n11 - page 2

How to classify Bluetooth devices and accessories in iOS 14.4

By

Classify Bluetooth devices in iOS 14
It's worth the effort.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new iOS 14.4 update, which rolled out to everyone Tuesday, gives us the ability to classify Bluetooth devices and accessories for the first time. Doing so helps make them work even better with iPhone and iPad.

We’ll explain why, and show you how to classify your connected Bluetooth devices in no time at all.

Automatically save your Safari reading list for offline viewing [Pro tip]

By

Automatically save your Safari reading list offline
Access your reading list anywhere, anytime.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Safari pro tips bugWe want to help you master Safari. Cult of Mac’s Safari Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of Apple’s web browser on iOS and Mac.

Need something to read on the go when you don’t have great data connectivity? Automatically save your Safari reading list to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac so that you can keep up with your favorite sites anytime, anywhere.

We’ll show you how in this Safari pro tip.

Change Safari’s save folder to prevent lost downloads [Pro tip]

By

Choose Safari download location
Don't lose your Safari downloads.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Safari pro tips bug We want to help you master Safari. Cult of Mac’s Safari Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of Apple’s web browser on iOS and Mac.

How many times have you downloaded something from the internet and then had to spend way too much time trying to figure out where it was saved? It’s probably a common occurrence — especially on iOS.

But did you know that you can tell Safari exactly where to save your downloads so that you never lose them? We’ll show you how in this Safari pro tip.

4 useful things you can do with the Digital Crown on AirPods Max

By

How to use the Digital Crown on AirPods Max
That little button does a lot more than you might think.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

AirPods Max are only the second Apple device to adopt Apple Watch’s brilliant Digital Crown. And you might be surprised by just how powerful that little button can be, from adjusting volume to controlling playback.

Here are four useful things you can do with the Digital Crown on AirPods Max.

How to change Apple Watch app layout to a handy list [Pro tip]

By

Change Apple Watch app layout from honeycomb grid to list view.
Get ready to say goodbye to the honeycomb app grid.
Photo: Daniel Cañibano/Unsplash CC

Pro-tip-4 By this point, the honeycomb app grid that debuted with the original Apple Watch must have fueled millions of frustrated app hunts.

That swirling sea of apps certainly looked innovative and magical during Apple’s demo in 2014. Apple called the unique interface “fluid and vital,” but in practice, the honeycomb grid often makes it difficult to find the particular app you want.

Luckily, Apple gave you another option. These days, there’s no need to suffer through the search for the app you want. You can easily switch to an alphabetical list view that makes it much easier to find Apple Watch apps.

Innovative batteries might power Apple Car by 2024

By

An Apple Car looks increasingly likely.
An Apple Car for your family might be ready in 2024.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly prepping an an autonomous vehicle that’s aimed at the consumer market. Leaked information indicates Apple is going to make a car and sell it to the public, not just develop self-driving technology to license to other companies.

Apple Car production supposedly will begin in 2024 using cutting-edge battery technology.

Strong demand for iPhone 12, new Apple TV on the way in 2021

By

iPhone 12 Pro Shiny sides
The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are proving particularly popular.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12 is seemingly shaping up to be a massive winner for Apple, with a Tuesday report claiming that Apple is set to produce between 20% and 30% more handsets than it did last year.

The report says that Apple has plans to produce up to 230 million iPhones in 2021. While that also includes older handsets like the iPhone 11 and SE, it is primarily driven by “demand for [Apple’s] first-ever 5G” phones, according to Nikkei.

How to reset HomePod and HomePod mini to fix strange glitches

By

How to reset HomePod and HomePod mini
Bring an unresponsive HomePod back to life.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Many of the glitches and frustrations you might encounter with HomePod and HomePod mini can usually be fixed with a simple factory reset. It’s easy to do and doesn’t take long, but Apple doesn’t make it immediately obvious how a reset is performed. So we’ll show you what you need to do.

Add dual 4K HDMI screens to your MacBook with this slim USB-C Hub [Review]

By

Aukey 9-in-2 USB-C Hub review
The two HDMI ports are among the best features of the Aukey 9-in-2 USB-C Hub.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey 9-in-2 USB-C Hub (CB-C81) lets you add a pair of 4K HDMI screens to your MacBook. But that’s just the start because it packs in nine ports, despite a relatively small size. It offers a pair of USB-A ports, SD/microSD card readers, Ethernet and more.

After real-world testing, here’s how this multiport adapter stands up.

Apple works to bring Xbox Series X controller support to iOS and Mac

By

Xbox Series X controller
An update is on the way.
Photo: Microsoft

Apple is working with Microsoft to make new Xbox Series X controllers compatible with iPhone, iPad, Mac and more.

Support for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and other controllers is already baked into the latest versions of iOS. It’s not yet clear if Apple will add support for the PlayStation 5’s new DualSense controller, too.

M1 Macs emulate graphically demanding apps faster than Intel-based Macs can run them

By

With Rosetta 2, an M1 Mac can run Intel software.
Thanks to Rosetta 2 in macOS Big Sur, an M1 Mac can run Autodesk Fusion 360 in emulation.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The newly announced Macs running Apple’s M1 processor can run some Intel applications faster than Intel-based Macs can, Apple says. This is the result of technology in macOS Big Sur called Rosetta 2.

That’s good news for anyone considering an upcoming MacBook Air, MacBook Pro or a Mac mini with Apple Silicon who are concerned about the performance of current software.

Mujjo makes the standout iPhone 12 leather wallet case [Review]

By

Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 12 review
Mujjo’s leather wallet case manages to appear both professional and elegant.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 12 protects your valuable handset and gives you a place to carry your credit cards and driver’s license. Plus, it looks amazing while doing so.

Here’s why I love this case after using it for several weeks.

Apple could introduce 1TB iPhone storage option

By

iPhone 12 Pro in Pacific blue
You can never have enough storage!
Photo: Apple

According to Apple leaker Jon Prosser, Apple could almost double the storage of its current top-of-the-range iPhone — by introducing the first 1TB iPhone.

At present, Apple’s maximum iPhone storage option tops out at 512GB. The storage for Apple’s top iPhones has been capped at this figure for the past three years since the iPhone XS and XS Max. This year, the base option of the iPhone 12 Pro was doubled to 128GB from the minimum 64GB of the iPhone 11 Pro.

Why iPhone 12 mini is Apple’s most compelling new iPhone

By

iPhone 12 mini held up
Apple's best new iPhone of the year is also its tiniest.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 12 mini is, without a doubt, the iPhone I’ll be buying this year. In an upgrade cycle in which I fully expected the iPhone 12 Pro to win me over, the 12 mini emerged as my absolute favorite iPhone of Tuesday’s “Hi, Speed” event — and, perhaps, my most anticipated iPhone in years.

It’s a blend of classic iPhone and modern iPhone: the handset I’ve wanted since Apple devices started growing progressively bigger around the time CEO Tim Cook took the reins at Apple. Here’s what makes the iPhone 12 mini so compelling.

Photos reveal early Apple Watch prototype disguised as iPod nano

By

Apple Watch prototype disguised as iPod nano
That case isn't fooling anyone.
Photo: AppleDemoYT

New photos reveal an original Apple Watch prototype apparently used for internal testing before the wearable made its official debut in 2015.

The device is protected by a security case, which looks a little like an iPod nano, to disguise it during transportation. It also comes in a brown cardboard box marked “Apple Confidential.”

Too many Chrome tabs open? Tame browser chaos with tab groups.

By

Use Google Chrome Tab Groups to declutter your browser.
If you've got too many tabs open in Chrome, you can declutter things with the new Tab Groups feature.
Photo: Luca Bravo/Unsplash CC

Hey there, all you tab hoarders: Google Chrome just gave you a handy tool to bring some order to the nightmare lurking at the top of your web browser. A new Chrome feature lets you group tabs together with custom names to tame the chaos.

Unfortunately, it’s not completely obvious how to get in on the tab-grouping action. Here’s how to make it work for you.

Delete downloaded podcasts to free up storage space on iPhone

By

How to delete Podcasts from iPhone
Don't let Podcasts eat up all your storage.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

For most podcast listeners, there comes a time when you have way too many unplayed shows, taking up way too much space on your iPhone or iPad. Fortunately, this is a problem with an easy fix.

Take back precious storage space by deleting episodes you don’t need to have saved locally, and prevent the Podcasts app from hoarding content in the future. We’ll show you how.

Eddy Cue emails confirm Apple’s deal to cut Amazon’s App Store fees

By

Eddy Cue
Eddy Cue met with Jeff Bezos to talk about the deal.
Photo: CNBC

Apple agreed to halve its App Store fee for Amazon so the company would bring its Prime Video app to iOS and Apple TV, emails reveal (.pdf).

Apple exec Eddy Cue and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos personally negotiated the deal in 2016, it was revealed during Wednesday’s antitrust hearing looking into tech giants’ business practices. They agreed that Apple would get a 15% revenue cut from day one for customers who signed up through the app. Apple normally gets a 30% cut for the first year of an app’s subscription. It then claims a 15% commission for subsequent years.

How to use a PS4 or Xbox One controller in Call of Duty: Mobile

By

How to use a controller in Call of Duty: Mobile
Controller support has its problems, but it works if you use it right.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Recent Call of Duty: Mobile updates have made big improvements to game controller support, but it’s still not as seamless as it could be. You will often find yourself running into issues for no apparent reason.

Here’s everything you need to know about using a controller in CoD: Mobile — including how to get set up the right way with a PS4 or Xbox One controller to avoid common problems.

Hapless sports coach Ted Lasso gets his first Apple TV+ trailer

By

In Apple TV+ show
Jason Sudeikis reprises his character as an American sports coach turning his attention to soccer.
Photo: Apple

Apple just dropped a Ted Lasso trailer that gives the world its first glimpse of Jason Sudeikis reviving his clueless coach character for Apple TV+.

Sudeikis first played Lasso in a hilarious 2013 ad for Premier League soccer games on NBC Sports. With this Apple Original, he will extend the gag to series length, portraying a hapless, small-town college football coach hired by a U.K. soccer team.

Check out the amusing trailer below.

How to sort podcast episodes so they play in the right order

By

How to sort podcast episodes
You don't always want to hear the most recent episode first.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’re starting a new podcast that you want to listen to from the very beginning, you’ll need to change some settings to ensure that the Podcasts app doesn’t automatically play the latest episode first.

It’s a simple tweak that takes just a minute, and we’ll walk you through it in this step-by-step guide.

iOS 14’s new Home screen widgets aren’t as powerful as you might think

By

Home screen widgets in iOS 14
Widgets are awesome, but they're missing one thing.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WWDC 2020 For many iPhone users, the biggest and most exciting change in iOS 14 is the addition of Home screen widgets. It’s a feature we’ve been waiting years to get — and a feature Android has offered since the very beginning. But there’s something you should know before you start using them this fall.

iOS 14 Home screen widgets aren’t quite as powerful as you might think they are.