Future AirPods might capture vital health data. Photo: Apple
Smart sensors in future AirPods possess “all kinds of potential” for health tracking, according to Apple VP of Technology Kevin Lynch.
While he surely knows the company’s goals in this area, Lynch doesn’t spill the beans in a new interview with TechCrunch. However, the Apple exec hints (or, rather, doesn’t exactly deny) that the health-tracking technology already found in iPhones and Apple Watch could arrive in next-gen AirPods.
Iovine and Dre meets with Tim Cook and Eddy Cue. Photo: Apple
Beats co-founders Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Jimmy Iovine, both of whom previously held high profile roles at Apple, are working to transform a public high school to welcome pupils who feel “disconnected from, [or] unmotivated by, the typical school experience.”
The public high school will supposedly mirror the format of the USC’s Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, which they donated $70 million to start in 2013. The USC academy has since expanded due to its popularity. Some graduates have even gone on to work at Apple.
This AirTag keychain holder is sleek, protective and portable. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
You’ve got your AirTags. Now you just need a way to attach them to the gear you never want to lose again. This affordable AirTag keychain holder lets you connect one of Apple’s tracking tags to your keys, backpack, purse or whatever else you need to keep tabs on.
Poor Marisa Robertson was unable to make purchases. Possibly. Photo: Apple
Apple has successfully fixed a problem that was stopping some Apple Card users from using Apple Pay with the Apple-branded credit cards in stores. On its System Status page, Apple noted that “Some users were affected,” although it does not provide details of the problem — or the fix that the company employed.
The issue was marked as revolved at 6.41 am ET/3.41 am PT on Wednesday, June 16. This was two days after Apple first noted it had a problem. No other problems were highlighted on the Systems Status page, which showed green lights across the board.
Apple reportedly considered launching its own subscription-based primary care medical clinics with Apple-employed doctors, says the Wall Street Journal. The plan — part of Apple’s push into health and wellness — was supposedly conceived in 2016. However, it’s not clear whether it is still on the cards today.
Coming soon to one of the world's biggest market. Photo: Apple
Apple has confirmed that its Apple Music Lossless and Spatial Audio features will be coming to India. The features debuted elsewhere for users in May at no added cost.
Apple’s Support Twitter page notes that “We appreciate your interest. Dolby Atmos on Apple Music will be coming to India soon. Keep an eye out here.” Meanwhile, the Apple Music page for India also makes mention of the feature. No official launch date has yet been announced.
The Adonit Prime looks like a top-tier writing instrument. But it’s a high-quality stylus for either iPhone or iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Adonit Prime is a stylus for iPhone or iPad that combines a premium form with top-quality function. It’s for anyone not satisfied with everyday styli — anybody who wants one that stands out from the crowd.
I tried both the Prime – Dash (the version for iPhone) and the Prime – Note (for iPad). Here’s why they would be at home on any executive’s desk.
With Father’s Day coming up, the Adonit Prime might be just right for the dad who has everything.
This backup stick protects and stores your photos and videos from virtually all devices. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We all go through a similar thought process when our phones, laptops or iPads break, get lost or are stolen. Somewhere between trying to remedy the situation and coming to terms with the loss comes the sharp realization that all your content is gone. Saying goodbye to your photos is never fun, but you can prevent this nightmare from happening by taking precautions now.
What’s better than using cloud storage? Keeping your photo and video content in the palm of your hand. While the cloud can be convenient, the Photo Backup Stick automatically backs up pictures and videos — without having to rely on an internet connection. It can eliminate the need to pay for monthly cloud-storage fees.
Angry Birds Reloaded is one of the classic games that’ll soon be available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases. Photo: Rovio
Three classic games are are getting updated and becoming part of the Apple Arcade subscription service. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.
You'll need a spare Apple Watch and an iPhone running iOS 15. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
watchOS 8 isn’t the most significant update Apple Watch has seen over the years, but it’s certainly no snoozefest. Improvements to a number of key apps and a new face will be welcomed by Watch wearers this fall.
And you don’t have to wait until this fall to get yours hands on it. If you have a spare Apple Watch and an Apple Developer account, you can download and install watchOS 8 today. We’ll show you how.
Expand the life and capability of your Mac setup with OWC Thunderbolt products. Photo: Other World Computing
This post is presented by Other World Computing, owner of MacSales.com.
For 30 years, Other World Computing and its website, MacSales.com, have offered Mac users great ways to upgrade and extend the life of their equipment rather than buying a new computer.
That goes for practically any product an Apple customer could want or need. But when it comes to Thunderbolt connectivity equipment — external drives, docks, hubs, cables — OWC really goes the distance.
The Tillermans are back to sing and dance their way through Central Park Season 2, coming next week. Photo: Apple TV+
The trailer for the second season of Central Park debuted Tuesday to get fans ready for the imminent return of the musical comedy to Apple TV+. The first season of the animated series scored an Emmy nomination and praise from critics.
Check out the trailer for a taste of what to expect in season two.
You'll need a compatible Mac and around 12GB of free storage space. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Ready to start testing macOS Monterey? You can already get your hands on the developer beta — so long as you have a compatible Mac. We’ll show you how to download and install it today.
There are so many big changes in Apple’s upcoming iPhone, Mac and iPad operating system updates that it might be easy to miss some smaller ones. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple made an enormous number of changes in its 2021 operating system updates. Many of these drew plenty of attention — like the FaceTime upgrade — but some useful improvements might have been overlooked in all the hoopla.
Here are nine new features in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey you might have overlooked.
How tablet shipments break down. Photo: Counterpoint Research
The global pandemic was bad for many industries. One sector it was good for was the worldwide tablet market, led by Apple’s iPad. According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, Apple sold a third more iPads in 2020 than it did in 2019. In the first quarter of 2021, it expanded its share to a massive 37% of the global tablet market — including hitting an all-times sales record in Japan.
“The basic iPad models accounted for 56% of the overall iPad shipments in Q1 2021,” said Senior Analyst Liz Lee said. “The iPad Air and iPad Pro series came next with 19% and 18% shares, respectively. Since consumers are constantly concerned about prices and portability, the latest iPad 8 emerged as the top-selling model. Launched in October 2020, the iPad Air 4 ranked second on the bestseller list as it was a huge hit with consumers looking for cost-effectiveness as well as high specifications.”
This fitness-oriented smartwatch packs 15-high tech functions. Photo: Ineedmeone
These days, a high-end timepiece is more a fashion statement than anything else. The fact that a traditional watch only tells time doesn’t seem as impressive when stacked up against smartwatches, which can monitor health, set reminders and connect you to the world with calls and messages.
There are plenty of Apple Watch alternatives that look like but cost less than Cupertino’s killer wearable. If you want an affordable device dedicated to health monitoring, look no further than this 1.3-inch color screen smartwatch from Ineedmeone. For a limited time, this functional, fashionable take on the smartwatch costs only $36.95.
Privacy is baked into everything Apple does. Photo: Privacy
In a new video aimed at the European market, Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about how “privacy is a fundamental human right” that his company works hard to embed into every new product it makes. The six-minute video comprises various clips from Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers Conference related to the topic of privacy. Cook also recorded new bookends in which he shares some of his own thoughts.
Creators can now charge subscription fees. Photo: Apple
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions went live Tuesday, allowing podcasters around the world to charge monthly subscriptions for their shows. When announced at Apple’s Spring Loaded event in April, the company billed the feature as a “global marketplace for listeners to discover premium subscriptions offered by their favorite creators.”
The premium podcasts show up in Apple’s Podcast app, complete with the ability to subscribe, in more than 170 countries and regions, Apple said. And the new option gives podcasters a fresh way to cash in on the craze Apple helped start.
If you want to get the 12-month trial, you'd better move now! Photo: Apple
Apple quietly reduced the one-year Apple TV+ free trial for customers who buy new Apple devices to three months.
The company made the change in a note on its Apple TV+ website. While customers who buy and activate an eligible device (that’s an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac) before July 1 will get the one-year trial, those who do so from July 1 onward will qualify only for three months.
Your donation to a great cause gives you a chance to win $5,000 worth of gaming goodness. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Still waiting for a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X? You’re not alone. Console restocks are still making headlines, with Best Buy reportedly selling out of new PS5 stock in just 11 minutes.
If you’re one of the millions worldwide waiting for the latest gaming console, there may be a way to skip the line and land the gaming setup of your dreams. For a limited time, you can enter the Big Summer of Gaming Giveaway and win more than $5,000 in the best gaming gear on the market.
Get sweet, retro stands from just $11.04. Photo: Elago
Save on some of the best accessories money can buy for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac in the Cult of Mac Store’s big Father’s Day sale. Enjoy up to 72% of cases, bands, charging stands, and more from the likes of Elago, Elkson, Monowear, and SwitchEasy.
These are limited-time offers, so enjoy them while you can!
Apple provided a security update for an iPhone introduced in 2013! Photo: Cult ofMac
Apple released iOS 12.5.4 and iPadOS 12.5.4 on Monday. These contain security patches for iPhones or iPads old enough that they can’t upgrade to 2019’s iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 but are still in use.
Matt Gemmel pares down the setup to distill writing magic. Photo: Matt Gemmell
The classic writer’s garret, a small room where a tortured scribe toils over lonely hours to put words on the page — using a quill or a fountain pen or maybe a Smith Corona typewriter — has been tastefully updated.
Now it’s all about a 12.9-inch iPad Pro locked hard into the Ulysses text editor to prevent any distractions. There’s also a highly customized mechanical keyboard and really nice noise-canceling headphones. At least that’s how Scottish novelist Matt Gemmell limits his gear in a minimalistic setup, he told Cult of Mac.
It helps him focus on writing. That, and sitting his ass down in the chair for hours a day. The chair is a Herman Miller Aeron, by the way. The spartan surroundings need not lack comfort, after all. It’s about limiting distractions.
If you’re heading to the store with an Apple Card on Monday, you’d better bring a second form of payment. An ongoing technical glitch means that it might not be possible to make in-store purchases with the credit card.
Beats Studio Buds offer noise cancellation, Find My for $150. Photo: Beats
Beats Studio Buds just became a strong competitor for AirPods Pro. Which is odd, as they’re both made by Apple.
Studio Buds are truly wireless headphones that offer active noise cancellation and access to Apple’s Find My network. They come in a variety of colors for $149.99.