Mobile menu toggle

Convert your iPhone into an easier-to-use camera with a Pictar Smart Grip

By

smart grip
Don't let fumbling around with on-screen controls ruin your next snapshot.
Photo: Pictar

The latest iPhone models have cameras that far exceed most users’ photography skills. Even some professional photographers build portfolios exclusively using their trusty smartphones. Ever wonder how you can replicate their results and take your iPhone photography to the next level?

You’re not alone: That’s exactly why the team at Pictar developed the Pictar Smart Grip, a powerful smartphone camera grip that gives users control like never before. Available for a limited time at just $73.99, the Pictar Smart Grip is a convenient camera tool that will have you smiling in photos all summer long.

Premium Podcasts+ service could debut at Tuesday’s Apple event

By

Apple Podcasts could get a premium tier.
Would you shell out for Podcasts+?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could debut a premium podcast service at Tuesday’s “Spring Loaded” event, according to Recode reporter Peter Kafka.

“Pretty sure Apple is prepping its own podcast plan – a paid subscription service – on Tuesday,” Kafka tweeted Sunday.

No additional details are known about the possible podcast initiative, which presumably would join paid subscription services Apple News+, Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple Fitness+. The possibility of a paid podcasting service from Apple was rumored earlier this year.

Siri’s ignominious honor: Most accurate Apple leaker

By

Apple’s AI-driven voice-controlled digital assistant Siri
Siri beats Prosser, Gurman, etc. to become the most accurate source of Apple leaks.
Image: Apple

Last week, Siri leaked the date and time of the upcoming Apple event. And this wasn’t the first time Apple’s own virtual assistant told the world about an upcoming event before the official announcement.

So step back Jon Prosser. Stand aside Mark Gurman. Siri is now the most accurate Apple leaker.

Make your own movie night with this mini-projector, now on sale for $100

By

Projector
This miniature projector is perfect for movie nights.
Photo: Minolta

When you think of projectors, you probably have a pretty old-school understanding of what they’re capable of. That makes perfect sense, considering you probably watched a bunch of blurry presentations on your teacher’s old, rattling behemoth of a machine.

But these days, projectors include some of the technology that makes all devices so appealing. In fact, they can be used to stream your favorite movies and TV shows. They’re a far cry from the relics you’re used to. Not only does this Minolta MN673 Mini LCD Projector look completely modern and sleek, but it also projects video and other media in crisp 1080p.

Our predictions for Apple’s big ‘Spring Loaded’ event [Cult of Mac Magazine 379]

By

Apple Spring Loaded event predictions: Let's bust out the crystal ball.
Let's bust out the crystal ball.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

As you might expect, we can’t wait to see what new gear Apple unleashes next Tuesday.

If you don’t mind spoiling the surprises, take a look at our predictions about what will bounce out of Cupertino’s magic pipeline during the “Spring Loaded” event.

However, if you’d rather skip the spoilers and spend your weekend watching astonishing animals, check out our reviews of the totally binge-worthy new season of Tiny World and the other new nature shows that just arrived on Apple TV+ for your Earth Day enjoyment.

Get up to speed with our iOS publication, Cult of Mac Magazine. Download the app for free to read on your iOS device, or get the links below.

Google Stadia makes iPad gaming competitive with top consoles [Review]

By

Google Stadia on iPad review
With Google Stadia, your iPad can run console-quality games.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Google Stadia could be the answer for anyone who wants to play console-quality games on an iPad. There are many big-name titles to choose from, and players can use off-the-shelf game controllers. This is cloud gaming — everything is played online so the service doesn’t take up space on your iPad.

I spent quite a bit of time playing Stadia games on an Apple tablet. Here’s why I recommend it.

Last chance! Enter to win a $200 MacBook Folio from Woolnut [Cult of Mac giveaway]

By

Woolnut MacBook Folio giveaway: A European delight: Scandinavian leather outside, German felted wool inside.
A European delight: Scandinavian leather outside, German felted wool inside.
Photo: Woolnut

This week, Cult of Mac is giving away four beautiful, protective MacBook folios from our friends at Woolnut. Retailing at $196, Woolnut’s Folio is constructed from high-quality Scandinavian leather and German natural wool felt. The luxurious case is tailor-made to fit the MacBook like a glove.

If you want to protect your pricey MacBook, be sure to enter this giveaway.

Eliminate annoying ads and stay safe online with this all-in-one privacy filter

By

Privacy
This devices extends private internet access to all your devices.
Photo: Winston

Life can be really complicated — and protecting your internet connection doesn’t seem to be exempt from that. From fiddling around with complex VPN settings to keeping a watchful eye out for scammers, it can be difficult just to focus on your own productivity or watch some of your favorite videos in your downtime.

If you’re looking for a simple but highly effective solution to protect your internet connection and drown out the noise of advertising, look no further than the Winston Privacy Filter.

Why we might see first M1 iMacs at Apple’s April 20 event

By

Apple plans the 2021 iMac redesign we’ve been dreaming of
The 2021 iMac could dump the huge screen bezels of the current version. And move to Apple Silicon.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Trusted tipster Mark Gurman says the 2021 iMac all-in-one desktop might be the next to get the M1 processor. The announcement could be only a few days away.

And that’s only the beginning. There’s plenty more evidence that an upgraded iMac will launch at Apple’s April 20 event.

Apple Music pays musicians far more per stream than Spotify

By

Apple Music pays musicians far more to stream each song than Spotify does
Apple Music is more fair to musicians than Spotify is.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s music service pays musicians double what archrival Spotify does to stream each song to subscribers.

This amount doesn’t directly affect users of either service, but it might make some people consider using the service that sends artists more money.

Tiny World is the nature doc you should be binging [Apple TV+ review]

By

Tiny World is back and as cute as ever
The astonishing docuseries about Earth's tiniest inhabitants is back and as cute as ever.
Photo: Apple TV+

Two of Apple TV’s big nature shows just returned back for their second seasons mere months after they debuted. Tiny World is the cuter of the two. Its micro look at a macro world remains charming, cute and sometimes despairing and gross, but never so much you couldn’t show it to kids.

Earth at Night in Color’s stunning imagery will render you speechless [Apple TV+ review]

By

Earth at Night in Color
Season 2 of Apple's nighttime nature doc delivers amazing new delights.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ docuseries Earth at Night in Color delivers a fresh batch of majestic nighttime sights, cruel natural phenomena and fascinating perspectives in its second season, which premieres today. The show didn’t quite reinvent the nature documentary wheel, but it still offers a welcome retreat from the horrors of 2021.

Elago MagSafe-compatible charging tray beautifully organizes your desk [Review]

By

Elago Charging Tray for MagSafe review
Combine the Elago Charging Tray with an Apple MagSafe puck for an organized desk or nightstand.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Slip an Apple MagSafe puck into the Elago Charging Tray to create an iPhone 12 charger with a built-in tray. The combination quickly powers up your handset while also helping to organize your desk or nightstand.

The accessory has been beside my bed for several weeks. Here’s why I like it.

Two ‘trash can’ Macs form core of nerdy workstation built to last [Setups]

By

Those two
Those two "trash cans" at upper left prove core to this setup.
Photo: XTJ7@Reddit

Redditor XTJ7, a programmer and photographer based in Germany, knows how to make a setup last and do just what he needs it to do. As his recent post declared, his setup’s core is two “trash can” Mac Pro towers from 2013 plus a racy gaming PC.

Yeah, you heard right: That’s two computers running from 2013 to now. Eight years might as well be a few decades as far as computer performance goes. But he has his reasons to wait on the upgrade.

The Year Earth Changed reveals pandemic’s surprise silver lining [Apple TV+ review]

By

David Attenborough and Penguins will teach us about The Year Earth Changed
David Attenborough and penguins teach us about the unexpected positive side effects of the pandemic.
Photo: Apple TV+

A nature special and a cautionary tale, The Year Earth Changed delivers a whole mess of qualified good news that you’re going to wish didn’t come with so many strings attached to it. An engaging, largely drone-shot 45 minutes of TV, the new Apple TV+ documentary about the environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic won’t change your life. But it will make you feel slightly better about having just spent the last year indoors.

Apple saves 861,000 tons of precious metals by ditching iPhone chargers

By

iPhone 12 box
Miss power chargers from your iPhone box? The environment doesn't.
Photo: Marco Verch/Flickr CC

Apple has saved 861,000 metric tons of copper, tin, and zinc ore by removing power adapters from iPhones, starting last year. That’s one of the tidbits from Apple’s factoid-studded Environmental Progress Report, released Friday.

It showcases how Apple is working toward its efforts of achieving net carbon neutrality across its whole supply chain by 2030. As Apple notes, that includes “How [an Apple product is] designed, how it’s made, how it’s shipped, how it’s used, [and] how it’s recycled.”

Protect your browsing with an exclusive deal on this private VPN

By

VPN
Say goodbye to censorship with Private Internet Access VPN.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The benefits of VPNs never seem to end. Not only do they protect your online connection and secure your information on public Wi-Fi, but they also allow you to access restricted sites based on geographic location. Want better deals on flights abroad, or simply want to watch Netflix content in a different country? VPNs protect your connection so you can access what you want, when you want, anywhere in the world.

That’s what makes this exclusive deal on a two-year subscription to Private Internet Access VPN so appealing. For just $69.99, you can access all the benefits of a top-rated VPN at an unbelievable 72% discount.

Users can now spend credits to buy books inside the Audible app

By

Audible
Buying books through Audible just got easier.
Photo: Audible

Both Apple and Amazon pride themselves in technology that “just works.” One thing that hasn’t previously “just worked,” however, was the cumbersome way purchases had to take place on the Amazon-owned Audible audiobook service.

While people who listen to their audiobooks on iPhone have to use the iOS app, and this app allowed them to search the catalog for other titles, there was no way to actually buy a new book via the app. Instead, users had to go to Audible.com to buy the books they wanted, before switching back to the app to listen to them.

PSA: Apple TV+ offers up new For All Mankind episode, Earth Day documentaries galore

By

The Year Earth Changed 1
How did lockdown change the world for wildlife? David Attenborough will answer all.
Photo: Apple

It’s a busy day for Apple TV+ — with plenty of new material to watch on the Apple streaming video service. In addition to a new episode of For All Mankind, there is a plethora of new nature documentaries, narrated by some big names, and more.

Here’s what Friday, April 16 has in store for subscribers.

Game restriction-free with this PlayStation Plus and VPN bundle

By

VPN
Get two great things that work even better together.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Every avid console gamer has been eyeing restocks of the PlayStation 5 for months now. Whether you finally managed to get your hands on one or are still patiently waiting and enjoying your PlayStation 4, you can’t really get the full PlayStation experience without a PlayStation Plus subscription.

This VPN Unlimited Lifetime + PlayStation Plus One-Year Subscription Bundle not only gives you access to new games and a huge online community of players. You’ll also get some reassurance that you’re gaming safely with a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited.