Mobile menu toggle

Fake AirPods stickers are the best way to infuriate people

By

Fake AirPods stickers are the best way to infuriate people
Get ready to annoy those around you.
Photo: Pablo Rochat

Everyone loves the AirPods. They’re one of Apple’s most popular accessories, and those who don’t own them lust after them. Which is exactly why cold-hearted Twitter prankster Pablo Rochat created life-size AirPod stickers to place around his neighborhood.

Because the only thing better than an AirPod is watching random strangers try and pick up an AirPod that’s not there.

iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China

By

iPhone sales are finally rebounding in China
iPhone sales struggled in China last year.
Photo: Tim Cook/Weibo

iPhone sales seem to be rebounding in China. According to a new report, based on government data, Apple shipped 10 million iPhones in China during September and October. That’s an increase of 6% from one year earlier.

It indicates that the iPhone 11 series is seemingly selling better the its predecessors, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS. Those were the handsets that caused Tim Cook to cut Apple forecasts due to weaker than expected sales in China.

Here’s a smart home cam with facial recognition, night vision and more for under $45 [Deals]

By

blurams Dome Pro
This highly rated smart home camera can be your extra layer of protection.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Home security cam shoppers are always looking for that middle ground between a feature-laden device and the sticker shock that usually comes with such units.

The Blurams Dome Pro 1080p Security Camera hits that sweet spot. It packs loads of high-quality, super-cool extras into a versatile, modestly priced package that should fit most user’s security needs.

Consumer Reports thinks AirPods Pro are great, but not Galaxy Buds great

By

AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
A massive improvement over the original.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Consumer Reports has issued its verdict on Apple’s AirPods Pro — and it’s a positive one. The nonprofit consumer-testing publication praised the AirPods Pro as sounding “really good.” It also lavished praise on the sound-cancelling tech and the earbuds’ transparency mode.

However, it still thinks you could do better with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds.

Trump will tour Apple’s Mac Pro factory in Texas this week

By

President Trump will tour Apple's Mac Pro factory in Texas this week
Mac Pro is being made in the US of A.
Photo: Apple

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will visit Apple’s Mac Pro factory in Austin, Texas, this Wednesday.

While the Mac Pro is only a bit player in Apple’s overall revenue and profit strategy, its “made in Texas” status reflects Apple’s desire to invest in the United States. Since Trump took office, Apple has expanded its “job footprint” to 2.4 million people in the United States.

16-inch MacBook Pro shows the advantages of a post-Jony Ive Apple [Opinion]

By

The 16-inch MacBook Pro isn’t quite as svelte as it could be.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro isn’t quite as svelte as it could be. And that’s good news.
Photo: Apple

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a sign of a fundamental shift at Apple: It includes a keyboard that makes this laptop slightly less stylish but more useful. It’s hard to believe this would have happened in the days when chief designer Jony Ive’s habit of putting form ahead of function still reigned supreme over all Apple’s products.

As Ive slowly exits the company, we’re already seeing products less willing to make compromises in functionality in order to get super-sleek looks.

Tapplock One+ biometric padlock easily secures your valuables [Review]

By

Tapplock One+ review
Open a gate or unlock your bike at just the press of a finger with Tapplock One+.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The combination lock you used in school is a dinosaur now. It’s been replaced with much smarter versions like Tapplock One+. This has a fingerprint scanner, and a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone. It’s a padlock with no key to lose or combination to memorize.

Unlock the details in our in-depth review.

Master all of Adobe CC with this comprehensive 40-hour course bundle [Deals]

By

The School of Graphic Design Mastery Bundle
Learn the foundations of graphic design with these seven courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Just because you’ve got a well tuned aesthetic sense or strong visual eye doesn’t mean you can jump into the graphic design field. To get working in the design game, you need a firm command of the core principles and key tools used by industry professionals.

Sayonara Wild Hearts is Apple Arcade’s wildest ride [Review]

By

Sayonara Wildhearts on Apple Arcade
Sayonara Wild Hearts is fast-paced fun, with a great beat.
Photo: Apple

Speed and techno-pop blend in Sayonara Wild Hearts, one of the best titles on Apple Arcade. Ride a motorcycle, fly or battle opponents to the beat of the music.

Read on to see why everyone with a subscription to Apple’s gaming service should be playing this new offering.

16-inch MacBook Pro is here at last! [Cult of Mac Magazine 323]

By

We've been waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Now the 16-inch MacBook Pro is here!
We've been waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple unleashed the 16-inch MacBook Pro this week, delivering a powerful beast of a machine that answers many of our prayers. That butterfly keyboard? Gone, replaced with a Magic Keyboard. And those thermal throttling problems? Supposedly fixed forever.

Sure, we found a couple of not-so-happy surprises. But all in all, we feel just a little bit giddy. Find out all the reasons why in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. You can download it free from the iOS App Store. As always, it’s jammed full of Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

Pick up a full kit of MFi-certified charging gear for $25 [Deals]

By

MFi Certified Sleek Canvas Complete Charging Collection
This kit includes wall chargers, portable battery, and a reinforced Lightning cable so you'll never have to worry about losing juice.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Staying charged on the go takes a lot of effort, and a lot of gear. From backup batteries to adapters to cables that won’t break after just a few uses, that can all add up. Luckily, this kit includes everything you’ll need to reliably juice up your phone or tablet, so you can travel without worrying about your next charge.

Forget the MacBook Air. Roll your own Apple ‘laptop’ for less than $600.

By

The Brydge Keyboard on the 10.2 iPad
An iPad with a Brydge keyboard is a pretty good replacement for a Mac!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

A year ago, when Apple introduced the latest iPad Pro models, I called the tablet the computer for everywhere. To this day, I still think the 2018 iPad Pro, complete with Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio, is an incredible setup for tons of situations. At the same time, it’s anything but cheap, starting at $1,107 for an 11-inch model with keyboard and Pencil.

Then there’s the Mac laptop lineup. Apple’s current cheapest offering is the MacBook Air, also starting at $1,100. Fortunately, you don’t have to drop over a grand to get an incredibly versatile, powerful, and portable budget laptop made by Apple.

Ex head of iPhone processors founds chip-design company

By

Apple sues former chief architect of iPhone chips
Apple is suing its former chip engineer, center, for breach of contract.
Photo: Nuvia

You may never have heard of Gerard Williams III, but for years he played a large part in designing every iPhone processor. He left Apple early this year, and is now the CEO of Nuvia, a firm headed by three ex Apple execs that’s designing its own chips.

But they aren’t taking on their old company. Instead, Nuvia will make processors for data centers.

This essential iPad shortcut lets you instantly preview any file

By

Add Quick Look to the Files app. Sometimes I think it was easier the old way.
Sometimes I think it was easier the old way.
Photo: Maksym Kaharlytskyi/Unsplash

The iPadOS Files app isn’t bad, but it has one super-frustrating flaw. While you can now enjoy multiple windows, hook up any and all USB drives, and even connect to network servers, you can’t do one simple thing: Preview a file. Or rather, you can preview any file, just by clicking on it, but you never know whether Files will actually show you a Quick Look preview, or just open that file in an arbitrary app.

Today, we will add a dedicated Quick Look entry to the Files app share menu. Never again will you tap to preview a file and have it launch an app instead.

Help friendly robots solve puzzles in Apple Arcade’s new Rosie’s Reality

By

Save money on Apple Arcade with an annual subscription
Save money on Apple Arcade with an annual subscription
Photo: Apple/RosieReality

Children and their parents can enter Rosie’s Reality, a game where they’ll guide this miniature robot through a series of puzzles by building paths with blocks that resemble virtual Legos.

This latest addition to the Apple Arcade service is the only new title out this week now that its total number of games has passed 100.

iPhone 11 Pro camera holds its own against $20,000 Leica

By

Sawyer Hartman compares iPhone 11 Pro to Leica
The iPhone 11 Pro gave a mind-blowing performance against a Leica.
Screenshot: Sawyer Hartman/YouTube

YouTube is full of photographers comparing their professional kits with the latest iPhone camera.

But a recent test and conclusion by Sawyer Hartman risked sounding blasphemes. Could a $1,300 iPhone 11 Pro outshoot $20,000 worth of some of the best gear produced by the iconic German brand, Leica?

That may depend on who’s looking.

The Morning Show showrunner discusses season 2 development

By

The Morning Show blitzes viewers with Apple product placement
The female characters of The Morning Show shine brightest.
Photo: Apple

With the fifth episode of The Morning Show landing on Apple TV+ this morning, attention is already turning to season number two.

Morning Show showrunner Kerry Ehrin revealed how the U.S. political landscape could impact some of the storytelling next season. While Trump and current political issues won’t be brought up, Ehrin says some political themes could be added to plot.

ProLine Compact doorbell brings HomeKit Secure Video

By

Robin ProLine Compact is HomeKit compatible
You can securely answer the ProLine Compact with your iPhone, thanks to HomeKit Secure Video.
Photo: Robin Telecom Development/Cult of Mac

A follow-up to the world’s first HomeKit-compatible video doorbell from Robin Telecom Development will support Apple’s new system that makes video security systems more private and secure. It’s quite possibly the first video doorbell to do so.

Almost as importantly, the Robin ProLine Compact is smaller than its predecessor.

Forget iCloud and snag one of these cloud storage options on sale today [Deals]

By

Cloud Backup Main CoM
Score massive deals on 2, 5, and even 10TB cloud storage options.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Cloud storage is an essential tool these days. But unfortunately, it can cost sky-high prices (see what we did there?). So we rounded up three incredible price drops on top-tier cloud storage solutions, including options for 2, 5 and a mind-boggling 10 terabytes of storage. We’re not even sure how to use that much storage, but at more than 90% off, we’re pretty sure you can afford it.