"Creativity has the power to change the way we see each other." -Apple Image: Apple
Apple started the holidays off with Fuzzy Feelings, a combination of stop-motion animation and live action that tells a heart-warming story about reaching out to other people during the holidays.
Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the short film was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro Max and MacBook Air.
Gifting an iPhone for the holidays? Here's all you need to know. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Which iPhone is the best to buy as a gift? We’ll walk you through some of the best choices below, along with great accessories for new iPhone owners, including tough cases and handy MagSafe chargers.
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After enduring torture during a coup attempt, a battered and dazed Margo Madison is offered work at the Russian space agency. Photo: Apple TV+
Sure enough, last week’s hints of looming unrest blossom this week in a full-scale coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in alt-history drama series For All Mankind, season 4, episode 3, “The Bear Hug.” And who’s in the middle of it all? Why, the former head of NASA, of course — Margo Madison.
In the span of one episode — released Wednesday instead of Friday for the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend — she gets horribly tortured and finds herself in a big new space-agency job. But it ain’t NASA this time. I’d say you can’t make this stuff up, but someone did. Meanwhile, another coup unfolds at private space-exploration company Helios Aerospace.
Apple TV+ slipped out the third episode of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters a few days early so Godzilla could arrive in time for Thanksgiving. Here’s a quick recap that puts it in context not only with the earlier episodes and MonsterVerse movies but also events of the 20th century.
Read on if you’re ready for massive spoilers about the latest episode, plus some speculation about the show’s future.
You can huge Black Friday savings on Apple accessories at MagEasy, especially if you use coupon code "cultofmac." Photo: MagEasy
SwitchEasy’s MagEasy brands makes tons of cool Apple accessories, and they’re up to 60% off for Black Friday. But you can take another 5% off is you use coupon code cultofmac at checkout!
That will make the deals you nab on cases, chargers and more for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods and MacBooks even sweeter. The promotion goes through November 28.
It's also a steal at under $13. Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac
Almost everything is cooler when you can see right through it. Sadly, Apple stopped making transparent devices when it discontinued the iconic iMac G3. But for those craving that retro look, Elago offers a transparent Clear band for Apple Watch that looks absolutely terrific.
Made from a strong and lightweight thermoplastic, it’s incredibly comfortable to wear all day long. And it’s insanely affordable at less than $13. I’ve been wearing one for months now and it has easily become one of my favorite Apple Watch bands.
iPhone 16 Pro's battery could use a metal backplate. Graphic: Rajesh
If leaked images prove correct, Apple will adopt a new design for the iPhone 16 Pro’s battery featuring a metal shell on top. This could help with heat dissipation.
Like current iPhones, the purported iPhone 16 Pro battery has an L-shaped design. However, it has a capacity of 3,355mAh. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro uses a 3,274mAh capacity cell.
Bag yours from as little as $6. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple’s decision to finally ditch Lightning in favor of USB-C on iPhone 15 means that you now have infinitely greater flexibility when it comes to connectivity. Whether you want to hook up storage drives, an external display, or even an Ethernet cable, you can do it all with USB-C.
But there is a catch. First, you’ll need a suitable USB-C hub or adapter that lets you connect all the peripherals you want to use through one port. Here are the best USB-C hubs you can buy today for iPhone 15.
Apple won't meet its initial Vision Pro launch target. Photo: Apple
Apple is reportedly still working on the Vision Pro’s distribution plan and final testing. Due to this, the mixed-reality headset will launch around March 2024.
This is a couple of months later than the company’s initial target of a January launch. At the “Wonderlust” event on September 12, Apple CEO Tim Cook claimed the Vision Pro is “on track to ship early next year.”
This week’s Awesome Apps include Lego Bricktales, Speech to Text, Text to Speech and Vinegar. Photo: Midjourney
In this week’s Awesome Apps roundup, we have a way to play Legos without the mess, an app that’ll read aloud almost anything, 700 workouts on your Apple Watch, and the best Safari extension ever.