| Cult of Mac

Two brilliant Mac features that will never come to iPad

By

Mac desktop
A nice big desktop makes everything easier.
Photo: Michael Soledad on Unsplash

Recently, I’ve been using my old Mac more and more, even thought I’ve long preferred using an iPad for both work (writing) and play (making music, and all the other dumb stuff you do on a computer when you’re goofing off).

And It’s gotten me thinking. Why do I prefer the Mac for some tasks? And I mean, strongly prefer. I’m so used to using both iOS and macOS that it’s not a questions of familiarity. Nor is it that I’m trying to squeeze the Mac way of doing things into the iPad, and vice versa — a common problem for new switchers.

No, my preference comes down to two small yet fundamental differences between the iPad and the Mac. These two features are present on the Mac, and will probably never make it to the iPad. What are they?

Pro Tip: How to add blank spaces to your iPhone home screen grid

By

blank icon
A blank row helps organize your home screen.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bug Some of the most creative iPhone home screen designs we’ve ever seen use blank gaps to separate icons into groups or to create interesting stepped patterns. But how is that even possible? After all, if you delete a home screen icon, the others close ranks to fill in the space.

The answer is to add blank icons to create those gaps. Then, you can add a blank row to organize your iPhone home screen, or move all your apps the the bottom of the screen instead of the top.

4 easy ways to get back to the Desktop on your Mac

By

desktop
Now that's a beautiful desktop.
Photo: Dave Fayram/Flickr CC

Most people are animals. They drop files onto their Mac desktops the way teenagers drop junk food and candy wrappers in the street, littering the place up until you can’t find anything. I’m not gong to try to cure you of that habit. That was your parents’ job, and they already failed. But I can show you a few quick ways to access your shameful desktop when you decide you can face it.

Streamline your Mac workflow, master iOS 11 and more [Week’s Best Deals]

By

collage-2017-09-05
Master iOS 11, streamline your Mac workflow, and more with this week's best deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Fall has finally arrived, but the Cult of Mac Store is staying warm with a fresh shipment of hot new deals. This week, we’ve got a comprehensive bundle of iOS 11 courses that’s yours for whatever you want to pay. Plus, we’ve got a 1080p snaking camera, a tool for streamlined file sharing, and an app for clearing gigs of space on your Mac. Everything is top shelf and hugely discounted. Read on for more details:

iOS 11 beta 4 brings new app icons

By

The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad.
iOS 11 is a huge update for iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

Developers received an all-new beta build of iOS 11 today, just two weeks after Apple seeded the previous one.

iOS 11 beta 4 brings a host of bug fixes and performance improvements, plus a few key changes that make Apple’s mobile operating system even better. New beta builds are also available for macOS High Sierra, tvOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.

iMac Pro’s insane price tag is actually a great deal

By

Apple
Is the iMac Pro really worth $5,000?
Photo: Apple

When Apple unveiled the new iMac Pro at WWDC this week, not only was it the most powerful Mac ever made, it was also one of the most pricey ever.

At $5,000 for the baseline model, the iMac Pro is aimed at the most professional of Pro users, but according to a new price analysis on competing super-powered PC, the iMac Pro might actually be a killer deal.

Twitch is invading your desktop

By

Twitch desktop
Twitch on desktops has all web features and more.
Photo: Twitch

Game streaming platform Twitch today unveiled its new desktop app for Windows and Mac.

It will offer all the features you expect from the service, including voice and video calling, and you’ll be able to get your hands on the beta later this month.