Remember Mac OS Copland? Probably not from using it. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac/Ste Smith
November 17, 1995: Apple releases the first beta version of its new Mac OS Copland operating system to approximately 50 developers. Not so much a Mac OS update as a totally new operating system, it offers next-gen features designed to help Apple take on the then-mighty Windows 95.
Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in Shrinking on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ dramedy Shrinking stayed among the top 10 most popular streaming series for another week, according to two ratings companies. And the sexy drama Disclaimer continues to pull in a large audience, too.
Both have been among the most-watched series on streaming since they debuted.
Even an old iPhone is a far superior webcam to any Mac. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Camo is a powerful app that lets you use your iPhone, and any connected USB camera, as a webcam for your Mac. I use it every week to record videos and livestream podcasts. The camera built into the MacBook — and even the high-end Studio Display — just doesn’t compare to the clarity and quality of an iPhone camera.
Apple built a basic version of this feature into macOS and called it Continuity Camera. But like most apps that have been sherlocked, Camo goes above and beyond with powerful tools and pro features.
Camo also works with Windows PCs, Android phones and most modern cameras, not just Macs and iPhones.
Rebecca Ferguson's gutsy performance is just one reason to watch epic sci-fi series Silo. Photo: Apple TV+
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, our hand-cranked Apple TV+ recommendation engine, we’re looking at the dystopian sci-fi show du jour, Silo. While not a full Silo review, it’s a full-throated endorsement of the thrill-packed series and its star, Rebecca Ferguson.
Created by Graham Yost (Justified, Speed), and based on the books by Hugh Howey, the show focuses on the last people on earth, who live in a huge, underground structure and slowly start to learn there’s more to their predicament than meets the eye. The first season of Silo became a bona fide hit. And season two of Silo just started streaming on Apple TV+.
Whether you’re making custom cards, unique scrapbooks or instant mementos, the Kodak Step instant smartphone printer lets you enjoy your favorite photos anytime, anywhere. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The Kodak Step instant photo printer is a fun, easy way to print your iPhone photos without messy ink cartridges. It eliminates the need for expensive ink, toners and ribbons, instead using 2-inch by 3-inch sticky-back paper that’s embedded with dye crystals. In less than 60 seconds, it produces fun, durable prints that resist moisture, rips and smudges.
Whether you’re printing photos for your fridge, locker or scrapbook, these prints are designed to last. And you can get a Kodak Step instant photo printer for just $69.99.
Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao are among the stars of Mythic Quest season 4 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The fourth and final season of the madcap workplace comedy Mythic Quest just got a premiere date. Ian, Poppy, David and the rest return to Apple TV+ on January 29.
But that’s not the end. The spinoff Side Quest launches in March.
Bill Atkinson presented at MacWorld in 2010. Photo: Cult of Mac
Bill Atkinson, a legendary Apple programmer, let the world know Tuesday he’s in treatment for pancreatic cancer, the same disease that killed his boss, Steve Jobs, in 2011. Atkinson published a post on Facebook asking for prayers.
Recruited by Jobs and Macintosh developer and user interface guru Jef Raskin, Atkinson became employee number 51 at Apple. He’s a primary architect of the original Mac. You can see some of his considerable accomplishments and his Facebook post below.
★★★☆☆
The new Magic Keyboards. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The new Apple Magic Keyboard, updated with USB-C, is a fine option if you want Touch ID and if you like laptop-style membrane keyboards. It’s not my preferred typing experience. It also, unfortunately, only comes in a limited number of colors and only two sizes.
It’s the stock keyboard that comes if you order an iMac. It’s also available if you want an external keyboard on your Mac mini, Mac Studio or a desktop-docked MacBook.
The Magic Keyboard is the only way to get Touch ID on the Mac, which is a pretty excellent experience. You just have to pay the rather high price for it — and the even greater sacrifice of giving up on a clicky mechanical keyboard.