Your Amazon Echo speaker can now keep an eye on your home while you’re away.
A new feature called Alexa Guard lets your speaker listen for signs of danger while you’re out. If your speaker has a built-in camera, it will also provide a direct video feed into your home.
Don’t ignore the latest WhatsApp releases. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
WhatsApp users must update to the latest version of the app to avoid be infected by malicious software.
A security flaw in the popular messaging client allows the Pegasus spyware to be installed on your smartphone. WhatsApp is investigating the situation and urges its 1.5 billion users to update.
Get your hands on the latest version today. Photo: Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars now plays nicely with modern iOS devices.
Rockstar’s mobile hit is the fourth in the GTA franchise to add support for iPhone and iPad variants with edge-to-edge displays and the latest A12 processors. The latest version is free for those who have already purchased Chinatown Wars.
Apple Pay NFC tags could be a game changer. Photo: Scott HarleyTwitter
NFC support on the iPhone is about to get a lot more advanced real soon.
Apple revealed today that it is adding support for NFC stickers and tags that trigger Apple Pay for payment even if you don’t have the vendor’s app installed.
Upgrade your firmware to get started. Photo: Samsung
Samsung has started rolling out the new Apple TV app on compatible Smart TVs.
The app gives users access to all their iTunes content as well as Apple’s upcoming TV+ subscription service. You’ll need to install a firmware update to get your hands on it.
The new LRG playlists on Apple Music have a little something for everyone. Photo: Apple
Apple Music enlisted clothing company LRG to become the latest company to handpick songs for a new set of curated playlists.
LRG, short for Lifted Research Group, became popular for its street wear thanks to endorsements from some of the biggest rappers and R&B artists in the world. As you’d expect, its new playlists are highly influenced by those genres too.
Epic Games has confirmed some of the changes and improvements it has planned for Fortnite following the launch of season nine.
Battle Royale players will soon see tweaks to the in-game health and shield bars that make them easier to read at a glance. It’s also going to become a lot easier to reverse accidental purchases.
You can subscribe to just about anything these days ... but why? Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Over the last couple years, tons of iOS apps switched from one-time purchases to monthly or annual subscriptions. As a user, this can seem frustrating — or annoying even — but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The rise of app subscriptions brings benefits to users, developers and the app ecosystem as a whole. Whether you’re subscribing to your favorite weather app, task manager or podcast player, the subscription model offers perks that never existed in the one-time-purchase world of apps.
The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s updated TV app is finally ready for the public to dive into.
iOS 12.3 was released to the public today, adding the new Apple TV app to iPhones and iPads as Apple prepares to launch its streaming TV service this fall. The update also adds AirPlay 2.0 and Apple TV support to compatible Samsung smart TVs.
Lawsuit could change Apple's relationship with App Store customers. Photo: Apple
A lawsuit targeting Apple and the App Store will be allowed to proceed, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided.
The case involves whether or customers technically buy apps from Apple, or whether Apple is a middleman connecting app developers with consumers. The Supreme Court ruled against Apple on Monday by 5 votes to 4.
Proposed trade tariffs have had a big impact on Apple's share price. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Concerns about the U.S.’s trading relationship with China is hitting Apple shares.
AAPL’s share price has been steadily sliding since President Donald Trump took to Twitter to talk trading tariffs. It’s currently trading at $189.15, down from its high of $211.75 earlier this month.
Google thinks iPhones are too expensive. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Banner ads showcasing Google’s new Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL handsets pit them against Apple’s iPhone X series devices.
The banner ads, which are appearing on a number of billboards around the U.S., contrast the $999 price of the iPhone XS to the significantly cheaper $399 for the Pixel 3a.
Become more than proficient in Excel with this comprehensive bundle. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are few applications more common to the modern workplace than Microsoft Excel. So no matter your industry, if you’re looking to boost your resume and skill set, Excel a great place to start. For resume-worthy training, you can’t do much better than this certification bundle.
This year’s iPhones will snap even better photos. Photo: Mark Gurman
Leaked molds of this year’s iPhone lineup again hint at big camera upgrades for all three models. The molds reaffirm renders recently published by a number of tipsters.
Here’s what they tell us about Apple’s next-generation smartphones.
Here’s how Apple Card will be presented to consumers. Photo: Ben Geskin
New photos reveal how Apple Card will be presented to consumers when it starts reaching early adopters this summer.
It’s the first time we’ve seen the titanium Card’s fancy packaging since it was announced back in March. It is said to be in beta testing with Apple employees ahead of its launch.
Apple's latest ads are pretty darn great. Photo: Apple
Apple’s latest iPhone XR ads focus on the superior battery life and privacy features of its more affordable (kind of!) iPhone.
Titled “Up Late” and “Inside Joke,” the two ads are just half a minute each. However, they do a good job of making their reasonably dry point in an entertaining, and human manner. Check them out below:
Make your iPad Pro into a tablet/laptop with the Brydge Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Since the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the tablet is serious competition for Apple’s notebooks. Its design offers many advantages over a notebook, but most people demand a physical keyboard for their primary computer. Of all the options for this, the Brydge Pro comes the closest to transforming a 2018 iPad Pro into a convertible touchscreen MacBook.
Read our hands-on review to see how well this premium keyboard case performs in the real world.
The Apple A12 Bionic processor is powerful but the the A13 is coming soon and the A14 is already on the horizon. Photo: Apple
The company that makes all Apple’s chips is nearly ready to make 5 nanometer processors, down from the 7nm ones it’s manufacturing now. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s innovation reportedly will bring notable performance gains to next year’s iPhone and iPad.
The 2021 models should get a boost as well. And it’s even possible these chips will appear in future Macs.
This Lightning cable upgrade offers extra reach, overcharge protection, high speed charging and more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The standard Lightning cable comes with a number of shortcomings. It’s short in length, vulnerable to nicks or fraying, and can’t keep track of what its charging or when it’s done. This extra long smart cable offers an upgrade on all those fronts.
An unusual Apple-themed escape room is set to inject some fun into this year's AltConf during WWDC. Cover: Martin Cortinas/Cult of Mac
Imagine yourself in a nightmare scenario. You’re tasked with making an Apple keynote run smoothly, but Murphy’s law is in full effect. Everything that can go wrong does. Tim Cook is not pleased. And you must wield your Apple knowledge to make things right.
Or read on to get the rest of the week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos in your browser, including our scoop on what’s up with that mysterious rainbow stage spotted inside Apple Park.
Build out your skill set with lifetime access to over 1,000 lessons. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
In the age of the gig economy, there’s no such thing as being ‘overqualified’. The more skills you have, the more jobs you can get. So it pays to have a reliable resource for building out your resume.
Not everyone has the ears for AirPods Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
An AirPod falling out of your ear is not a question of if, but when.
The when for many unlucky souls in the San Francisco Bay Area offers the rest of us a warning to not wear wireless earbuds anywhere near train or subway tracks. Still, when one falls on the tracks, it isn’t the end of the world. Or even sometimes the AirPod itself.
You still don’t have to pay extra taxes for buying an iPad or iPhone made in China, but that could change. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
No Apple products are included in the additional tariffs on Chinese products that went into effect this morning but Apple is still feeling some pain. The company’s shares have dropped significantly as trade tensions heated up between the U.S. and China.
And future import taxes on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch are likely, according to Pres. Trump.
You know you want this sweet new wireless charger. Photo: Just Mobile
If you’ve been waiting for a deal on a great wireless charger, your patience has paid off! Our friends at Just Mobile have set up an exclusive offer for Cult of Mac Watch Store customers on the AluBase Wireless charger.
You’ll save 25 percent on the AluBase with this special pricing. Normally $39.95, you can get the AluBase Wireless for $30. Add the optional fast charge power adapter for just $5 more. But don’t delay too long! This deal is only good while supplies last. Read on to learn more about AluBase Wireless.