It's like the ultimate "Shot on iPhone" ad. Photo: Cult of Mac
As the entertainment industry grinds to a halt during COVID-19 lockdown, Apple’s getting a whole lot of free publicity for the power of its iPhone camera. More and more productions are filming on the iPhone, with the latest being American Idol.
And Apple took a moment Monday to humblebrag about it.
Apple is actively investigating new types of display. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Apple could underline its interest in MicroLED displays by investing close to $334 million in a dedicated MicroLED factory in Taiwan, a Tuesday report for the Economic Daily News claims.
MicroLED is another future display technology Apple has been actively investigating for some time. While it sounds similar to the MiniLED tech rumored to play a part in many future Apple devices, it is very different.
TikTok was the number one app in the App Store in April. Photo: Aaron Yoo/Flickr CC
TikTok had another massively successful month on mobile in April, a Tuesday report by leading app analytics platform Sensor Tower claims.
According to the report, users spent more than $78 million, across both iOS and Android, on TikTok last month. TikTok ranked number one on the App Store’s list of Top Grossing apps for the month, followed by YouTube, and then Tinder. This list does not include games. TikTok’s user spending is up by 10x compared to April last year.
Who says a MacBook-centered setup can't be epic? Photo: Aral Tasher
Front-end web developer Aral Tasher’s MacBook-powered rig is minimal but powerful. With just his laptop, a 49-inch monitor and a Thunderbolt 3 cable, he gets desktop-level performance from his humble MacBook.
To hold his MacBook, the nerve center of the setup, he uses a premium wood mount by Grovemade. This is paired with a custom-built keyboard from KBDfans, and a top-of-the-line MX Master 3 mouse from Logitech.
Tasher is also wired for sound. A pair of KRK studio monitors and LG noise-canceling headphones would make any audiophile jealous.
Meco Stylus Pen costs far less than many rivals, and might be the only stylus you need for your iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Meco Stylus Pen is an affordable alternative to Apple Pencil. It’s well suited for taking handwritten notes on a range of iPad models, and offers palm rejection. And while it doesn’t have the features artists need, it offers a long battery life and is simple to connect to your iPad.
I tested this budget active stylus by taking notes and sketching out ideas. Here’s how it stood up to real-world use.
Soon, it'll be all in the neck and not the ear. Photo: Apple
Apple’s rumored over-the-ear headphones will include sensors to detect if they have been removed from the owner’s head or neck to stop or start audio, according to a Monday report from 9to5Mac. The headphones apparently will offer customizable equalizer settings as well.
HyperDrive Duo connects a MacBook to a 4K display, iPhone, memory cards and more.. all at once. Photo: Sanho
The redesigned Sanho HyperDrive Duo 7 hub, which launched Monday, attaches more securely to the side of the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. The second-generation clip-on adds 60Hz, 4K video support through its HDMI port.
A familiar sight on mobile, desktop and laptop devices, advertisements disguised as surveys will soon be on YouTube via your Apple TV.
With viewership surging, YouTube says it soon will add on-screen advertising surveys to its Apple TV apps, including its YouTube TV subscription service.
Touch ID is a wonderful addition to the Mac that makes logging in, downloading apps, and authorizing purchases easier than ever. Make it even more useful by adding an additional fingerprint and customizing your preferences.
You can now open two Word documents side-by-side with Microsoft Office for iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Almost a year ago, Microsoft promised to add Split View to its Office for iPad suite of applications. The feature is available now, at long last. This allows users to work with two Word or Powerpoint documents side-by-side.
Slope is a stunner! Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Now that iPadOS supports mice and trackpads, it’s a better time than ever to turn your iPad into a mini iMac. To do that, you need the Slope: a nice-looking stand that props up your iPad at the perfect angle for working. Just slide a keyboard and trackpad underneath, and you have something that resembles Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, but at a fraction of the price.
Made from anodized aluminum, the Slope looks good in the kitchen, on your desk or at bedside. It keeps your iPad out of the muck when cooking, or at the perfect angle for watching videos.
Cook's 2020 commencement speech was to Ohio State grads, only virtually. Photo: Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook will be part of a special podcast highlighting various college commencement speeches across the United States, featuring his virtual address last week to graduating students at Ohio State University. The speech will also be broadcast on some 850 road stations as part of commencement excerpts.
'Thunderspy' can reportedly compromise data with no current fix available. Photo: Caldigit
Seven security flaws have been found impacting Macs with Thunderbolt ports sold since 2011 with no indications that current security schemes can prevent the attacks from happening.
Dutch security researcher Björn Ruytenberg released a report Sunday detailing nine attack scenarios, including the ability to quickly steal data from encrypted drives and memory.
Are you excited about this year's iPhone refresh? Photo: LetsGoDigital
Apple leaker Jon Prosser shared new details — including the alleged price and storage options — for the 2020 iPhone 12 refresh in a new video Monday.
Prosser said Apple will offer a pair of regular iPhone 12 handsets and another pair of iPhone 12 Pro devices. Each line will sport two screen size options — although the iPhone 12 Max will be the same size as the iPhone 12 Pro regular, while the 12 Pro Max will be biggest of all.
But you’d better be ready to shell out for the most expensive option!
Get yours before the discounts disappear. Photo: Apple
Treat yourself to new Beats headphones and speakers with big savings on some of the hottest models for a limited time.
Both in-ear buds like Powerbeats Pro and on-ear cans like Beats Solo Pro are on offer, with up to 60% off the usual price. Bag yours now before the discounts disappear.
The new 14-inch laptop could take design cues from the 16-inch model. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro was more of a minor tweak than a major upgrade. But Twitter leaker @L0vetodream suggests that Apple’s rumored, improved 14-inch MacBook Pro could be on the way — although not until next year.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro was expected by some fans as a replacement for the 13-inch laptop. However, this didn’t happen and, as a result, a lot of the innovative new features of the 16-inch MacBook Pro are still MIA.
Newton returns (sort of) ... again. Photo: Newton Mail
The email subscription service Newton has been saved from its demise by a pair of fans weeks after it was to have been shut down at the end of April, according to a online post Monday.
Software developers Maitrik Kataria and Jusitn Mitchell announced they had bought the service from Essential after it had been purchased in February 2019 from CloudMagic.
Apple created a massive ear database to ensure the perfect AirPod fit. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
To make sure that the AirPods fit as many ears as possible, Apple engineers worked with Stanford University to create a giant database of information about ear dimensions.
That’s according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of product marketing, quoted in a new article for Wired, published over the weekend.
Apple may shift 20% of its manufacturing to India. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is looking to ramp up its investment in India, shifting close to a fifth of its current production capacity from China to Indian manufacturers, according to a Monday report from the Economic Times.
“We expect Apple to produce up to $40 billion worth of smartphones, mostly for exports through its contract manufacturers Wistron and Foxconn,” a senior government official told the publication.
Would you behave any different if you had Apple's CEO on speed dial? Photo: Toglenn/Wikipedia CC
Lately, all kinds of stories have circulated online about TV host Ellen DeGeneres not exactly being the nicest person in Hollywood. But one mentioned in a recent New York Post article had an Apple tie-in.
According to the article, Ellen once phoned up none other than Steve Jobs himself to complain that the font size was too small on the iPhone after she lost her glasses and was unable to read the screen.
Could TSMC eventually build A-series chips in America? Screenshot: Apple
Could Apple’s A-series chips eventually be manufactured in the United States? That’s one possible outcome if the Trump administration gets its way. The ongoing debate around domestic chip production and thechips act could play a significant role in shaping this future.
According to a report published Sunday by the Wall Street Journal, the White House wants to “jump-start” the development of new chip factories in the U.S. to help reduce reliance on Asia for critical technology. And it’s in talks with current A-series chipmaker TSMC and others to do so.
These are the apps and updates that caught our eye this week. Image: Cult of Mac
We got a pair of welcome new diversions this week: Hugely popular racing game Forza Street finally roared onto iOS, and a great Lego Star Wars title got a long-overdue update.
But we also got more-serious new apps and updates. New political app Moxy gives you information and tools to keep you engaged in current events. And a couple of essential iOS productivity tools got some handy new features.
Get all the details in our weekly roundup of the best new and updated apps.
Squeeze more out of your Mac with a lifetime sub to MacPilot. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The Mac operating system is sleek and easy to use. But under the polished exterior lies a wide range of features and tweaks that can enhance your experience and boost productivity. The trick is finding a way to get at them.