A new report adds weight to rumors that an Apple TV set-top box supercharged for gaming is coming next year.

“Apple is planning an upgraded box with a stronger gaming focus, an updated remote and a new processor,” according to Bloomberg.

Apple removed approximately 94,000 games from the App Store in China during 2020, The Wall Street Journal reports. This is a significantly larger number than last year’s tally of 25,000 games removed.

The escalation comes as China works harder to clamp down on illegal content on mobile platforms. The WSJ says the larger number illustrates Apple’s “vulnerability to state pressure” on its business.

Facebook argues that it is standing up for small businesses by challenging Apple on its pro-privacy measures. However, it appears that not all Facebook employees are buying the company line.

According to internal message board comments and audio obtained by BuzzFeed News, some Facebook employees think their employer is being a tad disingenuous with its public statements about working on behalf of mom-and-pop businesses.

Apple has started shipping out special iPhones to help security researchers discover weaknesses in iOS. Apple announced its new Apple Security Research Device Program in July. However, they have only started rolling out the phones now.

Under the program terms, researchers get these special iPhones for a period of one year. They may extend the loan period. These iPhones are far less locked-down than regular iPhones. That makes it easier to find flaws that could help improve iOS security.

Apple could have bought electric automaker Tesla at a bargain price, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But Apple’s chief executive wasn’t interested.

Musk revealed this historic bombshell Tuesday, alongside his comments on a recent report about Apple’s plans for a self-driving vehicle.

This air purifier post is presented by Molekule.

If there was ever a year that cried out for clearing the air, it’s 2020. Many a pundit has called these 12 months “challenging” in many ways. This holiday season, with so many people spending most of their time at home, why not give yourself and others the gift of literally cleaned air? You can do that with a technologically advanced — and Apple HomeKit-compatible — Molekule air purifier, such as the Air Mini+. They’re on sale through Dec. 31.

Smartphone and computer storage gets cheaper, faster and more reliable every year, but there still never seems to be enough. Our phones are filled to the brim with 4K videos, photos and apps.

If your smartphone or hard drive is packed full of important documents and family memories you just can’t let go of, cloud storage is a great option. These four cloud storage plans are all available at drastically reduced prices right now — and they’re all lifetime subscriptions, too.

Apple could be preparing to dramatically improve the performance of its iPads. The company reportedly will start building its tablets with the same M-series chips that go into the company’s laptops and desktops.

These will be produced by Apple’s chip maker TSMC, which is moving ahead with developing 3nm processors. Its first production units will reportedly be M-series chips for Macs. And these processors will also allegedly be used in future iPad models.

AirFly Pro can wirelessly connect your AirPods to a plane’s entertainment system. Or the machines at your gym. If it has a 3.5 mm audio jack, this Bluetooth adapter lets it communicate with your AirPods. Even two pairs at once.

And the same easily pocketable gizmo can connect your iPhone to a car stereo’s AUX port to play music off your iPhone.

I tested both these features — find out how well they work in this AirFly Pro review.

MGM, the movie studio that owns the James Bond franchise, is supposedly up for sale — and The Wall Street Journal says some “big technology companies [are] logical buyers.”

Apple has previously been reported as expressing interest in acquiring the James Bond movies, and has held talks about purchasing MGM.

‘Tis the season to be jolly — or, it seems, to take your mortal enemies, tear their still-beating hearts from their chests, and then freeze said organ in your hand, all while laughing evilly. Or something similarly twisted.

That’s an around-about way of saying that Mortal Kombat for iOS has received an update. If you’re looking for a bit of gory fighting action to distract you from the impending holidays, it’s well worth checking out. Although why you’d have any built-up stress that needs excising after 2020 is beyond me…

There’s probably no better feeling than receiving and setting up a brand new iPhone, whether you’re transferring over all your old data or looking up the best new apps to download and experience. On the flip side of that, there’s probably nothing more worrisome than dropping your brand-new phone for the first time.

If you recently bought a new iPhone 12, protect your investment with this Crystal iPhone 12 Transparent Case. Not only will it protect your phone from drops and spills, it also won’t interfere with the device’s beautiful, sleek lines.

Fortnite maker Epic Games continues to take shots at Apple — teaming with Samsung to send a gift bag to online influencers containing a “Free Fortnite” custom jacket with Apple-inspired logo, some suspiciously Apple-looking packaging, and a Galaxy Tab S7.

The note inside reads:

Serious gaming on your iPad or iPhone gets better with an external Xbox or PlayStation controller instead of a touchscreen. And Apple recently improved the experience even more by allowing you to reconfigure the buttons on your game controller.

Here’s how to customize what those all-important buttons do.

Apple is reportedly prepping an an autonomous vehicle that’s aimed at the consumer market. Leaked information indicates Apple is going to make a car and sell it to the public, not just develop self-driving technology to license to other companies.

Apple Car production supposedly will begin in 2024 using cutting-edge battery technology.

Looking for a great book to bury yourself in as we escape the closing days of a pretty terrible year? Whether you’re looking for one for yourself or a gift for a fellow tech lover, 2020 had no shortage of great titles.

Here are our choices for the best tech books of 2020.

This software key post is presented by VIPkeysale.com.

It’s that time of year again. What time is that? Winter holiday time. Time to stay inside at home — whether from the cold or because of COVID-19 — and bask in the warm glow of your device screens. That’s especially fun and easy when VIPkeysale.com offers you (and all Cult of Mac readers) 16% off gaming and other software product keys.

And if you’re giving gifts this holiday season, sales like this one might just give you some extra reason for holiday cheer. Just remember to check out with your purchase on the website using the coupon code VIPMAC.

Within just a couple of weeks of its launch, the iPhone 12 had become the world’s bestselling 5G smartphone model, according to figures published by Counterpoint Research.

What was second place for the month of October? The iPhone 12 Pro, of course.

It’s that time of year where you’re probably thinking of what well-intentioned resolutions you can make for the upcoming new year. Some might be a little easier to do than others — for example, meditating a few minutes every day — and some might be a little more challenging (like learning how to code). But if there’s one easy thing you can do to boost your wellness for the future, it’s using this handy Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Screen Protector for iPhone. Trust us, your eyes (and, if you tend to drop your phone a lot, your device, too) will thank us for it.

Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation called Facebook’s anti-Apple attack ads “a laughable [attempt] … to distract [users] from its poor track record of anticompetitive behavior and privacy issues” in an article published Friday.

Facebook lashed out at Apple last week with two full-page newspaper ads. The campaign targeted Apple’s new App Tracking Transparency feature, which fills users in on which apps are tracking them. Facebook claims the change will hurt small businesses by making it tougher for them to use targeted ads.

Apple revealed over the weekend that it is once again shuttering some of its stores as COVID-19 cases continue to climb. All 53 Apple Stores in the company’s home state of California, alongside those in Mexico, Brazil and London will shut their doors temporarily.

Apple has not announced when they will reopen. In the United Kingdom, nonessential stores in Greater London are closed until at least December 30, when guidance will be reviewed.

Apple has temporarily stopped working with Wistron, the iPhone supplier that this month had riots break out at its Indian factory due to alleged mistreatment of employees.

In a statement, Apple said that it has put the manufacturer on probation. It will not receive new Apple business until it has carried out corrective actions.

Attach the Mophie Juice Pack Connect to your iPhone to significantly increase the battery life. And replace it with a ring holder/stand when you want a slim handset again.

I put this clip-on battery system to the test. Here’s how it stood up.

So far, 2020 has been a total Grinch. Find a little fun with these new and recently updated apps, which will guide you to Christmas light shows, plunge you into Marvel superhero brawls and even boost your darts game.

Plus, Canadian CBD connoisseurs can gain access to all the latest info on what’s available and where. And iPhone 12 Pro/Max owners can see in the dark.

For productivity hounds, there’s probably no better feeling than scoring the perfect time-saving app that integrates perfectly with your current Mac workflow. But, sometimes, the search for the perfect app takes a long time (and a lot of trial and error). And, really, nobody’s got the time or funds for that.

The Official Cyber Monday Mac Bundle Featuring Parallels Pro & Luminar 4 gets it right from the start, with access to 12 apps that cover everything from photo editing to productivity and more.