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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Apple will offer you just a fraction of what your old Apple Watch is really worth. Make a lot more by selling yours to Cult of Mac instead.

Caviar is a Russian jeweler that routinely applies precious gems and gold-plating to iPhones to sell to the rich.

Now it is working with new materials – pieces of the Titanic and the first manned spaced craft.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This week we get grooving with EG Pulse, take control of Mission Control, drag stuff around with Yoink, and wonder why we need Pocket Casts.

Read all about the best new and updated apps in this week’s roundup.

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.

The new iPhones and Apple Watch are out, and they’re racking up rave reviews. Our hands-on iPhone 11 first impressions show it to be a pretty, powerful photographic phenom. Meanwhile, other reviewers can’t stop complimenting the entry-level iPhone (or its beefed-up siblings, the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max). Same goes for Apple Watch Series 5.

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.

Get all that info and more in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.

One of the highlights of the just-launched Apple Arcade is Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm from Cornfox & Bros. It’s a familiar dungeon crawl through a bright world to solve a noble quest, and it provides hours of fun.

Buckle on your sword and run through this game with us.

This has been a banner week at the Cult of Mac Store, so we’ve rounded up some of the best deals we saw. Below you’ll find massive discounts on refurbished Magic Mouse and Keyboards, 12-minute book summaries, access to vast stock photo libraries, and a powerful personal finance tool. You’ve gotta see these deals …

Buried in the iPhone 11 Pro Max are hardware quirks that iFixit suggests might be for reverse wireless charging, a feature reportedly planned and then dropped from this model.

Watch a video of techs from this repair company carefully disassembling Apple’s new flagship smartphone:

Don’t upgrade to iOS 13 if you love playing Fortnite or PUBG on your iPhone or iPad.

Gamers quickly discovered that iOS 13’s new three-finger gesture interrupts gameplay. While players try to aim and move with a 4 finger claw-like input method it brings up a new text editing bar that prevents you from doing anything so you’re just a sitting duck for opponents.