| Cult of Mac

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs unveils Rokr E1, the first iTunes phone

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The Motorola Rokr E1 was Apple's doomed
The iPhone's terrible ancestor proved disastrous from Day 1.
Photo: Apple

September 7: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs unveils Rokr E1, the first iTunes phone September 7, 2005: Apple and Motorola launch the Rokr E1, the first Cupertino-sanctioned cellphone to run iTunes.

Even the high-profile demo goes wrong, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs is very unhappy with the results. The compromised device shows what an error it is to let an outside designer create a phone under the Apple banner. The company won’t make the same mistake twice.

iPhone 13 dominates US smartphone shipments

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6.1-inch iPhone 13 review
Guess what's the best selling smartphone in America?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhones made up more than half of all smartphones shipped in North America during the second quarter of 2022, according to a market research firm. This marks the third quarter in a row that more than 50% of the handsets shipped in the region came from Apple.

Samsung, the next nearest rival, had less than half as many shipments in Canada, Unites States and Mexico.

6 brilliant but affordable AirPods alternatives

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AirPods might just be the best wireless buds you can pair with Apple devices, but they’re also pretty expensive. Plenty of more affordable options that deliver stellar sound and reliable connectivity in a neat design are available.

So, if you’re buying on a budget this holiday season, skip the Apple Store and check out these six brilliant but more affordable alternatives to AirPods.

iPhone loyalty soars as Samsung’s takes a nosedive

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Apple vs Samsung
iPhone loyalty is strong. The same can‘t be said for users of Samsung handsets.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Apple users are more likely than ever to buy a new iPhone, according to survey results released Tuesday. Nearly 92% of current iOS users intend to stick with the platform.

But the situation isn’t so rosy for archrival Samsung, as 26% of Galaxy smartphone users plan to switch to another platform. And most of these switchers have their eye on an iPhone.

This Motorola Bluetooth speaker delivers 9 hours of sound

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The Motorola speaker is ideal for all situations
This rugged Bluetooth speaker is ideal for all situations.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re outside following an online workout, listening to your favorite songs or listening to podcasts while you complete errands around the house, it’s nice to be accompanied by sound that you don’t have to stream through a set of headphones.

This Motorola Sonic Sub 530 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is an ideal all-purpose portable speaker. It’s durable enough to withstand some activity outdoors, and delivers sound powerful enough to fill up any room.

Apple reportedly ready to start testing foldable iPhone prototypes

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An iPhone concept shows a realistic folding iPhone design
Just don't expect to see it until 2022 at the earliest.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

Apple has asked a number of manufacturing partners to begin building foldable iPhone prototypes, according to a new report. Foxconn and Nippon Nippon have been tasked with providing samples for testing.

It is believed the first foldable iPhone could make its debut as early as 2022.

Motorola Razr with folding display misses launch date

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2020 Motorola Razr
The 2020 Motorola Razr joins the other phones with flexible displays that were delayed.
Photo: Motorola

Today was supposed to be the debut of an expensive new version of the Motorola Razr with a folding screen. But it didn’t happen.

Earlier this year, handsets from Samsung and Huawei with flexible displays were delayed because of design problems. Motorola, by contrast, says it pushed back the launch of the redesigned Razr to give it more time to meet high demand.

Motorola resurrects the Razr with costly folding screen

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2020 Motorola Razr
The 2019 Motorola Razr is like a blast from the past.
Photo: Motorola

The flip phone is back, baby! A vastly updated — and very expensive — 2019 Motorola Razr uses a flexible display to make an Android-based smartphone with the same basic design as the iconic handset of 2004.

It’s another option in the growing selection of foldable phones — a formfactor Apple is also considering.

Why Apple needs outside help to create hit products [Opinion]

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Apple’s first AR headset could launch in 2022, AR glasses in 2023
Apple may need a little help polishing its glasses
Concept: Taeyeon Kim

Recent rumors suggest that Apple is leaning on another company to help develop its highly anticipated augmented reality headset. At first, I thought that sounded crazy. Apple Glasses look set to be the company’s biggest new product launch since Apple Watch. Surely Cupertino would keep development of something that important in-house?

But when you look back over Apple’s history of joint ventures, it starts to make more sense. Apple tends to partner with third-parties in very specific circumstances — and Cupertino knows exactly what it’s doing.

Samsung teases new clamshell folding phone concept

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Samsung
Samsung's new concept phone doesn't have a name yet.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung is doubling down on its efforts to make smartphones with a folding display a thing.

During Samsung’s annual developers conference this morning, the company unveiled a new folding phone concept that’s drastically different than the Galaxy Fold. Instead of folding from a regular-sized smartphone into a tablet, the new concept folds into a clamshell, kind of like a futuristic version of Motorola’s Razr phone.

Take a look: