The three views from the iPhone 11 Pro's three rear-facing cameras. Photo: Apple
What makes the iPhone 11 Pro a Pro smartphone? It’s definitely not the ultra-wide camera.
According to Ben Sandofsky, co-developer of the photo app Halide, the ultra-wide camera does not support RAW capture of images or allow photographers to manually focus the camera.
Play Pass is just like Apple Arcade, only for Android. Photo: Google
It didn’t take long for Google to catch up to Apple Arcade with its own gaming subscription service.
Less than a week after the launch of Apple Arcade, Google revealed Play Pass this morning, offering Android users access to hundreds of games and other apps for just $5 per month.
Taking an iPhone 11 to pieces finds no sign of one rumored feature, but hints Apple Tags could still be on the way. Photo: iFixit
A teardown of the iPhone 11 finds Apple’s less-expensive handset lacks any sign of inverse wireless charging. iFixit did discover hardware possibly related to this rumored feature in the iPhone 11 Pro series, however.
An X-ray of the iPhone 11 does turn up evidence of ultra-wideband support, however. That will prove important if Apple launches the item-tracking tags that also showed up in many rumors.
These little NFC tags are discreet enough to stick anywhere. Photo: Cult of Mac
Shortcuts has gotten so many amazing new tricks in iOS 13 that it’s going to take a while for us to cover them all. So, how about starting with the new NFC automations? This lets you tap your sleeping iPhone onto an NFC sticker or tag, and your iPhone will run a shortcut. This is pretty amazing, because you can walk around you home (or office), and just tap your iPhone onto objects to perform tasks: open apps, set timers, play music, dim the lights — in fact, you can do anything a regular shortcut can do.
Here are two great examples of using NFC shortcuts in iOS 13.
AirPods are getting some fresh compeition. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Amazon is gearing up to take on Apple with its own set of wireless earbuds that pack some features AirPods can’t match.
Apple’s HomePod speaker could get some tougher competition from Amazon too as the company is also reportedly working on a bigger Echo smart speaker that will have better sound quality.
The first beta build of watchOS 6.1 was seeded to developers this morning, one day before Apple is set to release iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 to the public. WatchOS 6.1 beta 1 arrived alongside macOS Catalina 10.5 beta 9 which still doesn’t have an official launch date, but is supposed to launch publicly in October.
Despite its problems, the Galaxy Fold is likely a harbinger of many folding phones to come. Photo: Samsung
Samsung’s demonstration on the dangers of letting one’s reach exceed one’s grasp is almost over. The Galaxy Fold, the first mass-market phone with a foldable display, will reach US customers’ hands on Friday, many months after first scheduled.
Despite well-publicized problems, this company is already hard at work on a more affordable version. And rivals, including Apple, are also considering flexible screen handsets.
App Store updates are still open for business. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
In all versions of the App Store up until iOS 13, there has been an Update tab — a whole page of the store dedicated to showing you the latest updates to your installed apps. In iOS 13, that’s gone, replaced by Apple Arcade, whether you subscribe to the new gaming service or not.
So, how do you update your apps in iOS 13? And if you have auto-update switched on, then how do you even see which apps have been updated, and read their release notes? Fear not. Manual update is still there. It’s just hidden.
This beautifully hand-painted game delivers all the dragons you could hope for. Image: Cleaversoft
An endless runner with gorgeous hand-painted graphics, in which you sprint on the backs of enormous flying dragons? Welcome to the world of EarthNight, one of the plentiful launch titles for Apple Arcade.
Put on your running shoes and let us race you through its features in our EarthNight review.
Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
We know Apple’s new iPhone 11 lineup is its toughest yet. And a number of rudimentary drop tests have already proven that. But what do more scientific torture tests tell us about its strength?
SquareTrade used a series of punishments to simulate real-world incidents that could damage your pricey new phone. It says iPhone 11 is the only handset to survive its brutal tumble test.
The OLED display in the iPhone 11 Pro Max has some impressive specs. Photo: Apple
The experts at DisplayMate positively gushed about the quality of the iPhone 11 Pro Max display. They call the screen “almost certainly considerably better than your existing Smartphone, 4K UHD TV, Tablet, Laptop and computer monitor.”
The crisp OLED screen in Apple’s newest flagship handset met or exceeded the test lab’s records in color accuracy, brightness, reflectance and more.
Mac Pro manufacturing isn't going anywhere. Photo: Apple
Apple today confirmed that its brand new Mac Pro will be manufactured in Austin, Texas. It will soon enter production at the same facility where the last Mac Pro was assembled.
The move is part of Apple’s commitment to U.S. economic growth, it says. It is currently on track to invest $350 billion into its home country by 2023.
Avoid selling your old Apple Watch to Apple. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Now that you have your shiny new Apple Watch Series 5, it’s time to make back some of the money you just spent by selling your old model. But don’t take it to the Apple Store.
The iPhone 11 can take a licking and keep on ticking. Photo: Apple
Apple advertised the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s toughness as one of the new devices’ big selling points. But just how durable are Apple’s latest handsets?
Reviewers seemed unwilling to test this out, lest they damage their highly coveted review units. But now that the iPhone 11 is available for sale, an early drop test reveals just how tough the new phones are.
Could next year's iPhone chip be made using a cutting-edge 5-nanometer process? Photo: Apple
The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro is just making its way into customers’ hands. But work is already underway for next year’s handset refresh.
According to a new report, Apple chipmaker TSMC is gearing up to carry out volume production of its next-gen chips as early as March. And they could offer a major boost over this year’s A13 Bionic chips!
Score a year of top tier VPN protection for a fraction of the usual price. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’re not already using a VPN, you’re leaving yourself exposed to tons of online threats. From trackers to hackers to snoops and content restrictions, there are lots of online headaches and threats to contend with. So it’s well worth taking a simple step to protect yourself.
Preorder Oprah's first selection today. Photo: Apple
Oprah’s Book Club has landed in Apple Books, connecting readers worldwide to “stories that truly matter by today’s most thought-provoking authors.”
Its arrival comes weeks before Oprah’s new TV show kicks off on Apple TV+. A new episode will air every two months, and every title selected will be available from Apple Books.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates is Winfrey’s first selection, and you can preorder it now in ebook and audiobook formats ahead of its debut tomorrow, September 24.
Ads included glimpses of two shows Apple hasn't previously shown off. Photo: Apple
Apple has its eye on dominating next year’s Emmy Awards with its original content. But Apple TV+ wasn’t exactly hiding in the shadows at this year’s event.
Apple bombarded people who tuned in to the Emmys with 15-second spots for its TV+ ads during commercial breaks. This included the first teases for its shows Servant and Truth Be Told. Check them out below.
Fiat and Starbucks cases will offer Apple advance warning (or good news) about its ongoing EU tax battle. Photo: Pexels
Apple could get an early indication about the likely outcome of its giant European Union (EU) tax case early this week.
Apple was in court last week protesting its 13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill from the EU. Although the case is likely to drag on for months, two related cases will be ruled on this week. They may offer Apple some clues about its chances of success.
An Apple Watch can call 911 if you trip, slip, or wipe out so severely you knock yourself unconscious. Photo: Apple
Bob Burdett was mountain biking near Spokane, then the next thing he knew he was waking up in an ambulance. He’d had a crash so severe he was knocked unconscious for a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, his Apple Watch called 911 for him.
Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Everyone shopping for a 2019 iPhone faces a conundrum. The new Pro models come loaded with top-of-line features, but they cost much, much more than the 6.1-inch iPhone 11. Is it really necessary to pay $1,000 or more to get a great iPhone?
No, no it isn’t. In our iPhone 11 review, we’ll tell you why it’s Apple’s best new smartphone for most people.
Access two years of top quality documentary films and series. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There’s no shortage of streaming video content to consume. But on most platforms, compared to TV shows and popular movies, there’s a shortage of quality educational and documentary content. To deliver the goods, Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks launched CuriosityStream.
So, basically, accolades all around. Well done, Apple.
If you picked up a new device, you’ll need to know the right way to set it up. Here are tips and tricks for setting up your new iPhone or Apple Watch the right way. And even if you don’t have a brand-new shiny device, you’ll want all our tips and tricks for Apple’s latest mobile software. Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 13.