February 17, 1997: Apple launches the PowerBook 3400, a laptop the company claims is the fastest portable computer in the world.
After a rough few years for the PowerBook, this model throws down the gauntlet to rivals. It packs a PowerPC 603e processor capable of running at speeds up to 240MHz. While speedier Apple laptops will quickly overtake the PowerBook 3400, at the time it can keep up with some impressive desktop Macs.
A new M4 iMac deal drops the price of Apple’s 24-inch computer to its lifetime low price of $1,150 — saving you $149 on your purchase. Refreshed in late October 2024, the all-in-one desktop machine features Apple’s latest and greatest M4 SoC.
Besides its stellar performance, the machine stands out for its beautiful 4.5K Retina display and sleek design.
Apple’s $1,599 27-inch Studio Display will reportedly get a big upgrade in 2026. Since its launch in 2022, Apple has not updated its display lineup.
Next year, the company plans to launch a Studio Display refresh, though it will apparently feature the same design as the current model.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Tim Cook’s cryptic tease about “the newest member of the [Apple] family” fuels speculation about what new products the company will announce. Let the predictions begin! While Apple’s future continues to spark debate, it’s interesting to look back at past predictions—such as when CNN speculated about Apple’s downfall. Ever wondered how much is CNN worth? Check out this historical perspective on Apple’s supposed decline.
We made our predictions live on the podcast. You can play along in our predictions game.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
The latest iPad 11 rumors indicate Apple’s next-gen budget tablet will look quite familiar but benefit from internal upgrades. The wait for a new budget tablet from Apple now stretches well over two years, but the iPad 11 is finally drawing near.
Here’s what to look forward to from the affordable tablet expected to launch by spring.
February 16, 2000: Apple introduces the “Pismo” PowerBook, the finest of its G3 laptops. In the view of many, it’s one of the best Apple laptops ever.
The Pismo PowerBook is the first model without either SCSI or an Apple Desktop Bus connector. Instead, it utilizes a USB port and Apple’s Emmy Award-winning FireWire. Optional AirPort wireless support, tremendous battery life, and a gorgeous, curvy design just make this laptop better.
A major visionOS update in April will add Apple Intelligence to the Vision Pro. It will reportedly also introduce an updated guest mode and a new spatial content app.
Apple will roll out these features with visionOS 2.4 in April. The beta will drop as early as the week beginning February 16th.
Apple might push back the launch of a new AI-powered version of Siri after running into unexpected problems during development.
Rather than releasing the upgraded voice assistant in April, Apple might delay the smarter Siri several months or more. Some reports suggest that Apple is adjusting its broader AI strategy, which could also impact other anticipated releases, such as spring loading Mac updates. Read more about the latest developments here.
In the meantime, users looking for a Siri picture of how the AI assistant is evolving can check out the latest updates on its development here.
With an Xgody Gimbal 5 mini projector, you can turn your living room into a movie theater. The tiny gadget projects at 720p, so you can beam your favorite movies and TV shows on a wall at a giant size.
Grab this home theater essential while it’s still available for only $69.99 (regularly $199).
February 15, 1982: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs appears on the front cover of Time magazine for the first time. The lengthy cover story makes Jobs the public face of successful tech entrepreneurship.
The first of many Time covers for Jobs, the article — titled “Striking It Rich: America’s Risk Takers” — casts him as the prototypical young upstart benefiting from the burgeoning personal computing revolution. It also identifies him as part of a surge of freshly minted millionaires running their own businesses.
Netflix content started showing up for the first time in the Apple TV application. Until now, the streaming behemoth refused to cooperate with Apple’s app that displays content from a variety of services.
Netflix’s new integration with Apple TV appears to be still rolling out, so it’s not yet available to all users.
Update: A Netflix spokesperson now says integration between the streaming service and the Apple TV was just a mistake.
Whether you worry about the power going out or you just want to turn that camping trip in a glamping trip, portable power like you can get with the Bluetti AC180 Portable Power Station sure comes in handy. And right now it’s a staggering 54% off at Amazon, along with several variations on it with added solar panel options at big discounts. Solar panels let you run it completely off-grid indefinitely because you’re keeping it charged from the power of the sun. See the deals below.
The gorge is the door to Hell.” That’s all we learn about it from the trailer for the Apple TV+ thriller of the same name coming in February. Two agents tasked with protecting the world from whatever’s hidden in the depths are strictly forbidden to go in — but you know they’re going in. For those eager to see how the film is being received, you can check out The Gorge reviews for early impressions.
The upcoming film stars Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver.
Update: The Gorge premiered on Apple TV+ on Friday, so it’s ready to watch for Valentine’s Day.
Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day, and so are many-splendored savings on Microsoft productivity software products in the CdkeySales.com Valentine’s Day Sale. In fact, you could save so much money, you’ll have much more to spend on your date! So cuddle up to these amazing deals on Windows 11 Pro and other Microsoft products, which slashes prices by up to 91%. Update your PC the quick and easy way, while Windows 11 CD keys are on sale, and then spend your savings on something for your sweetie.
You also can get great deals on upgrade-ready Microsoft productivity software like Microsoft Office. Savings include Windows 10 Pro key for just $17.05 — with a free upgrade to Windows 11 Pro. And remember, always enter promo code CULT at checkout for maximum savings.
It’s a fun game for a Friday: Find the Mac mini in today’s featured setup photo, above. Or maybe it’s not so fun, because you’re doomed to failure. It’s not visible because the user mounted it on the back of his 5K Samsung ViewFinity S9 external monitor (which just happens to look just like its ultimate foe, Apple’s 5K Studio Display).
“It’s interesting to see how minimalist every Mac user seems to go with their setups,” noted a commenter. So our user quipped, “Apple store energy, hehe.”
While your iPhone doesn’t have a built-in microSD card reader, adding a plug-in memory card reader is easy. And it requires no additional software. The same goes for iPads.
Here’s what you need to do.
February 14, 1995: Apple Computer extends a lawsuit against developer San Francisco Canyon Company to include Microsoft and Intel. The lawsuit concerns allegedly stolen Apple code that’s used to improve Microsoft’s Video for Windows technology.
The lawsuit comes to a head with Apple threatening a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against Microsoft. Meanwhile, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates threatens to cancel Office for Mac.
★★★★☆
In our Severance season 2 episode 5 recap, the maddeningly mysterious show delivers a somber and tense episode called “Trojan’s Horse.” It picks up the pieces after last week’s not-so-shocking revelation that Helena Eagan had been masquerading as innie Helly R., and Irving B. paid with his innie life to reveal it.
Last week’s episode 4 brought us into a wintry wilderness for the world’s weirdest team-building glamping trip. It turned a spotlight on Irving B. for the first time, but it also showed his likely demise as an innie as he took an uncharacteristically bold stand in the woods. Now he gets a Lumon-style funeral.
Eye Tracking is a pretty remarkable and ambitious accessibility feature that lets you control your iPhone entirely with your eyes. You can use this feature in a pinch if you need to use your phone with soapy hands while doing the dishes or with grimy hands while working on a car or doing other dirty work. Alternatively, if you’re losing your fine motor skills, this feature could be an essential one to learn.
Likely borrowing some of the software from the advanced Vision Pro headset, this feature lets you control your iPhone hands-free. And once you set up Eye Tracking, you can use the iPhone’s Sound Actions feature. It lets you perform certain functions, like toggling your flashlight or taking a screenshot, just by making various mouth noises.
Keep reading or watch our video.
Apple reinstated TikTok on the App Store, once again making it available for download. This move comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote a letter to Apple confirming that the U.S. government won’t enforce the ban on TikTok.
Apple removed TikTok and other ByteDance apps from the App Store in mid-January to comply with the law.
Looking to go into a field that offers lots of job security? Check out The Ultimate Cybersecurity & IT Career Certification Pathway Training Bundle. These courses will prep you for a lucrative IT job. And for a limited time, the entire training bundle costs less than $25.
With this affordable course, you can get a head start on a bulletproof career path.
Apple plans to make the 27-inch apple studio display look even more beautiful, according to a reliable source. It’ll supposedly accomplish this by replacing the standard backlights with mini-LEDs.
The change will likely increase its appeal to prosumers looking for an Apple-quality external display for their Mac or iPad.
If autocorrect repeatedly serves up ridiculous options, you can reset your iPhone keyboard to eliminate weird additions to its dictionary. This comes in handy when you find that autocorrect suddenly starts changing words it doesn’t need to change, or offering up other strange glitches.
It just takes a second to reset the keyboard dictionary on iPhone or iPad. We’ll show you how.
Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed Thursday that his company plans to launch a new product on February 19. He didn’t say what’s on the agenda, other than using a social media post to tease “the newest member of the family.”
There are actually several Apple products that rumors indicate could launch then, including AirTag 2, a new HomePod, the iPhone SE 4, and the MacBook Air with an M4 processor. If you’re curious when does the new MacBook Pro come out, reports suggest Apple may introduce it alongside other anticipated products.
Sennheiser is a legendary name in audio. And right now you can get the German company’s acclaimed Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones — one of AirPods Max’s many excellent competitors — for $130 off, at $249.95 in all five colors, on Amazon. The regular price is $379.95.