Two new Apple Watch bands show Cupertino's support of Pride. Photo: Apple
Apple unveiled two new Apple Watch bands and matching faces Monday, celebrating Apple and Nike’s commitment to Pride and LGBTQ representation.
The new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band boasts a distinctive vertical-stripe rainbow design. Meanwhile, a second new band — the Apple Watch Nike Sport Band — has also been reimagined for Pride.
Too close to be coincidental, Ubisoft claims. Photo: Ejoy
Ubisoft is none too happy about a mobile game it claims is way too similar to one of its own games, Rainbox Six: Siege. It says that the game, called Area F2, borrows “virtually every aspect” of Ubisoft’s own title.
While the alleged ripoff title is made by Alibaba’s Ejoy and Qookka Games, Ubisoft is suing Apple and Google for hosting it on their respective app store platforms, says a Bloomberg article published over the weekend.
Trump's war with Huawei could hurt Apple. Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC
President Donald Trump’s Huawei sanctions could result in the Chinese government hitting American companies, including Apple hard, new reports claim.
Fresh reports by the Washington Post, Global Times and Daily Mail say China could launch “rounds of endless investigations” on U.S. firms operating in China. These will have the effect of “[dampening] investors’ confidence” and squeezing the income of these firms in the China market.
From masks to temperature checks, Apple Stores will have some changes when they open their doors again. Photo: Apple
How will your Apple Store be different when it reopens after the coronavirus closures? In an open letter published Sunday, Apple retail chief Deidre O’Brien shared more details about Apple’s approach to reopening its stores — and the measures it’s implementing.
These include free face masks, temperature checks, social distancing strategies, and more. Apple will also this week begin reopening stores across the U.S.
This cooling pad circulates air and prevents unwanted overheating. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With the summer months dead ahead, working from home is about to get hotter. Plenty of us are working on the couch with a laptop on our, well, lap, so we could use some help staying cool.
The Aukey CB-C78 12-in-1 USB-C Hub includes points for multiple monitors plus several USB accessories, and that’s just scratching the surface. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Aukey CB-C78 USB-C hub connects your Mac to two HDMI monitors, four USB-A accessories, Ethernet and much more… all at once. With no less than a dozen ports, you can be confident that you’ll be able to connect to anything and everything you need.
I extensively tested the Aukey CB-C78 12-in-1 Hub to be sure it lived up to the promises.
This week’s issue also includes plenty of other tips and how-tos to help you get the most out of your Apple devices. Plus, you’ll get some juicy Apple news and rumors, including a report on a total Newton nerdfest attended by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak himself.
Charge and transfer data quickly and safely with this high-throughput, breakaway USB-C cable. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Charging up can be a hassle for a number of reasons. First, it takes up valuable time. Additionally, when it comes to using USB-C, it’s also a risk — if you trip over the cable, it could mean a crashing end for your phone or laptop.
The Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest airs a quarantine-themed episode next week. Photo: Apple TV+
The characters of Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet are quarantined at home like the rest of us, and it’s not going well. Their dysfunctional video chats are the subject of a special episode of this Apple TV+ show.
It’ll hit Apple’s streaming video service a week from today. But you can watch the trailer now:
Mifa’s wonderful Classic Leather band for Apple Watch proves luxury leather doesn’t have to be expensive. Bag yours today for just $20, thanks to a $5 discount from the Cult of Mac Store.
Or, opt for Mifa’s stunning Sparkle Bracelet and save $4. These discounts end later today, so enjoy them while you can.
Betty Gabriel and Chris Evans anchor uniformly strong crime drama Defending Jacob. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ crime drama Defending Jacob nears its climax in Episode 6. The writers crank up the tension and the danger in ways that finally take the series out of the ordinary and into the more obviously fictional and generic.
Thankfully, director Morten Tyldum knows how to handle a flagrant crime show incident without it seeming more overblown than the series can handle. (Spoiler alert: Some key plot details will follow.)
Apple could be caught in the middle of the trade war between the U.S. and China. Illustration: Cult of Mac
The Trump administration on Friday announced a new rule aimed at blocking Huawei from getting the processors it needs to make phones, networking equipment and more. The Chinese government reportedly threatened to retaliate against Apple and other American companies.
Organizer Paweł Piotrowski during the Newton conference. Photo: Paweł Piotrowski
A recent online conference dedicated to Apple’s much-maligned Newton drew dozens of fans from around the world — including Steve Wozniak and other Apple alumni.
After the 2020 Worldwide Online Newton Conference — the first gathering dedicated to the groundbreaking PDA in a decade — event organizer and Newton superfan Paweł Piotrowski marveled at the lasting impact of the handheld, which Apple discontinued almost 25 years ago.
“It is unbelievable that this old technology still connects people who make friendships because of their shared love of a small green device,” Piotrowski, who works as a college lecturer and live-stream technician in Edinburgh, Scotland, told Cult of Mac. “I’m glad this conference was able to build on that.”
Massive discounts are back on the terrific 10.2-inch iPad. You can save up to $99.01 on many models for a limited time only. Prices now start at just $249.99 — down from $329. Order yours before they sell out.
Facebook has a new acquisition under its belt. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Most of the world might be tightening its belt as the economy stumbles thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but don’t count Facebook among them! According to a report first published Friday by Axios, the social media giant is buying GIF-making and sharing website Giphy for an enormous $400 million.
Over-ear Apple headphones sound like music to our ears. Image: The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: Details leak on AirPods Studio, Apple’s super-secret, over-ear pro headphones. Plus: Cupertino is opening for business as Apple gets ready to get back to work. And we wrap up with a high-tech “oregano” grinder, mini at-home beer tap, and an electric bike cruiser styled like a vintage moped, in an all-new Under Review!
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
Solve puzzles and help a mysterious cast of characters in Winding Worlds. Photo: KO_OP/Apple
Winding Worlds promises to be a “world-wiggling puzzle journey.”
The latest addition to Apple Arcade is in the same genre as the classic Monument Valley, where players solve puzzles to work their way through a story. KO_OP describes its creation as “a heartwarming tale of grief, love, truth, and acceptance.”
Show off your Apple Watch setup. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Did you know that it’s possible to capture Apple Watch screenshots after a simple settings change? Find out how in today’s pro tip and it’ll be easier than ever to share snaps of your favorite Apple Watch apps and watch face setups.
Turn your passion into a lucrative side hustle. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Things are weird in the world, but it’s a golden age for the digital content creator. People are looking for videos to keep them entertained and informed like never before. So if you’ve got an idea, talent or creative drive, this bundle of resources will help you connect with an eager audience on one of the biggest platforms of all: YouTube.
Apple’s rumored augmented reality glasses ... coming 2021 or 2022? Photo: Martin Hajek
Apple’s widely rumored augmented reality glasses will be released sometime between March and June of 2021, according to leaker and YouTuber Jon Prosser, contradicting a report Thursday from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that the product is on course for its debut in 2022.
You can play with and against strangers, too. Photo: Nintendo
Mario Kart Tour version 2.1.0 has arrived in the App Store, bringing a slew of new features to Nintendo’s popular kart-racing title.
The update went live on Thursday. Its biggest new addition is the presence of a Team Races mode, allowing players to form into four separate teams for races. This adds an extra bit of zip to the game’s multiplayer mode, which went live for players everywhere in March.
New factory will be located in Arizona. Screenshot: Apple
Apple A-series chipmaker TSMC announced Friday its intentions to build and run a new semiconductor fabrication plant in the U.S.
The new plant will be built in Arizona, with “support from the U.S. federal government and the State of Arizona,” a report published Friday by Digitimes claims. It will use TSMC’s 5-nanometer process to manufacture up to 20,000 semiconductor wafers per month. The iPhone 12 is widely expected to boast 5nm chips.
New tax would hurt companies making products outside the U.S. Screenshot: White House
President Donald Trump’s on again/off again friendship with Apple could switch to “off again” if he institutes proposed taxes on American companies that produce goods outside the United States.
Intended as an incentive to boost U.S. manufacturing, this would nonetheless hurt Apple — which produces the overwhelming majority of its devices overseas, mainly in China.