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First OLED MacBook might launch sooner than we hoped

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AI-generated image of a woman sitting at a desk with Apple’s first OLED MacBook, which might launch in 2026 (and might include a touchscreen)
We apparently won't be waiting until 2027 for an OLED MacBook Pro.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

There’s good news Tuesday for those excited about the first MacBook Pro with an OLED display: A new report pegs the laptop’s launch for this fall. Some previous leaks indicated the device might not reach customers until next year.

Beyond the OLED screen — which should make the display noticeably better-looking — the 2026 MacBook Pro is rumored to feature a significant redesign, including a touchscreen.

Today in Apple history: iPhone comes to Verizon at last

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Four years of AT&T exclusivity on iPhone finally comes to an end.
Four years of AT&T exclusivity on iPhone finally comes to an end.
Photo: Jon Fingas/Flickr CC

February 3: Today in Apple history: iPhone comes to Verizon at last February 3, 2011: The iPhone finally arrives on Verizon Wireless, the United States’ largest carrier, ending nearly four years of exclusivity with AT&T.

The move comes as Apple faces pressure to expand its customer base, with Android phones steadily growing in popularity. The deal commences with the iPhone 4, available for preorder by Verizon’s 93 million customers.

Next iPhones’ satellite connectivity could rocket way beyond SOS

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advanced iPhone satellite features
iPhone 18 models and beyond could feature much more than emergency SOS satellite features.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s satellite connectivity journey began as a lifesaving emergency feature with the iPhone 14 in 2022. But the company’s ambitions go far beyond distress signals to more advanced iPhone satellite features. Experts see a dramatic expansion of satellite capabilities coming to transform how we think about smartphone connectivity. iPhone 18 in 2026 and later handsets could see satellite features evolve from emergency backup to everyday uses.

These open-ear earbuds can translate more than 50 languages in real time

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Photo of two hands holding up Mymanu Orb open-ear translating earbuds
With these translating earbuds, you can hear — and understand — the world around you.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Mymanu Orb open-ear translating earbuds deliver real-time, AI-powered translation in more than 50 languages. They work for translating face-to-face conversations (movies and music, too), transcribing things like meetings and classes, and interpreting conversations going on around you.

And right now, you can grab a pair for just $139.99 — a $40 discount off the regular price.

iPhone Fold leak shows Apple borrowing design cues from iPad

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Foldable iPhone's crease-free display
The first foldable iPhone may take design cues from the iPad.
AI Image: Google Gemini

A new leak out of China purports to detail the iPhone Fold’s design. The leaker known as Instant Digital says the foldable iPhone will feature a Touch ID power button, as seen on the iPad Air and iPad mini.

The device will supposedly feature a black rear camera plateau, housing two cameras, a microphone and the flash.

iOS’ handy Developer Mode lets you run your own code on your iPhone

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iPhone Developer Mode: “Do This First”
You'll need to turn on Developer Mode to put your own apps on your iPhone.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Developer Mode lets you run unsigned code on your iPhone or iPad. Enable it, and you can download and run apps that are not from the App Store (or alternative app marketplaces) or in TestFlight, Apple’s tool that lets developers invite users to beta-test new apps.

If you want to write your own apps in Xcode, you will need to enable Developer Mode on your iPhone or iPad before running your app.

Developer Mode is also essential if you want to sideload apps onto your device from a Mac, using an app like Sideloadly. This could include apps that aren’t allowed on the App Store (such as porn app Hot Tub) or apps that are no longer available from their original developers, like Apollo (the now-shuttered Reddit client). For sideloading to work, you will need to turn on Developer Mode. 

Read on to see how to enable Developer Mode on your iPhone or iPad, as well as the potential security implications.

Get to know Bad Bunny before his Super Bowl halftime show

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Get to know Bad Bunny before the Super Bowl
Apple offers plenty of ways to hear, and learn about, the Puerto Rican superstar.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music rolled out the red carpet Monday for Bad Bunny as the Puerto Rican superstar prepares to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. So here’s your chance to get to know Bad Bunny before the Super Bowl with a variety of special programming.

Today in Apple history: Gil Amelio takes over as CEO

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Bringing on Gil Amelio was viewed as a big coup for the Apple board.
Many viewed new CEO Gil Amelio as the man to save Apple.
Photo: Apple

February 2: Today in Apple history: Gil Amelio takes over as Apple CEO February 2, 1996: Apple reveals that turnaround artist Gil Amelio will take over from Michael “The Diesel” Spindler as CEO of the struggling company.

With disappointing Mac sales, the disastrous “clone Mac” strategy and a failed Sun Microsystems merger to his name, Spindler is asked to resign by the Apple board. Then, Cupertino enlists supposed corporate miracle worker Amelio for the job.

Unfortunately, he turns out to be no more successful than Spindler in the role.

3 reasons to watch suspenseful Apple TV spy thriller Tehran

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Tehran Apple TV series review
Tehran may be the most gripping thriller on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple

In the crowded landscape of spy shows and movies, Apple TV’s Tehran cuts through the noise with a visceral intensity few titles can match. This Israeli thriller, which started airing season three on January 9, doesn’t just tell a spy story. It grabs you by the throat from the first frame and doesn’t let go until the credits roll.

For anyone who’s ever found themselves disappointed by the too-fast or too-slow pacing or predictable plotting of typical spy dramas, Tehran, now streaming season three (with a fourth on the way), offers a masterclass in sustained tension and genuine surprise. That makes it easy to forgive the subtitles, which most people will need for the Farsi (Persian) and Hebrew spoken on the show. 

Apple Intelligence on the edge: How privacy shapes its AI features

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Apple Intelligence privacy
Privacy is a requirement for Apple Intelligence.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

When Apple entered the artificial intelligence race, the company faced a fundamental challenge: how to deliver powerful AI capabilities while maintaining its long-standing commitment to user privacy. The result is Apple Intelligence, a system designed around a simple but revolutionary premise — your personal data should work for you without leaving your control. Basically, that’s how privacy shapes Apple Intelligence features on “the edge,” meaning the furthest reaches of a computer network, where user devices dwell. 

Apple’s foldable plans may not stop at just one iPhone

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AI-generated mockups of folding iPhone and flip iPhone
Do you want a flip iPhone?
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Before Apple even launches its first folding iPhone, the company is reportedly exploring a follow-up model with a clamshell-like form factor, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Motorola Razr.

There’s no guarantee that Apple will launch such a model. But for now, it’s at least under consideration.

Today in Apple history: Stephen Colbert shows off iPad early at Grammys

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Stephen Colbert shows off a prerelease iPad during the Grammy Awards show in 2010
Jay-Z didn't get one of these in his gift bag.
Photo: CBS

February 1: Today in Apple history: Stephen Colbert shows off iPad early at the Grammys February 1, 2010: The tech-loving world goes into meltdown at the sight of comedian Stephen Colbert using a prerelease iPad to read nominations during the televised Grammy Awards show.

“Jay-Z, did you not get one of these in your gift bag?” Colbert quips from the stage. “Am I cooler than you?”

The celebrity sneak peek is all part of Apple’s big (and wildly successful) plan to hype its upcoming tablet.

Why we’re still waiting for new high-end M5 MacBook Pros — blame macOS [Updated]

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AI-generated image of a person typing on a MacBook with
A MacBook Pro upgraded with M5 Pro and M5 Max is not coming any day now. There'll be a wait.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

There’s tremendous anticipation for a MacBook Pro upgraded with faster M5 Pro or M5 Max processors, but the laptop did not launch this week, despite eager speculation that it would. And we need to be patient because we’re likely to continue waiting well into February and maybe beyond. A critical feature apparently isn’t ready yet: macOS Tahoe 26.3.

Get a versatile iPhone scanning app for $28 (works with iPad, too)

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Scan documents with your iPhone or iPad with iScanner, now only $35.
This iPhone and iPad-compatible scanning app works wonders.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With the right scanning app, your iPhone or iPad can scan documents with vivid clarity. There’s no need for a printer-size scanner — you just need your Apple gear. A great example of such an app, iScanner is now on sale for only $27.99 (regularly $199.90) with code FLASH.

Today in Apple history: Mac clone-maker closes shop

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Power Computing clone Macs sounded like a good idea at first.
Mac clones did not pan out for Power Computing.
Photo: Antnik

January 31: Today in Apple history: Mac clone-maker Power Computing closes shop January 31, 1998: Mac clone-maker Power Computing goes out of business, having auctioned off its office supplies and computers.

Apple bought out Power Computing, once the fastest-growing PC company of the decade, the previous year. As a result, Power Computing shareholders receive Apple stock as a replacement. As it turns out, that may not have been a terrible deal.

I thought voice typing on Mac was broken — until I tried Wispr Flow [Awesome Apps]

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AI-generated image of a desk with a mouse and a MacBook, with Wispr Flow voice translation for Mac running on the screen
Wispr Flow turns your Mac into a voice-first writing workspace.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

The way I type on my Mac hasn’t changed in years. But then, I started using Wispr Flow — an AI-powered voice-to-text app for Mac. It has reshaped how I write on my Mac, making me more efficient and faster.

It’s not just about typing faster. Using your voice for typing also feels more natural in many cases. Here’s how Wispr Flow has changed how I write on my Mac, and why I can’t go back. 

This app lets you download videos directly from major streamers

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Photo of Keeprix streaming downloader open on a laptop on a desk.
All-in-one streaming video downloader Keeprix makes it easy to watch offline.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Streaming is great until you want to watch something offline, save a show before it disappears, or avoid the limits most platforms put on downloads — that’s when you need a streaming downloader like Keeprix.

It works with Netflix, YouTube and other major streaming services, letting you save the videos you care about so you can watch them whenever you want. That means no dealing with ads, expiration timers or unreliable Wi-Fi. And a lifetime subscription to Keeprix just went on sale for $95.99 (regularly $159.99).

Steve Jobs-signed Apple check No. 1 sells for simply insane amount

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Steve Jobs–signed Apple check No. 1 sells for simply insane amount
You probably won't believe how much a collector paid for a check signed by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
AI composite image: RR Auction/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

How much would you pay for a check signed by both Apple co-founders, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak? Factor in that it is Apple check No. 1. Got a figure in mind? Now double it. Your guess is probably still less than a collector paid for that item in a recent auction.

It went for a stonking $2.4 million — believed to be the highest price ever paid for a signed check at public auction.

We love the new AirTag even more than the original [Cult of Mac podcast No. 5]

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Image of Apple AirTag 2, along with the words
If you're not already on the AirTag bandwagon, it's time to hop on.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The second-gen AirTag finally arrives, and it packs some pretty awesome upgrades — although you’d never know by looking at it!

We discuss all the reasons we love AirTags in general, and Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy joins us for his review of Apple’s upgraded tracking tag.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • A quick teardown of an AirTag 2 shows the massive redesign hiding inside the familiar circular form factor.
  • Griffin explains Apple Music‘s killer feature that lets you easily upload your own tracks and sync them to all your devices. Take that, Spotify!
  • A listener mentions my band, Those Darn Accordions, and that prompts a bit of a rabbit hole run through the band’s history (and surfaces a surprisingly popular ancient YouTube video of me sabering a bottle of Champagne back in the day at Wired.com).

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Apple Watch hypertension alerts: How reliable are they?

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How reliable are Apple Watch Hypertension Notifications
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is one of the models featuring Hypertension Notifications.
Photo: Apple

For millions of Apple Watch owners, the Hypertension Notifications Feature available on recent models is a big leap in wearable health monitoring. It promises to alert users to potential high blood pressure before it leads to serious health problems. But how reliable are the alerts, and what should Apple users realistically expect?

I’ve had measurably high blood pressure for years. I wear Apple Watch 10, one of the models with hypertension alerts. And yet I’ve never seen one up close and personal. Apparently my meds are working!

Get lifetime access to 1,000-plus career-building courses for just $19.97

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A photo of a person writing on a tablet with a laptop nearby, used to illustrate a hot deal on a StackSkills Unlimited subscription.
Want to learn coding, marketing, music, investing or something else entirely? Get a lifetime pass to a bigger brain with StackSkills Unlimited.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

StackSkills has a news flash for anyone who got a little too comfortable after high school: It’s not smart to stop learning. That’s especially true in this accelerated stage of the information age, where new tech skills are increasingly in demand.

The good news is that it’s easier than ever to catch up to the needs of today’s job market, thanks to resources like StackSkills. This vast platform for online education can help anyone chart a path to a new career. And lifetime subscriptions cost just $19.97 (regularly $600).

Today in Apple history: Newton MessagePad 120 becomes Apple’s first great mobile device

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The MessagePad 120 perfects Apple's PDA line.
The Newton MessagePad 120 finally fulfilled the promise of Apple's PDA.
Photo: Fzurell/Flickr CC

January 30: Today in Apple history: MessagePad 120 is Apple's first great mobile device January 30, 1995: Apple Computer launches the Newton MessagePad 120, the first truly great device in an unfairly maligned product line.

Coming 18 months after the original Newton MessagePad, the upgraded PDA packs more power — and truly shines once Newton OS 2.0 rolls out.

Apple almost rebuilt Siri around Claude

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Apple almost rebuilt Siri with Claude.
Claude instead of Gemini for Siri? That almost happened.
AI Image: ChatGPT

Apple might be slow to jump on the AI bandwagon, but internally, the company “runs on Anthropic at this point.” Apparently, the company was also ready to rebuild Siri around Claude, but the deal fell through at the last moment. 

“Anthropic is powering a lot of the stuff Apple’s doing internally in terms of product development and a lot of their internal tools,” revealed Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman in the TBPN’s Technology’s daily show. 

Apple by the numbers: Key stats reveal the company’s astonishing scale

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AI-generated image of the Apple logo surrounded by black, as seen through a sci-fi-style tube of numbers
Apple's shocking numbers start with $143.8 billion in gross revenue.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

“I am proud to say that we just had a quarter for the record books,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said during Thursday’s earnings call, before rattling off numbers that surprised Wall Street analysts — in a good way.

The highly successful quarter was also one for the stat geeks. Apple racked up several all-time highs during the quarter (technically Apple’s Q1 2026). From overall revenue (a new all-time high!) to customer satisfaction ratings (through the roof!), the numbers Apple put up during the 2026 holiday quarter will blow your mind.

Transform your blurry photos with this easy-to-use Mac app

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Close-up photo of a monkey's face, with the words
Aiarty Image Enhancer makes it easy to fix up your older photos so they look great on a modern display.
Image: Aiarty

If you’ve used iPhones and digital cameras for years, chances are older images in your photo library don’t quite hold up anymore — but an image upscaler like Aiarty Image Enhancer can help.

Early iPhone shots, low-light photos, scanned prints and older, low-resolution images often look soft, grainy or blurry on today’s large, high-resolution displays. Aiarty Image Enhancer, available for Mac and PC, is designed to solve exactly those problems.

It’s a focused, AI-powered photo enhancement application that prioritizes speed, simplicity and natural-looking results — without subscriptions or complicated editing tools. And for a limited time, you can get a great deal on it.