In the month leading up to the launch of Apple TV+, Apple spent $19.9 million on worldwide TV ads advertising its new streaming service.
While that’s definitely a big number, however, it’s only half (or just over) the $38.6 million Apple spent on iPhone ads during the same month.
Adobe’s Photoshop is now available in the App Store, ready for you to try. You have to sign up for a $10 monthly subscription, even just to test it out, but there’s a one-month free trial included in the sub. With that out of the way, how is it? Extremely limited, but very promising.
If you’re familiar with Photoshop on the Mac or PC, then you will feel immediately at home. You will also feel immediately frustrated, because the app does almost nothing. We learned earlier this month that Photoshop for iOS would offer a cut-down feature set compared to the full desktop version. Still, this app is so basic that — if you want to actually get any work done — you should grab something like Affinity Photo instead.
But as an example of an iPad app, Photoshop is stellar. It’s easy to use, and yet most of the basics are there. And there’s a new UI innovation, called the Touch Shortcut, that should be in every app. Let’s take a look.
If you need to work on virtually any graphics project, Adobe Illustrator can likely handle your task. Of course, to finish that task, you may need a post-graduate degree. Because for all of its capabilities, actually deciphering Illustrator’s quagmire of filters, layers, effects and hundreds of additional bells and whistles is…well, not easy.
This week we spend all our time on the Mac. Content blocker 1Blocker has a whole new look — and a new subscription model. BlackHole replaces the venerable SoundFlower on newer Macs, and ToothFairy puts your AirPods Pro in the Mac’s menu bar.
Who doesn’t want to fly? As drones get easier to use, we can get really close to the feeling of taking to the skies. Along with getting better, they’re also becoming more affordable, so even people on a budget can join the ranks of hobby pilots. One of the best names in the business is DJI, and they’ve got a pair of options that offer a great way into the world of drones.
Every once in a while, you’ve got to let a doctor take a look at you and maybe even hit you with a flu shot or some extra vitamins before deeming you a-OK. Well, your Mac is just like you. So consider The Ultimate Q4 Mac Freebie Bundle a trip to the doc for your Mac.
With AirPods Pro, Apple makes us oddly happy about shelling out for an upgrade. In fact, the new high-end wireless earbuds feel like a steal at $250. You might even say they’re fandabbydosey. (Our fearless leader Leander did. In fact, he can’t stop raving about AirPods Pro.)
Immerse yourself in our reviews and early impressions of one the most exciting Apple products in recent memory in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine. We also packed the issue full of how-tos for AirPods Pro and other Apple products. Plus, you’ll get the latest Apple news (including the lowdown on the just-launched Apple TV+ streaming service).
Get the iOS mag free from the App Store. And don’t forget to enter our latest, greatest giveaway. Enter to win an iPhone 11, AirPods and a custom Belkin charging pad.
A good projector might be the best way to enjoy visual content. From turning your living room into a theater, to creating immersive visuals for a house party, the possibilities are pretty much endless. But most projectors are bulky and expensive, especially if you want one with high brightness and good resolution. Not so with this pocket-sized projector.
Ryan Kaji is a YouTube megastar who leveraged the might of 22 million followers to earn $22 million last year. Did we also mention that Ryan, the star of Ryan ToysReview, is 8 years old?
Timely space-race drama For All Mankind just might propel Apple TV+ into becoming must-see TV. The show kicks off in the late 1960s, a couple of weeks before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin strap themselves into a giant metal tube full of fuel that’s aimed at the moon.
From there, the story takes a sharp turn away from history and examines what the world would look like if the USSR planted its flag on the moon first. Space is obviously a huge part of For All Mankind, but the way creator Ronald D. Moore uses it as a vehicle to tackle topics like family, patriotism and feminism is what makes the show worth watching.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Apple requested exemptions for the import taxes it must pay when bringing many of its products from China. Currently, the Trump administration levies these on Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac and more.
These tariffs went into place in September as Apple got caught up in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China.
Hot dang, Apple’s still got it. The new AirPods Pro are fantastic.
They’re truly great headphones, and every major new feature improves on the old AirPods in big and significant ways.
I freakin’ love the new AirPods Pro!
Huawei has often been guilty of introducing products “inspired” by Apple designers, and it’s apparently doing so again with an upcoming tablet. Leaked images of the Huawei MatePad Pro show it looks almost exactly like an iPad Pro. Even the name is copied.
This personal finance app post is presented by Dashlane.
Is this the year you pledged to get your financial life in order like a properly functioning adult? If so, there’s still time. Or, you can start laying the groundwork for a 2020 New Year’s resolution that will stick.
Whether you need help saving, budgeting, paying bills, tracking expenses, investing or all of the above, there’s a free personal finance Mac app for that. Some of our favorites are below. And you can use any or all of them more securely, keeping sensitive financial data and logins safe, if you try them in concert with Dashlane, the official password manager of Cult of Mac.
Lusting after Apple’s brilliant new AirPods Pro? Sell your old ones to Cult of Mac today and that sweet, sweet upgrade will be more affordable than you think.
We buy original and second-generation AirPods and make the whole process quick and easy. We also cough up real cash, so you can spend it anywhere you like.
Adonit Note+ is a pressure-sensitive iPad stylus that stands up well in a head-to-head competition with Apple Pencil, and even beats it in some areas. It offers tilt detection and pressure sensitivity, as well as shortcut buttons. All at a price definitely lower than Apple’s stylus.
We used this Apple Pencil alternative for both writing and drawing — read our Adonit Note+ review to see how it handles in real-world use.
Adobe’s massive catalog of fonts is now available on iOS for the first time. You can use them inside any app that supports custom font APIs — so long as you’re running iOS 13.1.
Get started by downloading the Creative Cloud app today.
Two just-released Apple Arcade titles demonstrate the wide variety offerings in this gaming service. The Mosaic is about escaping the dreadful loneliness of modern life, while Monomals features silly animal DJs having a music contest.
Apple also added three other titles to its service, two of which are platformers.
Question: How do you get billboards for a new product up as quickly as possible after launch, without spoiling Apple’s perfectly orchestrated unveiling? Answer: You put up the billboard, then add the product afterward.
If that sounds like way too much effort, we’re guessing you won’t be hearing back from Apple about your marketing job application anytime soon.
Google has confirmed plans to buy Fitbit as it looks to step up its fight against Apple Watch. The deal, worth approximately $2.1 billion, will bring new Made by Google wearables to market.
“Together, we aim to spur innovation in wearables and build helpful products to benefit more people around the world,” Google said.
Apple TV+ launched this morning. Costing $4.99 per month (or free to anyone who buys a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac), the subscription service brings Apple’s eagerly anticipated original TV shows to anyone who wants to watch them.
But what exactly does the service feature so far? And what’s the timeline for the release of Apple’s other shows? Check out our rundown.
Reading is the road to greater understanding of the world and ourselves. For many of us, though, it can be a slower road than we’d like. But reading is a skill like any other, so you can improve with practice and guidance. That’s just what this bundle of six speed-reading courses offers.
Mario Kart Tour on mobile will finally get its much-anticipated multiplayer mode next month. It will initially arrive in beta, giving players the opportunity to compete online for the first time.
But there’s a catch. You can’t enjoy the beta unless you’re coughing up for the game’s Gold Pass.
This week on The CultCast: AirPod Pros! You want them, we got them. We’ll tell you what’s new, what’s good, what’s not, and how they compare to the regular AirPods. We’ve got lots to say…. Plus: The first Apple TV+ reviews are trickling in, and, well … they’re not great.
Our thanks to Belkin for supporting this episode. Belkin cables are built to last and supported with a five-year warranty. If you’re tired of broken, burned-out cables, switch to Belkin, and save 30% off your order with code CultCast at checkout.
Apple has upgraded five executives to Vice President status. This includes one returning early iPhone executive, a report from Bloomberg notes.
Paul Meade is the new VP of hardware engineering, Jon Andrews is now VP of software engineering, Gary Geaves is VP of acoustics, and Kaiann Drance is VP of marketing. Apple has also brought back Bob Borchers, who has been named VP of product marketing.