Take a deep dive into the details of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Three days of Microsoft Office lessons might not sound exciting, but MS Office is fundamental in almost any professional environment. So the more you learn, the more useful and marketable your skills.
Here are all the things we think Apple has up its sleeve. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
The 2019 iPhone lineup is just weeks away from getting its grand unveiling. And according to recent rumors, it could be a lot more exciting than we first anticipated.
Faster chips and an extra camera sensor may not be the only reasons to upgrade this year. Two-way wireless charging, improved Face ID, and Apple Pencil support could also be on Apple’s list.
Here’s everything we expect from next month’s iPhone refresh.
We've got three top tier power banks from Omni, so you can pick the right one. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you travel for work, you can’t afford to be screwing around with dead batteries or unreliable tech. So we’ve rounded up three of the best power banks from Omni, one of the best companies out there. These run the gamut, flexible power for all your devices to essentially bringing a wall outlet in your bag. Read on for more details:
Bento Stack is a must-have for any traveler. Photo: Wiplabs
Carrying essential accessories with you wherever you go can be a nightmare. Your wires can get tangled, your AirPods can get lost, and your Apple Pencil can end up in more than one piece. That’s why you need the Bento Stack.
This compact, multi-compartment storage solution keeps more than 10 must-have accessories neatly organized when you’re on the road. It’s a must-have if you’re a frequent traveler.
Watching The Mandalorian on Disney+ will probably make Apple money. Photo: Disney/Cult of Mac
Apple and Disney are launching streaming video services this fall. Despite these being rivals, Apple will make money off both. There will be Disney+ apps for iOS and Apple TV, and consumers will be able to subscribe with in-app purchases, which means Apple gets a hefty cut of the revenue.
Plus, Star Wars fans can be assured they’ll be able to watch The Mandalorian when it debuts Nov. 12 with their iPad or other Apple computer.
If you don't worry about your data being sold, here's a nice spot of sand where you can bury your head. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Did you know that Home Depot shares your “name, address and transactional information … with third party companies”? Or that Marriott Hotels discloses “Personal Data and Other Data with select Strategic Business Partners”?
What about this snippet from The New York Times’privacy policy: “If you are a U.S. print subscriber, we may exchange or rent your name and postal mailing address.”
The bad news is, pretty much anytime you share your data with a U.S. company, it will sell that data to somebody else. The good news is that you can opt out. And the even better news is that there’s one place to get all the information you need to do it.
Use the image of an apple in a logo and the tech company Apple calls its patent attorneys.
Now Apple finds itself on the other side of a design patent question with the logo for the upcoming series The Morning Show, which looks strikingly similar to the logo for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
Contractors listened to around 1,000 Siri recordings each shift. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Apple has laid off the contractors whose job it was to listen to Siri recordings to improve the quality of Apple’s voice assistant.
Contractors in Ireland had their fixed term contracts “abruptly terminated” this week. This followed Apple suspending the practice last month. During each shift, employees supposedly listened to 1,000 Siri recordings.
This pocket-sized device can connect up to 8 mobile devices to international phone and internet plans. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Traveling carries a lot of expenses and logistical challenges. One of the biggest is keeping our phones connected in places where our usual call and data plans don’t reach.
The Fortnite B.R.U.T.E. almost every player hates finally saw massive nerfs this week.
The mech now fires fewer rockets, deals less damage, and takes longer to cool down after boosting. Epic Games has also made it so that materials are no longer granted to B.R.U.T.E. riders.
Tim Cook with his friend Giovanni Buttarelli. Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter
Tim Cook has tweeted his condolences following the death of EU data protection regulator Giovanni Buttarelli. Buttarelli passed away on August 20 at the age of 62.
In a recent tweet, Cook described himself as “heartbroken by the loss of my friend.” He credited Buttarelli with advancing “the cause of privacy in Europe and around the world.”
Is this our first look at Apple's next-generation wearable? Photo: Slashleaks
A photo of what might be Apple Watch Series 5 appeared on Instagram this week.
The device looks just like a current model at first glance. But the model number displayed on its screen suggests it is actually Apple’s next-generation wearable.
People are holding onto their smartphones for longer than ever. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The average iPhone has been active for 18 months, a new report from Strategy Analytics suggests. That compares to 16.5 months for Samsung handsets.
Overall, it seems that people are upgrading their phones at a slower rate. That’s reportedly as a result of “diminishing innovation,” which provides less of a reason to do so. It also likely has a whole lot to do with increased prices.
No hyperbole: the Fuse Chicken Shield is truly sheathed in chainmail. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Shield charging cable from Fuse Chicken is literally wearing stainless steel chainmail. It seems designed to survive battle with orcs, or at least the dangers it might run into on a job site. Amazingly enough, this company’s Titan cable is even more rugged, being wrapped in two layers of flexible steel.
There are Lighting and USB-C versions of both, and we took them into battle to test their mettle. Actually, we towed a car with one, and hit the other with a hammer. Read on to see how they survived.
Bose Portable Home Speaker is ready to be used on the go. Photo: Bose
The just-announced Bose Portable Home Speaker isn’t an everyday Bluetooth device. It also has Wi-Fi and, even better, supports AirPlay 2, making it cooperate much more closely with Apple devices.
This speaker offers 360 degree sound, and is designed for portability, with a built-in handle.
Turns out this isn’t as relaxing as you think it is. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Using your phone during a break from work doesn’t give your brain a chance to rest and recoup, according to a new study. It’s like not taking a break at all.
The experiment’s results don’t indicate people should stay off computers when they want a quick rest. Just phones, as these are “more cognitively taxing than expected.”
Will Hains' excellent chart breaks down the betas. Photo: Will Hains
We’re up to the eighth beta of iOS 13, but that’s not nearly the record for iOS betas. That honor goes to iOS 11. It might seem like we’ve had a lot of betas this time around, but two years ago, Apple seeded 13 betas before hitting the Gold Master stage.
With just a few weeks left until the expected iPhone 11 launch, it seems unlikely that record will fall. In terms of sheer number of betas, iOS 13 is not even close. But what about total time spent in beta? Or the fewest betas? Let’s look at the chart.
Taylor Swift's new album comes out this Friday. Photo: Apple
Stay calm and remix on.
Taylor Swift is partnering with Apple for a new Today at Apple session that will teach attendees how to remix her latest single “You Need To Calm Down.” Unlike some of the other Music Labs though, this special session will only be available in select stores.
This is the kind of thing your beautiful, pristine Apple Card is going to have to deal with. Photo: Matt Biddulph/Flickr CC
The Apple Card isn’t just another credit card. Apple is a hardware company, after all, so its card is special, mkay? If Jony Ive hadn’t disappeared from the Apple lot, then we’d probably even have a Making Of video, with Whispering Joni1 burning with quiet passion about how this is the thinnest, strongest card that Apple has ever made. How Apple’s designers needed to invent an entire new production process to recycle titanium plates reclaimed from broken legs. Etc.
So, if you have an Apple Card, Apple wants you to treat it with respect. And that’s why there is now an official support document telling you how to clean it.
The OtterSpot Charging Base can power multiple OtterBox Wireless Charging Batteries and a device at the same time. Photo: OtterBox
The OtterSpot is a new twist on mobile wireless charging. It starts with a base station sending current to a portable battery that has built-in Qi inductive charging. This battery powers up an iPhone or Android, either at home or one the go. Multiple batteries can be stacked and charged at once.
The company behind this new system is OtterBox, well known for its rugged phone and tablet cases.