Mobile menu toggle

Coronavirus could cause smartphone sales to hit 5-year low

By

iphone glitch
Coronavirus is a major disruptor when it comes to smartphone sales.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Smartphone production — and, therefore, sales — could hit their lowest point in five years as a result of the coronavirus, a new report claims.

According to analysis by TrendForce, detailing the impact of coronavirus on the tech industry, smartphone production will shrink by 12% this quarter due to the outbreak. The shortage of component manufacturing elsewhere in the supply chain could mean that shortages persist through the April to June quarter as well.

Habit-tracking app Streaks is finally available for Mac

By

streaks-for-mac
Break your bad habits with Streaks.
Photo: Streaks

To-do and habit-tracking app Streaks is finally available for Mac after previously being available only for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

The app lets you track up to 12 tasks to complete every day. Users must build a streak of consecutive days they have accomplished these on. That makes it perfect for promoting good habits such as walking more, or breaking bad habits like drinking too much coffee or smoking.

We’ve got the perfect charger for your home or office [Deals]

By

Roundup
Need to charge a bunch of devices at once? We've rounded up some great solutions from Naztech.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

More devices, more trouble keeping them all charged. Whether you’re at home or at work, we count on our mobile gear to stay on, so this roundup of chargers offers just the right solution for your specific power needs. From multi-port wall outlets, to 5-at-once charging hubs and more, your search for the ideal charging solution stops with this gear from Naztech.

Apple lobbies EU lawmakers on AI policy

By

European Commission on artificial intelligence
The European Commission is drafting rules on artificial intelligence. Apple seems to want a say.
Photo: European Commission

Apple apparently wants to make sure the European Union doesn’t put too many restrictions on artificial intelligence. John Giannandrea, Apple’s AI chief, is reportedly in Brussels while lawmakers debate new rules on machine intelligence.

Is neumorphism the big new look for iOS 14?

By

Flat UI elements, bolstered with real-world visual cues, make neumorphism easy to
Flat UI elements, bolstered with real-world visual cues, make neumorphism easy to "read."
Photo: MazePizel/Dribbble

Take one look at any screenshot from a pre-iOS 7 iPhone, and you’ll wonder how we ever used such a hideous interface for so many years. The skeumorphic design language included so much fake wood, glossy plastic and gray gradient that there’s almost nowhere to put the actual contents of the app.

iOS 7 went way too far in the opposite direction, with flat white pages and skinny text. Is that a button? Is it just a label? Can I press it? Who knows? We’re still suffering from this UI ambiguity today, in iOS 13. Text got thicker, but it’s still hard to know what to press, and what is just there to be read.

Clearly, there’s a space between these two extremes. Something as clean as iOS 7 and, at the same time, as obvious and usable as iOS 6 and previous versions. But what would that look like? I know what I want it to look like. It’s called “neumorphism,” and it looks fantastic.

How to get free TV in any hotel

By

Hook that giant hotel TV up to your iPad
Hook that giant hotel TV up to your iPad.
Photo: Paul Postema/Unsplash

Switch on a hotel TV, and you’ll likely run into its paywall very quickly. You probably don’t want to view any of the hotel’s stupid pay channels, but maybe you do want to hook up your iPad and watch some of the shows you brought along with you.

You’re typically still out of luck, though. These locked-up TVs won’t let you access their HDMI ports. Nor will they let you connect via AirPlay, if they even support Apple’s streaming protocol. However, there’s an absurdly easy way to disable all this dumb “security” and watch video from your iPad or iPhone to a hotel TV.

MacBooks may be in short supply after March

By

The MacBook Pro has a Touch Bar, and a better display.
The coronavirus outbreak means it isn’t a good time to procrastinate on a MacBook purchase.
Photo: Apple

Now might be the best time to buy that MacBook you’ve been considering. Factory shutdowns in China because of the coronavirus outbreak will reportedly lead to shortages of components needed to make laptops.

Low-cost iPhone skirts virus-related delays for March release

By

iPhone assembled in India
Coming soon with a 2?
Photo: Indian Express

The long-awaited successor to the popular iPhone SE remains on track for launch sometime next month, a top analyst on Apple’s supply chain in China said.

TF International Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors that coronavirus has not impeded production of the budget-friendly iPhone. The new handset is known as either the iPhone SE 2 or iPhone 9.

iPad Pro refresh expected this March, but supplies could be limited

By

This 2020 iPad Pro render is based on rumors
Big camera improvements are top of the list for the 2020 iPad Pro.
Photo: OnLeaks/iGeeksBlog

Apple is expected to deliver a big iPad Pro refresh this March, and that’s still on track despite the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, according to a new report. Supplies could be limited at launch, however, with production likely to be slow to ramp up until after April.

Warren Buffett’s investment firm unloads more than $800 million of Apple shares

By

Buffett
Warren Buffett has been a long-time Apple supporter.
Photo: CNBC

Warren Buffett’s investment firm Berkshire Hathaway sold more than $800 million of Apple stock in the last quarter of 2019.

Buffett is probably Apple’s most famous investor and cheerleader. Berkshire Hathaway is the Cupertino tech giant’s biggest shareholder, with an estimated 5.4% stake in the company.

Dig into Presidents Day discounts on gear, gadgets and apps [Deals]

By

Prez Day Sale
Ring in Presidents Day with some of our favorite deals on wireless chargers, headphones, disk utilities and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Any day that you can save on great digital goodies is a holiday to us. So these Presidents Day deals on gear, gadgets and apps deserve double celebration. They include deals as high as 99% on VPN protection, noise-canceling headphones, iOS coding training and more.

Sonic at the Olympic Games will race into App Store in time for Tokyo 2020

By

Sonic 1
When it comes to the speediest around, Usain Bolt better watch his back!
Photo: Sega

It’s the Olympic Games this summer — and Sonic the Hedgehog and friends are ready to help mark the occasion.

Coming to iOS May 7, the game will pit Sonic against the villainous Dr. Robotnik/Eggman in a battle for, err, sporting excellence in Tokyo. It sounds kind of crazy, but looks like it could be a fair amount of fun. Check out the trailer below.

Apple Maps transit directions expand reach across Europe

By

iOS 9 transit maps
Now live in France, Germany, Spain, and more.
Photo: Apple

Apple Maps transit directions are now expanding their reach across Europe.

The feature was previously available in only a handful of regions outside the United States. It can now be enjoyed in cities across France, Germany, and Spain as part of Apple’s mission to improve functionality for Europe in 2020.

iPhone captured 75% of India’s premium smartphone market last quarter

By

Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
The iPhone just had a record quarter in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple captured a record 75.6% chunk of the premium smartphone market in India, a report by International Data Corporation (IDC) claims.

That market segment covers handsets $500 and above. That’s undoubtedly impressive, although it’s still a fraction of the overall market in a country where the average phone price is $159 and the average annual income is $1,892.

Instagram CEO says there’s no official iPad app because… they’re busy?

By

Instagram volume indicator
iPhone? Heck, yes. iPad? Apparently not.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPad may be the world’s most popular tablet, but there’s no official Instagram app available for it — and Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri says it’s because the photo- and video-sharing social network is just too busy to make one.

As reported by Verge editor Chris Welch, Mosseri said that “we only have so many people, and lots to do. … It hasn’t bubbled up as the next best thing to do yet.”

Pick up deeply discounted Mac and iPhone apps for Presidents Day [Deals]

By

Apps Software Sale
Score massive Presidents Day discounts on awesome apps for iOS and Mac.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This Presidents Day, instead of thinking about presidents, why not upgrade the apps in your iOS and Mac devices? We’ve rounded up some awesome deals on great software, from half off to as much as 94% off of VPNs, website builders, task managers and more.