Mobile menu toggle

Top stories - page 297

Make every photo pop with a powerful AI powered Mac app [Deals]

By

Luminar 4 Bundle
This intuitive photo editing app turns your shots into polished images, complete with AI augmented presets, tutorial and eBook guide.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s easier than ever to take photos, but making them look their best still takes skill. That is, unless you’ve got a powerful, intuitive photo editing app like Luminar. It’s packed with powerful photo editing tools, but this bundle includes tons of extras so you can get the absolute most from it.

Bag an insanely powerful iMac Pro at its lowest-ever price, today only

By

Get ready to go dark with macOS Mojave Dark Mode.
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Treat yourself to one of the most powerful all-in-ones money can buy. Woot is offering beefy iMac Pro units, refurbished by Apple, for under $3,600 today only. That’s $1,399 off the usual price!

They pack insanely fast Intel Xeon W processors, 32GB of RAM, and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics with 8GB of memory. Stock is limited, so claim yours before it’s too late.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

From Apple TV+ to Apple Arcade, Cupertino’s new services fail to bring in big money

By

Share Apple TV+
Apple services may not be bringing in the cash, Bloomberg says.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

As Apple’s services division grows in importance, the company’s newest services — Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple Card — are failing to bring in significant revenue, according to a new report.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman writes that, while services likely will increase yet again when Apple announces its Q3 earnings this week, most of these gains will come from older services like the App Store.

iPad mini concept shows why it really needs to lose the bezels

By

iPad mini concept is cool but not happening.
An iPad mini concept drops the size of this tablet even more by cutting the bezels.
Concept: Parker Ortolani

The iPad mini has a 7.9-inch screen surrounded by bezels. Big ones. So a concept artist drew up some images that show how much smaller this tablet could be with an edge-to-edge display. The result is a device that’s nearly 20% smaller.

But Apple might be going in the opposite direction: making a mini with a larger screen.

How to report bugs you find in iOS and iPadOS 14

By

How to iPadOS 14
Help make iOS and iPadOS 14 more stable.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’ve already updated to the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 public betas, you have an opportunity to help ensure they are as stable as can be by the time they roll out to everyone this fall.

Found a bug? Report it to Apple to increase the chances of it being fixed in a future beta release. It’s quick and simple, and it will make using iPhone and iPad better for everyone.

Here’s how to file effective bug reports for iOS and iPadOS 14.

Apple’s new Thunderbolt 3 cable costs a mere $129

By

Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive?
Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive?
Photo: Apple

The Apple Thunderbolt 3 Pro Cable comes at a price that should make even the most devoted Mac fan blink. At $129, it costs at least $50 more than comparable cables.

Not everything Apple sells is extraordinarily expensive. But it’s undeniable that the company occasionally adds on the “Apple Tax.”

Save up to $500 on a new 13-inch MacBook Pro today only

By

2019 13-inch MacBook Pro
The biggest discounts yet!
Photo: Apple

Pick up Apple’s most portable powerhouse at a big discount today. B&H Photo is now offering up to $500 off new 13-inch MacBook Pro units (2019), with a bunch of discounted models to choose from.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Apple could face tough questions in this week’s antitrust hearing

By

Tim Cook will testify before a congressional antitrust subcommittee this week.
Tim Cook will testify before a congressional antitrust subcommittee this week.
Photo: Mark Mathosian/Flickr CC

When the CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google take questions Wednesday from the U.S. House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, they likely will face intense scrutiny of their companies’ business practices. But just how tough will the questioning get?

Scott Galloway, a NYU Stern School of Business marketing professor who wrote the best-selling book The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, thinks he knows what Congress will ask the executives. In a new article, Galloway laid out the questions Apple CEO Tim Cook and the others should expect.

Dimpy Bhalotia’s iPhone photos will blow you away [Cult of Mac Magazine 359]

By

Award-winning iPhone photographer Dimpy Bhalotia shares some of her secrets for capturing the perfect moment.
The award-winning iPhone photog shares some of her secrets for capturing the perfect moment.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Dimpy Bhalotia’s captivating pictures racked up big wins at this week’s prestigious iPhone Photography Awards. Find out how she does it — and how you can take better pictures with your iPhone — in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. The free iOS mag was built for reading on your iPad or iPhone.

Grab it now and get your weekend reading squared away. We filled it with how-tos for all your Apple gear and reviews of things like new podcast Apple News Today. Plus, you’ll get your fill of Apple news (like Cupertino’s big commitment to go 100% carbon neutral).

Download it now. Or hit the links below to read the stories in your browser.

Apple TV+ could pivot to place the focus on movies

By

“Greyhound” is a hit, which may inspire many more Apple TV+ movies.
“Set course for more movies!” Greyhound may have inspired a new strategy for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Tom Hanks’ WWII flick Greyhound is the biggest hit Apple has enjoyed so far. And it’s reportedly made the company serious about blockbuster Apple TV+ movies for the first time.

The iPhone maker is supposedly considering debuting a movie each month on its streaming service. And several of those are expected to be blockbusters.

macOS Big Sur beta hints at Face ID for Mac

By

Face ID on MacBook
Face ID on a MacBook could be a better fit than it is for iPhone or iPad.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

New evidence indicates that Apple will bring its Face ID biometric security system to Macs. The latest beta of macOS Big Sur reportedly contains code related to facial recognition.

We’re not in Kansas anymore: Apple II fest gets geeky online (and you’re invited)

By

KansasFest soldering 1
A past KansasFest during less socially distanced times.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Being a fan of the Apple II is a lonely hobby. While being an Apple lover in 2020 is more mainstream than ever, being an enthusiast for Apple’s first mass market computer — launched way back in 1977 — is significantly less common.

Unless it’s July 24-26, that is. Kicking off today, and running through the weekend, KansasFest is a conference dedicated to all things Apple II. And like every other conference this year, in 2020 it’s gone online only.

SmartDesk 2 lets you sit or stand at a stellar price [Review]

By

SmartDesk 2 full setup with monitor and light
The SmartDesk 2 can turn your boring desk into a versatile workspace.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Until very recently, I never spent a lot of mental energy thinking about the desk I worked at. As long as there was enough space for whatever I was doing, and it wasn’t getting in the way, I was pretty flexible.

As I’ve started spending more time working and taking meetings from home, I have started to notice when certain “desks” don’t work as well. Sitting on the couch, standing at the bar in our kitchen, or working from the dining table are all OK from time to time, but none are particularly comfortable long-term. Some of this comes down to having a desk at the proper height, and some of it is the lack of flexibility I get in those situations.

That why, when the folks at Autonomous asked if I wanted to check out their SmartDesk 2 adjustable standing desk, I saw it as an opportunity to see if the hype about standing desks is all it’s cracked up to be.

Apple pushes tech toward green manufacturing, this week on The CultCast

By

CultCast 442: AirPods with health sensors
Apple is definitely not neutral on going carbon neutral. (And neither are we.)
Image: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: Apple — and the company’s entire supply chain — will be 100% carbon neutral by 2030, pushing the world of tech toward big changes. Plus: A powerful iOS 14 privacy feature will be great for consumers, but might kill the billion-dollar online ad industry. We’ll also tell you about some exciting new podcast features coming to Spotify, and wrap up with our favorite new gadgets on an all-new Under Review.

Our thanks to NETGEAR for supporting this episode. The Orbi WiFi 6 router gives you ultra-fast speeds and wider coverage throughout your home — it’s the biggest revolution in Wi-Fi ever. Check it out today at Netgear.com/bestwifi.

Stay secure, anonymous and free online with a powerful VPN [Deals]

By

Disconnect iOS Premium VPN
Get full VPN and tracker protection for your iOS devices, encrypting all traffic, masking your IP and server location with premium security.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Going online amounts to inviting snoops, data thieves and other headaches, whether on mobile devices or your computer. Not so with a virtual private network, or VPN, which keeps your identity and activity anonymous while opening up new possibilities.

Connect Mac and TV over an ultrafast wireless connection with Hyper Mirror [Review]

By

LikPok Hyper Mirror review
The tiny Hyper Mirror transmitter sends high-speed video from your Mac to an external display. It can plug into a bulkier USB-C adapter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The LikPok Hyper Mirror saves you the hassle of stringing wires between your computer and TV. It makes a wireless connection instead, using the extremely fast mmWave technology normally found in 5G networks rather than Wi-Fi.

Read on for the results of my tests with this replacement for HDMI cables.

How to secure sensitive Notes with a password on iPhone and iPad

By

How to protect Notes with a password
Keep notes a secret on shared devices.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

You might be willing to share your iPhone’s passcode with other people, but what if you have sensitive notes you don’t want anyone else to see? Protect them with their own password.

Here’s how to secure individual notes on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Make older Macs feel new again by switching web browsers [Pro tip]

By

Switch browsers to speed up an old Mac
Some browsers are better than others on older machines.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Pro-tip-4

Got an old Mac that’s crawling to a halt every time you browse the web? It might not be your hardware that’s in need of a change. Before splashing out on new components, try switching browsers instead—or consider what to do with old MacBook to give it a new lease on life.

How iPhone fuels Dimpy Bhalotia’s ethereal street photography

By

Dimpy Bhalotia's photos capture little slices of life from unusual angles.
Dimpy Bhalotia's photos capture little slices of life from unusual angles.
Photo: Dimpy Bhalotia

For nearly a decade, photographer Dimpy Bhalotia has been using iPhones to document captivating street scenes in luscious black and white. She’s used almost every model Apple ever released — and this week, she took home top honors in the prestigious iPhone Photography Awards.

Bhalotia, a full-time fine art street photographer based out of London, told Cult of Mac she loves shooting with an iPhone so much that it’s become second nature.

“It’s a lightweight butter slice always in my hand, which has the entire world in it,” she said. “It feels like I’m shooting with my palm.”

Score the portable charging gear you need for all your Apple devices [Deals]

By

Charging Solution RoundupS
These innovative charging accessories will keep your gear topped off.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether traveling or staying home, we’re all using our devices way more than we used to. More use means less juice, so we rounded up some of the best charging gear in the Cult of Mac Store. That includes a 3-in-1 charging cable, a combination power pack and phone stand, a combination speaker and charging hub, and more.

How to lock down Facebook Messenger with Face ID or Touch ID

By

Add Face ID or Touch ID to Facebook Messenger for maximum security.
Take this simple precaution to keep your chats private.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Facebook Messenger’s new App Lock feature lets you add an extra layer of security to the popular chat app. iPhone and iPad users can switch on Face ID or Touch ID so they never need to worry about anybody seeing their messages.

The previously rumored feature, which Facebook rolled out for iOS devices Wednesday, is easy to enable. Plus, you can tweak a setting to make sure App Lock works ideally for you. Here’s all you need to do to turn on Face ID or Touch ID for Facebook Messenger.