Mobile menu toggle

Tiny inCharge XS 4-in-1 iPhone/Mac charging cable fits on a keychain

By

Rolling Square inCharge XS with iPhone
When you need to connect on the go, inCharge XS is there.
Photo: Rolling Square

The name for inCharge XS must stand for “extra small.” It packs multiple USB formats plus a Lightning connector into a cable tiny enough to fit on a keychain. But it can handle up to 240W of power.

The accessory from Rolling Square enables any iPhone or Mac to plug into a battery or wall charger wherever necessary. It can even handle data transfers.

Dive into Submerged, Vision Pro’s first immersive 3D movie [Update: Watch now!]

By

Submerged short film is a Vision Pro exclusive
Submerged can only be seen on Vision Pro.
Image: Apple

Apple made a visual treat for owners of its Vision Pro headset: Submerged, a scripted short film recorded in Immersive Video. That means it’s in 3D and “You’re not watching a movie anymore, you are inside the story,” according to the director.

Watch the trailer for a first look at the action set on a WWII submarine under attack.

Update: Vision Pro users can watch Submerged now. Simply open the Apple TV app on the headset to find it.

Employees at iPhone assembly plant detained by China

By

Foxconn building
Working in China involves some risks.
Photo: Puddingworld, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

In an episode that Taiwan describes as “bizarre,” China reportedly detained four employees at a plant that makes Apple products.

The facility is owned by Foxconn, a Taiwanese company, but it is located in Zhengzhou, China. Relations between the two countries are tense.

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on all things Apple [Extended!]

By

best Amazon Prime Day Apple deals - extended
Prime Day is over but the savings haven't stopped.
Image: Tamanna Rumee/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

It’s that time of year again, Amazon Prime Day (the fall edition, October 8 and 9). So the early deals flowed starting over the weekend, with the full-on sale hitting with even better deals on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll show you the best Amazon Prime Day deals on Apple gear, from AirPods to iPads to MacBooks to Studio Display. And that includes Apple audio subsidiary Beats, too. Click on the links below, and return to this page often — deals are subject to change, often for the better, and we’ll add more as we find them.

Update: Though prices on some items continue to fluctuate, Amazon has extended most deals beyond Wednesday.

Cheap VPN alert: Get Norton VPN for just $9

By

Product photo of the Norton VPN app.
Get a one-year subscription to Norton Secure VPN while it's on sale for just $8.99 (reg. $39).
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re tired of feeling exposed on public Wi-Fi or just want peace of mind online, we have a great, cheap VPN deal for you. For a limited time, you can score a one-year Norton Secure VPN subscription on one device for the super-low price of just $8.99 (regularly $39).

Designed to protect your data on all major devices (Mac, iOS, PC, Android), Norton’s VPN is ideal for anyone seeking an affordable, private and secure browsing solution.

Apple TV+ is coming to Amazon’s Prime Video

By

Apple may simplify its TV app for users by the end of the year.
You can soon subscribe to Apple TV+ through Amazon Prime Video.
Photo: Apple

Starting from late October, you can subscribe to Apple TV+ through Amazon Prime Video. This should expand Apple TV+’s reach and allow more users to subscribe easily.

Amazon allows other platforms to sell their subscriptions through Prime Video, expanding their reach.

Here’s what’s new in Safari on iPhone and iPad in iOS 18

By

New iPhone Safari Features in iOS 18
Safari on iPhone gets some much-needed attention in iOS 18 with a few great features.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple added several nifty new features to Safari in iOS 18. The iPhone’s redesigned web browser boasts an all-new Page Menu. Plus, two big new features help surface what you’re looking for on the web.

The last big Safari redesign for iPhone, which arrived three years ago, moved the address bar to the bottom of the screen by default. It also shoved several useful features into a menu in the address bar, which made it difficult to discover them. Apple tries to reverse that second problem in the new Safari.

Here’s what’s new in iOS 18 in Safari on iPhone — keep reading or watch our video.

How would you improve this MacBook Pro rig’s lighting? [Setups]

By

setup lighting
Commenters gave this user plenty of good advice for improved lighting.
Photo: [email protected]

Most users obsess about the main hardware they have in their computer setup, from computers to mechanical keyboards, but lighting plays a big role, too. After all, you have to be able to see what you’re doing without eye strain (and how better to snap pics and show off your rig on social media?). Today’s MacBook Pro user asked for lighting advice and got it, below.

Score huge Prime Day deals on M3 MacBook Air models [Extended!]

By

Prime Day M3 MacBook Air
Now's the time to nab that M3 MacBook Air you've been wanting.
Photo: Apple

With the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day falling on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, it’s a great time to nab yourself a coveted M3 MacBook Air. Discounts abound on both 15-inch and 13-inch models, with an array of specification choices. See the deal links below. Most of the deals cover all four colors — midnight, silver, space gray and starlight. And don’t miss our full guide to Apple deals for Prime Day.

UPDATE: On Wednesday we updated fluctuations in prices and color availability for various models, below. And though prices on some items fluctuate, Amazon has extended many deals beyond Wednesday.

The wait for faster M4 chips cuts into Mac shipments

By

M3 chip gives 2024 MacBook Air hefty performance boost
It seems much of the excitement over the M3 MacBook Air waned by Q3 2024.
Photo: Apple

While the third quarter of 2024 brought weak Mac shipments, Apple did well earlier in the year, and a return to growth is expected soon, according to a market-research firm.

Overall, the July-through-September period was anemic for the whole PC market, not just Apple.

Prime Day deals: Add a great external display to your Mac setup [Extended!]

By

Prime Day external displays
Maybe Prime Day is your chance to double up on Studio Displays!
Photo: [email protected]

If you use a desktop computer like Mac mini or you typically hunch over a MacBook or other laptop, it’s time to bring beautiful views to your computer setup with a big, bright external display. And with Amazon Prime Day in full swing July 16 and 17, you have plenty of Prime Day deals on external displays with 4K or 5K resolution to choose from. See below.

UPDATE: We first ran this post for July Prime Day, and now we’ve updated it with great external monitor deals for Prime Day October 8 – 9, including 24-inch 1080p displays and portable screens, too. And Wednesday saw more updates, like an even lower price on Studio Display with Standard Glass (more than $300 off!). And other deals below got sweeter, too. And though prices on some items fluctuate, Amazon has extended many deals beyond Wednesday.

Today in Apple history: The Beatles beat Apple in court … again

By

Beatles
Apple versus The Beatles is one of the less-likely feuds in Apple history.
Image: Apple Corps.

October 9: Today in Apple history: The Beatles beat Apple in court October 9, 1991: A court orders Apple to pay $26.5 million to Apple Corps, The Beatles’ record label and holding company, for trademark infringement. The end of this Beatles versus Apple lawsuit marks the second time Cupertino is forced to pay the English rock band.

The ruling comes a decade after Apple swore it would never get into the music business.

This painting app for Mac offers pro tools at an affordable price

By

Product photo of the Paintstorm Studio painting app for Mac and Windows.
Get a lifetime license to Paintstorm Studio for just $19.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For digital artists, illustrators and anyone with a passion for creating art, Paintstorm Studio is a versatile toolkit. With a lifetime license, you gain access to an intuitive, high-powered painting app for Mac and Windows, without the hassle of monthly subscriptions.

Designed for professional artists but priced for everyone, Paintstorm Studio is the only digital art software you’ll need. And right now, you can score a lifetime license for just $19.99 (down from $49) — no upgrades or pricey add-ons required.

Opal Tadpole could be just the webcam your older MacBook needs [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Opal Tadpole Mac webcam review★★★★☆
Get big video from the tiny Opal Tadpole webcam.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Opal Tadpole acts as a replacement for the webcam in your laptop or tablet. Clip the well-built gadget to an older MacBook and you’ll look better on video calls.

I tested one with multiple computers to see how Tadpole stands up in real world use — and whether it might make a good gift this holiday season.

Prime Day brings the best sale ever on Apple Pencil Pro [Extended and improved!]

By

Apple Pencil Pro vs Apple Pencil 2
Now is a great time to buy an Apple Pencil: Prime Day!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Pencil Pro boasts just about every feature an iPad user could want, and during Amazon Prime Day that includes a more affordable price. A discount knocks 25% off the cost, bringing it below $100 for the first time.

Alternatively, you can get a 15% off deal on the Apple Pencil (USB-C), or save 30% on the older Apple Pencil 2.

UPDATE: While Prime Day is over, these deals are not. Amazon actually improved them so these styli cost even less. Read on for the latest prices.

5 stealth iOS 18 features you don’t want to miss

By

Five Awesome Hidden Features
Apple buried these great features in iOS 18's accessibility settings.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iOS 18 is getting a bunch of cool new accessibility features this year, including bringing eye tracking to the iPhone for the first time. You also can feel haptic music, control your phone with custom voice commands, use your phone in the car without suffering from motion sickness, and improve the accuracy of Siri and dictation.

Check out our video to see it in action or keep reading below.

End of an era: iPod is officially ‘obsolete’

By

ipod-nano-new
Goodbye, iPod nano!
Photo: Apple

The iPod music player, a product that was once the definition of tech coolness, rode off into the sunset on Tuesday. The last iPod nano and iPod shuffle models went on Apple’s list of obsolete products, which means the classic iPod lineup officially obsolete.

The music player that transformed Apple and the worldwide music culture will no longer be supported or serviced by Apple. It’s the end of an era.

The same is true for iPhone 6.

Prepping for Hurricane Milton? Install iOS 18 with Messages via satellite.

By

Messages via satellite in iOS 18
Messages via satellite can help you stay in touch with loved ones even when power and other services are knocked out.
Photo: Apple

With Hurricane Milton taking aim at nearly the entire Gulf Coast of Florida, with a probable late Wednesday landfall, evacuees and others might want to make sure they download iOS 18 — specifically to get the new Messages via satellite capability.

That way, if power, Wi-Fi and cellular coverage all get knocked out, you can still communicate via satellite on your iPhone with family and friends. And of course you’ll also have the option of using the related Emergency SOS via satellite if you need to reach emergency services.

Today in Apple history: Apple’s sapphire dreams shatter

By

Apple is gobbling up sapphire supplies at an alarming rate of knots. Photo:
A sapphire glass screen was the most-requested possible feature for iPhone 6.
Photo: GT Advanced Technologies

8 October: Today in Apple history: Apple's sapphire dreams shatter as iPhone 6 sapphire screen is a no show October 8, 2014: Apple says it is “surprised” after GT Advanced Technologies, the supplier previously rumored to make ultra-strong sapphire glass displays for the iPhone 6, says it will file for bankruptcy.

The announcement appears to mark the end of the road for sapphire glass iPhone screens, a highly anticipated upgrade that promised to make devices more durable but never arrived.

How court-ordered changes to Google Play could affect Apple’s App Store

By

Google Play vs Apple
How will a major court ruling against Google Play affect Apple?
Image: Google/Apple

A U.S. federal judge ordered sweeping changes to Google Play, the default source for Android applications. Rival Android software marketplaces will get a big boost as a result.

While the iPhone App Store is similar, Apple’s and Google’s situations are different enough that iPhone users shouldn’t expect similar changes anytime soon. Long term? That’s a different story.

Don’t miss Bluetti’s Prime Day blowout on solar power stations

By

Save up to $3,600 off portable power stations and generators from Bluetti during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days fall sale.
Save up to $3,600 off portable power stations and generators from Bluetti during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days fall sale.
Photo: Bluetti

With Amazon Prime Day on October 8 and 9, power solutions provider Bluetti gets in on the savings action with exclusive deals on its portable solar power stations. With tons of power generators designed for outdoor enthusiasts, RV campers and home-backup needs, Bluetti’s lineup promises reliable power, anytime and anywhere.

And with these huge Prime Day savings, you can’t lose. Power up with Bluetti for amazing Prime Day savings.

How to track your Apple Watch activity rings and pause your streak

By

Take A Break From Your Rings
You can pause them without losing your streak.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Apple Watch doesn’t just take your step count — it has three activity rings that track different levels of energy you burn throughout the day.

New to watchOS 11, you have additional options for customization and for taking a break when you need it. You can have different goals for each ring for different days of the week, so it can fit your workout schedule. When you want a rest day or if you fall ill, you can take up to a month-long break without losing your streak.

If you’re all-in on the fitness tracking, you can add widgets that show your rings on your Apple Watch face and widgets on your iPhone. Or, on the other hand, if you find it a bit annoying, you can turn off all the notifications so they won’t bother you anymore.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Apple Watch activity rings.

iOS 18.1 beta 6: All the new features and changes

By

iOS 18.1 beta 6 is here with small but important refinements.
Apple Intelligence is finally here!
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple continues beta testing iOS 18.1 ahead of its potential public release on October 28. Besides Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1 will pack several other changes and improvements.

Below is everything new in the latest iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 beta 6.

Apple Watch Series 10 teardown highlights its poor repairability

By

Apple Watch Series 10 teardown
The Apple Watch Series 10 does not rank high in iFixit's teardown.
Photo: iFixit

Apple made huge strides towards improving repairability with the iPhone 16. Sadly, despite getting a big internal redesign, the Apple Watch Series 10 is not as repair-friendly as the new iPhones.

A teardown from iFixit details the wearable’s innards and all the changes Apple made to slim down its design.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4s opens for Siri-ous preorders

By

iPhone 4s
The iPhone 4s was the last iPhone that Steve Jobs directly worked on.
Photo: Apple

October 7: Today in Apple history: iPhone 4s preorders begin and they are Siri-ous October 7, 2011: Two days after the death of Steve Jobs, Apple opens preorders for its next-gen iPhone 4s.

The last iPhone that Jobs worked on directly, the 4s boasts a speedier A5 chip, improved 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, and — most significantly — Apple’s new AI virtual assistant, Siri.