Buyers of the newest iMac can look forward to better performance, along with other new features. Photo: Apple
The very first benchmark scores are coming to light for the 2020 iMac that Apple unveiled Tuesday, and this computer is already showing a healthy performance increase over the 2019 version.
Despite a beta test, the Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming service isn’t headed for iPhone. Photo: Microsoft
Google Stadia and Microsoft Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming services aren’t debuting on iPhone or iPad anytime soon. And the holdup isn’t for technical reasons. It’s about Apple’s App Store policy.
These services could bring desktop-level games to Apple mobile devices. But Microsoft’s offering definitely won’t debut in the App Store this autumn, and Google’s isn’t available, either.
The OWC Rover Pro adds Mac Pro wheels for much less than Apple’s price. Photo: OWC
Apple sells wheels for the 2019 Mac Pro for the slightly ridiculous price of $699. On Thursday, a third-party accessory maker launched a cheaper option. Well, relatively cheaper: the OWC Rover Pro wheel kit is $199.
Don't be fooled by fake news stories. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp has long been taking steps to fight the spread of fake news on its platform. The latest, a new feature being piloted in many markets, makes it easier to fact-check any news stories you receive.
YouTube videos can look a lot better thanks to macOS Big Sur Beta 4. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple released the public beta of macOS Big Sur beta 4 Thursday, and the hottest new feature is very high-resolution YouTube videos. Once Mac users get their hands on the OS upgrade this autumn, they’ll be able to stream video from this service in 4K.
Just tap on the Apple TV widget to jump to your favorite shows in iPadOS 14. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A highlight of iOS 14 beta 4 is a TV widget on the Home screen, giving users easy access to shows in the Apple TV app. And the Weather widget returns for iPad users, among a handful of other tweaks.
Apple released the public beta Thursday after seeding it to developers earlier this week.
There’s new evidence the iPhone 12 notch will be the same size it’s been for years. Photo: Apple
A supposed image of the iPhone 12 display hardware shows that the screen cutout in the upcoming handset remains the same size as in its predecessors.
Earlier this year, we heard unconfirmed reports that this feature, usually called the notch, would shrink considerably in the iPhone 12. That’s not going to happen, if the image that leaked out Thursday is legit.
Twelve South's HiRise Duet is a primo charging dock for iPhone and Apple Watch. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Twelve South’s HiRise Duet iPhone and Apple Watch Stand is one of the best high-end charging stands on the market.
It charges fast, keeps my Apple Watch in nightstand mode, and takes up minimal room on my bedside table. Constructed from premium materials, the HiRise Duet makes decluttering sleek and stylish.
The latest update to the Twitter app for iOS allows users to limit who can reply to their tweets. Twitter started testing the feature with a small number of users in May. Thursday’s update rolls it out to everyone.
Update: Twitter admitted Thursday that it got ahead of itself. It announced this feature in the release notes of its latest iOS app, but then told The Verge “the ability to limit replies on tweets is not currently available to everyone.”
Apple's AI boss says machine learning is being used in more places than ever. Photo: Apple
Apple is using machine learning technology in more and more of its features, John Giannandrea, the company’s senior vice president for machine learning and AI strategy, reveals in a new interview with Ars Technica.
Giannandrea, who joined Apple from a job at Google, said “there are increasingly fewer and fewer places in iOS where we’re not using machine learning.” This stands in strong contrast to a few years ago — and even the point at which Giannandrea landed his Apple job.
Get a complete tour and education in the many powerful capabilities of Microsoft Excel. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’re a professional who works on a computer, chances are you’ve encountered Microsoft Excel. That’s because it’s one of the most powerful tools for managing data, schedules and more. It’s truly a fundamental part of any modern workplace, so it pays to get familiar with the popular spreadsheet program.
This bundle of courses will make you a master of Microsoft Excel.
TikTok may only be the first app targeted. Photo: Apple
The Trump administration wants to eliminate “untrusted” Chinese apps from the App Store as part of a multiphase “Clean Network” plan to cut down on potential security risks from China.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States will crack down on apps with parent companies based in China. The two specific apps mentioned are TikTok and WeChat. However, Pompeo simply used these to illustrate the kinds of apps that could get the boot.
Coming soon to an Apple Music show near you. Photo: Lady Gaga/Apple Music
The song “Radio Ga-Ga” gave Lady Gaga her stage name, and now, years later, she has her own radio show. And it’s debuting this week on Apple Music.
Gaga Radio will premiere at 11 a.m. Pacific on Friday, and run every Friday for the whole of August. In a tweet announcing the new show, Gaga invited listeners to hear her and her Chromatica collaborators “talk about the inspirations, making the record & more!”
You don't need widescreen vistas to tell an amazing story. Photo: Apple
People who shoot iPhone videos vertically are often mocked for having committed some nigh-unforgivable sin. Well, you count Academy Award-winning director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land) among the guilty. And he’s far from embarrassed about it.
Apple Wednesday debuted a short film shot by Chazelle using his iPhone 11 Pro. In the “Vertical Cinema” short, the Oscar-winning filmmaker shows how vertical shooting can be used to breathe new life into existing movie tropes. Lots and lots of movie tropes. Check it out below.
This might be the most unusual iPad Pro stand yet. Photos: Craig Smith
For law teacher Craig Smith, working from home meant improvising. And the inexpensive but effective DIY setup he concocted throws together a couple of strange Apple bedfellows: He uses a vintage PowerBook G4 to elevate his main computer, an 11-inch iPad Pro.
“I needed a little more room to spread out and not feel claustrophobic,” Smith told Cult of Mac. “So, I moved my setup to the dining room table that seats six, as I have little need these days to use it as a spot to actually dine.”
That’s when he got creative with ergonomics and pressed his vintage PowerBook into service as an iPad stand.
New iMac concept will make you ask, why isn‘t the base of the iMac already an iPhone charger? Photo: Daniel Bautista
A new iMac concept design offers good suggestions for where Apple should be taking this Mac desktop. But also included is a small-but-genius improvement: make the base of the iMac an iPhone charger.
Robert Downey Jr.’s production company created a crime drama for Apple TV+. Photo: Team Downey
A detective drama from Robert Downey Jr.’s production company is reportedly headed to Apple TV+. The series centers on a down-at-the-heels cop trying to solve a decades-old cold case.
Downey, best known for playing Iron Man in numerous Marvel movies, might take a role in the show.
A leather band that doesn't disappoint. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
If you want a leather Apple Watch band that feels great, looks spectacular, and is built to last you years, you should really do yourself a favor and check out the wonderful Ingenium band from Strapa.
It’s made using leather sourced from one of the finest tanneries in Italy, plus 316L surgery-grade stainless steel buckles and adapters. I’ve been using one for months now, and I highly recommend it.
For long-time Apple fans like myself, Tuesday marked the end of an era. Phil Schiller stepped down from his role as VP of worldwide marketing.
Schiller was the last of the OG — a stalwart onstage companion to Steve Jobs, long before it was fashionable to watch Apple keynotes. Schiller was there at all the seminal moments in Apple history, including the launch of iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Back in the day, he and Jobs were a remarkable double act. Jobs would announce the products, and then Schiller would stride in to perform the demos.
Fortunately, Schiller’s not gone for good. In his new role as an Apple Fellow, he will still keep an eye on the App Store and Apple Events. But I wanted to take this opportunity to remember the man, the legend, that is Phil Schiller. Here are the top 10 reasons why I’ll miss him.
There are some features in the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that Apple should put in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Samsung’s newly unveiled Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will have to take on the iPhone 12 Pro Max after Apple launches it this autumn.
Samsung’s top-tier handset offers seven features iOS fans should hope will show up in Apple’s next flagship iPhone. But the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also has some real problems.
Samurai Jack is back in a new adventure. Adult Swim Games is bringing Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time to Apple Arcade in the near future.
In this platformer game, the star of the Cartoon Network series will face new enemies and rejoin allies to track down the evil Aku once more and defeat him once and for all.
Contact-tracing app is now live. Photo: Virginia Department of Health
Virginia launched its COVIDWISE contact-tracing app Wednesday, becoming the first state to use Apple and Google’s Exposure Notifications API to fight COVID-19.
The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy to anonymously track people’s interactions. Then it notifies users who have likely been exposed to infected individuals so they can take appropriate precautions, such as isolating themselves.
Master the fundamentals and advanced features of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Adobe Creative Suite includes some of the world’s most powerful tools for visual creators. However, the vast array of features in software like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign mean steep learning curves.
The Essential 2020 Adobe CC Mastery Bundle can help. This bundle of Creative Suite lessons covers everything from the basics to highly advanced usage of Adobe’s most powerful tools.
Wireless charging could be easier on iPhone 12. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The new iPhone 12 chassis could include a mysterious circular array of 36 magnets inside its chassis, possibly to help with wireless charging, suggest new images posted to Weibo and shared by the EverythingApplePro Twitter account.
Apple has yet to release a native wireless charger for iPhone. Its most notable move in this direction was the AirPower wireless charging mat, which was announced by Apple and then canceled. Rumors since then suggest that Apple might be continuing work on the project.