Instagram has been a little more desktop-friendly lately. On Friday, the photo-sharing app gave users the ability to read and send direct messages from a desktop computer.
Facebook, which owns the app, had signaled last year that it wanted to make private messaging easier across all of its apps regardless of device.
In a rare moment of collaboration, Apple and Google said Friday they have teamed up to create a contact-tracing program that uses smartphones to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The privacy-focused solution created by the companies will use anonymous Bluetooth “chirps” from phones as a way to tell where an infected person has been and who they’ve come in contact with.
Apple is working on a totally re-designed, wireless charging pad with the ability to route power to exact areas to prevent overheating, according to Front Page Tech analyst Jon Prosser.
Prosser reported Friday that engineers on Apple’s Sharing and Proximity team and working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic recently received prototype units of something called “C68”. AirPower isn’t mentioned by name, but descriptions and details appear to match Apple’s failed charging mat.
Apple will “likely” launch a low-cost iPhone 9 as early as next week, according to an analyst report published Friday.
Travel difficulties caused by the coronavirus outbreak may push back the release of the largest iPhone ever until late fall, the analyst said. However, other new iOS devices are still on schedule for September.
Apple feels for all the energetic kids getting antsy under stay-at-home orders.
The tech giant released a worksheet with 30 creative activities designed for kids 2-8 but could also be fun for the adults in the house.
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.”
HybridDrive offers up to 2 terabytes of additional storage in a small USB-C plugin for MacBook or iPad Pro. This add-on is also a multi-port USB-C hub with HDMI, dual USB-A ports and SD card readers.
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!
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!
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 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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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:
Snapchat is offering a very Snapchat experience for its legion of users willing to donate money to fight COVID-19.
Snap Inc., the company behind the popular social media app, launched three COVID-19 lenses that let users donate money through the experience of augmented.