Mobile menu toggle

Apple broadens Apple Maps mobility trends to all 50 states, more regions

By

The mobility data trends tool based on data from Apple Maps.
As more people commute, Apple Maps is adding more data to its Mobility Trends report to help with COVID-19 studies.
Photo: Apple

Apple has expanded the data available through its Mobility Trends Reports tool. A report indicates all 50 states are now covered along with about 580 new sub-regions.

The data is meant to help healthcare authorities analyze the spread of coronavirus and slow the spread of COVID-19. It was initially introduced to aggregate data from major cities and 63 countries or regions.

New 2020 Powerbeats Pro appear imminent as approvals pile up

By

Powerbeats Pro navy
They could drop any day now.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s second-generation Powerbeats Pro for 2020 have been certified for a third time, this time in Korea, ahead of their release. The registration suggests an official launch could be imminent.

Filing illustrations indicate the new buds will be visually identical to existing Powerbeats Pro headphones, which first debuted last May.

Apple faces another lawsuit over iPhone XR’s ‘inferior’ Wi-Fi antennas

By

The iPhone XR will feature Haptic Touch. But just what is that?
Some iPhone XR owners really aren't happy with their purchase.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Monday was hit with a second class-action lawsuit over iPhone XR’s “inferior” Wi-Fi antennas.

The company is accused of hiding the fact that its more affordable handset, released in 2018, shipped with a 2×2 MIMO antenna array, while the pricier iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max packed a 4×4 MIMO array.

These are the best Apple Arcade games you can play right now

By

This spunky little guy is the star of Spyder, one of the best Apple Arcade games.
This spunky little guy is the star of Spyder, one of the best games on Apple Arcade.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s never been a better time to try Apple Arcade, the subscription gaming service that serves up unlimited access to more than 100 iPhone, iPad and Apple TV titles for only $4.99 a month.

With exclusive games — and a total lack of the annoying ads and in-app purchases that mar many “free” iOS games — it offers some real advantages. But it wouldn’t  be a bargain if there were no fun games. Fortunately, there are plenty. Here are some of the best you’ll find on Apple Arcade.

HomeKit-powered lights give this setup a Star Trek vibe [Setups]

By

A cozy but epic setup
A cozy but epic wfh setup
Photo: @mrisad

A set of origami-style lights illuminate the cozy setup of Instagram user @mrisad, an integration delivery manager. The Nanoleaf lights floating above his dual monitors evoke the control panels from some ’70s sci-fi show. And they’re integrated with HomeKit, Apple’s home-automation platform.

The heart of his rig is a beautiful pair of screens. The large main screen is a $1,000 curved, 38-inch screen from LG. The second screen is a 28-inch Asus gaming monitor. He hooked them both up to a Mac mini, and elegantly suspended them in midair by an inexpensive ($40) but fully articulated desktop stand.

To round out his setup, @mrisad has a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad from Apple, and a trio of chargers for his iPhone, iPad and AirPods. As for audio, he has a HomePod and a pair of Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones.

US mobile data still costs way more than it should

By

Global average mobile data cost seems reasonable.
Americans pay mobile data costs well above the global average.
Photo: Polina/Pexels

Americans pay far more for 4G service than much of the world, according to a report released Tuesday by a price-comparison firm. The cost for 1 gigabyte of LTE data in the United States costs almost twice the global average. And U.S. 4G service costs more than similar offerings in a whopping 187 other countries.

Bendable MacBook could kill traditional hinges

By

A bendable MacBook stared in an Apple patent filing.
Instead of standard hinges, consider a bendable MacBook.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A proposed MacBook design change is radical while at the same time preserving the traditional clamshell design. Apple received a patent today for a notebook computer without standard hinges. Instead, it’s flexible enough to bend in the middle.

Free-to-play Forza Street finally races onto iPhone and iPad

By

Forza-Street-iPad
Play today to earn a bonus Ford GT.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Microsoft’s insanely popular Forza racing series has finally landed on iPhone and iPad. The free-to-play Forza Street, which first debuted on Windows two years ago, is available to download now from the App Store.

The game promises gorgeous visuals, fast-paced racing action, and iconic cars any racing fan will be familiar with. There are also some sweet bonuses for those who play within the first 30 days of the game’s release.

Apple’s virtual Worldwide Developers Conference to begin June 22

By

2020.wwdc.graphic.jpg
Following cancellation of its face-to-face conference, Apple is going online with WWDC, starting June 22.
Photo: Apple

Apple announced Tuesday it will host its 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference virtually, beginning June 22. It will be available to view using the Apple Developer app, streamed on the Apple Developer website and free for all registered developers.

Apple did not give any details of a keynote event to announce various products, but is expected to hold one on the conferences opening day.

France threatens Apple in standoff over COVID-19 contract-tracing privacy

By

Any of the new iPhones can handle the worst rainstorm.
France plans to go it alone on COVID-19 contact tracing for mobile phones.
Photo: Apple

A French official accused Apple on Tuesday of hampering the effectiveness of the country’s COVID-19 contract-tracing platform by blocking access to data via Bluetooth.

France minister for digital technology Cedric O told BFM Business TV that Apple “could have helped us make the application work even better on the iPhone. They have not wished to do so.”

Last chance to snag a powerful Mac cleaning tool [Deals]

By

CleanMyMac X- Junk Cleaner for Mac
Get lifetime access to highly-rated software for removing malware cleaning up clutter so your machine runs at top speeds.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Like many other machines, computers typically get slower with age. Often, that slowness results from digital clutter that accumulates over time. CleanMyMac X targets the data that drags down Macs, giving them more space and a new lease on life.

Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to this powerful Mac tool at a big discount.

Apple questions U.S. government interference in Corellium copyright suit

By

iOS Apps Main
A copyright case between Apple and Corellium is now of great interest to the DOJ. But why?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Apple is disputing the interference of the U.S. Justice Department in a copyright suit against software maker Corellium as questions arise as to why the federal government is now involved in the case.

The Department of Justice has now intervened in the case asking Apple to delay its request for a deposition of Corellium cofounder Chris Wade, and inquiring to what evidence Apple is planning on presenting before its lawyers question Wade.

The terrific 10.2-inch iPad is a steal at its lowest price yet

By

2019 iPad with Smart Keyboard
Probably the best deal in tech.
Photo: Apple

The 10.2-inch iPad might be one of the best deals in consumer tech. It packs everything you need in a decent slate, and it’s powered by iPadOS — the best tablet operating system on the planet. It’s also compatible with Apple Pencil.

What’s really great about the 10.2-inch iPad is that it’s often available at a discount. Amazon is again offering one of the biggest yet, with $79.01 off the cheapest model, reducing its price tag to just $249.99.

Failure to adopt Apple and Google’s contact-tracing tool could make travel difficult

By

bluetooth-tracing
A short primer on contact-tracing.
Photo: Apple/Google

The UK’s National Health Service has launched its contact-tracing app — but experts quoted by the Daily Mail Tuesday claim that its non-privacy focused approach to tracking the spread of coronavirus could make it illegal.

They also claim its incompatibility with Apple and Google’s contact-tracing API may cause chaos for traveling Brits.

Microsoft Outlook for iOS makes it easier to ignore those company-wide email threads

By

Outlook's new Ignore Conversation feature could come in handy.
Permanently banish those pesky email threads with everyone commenting.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft Outlook for iPad and iPhone now makes it easier to stop your inbox getting clogged up with massive multi-reply email threads copying in large numbers of people.

The “Ignore Conversation” feature is a handy new feature added for version 4.36.0 of the app. Here’s what you need to know.

Apple’s T2 security chip makes life tough for independent repair shops, electronics recyclers

By

The Apple T2 chip could be the source of mysterious crashes afflicting two of Apple's newest computers.
Many repairers and recyclers aren't too fond of this chip.
Photo: IFIXIT

Apple’s built-in laptop security safeguards, introduced with the 2018 MacBook Pros, are hitting independent repair shops and electronics recyclers hard, a report by Motherboard claims.

The system combines software security locks, various diagnostic requirements and Apple’s T2 security chip. Together, they mean that Macs stop working if they’re operated on by someone not using Apple’s proprietary repair tools.