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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs trashes Adobe Flash in devastatingly blunt open letter

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Photo of an iPad displaying Steve Jobs' open letter titled
Steve Jobs really didn't care for Flash.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
April 29: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs pens letter to Flash

April 29, 2010: Apple CEO Steve Jobs pens “Thoughts on Flash,” an open letter to explain why, basically, Adobe Flash kind of sucks. The letter marks the beginning of the end for the once-omnipresent plugin that powered multimedia in internet browsers for years.

Following the devastatingly blunt broadside, Adobe Systems CEO Shantanu Narayen hits back at Apple, arguing against Jobs’ complaints. But the Apple leader has clearly made up his mind: iOS devices will never support Flash. The writing is on the wall.

Epic Games deals Apple fresh blow in App Store fee fight

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Epic Games vs Apple: Developer account battle
Epic Games came out ahead in the latest skirmish between the developer and Apple.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s bid to freeze court-ordered App Store changes while it pursues U.S. Supreme Court review got rejected Tuesday as the latest decision in the iPhone giant’s long-running legal fight with Fortnite maker Epic Games. So the clock is now ticking on compliance pending another decision over what Apple can charge in fees.

Get Microsoft Office 2024, plus courses that show you how to use it, at a killer price

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Man using excel on a Mac, used to illustrate a post about Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC deal with training bundle
Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC, plus all the training you need, for one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This deal lands you Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC, plus a full training bundle that will teach you how to use all the software in the popular productivity suite. And right now, you can get it all for just $114 — a 72% discount off the regular price of $409.99.

That means no monthly payments for a Microsoft software subscription. And no fumbling around trying to get the latest software to do what you want it to do.

I tried the most powerful Thunderbolt dock ever made [Review] ★★★★★

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Photo of the Ivanky FusionDock Ultra on a desk, used to illustrate a review of the unique Thunderbolt 5 dock.★★★★★
The iVanky FusionDock Ultra currently ranks as the king of Thunderbolt 5 docks.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

With plenty of ports, power and bandwidth, Thunderbolt docks form the backbone of a modern MacBook-powered workstation — and the iVanky FusionDock Ultra takes things to the extreme. It packs an absurd number of ports and promises enough bandwidth to handle just about anything you can throw at it.

Find out what makes the iVanky FusionDock Ultra so special in our review.

Write a book in minutes with this AI-powered publishing tool

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Fantasy illustration of a frustrated man sitting at a typewriter, used to illustrate a deals post on Aivolut Books AI book creator
You've already got the brilliant idea. This specialized AI can turn it into a full-length book quickly and easily.
Illustration: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

AI book generator Aivolut Books employs specialized tools to help you turn an idea into a full, cohesive, Amazon-ready book in just minutes.

It’s a great way to go from brainstorming a book idea to publishing an actual book. And a lifetime subscription costs just $48.99 (MSRP $456). That’s less than the cost of a single editing pass for most books.

Apple bets on AI to reinvent iPhone photo editing in iOS 27

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iOS 27 could add AI features to expand and enhance images
iOS 27 could use AI to make your photographs look better after you take them.
Photo: Anastasiya Badun/Pexels

Apple is reportedly prepping a significant upgrade to the photo-editing capabilities of the iPhone, iPad and Mac. The company will turn to artificial intelligence to let users enhance their images, including using generative AI to extend images beyond their current borders, according to information leaking out of Cupertino on Tuesday.

The news should raise the excitement level for iOS 27, macOS 27 and iPadOS 27, which should arrive this fall.

How to remove an object from a photo with Apple Intelligence

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Graphic showing the Image Clean Up tool in Photos, captioned, “Remove an Object from a Photo”
You don’t have to be a Photoshop master to edit things out of your photos.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can easily remove any object from a photo using Apple Intelligence’s free Clean Up tool on your iPhone, Mac or iPad. It works fairly well — but it’s good to know its limitations.

As the only graphic designer among my friends, I’ve frequently been asked over the years to Photoshop unwanted elements out of pictures. Take, for example, a romantic shot of a couple in a gazebo, with a phone sitting on the handrail in an obvious spot. The image might look a lot better if you delete that stray device.

Or imagine a group photo from a fun night out, with someone’s dumpy tote bag sitting by their feet, or a picture from a big conference that shows an ugly lanyard around someone’s neck. With Apple Intelligence’s free Clean Up feature, anyone can make the tote bag and the lanyard disappear, right from their iPhone.

Now, you have the power to clean up your own photos — a chance to make your almost-perfect shots perfect in an instant. 

Eye doctor uses Vision Pro in cataract surgery for the first time

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Vision Pro in cataract surgery
In another medical first, Vision Pro played a crucial role in successful cataract surgery.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

A New York ophthalmologist made history recently, becoming the first surgeon in the world to perform cataract surgery using Apple’s Vision Pro headset, according to a new report. It offers a compelling new use case for a device that has struggled to find mass-market traction.

“We are now able to bring the world’s best surgeon into any operating room, at any hour, from anywhere on the planet,” Dr. Eric Rosenberg said. “From residents performing their first cases to surgeons facing unexpected complications, this technology democratizes access to expertise — and that will save vision.”

Today in Apple history: iTunes Music Store opens its doors

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Screenshot of the iTunes Music Store
The iTunes Music Store revolutionized the music industry.
Photo: Apple

April 28: Today in Apple history: iTunes Music Store launches April 28, 2003: Apple opens the iTunes Music Store, revolutionizing the music industry and digital distribution of content.

At a time when getting music online mostly means illegal downloads from pirate services like Napster, iTunes quickly proves that customers will pay for songs — provided the service is good enough.

This nutrition and fitness app makes meal planning and workout tracking simple

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Photo of a man and a woman doing planks in a gym with a salad between them, used to illustrate a post about NutriAI nutrition and workout app
NutriAI can build custom meal plans and workout routines just for you to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Photo: Annushka Ahuja/Pexels

If you track your steps on your Apple Watch, log meals in one app, follow workouts in another, and somehow still end up guessing what to eat for dinner, NutriAI is for you. This AI-powered nutrition and training app simplifies daily life by turning your tracking and planning into a single system with plans built for you.

And a lifetime subscription currently costs just $39.99 (regularly $499).

Highly adaptable Edifier M90 speakers earn a spot in any Apple setup [Review] ★★★★

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Edifier M90 speaker review★★★★
Edifier M90 speakers in white replace the inexpensive sound bar I was using to boost my Roku TV's audio. They'd be great with Apple TV, too.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Apple’s ecosystem has never sounded better — AirPods, HomePods, Apple TV with Dolby Atmos — and yet the humble desktop speaker often remains an afterthought. For Mac users who spend long hours at a monitor or in front of a gaming console or smart TV, the audio situation can range from mediocre built-in speakers to a rat’s nest of half-compatible gear. But this Edifier M90 speaker review explains how the stellar new boxes do a great job of solving any number of audio problems in different settings. They bring potent audio power to practically any gear. 

5 best Apple products of the Tim Cook era

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Give Tim Cook credit for his best products
Let's give Apple CEO Tim Cook credit where credit is due.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook doesn’t get enough credit for launching groundbreaking products as Apple CEO. He quietly oversaw launches that reshaped how people listen, make purchases and monitor their health. He even revitalized the Mac.

With Cook leaving the CEO spot to become chairman of Apple’s board of directors in September, it’s time for some perspective on his time in office. Here are five examples of Cook embedding Apple deeper into our lives than ever before.

Apple makes expensive app subscriptions easier to pay

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App Store
The App Store just got a new way to pay for annual app subscriptions.
Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

Apple now allows developers to offer monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment. This means instead of paying the annual subscription fee upfront, users can pay it monthly.

This change makes it easier for users to subscribe to apps with high annual fees, lowering the barrier to entry.

Get a lifetime of AI investing advice for less than $70

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Photo of a person using AI investing app Sterling Stock Picker
Maximize your stock portfolio with this AI investing app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Without an AI investing app, trading in today’s unpredictable market can feel like throwing darts blindfolded. (Pro tip: Don’t try that unless you’re Mike Tyson.) One day, stocks are up; the next, they’re crashing. Not to mention, every so-called expert has a different opinion.

Sterling Stock Picker changes the game. This AI-driven platform taps OpenAI to take the guesswork out of investing, using advanced technology to guide you toward smarter financial decisions.

Whether you’re looking for long-term growth, dividend stocks or high-risk/high-reward opportunities, this AI investing app helps you navigate the stock market with clarity. And speaking of good investments, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $68.99. That’s a massive 85% off the original price of $486.

Easy way to record and transcribe your iPhone calls

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Image showing the transcription of call recording on an iPhone, with the caption, “Record a Call on iPhone,” with a photo of someone talking on the phone.
Check back what they really said.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can record a phone call on your iPhone for future reference using a built-in tool. This feature is a great way to refer back to a previous conversation. Who said what? What date did they say? What exactly did you agree to?

If your device supports Apple Intelligence, you’ll get transcriptions of the phone calls, too. They’ll go in a Call Recordings folder in the Notes app.

If you used a shady call recording app before, you can bid it adieu. There’s a convenient button built right into the Phone app. Here’s how it all works.

Major sale drops M5 MacBook Air back to lowest-ever price

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Two people laying on a bed with a MacBook Air, looking at a promotional image for Shrinking on Apple TV
Get Apple's latest lightweight laptop at major savings.
Photo: Apple

The M5 MacBook Air is the best mobile computer for most people, and a sweet deal drops both the 13-inch and 15-inch models to record-low prices. The sale slashes $150 off models with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSDs. 

You can snag the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air for just $950 or the 15-incher for only $1,150, in a variety of colors.

Why modern companies outsource business system management

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A businessman giving a talk about outsourcing.
LeverX offers multiple SAP outsourcing services.
Photo: Freepik

Modern businesses cannot fully function, meet consumer needs, or remain competitive without digitalization. An advanced ERP system today is one of the elements of this digitalization.

There are many ERP systems on the market that are designed for different scales and needs of companies. For example, SAP solutions can completely take over any company’s business process. However, this beneficial journey can be risky without reliable support. That’s why companies around the world are increasingly turning to outsourcing developers and implementation partners.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the concept of SAP outsourcing services, its importance for modern companies, as well as the role of external experts in digital transformation.

Why all iPhone 18 models will include 12GB of RAM

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iPhone 18 leak suggests bigger RAM for non-Pro buyers
Expect the iPhone 18 to look much like its predecessor, but with internal upgrades.
Photo: Apple

Apple could deliver a significant performance upgrade to the base iPhone 18, with the smartphone potentially receiving a major increase in RAM — up to 12GB — according to a new analyst report.

This comes despite an ongoing RAM shortage that’s driving up prices of rival devices. But keeping up with AI probably doesn’t give Apple much choice.

Today in Apple history: Psystar’s clone Macs go rogue

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After a battle with Apple over Mac clones, this T-shirt is all Psystar will be selling.
After losing a battle with Apple over Mac clones, this T-shirt became one of Psystar's last products.
Image: Psystar

April 27: Today in Apple history: Psystar clone Macs go rogue April 27, 2008: Psystar’s first Mac clones ship to customers. The company’s new Open Computer means that, for the first time since the mid-1990s, there’s no need to assemble a “hackintosh” to run OS X on a non-Apple computer.

Unlike previous clone Macs, however, Psystar’s low-priced computers don’t come with Cupertino’s blessing. Naturally, a fight ensues.

Value-packed EarFun Clip 2 open-ear earbuds put awareness first [Review] ★★★★☆

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EarFun Clip 2 earbuds review★★★★☆
EarFun Clip 2 open-ear earbuds clip gently on your ears for secure comfort.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

First announced at CES 2026 in January and released Monday, EarFun Clip 2 open-ear earbuds arrive with an unusually ambitious spec sheet for $79.99 (or less with launch discount). EarFun says Clip 2 is the world’s first Hi-Res comfort ear-clip earbuds with built-in AI translation priced under $80 — a claim that would sound like marketing bluster if the hardware didn’t largely back it up. After spending time with them, here’s my EarFun Clip 2 earbuds review with an honest verdict.

Today in Apple history: It’s the beginning of the end for Mac OS Copland

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A screenshot of Mac OS Copland on a
Mac OS Copland never saw the light of day.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

April 26: Today in Apple history: Mac OS Copland suffers fatal blow when David C. Nagel leaves Apple April 26, 1996: Mac OS Copland, Apple’s eagerly anticipated but much-delayed operating system for the Macintosh, suffers a fatal blow when the senior VP in charge of the project leaves the company.

David C. Nagel, Apple’s chief technologist, previously promised Mac OS Copland would ship to users by mid-1996 at the latest. With meeting that deadline no longer possible, he leaves Apple for a job running AT&T Laboratories.

It’s yet another sign that Apple’s top-to-bottom Mac operating system upgrade is in major trouble.