Need extra ports? Have fun lugging this beast around. Photo: Acer
Apple got some serious flak from fans when it unveiled its new MacBook Pro at the end of 2016, but if CES 2017 is any indicator, Apple’s not in danger of being out innovated by PCs anytime soon.
The MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar may not be a phenomenal innovation. And its four USB-C ports mean you’ll need some dongles. But when looking at the competition, the MacBook Pro is hands-down the sleekest, most useful and most beautiful laptop you can get in the world right now.
Thank Jobs, 2016 is finally over! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
2016 sent Apple for a wild ride full of fantastic new products, crazy controversies and tons of extra drama with its rivals.
Tim Cook and his colleagues probably can’t wait to jump into 2017. But before we start looking toward Apple’s future, let’s take a quick look back at all the stories that made 2016 a year Apple fans will never forget.
Samsung's ready to take on AirPods. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Samsung is planning to take on Apple’s fancy new AirPods with its own wireless earbuds that will launch alongside the Galaxy S8, according to a new report.
It’s thought Samsung is unlikely to follow Apple’s decision to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack, but it will still push wireless alternatives as they become increasingly popular.
Getting your hands on AirPods is almost impossible. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple CEO Tim Cook was all smiles during a brief appearance at the New York Stock Exchange this morning. While taking a quick tour of the floor with his nephew, Cook revealed that AirPods are so popular Apple can’t make them fast enough.
More iPhones and iPads were activated over the festive season than any other company’s handsets and tablets, according to data published by analytics firm Flurry.
Analyzing data about phone and app activation throughout the week leading up to Christmas day and the start of Chanukah, Flurry found that 44 percent of all new activations were for Apple devices — more than twice the number of nearest rival, Samsung.
No matter how well you take care of an Android phone, the time will come for it to count its last electric sheep. Selling a smartphone, even a functioning one, can be a hassle — and less than rewarding when dealing with the typical Android buyback program or Craigslist buyer.
If you’ve got a Samsung, LG or HTC phone, even one that’s gone completely kaput, Cult of Mac’s buyback program makes it easy to trade it in for the best price.
Backing up your iPhone to Google Drive. Photo: Google
Google is giving iPhone users yet another easy way to switch to Android.
The latest update to its Google Drive app for iOS brings the ability to backup some of your most important data in just a few taps before migrating it all to a new Android smartphone.
Losing Apple's A-series chip orders may have prompted the move. Photo: Apple
Samsung may spin off its chip-making business as part of a company-wide restructuring, claims a new report.
The move would be a response to Samsung’s loss of Apple’s A-series chip orders to rival chipmaker TSMC for the iPhone 7 and, potentially, future iOS chips as well.
Samsung Pay won't be coming to iPhone. Photo: Samsung
Samsung has decided to abandon its attempt to bring its mobile payment service to iOS after Apple rejected the company’s new Samsung Pay Mini app.
The app would have allowed users to checkout with Samsung Pay when shopping online on their iPhone, but Samsung says it will now focus exclusively on Android.
The Note 7 is all washed up. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Galaxy Note 7 owners who refuse to give up their explosive device will soon have no choice but to use a different phone.
Samsung revealed today that it plans to release a software update later this month that will brick all Galaxy Note 7 units not returned during its recall.
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Tuesday brought relief to Samsung in its lawsuit with Apple over smartphone design patents. Illustration: Cult of Mac
The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to Apple Tuesday when it sided with Samsung in a smartphone patent battle that had the South Korean company staring at hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties.
In a unanimous ruling, the Court ruled a patent violator does not have to turn over all its profits from sales if the stolen design involved certain components and the not the entire device.
Samsung "shipped a dangerous product," apparently. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The Galaxy Note 7’s embarrassing tendency to catch fire might have been caused by Samsung’s decision to cram the battery too tightly into the smartphone’s body.
Can Fitbit breathe new life into Pebble? Photo: Pebble
Fitness band maker Fitbit is said to be in the process of acquiring Pebble, the company that kickstarted the smartwatch generation. Sources say the acquisition will cost between $35 million and $40 million, and will include the entire Pebble portfolio — including its intellectual property.
We are never, ever, ever getting back together. Photo: Cult of Android
Samsung Electronics has revealed that it is considering splitting itself into two separate companies, as the result of intense pressure from shareholders.
The South Korean tech giant will carry out a review to look at the implications of such a massive move, although in a statement it noted that such a review “does not indicate the management or the board’s intention one way or another.”
Apple is dominating high-end sales in India. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 7 may cost half the average annual salary in India, but that’s not stopping it from trouncing rival Samsung when it comes to premium smartphone marketshare in the country.
While Samsung garnered just 23 percent of the Rs 30,000 and up ($437-plus) market last month, Apple almost tripled this with a 66 percent share of high-end smartphone unit sales. Google’s new Pixel smartphone slid into third place with 10 percent of the market.
Rumors continue to stack up claiming that next year’s iPhone will ship with a curved display, but The Wall Street Journal suggests that such a smartphone is just “one of more than 10 prototypes being considered.”
Galaxy Note 7 that exploded while charging. Photo: Mr Ni/Baidu
A Canadian man says he’s lucky to still have his eyes after a Samsung Galaxy S7 exploded in his hands.
Amarjit Mann told a local news station that he felt something in his pocket getting warm while he was driving. He pulled out his Galaxy S7 and says it exploded immediately. Sparks from the blast hit him in the cheek.
iPhone 6s Plus will be “Assembled in India.” Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is being called on by the China Consumers Association (CCA) to investigate a “considerable number” of reports by users who claim their iPhone 6’s are spontaneously and permanently shutting down.
Is Samsung finally ready to catch up with 3D Touch? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung has a history of ripping off new iPhone features soon after they’re introduced by Apple, but the South Korean company is yet to adopt 3D Touch. According to new rumors, that will change next spring with the Galaxy S8.
Samsung's latest big purchase is its biggest yet. Photo: Harman
In its biggest-ever overseas purchase, Samsung bought automotive tech company Harman International Industries for a massive $8 billion.
Samsung referred to automotive electronics as a “strategic priority” going forward, which — as with its current positioning in the smartphone industry — makes the Korean company a major rival or resource for Cupertino as it continues its own investigations into a possible Apple Car.