Apple’s AirPower charging mat just took a big step toward release. Photo: Apple
Correction: The FCC approval mentioned in this story relates to an updated Apple Watch charger, not the long-awaited AirPower charging mat. The story has been updated to correct the error.
Apple just updated its magnetic Apple Watch charger. Since the physical design looks unchanged, it’s likely that only minor internal tweaks are included in the updated device.
The new iPad Pro can’t use Thunderbolt accessories, but it can recognize them. Photo: Cult of Mac
Thunderbolt cables and plugs look exactly like USB-C cables and plugs, but they are incompatible. Or rather, you can plug both kinds into a Thunderbolt port and any connected peripheral will work, but you can’t plug Thunderbolt into USB-C. Or rather you can plug it in, but it won’t work. You see? We’re confused already.
But what happens when you plug a Thunderbolt accessory into the new 2018 iPad Pro?
A teaser trailer reveals the theme of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Photo: Niantic
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will use augmented reality to let players seemingly cast spells in the real world, while encountering characters and creatures from the Wizarding World.
It had been scheduled to be released before the end of this year. Instead, all we’re getting is a teaser trailer and a promise that this AR game will be out in 2019.
Binging your favorite Netflix shows might be about to get a lot cheaper.
Netflix is currently testing a new mobile-only subscription plan that costs about half the price of the next-cheapest package. The option is currently only available in Malaysia but it’s coming to more markets soon.
The new graphics will be great for video producers. Photo: Apple
Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro got a big performance boost this morning with the new option to add Radeon Pro Vega graphics to the top-of-the-line model.
Apple quietly mentioned the update after its October 30 event, at which it revealed the new MacBook Air and iPad Pro. The option to add the Radeon Pro Vega graphics just went live on Apple’s site this morning — and the powerful upgrades do not come cheap.
Pocket Casts gets a big user experience update. Photo: Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts, the paid app with more than half a million podcasts, is retooling its listening experience. An update to the popular app adds Siri Shortcuts support, improved search and discovery features, and a browse-and-play option without having to subscribe to a show.
A look at the iPhone after the incident. Photo: Rahel Mohamad/Twitter
A Twitter user has complained to Apple after their iPhone X reportedly exploded while updating to iOS 12.1. According to Rahel Mohamad, the ten-month old iPhone X became excessively hot to touch. When it was dropped by its user it began emitting smoke, before exploding.
It was being charged at the time with what Mohamad claims was the official Apple Lightning cable that came bundled with the phone. However, the explosion happened after the iPhone was unplugged from the charger.
In celebration of Black Friday, get these 10 top-rated Mac apps. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but we’re already thinking about Black Friday. Luckily, in this day and age, you don’t need to leave the couch to jump on great deals. In fact, you don’t even need to open a box.
Get yours hands on the mounted turret today. Photo: Epic Games
Fire up your consoles for this week’s Fortnite update.
Version 6.3 brings a new Food Fight game mode and the recently-teased mounted turret. It also removes glider redeploy (finally!) from all default modes, though it will stick around in larger team modes like Disco Domination and Soaring 50s.
Built from the same steel alloy as the Apple Watch, Wiplabs' Link Apple Watch Bracelet is the perfect companion for your new Apple Watch. Photo: Wiplabs
Link is Wiplabs’ beautiful Apple Watch link bracelet crafted from 316L stainless steel alloy with a custom butterfly closure.
It’s the best way to enhance your Apple Watch at a reasonable cost. We filmed an unboxing video to give you a hands-on glimpse at this handsome accessory, which is available now at the Cult of Mac Watch Store.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” the sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke once wrote. Making that link even more explicit is a new Harry Potter Coding Kit, which just went on sale via the Apple online store and Apple retail stores.
Aimed at teaching the basics of coding, the $99.99 kit lets kids build their very own interaction swart wand. Once constructed, they can then use its gestural recognition tech to complete 99 different coding challenges on an app.
Steve Wozniak thinks that his Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would be very happy with Apple today. That’s because it’s still a company which puts people above technology, Woz told CNBC.
“Steve always acted that way,” Woz said. “The users should be more important than the technology itself. You should not be a victim of the technology and what it can do. You should get to live your human life in the most human way possible.”
Ashish Chowdhary joins Apple from Nokia. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple has hired the former Chief Customer Operations Officer at Nokia Networks to head up its India operations department, a new report claims. Ashish Chowdhary will take up the role of Apple’s India head from January as Apple continues to try and grow its brand in the country.
India, which has a population of around 1.339 billion, is one of the fastest growing mobile markets after China and the U.S. However, it is one that Apple has largely failed to crack so far.
Mobile photography lensmaker Moment just launched a redesigned telephoto attachment for the iPhone, boasting that it’s sharper than any other smartphone glass on the market.
The 58mm lens works on single- or dual-lens handsets. Pair it with the iPhone XS for a true 100mm optical reach.
Could you just put the phone down for a while? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
There’s a good chance you’re looking at your iPhone more than ever before. A new study shows that it’s dozens of times every day. Which really isn’t a good thing.
Especially as another study has found that iPhone usage can ruin your vacation.
Apple wants to make a bigger mark on your home. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Getting your hands on Apple’s HomePod smart speaker just got a little bit more affordable.
Apple’s online store is now selling refurbished HomePod units for $299. This is the first time the HomePod has been added to the refurbished store since the speaker first went on sale in February.
This is a simple tip, but until I worked it out it was driving me crazy. In landscape orientation, the iPad Files app’s sidebar is always present, making it easy to get to any favorite folder, location or label, pretty much instantly.
In portrait, though, the sidebar disappears. However, there are two easy ways to make it come back, neither of which involves tapping the back arrow until you arrive at the root level of iCloud Drive.
Disassembling an iPad Pro isn’t for the faint of heart. Photo: Apple
Apple’s latest tablet isn’t easy to take apart, even for experts. A video teardown by iFixit documents the difficulties that come from 12.9-inch iPad Pro components held in with tiny screws and glue. Lots of glue.
Still, the hard work revealed some interesting details about the new computer, including the size of its battery.
The new iPad Pro is Apple’s best ever portable computer. Photo: Andrea Nepori
Since I got an new 2018 iPad Pro on launch day last week, I’ve used it exclusively. I haven’t touched my aging, decrepit Mac all week. I’ve used the iPad for work, and for play, so I’ve given it a pretty good workout. The short review is: It’s fantastic, and better in almost every way.
The long review? There are still plenty of annoyances.
This is the new Spotify app for Apple Watch. Photo: Spotify
The world’s largest paid music streaming service is finally landing on Apple Watch.
Spotify finally revealed its first app for the Apple Watch today that will give wearers the ability to play, pause and skip songs from their wrist. The first version is a bit limited in features, but Spotify is teasing some cool new options that will be coming down the pipeline real soon.
Futurists claim the iPad has already eliminated the need for a Mac. Realists say nah. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Since the new iPad Pro’s launch, debate about the powerful devices has become increasingly polarized into two opposing camps: futurists and realists.
The futurists argue that the iPad is the future computing. Apple’s tablet has eliminated the need for laptops, they say, and anyone who claims they can’t manage their workflows on iOS is living in the past (and should just get with the program).
The realists, on the other hand, retort that while the iPad may be cool, it remains limited by iOS in a lot of very important ways. Those limitations mean it is currently impossible to use the iPad as a primary workstation for pros.
Screen Time is a great concept. But it's got its weaknesses. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 12’s Screen Time feature is a great way of making sure that people, particularly children, don’t spend too long using their iOS devices. That’s an important goal, whether you’re worried about the potential mental health impact of overusing technology or just want to stop your kids wasting their time on social media.
It turns out that there’s a workaround on Safari, however — as discovered by the eldest son of computer security expert and iOS hacker David Schuetz.
Learn up to 130 languages with a lifetime subscription to the uTalk app. Image: Cult of Mac Deals
The benefits of learning a second language are endless. Get fluent, and you can cruise around like a local during trips abroad, expand your business to overseas markets or simply keep your brain stimulated.
Luckily, diving into a new language doesn’t need to be limited to a classroom setting. The uTalk interactive language app makes learning a foreign language simple, fun, effective and convenient. And right now, you can save a bundle on a lifetime subscription to this powerful learning tool.
Apple's new iPhones are great. But are they the money-spinners Apple is hoping for? Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Goldman Sachs has added its name to the list of financial institutions worried about stagnating iPhone sales.
“We are concerned that end demand for new iPhone models is deteriorating,” Goldman Sachs wrote in a new note to clients. The firm estimates that Apple will produce 6 percent fewer iPhones next year than it did in the year previous. However, the big investment banking company admits it could be jumping the gun.