Spatial audio is coming to Apple TV this fall in tvOS 15. It got a brief mention during Apple’s WWDC 2021 keynote on Monday, and now the company has shared more details on how exactly it will work.
iPhone’s Wallet app keeps itself tidy by automatically archiving expired event tickets and boarding passes in iOS 15.
They won’t be removed from the app altogether, so you’ll still be able to access them. But expired items will be bundled into a separate list so that you don’t have to trawl through them to find a pass you need.
Keeping your data alive long after you. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Apple is finally introducing a Digital Legacy feature that will allow a friend or family member to access your data after you die.
Users will be able to assign an administrator who gets access to things like photos, contacts and other things uploaded to iCloud. However, some data, such as saved credit cards and passwords, will be off limits.
It's on its way. But you'll have to wait for a bit longer. Concept: Antonio De Rosa
Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pros were erroneously expected by some to show up at this year’s WWDC. But according to a report from Digitimes, the next-gen Apple notebooks will not launch until the third quarter of 2021. This could be due to a lower-than-expected production yield for the mini LED screens for the computer.
The new 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to be the biggest MacBook Pro redesign in quite a while. They are likely to sport a redesigned chassis, offer a returning built-in SD card reader and HDMI port and a restored MagSafe charger. They will also boast the next generation of Apple Silicon processor, and will supposedly ditch the controversial Touch Bar as well. The question is when exactly fans will be able to get their hands on them!
macOS Monterey gives newer Apple computers the ability to send content to a second Mac over AirPlay. You can also use the feature for screen mirroring, turning a spare machine into an external display.
What’s more, unlike on your TV, AirPlay in Monterey lets you connect two macOS devices with a USB cable, greatly reducing latency and removing the requirement for a wireless network.
When moving big files around on an iPad, the iPadOS 15 Files application finally gives you a progress bar. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Improvements in the Files application coming in iPadOS 15 make it a bit easier for iPad users to transfer large files, and select groups of files with a trackpad or mouse. In addition, partial NTFS support is included.
This software and educational bundle offers everything you need to become a better writer. Photo: ProWritingAid
“Trust the process.” That popular mantra encourages us to keep grinding through hard times because good will eventually come of putting in the effort. Whether you’re studying a new language or learning to play the piano, your practice will eventually pay off.
There's nothing like an alien invasion to bring out our humanity. Image: Apple TV+
How will humans hold up during an alien invasion? Upcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series Invasion will focus on the worldwide impact of such an event, and the first trailer looks pretty epic.
The Invasion trailer, released Wednesday, offers a taste of the international story the 10-episode series will tell. Explosions, nosebleeds, a massive crop circle (or impact crater), soldiers firing into the sky, a brief glimpse of some kind of massive alien something … it’s all fairly standard-issue sci-fi stuff, but the voiceover talks about humanity.
Live Text is OCRiffic! Grab the text off anything then paste it into a note, email, etc. Screenshot: Apple
Live Text is perhaps the coolest feature in iOS 15, macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15. It pulls the words out of images and lets you paste them into notes, emails, etc.
I’ve tested this on both iPhone and iPad. Here’s why I find it so amazing.
President Biden signed an executive order Thursday that reverses Trump’s attempts to force TikTok’s developer ByteDance to sell the wildly popular app to American companies. But Biden doesn’t take the pressure off it and other Chinese-made apps. He’s just no longer singling out TikTok.
Remember this? It’s back! Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The iPhone text magnifier makes a comeback in iOS 15. It disappeared two years ago, but returns in the next version of iOS and iPadOS. The magnifier makes it easier to place the cursor exactly where the user wants, without it being hidden behind their fingertip.
Many of macOS Monterey’s most exciting new features will not be available on Mac models powered by Intel processors. Live Text, Portrait mode for FaceTime video calls and more all require Apple’s own M1 chip.
Siri is taking over our lives. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Smart home technology isn’t a massive focus of Apple’s. But the European Commission is nonetheless concerned that Apple could be one of the companies potentially able to engage in anticompetitive behavior in this area due to its outsized influence on the tech industry.
In preliminary investigation results published Wednesday, the EC raises concerns about the potential of “gatekeepers emerging” in this sector. The inquiry into Internet of Things (IoT) devices was launched in July 2020. It’s based on feedback from more than 200 different companies. Along with Apple, Amazon and Google are both mentioned as big players.
It’s soft, protective, and can be easily attached to your iPad’s case (or something else) so that you never lose it. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store for under $15.
Bolstering chip manufacturing in the United States. Photo: Intel
The U.S. Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could see the United States invest $52 billion in growing its own chip manufacturing technologies. The $52 billion is part of a broader bipartisan bill. In total, it aims to invest close to $250 billion in U.S. manufacturing and technology.
The bill passed Tuesday with a 68-32 vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as likely to “go down as one of the most important things this chamber has done in a very long time.”
It is an attempt to wrestle back control of some of the world’s tech manufacturing from China.
Enter to win a dream setup that will thrill any Apple fan. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Want another bite out of Apple? Of course you do. While Apple alternatives come in at better price points, there’s a reason why the brand has so many steadfast loyalists. There’s simply nothing quite like Apple products.
That’s why this Apple bundle giveaway is as awesome as it claims to be. For a limited time, you can purchase entries to win an iMac, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, AirPods Pro and a bevy of Apple subscriptions, all while donating to a benevolent charity. With products valued at a grand total of $5,743, this is a bundle giveaway that you definitely don’t want to miss.
You'll need an A12 Bionic chip (or better). Photo: Apple
Apple’s brilliant new Live Text feature for iOS and iPadOS 15 only works on some iPhone and iPad models. If your isn’t powered by an A12 Bionic processor (introduced in 2018) or better, you’re out of luck.
Tencent’s Honor of Kings raked in royalty levels of cash in the App Store, app analytics platform Sensor Tower reports. The report doesn’t break down exact iOS earnings, but across both the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play store, the popular gaming title pulled in $264.5 million in player spending — in the month of May alone.
That’s a whole lot of cash, not least for a multiplayer online battle game that’s been around on mobile since 2015. It’s a testament to its longevity, and the fact that App Store success doesn’t rely on the United States these days.
A quicker, easier way to wipe your Mac. Photo: Apple
Apple’s upcoming macOS Monterey update will make it easier for users to wipe all data from a Mac. A new “erase all contents and settings” option allows a system to be wiped without removing macOS.
Apple says the process — similar to that available on iPhone and iPad — is instant and secure, destroying all encryption keys.
You can now transfer even more data. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Android users will enjoy a more seamless experience when switching to iPhone this fall with the improved “Move to iOS” feature in iOS 15.
After several years of no significant changes, the switching tool is finally getting the ability to copy over photo albums, files, folders, and even more from Android devices.
No need to struggle with the Siri Remote. Image: Apple
Signing into Apple TV apps will soon be easier than ever, thanks to the ability to use Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad with tvOS 15.
The new “Sign in with Apple Device” feature will negate the need to enter usernames and passwords with Apple TV’s Siri Remote, significantly speeding up the sign in process. But there is a small catch.
Will World Timer come with watchOS 8 this fall? Image: Apple
A new “World Timer” face for Apple Watch has been spilled ahead of its release in a WWDC 2021 developer session.
The face didn’t get a mention during Apple’s watchOS 8 announcement on Monday, and isn’t yet available inside the first developer beta. Fans will be hoping it does appear before watchOS 8 makes its public debut.
Thanks to Substack and its rivals, 2021 has been huge for subscription newsletters. But Casey Newton of Platformer notes that the newsletter boom times could be threatened by Apple’s newly announced Mail Privacy Protection feature for iOS 15. And he’s not alone.
Private Relay protects your online privacy. It’s the best part of Apple’s new iCloud+. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Private Relay is the latest way Apple devices can protect your privacy. The service, a part of iCloud+, makes it much harder for the websites you visit to track you.
Unlike many of Apple’s privacy services, it’s not free. But the new iCloud+ service costs very little and comes bundled with iCloud storage at no additional cost. And it comes with some other privacy benefits, too.