Mobile menu toggle

HBO lengthens support for older Apple TV streaming devices until May 15

By

HBO-Now
2nd and 3rd gen Apple TV users have a little more time to find options to watch HBO.
Photo: HBO

HBO reversed its plans Friday to drop support for second- and third-generation Apple TV units saying it would extend its policy until May 15.

In a comment to Cult of Mac, the company said it would continue support for the older devices “a few additional months.”

Save on Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases and more in our big Easter sale

By

CoM-Easter-sale
Treat yourself to discounted gear this Easter.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The Cult of Mac Store’s big Easter sale is in full swing, offering sweet discounts on top brands like Juuk, Mujjo, and Monowear. We’ve got Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, charging stands, and more — all available at up to 78% off the usual price.

The sale won’t last long, so enjoy it while you can!

Mac Pro and Mac mini land in Apple refurb store with huge savings

By

President Trump will tour Apple's Mac Pro factory in Texas this week
You can finally buy a certified pre-owned Mac Pro.
Photo: Apple

Looking for a new Mac but don’t want to put a dent in your bank account during the COVID-19-induced economic meltdown?

Apple added a bunch of 2018 Mac mini and 2019 Mac Pro units to its online refurbished store late Thursday, offering customers huge savings with the same warranty as a brand-new machine. In the case of the Mac Pro, you can save up to $4,000!

Live-stream on Instagram and Twitch with this professional video gear [Deals]

By

iRig
Livestream like a pro with a mounting clip, mic, remote shutter and all the tools you need to record great-looking video on your smartphone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s never been a better time to start producing video content. However, even for YouTubers and other DIY types, the standards of quality are high. Getting the right video gear can make the difference between gaining an audience or just streaming into the void.

These discounted high-end hardware bundles offer all the tools you need for creating professional-grade video content straight from your smartphone.

Apple might step in to save Martin Scorsese’s next movie

By

Killersoftheflowermoon
Scorsese says his big-budget film will feel like a western.
Photo: Rainy Day Books

Apple TV+ could become the home of Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese’s next major film.

Scorsese’s project, Killers of the Flower Moon, is reportedly looking to find a new partner to produce or distribute the film after Paramount Pictures balked at the estimated $200 million budget.

We talk AirPods X, Apple Face Shield and the (incoming!) 14-inch MacBook Pro, on The CultCast

By

CultCast 435
Here comes the 14-inch MacBook Pro you've been waiting for...
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: A tipster says the new 14-inch MacBook Pro is right around the corner! We’ll tell you what we know. Plus: Apple is readying its secret over-the-ear headphones, and a mysterious little product called the AirPods X. We discuss! And we wrap up with a USB-C charger that can charge it all, Logitech’s new StreamCam and a double-duty iPhone/Apple Watch stand in an all-new Under Review.

Facebook launches Quiet Mode to mute its push notifications

By

facebook.quiet.mode
'Quiet Mode' lets users temporarily mute push notifications and essentially put the app on hold.
Photo: Facebook

Facebook announced Thursday a new feature designed to help reduce distractions from the social network by letting users temporarily mute push notifications.

Called “Quiet Mode,” the new setting can be activated within a scheduled time period or set intervals.

Apple TV+ streams select originals free for a limited time

By

apple-tv-plus-free-for-everyone
The free Apple TV+ promotion includes eight original programs, about a third of the streaming services current lineup.
Photo: Apple

Apple followed various other streaming services Thursday, making a handful of its original Apple TV+ shows and movies available for free to anyone with an Apple ID.

Dickinson, Little America, Servant, For All Mankind, Snoopy in Space, Helpsters, Ghostwriter and The Elephant Queen are available now in the United States. In many other countries, the free Apple TV+ streaming begins April 11. It remains unknown how long the shows will be available at no charge.

Apple adds local information to its COVID-19 iPhone app

By

iPhone showing coronavirus that causes COVID-19
Apple’s COVID-19 iPhone app providing reliable info about the novel coronavirus has been updated with details from each U.S. state.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Apple updated its COVID-19 screening application for iPhone with information from each U.S. state’s health department to help users know what’s expected in their area.

This fits with the goal of Apple’s app — giving people resources to stay informed on steps they can take to protect their health during the coronavirus outbreak.

Meross smart plug makes HomeKit home automation easy and cheap [Review]

By

Meross Smart WiFi Plug Mini review
Insert the Meross Smart WiFi Plug Mini into a wall socket and you can control it from anywhere in the world.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Meross Smart WiFi Plug Mini is an inexpensive and easy-to-install way to get started in home automation. This smart plug lets you control a lamp, fan or other appliance without needing to touch it. Support for Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon Alexa means voice commands, or automated schedules, are all that’s necessary.

I tested a pair of these accessories for a week, and can report on how they perform in daily use.

LG’s latest top-tier and more affordable smart TVs offer Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit

By

LG Nano99, Nano90, and Nano81 all work well with iPhone and Mac.
LG new and upcoming NanoCell smart TVs all include Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit smart home technologies.
Photo: LG

LG took the wraps off a dozen large-screen TVs on Thursday, all of which support Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit so they can be integrated into an iPhone-controlled smart home. Screen sizes for these 2020 TVs range from 49 inches all the way up to 86 inches.

Security firm finds sketchy ‘fleeceware’ apps in iOS App Store

By

app-store
The App Store may not always be impervious to "Fleeceware."
Photo: Apple

A cyber-security firm in the United Kingdom has identified 32 iOS apps that it dubs “fleeceware” for subscriptions and in-app fees that amount to a form of online fraud.

More than 3.5 million iOS users installed the apps, most of which were image editors, QR and barcode scanners, horoscope and fortune-telling apps and face filters for selfies. Two astrology apps making the list are among the first 20 in top-grossing iPhone apps in the UK.

Train NASA’s supercomputer by playing an underwater voyage iPhone game

By

NASA
NASA's game looks basic, but it does a world of good.
Photo: NASA

NASA needs your help on its mission to save the planet’s coral reefs. The US space agency created a new video game for iPhone, iPad and Mac that sets players off on an underwater voyage to map coral reefs around the world.

Dubbed NeMO-Net, NASA’s game uses real 3D imaging data obtained during recent drone flybys in Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and elsewhere. Players set off in their own ship, the Nautilus, and scan the ocean floors identifying and classifying different corals.

5 ways to look great on a video call

By

Lighting? Check. Clothes? Maybe. Teeth? Absolutely! Flattering angle? Nope. Use these videoconferencing tips to look your best on calls.
Lighting? Check. Clothes? Maybe. Teeth? Absolutely! Flattering angle? Nope.
Photo: Austin Distel/Unsplash

Whether you’re working from home, hanging out with friends on group FaceTime, or attending events remotely, you’re probably using video calling a lot more than you ever have before. While you probably make the effort to present yourself well in real-life meatspace, on Skype, Zoom or FaceTime, I bet you look terrible.

Fear not. Today we’ll see five ways to make sure you look great on a video call.

Apple might turn MacBooks into wireless chargers

By

MacBook wireless charger
Wireless chargers built into future MacBook models remains a real possibility.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple hasn’t abandoned the idea of building reverse wireless chargers into its devices. It’s been considering for years the idea of enabling a MacBook to send power to an iPhone without the hassle of wires. And the ability to recharge another handset, or an Apple Watch, was supposed to be a feature of the iPhone 11, but it didn’t happen.

Nevertheless, undeniable evidence that Apple engineers are still working on the technology came to light on Thursday.

TikTok commits $375 million to COVID-19 relief

By

2020 is the year everyone wants to be TikTok famous.
TikTok has been keeping us entertained while stuck at home.
Photo: Aaron Yoo/Flickr CC

TikTok is chipping into the global fight against COVID-19 with one of the largest financial contributions we’ve seen yet from a major tech company. The video-sharing platform has been one of the biggest bright spots of joy and inspiration during this quarantine age, and now it’s ready to pay it back.

On Thursday, the company revealed it is pledging $375 million in relief that will be distributed in various ways to individuals, hospitals, companies and other organizations.

iOS 14 could allow app previews without a full download

By

App Store
You might soon be able to use applications without downloading them with iOS 14 Clips.
Photo: Graham Bower

iOS 14 will reportedly be able to run part of third-party applications, giving users access to some of their features without them needing to install the entire app on their iPhone, according to a published report. How much of each application would be available in these “Clips” would be up to that app’s developer.

Fresh iOS 14 concept brings big changes to Calendar, iMessage, Music app and more

By

iOS 14
Another iOS 14 concept to get you hyped for the real thing.
Photo: Jack Phillip

Some of the most anticipated iOS 14 features that allegedly leaked though an early beta build of the upcoming software are on full display in a fresh iOS 14 concept that’s full of stuff like widgets on the home screen, list view for apps, new call alert screen and more.

The new iOS 14 concept created by Jack Phillip imagines how Apple’s planned mentions feature for iMessage would work, while also tossing in some new ideas, like a list view in Calendar, a Habits app, an overhaul of the Music app’s UI and so much more.

These are our favorite features:

Apple TV+ could have 40 million subs now, 100 million by 2024

By

Appletvpluslogo
Are Apple TV+ prospects sky high, or does it have its head in the clouds?
Photo: Apple

Apple has yet to announce official numbers for Apple TV+ subscribers, but Wedbush analyst Dan Ives think he has some answers. According to Ives, Apple’s streaming video service currently has between 30 million and 40 million subscribers.

However, he says the “vast majority” of these Apple TV+ subs are unlikely to be paying $4.99 per month. Instead, they’re taking advantage of the year’s free subscription thrown in because they bought a new iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV. The analyst says he’s confident that things could pick up, though.

Sweet dreams: Apple might make its own sleep-tracking mattress and blanket

By

With its new Apple Watch feature, Apple is getting deeper into sleep tracking.
Coming soon to a bedroom near you?
Photo: bruce mars/Pexels CC

The iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and … Apple Blanket and iMattress? That might not sound like the next logical step for Cupertino, but an Apple patent application published Thursday describes a blanket, mattress and, err, camera setup that would monitor users’ vital signs as they catch forty winks.

In addition to sleep-tracking, this could measure users’ movements during sleep, their heart rate, and their body and room temperatures during the night. It could then heat up or cool down accordingly.

Easily mount an iPad to expand your MacBook screen real estate [Deals]

By

Mountie iPad
This grip is optimized to mount large tablet screens to your laptop, for a great multi-screen experience.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Even if we’re not at the office anymore, we’re getting more screen time than ever. From video conferences to streaming shows and, well, working, we’re leaning on our MacBooks more than ever. This tool for attaching tablets and phones to the side of any laptop makes it easy to maximize your digital workspace.