Get VPN, malware, ad blocking and other essential digital security tools in one intuitive app. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
As more of our life moves online, security and privacy become more valuable. That’s why we’re big fans of virtual private networks, malware blockers and any other tools that make online life more secure. Luckily, you can get all that and more from one app.
Shut up, Lutz! The Helpsters are back for a second season. Photo: Apple TV+
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” has long been the Sesame Workshop’s modus operandi, and the second season of Apple TV+ kids show Helpsters is living proof that the strategy works.
The educational show, created by Odd Squad and Adventure Time writer Timothy McKeon, with music by longtime collaborator Paul Buckley, is long on charm and star power and short on filler.
Season two of Helpsters, which arrived on Apple TV+ Friday, is likely exactly what your kids need while you finally get around to doing the laundry. And you’ll laugh, too, at the litany of guest stars and the occasional elegant joke.
Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds is an explosive documentary launching soon on Apple TV+.
Incoming! Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds is a documentary movie scheduled to debut on Apple TV+ in November. It’s from acclaimed directors Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer.
The Collage Atlas takes players on a hand-drawn, first-person journey through a picture book. Photo: John William Evelyn
The Collage Atlas could be a temporary escape from 2020. It’s “a journey through an entirely hand-drawn picture-book dream-world,” according to the creator of the game, John William Evelyn.
This title launched Friday on Apple Arcade, and is available for a range of devices.
A significantly better Apple TV is in development. But it won‘t be out in November. Photo: Apple
A rumored Apple TV with more of a focus on gaming allegedly won’t be out before the end of 2020. It’ll be a significant upgrade, with new features beyond a performance bump.
Apple’s iPhone 12 cases aren‘t ready yet, but there are plenty of third-party options available now. Photo: Apple
There are already plenty of iPhone 12 cases to choose from, even though Apple’s newest handset hasn’t yet reached customers hands. When this product arrives on October 23, they can have a case waiting.
Here’re are descriptions of a wide range of options already up for sale, along with lots more coming soon.
The two Product(Red) bands for Apple Watch Series 6 that suffered a late launch became available in the Apple Online Store Friday. The red variants of the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands cost $49 and $99 respectively, and will ship in 1-2 weeks. Both are available in 40mm and 44mm sizes.
Are streaming royalties fair to artists? Photo: Apple
Politicians in the UK are opening an investigation into the streaming music giants to find out whether the likes of Apple and Spotify pay artists fairly when it comes to streaming.
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini now cost the same, whether they are bought for AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint or Verizon. Photo: Apple
Apple lowered the price of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini for T-Mobile/Sprint customers on Friday. These handsets are no longer cheaper for customers of rival telecoms.
Stream more than 100 channels straight to any device, from sports to TV, movies and beyond.
In this day and age, it’s amazing that anybody still uses cable. Streaming services can bring all the same shows and more to any device — and at a competitive price. If you’re looking to boost your home entertainment situation, this half-price deal from fuboTV is a must-see.
As rumored, Apple’s iPad Air 4 is now available for preorder on the Apple Online Store. The fourth-gen iPad Air was shown off by Apple at last month’s “Time Flies” event, but Apple declined to announce a preorder date — beyond simply “October.”
Because both the iPad Air 4 and new iPhone 12 handsets feature Apple’s A14 chip, Apple reportedly wanted to hold back the iPad Air 4 until the first iPhone 12 handsets were available to preorder.
The long-awaited iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are here. Almost. Photo: Apple
On your marks, get set, go, go, go! Apple preorders went live Friday at 5am Pacific time, giving customers the chance to order their new iPhone 12 handsets.
For the first time in history, Apple is this year offering four different iPhone models. The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini are Apple’s two “regular” iPhones, while the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and monster 6.7-inch iPhone Pro Max are its premium handsets.
You can only order the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models today, though. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max, this year’s two size extremes, will be available for preorder November 6. Phones available for preorder today will ship October 23.
Tim Cook seems really excited about 5G. Should you be? Photo: Apple
One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to iPhone 12 this year is for its 5G connectivity. It promises to be significantly faster than the 4G networks we’ve become accustomed to, making things like mobile gaming, content streaming, web browsing — basically everything you do online — better than ever.
You should be excited, but not too excited. 5G can be as spectacular as Apple led us to believe during this week’s iPhone 12 unveiling … but only if you can get good 5G coverage — and the right kind of 5G connection.
Allow us to explain what you need to know about 5G.
Tehran continues to be one of the best things on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Friday means, among other things, new shows on Apple TV+. This week, Apple debuted a new episode of both its hit spy drama Tehran and Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman-fronted travelogue Long Way Up. There’s also a new series of kids show Helpsters.
"Good morning... for the third month in a row." Photo: Apple
If rumors are to be believed, Apple is set to host yet another virtual event in November, making three in a row after September’s “Time Flies” iPad and Apple Watch event and October’s “Hi, Time” HomePod mini and iPhone 12 unveiling.
While the November event has yet to be officially announced, notorious Apple leaker Jon Prosser thinks he knows when it will be — and we don’t have long to wait.
Apple isn't exactly subtle about pushing 5G. Photo: Apple
Apple execs uttered the term “5G” so many times during Tuesday’s iPhone 12 unveiling that they could have triggered semantic satiation. (That’s when you hear something so many times that it starts to sound … really weird.)
If their repetition of the word didn’t burn 5G into your brain — or turn your gray matter into mush — the 5G supercuts that followed certainly will.
Nuheara IQbuds 2 Max are a bit larger than many rival earbuds, but they do much more. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Nuheara IQbuds 2 Max aren’t typical wireless earbuds. Sure, they let you listen to music and podcasts, but that’s just the start. They have active noise cancellation when you want quiet. Or they help you hear in-person conversations better by filtering out background sounds.
I did real-world testing of these in-ear headphones designed for people whose hearing isn’t quite good as it used to be.
Open an Apple Card account in the next month and you can get $75 back from Nike. Screenshot: Apple
Nike offers a bonus for new users of Apple’s credit card. Sign up for an Apple Card, buy $75 or more from Nike in the first 30 days, and get $75 in Daily Cash.
Plus, Nike offers unlimited 3% back at Nike when Apple Card with Apple Pay is used.
This wireless charger can blast your iPhone with germ-killing ultraviolet light. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
With a recent study showing the virus that causes COVID-19 can live up to 28 days on glass and stainless steel, it might be time to double down on your disinfectant efforts. Remind me again what iPhones are made of … oh, yeah, glass and metal. Yikes!
One easy way to sanitize your iPhone and other small items is to use a device like the Mophie UV Sanitizer with a built-in wireless charger. While the company doesn’t specifically claim that the device kills COVID-19 dead, another recent study showed definitively that ultraviolet light can kill the potentially deadly virus.
At some point, “better safe than sorry” comes into play.
Costs can quickly add up! Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC
Recurring subscriptions have changed how we pay for digital content. And, while each service might only demand a couple of our hard-earned bucks at a time, the costs can quickly add up.
According to a report citing data from mobile measurement firm Adjust, the average person in the U.S. spends $20.78 a month on app subscriptions. And, given that this just an average, many spend a whole lot more than that.
Spotify makes it easier to access your music and podcasts. Photo: Spotify
If Spotify remains your main streaming music listening platform, there’s some good news: the streaming giant has finally released an iOS 14 widget that lets you quickly access recently played artists, podcasts, and albums in a single tap.
There are both small and medium-sized versions of the widget. The smaller of these shows your most recently listened to item. Meanwhile, the medium-sized widget offers a more luxurious, five most recent items array.
Travel back in time and explore significant world events with a growing library of history documentaries, interviews, podcasts, films, and more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Had a little too much of the news lately? As 2020 winds down (at last!), there’s no better time to immerse yourself in historical events.
Living, as we do, in the age of binge-watching, you can stream history straight to your favorite viewing or listening devices. And this inexpensive subscription service makes sure you’re never lacking for something new and intriguing to explore.
Apple previously said the tablets would be available sometime in October. Photo: Apple
Beyond saying it would be available in October, Apple didn’t announce a precise launch date for the iPad Air 4 when it showed it off at last month’s “Time Flies” event.
Eagle-eyed Apple watchers may have uncovered the official release date, with Best Buy’s Canadian website listing October 23 as the date it will go on sale. While that’s not conclusive on its own, it coincides with a previous date suggested by Apple tipster Jon Prosser.
Get yours before they're all gone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Pick up a 10.5-inch iPad Pro and enjoy a whopping $299.01 off the usual price with Amazon’s biggest ever discount. You can pick up a 64GB model with Wi-Fi + Cellular connectivity for just $479.99.
It seems the iPhone 12 Pro gets a RAM increase from last year. Photo: Apple
While it’s long been considered a fundamental spec for computers, Apple doesn’t publicize the amount of RAM its iPhones ship with. But newly published AnTuTu scores, referring to a popular Chinese benchmarking tool, appears to shed some light on this year’s iPhone 12 handsets.
They suggest that the iPhone 12 comes with 4GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro model comes with 6GB of RAM. If accurate, that would be an increase for the Pro models from the 4GB used for both variants of iPhone 11 last year.