Get lifetime access to 43 hours of Excel instruction, from basic to advanced. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are few programs as common as Microsoft Excel. That’s because it’s full of potential for organizing, visualizing, processing and manipulating data — tools that go far beyond a regular old spreadsheet.
Basically, if you’ve got a grip on Excel, you’ve got excellent skills for the workplace.
The real iPhone 12 ads could look much like this concept video. Screenshot: ConceptsiPhone
A new concept video beautifully combines iPhone 12 rumors into a three-minute ballet of tech. Done in the same style as Apple advertisements, it offers an early glimpse of what the real ads might look like when the 2020 iPhone models arrive this fall.
WWDC 2020 gives us a clear vision of the bright future of macOS and iOS. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
We didn’t get the new Apple hardware we expected during this week’s WWDC keynote, but we did get a whole bunch of hot new software. Get our take on upcoming updates to Apple’s biggest platforms — macOS Big Sur, iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7 and more — in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.
Don’t miss our roundup of all the cool “hidden” iOS 14 features that Apple couldn’t squeeze into its slick virtual keynote. We’ll also toss in the rest of our coverage of this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, plus some handy how-tos and reviews. Read it all in the free mag (which you can download from the App Store) or in the links below.
Jake Weisler is a professional wedding photographer and a content creator for Full Time Filmmaker, which produces crash courses about filmmaking. So having lots of storage — a whopping 56 terabytes — is key to his success.
At the center of this setup is the incredible 27-inch iMac Pro. Weisler uses a Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard with the additional Numeric Keypad. He also sports an Azio Retro Classic Mouse, which actually has a leather topping for some genuine comfort. As an editor, he needs both a trackpad and a mouse because he uses them simultaneously to scroll, click and swipe.
Keep your gear organized charged with these smartly designed storage solutions. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
All the cables, chargers and other stuff we need to keep our digital devices running can create a lot of clutter. But BentoStack’s cleverly designed boxes keep all your accessories neat, tidy — and charged.
Get a second shot of WWDC 2020 talk in this week's podcast. Image: The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: We bring you a huge list of great iOS 14 features that Apple did not mention onstage during this week’s WWDC keynote, and there’s a lot here to love.
Plus: Why iOS 14’s new Home screen widgets aren’t as powerful as you might think. And get ready to log into websites with Face ID or Touch ID.
Today’s episode is supported by CleanMyMac X, an all-in-one utility that takes care of your Mac’s health: It’s a macOS cleaner, a performance monitor, a malware remover and, occasionally, a lifesaver. And until July 5th, you can go to macpaw.com/cultofmac to get CleanMyMac X with a 30% discount.
Quick! Get yours before they're all gone. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
You don’t have to spend much to pick up an iPhone that’s fully compatible with iOS 14. You can bag an iPhone 6s right now for under $115, while Amazon is offering renewed iPhone 7 units for as little as $187.99.
Losing Alice, coming to Apple TV+ later in 2020, takes the viewer through Alice‘s conscious and subconscious. Photo: Apple
To ensure Apple TV+ has new shows for later this year, Apple revealed on Friday that bought the international rights to Losing Alice, an eight-episode series the company calls “a neo-noir psychological thriller.”
There's a lot more to discover in iOS 14. Photo: Apple
Apple showcased some major changes and improvements for iOS 14 during its big WWDC 2020 keynote on Monday — and it was just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more that we didn’t get to see.
We’re now discovering what some of those things are, thanks to the first beta release, which is already available to registered developers. Here are our picks for the best hidden features in iOS 14.
Microsoft gives up on its attempt to copy the success of Apple's retail stores Photo: Ndari Utoyo/Flickr CC
Microsoft is pulling the plug on its chain of retail stores, the company announced Friday. All stores are going to be shuttered for good, although four — in New York City, London, Sydney, and its Redmond campus — will be turned into experience centers that don’t sell products.
Easily record your content or capture candid moments hands-free with this smart selfie gimbal. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Videos are a great way to share our thoughts and talents, document experiences and precious memories, and just plain communicate. Too bad they can be so finicky to record.
This hands-free smart gimbal makes it easier to get the best possible video. It uses image-processing technology to make sure you capture the best shot each time.
This year's virtual WWDC keynote might be a taste of things to come. Photo: Apple
Apple exec Craig Federighi says the company’s production team “moved mountains” to put together this week’s online-only WWDC keynote. And, while he won’t go so far as to commit to future virtual keynotes, he did say that Apple was very happy with it — and will be looking see what aspects of the presentation it can use in the future.
That’s one of the insights gained from listening to the latest episodes of Tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee’s Waveform podcast, which features an interview with Federighi, Apple’s senior VP of software engineering.
This is the longest Apple ad in history. By, well, at least five hours. Photo: Apple
Several Apple ads from the past year won awards at the U.K.’s long-running Design and Art Direction awards. D&AD is a British educational charity that promotes excellence in design and advertising. In this year’s virtual-only awards, it gave various Pencils (the name of charity’s awards) to what it thinks are Apple’s best promotional spots of the year.
You can check out the prize-winners — including a 5-hour, 19-minute iPhone commercial — below.
It's been a challenging year for Apple Stores (and, well, just about everyone.) Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac
Apple has closed 14 stores in Florida starting Friday as a result of the increased number of coronavirus cases in the state, Apple has confirmed.
This brings the total number of Apple Stores to be reopened and then closed again to 32 in the United States. Earlier this week, Apple shuttered seven stores in the Houston area following a spike in COVID-19 cases. It has also closed select stores in Arizona, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
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Enjoy the reliability of Ethernet with this simple USB-C adapter for your Mac or iPad Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Adding Ethernet to your MacBook or iPad Pro is as simple as attaching the Plugable USB-C to Ethernet Adapter. This cuts your dependence on WiFi, instead bringing the security, reliability and speed of a wired connection.
I tested this very affordable and portable accessory, and bring you the results in this hands-on review.
New fast charging OtterBox power banks also include wireless charging. And there are new wall and car chargers too. Photo: OtterBox/Cult of Mac
While OtterBox is known for its rugged phone and tablet cases, on Thursday it introduced a line of rugged, fast-charging power banks with wireless charging. There are also wall chargers and car chargers designed to quickly power mobile devices.
Apple News+ could be about to get fresh competition from a premium version of Google News. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Google will pay publishers so it can create “a new news experience launching later this year,” the company said Thursday. While the announcement is vague, Google seems to be putting together a rival for Apple News+, a subscription news-aggregation service for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
People have been waiting for Beyond a Steel Sky since 1994. Photo: Revolution Software
Beyond a Steel Sky, the long-awaited sequel to 1990s cyberpunk classic Beneath a Steel Sky, launches Friday on Apple Arcade on. Revolution Software promises the game offers “a dramatic, humorous, cyberpunk thriller in which engaging puzzles drive a fast-paced and dynamic narrative.”
Hawley carried out pioneering work in multiple domains. Photo: Choki Lhamo
Michael Hawley, the man who helped Steve Jobs write his famous 2005 Stanford commencement address, has died as a result of cancer at the age of 58.
Hawley, who shared a house with Jobs at one time and worked with him at NeXT, was a polymath and pioneer in his own right. At NeXT, he created one of the world’s first digital libraries. He also helped conceive of the Internet of Things, worked at MIT’s world-famous Media Lab, was scientific director for one of the first major scientific expeditions on Everest in 1998, and was an accomplished piano player and organist.
After Monday's successful WWDC keynote, Apple software chief Craig Federighi can breathe a sigh of relief.
Photo: The Talk Show Remote
Apple SVP of software engineering Craig Federighi and VP of product marketing Greg Joswiak discuss all the news coming out of Monday’s WWDC keynote in an interview with Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber.
This changes everything. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iOS and iPadOS 14 will make gaming on iPhone and iPad better than ever, with huge improvements to game controller support. Players can look forward to button remapping, motion controls and more.
And for the first time, you’ll be able to play games on iPad using a keyboard and mouse!