Mobile menu toggle

iOS 14 leaks hint at new notification triggers, AR mode for Find My

By

Find My Friends
Find My could be better than ever in iOS 14.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Fresh iOS 14 leaks that surfaced on Monday reveal Apple’s plans to bring new notification triggers and an augmented reality mode to the Find My app.

The improvements could give users the ability to get an alert when a contact doesn’t arrive at a specific location by a certain time. They could also make it easier to track down lost Macs and iOS devices.

Apple’s $15 billion in back taxes won’t help Ireland during COVID-19

By

International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
The cash is right there -- but not for the taking.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Ireland is not allowed to use the 14 billion euros ($15.1 billion) in disputed back taxes it collected from Apple to help boost its economy during the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

Yesterday, the leader of the opposition Sinn Féin party, Mary Lou McDonald, said the Irish government could “right this minute” reach into the escrow account where the funds are held and use them to help workers. However, Taoiseach politician Leo Varadkar says that simply isn’t the case.

Apple quietly acknowledges Personal Hotspot problems in iOS 13

By

Personal-Hotspot-iOS
There's a temporary workaround, but no fix yet.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is aware of Personal Hotspot problems some users are facing after updating to iOS 13, according to a report published Saturday.

The company reportedly distributed an internal document to Authorized Service Providers acknowledging the issue. There is no fix for the problem yet, but there is a temporary workaround users can employ in the meantime.

Disney+ will launch with reduced video quality in Europe, delayed 2 weeks in France

By

Disney+ logo
Coming to Europe this week. France a bit later!
Photo: The Walt Disney Company

Disney has delayed the launch of its Disney+ streaming service by two weeks in France. This is as a result of a request by the French government.

Disney has also agreed to a European Union request for streaming video providers to scale back streaming quality by “at least” 25%. This is to “ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure” at a time when the internet faces the strain of more heavy traffic while people are stuck home due to the coronavirus crisis.

Take this opportunity to clean your Mac, finish your resume and more [Deals]

By

Weekend Things To Finally Do
With these tools you can finally do the things you've been meaning to, like getting secure cloud backup or managing your finances.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Lots of us suddenly have extra spare time, so it’s a great time to catch up on those tasks we’ve been putting off for a while. That’s why we rounded up four great deals on cloud backup, resume building tools, Mac cleaning utilities, and personal finance software.

Macintosh Plus gets touchscreen upgrade with the help of iPad

By

Macintosh-iPad-Conversion
Imagine how futuristic this would have looked in 1986.
Photo: Travis DeRose

Face it: Apple’s probably never going to make a touchscreen Mac. It’s definitely never going to make a touchscreen Mac that looks like the 1986-era Macintosh Plus.

Fortunately, engineer and Mac fan Travis DeRose has stepped up to the plate to show us what such a glorious amalgamation of concepts would look like — by building what essentially amounts to a Mac Plus case for his iPad mini. No, it’s not particularly practical, but it is neat looking. Check out his video below.

iPhone could bag big camera upgrades in 2020; periscope lenses in 2022

By

iphone11promax
iPhone's already-excellent camera is about to get even better.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make big upgrades to the iPhone’s camera in the coming years, according to the latest research note from reliable TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, published on Monday.

It is predicted this year’s refresh will bring sensor-shift image stabilization to at least one model before the technology rolls out to all flagship handsets in 2021. iPhone is then expected to get periscope with up to 10x optical zoom in 2022.

Apple could take another shot at failed AirPower charger

By

AirPower
AirPower wireless charging mat may not be dead after all.
Photo: Apple

Apple isn’t giving up on its dreams of an AirPower wireless charging mat, according to Jon Prosser of FrontPageTech. In a series of tweets sent Sunday, Prosser said that Apple is in the process of “re-engineering” AirPower from the ground up. “Prototyping is underway,” he wrote.

While that’s still no guarantee that AirPower will make it to market, it’s good news to hear that Cupertino’s not abandoning plans for a product many people were excited about.

Apple Books offering free novels and audiobooks to get you through self-isolation

By

Apple Books offering free novels and audiobooks to get you through self-isolation
Apple's latest offer is one for the readers (or listeners.)
Photo: Apple

Apple is offering users in the U.S. (and hopefully elsewhere soon) a selection of free books and audiobooks to help while away the hours while in self-isolation.

A push notification Apple sent out Sunday advises customers to “enjoy a good book, on us.” It reads as follows:

Attention hoarders, Apple lifts limits on iPhone, iPad, and new MacBook Air purchases

By

There are no iPad or iPhone purchases limits
Buy all the 2020 iPad Pro units you want.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The limit on the number of iPhones, iPads and new MacBook Air models each customer could purchase that Apple put into place a few days ago has already been lifted everywhere outside China.

This means any hoarders who have money left after buying every scrap of TP in their town can stock up on Apple devices, hoping the limited supply will make prices skyrocket.

Oprah Winfrey launches COVID-19 interview series on Apple TV+

By

Oprah Winfrey says Apple TV+ can have a genuine impact on humanity.
Oprah Winfrey and Apple pull together a quick interview series for Apple TV+ focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with its implications.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ has launched a surprise interview series with former talk show Oprah Winfrey talking about the global coronavirus pandemic. In its first episode, Winfrey spoke to actor Idris Eba, one of several celebrities to test positive for COVID-19.

The series – entitled “Oprah Talks COVID-19“- debuted Saturday, with little production value for a quick-to-air show. Winfrey’s first installment features FaceTime interviews with Elba and his wife, Sabrina Dhowre. 

Don’t let being stuck at home cost you your golf game [Deals]

By

PhiGolf-1
Play Golf all year round and from anywhere with this fun and immersive golf simulator package.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If playing golf is how you relieve stress, being stuck at home is not ideal. If you’re being responsible and self-isolating — and missing the driving range — this immersive golf simulator offers a way to get in your swings without leaving the living room.

Best 2020 iPad Pro keyboard cases available at launch

By

Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2020 iPad Pro
An updated Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is one of the best keyboards available now for the 2020 iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Adding an extra camera lens and LiDAR to the 2020 iPad Pro changed the design enough that virtually all keyboard cases designed for its predecessor can’t be used with the new model. And Apple’s own Magic Keyboard won‘t debut for months.

Still, there are already a couple of keyboard cases available for people expecting a new iPad Pro to arrive this week.

Best Buy moves to curbside pickup, temporarily closing all 997 stores

By

Best Buy 1
On the back of the coronavirus pandemic, Best Buy has closed its doors indefinitely.
Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr CC

As COVID-19 continues to impact businesses big and small across America, Best Buy announced Saturday it is closing all of its 997 North America locations temporarily except for curbside pickup services. Best Buy is one of the nation’s largest independent retailers of Apple products.

The Fortune 100 company with 125,000 employees has not offered a timeline for how long the new policy will last.

Netflix creates $100 million fund for production crews hit by COVID-19 shutdowns

By

netflix.logo
Expect Netflix to stay in the no. 1 spot for the foreseeable future.
Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac

Netflix is stepping up to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a $100 million fund that will go to support production and other workers in the industry.

The moves comes after production on nearly all major TV shows and movies has come to a grinding halt as more states and cities in act stay-at-home mandates.

Siri implements guidance for those worried about coronavirus symptoms

By

siri.coronavirus.phone.image
Apple has enhanced Siri to answer government-approved questions regarding COVID-19 coronavirus.
Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac

Apple enhanced its Siri voice assistant Saturday with a step-by-step query instructing users on determining if they have been exposed to COVID-19, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. 

The instructions are based on specific instructions from the U.S. Public Health Service, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

iPhone 12 concept shows camera bump with LiDAR scanner

By

iPhone 12 with LiDAR scanner
A LiDAR scanner might be a significant new feature of the iPhone 12.
Photo: svetapple.sk

A major new feature in this fall’s iPhone 12 is rumored to be a LiDAR scanner. A concept artist created a series of images showing what this change might look like.

This scanner would enable the next high-end iPhone models to create an accurate 3D map of their location, greatly improving augmented reality applications.

Apple donates 2 million face masks to help U.S. and Europe coronavirus aid [Updated]

By

N95.respirator.mask
Apple is donating 2 million masks, such as this N95 ventilator mask, to help in the COVID-19 pandemic fight.
Photo: CNN video still image

Apple has pledged to donate two million industrial respiratory masks to help health-care workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the United States and Europe, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence revealed during Saturday’s White House press briefing.

Pence called on other companies to step up and follow suit with more physical donations. Pence was optimistic about the supply of masks and said clothing-maker Hanesbrands is retrofitting some of its factories to make masks.

Product repairs stuck in limbo as most Apple Stores remain closed indefinitely

By

Got an Apple product repair stuck in a shuttered Apple Store? It's safe.
Got an Apple product repair stuck in a shuttered Apple Store? It's safe.
Photo: Brad Gibson/Cult of Mac

Repaired devices that customers couldn’t pick up before Apple Stores closed will remain piled up for some time due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Many Mac and iPhone owners now find themselves between a rock and a hard place, according to various reports and social media posts.

Dare we say it? New iPad Pro beats any Mac [Cult of Mac Magazine 341]

By

Why 2020 iPad Pro is better than any Mac
We can't wait to get our hands on this tablet.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

From a hardware perspective, the new iPad Pro seems unassailable. The new Magic Keyboard with trackpad looks amazing. And iPadOS 13.4 feels like a game-changing upgrade.

It’s true: The iPad Pro is really having a moment right now. One could even argue that Apple’s tablet is better than a Mac at this point.

Find out what makes that practically blasphemous statement true in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now and read it on your iPad or iPhone. Or get the links below for our blowout coverage of the new iPad Pro. You’ll also find the rest of the week’s top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

Take the weekend to boost your marketable skills [Deals]

By

Skills Weekend
Learn Excel, a new language, online marketing and more with this roundup of weekend skills training.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For a growing number of people, the COVID-19 lockdown makes it unclear where the next paycheck will come from. That makes it a good time to brush up on skills so that wherever opportunity arises, you’re ready. The courses in this Cult of Mac Deals roundup will teach you vital, resume-boosting covers skills like iOS development, Excel, digital marketing and foreign languages.

Grab one (or more) of these deeply discounted educational bundles today. And then start racking up certified skills so you’ll be ready to jump on future hot jobs.

The Banker proves too safe an investment for Apple TV+ [Review]

By

Anthony Mackie, left, and Samuel L. Jackson star in The Banker, out now on Apple TV+.
Anthony Mackie, left, and Samuel L. Jackson star in The Banker.
Photo: Apple TV+

Mired in scandal and plagued by delays, the debut fiction film purchased by Apple TV+ is finally here to stream, just in time for everyone in America to be trapped with little else but their TVs.

The Banker, starring Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson, likely won’t top many best-of lists this year. It’s too slight, though neither does it embarrass itself in the telling of a compelling true story about overcoming discrimination in a racist world.

Apple TV+ cuts streaming quality in Europe to lower stress on internet

By

Apple TV app Samsung
Apple appears to have heeded the E.U. request to lower quality of its Apple TV+ service to reduce the strain on the internet.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Following a request to streaming services to switch from high definition to standard in an effort to reduce the strain on the internet, indications were Friday that Apple has followed suit of other major services and slowed down its Apple TV+ streaming service.

Cult of Mac has confirmed through two Apple TV users – one in Great Britain and one in southern France – that the quality of content on Apple TV+ has been lowered. Subscribers described the differences as primarily fast-moving content that is slower to refresh, heavily compressed and more pixelated.