Mobile menu toggle

How to mod your AirPods to fit tight in your ears

By

WTF is going on here?
WTF is going on here?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

I love my AirPods, but I hate that they don’t fit right in my ears. They’re not designed to seal the ear canal, and therefore block external noise, but they often sit so loose in my ears that a) I can’t hear them without setting the volume way too high, and b) they feel like they’re about to fall out.

Today we’ll see how to add grippy dots to your AirPods. These dots will make the AirPods fit snugly in your ears, but — crucially — they will still fit in their charging case.

Republican lawmakers flame Apple for censorship in China

By

China’s population of 1.4 billion makes it a huge potential market for Apple.
China’s population of 1.4 billion makes it a huge potential market for Apple.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A pair of GOP congresspeople have strongly criticized the decision to remove songs from artists critical of the Chinese Communist Party from Apple’s streaming music service in that country.

The move highlights the compromises the iPhone maker has to make in order to offer its products in a very lucrative market.

Facebook could bring Messenger back to its main app

By

Facebook Messenger unsend
It’s about time!
Photo: Facebook

Facebook could bring Messenger back to its main app as part of its strategy to merge all of its chat services into one.

Evidence of the change has been discovered in recent code. Facebook is yet to confirm the move, but it certainly looks like it is already making preparations.

Beautiful iPhone XII concept kills the notch and buttons

By

Check out a proposed iPhone XII with a screen that curves around all four edges.
Check out a proposed iPhone XII with a screen that curves around all four edges.
Photo: Kevin Noki/ConceptsiPhone

One way to make the iPhone’s screen larger without increasing the size of the device itself is wrap it around all four edges. An artist‘s video imagines how such an iOS handset would look, with no physical buttons and an under-screen camera.

Watch his concept video now:

Camera comparison proves iPhone is still one of the best

By

camera sales
iPhone photography is still incredibly good.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Android enthusiasts are keen to highlight how the iPhone has dropped in the smartphone camera ranks in recent years. But a new camera comparison reveals that may not be the case.

Although there are some better options out there for low-light photography, Apple’s smartphone is still up there with the best when it comes to daytime shooting.

Buy an iPhone case and build a library in Peru

By

iPhone cases Peru
One of six in the Living Heart Case Collection.
Photo: IllusionPhotograph.com

You get varying degrees of style and durability in every iPhone case. But purchase a case from IllusionPhotograph and you could help build a library in Peru.

The kids who will benefit from that library, along with medical supplies and educational tools, are doing their part by making artwork for a line of iPhone cases called the Living Heart Case Collection.

Power multiple devices in sight with dual charge nightstand mode

By

HiRise Duet is the first dual charging stand that powers up Apple Watch in Nightstand mode.
Don't miss these sweet savings!
Photo: Twelve South

AirPower is dead and gone, but in the midst of the scramble for the next best thing, its alternatives have been selling out fast. So, what now? The HiRise Duet stand may be the perfect solution, and we’ve got it in the Cult of Mac Watch Store.

This luxe charging stand powers your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time, in the same place. With 15-watts of Lightning Power, HiRise Duet charges your iPhone 40 percent faster than standard USB, and almost twice as fast as wireless.

Best part? Unlike flat charging pads, Duet holds your iPhone and Apple Watch upright so you can see and interact with your devices while charging. Check it out:

Despite rival streaming services, Disney CEO will stay on Apple board

By

Iger CEO 1
Iger has a long history with Apple.
Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr CC

Apple and Disney are going to be rivals with their new streaming services, but Disney CEO Bob Iger doesn’t expect it’ll have any impact on his position as an Apple board member.

Iger said that he had recused himself at Apple board meetings when the topic of Apple TV+ came up. However, he noted that it “has not been discussed all that much” by the board, since it’s still early days.

Build a boss website with zero coding experience [Deals]

By

Easily create beautiful, responsive, SEO-friendly websites, no coding knowledge required.
Easily create beautiful, responsive, SEO-friendly websites, no coding knowledge required.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s no shortage of reasons to build a website, whether you’re trying to sell stuff, build a brand, or just get your ideas out there. But there’s one reason most people never get around to building their site: lack of coding knowledge. Luckily, no experience is no problem.

Foxconn will start building iPhones in India in July

By

Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
Foxconn is looking to India as a location to build iPhones.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Foxconn will reportedly start building iPhone X-series handsets in India in July, a new report claims. Other newer handsets could also follow in the future.

The handsets will be built at the company’s 160-acre factory in Chennai. “The plans are to step up production capacity and diversify to even higher models going forward,” a source with knowledge of Foxconn’s plans is quoted as saying.

We talk an all-new MacBook Pro, the return of MagSafe, and inside Apple’s megafactories, on The CultCast

By

CultCast 383
Reports say a redesigned MacBook Pro is on the way...

This week on The CultCast: Apple’s readying a totally redesigned MacBook Pro with next-gen display! We discuss. Plus: Apple’s working on the next generation of MagSafe! Thank the gods. And we take a fascinating look at the unbelievable scale and size of Apple’s megafactories, from a bonus chapter of Leander’s new book, Tim Cook: The Genius Who Took Apple to the Next Level.

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..

Masked thieves steal $20,000 of MacBooks from Apple Store

By

Tim Cook
Tim Cook has previously shown up at the Palo Alto store to meet customers.
Screenshot: CNBC

Apple’s Palo Alto retail store was targeted by mask-wearing thieves this week, who stole MacBooks worth almost $20,000 in total.

The robbery took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Two thieves, wearing masks and hooded sweatshirts, smashed the glass doors outside using rocks. They proceeded to grab nine Macs, although two of these were dropped during their escape.

Apple display-maker gets lifesaving cash influx

By

iPhone XR was India’s no. 1 ‘ultra premium’ smartphone in 2019
Japan Display is the main supplier for iPhone XR screens.
Photo: Apple

Apple display maker Japan Display revealed today that it has signed a 232 billion yen ($2.1 billion) deal that will bail-out the struggling company.

The deal gives a Chinese-Taiwanese conglomerate a 49.8% stake in the company, making it the biggest shareholder.

Disney+ streaming service will almost certainly support Apple TV

By

Disney+ streaming service
Disney+ launches in the U.S. this November.
Photo: Disney

Disney’s new streaming service, officially announced for the first time on Thursday, will likely make its way to Apple TV.

That’s according to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who explained a Disney+ app will eventually be available through traditional distributors. You will also be able to enjoy it on Smart TVs and consoles.

Apple now asks users to confirm in-app subscriptions

By

Confirm sub 1
Apple wants to avoid accidental subscriptions.
Photo: David Barnard

Apple is increasingly moving toward subscription-based Services as a major source of income. However, it’s also doing the right thing by making sure that users actually want the subscriptions they’re purchasing — and aren’t just subscribing by accident.

To help cement this, it has added a new step into the App Store subscription process. Before subscribing to an app, users must now confirm a “Confirm Subscription” popup.

macOS concept proposes dumping free-floating windows

By

Perhaps the MacBook should adopt split-screen multitasking instead of floating windows.
Perhaps the MacBook should adopt split-screen multitasking instead of floating windows.
Photo: Thomas Weinreich

Many people want their iPad to work more like a MacBook. A concept video proposes the opposite: having macOS function more like iOS on a tablet. That means no more free-floating windows.

Watch the video to see the idea in action:

How to back up your iMessages (and why it’s essential)

By

Never lose your old messages again.
Never lose your old messages again.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Why would you bother to back up your iMessages? After all, they’re all stored in iCloud these days, right? Well, yes your messages are all stored in iCloud, but they’re not backed up up there. They’re synced, which means that if you delete a message thread, it’s gone forever. The answer is to make a local backup, which requires a Mac. Which is ridiculous in 2019, but there you go.

Here’s how to back up your iMessages in case the worst happens.

New Apple Watch videos highlight fall detection and heart notifications

By

Fall detection ad from Apple
Fall detection could be a lifesaver for some Apple Watch wearers.
Photo: Apple

Apple came out with two new how-to videos for the Apple Watch today, showing customers how to take advantage of some of the new features introduced last year.

The two videos cover how to turn on heart health notifications and fall detection. Each video is only 30 seconds long and shows how to activate each feature in just three or four easy steps.

Watch them both right here:

Do not call Dmitry Markov’s iPhone photos ‘seamy’

By

Dmitry Markov
"Time to death." Haircut of 18-year-old teenager before his release from orphanage is one of 80 iPhone photos in #DRAFT #RUSSIA, which runs through June 4 at the agnés b. Galerie Boutique in New York City.
Photo: Dmitry Markov courtesy of agnés b.

Each of the 80 arresting iPhone images in an exhibition entitled #DRAFT #RUSSIA are a chapter in the life of the photographer Dmitry Markov.

The pictures may feel like a hard, unpleasant view of a fringe existence in a Russian province far removed from the economic bustle of Moscow, but Markov makes no apology.

Should you use the EQ in the iPhone’s Music app?

By

How low can you go?
How low can you go?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The quick answer is “Yes, of course you should.” The more complex answer is “But only if you need it.” Your iPhone has an equalizer built in, although it’s not exactly easy to find. Annoyingly-hidden-yet-essential interface elements aside, there’s usually not much point in tweaking the EQ of your Apple Music library unless you have a problem in your setup.

But if you do want to use it, here’s how.

Chris Evans spotted on set of upcoming Apple TV show

By

Chris Evans
Chris Evan and his beard on the set.
Photo: Patriot Pics/Backgrid

Captain America star Chris Evans is already hard at work on his next project now that Avengers: Endgame is nearly ready to hit theaters.

Evans was spotted on the set of his upcoming TV series, Defending Jacob, which is being made for Apple TV+. Evans shaved his beard for Endgame but it looks like it’s making a comeback in the Apple TV series.

Terry Gilliam still hasn’t signed contract to remake Time Bandits with Apple

By

Time Bandits
The time-traveling dwarves of Time Bandits.
Photo: Handmade Films

Terry Gilliam’s 1981 movie Time Bandits is set to get the TV series treatment by Apple, but in a recent interview, Gilliam revealed he’s still not sure how involved he will be in the project.

Despite already getting an executive producer credit for the series, Gilliam says he still hasn’t signed his contract for the show. Even though he claims he’s delighted that Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi is taking the lead on the pilot episode, Gilliam is concerned about the overall tone of the show.