Netflix is continuing its momentum in the age of Disney+ and others. Photo: Stock Catalog/Flickr CC
There might be more streaming services than ever, but Netflix seems like it’s continuing to maintain momentum in the age of Disney+, HBO+, and others.
According to a new report by Sensor Tower, Netflix was the second-most downloaded iOS app in the App Store. The number one streaming video app? YouTube, of course.
An iPad mini concept drops the size of this tablet even more by cutting the bezels. Concept: Parker Ortolani
The iPad mini has a 7.9-inch screen surrounded by bezels. Big ones. So a concept artist drew up some images that show how much smaller this tablet could be with an edge-to-edge display. The result is a device that’s nearly 20% smaller.
But Apple might be going in the opposite direction: making a mini with a larger screen.
Help make iOS and iPadOS 14 more stable. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
If you’ve already updated to the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 public betas, you have an opportunity to help ensure they are as stable as can be by the time they roll out to everyone this fall.
Found a bug? Report it to Apple to increase the chances of it being fixed in a future beta release. It’s quick and simple, and it will make using iPhone and iPad better for everyone.
Here’s how to file effective bug reports for iOS and iPadOS 14.
Oprah Winfrey interviews thought leaders in an Apple TV+ series debuting Thursday, July 30. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ and Oprah Winfrey on Monday announced a new series to explore racism and other relevant topics. The goal of the The Oprah Conversation is to offer perspective on a range of topics shaping our world, and reveal gripping stories of human connection.
The topical show is coming in hot, too. The first episode, titled “How to Be an Antiracist,” airs Thursday, July 30.
Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive? Photo: Apple
The Apple Thunderbolt 3 Pro Cable comes at a price that should make even the most devoted Mac fan blink. At $129, it costs at least $50 more than comparable cables.
Not everything Apple sells is extraordinarily expensive. But it’s undeniable that the company occasionally adds on the “Apple Tax.”
Make contacts and conversations easier to find. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iOS 14 gives us the ability to “pin” important contacts and group chats inside the Messages app for the first time. Pinned conversations stay at the top of the list so they’re always easy to find.
macOS 10.15.6 and VMware Fusion are a bad combination. Very bad. Photo: VMware
VMware tech support recommends users of VMware Fusion not install the latest version of macOS, released July 15. The combination inevitably crashes the Mac they’re running on.
The Refine Edge Brush jumped from desktop to Photoshop on iPad on Monday. Photo: Adobe/Cult of Mac
Adobe added Refine Edge Brush to Photoshop on iPad on Monday. Already a major feature of the desktop version, it allows users to select the edges of subjects covered in hair or fur, or with other very complex shapes.
In addition, the iPadOS version of this professional image-editing application can now easily rotate the canvas while editing.
The notch isn't going anywhere, a new image suggests. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Images posted to Chinese social media depict what could be the notch and display for the upcoming 5.4-inch iPhone 12.
It’s tough to tell too much from the picture. However, if accurate, it contradicts previous reports that Apple could reduce the size of the notch or eliminate it completely on the new iPhones. On the contrary, since the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 could be the smallest Face ID iPhone yet, the notch might be comparatively larger than ever!
Tim Cook will testify before a congressional antitrust subcommittee this week. Photo: Mark Mathosian/Flickr CC
When the CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google take questions Wednesday from the U.S. House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, they likely will face intense scrutiny of their companies’ business practices. But just how tough will the questioning get?
Scott Galloway, a NYU Stern School of Business marketing professor who wrote the best-selling book The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, thinks he knows what Congress will ask the executives. In a new article, Galloway laid out the questions Apple CEO Tim Cook and the others should expect.
Bag yours before the discounts disappear. Photo: Apple
Amazon is slashing prices on a bunch of the hottest Beats headphones for a limited time only. You can save up to $129.96, with Solo3, Solo Pro, Powerbeats Pro, and new Powerbeats headphones all on sale.
Don't expect a futuristic redesign just yet. Photo: Xhakomo Doda
Apple could (possibly) debut its iMac refresh as soon as this week. But those hoping for the much-rumored iMac redesign and Apple Silicon integration likely will need to wait a bit longer.
The suggestion that Apple will update the iMac was first mentioned in a tweet by leaker @Soybeys that has since been deleted. Apple leaker Jon Prosser, who also has been known to be pretty accurate in the past, said new iMacs are on the way, but suggested they will debut in August instead.
Prosser also said not to expect a major iMac redesign until the first Apple Silicon Macs arrive further down the line.
Apple TV+ has scored a couple of big Emmy wins. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ picked up two Daytime Emmy awards over the weekend, including “Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Program” for Ghostwriter and “Outstanding Single Camera Editing” for Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10.
While two wins is only a fraction of the 17 nominations Apple received, it’s still an impressive achievement. Apple TV+ only launched in November last year. Apple has reportedly made winning awards a big part of its Apple TV+ strategy.
The hearing was originally scheduled for Monday, July 27 at midday EST. However, two people “familiar with the matter” claim that it is being pushed back. This is due to its overlap with a memorial service for the late civil rights leader John Lewis.
Season two looks like it will be full of action. Photo: Apple
Tensions will ramp up between the United States and the Soviet Union in the second season of For All Mankind, a trailer for the Apple Original’s second season suggests.
This mini projector sports a 240" image, 200–lumen brightness, and built-In Hi-Fi speakers. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Going to the movie theater is out of the question these days. So instead, why not just make every wall into a cinema-ready screen? That’s exactly what you can do with this compact 1080p projector.
The award-winning iPhone photog shares some of her secrets for capturing the perfect moment. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Dimpy Bhalotia’s captivating pictures racked up big wins at this week’s prestigious iPhone Photography Awards. Find out how she does it — and how you can take better pictures with your iPhone — in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. The free iOS mag was built for reading on your iPad or iPhone.
Grab it now and get your weekend reading squared away. We filled it with how-tos for all your Apple gear and reviews of things like new podcast Apple News Today. Plus, you’ll get your fill of Apple news (like Cupertino’s big commitment to go 100% carbon neutral).
Download it now. Or hit the links below to read the stories in your browser.
These Bluetooth earbuds offer up to 15 hours of wireless music and cost a fraction of what AirPods do. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Wireless earbuds connect us to our devices, so we look for those with the best battery life, comfort and range. These Bluetooth earphones tick all the boxes of a modern listening device.
Acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog is co-directing Fireball for Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Apple bought the rights to Fireball, a documentary about meteorites co-directed by Werner Herzog and professor Clive Oppenheimer.
The two filmmakers have worked before. Very successfully. They scored an Oscar nomination for Encounters at the End of the World and an Emmy nomination for Into the Inferno.
“Set course for more movies!” Greyhound may have inspired a new strategy for Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
Tom Hanks’ WWII flick Greyhound is the biggest hit Apple has enjoyed so far. And it’s reportedly made the company serious about blockbuster Apple TV+ movies for the first time.
The iPhone maker is supposedly considering debuting a movie each month on its streaming service. And several of those are expected to be blockbusters.
Face ID on a MacBook could be a better fit than it is for iPhone or iPad. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
New evidence indicates that Apple will bring its Face ID biometric security system to Macs. The latest beta of macOS Big Sur reportedly contains code related to facial recognition.
The Lullaby of Life colorfully combines creation with music. Photo: 1 Single Game
So many games are about fighting and killing. But the goal of The Lullaby of Life is bringing life to an inert universe. The colorful and musical game, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, combines relaxation with puzzle solving.
A past KansasFest during less socially distanced times. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac
Being a fan of the Apple II is a lonely hobby. While being an Apple lover in 2020 is more mainstream than ever, being an enthusiast for Apple’s first mass market computer — launched way back in 1977 — is significantly less common.
Unless it’s July 24-26, that is. Kicking off today, and running through the weekend, KansasFest is a conference dedicated to all things Apple II. And like every other conference this year, in 2020 it’s gone online only.
The SmartDesk 2 can turn your boring desk into a versatile workspace. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Until very recently, I never spent a lot of mental energy thinking about the desk I worked at. As long as there was enough space for whatever I was doing, and it wasn’t getting in the way, I was pretty flexible.
As I’ve started spending more time working and taking meetings from home, I have started to notice when certain “desks” don’t work as well. Sitting on the couch, standing at the bar in our kitchen, or working from the dining table are all OK from time to time, but none are particularly comfortable long-term. Some of this comes down to having a desk at the proper height, and some of it is the lack of flexibility I get in those situations.
That why, when the folks at Autonomous asked if I wanted to check out their SmartDesk 2 adjustable standing desk, I saw it as an opportunity to see if the hype about standing desks is all it’s cracked up to be.