iOS 17 reduces the battery life of an array of older models. The result: Users of the iPhone XR, iPhone 13, etc., running the latest operating system version need to charge up their handsets more often.
It is not normal for a new iOS version to universally reduce battery life. But a fix may be on the way.
You can fit two shortcuts into one small widget in iOS 17, a significant change for power users of Apple’s time-saving Shortcuts app. A lot of shortcuts I make are in pairs — and now, you can put two shortcuts of a kind in one small space on your Home Screen.
Shortcuts, if you’re not aware, let you automate the things you do most often on your iPhone, Mac, iPad or Apple Watch. For instance, you can create a shortcut that sets a Focus mode when you get to work, one that suggests easy-to-remember passwords, one for converting units — the possibilities are endless. (Read Apple’s helpful Shortcuts guide if you want to familiarize yourself with the powerful app.)
Home Screen widgets are a great way to launch the shortcuts you use every day. On the iPhone, where space is limited, fitting twice as many shortcuts without losing any icons could be a game changer for your Home Screen. Let me show you how to set it up.
As fall rolls toward winter in much of the world, it’s time for skiers and snowboarders to get ready to hit the slopes. And major updates in the popular Slopes tracking app offer a lot of great new features for just that.
The app’s slogan is “Track your edge,” and the new version gives you plenty of ways to do it with iOS 17 and watchOS 10.
This week’s Awesome Apps include a great way to keep your Mac in tip-top shape, a desktop-style web browser for mobile, and an app for correcting your posture using your AirPods.
AI technology is changing the way we approach content creation, and if you can find the right outlet, it can help launch a lucrative online income. Fortunately, there’s now an incredibly user-friendly e-book creation tool that utilizes ChatGPT to make developing e-books far more manageable than you might have imagined.
If you’re a daily wearer of the Apple Watch, you know how awesome it is to carry so much connectivity and intel on your wrist. You’re also well aware of the frustrations that can arise from a battery that’s entering the danger zone. But this keychain Apple Watch charger can turn that around.
For a limited time, you can purchase this Apple Watch battery booster for just $16.97 (regularly $49) with no coupon necessary. That’s more than 60% off a product that will keep your smartwatch powered up no matter where the journey takes you.
Humane, a startup founded by Apple veterans, will unveil its “Ai Pin” on November 9, the company said Friday. The press release offered no further details about the launch.
Last week, the company teased the Ai Pin at Paris Fashion Week. Photographers shot pictures of supermodel Naomi Campbell wearing the device — the first person to wear it in public, Humane said.
Update: We embedded a video below showing Humane’s device up close. You probably won’t be very surprised by how Apple-like it looks, given its pedigree.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After nearly a week with Apple’s new hardware, we’re serving up our first hands-on impressions. Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max too big — and/or too hot — to handle? Is Apple Watch Ultra 2 worth the upgrade? What about Apple Watch Series 9?
And seriously, Apple … you call that pink?
Also on The CultCast:
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.
Flexibility, gas savings and an unbeatable dress code — these are just a few of the benefits of working from home. So it’s no surprise that more and more Americans are trading the cubicle for the couch.
In fact, it’s a good bet that you can find some sort of remote work these days no matter what your skill set. And FlexJobs is here to help. It’s a focused job search site dedicated to remote work or hybrid jobs.
No matter how realistic your VR goggles get, nothing can replace the thrill of gaming’s golden age. Titles like Contra and the first-generation Mario games will always feel like comfort food, and now old-school fans can get their fill thanks to this retro-inspired game console.
It’s a working homage to one of the greatest game consoles of all time. And it comes preloaded with all your favorites for just $24.99 — less than the price of a single modern game.
We teamed up with Laut this week to give three lucky winners a great accessory bundle featuring new products designed to protect the iPhone 15 series.
This bundle includes an iPhone 15 case and a screen protector to ensure all-around protection for your precious new phone. It’s free and easy to enter!
I’ve spent most of my working life slumped in an office chair. Don’t get me wrong: I move around quite a lot. I start upright, and by the end of the day, I’m almost horizontal.
We all know this is very bad, but luckily help is at hand … from my AirPods!
★★★★☆
The Kingston XS1000 External SSD is about the size of pack of gum but holds up to 2 terabytes of data. And it can transfer files at high speed, too.
I put the petite but powerful and affordable solid state drive to the test and came away impressed.
Want to use artificial intelligence to create professional-looking images? You don’t need to be an expert to get unique, high-quality results with Pixilio, an easy-to-use image AI generator.
For a limited time, you can save on lifetime access to Pixilio — the ultimate AI image generator. Normally priced at $360, this package is currently available for purchase at only $39.99, with no coupon required.
If you’re stressed about the job market, here’s the good news. You don’t necessarily need a college degree, especially if you’re looking for work in the technology sector. For some high-paying tech jobs, know-how and the right certifications prove vital, and the Ultimate Lifetime Bundle can provide anyone with a pathway to both.
The bundle includes access to not just one training resource, but three. And you can tap into them anywhere, on your own time. It’s the perfect way for tech newcomers to learn the ropes or for journeyman workers to expand their resumes. Included in this $119.99 (regularly $480) are lifetime subscriptions to StackSkills, Stone River eLearning and Infosec4TC.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI are trying to raise $1 billion to build the “iPhone of artificial intelligence,” according to a new report.
The article builds on previous media items about Ive brainstorming with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on the project.
★★★★☆
Apple Watch Series 9 is the biggest year-over-year leap in recent years. It has not one, not two, but a whopping four new features, most powered by its updated chip. Apps load faster, voice dictation is near instant and the display gets both brighter in the sun and dimmer in darkness.
A couple of the best features I haven’t been able to test — double tap promises to make tapping the screen with your nose obsolete; improved connectivity with your phone will make it easier to find, if paired with a new iPhone. And with this release, Apple dips their toe into more sustainable manufacturing practices.
The Apple Watch Series 9 a good product. In the end, with big releases like this so few and far between, I can’t help but wonder if it’s close to reaching its potential.
The iPhone 15 lineup switched to USB-C, and eventually that will mean we all get to enjoy the simplicity of using only one cable to charge all our Apple devices. Eventually. Until then, you likely need a variety of different cables to keep your Apple gear charged.
Luckily, the 4-in-1 USB cable — with USB-C, Lightning and an Apple Watch charging puck — is help you through the transition period. For only $19.99, you can charge four of your favorite Apple devices simultaneously.
Today’s hot offer from Cult of Mac Deals bundles lifetime licenses to Microsoft Office for Mac and Rosetta Stone for the best price you’ll find online: $199.99.
Normally, this premium productivity and language-learning package would go for $518.
For way too long, there have been two kinds of drones: those built for expert hobbyists and pro videographers, and those that are nothing more than glorified toys built for first-time users.
In the Ninja Dragon Blade K, there’s finally a drone that’s easy to fly right out of the box, with features that will satisfy the biggest drone aficionado. The really good news? It’s now available for only $86.99 (regularly $169).
The next major macOS release is here. Dubbed macOS Sonoma, the update packs several usability changes that will help further boost your productivity.
“macOS Sonoma is now available as a free software update, bringing a rich set of new features to the Mac that make work and play even more powerful,” Apple said in a press release Tuesday. “With macOS Sonoma, desktop widgets unlock a new way to personalize the Mac and get more done, while stunning new screen savers, big updates to video conferencing and Safari, along with optimized gaming make the Mac experience better than ever.”
Apple typically drops major new macOS builds in October. But this time, it is releasing macOS Sonoma in September, possibly because it is a relatively minor update.
★★★★☆
Clip the Turtle Beach Atom Controller for iOS on either side of an iPhone to add the physical buttons and sticks that make high-end gaming much more fun. It mimics the brilliant design of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with the controls set on either side of the display.
It’s ready for Apple Arcade games and cloud-gaming services, too. And don’t forget the console games Apple has promised to port to the iPhone 15 Pro.
I spent hours testing the controller (it’s a hard job I have) and I really like it. Here’s why.
If you’ve ever been the victim of unsolicited dick pics, or “cyberflashing,” you can now automatically hide obscene images in iOS 17. Censoring NSFW sexts can give you an extra line of defense against unwanted, creepy texts. This feature, new in iOS 17, puts suspected nude images and videos behind a blurred gray background.
Unsolicited dick pics are a widespread problem. Among adults who reported receiving nude images, 91% of respondents say they were sent without their consent, according to Indiana University research. And one shocking study published in the Journal of Sex Research found 50% of heterosexual men admitted to sending them!
This new Sensitive Content Warning feature in iOS 17 isn’t just for protecting children. A lot of people likely will find it useful.
Lots of people wish for a dog’s life, but longtime pet owners know that pups get anxious, too. When humans get stressed, we can binge a few of our favorite shows to relax — and now dogs have that option too.
DogTV is exactly what you think it is — and more. Yes, it’s a streaming channel where all the content is geared to get your dog’s attention. But it also can help them shake those doggie blues. A lifetime subscription is on sale for just $149.99 (regularly $838).
Learning to code can be intimidating, especially if you’re working on your first programming language. Python — a language that’s versatile yet remarkably straightforward — is an accessible place to start. And once you learn Python, there’s a ton you can do with it.
Getting started is easy. Just enroll in the 2023 Complete Python Certification Boot Camp Bundle to gain unlimited access to 130 hours of instruction. This great intro to coding costs only $9.97 through September 30.