Mobile menu toggle

Apple is now building the iPhone 7 in India

By

iPhone 7 red
The iPhone 7 originally launched in 2016.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple supplier Wistron has started manufacturing iPhone 7 handsets in India. This is the third model iPhone to be made in the country, following the iPhone SE and iPhone 6s.

“We are proud to be producing iPhone 7 in Bengaluru for our local customers, furthering our long-term commitment in India,” Apple told the Economic Times newspaper.

Did Apple reverse its revenue slide? We’ll know April 30.

By

apple park
The end of 2018 went badly for Apple. We’ll know soon how it’s doing in 2019.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

We’ll soon know if Apple made progress drumming up more demand for the latest iPhones in Asia. Weak demand in China caused a surprising year-over-year drop in Apple’s total revenue during the last quarter of 2018.

CEO Tim Cook and co. have just scheduled an earning call with investors for April 30. We’ll find out then if the company managed to improve its situation during the first three months of 2019.

No need to wait on keyboard cases for latest iPad Air and iPad mini

By

The Brydge 10.5 clip-on keyboard can be used with the new iPad Air.
The Brydge 10.5 clip-on keyboard can be used with the new iPad Air, and there are other options too.
Photo: Brydge

Apple’s newest tablets just started reaching the hands of consumers, but there are already several cases available for the iPad Air 3 and iPad mini 5, including keyboard cases in multiple designs. There are options now from Zagg, Brydge and Apple itself.

While not yet available, rugged-case maker OtterBox is designing products for these slates.

iOS 13 concept shows how iPad multitasking ought to work

By

iOS 13 split-view multitasking proposal
Larger iPads should be able to display three applications at once.
Photo: Daniel Korpai

Building on the somewhat limited side-by-side multitasking already available to iPad users is the goal of a new concept video. Its creator proposes enabling three applications to be open simultaneously, and includes a simple method for swapping between more.

How to merge PDFs on iOS

By

This is how we used to merge PDFs before computers.
This is how we used to merge PDFs before computers.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Contrary to what you might expect, merging PDFs is easier on your iPhone than on your Mac. On the desktop, you first need to open both PDFs in the Preview app, and then work out how to combine the two of them. On the iPhone or iPad, you can select your PDFs in the Files app (or in the Mail app, or anywhere else you find them), and use a quick shortcut to combine and save them in one go.

It’s instant, foolproof, and Just Works™. Let’s see just how easy it is to merge PDFs on iOS.

Spring has sprung! Keep it fresh with these colorful Apple Watch bands

By

Time to get a fresh start and look the part.
Time to get a fresh start and look the part.
Photo: Juuk

Whether you’re in need of a sport band, a luxe leather strap, or cool stainless steel, your search ends here.

Sure, you could go all out on Apple’s new Spring lineup with prices reaching as high as $489, but if you’re like me and putting away the cash for bigger and better hardware upgrades down the road, then these totally affordable and equally stylish bands are just for you.

Check out this watch store guide and find your perfect color match this season for price tags as low as $25.

Inside Apple’s failed negotiations with NYT and WaPo

By

Apple News+ trial
Some aren't happy with Apple's tactics.
Photo: Apple

Apple put a ton of pressure on The New York Times and Washington Post to join Apple News+ before the new service was unveiled at a media event last week.

Details have surfaced of Apple’s negotiations with the two major publishers, revealing Apple media boss Eddy Cue was adamant about getting the two papers on board. Both companies declined Apple’s offer, but the New York Times’ COO hinted that the newspaper of record could possibly join the service in the future.

Free VPN app encrypts iPhone connection for safer browsing

By

Cloudflare‘s 1.1.1.1 App with Warp adds encryption for safer iPhone internet access.
Cloudflare‘s 1.1.1.1 App with Warp adds encryption for more secure iPhone internet access.
Photo: Cloudflare

Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 App blocks your wireless carrier from knowing the sites you visit on your iPhone. An update adds encryption to all connections, while also promising faster access for all apps.

1.1.1.1 App with Warp will remain free, but Cloudflare is launching an even quicker version for a monthly fee.

Portrait mode remains miraculous — but frustrating — on iPhone XS [Opinion]

By

Portrait Mode is great, until it’s not. Fix failed focus with Focos.
When it works, Depth Control lets you dial in just the right amount of blur.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Portrait mode on the iPhone XS is pretty amazing — when it works. I gave it a good, hard workout after the device’s launch in September 2018, and found it to be an almost miraculous trick to fake the optical depth of photos taken on a bigger camera.

But after using it for half a year, does Portrait mode still seem so great? No. While it’s still just as impressive, sometimes it’s so frustrating to use that I just give up, quit the Camera app, and don’t bother to take a photo at all.

How to draw a portrait with Apple Pencil

By

Are you drawn to draw with your new Apple Pencil 2?
Are you drawn to draw with your new Apple Pencil 2?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Got a new Apple Pencil? Once the initial novelty wears off, you might find that it spends most of its time magnetically clipped to the side of your iPad Pro or, worse, stuck in the back of a drawer. After all, there are only so many PDFs to annotate and screenshots to mark up.

Which is a great shame, because what your Apple Pencil really wants to do is create art. You only appreciate the true joy of owning one when you draw with it. So, why not follow this handy how-to guide and start sketching lifelike portraits of friends and family? It’s a really fun hobby.

As Kate Winslet once said in Titantic, “Draw me like one of your French girls.”

Epic plans to turn Fortnite into more than just a game

By

Fortnite hand cannon
Epic won't tolerate Fortnite hacks.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite has become the most popular game on the planet, with 250 million active players worldwide. But it’s much more than just a game, according to its creator.

Epic Games sees Fortnite evolving into something even bigger. “Something like a Metaverse,” according to CEO Tim Sweeney.

Stream all the bags you want with this Apple AF gag

By

WaterField Designs
Exciting new *products from WaterField Designs.
Screenshot: WaterField Designs

The serious side of WaterField Designs takes meticulous care constructing bespoke cases and bags, mostly out of the finest leather, popular with users of Apple devices.

The small-batch San Francisco shop also has a wicked sense of humor in its spirit, especially for April Fools Day.

WaterField Designs produced a product page that sends up some of the most recent news to come from Apple, including an announcement that WaterField is starting a monthly original bags streaming service.

Apple cuts prices on Macs, iPads and iPhones in China

By

Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Apple sales have dipped in China. Can this make up for it?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has cut the prices on multiple devices in China. Prices on everything from iPhones and iPads to Macs and AirPods have been reduced by up to 6 percent.

The slashed prices comes a few months after Apple pinned declining revenue on lower than expected sales in China. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, accounts for around 15 percent of Apple’s revenue.

Apple News+ could be another nail in magazine publishers’ coffin

By

Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn't a 'huge boon' for business
Apple News+ may not be quite the savior some are hoping for.
Photo: Apple

Apple News+ was advertised as Apple’s love letter to print journalism. However, according to a new report, it could turn out to be just another nail in its coffin.

In an article for Monday Note, Frederic Filloux runs some numbers on Apple News. By his calculations, the service could cut revenue in half for publishers — and mean that magazines must double their readers simply to equal current figures.

Bag a free Apple TV 4K when you subscribe to DirecTV Now

By

Apple TV Siri Remote
Sound sync woes will be a thing of the past.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Sign up for DirecTV Now and you’ll receive a brand new Apple TV 4K to enjoy it on.

Those who prepay for four months of service will receive Apple’s latest set-top box absolutely free. The offer is only available to new subscribers who join before April 30, 2019.

Score 5 of Corel’s best creative and productivity apps [Deals]

By

Score five premium creative apps at a massive discount.
Score five premium creative apps at a massive discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Corel became popular thanks to its industry-standard digital creativity apps. The company is synonymous with photo editing, digital painting and other visual tools. With this bundle, you get three of Corel’s flagship apps. Additionally, the package includes two apps you might not associate with Corel: WinZip and Toast 17 Titanium.

Struggling iPhone display-maker may be thrown a lifeline

By

iPhone XR test
Japan Display manufactures the iPhone XR's LCD screen.
Photo: Apple

iPhone display-maker Japan Display says it is in line for a financial injection that could bail out the struggling company.

The firm said Monday that it will raise up to 110 billion yen ($990 million) in new financing as early as this week. Japan Display has been suffering as a result of the slowdown in iPhone sales and Apple’s shift to OLED screens.

New Sonic game speeding onto iOS for Tokyo 2020

By

Sonic 1
A sprinter that would put Usain Bolt to shame.
Photo: Sega

Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog, Sonic, will be hurtling onto iOS for an upcoming mobile game to mark the 2020 Olympics.

Titled Sonic At The Olympic Games, the mobile-only title was announced over the weekend as part of Sega’s lineup of new games to coincide with Tokyo 2020.

HyperDrive Ultimate Ultimate Hub adds a whopping 40 ports to your MacBook

By

This USB-C hub has everything but the kitchen sink.
This USB-C hub has everything but the kitchen sink.
Photo: Hyper

Many people would like to add a few ports to their MacBook Pro, but Hyper just launched a hub for people who’d like to add a ridiculous number.

The HyperDrive Ultimate Ultimate Hub offers more than three dozen ports, in an unbelievably wide variety. It goes a long way toward turning a MacBook into a desktop PC.

HomePod will ‘gain traction’ in booming smart speaker market

By

Apple debuts HomePod in India at its cheapest price yet
HomePod is part of a growing product category.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The smart speaker market continues to explode — and Apple’s expected to carve out an ever-growing piece of it.

According to a new report published by IDC, the global smart speaker market will grow 26.9 percent in 2019. In total, the research firm thinks that 832.7 million total smart speakers will ship this year.

iPhone XS Max beats Galaxy S10+ in drop tests

By

Apple’s flagship phone is tougher than Samsung’s.
Repeatedly smashing both devices to the ground shows Apple’s flagship phone is hardier than Samsung’s.
Photo: PhoneBuff

Apple’s largest phone is tougher than Samsung’s. The iPhone XS Max performed noticeably better than the Galaxy S10+ in a series of drop tests.

The bad news is that neither handset proved particularly resistant to breaking when dropped.