Ready to streamline the way you use your Mac? The five essential Mac apps in the 2021 Mac Utility Bundle will give your productivity a real boost. And you can get them all for less than $20.
Apple had supposedly been working with Hyundai on its electric, self-driving vehicle. Photo: Mpho Mojapelo/Unsplash CC
Apple and Hyundai may have had the business equivalent of a high school relationship in the past few weeks. First they were just friends, then going steady, and now they appear to have broken up — and Apple’s got the hots for someone else. All on a suitably compressed timeline, of course.
Bloomberg reported the breakup Sunday, saying Apple has paused discussions with Hyundai and affiliate Kia Motors about building an electric car. Apple’s now supposedly talking to other automobile companies about a possible deal.
Apple gives users more freedom over apps in iOS 14.5. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The recently released iOS 14.5 beta gives iPhone and iPad users the ability to change their default music player for the first time. Third-party apps like Spotify and Tidal are supported, and switching is super-simple.
This smart light comes with Alexa inside. Photo: GE Lighting
If you’re limited on space, you know the special value of multitasking furniture and organizers. Whether it’s a standing desk you can easily convert, cord organizers to keep cable clutter at bay, or other helpful space-saving goods, it certainly helps to decorate your pad with stuff that performs more than one function.
This C by GE Sol WiFi Alexa Enabled Smart Light doesn’t just brighten your space with a modern glow. It also fully connects to Amazon Alexa to give you better control of your living space.
That roar you hear is the Apple car rumors redlining. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
After years of low idling, the Apple car rumors are really revving up. Possible deals with Kia and other automakers … whispers about secret supply-chain maneuvers … even a surprising claim that Cupertino’s first cars “will not be designed to have a driver.”
That’s the kind of Apple car news you’ll find in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.
You’ll also get more potential revelations about that other top-secret Apple endeavor — building a headset. Whether that will be a $3,000 niche VR model or something a little more down to earth remains to be seen.
And if that’s not enough good Apple news for one week, Snoopy is back for new adventures on Apple TV+. We’ve got reviews of The Snoopy Show as well as the latest episodes of Dickinson and Losing Alice.
Apple more than doubled the trade-in on the early return of the Mac mini Developer Transition Kit. Photo: Apple
Apple sweetened the deal offered to developers for the early return of the Mac mini that they used to test macOS Big Sur running on Apple Silicon. Friday, the company responded to complaints that it wasn’t offering enough for the Developer Transition Kits by more than doubling the amount of money previously offering for the units.
This projector delivers impeccable image quality for both professional and personal use. Photo: Vankyo
If you’re looking to create your own outdoor theater experience — and maybe invite a few friends over to enjoy a classic movie under the stars — there’s no better option than this Vankyo Performance V600 Projector.
Is metal or plastic really the best material to make computers out of. How about sandstone? Photo: Hank Beyer/Alex Sizemore
Concept designers are supposed to think outside of the box. Hank Beyer and Alex Sizemore created some Mac designs that are so far outside of the box you sometimes can’t tell there ever was a box. Their computers are encased in stone, ice, beeswax and other exotic materials.
The ladies of Dickinson hit the spa in this week's episode. Photo: Apple TV+
In this week’s episode of Dickinson, Emily and company disembark to a health spa so everyone can unwind, though that’s not really what happens. Apple TV+’s millennial melodrama enjoys a mostly off week of batty jokes and ignoring the characters’ problems.
Get the brilliant HiRise Wireless for 20% less. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s terrific HiRise charging stand has gone wireless. The newest model offers fast charging speeds and a 2-in-1 design that makes it easy to take it anywhere. Get yours today for $20 less.
These possible Apple augmented-reality glasses aren’t all that sexy, but they also aren‘t a huge visor strapped to your face. Illustration: Apple
Apple filed a patent application that could give a first glimpse of the AR glasses the company is developing. An image included with the filing shows a small, lightweight augmented-reality device about the size of a standard pair of eyeglasses.
The primary focus of the patent is the ways the glasses might detect what its wearer is doing. These will allow the wearer to interact with the head-worn device in a variety of ways.
When you have more gear than you use, it's time to break it down to basic needs. Photo: Gareth Owen
Gareth Owen is a London-based professional sound designer whose job involves extensive CAD and acoustic modeling, but he also does sound effects work and multitrack mixing.
So he built a setup that functions as both his home office and a basic home studio.
Writer Sophie is ready to take whatever she can in Losing Alice. Photo: Apple TV+
On this week’s episode of Apple TV+’s behind-the-scenes filmmaking drama Losing Alice, rehearsals have begun, locations are found, and parts are cast. Now all that remains is for the relationship between writer, director and star not to devolve into shrieking sexual hysterics.
You want a snack? Make yourself a pasta bake! Photo: Cult of Mac
A man in Worcester, Massachusetts, has reportedly wound up in hospital after accidentally ingesting one of his AirPods while sleeping.
Bradford Gauthier reportedly fell asleep wearing his AirPods, only to discover that he was missing one of them upon waking. He also felt a discomfort in his chest. That’s not a great combination of events.
Apple's first Apple TV+ movie picked up a bunch of nominations. Photo: Apple
Cupertino’s having a great week when it comes to Apple TV+ award nominations. Alongside being shortlisted for several Golden Globes, Apple also picked up 11 nominations for its shows (and one movie) for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards.
Get a lifetime subscription to a highly reviewed app that will let you learn eight languages quickly. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Learning a new language doesn’t need to be tedious and time-consuming. The Speakly language app uses a proven methodology that combines science and computational algorithms to teach you the 4,000 most statistically relevant words of your target tongue in order of their importance.
And while that might sound intense, the app actually makes language learning fun and engaging.
Snoopy and Woodstock return for more low-key laughs in The Snoopy Show. Photo: Apple TV+
Everyone’s favorite beagle flies back into action for a new series of misadventures on Apple TV+. Charles Schulz’s beloved gang of misfits are here to provide support on The Snoopy Show, based on the Peanuts comics.
The new animated series premieres Friday, bringing some stress-busting, family-friendly entertainment to Apple’s streaming service.
Kia reportedly started contacting potential partners in Georgia about working on the Apple car, The Wall Street Journal says.
This is the latest development as Apple and Kia parent company Hyundai supposedly prepare to team up in a $3.6 billion deal to build a self-driving electric vehicle. Kia reportedly could manufacture as many as 100,000 Apple cars per year.
The Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for iPhone 12 Series is svelte even holding an Apple Card and a drivers license. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Accessories that take on more than one task are the best. Like Moft’s clip-on iPhone wallet that’s also a stand. It can hold three cards, but is very slender. And it uses magnets to cling tightly to the handset.
I tested the Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for weeks, so I can share what it’s really like in daily use.
iOS 14.5 beta 1 lets Apple Watch wearers unlock their iPhone without Face ID. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has a solution for the hassle of unlocking an iPhone while wearing a face mask. iOS 14.5 beta 1, which was seeded to beta testers in the general public on Thursday, enables users to unlock their iPhone when their Apple Watch is nearby.
Plus, there are other new features. And this wasn’t the only fresh beta introduced. The first pre-release versions of iPadOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 are also available for the public and developers to begin testing.
Finding just the right emoji to say what you mean gets easier in iPadOS 14.5. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
iPhone fans were first able to search for emoji last year, and Apple is finally bringing this feature to iPads. It’s built into the iPadOS 14.5 beta 1 released to public beta testing on Thursday.
Also, those with the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad get a horizontally-oriented boot screen.
It looks good no matter where you place it. Photo: Laut
Most of the wireless chargers you’ll find on the market today look like boring black blocks of plastic that look out of place in a nicely decorated room. But the Laut Base wireless charger is different.
A premium aluminum casing and a marble surface allow this charging pad to look good no matter where you place it. Order yours from the Cult of Mac Store today in black or white.