Mobile menu toggle

iPhone 13 could be thicker to fit larger batteries

By

This is a CAD drawing supposedly showing the iPhone 13 notch
The 120Hz screen in the iPhone 13 might require a heftier battery.,
Screenshot: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

An improved display in the iPhone 13 series reportedly will force Apple to put in a larger battery, making the upcoming handsets slightly thicker.

This could mean we finally get an iPhone screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The faster rate makes the user interface of a phone or tablet just a bit smoother and more responsive.

Mysterious ‘homeOS’ platform leaks in Apple job listing [Updated]

By

HomePod mini lives up to its name
Apple could ramp up its focus on smart home devices.
Photo: Apple

There’s macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and tvOS. How about homeOS, signaling a ramping up of Apple’s smart home ambitions?

That is one take-home from a new Apple Music job posting spotted online. It references a hitherto-unannounced mobile operating system called “homeOS.” While Apple rolled out its HomeKit smart home platform in 2014, it has — to date — been a part of iOS/iPadOS, rather than its own fully fledged operating system. That could change soon.

Make upgrading to an M1 iMac more affordable by ditching your old Mac

By

How to preorder a 2021 iMac
There's no need to break the bank for a new iMac.
Photo: Apple

Want a fancy new M1 iMac? Now’s a great time to bag one with some retailers already offering up to $86 off the normal selling price. And Cult of Mac can help make yours even more affordable.

Sell your old machine to us today and we’ll send you a sweet wad of cash to put toward your upgrade. We pay great prices and we make the whole trade-in process quick and simple.

Apple Car loses ‘multiple top managers’ this year

By

Apple Car: Hyundai Ioniq Electric x Apple Mouse
Unlikely to roll off the lot until later this decade.
Concept: LeaseFetcher

The bumpy, pothole-filled road to Apple Car continues, with Bloomberg claiming Wednesday that Apple has “lost multiple top managers of its self-driving car team” in recent months.

The company reportedly has hundreds of engineers working on self-driving software, along with multiple groups of employees working on a physical vehicle. However, multiple managers on the project have thrown in the towel this year alone. That’s never a great look.

Snag this Apple Watch alternative for just $32.99

By

smartwatch
It even looks like an Apple Watch ...
Photo: ChronoWatch

Slapping a smartwatch on your wrist has long been a luxury with a major payoff. It’s convenient to manage your day from your watch. Using an Apple Watch can allow you to step away from your iPhone or Mac while remaining in touch via notifications and other smart features.

However, smartwatches can also be quite expensive. The most-affordable Apple Watch costs $199, and higher-end models go for hundreds of dollars more. But for a limited time, you can score an Apple Watch alternative called the ChronoWatch for just $32.97. It’s an affordable wearable that offers many of the benefits of top smartwatches. (Typically listed at $199, the ChronoWatch will still be a bargain at $39.99 if you miss this exceptional price drop.

Apple won’t buy a Hollywood studio because it’s ‘afraid of shareholder blowback’

By

Your free Apple TV+ trial just got even sweeter.
Apple's not big into buying other properties.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook is “afraid of [the] shareholder blowback” that might come with buying a Hollywood studio, claims one executive, quoted in a new story from the Hollywood Reporter.

The article, published Wednesday, suggests that Apple missed out on buying MGM Studios because it wasn’t bold enough to do so. Amazon recently snapped up MGM, home of the James Bond movies, for a massive $8.45 billion. Apple was supposedly in the bidding at some point, but didn’t wind up going through with it.

Because Tim Cook’s chicken. Or something.

Tim Cook will speak at Europe’s biggest startup and tech event

By

VivaTech
Tim Cook will speak at the conference for the first time.
Photo: VivaTech

Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak at VivaTech, described as Europe’s biggest startup and tech event, later this month. The multiday conference runs from June 16 through June 19. It has yet to be confirmed which day Cook will appear, and we still don’t know whether his talk will be given live or (as is more likely) virtually.

In a tweet, VivaTech’s organizers said: “Newsflash! Apple CEO Tim Cook will speak at #VivaTech for the first time!”

Bag the highly rated Deebot 500 robot vacuum for under $110 today only

By

Deebot-500-robot-vac
Let the Deebot 500 take care of cleaning.
Photo: Ecovacs

Don’t waste your time vacuuming when you can get a robot to it for you. The excellent Ecovacs Deebot 500, which gets glowing reviews on Amazon, is now available for less than $110 today only. Bag yours before they’re gone!

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Judge drops concealed firearms bribery charge against Apple’s head of global security

By

Apple bribe included iPads for concealed weapon carry licenses.
The Santa Clara Sheriff’s Office was accused of wanting iPads as a kickback to grant Apple’s security chief concealed weapons licenses.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A bribery allegation against Apple’s head of global security has been dropped due to lack of evidence. Thomas Moyer, who has worked at Apple since 2006, was accused of donating 200 iPads to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office in exchange for concealed firearms licenses.

Two officials at the sheriff’s office also faced indictments as part of the investigation.

No turning back: Apple stops users downgrading if they’re already running iOS 14.6

By

iOS 14 widgets changed the way I use my iPhone.
There's no turning back if you've already upgraded.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has stopped signing iOS 14.5.1 following the release of iOS 14.6 a couple of weeks ago. That means that, if you’ve already upgraded to the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, there’s no going back again. (Although, to be fair, why would you want to?)

Apple stops signing firmware quickly after introducing newer, more up-to-date versions. “Signing” is the process of confirming that code is legitimate and has not been altered or corrupted. This allows downloaders to know their software updates are coming through official Apple channels.

This massive computer science bundle costs only $20 for a limited time

By

computer science
Enter new worlds of opportunity and amazement with these computer and math courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Coding is easier than ever before, with countless courses on how to learn computer languages popping up nearly every day. Whether you’re a new and aspiring programmer, or just need to brush up in some areas, you won’t want to miss this limited-time deal on a massive computer science certification bundle. The courses in this bundle will help you build your IT and data science skills quickly and easily.

For a limited time, you can snag The 2021 Complete Computer Science Certification Bundle for just $20, a major discount from its total value of $1,800. (After our Memorial Day sale ends, you can still get this collection of courses for $39.99.)

Apple TV+ premieres on Nvidia Shield

By

Apple TV+ now available through Nvidia Shield too
The already lengthy list of devices that can play Apple TV+ now includes Nvidia Shield media players.
Photo: Nvidia

Add Nvidia Shield to the lengthy list of smart TVs and streaming boxes that can play Apple TV+. A version of the free app for the Android-powered media player debuted Tuesday.

Make your documents more interactive with linkable objects in iWork 11.1

By

Apple Pages, Numbers and Keynote make up iWork.
Pages, Numbers and Keynote just scored additional linking and/or Schoolwork capabilities.
Photo: Apple

Newly released versions of the Pages and Numbers productivity apps let users make embedded objects like shapes and images into links. This is true for both the Mac and mobile versions of the iWork apps.

Plus, the iPad and iPhone versions — as well as Keynote — also get additional capabilities for teachers who use the Schoolwork app.

Does being gay make Tim Cook a better CEO?

By

Apple CEO Tim Cook calls being gay
Tim Cook calls being gay "God's greatest gift."
Photo: thierry ehrmann/Flickr CC

Since he came out as gay eight years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook has led the company through the most successful period in its history. Cook once said he wanted to prove you can “be gay and still go on and do some big jobs in life.” He’s certainly done that.

But maybe there’s more to this story than overcoming prejudice. In 2018, Cook told CNN that being gay is “God’s greatest gift to me.” Far from a disadvantage, could being gay actually be an instrumental part of his success?

As a gay man myself, Cook has always been an inspiration for me. So to celebrate Pride Month, here’s why I think being gay made him a better CEO.

Apple is world’s biggest tech giant, but Tim Cook is far from best-paid CEO

By

Tim Cook
"I ranked where on the list?"
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook is one of the highest-profile CEOs in the world, currently in his tenth year running what’s currently the most valuable public company in the United States. But Cook is far from the biggest earner when it comes to executive compensation.

According to a ranking by the Wall Street Journal, Cook ranked 171st among S&P 500 CEOs in 2020s, taking into account both pay and compensation packages. While Cook’s take-home was a more-than-adequate $14,769,259 for the year, that’s still considerably under the $211 million raked in by Chad Richison of Paycom, the no. 1 entry on the list.

Linedock MacBook docking station grows to 16 inches, 10 ports, 2TB

By

Linedock 16 and Linedock 16 are available for order now.
Linedock adds extra ports, battery life and storage to a MacBook.
Photo: Linedock

Two new, larger versions of the Linedock multi-port USB-C docking station make room for additional capabilities. The Linedock 16” and 15” sit under a MacBook where they take up minimal space but add ten ports, up to 2TB of storage and a 99.9Wh battery.

The new versions can be ordered now and ship later this summer.

Keep cool this summer with your own personal AC

By

air conditioner
This portable, personal air conditioner is the perfect companion this summer.
Photo: EvaSmart

Summer is nearly here. Are you ready for the heat? Consider the EvaSmart 2: Smart Personal Air Conditioner, which is not simply a cooling device. This personal all-in-one evaporative air cooler also works as a humidifier and air purifier, providing climate control absolutely anywhere you go.

Currently on sale for just $179 (regularly $269), this popular mobile AC unit will be available for just $161 for a limited time thanks to a price drop.

Apple highlights diversity of winners in this year’s WWDC Swift Student Challenge

By

WWDC students winners
WWDC kicks off next week.
Photo: Apple

Ahead of next week’s WWDC 2021, Apple is highlighting the young developers who have won its Swift Student Challenge. The annual contest exists to reward up-and-coming coders who are on Apple’s radar. They typically win some great Apple swag for their troubles.

This year, for its second virtual Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple handed out prizes to 350 next generation Swift coders from 35 countries and regions. They had to submit an original Swift playground in order to win a spot. Apple seizes upon this year’s competition to show off the diversity of the people who entered.

Snag an unlocked iPhone XR refurb for under $320 today only

By

The iPhone XR will feature Haptic Touch. But just what is that?
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Want a bargain iPhone that packs some of Apple’s best features? Look no further than a refurbished iPhone XR. You get an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, stereo speakers, and more — and all for less than $320. This sale ends today, so claim yours before it’s too late.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

EU plans digital wallet for driver’s licenses and other crucial docs

By

Wallet
A next-gen digital wallet for everything you need.
Photo: Emil Kalibradov/Unsplash CC

The European Union is reportedly working on a mobile digital wallet that could support far more types of identification documents than Apple’s Wallet app. While Wallet can store your credit and debit cards, along with passes and tickets, the EU’s digital wallet will allow EU members to store their driver’s license, access various private and public services, and more.

As first noted by the Financial Times, the app will centralize access to a whole lot of information using a single online ID. Up until now, EU member states have had their own digital IDs. However, these have not all been compatible with one another and adoption has been low. Now the EU is looking at creating one unified solution.

Man fishes dropped iPhone from canal using its MagSafe connector

By

MagSafe charger for iPhone
Handy for charging. Handier for retrieving your dropped iPhone from a canal in Germany.
Photo: Apple

What do you do when you drop your iPhone 12 Pro in a canal and can’t find it? Simple: You take advantage of one of its neat new features to fish it out of the murky depths.

That’s what Twitter user and developer Frederik Riedel recently did — crafting a fishing rod with magnet that allowed him to latch on to the MagSafe charging magnets on the back of the device. Impressively, it worked. As did the iPhone continue to do.

Possible unreleased AirTag accessories appear in eBay listing

By

eBay airtags
It's not 100% clear that they're the genuine article.
Photo: Chargerstore/eBay

A new eBay listing from a seller in China, known for selling genuine Apple prototypes in the past, is selling what appear to be unreleased-but-authentic AirTag accessories. These include pink and surf blue versions of the AirTag Loop, joining the electric orange, sunflower, deep navy, and white color options Apple already sells.

It also sells the California poppy leather loop, another accessory that appeared in promotional images, but has yet to be released by Apple. At time of writing, the surf blue and California poppy options are out of stock. However, the pink is still available. It’s not clear whether the others will be restocked.

Master Adobe Creative Cloud with this all-in-one bundle for just $20 this Memorial Day

By

adobe
This Adobe bundle will boost your creativity.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If there’s one editing toolkit that all digital creators have at hand, it’s Adobe Creative Cloud. Trusted by professional artists, designers and programmers, virtually every industry thrives on one or more aspects of the Adobe’s software suite.

Learning Photoshop is a must for aspiring photographers, but it’s also useful for PR professionals looking to assemble a press kit or brochure on their own. Journalists wield Adobe Premiere in newsrooms, but so do amateur filmmakers looking to complete their first feature-length film.

Basically, anyone working in the digital creative world needs to learn all of Adobe CC. And, for a limited time, you can — with the 2021 Complete All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle. And it’s priced at just $20 for Memorial Day.