An iPhone SE test shows it might not have the battery life you expect. Photo: Mrwhosetheboss
A side-by-side battery comparison by a popular YouTube channel concludes that for consumers wanting a long-lasting smartphone, the second-generation iPhone SE might not be the best answer.
Instantly translate text, pictures and documents with this handy productivity app. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Google Translate is great, but good luck if you want to read anything more than an email or a short article. Recordings, websites and images often show up in languages we can’t read. A tool that deciphers them all is handy indeed.
What better way to turn up to the Apple Park tour once things reopen after lockdown? Photo: DuPont Registry
Have $499,000 to spare and looking to show off your Apple fandom credentials? A replica of the Apple-sponsored 1979 Porsche 935 K3 race car, which once raced at Le Mans, has shown up for sale online.
Apple sponsored the original car, operated by racing team Dick Barbour Racing, in 1980, only a few years into Apple’s history. That vehicle, which features the Apple Computer name and rainbow colors, is now part of radio host and podcaster Adam Corolla’s extensive car collection. While the model for sale here is just a replica, it’s still a pretty stunning collector’s piece — as suggested by the sizable asking price.
Apple and Google support a decentralized approach to contact-tracing. Photo: Apple/Google
Germany has reportedly changed its mind over whether or not to embrace the decentralized approach to contact-tracing technology supported by Apple and Google.
As recently as the end of last week, Germany was backing a centralized standard technology called PEPP-PT. This stands for called Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing. It has now seemingly switched its support to a “strongly decentralized” approach. This is the approach backed by Apple and Google.
Apple's forthcoming London HQ will be located in one of the city's most iconic buildings. Photo: Alberto Pascual/Wikipedia CC
It’s not just building new Apple devices that has slowed down with the coronavirus pandemic. According to a report published Monday, work on Apple’s new London HQ — located in the city’s iconic Battersea Power Station — has also been impacted by COVID-19 lockdown.
CNBC‘s article notes that work on both Apple and Google’s individual new London headquarters have ground to a halt, with both now “turned into ghost towns.”
Forget getting yours in September. Photo: ConceptsiPhone
Apple is delaying mass-production of the iPhone 12 lineup by around one month, according to a Monday report from The Wall Street Journal.
Sources blame the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for the delay, which is likely to mean Apple’s next-generation handsets won’t be available until October. A trusted source for Cult of Mac recently made the same prediction.
Now you can bokeh everyone in your household, human or otherwise. Photo: Halide
The iPhone SE does a great job of taking the body of the iPhone 8 and infusing it with some of iPhone 11’s cutting-edge tech. But not every feature carried across to Apple’s new budget phone. For instance, the iPhone SE lacks the ability to take Portrait photos of pets.
That’s somewhat confusing, since iPhone SE’s Portrait mode works impressively. Fortunately, updates to a pair of highly rated apps will let iPhone SE owners take Portrait photos of nonhumans for just a few bucks.
Well, that should make repairs a bit cheaper. Photo: Apple
A 2020 iPhone SE teardown shows just how similar the new phone is to the iPhone 8. Many — but not all — components of the new handset are totally swappable with the 2017 iPhone, according to a weekend report from iFixit.
The iPhone SE’s cameras, SIM tray, Taptic Engine and display assembly can be directly swapped out with the iPhone 8. However, not all parts are so switchable. The iPhone SE’s battery might look the same, but it won’t work on the earlier iPhone due to a different logic board connector.
You won't believe how great this week's apps are. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week we collaborate on songs in the “Google Docs for music,” edit video in Darkroom, block the Touch Bar from accidental taps, and gain other essential tools. These are the best apps and updates of the week.
Become an Excel master with lifetime access to 60 hours of lesson content and projects. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Microsoft Excel is one of the most common and critical tools for the modern workplace. This bundle of lessons will teach you how to use the spreadsheet app — and certify you to maximize the benefits for your career.
The author of Defending Jacob is excited about bringing his novel to Apple TV+. Screenshot: Apple
Before it was an Apple TV+ series, Defending Jacob was a bestselling novel. In a new Apple video, author William Landay talks about seeing his book adapted for the small screen.
It’s a bit bulky, but the RAVPower RP-PB055 can recharge an iPhone 11 more than 5 times. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Power banks designed for phones don’t do much for laptops and tablets. But the RavPower RP-PB055 AC Power Bank packs a whopping 30,000mAh, and more than doubles a MacBook’s time between recharges. Even better, it includes a standard wall socket so it can run DVD players, lamps, fans … whatever you need.
I tested it not only with Apple products but with other electronics, too. Read on to see how this uber-size power bank held up.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 faces delays due to the worldwide COVID-19 shutdown. Get those stories and more in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download the app now for a smooth read on your iOS device of choice. Or hit the links below for the week’s top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.
Learn 14 languages across more than 10,000 hours of online language education. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Learning a new language opens up a world of possibilities. This highly rated app will teach you up to 14 different languages, so you can emerge from quarantine with some fresh skills. And since we’re offering a big discount on a lifetime deal, you can continue to master new tongues long after this COVID-19 pandemic blows over.
Imran Chaudhri drew this Apple Watch concept sketch long before the release of this wearable. Photo: Imran Chaudhri
Imran Chaudhri, who played a pivotal role in the Apple Watch’s creation, offered an inside look into the device’s design process Friday, showing off an early concept drawing of the smartwatch’s home screen.
His sketch, shared on the 5-year anniversary of the Apple Watch launch, looks amazingly close to what is in use now. He also showed off a video of the very first Apple Watch band and talked about the history of some Watch faces.
They won't last long! Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
There couldn’t be a better time to treat yourself to a pair of Apple’s amazing wireless buds. Both second-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro are on sale right now, with some of the biggest discounts we’ve seen so far.
Facebook on Friday announced new video calling features including Messenger Rooms, which allows users to host video calls of up to 50 people. Photo: Facebook
Facebook announced Friday it will add the ability for free video calling for up to 50 people on its new video-calling service, Messenger Rooms. The change is taking direct aim at the Group FaceTime and the popular Zoom service that has taken the world by storm as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The expanded service will launch by days end in selected regions with a smaller number of users at launch, but will not be available for the maximum number for a few more weeks, the company said.
Apple’s CEO reportedly believes the U.S. economy will have a swift recovery from the novel coronavirus. Photo: White House
Apple CEO Tim Cook sounds truly optimistic about how quickly the U.S. economy will recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. He reportedly told President Donald Trump on Friday that he expects the economy to undergo a V-shaped recovery.
Is Apple cutting back on its orders for the future iPhone 12? It appears so. Image: ConceptsiPhone
Apple reportedly cut orders for its future 5G iPhones with Chinese component makers, fearing a slowdown in orders as a result of what many economists are already calling the beginnings of a global recession.
Chinese daily technology newspaper Digitimes reported Friday some component suppliers have been told by Apple they will not need as many parts for new iPhones, expected to be released later this year. Other suppliers now say that they too expect a slowdown in orders from the iPhone-maker.
I have an app I use every day, but whenever I open it, it opens to a new, blank document, instead of the project I was working on when I closed the app. To open that project, I have to mouse up to my Mac’s menu bar, click on File > Recent Items…, and find it in there.
To fix this, I set out to find a way to easily access the last few projects from this app. What if I could put this list of recent projects into my Mac’s Dock? It turns out that you can easily do this, using a quick Spotlight search, a Smart Folder and a drag to the Dock.
Can you handle some hot, hot beta action? Image: The CultCast
This week on The CultCast: The next generation of AirPods might be incoming! We’ll tell you what we know. Plus, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are likely coming to iPad, along with Mini LED and Touch ID … under the screen. This could be the new Touch ID tech we’ve been waiting for. And stay tuned to hear how to listen to YouTube music in the background, without paying for YouTube Red. It’s a hot tip, and it’s coming your way.
Our thanks to Netgear for supporting this episode. The Orbi WiFi 6 router gives you ultra-fast speeds and wider coverage throughout your home – it’s the biggest revolution in Wi-Fi ever. Check it out today at Netgear.com/bestwifi.
You can’t buy an iPhone SE from the German Apple Store without a lengthy wait. Or in the U.S., the U.K, and many more countries. Screenshot: Apple
Those who pre-ordered an iPhone SE last week started receiving their handsets today, but Apple sold out of its supply. Orders placed Friday for this $399 handset won’t arrive for over two weeks.
The latest iOS handset is backordered in the U.S. and in countries around the world.
Apple & Google strengthen its contract tracing system to better protect privacy. Photo: Apple/Google
Apple and Google said Friday they are building in stronger privacy protections to their planned contact-tracing system for COVID-19 and that an early version of the initiative will launch for developers next week.
Prepare for iPhone 12 delays and confusion. Photo: Ben Geskin
A number of iPhone 12 models currently face delays and may not become available in key markets until later in the year, a trusted source familiar with Apple’s plans revealed to Cult of Mac.
Options also could be limited in the United States and in other countries, where faster mmWave 5G technology is available. Elsewhere, customers may have a complete iPhone 12 lineup to choose from, but with slower 5G technology, according to the source.