Apple ads consistently find fun, accessible ways of showcasing features without having to resort to technobabble. Case in point: Its new ad showing off the Ceramic Shield for the iPhone 12.

Apple could easily fill a 30-second ad talking about how this specially engineered glass is heat-treated so as to develop nano crystals similar to the ones found in ceramics, which are embedded into the glass matrix of the display. It could talk about the difference between hardness and toughness, and give percentage improvements over last year’s model.

But it doesn’t. Because most people only want to know whether this means they can drop their iPhone without it breaking. That’s where the “Fumble” ad comes in.

The fascination with Steve Jobs continues on a decade after he passed away. A handwritten job application the Apple cofounder filled out in 1973 sold on Thursday for $221,747 (£162,000). That’s far more than it went for three years ago.

Wednesday is the twentieth anniversary of Mac OS X. And those who went though the many versions over the decades can download some reminders. Every major new version came with a fresh wallpaper, and they’re all available for free.

The last year has made many pleasures inaccessible, so finding a way to safely take back something you used to enjoy is more valuable than ever. If you used to enjoy the sauna but haven’t been going due to health concerns or accessibility, a sauna you can fit on your bed will be a welcome addition to your home. The MiHigh Heated Sauna Blanket is an at-home infrared sauna that gives you many of the same benefits of a regular sauna for only $424.99.

An iPhone SE Plus with an edge-to-edge screen and Touch ID in the power button is supposedly coming in the second half of 2021. A concept designer transformed the leaked specs into a beautiful video exploring features of the proposed iOS handset. Watch it now.

Applications that trick users into paying huge subscription fees raked in over $400 million from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, according to research done by Avast.

The so-called “fleeceware” takes advantage of a weakness in both app stores: deleting an application tied to a subscription doesn’t cancel the subscription.

OS X, the most important piece of software in Apple history, turns 20 today.

Going on sale in its full, public version on March 24, 2001, Mac OS X 10.0 — code-named Cheetah, the first of many cat-themed names — transformed Apple’s operating system forever. It brought user interface enhancements that persist to this day, as well as technological advances that form the backbone of Apple’s current operating systems. In fact, OS X paved the way for today’s post-PC devices, from the iPhone and Apple Watch to HomePod and Apple TV. If you’d like to know more about Apple’s operating system evolution, check out this deep dive into its history.

While Apple eventually ditched the “OS X” branding for “macOS,” and switched from naming Mac software after big cats to California locations in 2013, Cheetah’s impact continues to be felt two decades after its introduction.

Apple TV+ on Wednesday promised a third season of the comedy series Trying. And it announced the second season of the show about a couple undergoing the herculean trials of adopting a child will debut worldwide in mid-May.

On social media, crowing about the beautiful computer setup you finally finished putting together can be a risky gambit. Because, you know, people. They might just gleefully and repeatedly point out small flaws in your masterpiece as if they’re the main thing. Picky, picky, picky.

Tom Hiddleston has signed on to star with actor Claire Danes in The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+. The drama series is based on a book about Victorian repression, science and faith, and fear of the unknown, which sold upward of 200,000 copies.

The Essex Serpent was originally due to star Keira Knightley in the lead. However, she dropped out of the project as the result of COVID-related scheduling issues. Knightley was replaced by Danes.

With the rise of premium streaming services like Apple TV+, HBO Max and Disney+, it’s no surprise that people spend more time watching video. And then there’s the sheer amount of work we do with our computers, tablets and phones.

All told, it’s the perfect time to invest in a second monitor that can connect to your Mac, iPad, iPhone and other devices. The Uperfect 15.6-inch Portable Monitor is the ideal pick to give you some streaming flexibility. It will let you watch content, do work or play games on a larger screen, wherever you want.

Apple has discontinued the original HomePod — easily the best-sounding smart speaker money can buy. But it’s not quite gone yet. Bag your brand-new model today for just $254.75, a generous $44.25 off the usual price.

You get a phenomenal audio experience, AirPlay 2 for easy streaming, and built-in Siri.

Fans of Crash Bandicoot can now get their fix on the go with Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, a brand-new game from Activision and King.

The free-to-play runner features stacks of original Crash content — including new characters and an awesome soundtrack — as well as material you’ll recognize from previous entries in the series.

There are 50 bosses to take on across 12 different lands, and a bunch of skins to collect. Get the game on iPhone and iPad today.

Apple’s new betas are, by definition, a glimpse at the future when it comes to Apple’s upcoming releases — and the latest crop is no different. From new iMacs to a possible controller redesign for Apple TV, here are some of the hardware breadcrumbs they drop about future Apple plans.

Apple took Pages, Numbers and Keynote to 11 on Tuesday. Version 11 of all three iWork productivity applications debuted for macOS, iPad and iPhone.

The highlight of the iOS/iPadOS versions are precise controls for sizing and arranging objects. The macOS version got an updated media browser. Both received a range of other enhancements as well.

Like most Apple fans, you’re probably disappointed that the rumored March 23 date for Apple’s upcoming event might have been a ploy to uncover leakers within the company. If you were eagerly awaiting big news about new products and redesigns, it looks like you’ll be waiting until April.

But perhaps a hot deal on top-rated Bluetooth headphones will satisfy your feelings of rejection. For your convenience, we rounded up the 11 best AirPods Pro alternatives that won’t break the bank.

PopGrips add a handle to the back of your iPhone, and now there’s a version that’s even more useful thanks to a built-in multitool. Slip out this stainless steel accessory to use the bottle opener, screwdriver and other functions.

PopSockets teamed with multitool-maker SOG on the design.

Who said a Mac is no good for gaming? It’s now possible to play the latest PC games on any machine running macOS 10.13 or higher, thanks to the brand-new Steam Link app that just hit the Mac App Store.

The free download, which weighs in at less than 30MB, puts all your favorite titles at your fingertips. We’ll show you how to set it up.

The notch in this autumn’s iPhone 13 will slim down noticeably, according to pictures that supposedly show the front glass panels of the upcoming handset. None of the components will be removed, just rearranged.

Jon Prosser’s eyebrows are officially toast.

Prosser, the serial Apple leaker with a big personality and a seemingly deep field of sources inside Cupertino, pledged to shave his eyebrows if we didn’t get an Apple event on March 23.

Well that day has come. And the Apple event didn’t. So he took a trimmer to his precious eyebrows in the most Prosser way possible — on YouTube, with a solid sense of humor (and a charity to boot).

An investigation into the alleged “sexist” Apple Card has concluded with New York’s Department of Financial Services saying Tuesday that it has found no evidence of unlawful discrimination.

The investigation was launched in late 2019. Laws stop algorithms from determining treatment based on things like age, creed, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, and more.

As part of its education initiatives, Apple has launched a new “professional learning recognition badge” called Apple Teacher Portfolio that educators can earn using the Apple Teacher Learning Center.

Apple Teacher is a free professional learning program for educators who use Apple products as part of their teaching. The Apple Teacher Portfolio gives teachers 21 templates and lesson ideas and plans. These suggest how teachers can enhance lessons using apps like Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie.

It doesn’t seem like virtual meetings will be going away anytime soon. You can vastly improve your video conferencing experience with an EssentialTech Workspace HD Webcam. It offers a razor-sharp 1080p image and smooth performance. And it’s in stock and on sale now!

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority is looking into accusations of “collusion at a very senior level” against Apple and Google.

Online campaign group Marketers for an Open Web made the complaint. It says the two tech behemoths are “not competing head to head,” but rather working together when it comes to search.

The group points to documents uncovered in a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, including a 2018 internal email in which Apple and Google staffers discussed how they “work as if we are one company.”

Apple’s augmented reality/mixed reality headset reportedly will weigh less than 150 grams. That’s about half the weight of current VR headsets, suggesting that Cupertino plans to make its debut AR/MR headset more streamlined than competitors. (What a surprise!)

Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities made this prediction in a new note to clients, seen by Cult of Mac.