Apple will introduce its first iPad with a mini-LED display and refreshed AirPods in the first half of 2021, according to one reliable analyst.
Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities predicts the iPad will be one of six Apple products that will get mini-LED screens next year. Others include iPad Pro, iMac Pro, and MacBook Pro.
Optimize your creative computing with a highly customizable controller. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you work as a digital creative, you know full well how small inefficiencies add up to lots of wasted time. Every extra keystroke or trip across the screen is a drag on your workflow. This powerful but intuitive controller takes the pain out of repetitive tasks and gives you new ways to speed through your creative endeavors.
The TourBox controller quickly feels like a natural extension of your hand. It works with Macs and PCs, and it’s great for navigating advanced software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro, Premier and Capture One.
iPhone 13 could be first with new "soft board" battery tech. Photo: iFixit
Apple will reportedly shrink iPhone batteries again in 2021 to make room for new technologies. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have to get used to charging more frequently.
Reliable TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to adopt new “soft board” battery technology for iPhone 13. It could allow more power to be squeezed into a smaller space.
It's the end of the line. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
Apple has now stopped signing iOS 14.1 and iPadOS 14.1 following last week’s release of iOS 14.2. Users who have already updated can no longer downgrade their devices to the earlier firmware.
iOS 14.3 will bring the ProRAW format to the iPhone 12 Pro cameras. Photo: Apple
When Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 Pro series in October, it promised a software update for these handsets with support for the new ProRAW format. That update will be iOS 14.3, as this feature is included in the first beta of this upcoming operating system update seeded to developers on Thursday. There are also mentions of AirTags and Apple Studio headphones.
In addition, Apple begin testing the first betas of iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3.
macOS Big Sur isn’t the first step toward a touchscreen Mac. Photo: Apple
Apple’s head of software development threw cold water on speculation that macOS Big Sur was designed with a touchscreen Mac in mind.
Instead, Craig Federighi says the latest Mac operating system is more similar to iOS and iPadOS so it’s easier for users to switch between an Apple laptop, phone or tablet. Designers weren’t thinking about a touch-based Mac.
Here’s why you couldn’t download macOS Big Sur earlier. Photo: Cult of Mac
Anyone who struggled to download the just-released macOS Big Sur might not be surprised to learn that Apple’s backend systems experienced major problems Thursday. By early afternoon, Apple said it fixed the problem. However, glitches lingered, as Apple admitted late in the afternoon.
Apple’s Craig Federighi says his company’s new M1 processor exceeds his expectaions. Screenshot: Apple
The capabilities of Apple’s new M1 processor surprised even the people who designed it. The new chip was created to get Macs away from Intel, and Apple executives are gushing about it. Craig Federighi, SVP of software engineering, said the M1 is outperforming the company’s own expectations.
The wait is over. You can install macOS Big Sur today. Photo: Apple
Apple released the final version of macOS Big Sur on Thursday. The new operating system offers the biggest design overhaul to the Mac user interface in nearly two decades. Plus, it brings big improvements to Apple’s bundled applications like Messages, Maps and Safari.
Becoming You is sensational, no matter your age Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ documentary series Becoming You is the kind of admirably human show that seems designed to rack up grateful viewers.
Tackling the earliest development of the human brain in more than a hundred children the world over, the docuseries makes a calculated plea for empathy and togetherness — and a convincing one at that.
Early reviews say the HomePod mini punches above its weight. Photo: Apple
The first HomePod mini reviews almost universally praise the tiny smart speaker for outstanding audio quality. A wave of superlatives like “impressively powerful,” and even “startling” make HomePod mini sound like a total champ.
Across the board, the reviewers say Apple’s new $99 smart speaker offers stiff competition to other devices in that price range. And beyond audio, they deliver surprisingly positive assessments of the HomePod mini’s design and features. Even Siri earns accolades!
Do you know how Apple Watch counts your swim strokes? Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch is a great swimming companion, offering highly accurate length counts, pace measurements and stroke recognition. But the benefits to swimmers don’t stop there.
You’ll find plenty more useful swim stats in the Fitness app on your iPhone. Strokes Per 25/50/100 is especially valuable because it tracks your swim efficiency, which is key if you want to go faster, further or just look more cool in the pool.
But the way Apple Watch counts your strokes is not as simple as it seems. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert swimmer, it’s worth taking time out to understand exactly how it works.
Download it today from the PlayStation Store. Photo: Apple
Apple TV is now available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The new app gives users the ability to watch Apple TV+, third-party channels like Showtime and Starz, and content purchased from iTunes.
Its launch coincides with the PlayStation 5’s big debut in many key markets, including the United States.
With just a bow and an eagle, take on an epic quest in The Pathless on Apple Arcade. Photo: Giant Squid/Annapurna Interactive
An archer and her eagle are the centers of The Pathless, an open-world adventure that debuted Thursday for iPad, Mac, iPhone and other platforms. Players take on the role of the Hunter, who travels a mystical island with her feathered companion and dispel a curse of darkness. There are monsters to slay and puzzles to solve.
Apple Arcade subscribers can play this new title at a considerable savings over other platforms.
From face-tracking tripods to studio lighting, these video accessories will help you shine. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether for Zoom calls or showing off how your guitar lessons are paying off, you’re likely spending more time pointing cameras at yourself. But you and your viewers deserve better than fluorescent lights and a shaky laptop camera. We rounded up four deals on tripods that will help you capture higher-quality video and photos from anywhere.
Early benchmark results for the new M1 MacBook Air have begun surfacing online, and boy are they impressive. Not only does Apple’s newest ultraportable blow away its predecessors, but its M1 chip outperforms every other mobile CPU on the market.
That’s even more astounding when you remember the new MacBook Air has a completely fan-less design that stays silent no matter how hard you push it.
Oprah Winfrey will sit down with President Barack Obama for her Apple TV+ interview show. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Former President Barack Obama will appear next Tuesday on an episode of The Oprah Conversation. The topic will be his new book, A Promised Land, which hits shelves that day.
While the interview by Oprah Winfrey will appear on Apple’s subscription streaming service, it will also be available free for two weeks.
Get the 2020 MacBook Air with Intel processor while you can. Photo: Apple
The Intel-based MacBook Air is quickly disappearing. Apple introduced the the first version of this svelte laptop with an M1 processor on Tuesday, and pulled the previous version off the Apple online store.
It isn’t unusual for a new Mac to replace on older one. But the MacBook Air just made a quantum leap to a new type of processor, and some people are likely still interested in one with an Intel processor. The supply is dwindling, though.
The M1-powered MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac mini can all run iPhone applications. Photo: Apple
The Mac App Store is about to balloon in size. The Apple M1 processor allows the latest Macs to run iOS and iPadOS software as easily as macOS apps. So the entire contents of the iPhone App Store will soon be listed in the Mac software store.
Winter is coming. And based on what we know about 2020 so far, it’s likely to be a nasty one. Get set for the wet and miserable months by bagging a rugged, waterproof Nyloon band for Apple Watch.
Their NATO-style design makes them super-strong and ready for anything, and they’re available in a range of colorful styles. They’re also nicely priced from just $24.99.
An M1 MacBook Pro with 14-inch screen would give professionals more options. Photo: Apple
The second wave of MacBooks with the just-announced Apple M1 processor will have an “all-new form factor,” according to a trusted analyst. And there’ll supposedly be a new size option.
That’s likely to please anyone who was disappointed that the first M1-based MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are nearly indistinguishable from their predecessors.
Roku has begun rolling out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support for smart TVs and streaming devices.
The update, Roku OS 9.4, gives users the ability to control their Roku using the Home app on iPhone and iPad, and to send content from Mac and iOS devices to their TV via the Roku platform.
The heartwarming Doug Unplugs looks like a sure-fire hit for kids. Image: Apple TV+
Powered by the formidable DreamWorks Animation, Apple TV+’s newest children’s show is frequently disarming and deeply cute. Doug Unplugs, which arrives on the streaming service this Friday, is likely to be perfect for young kids, and not too much for tired parents who’ll watch it over their shoulders.
Fortnite is still blocked from the App Store for now. Photo: Epic Games
Apple’s two theft claims against Epic Games were on Tuesday dismissed by a federal judge in California.
Epic filed the counterclaims filed in September, just weeks after the game-maker sued Apple for alleged anti-competitive actions. Cupertino removed Fortnite, the hugely popular battle royale game, from the App Store after Epic gave players on iOS devices the ability to purchase in-game currency outside of Apple’s ecosystem.