Mobile menu toggle

Apple Watch false positives could risk overburdening hospitals

By

Apple Watch
Study raises some important questions. But more work is needed.
Photo: Jim Merithew / Cult of Mac

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic are worried that false positives from the Apple Watch’s pulse-reading sensor could overburden medical services.

This is the pulse rate sensor available with all models of Apple Watch. It is not to be confused with the newer ECG heart rate feature on newer devices.

Save almost $100 on Apple Watch 5 as Woot clears out new stock

By

Get Apple Watch 5 at its lowest price yet
Bag yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Apple

Woot is offering some of the biggest discounts we’ve seen so far on Apple Watch Series 5 for a limited time only. You can pick up new, open-box models with GPS for as little as $329.99.

Both 40mm and 44mm options are available in silver, gold and space gray. Stock is limited, so bag yours before they’re all gone!

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Apple boots pair of RSS readers out of the App Store in China

By

AllOfUS says Apple helps censorship in China
Apple faces a tough situation in China.
Photo: AllOfUs

Apple has reportedly removed a pair of RSS reader apps, Reeder and Fiery Feeds, from the App Store in China due to their ability to allow users to access information the country would rather they not see.

It’s not clear exactly what prompted this particular banning, but China has been cracking down on RSS feeds since 2007. That year, it initiated a blanket ban on all web-based RSS feed aggregators. In 2017, Apple removed RSS reader app Inoreader from the App Store in China.

In other words, this may be less a case of “What did Reeder and Fiery Feeds do wrong?” than “how did they manage to survive as long as they did?”

Take control of your daily tasks and to-do lists with this handy app

By

Pagico 9 Task Management
Boost your productivity with this tool's task timeline, project visualization, daily planning and cross-links.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You’re not alone. These days, it’s harder than ever to stay focused on tasks both big and small. Times are strange but life goes on. To help you stay focused on work, errands and to-do lists, this app — which runs on Mac, iPhone, iPad and more — brings together a ton of intuitive tools and features.

Apple’s biggest manufacturer is building AR glasses of its own

By

Apple Glasses
Apple is also reportedly developing its own AR glasses.
Concept: Taeyeon Kim

Foxconn, Apple’s biggest manufacturing partner, is reportedly developing its own augmented reality (AR) smart glasses. These will be used in retail, smart factories, and smart medical care.

The AR glasses will utilize micro LED displays, one of the next-gen display technologies that Apple plans to use in future products. Apple is also said to be hard at work on its own AR glasses, tentatively dubbed “Apple Glass.”

Candy Crush Friends Saga passes $200 million in lifetime player spending

By

Candy Crush
continues to go from strength to strength.
Photo: Nathan Love/King/Candy Crush Friends Saga

Candy Crush Friends Saga has surpassed $200 million in lifetime player spending across both the iOS and Google Play app stores, a report from app intelligence first Sensor Tower claims.

In total, the Candy Crush franchise has earned more than $1 billion so far this year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook awarded first stock grant in nearly a decade

By

CEO Tim Cook photo via Fox Business
That's a reason to smile!
Photo: Fox Business

Tim Cook may well stay at the helm at Apple until at least 2025, according to SEC filings which detail the stock options that will vest in that time. Cook will receive 333,987 units of restricted stock options, vesting in thirds beginning April 1, 2023.

“For the first time in nearly a decade, we are awarding Tim a new stock grant that will vest over time in recognition of his outstanding leadership and with great optimism for Apple’s future as he carries these efforts forward,” Apple’s board of directors told Reuters.

iOS 14.2 adds more evidence iPhone 12 won’t come with EarPods

By

Apple's new EarPods brought big improvements over previous versions.
This could be the end of the road for EarPods coming packaged with the iPhone.
Photo: Juanibb/Wikipedia CC

A “minor code tweak” discovered in iOS 14.2 appears to confirm previous reports that Apple will not package EarPods with the iPhone 12.

The rumor was originally suggested by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo back in May. This change in language, hidden in iOS 14.2, seems to lend credence to that idea.

How to prevent AirPods from automatically switching to different devices

By

AirPods-Pro-how-to
Take care of switching manually like you used to.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple recently gave AirPods and AirPods Pro the ability to automatically switch between different devices depending on what you’re doing. Sometimes the feature is useful, but other times it’s really frustrating.

You may have noticed it after updating to iOS 14 on your iPhone or iPadOS 14 on your iPad. The good news is, it’s possible to disable the feature and take care of switching yourself.

We’ll show you how.

10 awesome accessories for your new Apple Watch

By

juuk
Treat your new Apple Watch to some of the best accessories!
Photo: Juuk

Now that you’ve got your shiny new Apple Watch, you’ll want some great accessories to go with it. A sturdy charging stand, essential protection, and a selection of great bands are all must-haves.

We’ve rounded up 10 awesome accessories for any new Apple Watch owner to help get your collection started. They’re some of our favorite items available right now, and they’re all nicely priced.

Fuel cells could power future iPhones for weeks at a time

By

A fuel cell iPhone or Mac is a possibility.
Apple engineers are always looking to the future. Today, it’s patent for a fuel cell for an iPhone or iPad.
Photo: RF._.studio/Pexels CC

Rather than traditional batteries, a future iPhone or Mac might be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Apple on Monday received a patent for a fuel cell that might be used in future devices. The goal is a device that can go days or weeks without needing to be refueled.

Belt out your favorite songs with mobile karaoke

By

Karaoke On Demand
Sing your favorite tunes anywhere and anytime with Karaoke On Demand.
Photo: Bruce Mars

Few things are as therapeutic as passionately singing your favorite songs completely out of key. Even better if your friends are in on the fun. That’s the joy of karaoke — and this app makes it easy to pop up a karaoke session just about anywhere.

iPhone 12 production runs 24 hours a day, with big bonuses for top workers

By

Apple's relationship with Foxconn on the rocks
Tim Cook meeting with a member of the iPhone production line.
Photo: Apple

Production is running full-tilt for the iPhone 12, the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.

According to the publication, production is running 24 hours per day, with no vacations allowed and mandatory overtime. There are also “juicy bonuses” for employees who put in the time.

Custom iPhone 12 variants pay tribute to Apple’s very first computer

By

Caviar iPhone Apple-1
How many Apple has changed since 1976!
Photo: Caviar

Russian company Caviar is known for producing blinged-out Apple devices that would make billionaire fat cats and 2000-era rappers say “that’s a bit over-the-top.”

But its latest creations, infinitely more humble and low-fi in appearance, are easily my favorite of its customized devices. Caviar will produce a pair of iPhone 12 models patterned after the original Apple-1 computer, as built in 1976.

Save $100 on the highly rated, dirt-busting Deebot N79S robot vac

By

Save on Deebot N79S robot vac
Let the N79S take care of the cleaning for you.
Photo: Deebot

Leave the vacuum cleaner in the cupboard, sit back and relax, and let the Deebot N79S take care of the dirty floors for you. This highly rated robot vacuum is a steal at $100 off for a limited time only.

The N79S cleans hard floors and carpets with ease with its powerful suction, and runs for up to 110 minutes on a single charge. You can control it with your phone, or by using Amazon Alexa.

Bag yours today before the price returns to normal.

Epic Games vs. Apple battle could end in a jury trial

By

iPhone with gavel.
The verdict may be in the hands of the people.
Photo: Tingey Injury Law Firm/Cult of Mac

The Apple vs. Epic Games antitrust lawsuit could come down to jurors to decide. According to a Monday report from Bloomberg, the federal judge overseeing the case has said that a jury trial could ultimately turn out to be the best way to resolve the case.

While U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of Oakland, California has not yet ordered such a case, she indicated that it might be a scenario where jurors are the ones best equipped to decide an outcome.

iPhone 12 will come in a 64GB storage option after all

By

These iPhone 12 dummy units show what the real handset might look like.
According to Jon Prosser, iPhone 12 event will take place October 13.
Photo: Marques Brownlee

Don’t bid farewell to the 64GB storage option for the iPhone just yet! According to Apple leaker Jon Prosser, the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 will come in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB options.

Previously, Prosser suggested the 2020 iPhones would start at 128GB. 64GB has been the lowest standard storage configuration for Apple smartphones since the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017. However, there will be no 64GB iPhone 12 Pro.

Quick and easy game demo shows why iOS 14’s App Clips are so cool

By

App Clip
Apple’s Craig Federighi says that iOS 14’s App Clips are an easy way to discover more of what the App Store has to offer.
Screenshot: Apple

App Clips, a signature feature of iOS 14, lets you quickly run a lightweight version of an application without actually installing it. If that capability leaves you scratching your head about what, exactly, App Clips would be good for, a hot new game demo shows the appeal of this powerful feature.

Simply visit the webpage for Phoenix 2 using Safari on a device running iOS 14 or iPadOS 14. Then tap on the big Play button, and start gaming. The process takes less than 10 seconds, and you’re in the game. (Note: It does not work if you are running Safari in Private Browsing mode.)

If you decide you’re not interested, just close the demo and it’s gone. There’s nothing to uninstall because Phoenix 2 was never on your iPhone or iPad. It was just an App Clip.

Apple TV+ reels in another star with music doc Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry

By

Documentary
The world's a little blurry, and so is this photo of Billie Eilish.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ just landed another star for its ever-growing galaxy. The service will stream upcoming documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry in February 2021, the same month the film makes its theatrical premiere.

The “highly anticipated documentary” is being produced by Apple Original Films and directed by R.J. Cutler, Apple said in a press release Monday. Cutler made a name for himself with documentaries The War Room and The September Issue as well as TV shows American High and Nashville.

Apple explains the secret sauce that makes Scribble so great in iPadOS 14

By

Scribble in iPadOS 14 was developed with machine learning.
Scribble in iPadOS 14 recognizes how you write, not only what you write.
Photo: Apple

Scribble handwriting recognition in iPadOS 14 is a more complex system than many might realize. Identifying letters and words goes beyond simply examining what someone has written. The iPad uses machine learning to recognize the writer’s intent through how they write, according to Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of software engineering.

Roku players gain AirPlay 2 streaming and HomeKit capabilities

By

Roku with Apple AirPlay 2 support — finally!
With AirPlay 2, an iPhone can easily stream video to a large TV. And it’s coming to Roku.
Photo: Apple

Roku players will soon support AirPlay 2, Apple’s wireless video streaming technology. This will allow an iPhone, iPad or Mac user to share content directly to a supported Roku device.

In addition, Roku announced a new iOS app, and upcoming support for Apple’s home automation system.

Apple TV+ will be home to Russo brothers’ first movie since Avengers: Endgame

By

Cherry novel
Could this be the first Apple TV+ movie to win an Oscar?
Photo: Alfred A. Knopf

Apple has continued its winning ways when it comes to acquiring A-list movie properties by snapping up worldwide rights to the first movie made by the Russo brothers since Avengers: Endgame, a.k.a. the highest grossing movie of all time.

Called Cherry, the movie stars Tom Holland and Ciara Bravo in what are being touted as incredibly impressive acting performances. The movie is an adaptation of a bestselling 2018 novel by Nico Walker.