You’re probably already protecting your AirPods Pro charging case, but what about the beloved little buds themselves? Elago’s new earbuds covers help keep them free from grime and provide a more secure fit.
They’re ideal for running, cycling, and other workout activities. They also come in a number of cool color options — including one that glows in the dark!
A 43-inch wide curved monitor is the highlight of Duncan Shultz's gaming setup. Photo: Duncan Shultz
Brisbane, Australia-based defense contractor Duncan Shultz loves Dungeons & Dragons. And that’s the main action his Mac-mini-and-wide-screen setup sees, although he also admits to using it to work for a living. An Aasimar Sorcerer’s got to eat, after all.
“The wide screen is simply awesome for my uses,” Shultz told Cult of Mac. “Specifically in running online D&D games. I can have video conferencing, multiple browsers, streaming software and other tools all open and accessible.”
In addition to the aforementioned sorcerer character — goes by the name of Selinth, BTW — Schultz is a dungeon master for Curse of Strahd campaigns, one online and one in person. Online he uses the Roll20 website and in person he uses EncounterPlus for iOS and macOS.
The Snapdragon X65 modem has just about everything the next 5G iPhone could need. Graphic: Qualcomm
Qualcomm unveiled a 5G modem that potentially could increase the network speed of future iPhones. The new Snapdragon X65 promises 10 gigabit per second connections, as well as reduced battery drain.
In its announcement Tuesday, the chip maker didn’t specifically say the modem is headed for Apple products, but the iPhone 12 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G. And the two companies have a multiyear chipset supply agreement.
The Health app tracks how much you exercise and when. Police sometimes find that useful. Photo: Apple
A mere 18 steps recorded in an iPhone’s Health app helped send an Alabama man to prison for 16 years. He claimed he was sleeping when his webcam model wife was accidentally killed. But his iPhone said differently.
Hyundai's E-GMP platform is like a Lego base for electrical vehicles. Photo: Hyundai
According to the latest news, talks between Hyundai and Apple may have stalled. Still, if things start up again, the South Korean automaker’s E-GMP platform could be key to Apple’s ambitions to build an electric vehicle.
Hyundai’s promising E-GMP platform has a lot to love.
Building in the U.S. brought plenty of challenges. Photo: Apple
If you’ve ever wondered why Apple doesn’t do more manufacturing in the United States, a new report by Bloomberg offers a few answers. Covering the career of CEO Tim Cook, the article details the challenges of U.S. manufacturing, as epitomized by Apple’s Mac Pro factory in Austin, Texas.
“It was an experiment to prove that the U.S. supply chain could work as good as China’s, and it failed miserably,” a former senior manager is quoted as saying.
You may have considered the benefits of learning a second language — bilingual speakers can potentially have access to a broader range of career opportunities. But, have you considered learning American Sign Language? The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 28 million Americans (about 10% of the population) have some degree of hearing impairment — and about 2 million people within this population are classified as deaf.
However, only 10% of these 2 million people were born deaf, and the other 90% became deaf later in life. That means there’s a huge population of people you could help in various roles and connect to by learning ASL — and this Complete 2021 American Sign Language Master Class Bundle helps you master useful signs and communicate in just 75 hours.
Factory was closed at the end of last year due to rioting over unpaid wages. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple supplier Wistron said Tuesday that it is currently looking to restart iPhone production at its factory in Karnataka, India. The factory was shuttered at the end of 2020 after riots broke out.
However, Apple notes that the company is still on probation — and that it will be keeping a close eye on it going forwards.
Google is Apple's biggest developer. Photo: Apple/Google
Google and Facebook are rivals of Apple, but they also rely on it a whole lot — as a new report by app analytics platform Sensor Tower makes clear. It highlights how Google and Facebook were two of the top three publishers on the iOS App Store in January, with Google holding the top spot.
It’s the perfect illustration of the “coopetition” relationship that exists between the tech giants.
Windscribe VPN is both a desktop application and a browser extension. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We’re spending more time online than ever these days, and hackers and data thieves aren’t exactly getting less menacing. You can stay safe online with this Windscribe VPN Pro Plan, which encrypts your internet connection whether you’re using public or private Wi-Fi.
The first folding iPhone might look something like this. Screenshot: Front Page Tech
Apple could have decided on the look of the first folding iPhone. Previously, the company was thought to be considering two options, but the winner is a “flip phone” design, according to a trusted Apple prognosticator.
The same source also has a hint that the folding iPhone might cost less than rival flexible phones. But it supposedly will not arrive before 2023 (and could come even later). With Apple’s focus on durability, the foldable iPhone could incorporate an advanced Liquidmetal hinge to improve longevity. Read more about Apple’s potential innovation here.
Jane is an upcoming Apple TV+ children's show about animal rescue. Photo: Apple
Apple is growing its slate of children’s programming with Jane, which is inspired by the mission of Dr. Jane Goodall. However, it won’t be a biopic of the famed chimpanzee researcher. Instead, it’s about about a little girl, her active imagination and a desire to rescue animals.
A new version of Dolly Parton’s 5 to 9 gets you an extra-long Apple Music trial. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple turned to country music legend Dolly Parton, Squarespace and the Super Bowl to promote Shazam and a new deal on Cupertino’s streaming music service.
You can use Shazam when listening to Parton’s just-released 5 to 9 advertisement to get five free months of Apple Music. That’s two months more than the usual offer.
In this setup, an LG curved monitor is great for work as well as movies and TV. Photo: Paul O'Toole
An IT professional who specializes in Mac and iOS home implementations probably has a leg up on the next guy when it comes to building an Apple-centric home office and man cave.
Or is it a man cave and home office? We’ll let Paul O’Toole, an IT pro from Worcestershire, England, decide that. It’s his, after all. He calls it a “sitting room,” actually.
He turned his garage into an office and movie palace, thanks to an LG 34UC99 curved monitor and a pair of HomePods running with his Mac Pro.
An illustration from a recent Apple patent filing shows a possible VR headset. Graphic: Apple
Dan Riccio, one of Apple’s top designers, is reportedly now concentrating all his efforts on the company’s virtual-reality visor and augmented-reality glasses.
Previously, he headed Apple’s hardware engineering team. Then Cupertino revealed in January that Riccio was transitioning to a new role. But it wouldn’t say what that role will be.
Ready to streamline the way you use your Mac? The five essential Mac apps in the 2021 Mac Utility Bundle will give your productivity a real boost. And you can get them all for less than $20.
Apple had supposedly been working with Hyundai on its electric, self-driving vehicle. Photo: Mpho Mojapelo/Unsplash CC
Apple and Hyundai may have had the business equivalent of a high school relationship in the past few weeks. First they were just friends, then going steady, and now they appear to have broken up — and Apple’s got the hots for someone else. All on a suitably compressed timeline, of course.
Bloomberg reported the breakup Sunday, saying Apple has paused discussions with Hyundai and affiliate Kia Motors about building an electric car. Apple’s now supposedly talking to other automobile companies about a possible deal.
Apple gives users more freedom over apps in iOS 14.5. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The recently released iOS 14.5 beta gives iPhone and iPad users the ability to change their default music player for the first time. Third-party apps like Spotify and Tidal are supported, and switching is super-simple.
This smart light comes with Alexa inside. Photo: GE Lighting
If you’re limited on space, you know the special value of multitasking furniture and organizers. Whether it’s a standing desk you can easily convert, cord organizers to keep cable clutter at bay, or other helpful space-saving goods, it certainly helps to decorate your pad with stuff that performs more than one function.
This C by GE Sol WiFi Alexa Enabled Smart Light doesn’t just brighten your space with a modern glow. It also fully connects to Amazon Alexa to give you better control of your living space.
That roar you hear is the Apple car rumors redlining. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
After years of low idling, the Apple car rumors are really revving up. Possible deals with Kia and other automakers … whispers about secret supply-chain maneuvers … even a surprising claim that Cupertino’s first cars “will not be designed to have a driver.”
That’s the kind of Apple car news you’ll find in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.
You’ll also get more potential revelations about that other top-secret Apple endeavor — building a headset. Whether that will be a $3,000 niche VR model or something a little more down to earth remains to be seen.
And if that’s not enough good Apple news for one week, Snoopy is back for new adventures on Apple TV+. We’ve got reviews of The Snoopy Show as well as the latest episodes of Dickinson and Losing Alice.
Apple more than doubled the trade-in on the early return of the Mac mini Developer Transition Kit. Photo: Apple
Apple sweetened the deal offered to developers for the early return of the Mac mini that they used to test macOS Big Sur running on Apple Silicon. Friday, the company responded to complaints that it wasn’t offering enough for the Developer Transition Kits by more than doubling the amount of money previously offering for the units.
This projector delivers impeccable image quality for both professional and personal use. Photo: Vankyo
If you’re looking to create your own outdoor theater experience — and maybe invite a few friends over to enjoy a classic movie under the stars — there’s no better option than this Vankyo Performance V600 Projector.
Is metal or plastic really the best material to make computers out of. How about sandstone? Photo: Hank Beyer/Alex Sizemore
Concept designers are supposed to think outside of the box. Hank Beyer and Alex Sizemore created some Mac designs that are so far outside of the box you sometimes can’t tell there ever was a box. Their computers are encased in stone, ice, beeswax and other exotic materials.
The ladies of Dickinson hit the spa in this week's episode. Photo: Apple TV+
In this week’s episode of Dickinson, Emily and company disembark to a health spa so everyone can unwind, though that’s not really what happens. Apple TV+’s millennial melodrama enjoys a mostly off week of batty jokes and ignoring the characters’ problems.