Still, while a huge amount of money by most normal standards, rival tech giants regularly dwarf Apple’s big spend on Intel. For a variety of reasons, Apple just doesn’t roll that way.
iOS 13's new Reminders app. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
We already know that Apple has completely made over the Reminders app in iOS 13, adding a new, more powerful layout, and some excellent quick-entry tools so you don’t have to tap the screen like a million times just to remember to take out the trash when you get home.
But Reminders has also gotten its virtual claws deeper into the rest of iOS. Today we’ll see two great integrations that you might not have heard about yet.
Apple's Q1 2020 earnings report will probably break some records. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The most yawn-inducing Apple earnings call of the year is just days away, and Wall Street is eagerly anticipating the results — though maybe for reasons you wouldn’t expect.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are scheduled to hop on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific next Tuesday for Apple’s Q3 2019 earnings call. Even though Apple doesn’t reveal quarterly sales for iPhones anymore, there are a lot of metrics to look for that could clue us in on how well or poorly the company is performing lately.
Keep an ear out for these five things during Apple’s July 30 earnings call.
You won’t be seeing these signs for much longer. Photo: Sprint
The US Department of Justice just signed off on the biggest telecommunications deal in many years. This was the last real hurdle in the $26 billion merger of Sprint into T-Mobile.
The carriers had to agree to sell off some assets to win this approval. Still, every iPhone owner who’s a Sprint customer will soon be hearing from T-Mobile.
The all-new 16-inch MacBook Pro could be right around the corner... Photo: Apple
This week on The CultCast: A new report gives us a price tag and release date for the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro. Then: A new hire signals that the Apple Car is far from dead; and there’s finally a way to get podcasts recommendations tailored just for you. Plus, stayed tuned for our favorite shows and Comic-Con trailer in an all-new What We’re Into!
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.
The slimline sleeve wraps your iPhone in luxurious Italian leather, and comes in nine gorgeous finishes. It also has space for your credit cards so you can leave your old wallet at home.
Get yours now before the discount disappears on Sunday!
This was a game-changer for computer games back in the day. Image: MobyGames
With a constant stream of new, console-quality games in the iOS App Store, and subscription gaming service Apple Arcade on the way, there’s arguably never been a better time to be an Apple gamer. Yet despite all the great new iOS games, sometimes you just want to relive your misspent youth.
This week, Paul Cuisset’s classic Mac platformer Flashback blasted its way into the App Store. To mark the occasion, we dug up some of the best classic games that graced vintage Macs but now can be played on your iOS device. Check them out.
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead. Photo: Apple
President Donald Trump said Friday that Apple will not receive special treatment for Mac Pro components made in China.
Apple submitted multiple requests asking the Trump administration to exclude certain Mac Pro parts from a 25% import tariff. But Trump says the U.S. government will not extend any special waivers or relief to Cupertino.
Apple Pay could launch in the first half of August. Photo: Apple
The eagerly anticipated Apple Card is set to launch in the first half of August, a new report claims.
Apple originally promised a “summer” release for the credit card. Given that summer starts in late June and ends late September, this would put it exactly halfway through the season. Just in time for some vacation spending!
This powerful VPN is full of security features, easy to use, and works on up to 10 devices at once. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
When you go online, you face tons of lurking threats to your security and privacy. You also can encounter annoying content restrictions based on your location or IP address. All these problems can be addressed by a virtual private network, so why aren’t you using one?
Look out for CBS All Access on July 29. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
You’ll be able to tune into CBS All Access on Apple TV Channels next week.
CBS has confirmed that support for Apple’s new service will be rolled out on Monday, July 29. It’s not yet clear how much it will cost for those who subscribe through the TV app, however.
Right from the start, Apple Music offered a three-month trial to new users to try and get them to subscribe. In some cases, this even extended all the way up to a six-month free trial before users would have to pay a dime.
Apple may be shifting away from this strategy, though. A new banner ad on Apple’s website mentions a one-month tryout period for the streaming music service.
Speedy access to the Start menu and running apps. Photo: @imbushuo
Your MacBook Pro’s pricey Touch Bar is no longer useless when you’re running Windows 10.
A third-party developer has gotten the tiny second screen to work under Microsoft’s operating system. You can use it to access the Start menu and quickly switch between the apps you have running.
The SharePro Mini can really cut down on the clutter around your TV. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
IOGear has a simple, wireless replacement for HDMI cables. The SharePro Mini creates its own little Wi-Fi network to stream video between a small transmitter and receiver, connecting your MacBook and TV without a wire. There are some limitations, of course.
We’re been testing this gadget for weeks. Tune in to see if it’s something you need for your living room, or for your next presentation.
Apple Maps could make driving easier with augmented reality navigation tips. Photo: Apple
Apple is exploring ways to build augmented reality into Apple Maps. Rather than top-down views of roads and intersections, the company is considering overlaying route information onto live views of the road ahead of the car.
Apple Maps has always lagged behind Google Maps. Building in AR could help it jump ahead.
This modem may soon bear the Apple name. Photo: Intel
Apple will pay $1 billion to acquire Intel’s smartphone modem business in a deal that was announced by the two companies this afternoon..
Apple will absorb patents, equipment and about 2,200 Intel employees if the deal meets regulatory approval. The two companies hope to close the deal by the end of the year.
There are solid reasons to be optimistic that Apple will actually drop the price of the flagship 2019 iPhone models. Recent moves by the company signal a willingness to lower the cost of its other computers, and information leaking out about the replacement for the iPhone XS series indicates that it will be cheaper to make.
Most importantly, the company needs to respond to the plethora of evidence that it charges more than most people are willing to pay for even high-end handsets.
Maybe it's time for a set cable-canceling headphones, amirite? Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Noise-canceling headphones are fantastic. They cut down on traffic noise, airplane rumble and even — to a certain extent — the racket from that never-ending construction work across the street. Not only is life more pleasant without this noise pollution, but less background noise is also healthier for your ears.
Because you’re not trying to drown out the ambient noise with your music, you can set the volume lower, thus preserving your hearing (as well as your sanity).
Today we’ll see how to choose from the different kinds of available noise-canceling headphones, and how to use them. What this won’t be is a buyer’s guide — although I do have some recommendations based on personal use.
The keyboard in the newest MacBooks have the same problem as earlier ones. Photo: Apple
One of the worst problems with the MacBook Pro and other Apple notebooks is finally going to get fixed this year.
Apple reportedly will move away from its controversial butterfly keyboard in favor of a more reliable design. And according to the best Apple analyst in the game, the new keyboard will come to the 16-inch MacBook Pro first.
"Reveals as little about Hamburgers as hamburgers." Photo: Macerkopf
Billboards promoting iPhone’s strict approach to privacy have now made their way to Europe.
Apple fans started noticing the ads in Germany today after they popped up in the U.S. and Canada earlier this year. Each features a clever, location-based tagline that sends one clear message.
Piercing the Sky, shot on iPhone 6s in Bangalore, India, won first place on the sunset category of the 2019 iPhone Photography Awards. Photo: Sreekumar Krishnan/iPhone Photography Awards
Because it’s an official contest, we are obliged to say that the stunning photos before you were all shot on iPhone.
But the winning images of the 2019 iPhone Photography Awards should by no means include an asterisk. They’re just great photographs.
Lockdown secures your iPhone with a firewall. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Lockdown Apps is a new firewall app for iOS. Like Guardian Firewall, which we covered last month, Lockdown uses iOS’ VPN framework to intercept all incoming and outgoing network traffic, and allows you to block connections to any address.
Unlike Guardian Firewall, Lockdown operates entirely on your device. It is also open source.
T-Mobile has followed Kenny Rogers’ advice on knowing when to fold ‘em. Photo: Samsung
T-Mobile was the first US carrier to commit to Samsung’s cutting-edge Galaxy Fold. Now it is un-committing. Perhaps that’s to be expected from the un-carrier.
This comes right after Samsung revealed that will finally ship its folding phone in September, months after it was originally scheduled.