Now we know why Apple never brought iMessage to Android, despite the fact that doing so could have made it a ubiquitous messaging app like WhatsApp.
In a court filing for the company’s ongoing legal battle with Fortnite-maker Epic Games, internal emails showcase exactly why Apple execs made the decision they did. And, yes, it’s probably for the reason you guessed!
Season two is nearing its completion. Photo: Apple TV+
It’s a relatively quiet Friday for Apple TV+, with just one single episode of a new show on Apple’s streaming television service. Fortunately, that show is the entertaining space-age alternative history For All Mankind, now approaching the end of its second season.
Episode 8 of 10 is titled “And Here’s to You.” The preview reads: “Gordo returns to space. Molly faces an unsettling new reality. Aleida confronts her first major hurdle at work.” If you’ve not yet tuned in, this may be your chance, with just a couple of weeks to go until the finale.
The Cardlax EarBuds Washer is an honest-to-god real product. You might even want one. Photo: Cardlax Team
Cleaning AirPods is kind of a disgusting job, but Cardlax has a solution. It’s an itty-bitty washing machine to clean the crud off your earbuds in a couple of minutes.
Before you ask, April Fools’ Day was last week. This is a real thing.
Samsung reached out to iPhone users with iTest — a web app that simulates a Galaxy smartphone on an iOS device. The device maker says it’s hoping some people “might find the grass a shade greener.”
The iTest app isn’t a simple static image — it offers samples of some commonly-used Android applications, including phone calls and texts with marketing messages.
The Chipolo One Spot boasts an advantage over every other Bluetooth item tracker. Photo: Chipolo
The upcoming Chipolo One Spot could rise to be a top Bluetooth item tracker. And if that happens, it’ll be with Apple’s help. The product will be one of the very first accessible through Apple’s Find My network, which means iPhone, Mac and iPad users can locate it without having to install any software from Chipolo.
The same is true of AirTags, Apple’s own much-rumored item tracker expected to be released soon.
Initiate a shutdown from within iOS. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Broken one of the physical buttons on your iPhone or iPad? That won’t prevent you from shutting it down completely. This simple trick allows you to turn off your iPhone or iPad from within iOS in just a few steps.
Tom Holland stars in Cherry and will soon make The Crowded Room for Apple TV+ Photo: Apple TV+
The Crowded Room is an upcoming Apple TV+ series exploring true and inspirational stories of those who have learned to successfully live with mental illness. The first season will star Tom Holland.
Epic has been battling with Apple since last summer. Screenshot: Epic Games
Epic Games’ lawsuit against Apple is less about App Store rules and more about reviving “flagging interest in Fortnite,” according to a court document filed Thursday by Cupertino’s lawyers.
In a court filing with the US District Court on Thursday, Apple argues that Epic just wants “to free-ride on Apple’s innovation” by being allowed in the App Store without having to pay Apple a cut of earnings.
A-list venture capitalist Peter Thiel thinks Apple relies on China too much. Photo: Dan Taylor/Wikipedia CC
Venture capitalist, early Facebook investor and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel criticized Apple for being too close to China.
At a virtual event held Tuesday by California nonprofit Richard Nixon Foundation, Thiel said the United States should put a “lot of pressure” on Apple because of its links to the Asian country.
Declutter your desk or nightstand with a multipurpose charger for all your Apple devices. Photo: Trio
There are plenty of things to love about having different devices for different needs. Your iPhone keeps you connected. Your Apple Watch helps you achieve your fitness goals. And your AirPods keep you focused while you work.
The problem with having so many devices is that it means just as many cables or charging pads to keep them fully juiced. If you want to avoid the mess of cable clutter on your desk or nightstand, but still have all your favorite devices conveniently nearby, try this inexpensive Trio 3-in-1 Aluminum Desktop Charging Stand.
What to expect from this year's iPad refreshes. Photo: ispazio
Dummy mockups of the next-gen iPad Pro and iPad mini suggest that they could look very similar to their predecessors. According to the images, the next-gen iPad mini boasts the same design as the iPad mini 5, released in 2019, although it may be slightly thicker.
Meanwhile, the next-gen iPad Pro resembles the last generation model, with a possible slightly less protruding camera bump on the larger 12.9-inch model.
MacBooks may get a bit more elusive later in 2021. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
MacBooks and iPads could face severe delays later this year due to a global chip shortage. While Apple has done its best to insulate itself, the company is “not immune” from the “unprecedented supply crunch,” Nikkei Asia reports.
The lack of key computer components initially stemmed from factories shuttered at the start of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, boosted demand resulting from “changing habits fueled by the pandemic” appear to have compounded the problem.
It’s a car. It’s a mouse. It’s a mashup of a car and a mouse. But it’s probably not the Apple Car. Concept: LeaseFetcher
It’s an open secret that an Apple Car is on the drawing board, but no one has a clue what it’ll look like. A new collection of concept designs doesn’t make serious suggestions but takes the idea for a fun spin. The designs combine popular car models with Apple products
Aukey Aircore 15W uses Apple’s MagSafe system to clip to an iPhone 12 series model and power it up. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Say goodbye to plugging in Lightning cables with the Aukey Aircore 15W. Touch this wireless charger to the back of an iPhone 12 and it’ll cling there, juicing up the battery.
I tested this low-cost accessory in real-world conditions. Here how it handled.
HomePaper lets you quickly give the boring Home app a fresh coat of paint. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
New app HomePaper for HomeKit lets you quickly customize the look of Apple’s notoriously bland-looking Home app — with zero hassles.
With the app, you simply select a photo from your iPhone or iPad camera or take a new one. Then you can quickly adjust the color(s) and make your own customized wallpaper for the Home app. There’s no fussing around with a complicated image editor or painstaking resizing required.
Here’s how to use HomePaper, which runs on iPhone and iPad, to give your Home app the remodel it deserves.
This educational bundle will definitely expand your IT and data science skill set. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Looking to forge a new career in the information technology field? You can take a step in the right direction by working on your data science and web development skills with this bundle of computer science training classes on sale for a great price.
In The 2021 Complete Computer Science Training Bundle, you’ll get nine different courses and more than 200 hours of instruction as you work with Python, Linux and more. You’ll get close to 1,500 individual lessons. And with lifetime access, you can take them or review them at your convenience.
The recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series drops in value as much as $281 a month. Photo: Samsung
Those planning to resell their handset someday might want to steer clear of Samsung latest flagship models. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly lost between 44.8% and 57.1% of its original value since in debut in January 2021.
Of course, every smartphone depreciates over time. But iPhones hold their value better than their rivals.
The Find My application can finally be used to locate items not made by Apple. There’s a crop of them coming soon. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The Find My application built into iOS and macOS finally opened up to device trackers made by other companies, not just Apple. Wednesday’s move allows iPhones, Macs and iPads to locate lost items produced by third-party accessory makers without needing to install additional software.
The first supported non-Apple products come from Belkin, Chipolo and VanMoof.
Jon Stewart has interviewed a lot of people over the years, including former president Obama. Photo: The White House
Jon Stewart is coming back on TV this fall. After 6 years off the air, the acclaimed comedian will star in The Problem with Jon Stewart exclusively on Apple TV+.
This is his first show since The Daily Show with Jon Stewart came to a close in 2015 after winning twenty Emmy Awards.
Do you really need both a MacBook and an iPad? Of course you do. Don't ask silly questions. Photo: BasicAppleGuy@Reddit
The setup showcased in a recent Reddit post consists of just a MacBook Air, an iPad, an iPhone and some peripherals and accessories, but it brings up a puzzling conundrum: Should you use both a MacBook and an iPad, even though their functionality overlaps to a great extent?
According to most of the comments, the answer is yes — even if it makes you feel like a sucker.
Many teens weren't even born when the first iPhone debuted. Photo: Apple
A massive 88% of U.S. teenagers own an iPhone, and 90% expect their next phone to be an iPhone, a new Piper Sandler survey of more than 7,000 teens suggests.
It’s an impressive showcase of just how popular Apple is among young people — especially so considering that this is a relatively fickle demographic that frequently shies away from things their parents are into. The oldest teen today was only 5 when the first-gen iPhone debuted in 2007. The youngest weren’t even born yet.
It details the “$227 billion-a-year industry” made up of websites, apps, social media companies, data brokers, and more who harvest user personal data for profit — and what Apple is doing about it.
This discount won't last long — don't miss out! Photo: Apple
The biggest ever discount on the outstanding 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is back. Order yours from Amazon or Best Buy today for just $249 — down from $349 — before the price returns to normal.
You can also save $100 on the 11-inch model for iPad Pro and the newest iPad Air, which is now just $199.
This is one way to unlock your brain's true potential. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Can’t remember where you last left your phone or car keys? Short-term memory loss is incredibly common (and actually not so harmful). But in order to preserve your precious memory, you should start sharpening the skills you need to improve your recall.
Strengthening your memory is like any other skill. The more you work at it, the better it gets. With The Become a Super-Learner & Speed Reading Bundle, you can learn the best speed-reading techniques and triple your learning rate, helping you improve your memory and more.