dan Ives thinks the company’s expectations are even greater for the iPhone 13.

In a Wednesday note to clients, seen by Cult of Mac, Ives suggests Apple is gearing up to produce between 90 million and 100 million iPhone 13 units. That’s a 15% increase year-on-year over the iPhone 12, whose initial orders were for 80 million units.

The analyst also sheds light on when he thinks the iPhone 13 event will take place.

Kanye West’s next album debuts with livestream on Apple Music this week

By

Kanye West's new album Ye drops today on Apple Music (and elsewhere).
Kanye has long been an outspoken Apple fan.
Photo: Mark Azali/Flickr CC

Apple Music will exclusively livestream a special “sold-out listening event” for Kanye West’s 10th album, Donda, on July 22. The event will take place at 5 p.m. PDT, with the album launching the following day.

Donda is West’s first album since 2019’s Jesus Is King, which won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Album. It also achieved the No. 1 position on the Rap Album, Gospel Album and Billboard 200 charts.

Listen up! AirPods 3 could enter mass-production next month

By

AirPods 3 might borrow some features of AirPods Pro.
Coming soon to a pair of ears near you.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-gen AirPods, the third iteration of the company’s regular AirPods, will go into production next month, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday.

This would be the first upgrade for Apple’s standard issue AirPods since the second-gen version debuted March 2019. The original AirPods made their debut in December 2016.

Handy portable iPad stand is also a 6-port hub [Review]

By

Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub for iPad Pro review
The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub has what you need to make your iPad Pro or Air into a portable desktop.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub turns your iPad into a useful desktop. Not only does it prop up your tablet, it includes six useful ports. And it goes almost anywhere, from a meeting room to a coffee shop.

I’ve used the tablet stand for weeks, including on a recent vacation. Here’s why I love it… despite a limitation or two.

The Problem with Jon Stewart brutally mocks billionaire space race

By

‘The Problem with Jon Stewart’ brutally mocks billionaire space race
Jon Stewart's new parody video is so full of NSFW images we had to go with this one.
Screenshot: Jon Stewart

Although The Problem with Jon Stewart doesn’t premiere on Apple TV+ until September, the comedian couldn’t let Jeff Bezos’ and Richard Branson’s personal space race go by without comment. Stewart posted a video Tuesday making fun of billionaires competing to see who can shoot off a better rocket.

The humor isn’t subtle. Many jokes have been made about how much Bezos’ New Shepard rocket looks like a penis, and Stewart takes the idea and runs with it. If watching a video of giant space penises is going to get you in trouble at work, maybe you’d better wait until you get home to see this one.

If not, watch the mockery now:

New Fjorden camera grip gives your iPhone DSLR controls

By

The Fjorden iPhone grip and MagSafe-compatible case turn your phone into a DSLR.
The Fjorden iPhone grip and MagSafe-compatible case turn your phone into a DSLR.
Photo: Fjorden

A Kickstarter campaign pushes a new iPhone camera grip and MagSafe case combo called the Fjorden. It promises to turn your iPhone into a DSLR camera — while still fitting in your pocket. Its physical camera controls might make a lot of photographers very happy.

Boost your brain with this scientifically backed app

By

You'll think faster after using NeuroNation
Every day is brain day with NeuroNation's mental workouts.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you know a second language, then you know it requires maintenance and practice to be able to stay fluent. The moment you stop practicing, the language starts to fade, until you find yourself barely able to ask where the bathroom is.

That’s called language attrition, and it isn’t limited to language. If you want your brain to work faster, you need to train it and maintain it. There’s no better way to do that than NeuroNation Brain Training, an app designed to improve your cognitive abilities. And right now, you can get a one-year subscription on sale for $39.99. 

Wondershare Filmora’s advanced features for Mac make video editing easy

By

On macOS, Wondershare Filmora offers auto reframing, touch bar support and more.
On macOS, Wondershare Filmora offers advanced video editing without a steep learning curve.
Photo: Wondershare

This post is brought to you by Wondershare, maker of Filmora video-editing software for Mac and PC.

If you’re looking for an easy way to take your videos to the next level without skimping on features, you can find it in Wondershare Filmora X.

The popular app enables you to make complex, visually rich videos like a pro — but without the learning curve. It simplifies advanced features to make them accessible to everyone. With Wondershare Filmora, you can quickly start shooting vids and sharing them, even if you’re new to video editing.

Tetris Beat puts musical twist on a classic game

By

‘Tetris Beat’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade
Tetris Beat isn’t your parents’ version of the game.
Photo: Apple Arcade

Take Tetris and give it some rhythm and you get Tetris Beat, a fresh version of the puzzle classic. It includes music from Alison Wonderland and many other artists.

The game is coming soon to Apple Arcade.

New UK antitrust rules could fine tech giants big bucks for breaking rules

By

New antitrust measures are brewing in the United Kingdom.
New U.K. antitrust rules are brewing.
Photo: Colin Watts/Unsplash CC

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.”

Apple aims to lease massive production campus in LA for Apple TV+

By

Apple TV app lands on PlayStation
Apple is ramping up its Apple TV+ footprint.
Photo: Apple

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.

Everything you need to know about the Pegasus spyware infecting smartphones

By

Pegasus spyware FAQ
And how to tell if your iPhone is infected.
Photo: NSO Group/Cult of 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.

AirPods manufacturers sleep in factory ‘bubbles’ to avoid COVID-19

By

Apple has big plans for the AirPods lineup.
It's all part of the effort to contain COVID.
Photo: Omid Armin/Unsplash CC

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.

Coronavirus pushes back Apple’s plans for employees to return to the office

By

apple park
Apple Park won't be getting back to normal just yet.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

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.

Pegasus spyware won’t affect ‘overwhelming majority’ of iPhone users, Apple says

By

Fraudster steals $16k from victim posing as Apple tech support
Those misusing the Pegasus iPhone hacking tool allegedly work for governments around the world.
Photo: Donald Tong/Pexels CC

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.”

Get all the cybersecurity training you can imagine with a platinum membership to Infosec4TC

By

Get hundreds of hours of cybersecurity training, practice exams with this platinum membership
Infosec4TC will boost your career possibilities with lifetime access to cybersecurity training.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

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.

Keep hydrogen peroxide away from your Apple devices

By

Do not clean or disinfect your iPhone with hydrogen peroxide
Don’t combine your iPhone and hydrogen peroxide.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

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.

FCC leak suggests Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones coming soon

By

The Bose QuietComfort 45s look like 35s on the outside, but audio and Bluetooth improvements are expected on the inside.
The Bose QuietComfort 45s look like 35s on the outside, but audio and Bluetooth improvements are expected on the inside.
Photo: FCC/Bose

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.