Remember the MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)? It’s old enough now that Apple reclassified it as obsolete. Photo: Apple
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina screen released in late 2012 was a groundbreaking model in its day. But now, many years later, it’s been classified by Apple as obsolete.
This means that getting repairs or even spare parts for this device just got much more difficult. But it has been out of production for more than 7 years.
This 11-course bundle covers shooting portraits, post-processing, editing and much more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are plenty of good reasons why you’d want to learn to take and edit beautiful photos. Whether you’re starting a side hustle in photography, want to capture your memories or grow your brand on social with high-quality content, it helps to have composition and editing skills.
After almost a decade of using a female voice by default, Siri users will be given a choice of voices for the virtual assistant when they set up Apple devices. The virtual assistant will also come with two new English-language voices.
These changes debuted in iOS 14.5 beta 6 and the iPads equivalent, which Apple seeded to developers Wednesday.
It's quick and easy and available cross-platform. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp on Mac now has the ability to make and receive voice and video calls. It’s ideal for keeping in touch with friends, family, and colleagues from your desk while you can’t see them face to face.
Here’s how to initiate a voice or video call yourself.
The Apple VR headset might jump from concept to reality sooner than expected. Concept: Antonio De Rosa
Apple supposedly will announce its first virtual reality/augmented reality headset “in the next several months,” according to a very reliable source. It could be as quickly as WWDC 2021. That’s well before other predictions.
While the iPhone-maker hasn’t committed to any such device, its VR headset has been the subject of many leaks. But no one can agree on when it’ll reach customers. Most recent reports have pointed to some point in 2022, though.
This man shed sports multiple screens. Photo: CourseEcstatic6202@Reddit
Sometimes a setup promoted on social media stops you dead in your tracks, and it’s not because you’re excited about the hardware. Sometimes it’s the amazing, hand-built “man shed” where the setup lives that stuns you.
Such is the case with CourseEcstatic6202’s offering on Reddit. The cloud architect — let’s just call him “CE” — works in Amazon Web Services on California’s central coast. He designed and built a beautiful little house for his MacBook Pro-based setup in his back yard.
Bag brilliant iPhone cases from as little as $14.99. Photo: SwitchEasy
Keep your shiny new iPhone 12 protected and in pristine condition with some high-quality cases from SwitchEasy. They’re brilliantly designed and well-built. And when you buy one from the Cult of Mac Store right now, you’ll get another absolutely free.
This deal ends Friday, April 2, so enjoy it while you can!
Samsung is increasing its emphasis on renewable energy. Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple frenemy Samsung has achieved its goal of using 100% reusable energy in its factories in the USA, Europe, and China. It announced the sustainability drive in 2018, and achieved 92% reusable energy by the close of 2019.
Samsung has not yet revealed whether it plans to try and push this same focus on reusables to other parts of the world that it operates — including its home turf of South Korea.
Fitness and wellness apps are essential for a healthy lifestyle. And these won't make your wallet sick. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
As with anything health-related you commit yourself to, consistency is key — as is having different tools to support you in your wellness journey. We’ve rounded up the top nine health and fitness apps we have, delivering different approaches and methodologies so that you’re your healthiest self yet. Plus, for a limited time you can get them for an extra 30% off with discount code DOWNLOADIT.
App makes it easier to post music on Apple Music. Photo: UnitedMasters
Apple is investing millions of dollars in UnitedMasters, a music distribution platform for independent artists. The company makes an app that’s designed to help indie musicians release music to streaming platforms.
UnitedMasters lets users upload their music to platforms like Apple Music within seconds. They can then get paid royalties through PayPal.
Apple TV+ has a lot going for it. But it's probably not raking in a whole lot of cash. Photo: Apple
Apple hasn’t yet provided details of the subscriber numbers for Apple TV+. However, based on analysis it would be highly surprising if Apple’s not losing a whole lot of money on the service.
Poorly written iPhone software treated ‘Asian’ as though it was always porn. It’s being fixed. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
For much too long, the iPhone’s built-in pornographic content blocker prevented searches just because included the word “Asian.” Apple reportedly fixed the issue in the latest beta of iOS 14.5. But the problem is still in place for everyone not running the pre-release software.
Attach Apple’s full-size keyboard to the trackpad for easier use with MagicBridge Extended. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s MagicBridge Extended takes two Apple input devices and makes them into one. It attaches the Magic Trackpad 2 to the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad so they can both be used in your lap.
Pick the language app that works best for you, and save loads of money. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are a million good reasons to learn a new language, but there are two big reasons you may not want to: It can be difficult, and it can be expensive. But what if language-learning wasn’t either of these things?
For a limited time, you can score one of several elite language apps for a 30% discount* with the code DOWNLOADIT.
Clip an iPhone into the Belkin Face Tracking Magnetic Phone Mount with MagSafe and you’re ready to record your next YouTube video. Photo: Belkin
TheBelkin iPhone mount with Face Tracking Magnetic Phone Mount and MagSafe uses facial recognition to keep an iPhone’s camera constantly pointed at the user, taking the place of a cameraman.
It uses MagSafe to hold the handset in place, and Belkin also unveiled a range of other MagSafe accessories on Tuesday, including clip-on batteries in two sizes.
This is how most people hold their iPad. Photo: Roberto Nickson/Pexels CC
Apple is holding its iPad wrong. The company designs its tablets as if the best way to hold one is in a portrait orientation. But landscape is actually more common, and Apple should make changes to the iPad’s design to reflect that.
Finding out the rules your local airport has in place to fight COVID-19 is as easy a checking Apple Maps. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple Maps now displays airport COVID-19 health measures data, making it easier for travelers to find airport health guidance.
With vaccinations becoming more widespread, air travel is picking up. But airports still have requirements for passengers. Finding out what they are for each airport is now as simple as opening Apple Maps.
Every AirPods owner needs an AirFly Pro. Photo: Twelve South
AirPods might be one of the best accessories Apple has ever made. But there’s a quick and easy way to make them even better: Pair yours with the AirFly Pro from Twelve South.
This second-generation dongle lets you connect your AirPods or AirPods Pro to almost anything. It has better battery life than its predecessor, and supports two pairs of headphones simultaneously.
Design like a pro and save a bundle with a collection of Adobe creative apps for iPad. Photo: Adobe
The new Adobe Design Mobile Bundle combines professional-grade iPad apps for photo editing, graphic design and social media into a single subscription. And the subscription cost is 50% below the software collection’s previous price.
Bag Apple Watch Series 6 Nike+ at one of its best prices to date, thanks to a rare $50 discount from Best Buy. New models start at just $349 with six months of Apple Fitness+ free of charge.
Back in my misspent youth I pumped no shortage of spare (and non-spare) change into arcade machines to play Mortal Kombat II. Jump forward more than a quarter-century and MK fans eager to empty their pockets faster than that can shell out for a new custom iPhone 12 Pro model.
Made by the company Caviar, the handset features an image of the Kunai harpoon weapon belonging to everyone’s favorite undead yellow-clad ninja Scorpion. It’s also emblazoned with the immortal words “Get over here!”
And all it will cost you is somewhere north of $6,140.
Epic Games vs. Apple has been raging since last summer. Screenshot: Epic Games
The battle between Apple and Fortnite maker Epic Games rages on as the latter has filed a complaint with the UK’s competition regulator, complaining about Apple’s alleged anticompetitive behavior.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority earlier this month revealed that it had opened an investigation of Apple. This followed complaints from app developers that its conditions are not fair. Now Epic is chiming in to add its support to the complaint.
Take your pick of these online courses to help you upgrade your job. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
One of the best digital transformations for self-starters over the past few years is the rise of online learning. The internet made it easier than ever for you to learn any topic that interests you — whether you want to dive into a new hobby or change job roles. Even before 2020, the online education market was forecasted to be worth $350 billion by 2025 — and that number surely has only grown over the past year.
WWDC goes virtual again this year. Does that mean no April product launch event? Photo: Apple
Apple will kick off this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7. And, for the second year running, this will be an all-virtual event, the company said Tuesday.
The WWDC festivities will run through that week, offering what Apple calls “unique insight into the future of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.”
A14 chip? Pffft... it's all about the A15 chip these days. Screenshot: Apple
Production on Apple’s next-gen A15 chips will reportedly start up in May, using the same 5-nanometer fabrication size as last year’s A14 chip. However, this year’s A-series chip refresh will boast an “enhanced” manufacturing process that should result in superior performance next to the A14 processor.
This is approximately what you would expect to see in terms of both the schedule and nanometer jump between iPhone models. Apple typically is underway with production by around May, ready for the September iPhone launch. There is also usually an upgrade (or, in terms of minimum feature size, downgrade) in nanometers every couple of years.