San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook's iPhone 5c may not be running "GovtOS" anytime soon. Photo: uveX/Pixabay
In a Congressional hearing today that included both Apple’s chief attorney and government officials, FBI head James Comey didn’t win many people over to his side.
The meeting allowed both sides to make their arguments for and against Apple creating a less secure version of the iPhone’s operating system that would allow officials to get by the password lock on a dead terrorist’s phone. And things seemed to go squarely in the company’s favor, although it was not without its caveats.
Here's what you need to know about Cult of Mac's reviews policies. Photos: Jim Merithew and David Pierini/Cult of Mac
What we review and how we test
At Cult of Mac, we review all sorts of products, from the latest electronics lovingly created by Apple (and by Cupertino’s competitors) to smartphone accessories, sporting goods, kitchen appliances and other essentials — basically, anything that makes our lives better.
If we review something, we’ve spent time putting the product through its paces, messing around with it, comparing it to similar products and generally evaluating it to death. We’re here to represent the interests of our readers, not manufacturers, and will confidently and honestly report back on what we experience without bias.
Positive reviews should be read as recommendations to the reader and not as promotions for the manufacturer. With that said, Cult of Mac makes these promises as part of our effort to be transparent about our ground rules for writers and our policies on review units and affiliate links.
Reviews and affiliate links disclosure
• We don’t mix business with editorial.
• We clearly mark every review we publish.
• We use affiliate links when applicable, but they have no bearing on our editorial ethics. Writers have no involvement in our affiliate link program.
• We receive no money or compensation for reviews aside from the usual advertising revenue generated by pageviews and the small commissions paid by affiliates when a reader follows a link from our site to their store and makes a purchase.
• We disclose when we receive a review unit from a company.
• We cannot review every product we receive.
Manufacturers: please submit review requests to [email protected]. We treat all correspondence as confidential. If you like, you can send review units for possible review to:
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Zagg Slim Book turns the iPad mini into a tiny netbook. Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac
Best List: Zagg Slim Book case
Long before the original iPad debuted, I dreamed of the day that Apple made the ultimate portable netbook that wouldn’t destroy my bank account and could be carried around everywhere.
Apple wisely never got into the short-lived netbook trend, but you can get pretty much the next best thing by combining the iPad mini 4 with Zagg’s new Slim Book case that adds a great detachable keyboard to the world’s best tiny tablet.
Pebble Time now starts at under $200. Photo: PebblePebble Time now starts at under $200. Photo: Pebble
Pebble has slashed $50 off its latest Time and Time Round smartwatches.
The permanent price cut lowers the starting prices of these models to $149.99 and $199.99, respectively — and makes them more competitive against other affordable wearables from the likes of Asus, Fitbit, and Jawbone.
The iPad Pro won't have the best camera for long. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple is rumored to unveil a new 9.7-inch iPad on March 21st, and while it may not pack as big a screen as the iPad Pro, it will be way better at taking photos and videos.
Rather than matching the iPad Pro camera, a new rumor claims Apple may give the new iPad the same sensors found in the iPhone 6s.
Now Moments lets you add video to your private albums. Photo: Moments App
Getting photos from your friends can be a hassle, but Facebook’s Moments app lets you do just that with a private area where everyone can send their photos from events. Think of it as a private photo album that all of your friends are invited to.
Videos are next, as Facebook’s Moments just got updated in the App store, adding a way to add your videos to existing moments, or creating new ones just for video.
Which new iOS games made the cut this month? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Today is February 29, which is always a little confusing. It’s cool that we get an extra day in the year (kinda), but we aren’t ever sure what to do with it. Do we keep acting like it’s crappy February, or should we get even more anxious for halfway-decent March? And why haven’t we filed our taxes yet?
We don’t know, but if you’re looking for a way to spend your Leap Day, here are some of the best iOS games from the past month.
Going into a big job interview can be an incredibly nerve-wracking experience, but when Steve Jobs is doing the questioning, the tension ramps up to an all-new level.
The Apple co-founder was notoriously difficult to work for, thanks to his intense demands. Being interviewed by Steve for a job was even worse, because as one former Pixar employee explains, the Apple CEO pretty much wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
As this, err, slow-moving creepy crawly shows. Photo: Microsoft
The rivalry between Apple and Microsoft may not be as fierce as it once was, but that’s not stopped the long-time Apple frenemy from firing shots in Cupertino’s direction in its latest series of ads for Windows 10.
Presented by two insect educators called “The Bug Chicks” (because, obviously, Windows and bugs go together perfectly!), the ads look at various features that Apple computers just don’t offer yet. You know, like that whole “blue screen of death” lark.