Cult of Mac

Using a keyboard with your iPad is a beautiful thing. It seems like every iOS update brings more and more keyboard shortcuts. But until now, you’ve been stuck using Mac-compatible keyboards only. If you hooked up a PC keyboard to your iPad, then the ⌘ and ⌥ keys would be the wrong way around.

On the Mac, thats always been easy to fix, thanks to a preference screen for switching these keys via software. And now, in iOS 13.4 beta, you can finally remaps modifier keys, too. And, yes, you can even remap the stupid globe icon on Apple’s Smart Folio Keyboard.

Could Apple be preparing to make a surprise switch to AMD processors in a future Mac? References to a number of new AMD microprocessors have been spotted in the latest macOS 10.15.4 beta, which rolled out to developers Wednesday.

The clues hidden in Mac code suggest Apple’s lengthy relationship with Intel could be on the rocks.

Some Macs ordered today from the Apple Store with any set of features beyond the base configuration won’t arrive for over a month. For example, the wait for a made-to-order 16-inch MacBook Pro stretches into mid-March.

Charrua Soccer promises to be easy to pick up and enjoy, but also offer deep gameplay. This new addition to Apple Arcade has a retro style, harking back to classic games.

Being blinded by WhatsApp’s bright white interface when replying to a late-night text will soon be a thing of the past. The messaging app’s long-awaited dark mode is finally on its way to iPhone.

Beta testers already have access to the new look, which means we should all be able to enjoy it soon.

Apple Stores across China will remain closed into next week amid the growing coronavirus crisis.

All 42 stores were closed this week because of the outbreak but were scheduled to open Feb. 10. In a memo to Apple Store employees this morning, Apple retail chief Deidre O’Brien indicated a reopening time is on hold until further notice.

Big Tech employees are feeling the Bern as the U.S. presidential primary season shifts into full gear. New fundraising data disclosed this week reveals that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has raised more money from the country’s top tech companies than any other presidential candidate.

Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter employees donated nearly $270,000 to Sanders’ bid to take the White House, with nearly half of that money coming from Google. Check out the full breakdown by company:

Apple TV+ is about to get even more competition in the form of a new streaming service currently in development by ViacomCBS.

Now that the Viacom and CBS merger was approved at the end of 2019, a new report claims company execs are plotting a way to combine the current CBS All Access service with Viacom’s assets, among which are Paramount’s trove of over 3,600 movies.

Location-tracking software purchased by advertisers to better understand customers is now a tool employed by the federal government to target undocumented immigrants.

Homeland security and immigration officials are pulling location data from common smartphone apps, from games to weather, where the user has granted permission to access their location.

XFL, the football league founded by WWE chairman Vince McMahon, is coming back to screens nearly 20 years after its disastrous first iteration — and there’s an official app to prove it.

The eight-team XFL season debuts Saturday with the DC Defenders playing the Seattle Dragons. While the app won’t be streaming games, you can use it to get information such as real-time scores and stats, insider videos, and more.

Beloved Sony PlayStation mascot Crash Bandicoot is coming to mobile with a brand new game, according to screenshots which have shown up online.

Developed by King, Crash Bandicoot Mobile is an endless runner in which the genetically engineered bandicoot looks set to speed through Wumpa Island en route, we presume, to disrupting the plans of evil Doctor Neo Cortex.

The Chinese company that assembles most of the world’s iPhones has ordered employees in one region of the country not to return to work next week to prevent further spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Foxconn sent text messages to Shenzhen-based employees that those sites will remain closed until further notice. While Foxconn’s main iPhone factory is in Zhengzhou, a portion is assembled in Shenzhen. Shenzhen is also the headquarters for Foxconn’s parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup allowed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Apple over allegedly exposing iPhone owners to high levels of radiofrequency radiation to move forward Thursday. However, the judge also blasted the Federal Communications Commission for its “dumb” testing standards.

Apple has been fined 25 million euros ($27.4 million) in France after being found guilty of intentionally throttling the speed of older iPhones with previous software updates for iOS.

In 2018, Apple admitted that these updates slowed older devices. However, it has always insisted that it did this to prolong the life of aging lithium-ion batteries.

If you work in the digital marketplace, it pays to know how to use Adobe Creative Cloud. This suite of apps includes the industry standard apps for digital graphic design, photography publishing, video, and more. And this bundle of courses will get you up to speed so you can boost your job opportunities.

As part of ongoing efforts to cut down on the use of conflict minerals, Apple removed 18 smelters and refiners from its supply chain last year.

Apple removed companies unwilling to submit to third-party audits of their premises. By taking them out of its supply chain, Apple’s able to claim 100% audit participation on the part of companies it works with.

This week on The CultCast: The new iOS 13.4 beta just leaked new hardware, new iPhone features and MORE. We’ll share aaaaall the juicy details. Plus: How your iPhone might soon replace your car keys; Apple Maps just got a massive update; and Microsoft quietly stole Apple’s secret recipe …

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast, and use offer code CultCast at checkout for 10% off your first purchase.

Before iOS 13, if you wanted to sync Apple Watch workout data with Strava, you had an excellent option: a brilliant third-party fitness app called HealthFit. Unfortunately, Apple’s strict new rules in iOS 13 broke the app’s syncing functionality, leaving Apple Watch-wearing members of the fitness social network in the cold.

Luckily, today’s HealthFit update brings the welcome return of this Strava-syncing capability. Cult of Mac has been testing a beta version of HealthFit 5.2.6 and can confirm that it works really well again. Strava sync is back and better than ever. Here’s what the new-and-improved fitness app can do for you.

HBO Max is on its way to take on the likes of Apple TV+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime — and it’s going to come out fighting. A new report reveals the service is close to securing a big Friends reunion.

Yes, the return we’ve all been waiting for, but never really believed would happen, is close. It is said to be an hour-long special that will feature all six stars from the hit show.

It won’t exactly be the Friends reunion you’ve been dreaming of, however.

Apple School Manager now gives developers the ability to distribute custom apps to schools for the first time.

The change will allow app-makers to better meet the individual needs of educational institutions, Apple said. It paves the way for new software that offers specific functionality for certain organizations.

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, Apple’s gamer comedy series from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiastars Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, has debuted on Apple TV+.

In a break from Apple’s approach with some previous shows like The Morning Show and Servant, all nine episodes of the show are available to binge-watch now. The show, which is Apple TV+’s first true comedy series, follows the makers of a fictitious MMORPG game setting out to create their first-ever game expansion.

If you buy the dinner, Apple will throw in the movie. At least, that’s what the latest Apple Pay promotion is offering. It’s giving any Apple Pay customers in the US a free movie rental in the TV app if they spend $10 or more with delivery service Postmates.

Postmates offers meal delivery, alongside everyday groceries. As its website states, “Whether you need a gallon of milk or a handle of vodka, we get it.” Now thanks to the Apple Pay deal you can enjoy any of the above with the $5.99 movie rental of your choice.

Nvidia GeForce Now is ready to stream the latest PC games to your Mac. It sells us a dream that sounds too good to be true, a future that macOS fans gave up wishing for a long time ago. And most importantly, it actually delivers it.

I’ve been playing games on GeForce Now for several days (I love my job!) so that I can tell you whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash. And although I’ve run into a few teething troubles that I can’t ignore, I’ve been blown away by what it can do.

A rare piece of Apple memorabilia goes up for sale in March. A pair of Apple sneakers from the 1990s will be auctioned off to someone who wants to remember a troubled time in the company’s history.

Pruning the list of accounts you follow on Instagram just got a lot easier with the addition of a new feature coming to the photo and video sharing social network today.

Instagram’s Twitter account revealed the new feature this morning showing how you can see which accounts you interact with the least and then manage your following list from there.

This is what it looks like: