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.
Look for the "Other Versions" section. Screenshot: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple Music now has the ability to intelligently sort alternate album versions. The new feature, brought back from Beats Music, presents you with other versions of the same album in a new section beneath the track list.
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.
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.
It could cost just $399. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will make its new iPhone SE 2 (or iPhone 9?) official on March 31, a new rumor, citing sources within Apple, claims today. The low-cost handset is then expected to go on sale just a few days later.
Apple’s next iPad Pro refresh could give fans a new 12-inch screen option, according to a new report. It is expected to arrive in March with a revamped camera system that includes a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for 3D scanning.
Tim Cook revealed the donation in email to employees. Photo: Apple
Apple has doubled its donation to support efforts to battle the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Tim Cook revealed the increase in donation in an email to Apple employees, describing the impact coronavirus is having on the company. Check it out below:
Amazing Stories is expected to be more positive than other anthology sci-fi fantasy series. Screenshot: Apple
Amazing Stories debuts on Apple TV+ in just a few weeks, and a new trailer previews the five episodes in the first season of this sci-fi/fantasy anthology.
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.
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.
Shop the latest lineup today. Photo: Speidel/Cult of Mac
See in spring in style with these hot new Apple Watch bands from Speidel.
We’ve got stunning double tours, traditional leather straps, and premium stainless steel bracelets — all available today on the Cult of Mac Store. Prices start at just $19.95.
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.
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.
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.
We're still very much in the dark. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
We could be waiting longer for the mysterious “AirPods Pro Lite” headphones Apple is rumored to be developing. A new report claims production will not begin during the second half of 2020 as originally planned.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.