Apple TV subscribers can watch the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, which begin this week. Photo: MLS
You don’t need an MLS Season Pass to watch the Major League Soccer playoffs this year. The games in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs are available to anyone with a subscription to the Apple TV streaming service.
This includes Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF kicking off a best-of-three series against Nashville SC this Friday.
Here’s when to expect HomePod mini 2 and a next-gen Apple TV 4K. AI Image: ChatGPT
Apple isn’t done launching new products this fall. Rumors point to the much-anticipated HomePod mini 2 finally coming soon, along with a next-gen Apple TV 4K.
Here’s everything we know about these upcoming home-entertainment devices.
Sonos reportedly scrapped plans to launch its streaming video device. The Apple TV rival was “deep into development,” yet the company decided to pull the plug on its release.
The streaming device was going to be Sonos’ next big hardware product.
The 30th season of Major League Soccer sees new features and new ways to watch on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. Photo: Apple
Major League Soccer kicks off its milestone 30th season this Saturday, expanding its digital presence and viewer accessibility through its partnership with Apple TV. MLS Season Pass viewers can expect Vision Pro support, a new Android app a big interview with living soccer legend Lionel Messi, a new documentary series and more.
“With new ways to watch, expansive programming, and incredible exclusive content, this will be Major League Soccer’s biggest season yet,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports and Beats. “We’re excited to bring fans around the world closer to the game than ever before.”
Netflix and Apple TV cooperating?! No. Image: Netflix, Apple
Netflix content started showing up for the first time in the Apple TV application. Until now, the streaming behemoth refused to cooperate with Apple’s app that displays content from a variety of services.
Netflix’s new integration with Apple TV appears to be still rolling out, so it’s not yet available to all users.
Update: A Netflix spokesperson now says integration between the streaming service and the Apple TV was just a mistake.
The Apple TV remote is easy to lose, but it’s harder to lose your phone — much less the Apple Watch strapped to your arm. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
You can use your iPhone (or even your Apple Watch!) as a remote for your Apple TV. It’s a convenient feature when you’ve lost the remote in the couch cushions. (You can use your iPhone to help find it as well.)
Even if your remote’s not gone missing, sometimes it’s sitting on the table way over there and you don’t want to interrupt a show by asking for someone to pass it to you. Or maybe, someone is intentionally hogging the remote and you want to pause the video yourself. Either way, it’s really easy to do from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.
On this day in 2010, the Apple TV hit a sales milestone. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
December 27, 2010: Almost four months after the second-gen Apple TV’s debut, Cupertino says it has sold 1 million of the streaming video devices.
The news shows that Apple’s set-top box is gaining momentum. However, Apple’s PR move — which included a preemptive press release issued on December 21 that said Apple “expects sales of its new Apple TV to top one million units later this week” — is also a low-blow shot at competitor Roku, which recently said it planned to hit the 1 million unit mark by the end of 2010.
Finally, an Apple TV remote that isn't all talk.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The Apple TV has a lot going for it, but the Siri Remote is pretty divisive, to say the least. If you like telling a half-smart robot what to do, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better remote. However, if you want a traditional TV-watching experience, the voice controls might not be your cup of tea. And this alternative Apple TV remote gives you all the buttons you might miss from the good old days.
The Function101 Button Remote was designed as a replacement remote for Apple TV and Apple TV 4K, and it makes it easier for you to use all the features built into your set-top streamer. For a limited time, you can get the Function101 Button Remote on sale for $19.97 (regularly $29.95).
2025 HomePod mini can use Apple's in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple will switch to its in-house “Proxima” WI-Fi and Bluetooth chip on its devices starting next year. The chip will debut on the Apple TV and HomePod mini next year.
By 2026, Apple will bring its in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module to the iPad and Mac.