Like many other Americans, I face a momentous decision this week. A choice between two polar opposites, each with hard-core backers who say you’re stone-cold crazy if you don’t go with their pick.
I’m talking about, of course, one of the most pressing decisions of 2020: iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max. They’re the most exciting iPhones in this year’s lineup, for very different reasons.
Accessory-maker Moment unveiled a variety of mounts to help photographers make better use the very advanced cameras built into the iPhone 12 series. These employ the MagSafe magnetic-connection system built into Apple’s newest handsets.
There’s also a new lineup of MagSafe-compatible iPhone 12 cases from Moment.
Those who use a Microsoft Xbox as their entertainment center will soon be able to watch the Apple TV+ streaming video service. A version of the Apple TV software will be released for a range of Xbox consoles next Tuesday, including the newest ones.
The Cult of Mac Store’s big Halloween Sale is almost over, but there’s still time to save on some sweet bands, cases, and other accessories for Apple Watch, iPhone, AirPods, and more.
Enjoy discounts on brands like Mujjo, Elago, and Rilee & Lo — but be quick. This sale ends today!
Apple put an augmented reality Easter egg into the invitation to its November product event. The AR object seems to hint that there’ll be at least one new MacBook on the docket.
The basic graphic in the event invite, which went out Monday, is the Apple logo surrounded by streaks of light. iPhone users can transfer that design to the real 3D world, and put it in motion. That motion looks a lot like a MacBook opening and closing.
Apple sent out invites on Monday to an unprecedented third product launch event. This will almost certainly be the debut of Macs running Apple Silicon, the company’s own processors.
Titled “One More Thing,” the November event is scheduled for 10 a.m. PST on Tuesday, November 10.
Apple Stores will close again in England as the country goes into a second national lockdown, starting Thursday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown over the weekend as a result of a sharp spike in coronavirus cases. The lockdown — which will last a minimum of four weeks, but maybe longer — means that all non-essential stores will close. That includes Apple stores.
Lots of us have made the commitment to learn a new language, only to watch it fall by the wayside. Unless you’re fully immersed and have plenty of free time, it’s usually not as easy to learn a second (or third) language as it was to learn the first.
The Memrise Language Learning app aims to make it far easier to earn additional languages, using a three-step approach that mimics the way you mastered your native tongue. At the heart of the app are video clips featuring native speakers, who demonstrate all the subtleties of phrasing and tone that carry as much information as the words themselves.
Apple’s long-running battle with patent-holding entity VirnetX took another expensive turn Friday as Apple was ordered to pay $502.8 million for infringing on the company’s patents.
The verdict was decided by a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Apple and VirnetX have been battling back and forth since 2010.
In its latest 10-K annual report, detailing its 2020 financial reports, Apple warns investors that if it’s made to reduce the commission it charges in the App Store, this could have a “materially adverse” affect on Apple’s bottom line.
Apple includes the clause, which seemingly hasn’t been in previous 10-K reports, at a time when Apple’s commission is being challenged. A number of developers and politicians have suggested that Apple’s control of the App Store in unfair, and that it charges too much.
Over the weekend, the first (and arguably best) actor to play James Bond in a movie, Sean Connery, passed away at the age of 90.
Almost immediately, a story began doing the rounds online about the time, in 1998, when Connery told Steve Jobs that he flat-out refused to participate in an Apple ad. Why? Because Jobs was “a computer salesman” and Connery was “f*cking James Bond.”
It’s a great story. It’s also totally untrue.
Moving in with a romantic partner can be complicated and stressful. But an even higher level of stress comes when you merge your financial accounts.
There are ways to work things out, though. This intuitive app makes it easy for couples to plan their financial futures.
Apple’s new Intercom feature for HomePod (and HomePod mini) sounds really interesting and useful. Depending on what Apple gear you own, and what software versions you’re running, you might be able to give it a spin right now.
Our lead story this week will show you how to get Intercom set up (and why you’ll want to). But there’s also plenty of Apple news, rumors and recommendations. Highlights include our iPhone 12 review and a wrap from this week’s surprising financial update: 7 nuggets of truth from Apple’s latest earnings call.
It’s all in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now to read on your iOS device, or get the headlines below in your browser.
Being cooped up just makes the allure of the open road even stronger. And what better way to hit the road than in a brand-new Tesla? We can’t think of an answer either!
We’re extra-excited about this chance to win a 2021 Tesla Model 3 — and support a great charity in the process.
If you’re lucky enough to have already picked up an iPhone 12 or 12 Pro, and you live in an area where 5G is available, you may have noticed that you sometimes see different 5G icons in your status bar.
There are three altogether, and they change depending on what kind of 5G network you’re connected to. Here’s how to understand them.
Apparently there was something to all those complaints about active noise cancellation in AirPods Pro. Apple just launched a program to replace defective AirPods Pro earbuds that have audio problems, including sucky ANC.
Apple on Friday gave developers access to iOS 14.2 golden master, along with the iPadOS equivalent. This is the last step before releasing these new versions to the public.
When available to all, iOS 14.2 will offer plenty of fun new emoji, as well as Shazam music recognition integrated into the Control Center.
This week on The CultCast: Next-gen AirPods might bring massive changes — we’ll tell you what we know!Plus: The original HomePod remains absolutely outstanding, but the new Intercom feature needs work. And we’ve got another update on Erfon’s $100,000 AAPL stock investment!
The CultCast is now available in video! Or subscribe to our audio episodes if you don’t like our faces.
Treat yourself to one of the best Apple Watch upgrades money can buy: A luxury leather band made just for you by the fine folks at Form Function Form. You can now get 15% off the entire lineup in the Cult of Mac Store’s Halloween Sale.
This limited-time sale must end this weekend, so enjoy it while you can.
Forget Halloween. And what election? The biggest event happening is the premier of The Mandalorian season 2 on Friday. You can celebrate with a Star Wars-themed case for your iPhone, including one just released for the latest model.
South of the Circle is a narrative adventure game that starts with a plane crash in Antarctica in 1964. Its animation style results from motion-captured performances from a cast of actors.
The story begins Friday on Apple Arcade, this company’s subscription gaming service.
The app economy has done well during the coronavirus pandemic but some categories have done better than others. According to a new report by app analytics platform Sensor Tower, one category of app that has done exceptionally well are home improvement apps.
In the United States, first-time installs of the top home improvement apps doubled year-over-year between the months of March and September. Monthly active users also grew by 35% during that time.
Mark Zuckerberg isn’t happy about an iOS 14 feature that will make it harder for developers and advertisers to track iPhone users — on the basis that the anti-tracking tech could hurt small businesses already struggling in the age of coronavirus.
In Thursday’s earnings call, the Facebook co-founder and CEO said that actions planned by Apple “could have a meaningful negative effect on small businesses and economic recovery in 2021 and beyond.”
Nothing beats the mind-to-hand connection of taking notes with pen and paper. At the same time, digital notes are superior in a number of ways: They take up no space, they don’t get lost, and they’re clean and legible no matter how bad your handwriting is.
Why not combine the best of both?
Apple has won another Emmy Award — but, no, it’s not for any of the great shows you’ll find on Apple TV+. Instead, on Thursday Apple was awarded an Engineering Emmy Award for its ProRes video codec, the high quality video compression format Apple developed — which is now standard issue in the movie business.
The award was given to Greg Wallace, director of video apps engineering at Apple. The awards show also featured a short video from Apple engineers Peter Chou and Mitchell Oslick. Check out the video below.