Get a near-mint iPad without breaking the bank. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With RAMageddon jacking up the prices of Apple gear, this refurbished iPad deal makes more sense than ever. While supplies last, you can grab a ninth-generation iPad from 2021 with 64GB of storage for just $179.99. And if you want more space to stash your movies, music and other files, you can bump up to the 256 GB model for just $334.99.
Both models come in near-mint condition, with Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, a 10.2-inch Retina display and Wi-Fi connectivity.
We're expecting a harvest of new products from Apple this month. Photo: Cult of Mac
Fall is a busy time for Apple, and we’re expecting a big harvest of products this October.
The highlight might be the first touchscreen MacBook. Also apparently coming in the next few weeks could be Apple’s first smart home hub. Plus, we’re keeping our eyes open for an updated HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K. If all that wasn’t enough, an OLED iPad mini and several other Macs are reportedly waiting in the wings.
And, of course, the month will bring the launch of the folding iPhone Duo, which Apple unveiled in September.
Some of these products supposedly will arrive on October 13. Others have less certain release dates, so there’s still plenty of room for surprises. Here are the new products we’re expecting out of Apple this month.
With many users unknowingly granting AI agents Full Disk Access on their Macs, Apple is stepping in and introducing additional security measures.
“Some developers are using Full Disk Access in ways that could put users at risk, exposing everything on their systems — including files, mail, messages, and even browsing history — without users’ full knowledge and understanding,” Apple says in a post on its developer website.
iPhone 18 Pro Max bug kills AT&T connection. Photo: Apple/AT&T/Rajesh Pandey
A “small number” of iPhone 18 Pro Max units on AT&T’s network lose cellular connectivity because of an iOS 27 bug. This is not an intermittent problem, as the devices fail to reconnect to the network even after a reboot.
Apple recommended on Friday that all iPhone 18 Pro Max users update to iOS 27.0.1 to prevent the issue from happening in the future. But if your unit is already affected, you’ll need a replacement.
Say goodbye to sky-high airline prices. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Do you dream of exploring exotic destinations and creating memories that last a lifetime? While experts predict flight prices will remain high this year, you can save big with Matt’s Flights, a service that hunts down incredibly cheap flights and sends them to your inbox.
Whether you’re planning a solo adventure, your family’s summer vacation or the bucket list trip you’ve always dreamed of, consider this your golden ticket to making it happen for less money than you ever thought possible. Get a lifetime subscription to Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for just $39.99 (regularly $194).
You can now hang out with Pusheen on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Image: Apple Arcade
Pusheen the Cat makes the leap from internet icon to video game star. Pusheen’s Place is now available exclusively on Apple Arcade, giving fans a cozy new way to spend time with the famously adorable feline.
Apple launched the game on October 1 alongside four other additions to Apple Arcade: River City Survivors, Terraria+, Touchgrind BMX 2+ and 4 Pics 1 Word+.
At one time, an Apple and IBM deal sounded impossible. Photo: Andy Hertzfield
October 2, 1991: As the Cold War comes to an end, hell freezes over a second time as Apple and IBM sign a deal and agree to put aside their differences. Having been bitter rivals for the past decade, the two tech giants host a press conference at the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco to unveil their new partnership.
“We want to be a major player in the computer industry,” Apple CEO John Sculley says. “The only way to do that is to work with another major player.”
Reclaiming your online privacy is perfectly doable. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Somewhere out there, a data broker has your name, address and phone number for sale. If you want to remove your personal information from the internet, the process is easier than it sounds.
Data breaches hit a new high this year, and hundreds of broker sites now buy and sell your details without asking. The good news: Reclaiming your privacy doesn’t take a law degree, just a mix of manual steps and automated tools.
A $19 replacement could give the iPhone Duo’s display a fresh start. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
The iPhone Duo features a replaceable display cover that will be relatively inexpensive to replace under AppleCare coverage. Unlike regular smartphones, foldable displays feature a protective covering on top of the display.
Over time, this layer can start showing scratches or a visible crease. A replaceable cover layer solves that problem to a certain extent.
AirPods have an equalizer you can adjust! Finally! Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple finally gave AirPods something we know you all wanted for years: a built-in equalizer that lets you change how your music sounds.
And unlike the EQ setting buried in Apple Music, this one is tied to your AirPods, not a specific application. That means your custom sound profile isn’t limited to music played through that singular app.
But to be clear: The new Custom EQ feature in iOS 27 isn’t the most sophisticated equalizer you’ll find for a set of headphones. It gives you just three controls — Low, Mid and High. But that’s enough to make a noticeable difference if you think your AirPods sound too bass-heavy, lack vocal clarity or need a little more treble.
Here’s how to set it up … and why you might want to.
A fake Zoom installer tells Mac users to click Open Anyway in System Settings. Never do this. Photo: Jamf Threat Labs
A fake Zoom installer dubbed CloudSyncD is coaxing Mac users into switching off Gatekeeper and handing over their admin passwords.
The malware hides itself in the installer window itself, but with unusual instructions. Follow them, and you straight up open a backdoor onto your Mac.
The good news is that you can evade CloudSyncD and any similar malware simply by following one of the most basic security rules when installing applications.
While the iPhone 4s name and other key details leaked, Siri remained a surprise. Image: Apple
October 1, 2011: Just days before Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 4s, the device’s name leaks after the latest iTunes beta inadvertently spills the beans.
The code also reveals that Apple’s new handset will come in black and white color options.
Apple’s smart home hub could turn your photos into a screensaver. Concept art: Cult of Mac
Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub is shaping up to be more than just a smart speaker with a screen. It could double up as a really nice digital photo frame.
Code buried in an iOS beta details a “Photo Face” step during the setup process. It’s a display that shows your photos whenever the hub isn’t busy answering your queries or running your smart home. So instead of a dark, bland screen on your counter, you could see your own memories.
★★★★☆
The Razer Prio can make iPhone gaming much more fun on the go. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Razer Prio is a new mobile game controller that’s small enough that you might actually carry it everywhere.
For travel, the accessory folds up to be not much larger than a deck of cards. When it’s time to play, unfold it then clip it to on either side of your iPhone to add physical buttons, triggers and sticks.
I tested the Prio with my iPhone 17 and came away impressed with how easy it is to carry around. It’s fun wherever you need it.
Take your car's wired CarPlay wireless with the new AirFly Drive. Photo: Twelve South
Your car supports CarPlay but still requires you to plug in your iPhone every time you drive? Twelve South has a new solution and it’s only $39.99. The company introduced AirFly Drive on Thursday, a small adapter that turns factory-wired CarPlay into a wireless connection.
AirFly Drive plugs into the car’s USB port and pairs with a phone once. After that, CarPlay connects automatically when the vehicle starts, leaving the iPhone in a pocket, bag or cup holder instead of tethered to the dashboard.
The Final Cut Camera update on iPhone 18 Pro adds aperture, shutter and ISO controls. Photo: Apple
Apple’s latest Final Cut Camera 2.4 update adds a cutting-edge feature: It gives video creators even greater control over the iPhone 18 Pro’s new variable-aperture camera.
The new version also brings a ground-up redesign of the app. And with iOS 27, it gets pro monitoring tools like RGB Parade and clean SDI output.
Some iPhone 18 Pros might have a color problem. Photo: Apple
Some iPhone 18 Pro owners are reporting fading and discoloration of their new devices, particularly around the camera plateau on the back.
Owners of burgundy and black iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units are sharing photos on Reddit and other social media that show lighter rings around the rear camera lenses.
Apple Creator Studio just got new tools for video, images and more. Image: Apple
Apple is rolling out a collection of updates to Creator Studio, adding new tools to Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Motion as well as Apple’s productivity apps.
iSync let Macs sync with a variety of other devices. Photo: Juska Wendland/Flickr CC
September 30, 2002: Apple introduces iSync, a tool that lets Mac users synchronize their address books and calendars with their cellphones, iPods and Palm OS-compatible handheld organizers via Bluetooth.
“iSync is the beginning of something really big,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs says in a press release announcing the public beta. “With the push of a button, iSync synchronizes the address book and calendar on your Mac with those on your mobile phone.”
iSync represents a big leap forward in how computers and mobile devices can talk to one another. And it hints at some of Apple’s later advances.
Apple could be ready to launch its much-anticipated smart home hub in just a few weeks. Concept art: Cult of Mac
Apple’s long-awaited entry into the smart home is finally about to become a reality. The company is reportedly preparing to launch its first dedicated smart home hub on October 13.
The device could give Apple its first real answer to products such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub, according to an unconfirmed report published Wednesday.
Apple reportedly will unveil the new product alongside two other smart home devices: updated versions of the HomePod mini and Apple TV set-top box. All will be designed around the new AI-powered Siri digital assistant.
John Ternus, the new Apple CEO, plans to launch more products, more often. Screenshot: Apple
Apple’s new CEO John Ternus is reportedly pushing for a leaner organization that can move faster and experiment more aggressively. He plans to focus on engineering and push to release more products, more often.
Ternus also could move the company away from its tradition of a few monumental product launches. Rather than concentrating major product announcements into a few annual events, he supposedly wants Apple to introduce products throughout the year.
The planned changes reportedly come with layoffs and other staff reductions as Ternus shakes up the ranks at Apple.
Google’s Firebase bug behind widespread iPhone app crashes has been fixed. Photo: Photoshoot4You/Pixabay
If your iPhone apps started glitching out last night, don’t blame Apple: A Google bug caused widespread iPhone app crashes Monday before the company rolled out a fix.
The crashes began shortly after Apple released iOS 27.0.1, but the problem stemmed from Google’s servers, not Apple’s update.
What to do when you run out of space on your Mac. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Death, taxes and running out of storage on your Mac — few things in life are as certain. If you’re experiencing the latter, before you go around deleting files, you should take stock of what’s filling up your computer. There are three easy ways to clear disk space on your Mac.
The Mac’s System Settings offers a built-in storage manager that lets you see which categories of files are filling up your drive. It makes clearing out useless junk fast and easy.
A pair of third-party apps can help out, too. Hyperspace removes duplicate data across your Mac’s hard drive, cleaning up your file system without deleting anything. And CleanMyMac can find the system files, junk and other cruft that can build up over time in places you don’t even think to check.
Whatever the reason you need more storage, read on to learn how to tidy up your Mac.