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Google Maps navigation goes immersive with Gemini

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Google Maps Immersive Navigation
Navigation in Google Maps is about to change forever.
Photo: Google Blog

Google is giving Google Maps navigation its biggest upgrade in a decade. Thanks to deep Gemini integration, the way you use Google Maps will forever change with this update. 

At the center of the update is a new Immersive Navigation view, which replaces the traditional map with a vivid, interactive 3D experience.

This great-looking MagSafe iPhone battery is built for life on the go [Review] ★★★★

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Twelve South PowerCapsule review★★★★
The Twelve South PowerCapsule can juice up your iPhone anytime, anywhere.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

When my iPhone battery needs a quick boost, the Twelve South PowerCapsule is ready to keep it going for the rest of the day. It conveniently clings to the handset magnetically so no cable is needed.

As a bonus, the accessory looks great. It closely matches the look of my iPhone 17. And it fits easily in a pocket.

I tested the PowerCapsule in my home and on the go. Here’s how it stands up in real-world use.

Today in Apple history: Apple market cap breezes by Walmart

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
At this point, a $200 billion market cap seems almost quaint for Apple.
Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

March 12: Today in Apple history: Apple overtakes Walmart in value March 12, 2010: Apple passes Walmart and investment firm Berkshire Hathaway in value to take third place in market capitalization among publicly listed U.S. companies. The Apple market cap soars past $200 billion, fueled by intense excitement over the first-generation iPad.

Things look good for the company as it guns for powerhouses ExxonMobil and Microsoft.

Apple turns 50: Tim Cook thanks users in heartfelt anniversary letter

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Tim Cook Apple 50th anniversary letter
Apple's 50th anniversary is April 1, 2026.
Photo: Apple

Apple 50 Years graphic Apple marks a remarkable milestone this April 1 — 50 years since Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne founded the company in a California garage on that date in 1976. To commemorate it, Apple said Thursday it will plan a series of global celebrations. And CEO Tim Cook published a personal letter on apple.com. It looks back on five decades of innovation while expressing gratitude to the billions of people who have made Apple what it is today.

“Thinking different has always been at the heart of Apple,” Cook said. “It’s what has driven us to create products that empower people to express themselves, to connect and to create something wonderful.”

Score a deal on the just-launched M4 iPad Air — while it lasts!

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M4 iPad Air deal
You can't beat a bargain on a tablet that just launched this week!
Photo: Apple

Apple upgraded the iPad Air with a faster M4 processor this week, and the speedy new version is already available at a discount. A deal knocks 7% off the cost of a brand-new M4 iPad Air lowering the mid-range model to a very affordable price: $559. Maybe you need one to finish out the school year, or the tablet is great for anyone needing a light-duty productivity and entertainment computer.

For shopping flexibility, you can snag a deal on either the newest 13-inch iPad Air or the 11-inch iPad Air variant, both at 7% off.

Why my new M4 iPad Air is such a meaningful upgrade [Review] ★★★★

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M4 iPad Air review★★★★
With a 2-inch bump in screen size that looks and feels like more, this is a nice upgrade for me.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The 11-inch Apple M1 iPad Air (5th generation) I used for the past few years was a great device — fast, light, capable and well-integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Yet after just a couple days with the 13-inch iPad Air powered by Apple’s M4 chip, I can say this trade-in for an upgrade isn’t just incremental. It’s the kind of shift that quietly changes the way I use a device.

This $40 AI tool is your secret weapon for landing a job faster

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AI illustration of a happy, confident man using FirstResume AI job search tool on a MacBook.
Why stress over the job hunt when AI can make it easy?
Illustration: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

AI job search tool FirstResume automates resumes, cover letters, tracking and interview prep so job hunting takes hours, not entire evenings.

FirstResume, currently on sale for just $39.99 (MSRP $899), treats the job hunt the way modern software treats everything else — as a system that should be automated.

Folding iPhone may take a major step toward iPad-style productivity

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Folding iPhone multitasking: Planning dinner
Making dinner plans could get easier with the folding iPhone's split-screen multitasking, as shown in this concept image.
AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

The folding iPhone will require iOS 27 to be enhanced with support for running two applications side-by-side on its large, foldable display, according to a reliable source.

Split-screen multitasking is a feature borrowed from iPadOS, but Apple’s upcoming premium handset will be an iPhone and therefore run iOS — just a modified version.

Another PC maker sounds alarm as MacBook Neo shakes up industry

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MacBook Neo shakes up PC industry
MacBook Neo could cause seismic change in the PC industry.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

When we reported last week that the $599 MacBook Neo set off alarm bells across the PC industry, the hand-wringing was mostly coming from pundits and outside observers. Now PC makers are saying it out loud — on earnings calls, no less.

ASUS co-CEO S.Y. Hsu didn’t mince words on the company’s most recent quarterly call. Apple’s move into budget-friendly territory is “a shock to the entire industry,” he said, adding that across the entire PC ecosystem, “there have been a lot of discussions about how to compete with this product.”

Today in Apple history: iPad 2 is the svelte sequel fans hoped for

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iPad 2
The iPad 2 took a leap forward in every way except pricing.
Photo: Apple

March 11: Today in Apple history: iPad 2 is the sequel fans hoped for March 11, 2011: How do you follow up your biggest product debut ever? That’s the question Apple needs to answer as the iPad 2 launch date arrives.

Apple’s second-generation tablet boasts a faster dual-core A5 processor inside a lighter build. It’s also the first iPad to feature VGA front-facing and 720p rear-facing cameras.

MacBook Neo’s success is just getting started

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AI-generated image of a blush MacBook Neo on a desk in a classroom.
The MacBook Neo will show up in many, many classrooms.
AI image: Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple already can’t keep up with MacBook Neo demand, and the low-cost notebook just launched on Wednesday. Sales momentum will keep growing throughout the year, according to an industry analyst.

The laptop’s success will likely be buoyed by reviews that prove the MacBook Neo offers speedy performance, despite its entry-level specifications.

Transform every message you send with a lifetime of pro email signatures

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Custom email signature generator EmailSignatures is shown on a laptop being used by a person sitting at a coffee table
Turn every email into a personal showcase.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Email signature generator EmailSignatures lets you create polished, professional email signatures in minutes. More than simply bolding your name, you can add your company’s logo, your social links — whatever it takes to make your email shine.

Think of it as custom stationery for your outbox. And a lifetime subscription currently costs just $39 (MSRP $579).

Apple’s newest MacBooks, Studio Displays and iPhone 17e hit store shelves

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MacBook Neo in blush
Which new Apple device(s) will you buy today?
AI image: Apple/Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple’s affordable MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, M5 Pro/Max-equipped MacBook Pros and the M4 iPad Air went on sale Wednesday. The M5-powered MacBook Air and new Studio Displays also hit retail stores today.

Apple began accepting preorders for these devices last week, shortly after unveiling them.

Travel-friendly iPad stand adds the ports you need

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Satechi OntheGo Foldable Stand Hub in use
This iPad stand also includes useful ports to keep you productive on the go.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi OntheGo Foldable Stand Hub helps your iPad become the heart of a compact workstation. It holds up the tablet while simultaneously expanding its connectivity with five additional ports.

The multifunction stand also folds down so it’s ready to travel.

The iPhone’s haptic keyboard is fantastic: Here’s how to turn it on

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iPhone Haptic Keyboard graphic
Get a clicky keyboard on your phone, too.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Studies show that a haptic keyboard improves touchscreen typing speed and input accuracy, but very few people know you can enable it on your iPhone.

Android phones years ago had haptic keyboards, but without a precision vibration motor, the feedback was too slow to make the illusion really work. With the Taptic Engine — hardware in every iPhone since the iPhone 6s that can simulate all kinds of vibrating textures — Apple created a perfectly convincing effect to enable the haptic keyboard.

Read on to see where to enable it — or watch our quick video.

This beautiful portable monitor doesn’t break the bank [Review] ★★★★

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Espresso Lite 15 portable monitor: Review★★★★
This portable monitor from Espresso Displays can make you more productive.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Espresso Lite 15 portable monitor includes a gorgeous LCD for work or entertainment when you’re away from your usual desk. It’s a more affordable option from a company previously known for premium screens, but it keeps up the quality.

It comes in a range of vibrant case color options, which really helps it stand out from its rivals. Plus, there’s Stand+, a brilliant ergonomic stand that can hold the 15.6-inch, 1080P LCD above your laptop.

I tested the Espresso Lite 15 in my home office and on the road, and came away quite pleased. Here’s why.

4 reasons why you should wait for the M6 MacBook Pro

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Why your should wait for the M6 MacBook Pro
Hold off on a MacBook Pro until you see all the changes coming in the M6 version.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is currently putting the finishing touches on a major step forward for the MacBook Pro line, with advanced features no current MacBook can boast of. And the M6 processor is just the icing on the cake. Here’s why you should wait for it.

Yes, the MacBook Pro just got updated with M5 Pro or M5 Max processors making it the fastest Mac ever. But you should think seriously about skipping it. You’ll kick yourself if you have a relatively new model when something far better comes along in a few months.

Today in Apple history: Apple reconsiders the Newton?

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The Newton MessagePad 2100 was the last hurrah for Apple's Newton line.
In retrospect, Apple's Newton MessagePad survey seems like stealth iPhone research.
Photo: Moparx

March 10: Today in Apple history: Apple reconsiders the Newton MessagePad? March 10, 2004: Apple sends out a survey to select Apple customers, claiming that it is considering relaunching the Newton MessagePad.

“We need to determine why the Apple Newton was not a commercial success and whether there is an interest in re-launching a new version of the Newton,” Apple’s survey says. “Your comments will help understand why the Newton failed and if there is interest in re-launching a new, improved Newton.”

In hindsight, it seems pretty clear that Apple’s apparent interest in launching another personal data assistant served as cover for stealth market research for the still-in-development iPhone.

iOS 26.4 beta 4 gives us first look at Apple’s new emoji

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iOS 26.4 beta 4
Another new iOS 26.4 beta is here...
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple revealed its versions of eight upcoming new emoji in iOS 26.4 beta 4, which it pushed to developers Monday. Standouts include Distorted Face — sure to become a hit when it arrives to the general public — and Hairy Creature, which looks an awful lot like Bigfoot.

See Apple’s versions of all the new emoji, and all the other changes in the beta, below. 

Apple delays ‘HomePad’ as Siri improvements fall further behind

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Apple postpones 'HomePad' amid Siri delays
The Apple HomePad smart home hub might look something like this concept image.
AI image: Google Gemini

Apple once again delayed its long-awaited smart home hub with a display — casually known as the “HomePad” — until around September as the company continues struggling to get its revamped Siri voice assistant ready for prime time, according to a report Monday.

New Keychron foldable keyboard fits in your pocket

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Keychron B11 Pro Ultra-Slim Foldable Wireless Keyboard
Foldability and an ergonomic Alice key layout distinguish this keeb.
Photo: Keychron

Last week Keychron trotted out an ultra-slim wireless keyboard that folds in half for easy portability. At $64.99, the Keychron B11 Pro Ultra-Slim Wireless Foldable Keyboard is aimed squarely at Mac users and mobile workers who want the comfort of a proper keyboard without lugging around a bag.

When folded, the B11 Pro measures just 196.3mm × 143 mm — roughly the size of a small paperback. That makes it small enough to slide into a jacket pocket.

Today in Apple history: eWorld closes its virtual doors

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Enter Apple eWorld. Short of a Nirvana MIDI file playing in the background, you can't get more 1990s than this!
Short of a Nirvana MIDI file playing in the background, you can't get more 1990s than this!
Image: Andrea Grell/Ste Smith

March 9: Today in Apple history: eWorld closes its virtual doors March 9, 1996: Apple confirms that it will shut down its eWorld online service at the end of the month.

Part messaging service, part news aggregator — and all with Apple’s customary premium prices — the short-lived eWorld proved ahead of its time. Apple tells disappointed eWorld subscribers they can switch to America Online instead.

New CAD drawings reveal Apple’s upcoming folding iPhone

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Apple’s folding iPhone takes shape in new CAD drawings
The folding iPhone might look much like this concept based on leaked CAD drawings.
AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

CAD drawings supposedly revealing the design of the first folding iPhone indicate the device will sport a very different shape than rival foldable smartphones.

The early Monday leak comes from a reliable source, and the design shown matches earlier reports about the so-called iPhone Fold. So this may well be what the new premium iOS device looks like when it debuts in the fall.