watchOS 10 will remove a major limitation of the Apple Watch, according to an unconfirmed report. The smartwatch supposedly will be able to synchronize with iPad and Mac, not just iPhone.
Apple preps an AI-powered personal wellness coach
Apple reportedly wants to use the power of artificial intelligence to create a virtual coach integrated into Apple Watch.
In addition, Apple’s Health app allegedly will get new features for those with vision problems, and to help users track their moods.
Download the Apple Watch face Tim Cook uses
How does Tim Cook customize his Apple Watch face? During his recent tour of India, people zoomed in on this picture of him meeting with developers to dissect his choice of watch face and complications.
I’ll break down Cook’s watch and show you how to download it yourself.
After all, the Apple Watch is celebrating eight years since its release on this very day in 2015. What better way to mark the occasion than with a celebratory new watch face?
Save big on Apple Watch Series 8 and SE 2 refurbished units
Apple just began offering refurbished units of the Apple Watch Series 8 and SE 2. Both wearables launched in autumn 2022, and shoppers can save as much as $80 by choosing a refurb unit.
These are primarily devices that consumers bought then returned so supplies are limited.
You can now delete unwanted system apps directly from Apple Watch
Apple is now allowing you to delete pre-installed apps directly from the Apple Watch. The Cupertino giant has rolled out this change as a part of watchOS 9.4.
This comes a few years after the company added this capability on iPhones following iOS 14’s release.
New Anker MagGo fast-charges iPhone plus AirPods and Apple Watch
Anker rolled out its latest 15W MagSafe charging stand Tuesday, introducing the 3-in-1 Anker 737 MagGo Charger. It adopts a triangular shape, juicing up iPhones at a full 15W and AirPods and Apple Watch at 5W apiece.
This follows the company’s first 3-in-1 MagSafe fast-charging stand, the Anker Cube, released in October 2022.
Why you should buy Apple Certified Refurbished products
Apple products are known for delivering high performance and carrying a premium price tag. If you are on a tight budget, should you consider buying a refurbished Apple product instead?
Apple’s Certified Refurbished store offers a great way to get a like-new product while letting you save hundreds of dollars on your purchase. Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s refurbished gear.
Apple Watch goes glam with gorgeous Goldenerre bands and bracelets
Let’s face it, the band you got with your Apple Watch is hardly going to turn heads. But turning your smartwatch into a fabulous fashion piece can be easy and affordable. Made from premium stainless steel, Goldenerre’s gorgeous bracelets quickly take any Apple Watch from drab to fab
And they can be accompanied by matching bangles that are just as pretty. Get yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.
Take your Apple Watch bands everywhere with this affordable canvas case
If you’re the kind of Apple Watch owner who loves swapping your bands on a regular basis, you’ll want to carry more than one while traveling. Keep them organized and protected with the handy Canvas Strap Roll from BluShark.
It has enough space for at least three bands, and it ensures they all stay separated so they can’t damage each other. It also features a secure snap button closure to prevent the case from spilling its contents on the go.
Get yours today for just $18 from the Cult of Mac Store.
New multicolored Hermès Apple Watch band is $599 of unicorn vomit
Apple introduced a veritable rainbow of new hues for Apple Watch bands Tuesday — including the new Hermès Casaque multicolor bands inspired by “bold jerseys worn by horse jockeys,” Apple said.
The top Casaque band, a double-strapped leather number with four colors in it, costs $599. And that’s with no watch included. But at least you get a borderline-hideous Apple Watch band.
Fortunately, new spring colors are also available for several styles of reasonably priced bands like the Solo Loop and Sport Band.
How Apple’s secret Exploratory Design Group makes magic happen
Few outside of Apple have ever heard of the company’s secretive Exploratory Design Group. However, the team includes many of Apple’s brightest minds — and is developing some of its most innovative products.
Despite the secrecy, the XDG made headlines recently when its project to add blood glucose monitoring to Apple Watch leaked out. Now more details on the group and its moonshot projects have come to light.
If this iPhone 15 Pro rumor comes true, we’ll be seeing red [The CultCast]
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumor indicates Apple just can’t kick its obsession with lackluster iPhone colors. Yes, the iPhone 15 Pro might come in “dark sienna,” aka the red that dare not speak its name.
If so, you can color us disappointed.
Also on The CultCast:
- Apple’s longstanding dream of adding a blood glucose monitor to Apple Watch takes an important step forward.
- New leaks and rumors give us an even better look at what iPhone 15 might bring.
- Tim Cook reportedly hoovers up the entire output of TSMC’s next-gen 3nm chips. Power move!
- Apple Watch faces a legal hurdle that could get it banned in the USA. (Spoiler alert: Not gonna happen.)
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
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Inside the secret mission to add glucose monitor to Apple Watch
Apple Watch is well-known as a health tracker, but a new report said a secret project dating back to Steve Jobs’ era — to use the wearable to monitor glucose without pricking the skin to get blood — has made headway recently. And that has major implications.
The secret effort, known as E5, could involve a device that straps to the bicep and works with the watch. If it comes to market, it could disrupt industries and help millions of diabetics.
Control Apple TV from your iPhone or Apple Watch
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 — the Siri Remote really ought to have a built-in AirTag, right?
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.
Why the Apple Watch might be banned from US import
A decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission to block Apple Watch imports reportedly received a go-ahead from the Biden administration.
That would be a devastating decision, except that the ITC’s ruling is based on Apple Watch violating patents owned by AliveCor, and the U.S. Patent Office has ruled those are invalid. AliveCor is appealing, though.
Researchers explore ‘frontiers of heart health’ with Apple Watch
Apple highlighted Apple Watch’s potential as a heart-health monitor on Tuesday, referring to its increasing usefulness to health researchers and medical personnel.
In addition to the ResearchKit and CareKit programs rolled out in 2015, Apple said it launched its Investigator Support Program. In it, health researchers get Apple Watches to study the heart.
Save big on refurb iPhones and Apple Watches in this one-day sale
Monday — aka Presidents’ Day — is your day to grab great deals on refurbished iPhones and Apple Watches at Woot, Amazon’s bargain site.
The scratch-and-dent sale’s selection includes iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7, plus a slew of older models. If you want one, you’d better hurry, though. The sale ends at 10 p.m. PST Monday.
Get killer deals on iPhones and Apple Watches before it’s too late
Amazon-owned discount site Woot! is back with another Apple bargain-fest. We spotted it Monday. It’ll let you grab a variety of iPhones and Apple Watches at discounted prices through February 11.
A bunch of items are already sold out, like Apple Watch 7 and most of the iPhone series 12 handsets, unfortunately. But you can still find some great deals.
Will new HomePod dazzle our ears like the original? We hope so. [The CultCast]
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first reviews of the 2023 HomePod make Apple’s updated smart speaker sound pretty formidable. We can’t wait to hear for ourselves. (Unfortunately, if you didn’t already place your HomePod order, you’re probably looking at a substantial hang time.)
Also on The CultCast:
- An iPad with a folding screen might be just around the corner.
- Retina alert: Apple Watch Ultra might get an even bigger, brighter screen next year.
- Former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s latest creation is … a bright red nose!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
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This sale on scratch-and-dent iPhones and Apple Watches ends at midnight
The discount site Woot! is at it again with its great-deals-on-a-deadline thing. On Tuesday we noticed it’s offering cheap prices on a range of refurbished iPhone and Apple Watches that might show moderate wear, like minor scratches and dents.
Thing is, the sale ends Tuesday at midnight CT/10 p.m. PT. That’s just hours away.
Enter to win a charming Apple Watch Band from Goldenerre [Cult of Mac giveaway]
One lucky winner will get their hands on Goldenerre’s bestselling Apple Watch band in this week’s Cult of Mac giveaway. The gorgeous Goldenerre Herringbone band screams elegance, and it’s available in three stunning colors (gold, silver and rose gold).
Retailing at $148, the band fits all series of Apple Watch. It’s perfect for any Apple Watch owner wanting to add some glam to their wrist.
Here’s everything the Apple Watch buttons do
The Apple Watch borrows a lot from the iPhone, but the biggest difference between them is down to the extra buttons. They each do different things whether you click, double-click or hold them down. What do the Apple Watch buttons do?
This guide was written before watchOS 10 changed and moved a lot of these features. See our updated guide if you’re confused why your Watch suddenly works differently.
Apple releases new watch band, wallpaper and more for Black History Month
Apple has released a special new Apple Watch band, watch face and iPhone wallpaper celebrating Black History Month. Apple has done this every February in 2021 and 2022.
The Black Unity Sport Loop is available today in the online store and in “select Apple Store locations beginning January 24” Apple said in its press release. It will cost $49, the same price as other Sport Loop bands. The watch face and iPhone background will be released in a software update next week.
First Apple Watch with microLED screen could be on the way
Apple will bring a microLED screen to its wrist wearable, according to a reliable source of insider info. This would replace the OLED displays currently in Apple Watch.
A switch to microLED would bring an improved type of screen: brighter and less prone to burn-in.
No major AirPods, iPad or Apple Watch upgrades planned for 2023
Every year, Apple has some significant hardware upgrades planned for at least a few devices in its product lineup. 2023 could be an outlier, though.
This year, Apple’s major hardware launches will include its first AR/VR headset and the iPhone 15 series. While other products in the company’s lineup will receive a refresh, they will be relatively minor upgrades.