Cult of Mac

Eyeware Beam, an iOS app that uses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera setup as a peripheral for eye-tracking or head-tracking on the PC, is among the offerings at this year’s CES.

The annual tech convention, which runs today through Thursday, is a virtual event this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That won’t stop startups and big electronics companies from showing off some seriously impressive tech, however.

More details have emerged about Apple and Hyundai’s reported partnership to build an autonomous electric car. A Sunday article published by Korea IT News, via Reuters, claims the two companies will sign a deal by March. They will then start production around 2024 in the United States — with a trial before then.

Hyundai last week said that it had been in conversations with Apple. The reports send Hyundai shares skyrocketing by close to 20%.

Apple followed though on its warning to remove Parler from the App Store this weekend. Google already banned the social-networking app from the Android software store, and Amazon is cutting off Parler’s cloud-hosting service.

The bans follow accusations that rioters used Parler to plan the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week.

iPhone 13 will will still have a screen notch but it’ll be a bit thinner, according to information leaking out of Apple’s Asian supply chain.

Plus, the same source says Apple will cover the camera lenses of its upcoming handset with sapphire glass.

There are so many electronic devices scattered around our homes and offices that a multi-port charger makes sense. The Minix Neo P2 can share up to 100 watts of power with a MacBook, iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch all at the same time. Or it can charge your Mac at full power. Plus, the wall adapter is portable and can be used in power sockets around the world.

I used the accessory as my primacy charger for weeks to keep almost all my devices going. Here’s how it stood up in the real world.

Grocery shopping and buying other necessities can feel like a real hassle these days. From limited supplies at some stores to the hassle of traveling from one spot to the other and standing in long lines, what used to be a simple task can now take all day.

And, since it’s impossible to avoid real-world responsibilities (and because there’s only so long you can eat instant noodles), you might as well make grocery shopping a one-stop stop. That’s where this discounted Sam’s Club membership comes in handy.

An augmented reality Mac powered by Apple glasses offers a glimpse of what computing might look like in the future.

Yes, it’s just a concept. But man, is it gorgeously detailed. We talked with concept designer Dominik Hofacker about his fascinating concept, and you can read all about it in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now to read on your iOS device, or get the links below.

We’ve also got the latest news and rumors on the the long-rumored Apple Car and AirTags (not to mention those Apple AR glasses that Hofacker is talking about). Plus, we’ve got how-tos and reviews (including a second take on AirPods Max and a look at the second anachronistic season of Dickinson on Apple TV+).

January 9, 2001: Steve Jobs introduces customers to iTunes at Macworld.

In a world before the iPod or the iTunes Store, iTunes is simply described by Apple as, “the world’s best and easiest to use jukebox software that lets users create and manage their own music library on their Mac.” Even the biggest Apple fanboy can’t imagine just how significant a step this will be for Apple.

The night sky is one of the most beautiful natural visuals anywhere. Unfortunately, if weather is restrictive this winter, or you just don’t have access to a telescope, it can be difficult to enjoy looking at the stars and planets the way you’d like to.

Whether you consider yourself a stargazer or just happen to know someone who loves space, this Sky Lite Laser Galaxy Projector can transform your home into a magical space getaway, projecting stars and a blue nebula cloud across the walls and ceiling of any room.

Apple told Parler on Friday that it must either begin moderating “dangerous and harmful” comments posted by users or its application will be removed from the iPhone App Store. The free speech site popular with supporters of President Trump reportedly has until Saturday morning to come up with a “moderation improvement plan” or it’ll be removed.

The move comes because Parler has been accused of being used to plan the attack on the U.S. Capital on Wednesday.

One of the best ways you can upgrade your Mac and your professional work setup is by investing in a solid PDF reader and editor. Because, while they may be super-popular, PDFs are not the easiest file type to work with. Thankfully, the top-rated PDF Reader Pro for Mac makes it simpler than ever. And right now, it’s on sale for just $39.99, which is 33% off the regular price of $59.

Dickinson is back against all odds (odds don’t include viewer numbers), bringing another season of anachronistic anarchy to Apple TV+. Can showrunner Alena Smith keep this bauble from shattering long enough to get to the third season?

Sorry, 11-inch iPad Pro — no mini-LED display for you. The new type of screen will reportedly be in Apple’s largest top-tier tablet for 2021 but not the smaller version.

In addition, there are supposedly changes to the speakers and camera hump in this high-end tablet that’s expected in early spring.

It’s possible to pair and use AirPods Max with non-Apple devices. All you need is a Bluetooth connection. The setup process is slightly different, but not too difficult. We’ll show you all you need to know in this quick guide.

The next iPad mini could be a bit less mini. Apple reportedly will expand the tablet from a 7.9-inch screen to an 8.4-inch one in the version coming in Q1 2021.

If true, the change would hardly be unprecedented. Apple has enlarged the displays in all other iPad models in recent years.

Bagged a new Apple Watch over the holidays? Upgrade your look with up to 20% off superb bands and bracelets from Juuk and Rilee & Lo.

There are a range of leather and metal options to choose from, with prices starting at just $16 in the Cult of Mac Store’s big January sale. These discounts end tonight, so enjoy them before they’re gone!

Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon, a four-player dungeon crawler with a 16-bit feel, is the latest game to hack its way onto Apple Arcade. It offers rogue-like action for up to four friends sharing a couch.

It’s a follow-up to Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, an RPG also available through Apple’s gaming service.

Update: The New York Times says the deal has been completed. Quibi’s 75 shows and documentaries will appear from free on the Roku Channel through 2021. The deal last for seven years.

Roku is negotiating to buy the content catalog of ill-fated short form streaming video service Quibi, the Wall Street Journal claims.

Quibi, which made short, episodic shows for watching on your phone, launched in April 2020 and shut down in October, giving it a shelf-life as short as the shows it produced.

The App Store grossed upward of $64 billion in 2020, according to a CNBC report.

Provided that number is correct, it’s a big jump from the relatively stable $48.5 billion and $50 billion respectively the App Store grossed in 2018 and 2019. It shows how, in contrast to many other businesses, the digital app economy boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want to enhance your business skills and achieve your most ambitious goals next year? These business course bundles will teach you lucrative new skills, tips and tricks to make 2021 your most successful year ever — all from home, using just your Mac.

Even better, these educational bundles are all on sale right now, with incredible discounts of up to 98% off. Take advantage of these incredible value courses while they’re on sale now.

Woot’s latest iPhone blowout offers massive savings on iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max refurbs. The discounts are good for today only and stock is selling fast, so enjoy them while you can!

Apple stopped signing iOS 14.2 and iOS 14.2.1 this week, meaning users who upgraded to iOS 14.3 can no longer go back again. The same goes for iPadOS 14.3 and those who installed it.

iOS/iPadOS 14.3 added support for Apple Fitness+ and AirPods Max. For users with an iPhone 12 Pro, it also allowed them to take photos in the Apple ProRAW format. In addition, the updates included new privacy information and an assortment of bug fixes.

Apple won’t upgrade the seven-element primary lens assembly seen in the iPhone 12 until at least 2023, claims reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The analyst revealed this in a Friday note to investors, stating that Apple isn’t planning on upgrading the lens system for the iPhone for either of the next two big handset upgrades. The seven-element lens was introduced with the iPhone 12, featuring a wider ƒ/1.6 aperture. This results in better low-light images.

Hyundai confirmed Thursday that it engaged in talks with Apple, lending more credibility to the possibility of an Apple Car co-developed with an established automotive company.

A spokesperson for Hyundai Motors provided the confirmation (which also mentioned Apple speaking with a “variety of global automakers”) to CNBC. The statement followed a report from Korean website Hankyung that claimed Apple was working with Hyundai on both the car and battery technology to power it.

Apple’s plan to make a self-driving vehicle is back on track, according to an unconfirmed report from a very reliable source. But the Apple Car won‘t be out for several years.

Still, as part of the effort the company recently snapped up Tesla’s head of autonomous vehicle software development  to work on the project.