The much-maligned Smart Battery case for the iPhone looks like it will be making a return — only this time for the iPhone XS and XS Max.

In leaked images found in a merchandise guide for Apple retailers, the distinctive “hump” found in the Smart Battery cases can be clearly seen. The document is titled “Fall 2018,” suggesting that the cases may be available in the next few weeks, although there’s a chance they will only appear in early 2019.

Fortnite’s weekly update is out with a new seasonal event that gives players the opportunity to enjoy different game modes every day and to unlock festive rewards.

The version 7.10 release also addresses complaints about the X-4 Stormwing plane and delivers a number of big improvements — including support for 60 frames-per-second on the second-generation iPad Pro lineup.

Want to know how to locate your iPhone using your Apple Watch? What about customizing your workouts, or viewing your Activity Rings? If you’re an Apple Watch newbie, Apple wants to help you get to grips with your new wearable device.

With that mission in mind, Apple this week uploaded six new short “how to” videos to its YouTube channel. These 30-second videos offer a handy primer in getting the most out of your new Apple Watch. Check them out below.

Apple and Qualcomm have found yet another thing to disagree over in their long-running feud. A court in China recently issued an order banning Apple from selling several older iPhone models. Apple subsequently released an iOS update which it claims stopped it infringing on the software patents in the complaint.

However, Qualcomm is not satisfied, and insists that Apple is breaking the law by keeping all of its iPhone models on sale.

Sure, it’s nice to have a gaggle of Instagram followers to like your pics. But building an audience on the world’s fastest-growing social media platform is more than just a vanity project. When Kylie Jenner turns her 121 million followers on to a product, she makes a cool $1 million per post.

Apple has rushed out iOS 12.1.2 after a single round of beta testing. This highly unusual move could be part of the company’s response to a recent ban on iPhone sales in China.

The release notes on this new version say nothing about that though, just indicating that iOS 12.1.2 fixes some small issues.

An Apple patent filing is basically a white paper on the advantages of using dual biometric security systems. This makes it clear the company nearly made a device that offered facial recognition and a fingerprint scanner.

In the end, though, Apple decided to replace Touch ID with Face ID.

In part one of this series, we saw how to record remote podcasts using only iOS. It requires using your iPhone to place the FaceTime or Skype call, but you end up with a great result. That post covered the setup. Today, we’ll see how the recording and editing parts work, using AUM and Ferrite on the iPad.

Apple’s TV team is revving into full gear heading into 2019 as it just inked a deal with one of the hottest directors in Hollywood.

Fast and Furious director Justin Lin has reportedly signed on to create TV shows exclusively with Apple under his production company Perfect Storm Entertainment. Apple hasn’t said yet what type of shows will come out of the deal but it gives the company another big talent for its growing war chest of content.

It isn’t Apple’s responsibility to prevent you from doing dangerous things with your iPhone.

That’s the decision of an appeals court in California this morning in a case related to a man who crashed while driving and apparently making a video call on his iPhone. The ruling puts it much more formally, of course.

We watch with both horror and fascination those videos where someone rips apart the latest Apple gadget to see how it is built.

But one member of the r/iPhone thread on Reddit took the dismantling of his iPhone 4 in a different direction: He artfully arranged the pieces for a framed keepsake.

2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.

Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.

One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.

Did you know that Gmail has more than 1.5 billion users? For a large portion of those users, email is something they must deal with on a regular basis — whether for work-related matters, personal communication or staying updated on the latest deals at their favorite retailers. Staying on top of your email can be a major pain, and even with all the smarts that Gmail offers, once you fall behind, it’s daunting to catch up.

Kiwi helps add a layer of convenience and intelligence to managing your Gmail and G Suite accounts on your Mac or Windows PC, all while offering the familiarity and comfort of Google’s mail platform.

We know what you’re thinking, “Another Instagram giveaway already?!” The answer is, “Shh, yes we do love our readers and followers that much.”

In fact, we appreciate you all so much, this is round we’re giving away three extra special treats from Spigen, Silk, and Casemate with a total value of $80. Each iPhone XS Max case is both aesthetically and sturdily impressive.

Our Instagram giveaway only lasts this week from December 17, 2018 – December 24, 2018, so check out the details below ASAP.

Currently, there’s no officially sanctioned Apple way to play Apple Music in your web browser.

Enterprising software engineer Naveed Golafshani (a.k.a. Reddit user NaveedGol) has sprang to the rescue with a new — totally unofficial — web player at wwww.playapplemusic.com. It allows users to log in using Apple’s own authentication service, and then access their Apple Music libraries online.

The “notch” on Apple’s iPhone X, XS and XS Max devices is causing more problems — and this time could even land Apple in court.

A new lawsuit filed against Apple late last week alleges that Apple has lied about the display specifications in its newer iPhones. How? By including pixels and screen dimensions hidden beneath the notch and corners. As a result, Apple’s new iPhones don’t boast quite as much screen as they’re advertised as having.

It can be hard to find the time to stop and breathe, let alone meditate. With the right app though, you can get regular reminders to check in with the present moment. That’s not what most people think a smartphone is for, but it might be one of the best uses.

Apple is offering a bunch of free audiobooks narrated by celebrities, including Kate Beckinsale and Kelsey Grammer.

The giveaway is an effort to promote Apple Books, which saw a big overhaul with iOS 12 — but audiobook fans will probably feel Apple could have done better.

Netflix was the biggest earner in non-game apps in the App Store this year. According to data from app analytics company Sensor Tower, the streaming-video powerhouse raked in a massive $790.2 million on iOS during 2018 — or, at least, through November 30.

Here are the other companies that carved out spaces in the top 10 non-game app list.

When Apple first introduced Face ID with the iPhone X, many were concerned that facial recognition would make it easier to hack into phones.

Fortunately, Apple’s approach to Face ID has largely allayed people’s fears. But just how secure is the facial recognition biometric technology adopted by Apple and its rivals? A Forbes reporter (and his 3D printed head model) recently demonstrated just how the iPhone stacks up against Android rivals.

Apple Pay and electronic IDs are removing the need for a wallet, but why wait? Try a Dodocase that holds your phone as well as your drivers license, credit cards, etc.

We went hands on with three of this company’s leather iPhone wallet cases so we can report how they stand up to real-world use.

This week we dim the lights (with HomeRun), fire up the music (with Djay 3.0) and settle in with a nice long read (Instapaper). Also, Nanostudio 2, which I couldn’t fit into that cozy scene, is awesome nonetheless.

When it comes to charging, wired is tired, and wireless is…better. And as Qi-compatible chargers catch on, they’re available for way more than just your desktop. So we’ve rounded up 3 of the coolest wireless charging gadgets you’ll find, all at big discounts. Read on for more info:

Drones are super-cool, super-fun — and often, super-expensive. For many of us, they can seem forever out of reach, and probably too complicated to learn. Not so with this feature-loaded, uber-portable, and very affordable camera drone.

The iPad Pro is pro enough for almost anything, but one thing it still can’t handle is making a Skype or FaceTime call and recording it at the same time. This is a total pain for podcasters who like to travel light. Luckily, there’s a neat workaround.

Find out how to podcast from the road in the latest free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Get it now on iTunes, or keep reading for the week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos.