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Illinois drivers can add their digital license to iPhone

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Illinois drivers can add a digital license to iPhone
An Illinois digital drivers license is a benefit to travelers.
Image: Illinois Secretary of State/Cult of Mac

Illinois motorists can securely add a digital driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, which enables them to present their ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch. The option was announced Tuesday and becomes available on Wednesday.

That makes the Prairie State the fourteenth U.S. state or territory to support Apple’s digital ID program.

Apple Watch breakthrough saves 400 metric tons of titanium a year — here’s how it works

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Photo of a 3D-printed Apple Watch Ultra 3, created using a breakthrough production process that Apple says saves 400 metric tons of titanium a year
Apple can now 3D print millions of identical Apple Watch enclosures to exact design standards using high-quality recycled metal.
Photo: Apple

Apple has achieved what many thought impossible: manufacturing millions of Apple Watch cases using 3D-printing technology with 100% recycled titanium — while cutting raw material usage in half. The breakthrough marks a significant milestone in both sustainable manufacturing and production efficiency, with the company estimating the process will save more than 400 metric tons of raw titanium this year alone.

“It wasn’t just an idea — it was an idea that wanted to become a reality,” said Kate Bergeron, Apple’s vice president of product design, in a press release Tuesday. “Once we asked the question, we immediately started testing it. We had to prove, with continuous prototyping, process optimization, and a tremendous amount of data gathering, that this technology was capable of meeting the high standard of quality we demand.”

Today in Apple history: Apple introduces its biggest iMac G4 yet

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Photo of Apple's 20-inch iMac G4 on a desk with keyboard and speakers
Apple's 20-inch iMac G4 in all its glory.
Photo: Wikipedia CC

November 18: Today in Apple history: Apple introduces 20-inch iMac G4, the biggest iMac yet November 18, 2003: Apple debuts a new iMac G4 sporting a 20-inch screen, the company’s biggest flat-panel all-in-one computer ever.

The introduction makes an already superb Mac even better. Somehow, though, the additional screen real estate makes the new Mac weigh twice as much as the 17-inch model.

Top 10 high-end Apple setups you wish you could afford

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M2 Ultra Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR
So ... crippled by envy much? This one has a high-end M2 Ultra Mac Pro, a Mac Studio, a Pro Display XDR and two Studio Displays.
Photo: [email protected]

For years I’ve showcased cool Apple-centric computer setups for Cult of Mac. I never seem to get tired of drooling over the sweetest of the bunch. Sometimes that’s about the most awesome possible computers and monitors — Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, anyone? — and sometimes it’s about a whole package, including fabulous audio gear and more. I selected a bunch of drool-worthy setups with stratospheric price tags for you below. 

iPhone 17’s N1 chip delivers major Wi-Fi speed boost

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Apple N1
Apple's N1 chip really makes a big difference in Wi-Fi speeds.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 17’s new N1 wireless chip brings a significant boost in Wi-Fi speeds. Tests conducted by Ookla show the newer iPhone models pulling faster speeds over Wi-Fi than their predecessors.

Based on the test data, the iPhone 17 pulled 40% faster Wi-Fi speeds than the iPhone 16.

Sorry, Siri: iPhone side button will soon trigger other voice assistants

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An image of an iPhone 17 with a magnifying glass and a microphone overlaid, used to illustrate a story about triggering a new voice assistant other than Siri by using the side button.
Open a third-party voice assistant instead of Siri.
Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple will soon allow iPhone users in Japan to use the side button to trigger a third-party voice assistant they might prefer to Siri. It is laying the groundwork for this change in iOS 26.2, which is currently in beta testing.

The company posted a detailed post on its developer blog providing insight into this change.

Today in Apple history: First M1 Macs usher in the wonderful world of Apple silicon

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The M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro and M1 Mac mini.
The first three M1 Macs: the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
Image: Apple

November 17: Today in Apple history: M1 Macs usher in the wonderful world of Apple silicon

November 17, 2020: Apple releases the first three Macs powered by the company’s new M1 chip. The Apple silicon processor sparks a renaissance at Apple, with the excellent new computers surprising nearly everyone with their bold mix of power and efficiency.

The switch to Apple silicon could not have come soon enough for Apple. The era of Intel-powered Macs began promisingly enough, but went out with a long whimper. The stark contrast in Apple’s commitment to the platform, and the unbelievable value the new Mac models offered, made the Apple silicon era a golden age for the Mac.

M5 vs. M4: Apple’s latest silicon breakthrough explained [Updated]

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M5 vs M4 chip comparison
Here are the key differences between Apple's latest chip and its predecessor.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

With Apple’s M5 chip appearing in more devices, it’s time for an M5 vs. M4 chip smackdown. Apple unveiled its new M5 chip in October, marking a significant leap forward in on-device artificial intelligence performance over its predecessor. So let’s compare the M5 chip to the M4 chip. 

While maintaining the same core architecture as the M4 chip, the M5 delivers dramatic improvements in AI processing, graphics capabilities and memory bandwidth that position it as Apple’s most AI-focused silicon to date. But it enough to temp would-be upgraders?

Why Apple killing the Mac Pro makes sense

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Mac Pro: Rest in Peace?
Apple silicon makes towers like the Mac Pro a thing of the past.
AI Image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

A new report says Apple has “largely written off the Mac Pro,” but before you get mad, you need to understand why Mac tower desktops don’t make sense anymore, and haven’t for years.

It all comes down to the architecture of Apple’s M-series processors.

10 surprising benefits of Apple Watch Series 11

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benefits of Apple Watch Series 11
Think it mainly tells time and tracks your fitness? You might be surprised.
Photo: Apple

While many people know the new Apple Watch Series 11 tracks your steps, heart rate and possible high blood pressure, the latest iteration also offers unexpected advantages that go beyond basic fitness monitoring. We put together 10 surprising benefits of Apple Watch Series 11 for you below.

Whether you’re a longtime Apple Watch user or considering your first purchase, these surprising benefits might just change how you think about what a smartwatch can do.