Mobile menu toggle

Top stories - page 299

Turn any device into a gaming machine with a powerful Bluetooth controller [Deals]

By

Dragon X5 Wireless Bluetooth Mobile Phone Gaming Controller
Make gaming easy with this wireless controller's multimedia functions, turbo acceleration, and wide device compatibility.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Games are as common on our laptops, phones and tablets as they are on consoles. Unfortunately, playing those games means smudging up screens or hooking up a mouse. Not so with this feature-packed Bluetooth wireless controller.

Yes, you can run Windows XP and Mac OS X on an iPad or iPhone [Cult of Mac Magazine 358]

By

It's actually fairly simple to get Mac OS X or Windows XP running on an iPhone or iPad.
It's actually fairly simple to get this software running on an iOS device.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If you’ve always dreamed of running a Windows or Mac operating system on iPhone or iPad, this is your lucky day. We’ve got how-tos that show you how to run Windows XP or Mac OS X on an iOS device. It turns out it’s not that difficult — and it doesn’t require a jailbreak!

If you’re not up for a weekend project like that, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of other good reading in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now and enjoy all the week’s top stories on your iPad or iPhone.

It’s got plenty of Apple news, including info on iOS 13.6 and the other software updates Apple released this week.

Get your musical mojo working with technology [Deals]

By

Play Music
Turn your devices into powerful musical playmates.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The internet has revolutionized music, and so have mobile devices. That’s as true of learning music as it is for listening to it, as these three deals demonstrate. With them, you can gain command of the ukelele, master Apple’s powerful Logic Pro X music-production program, and learn thousands of tunes straight from digital sheet music.

Why Apple needs to fix the medical mask emoji ASAP [Opinion]

By

The medical mask emoji needs an update for 2020.
The medical mask emoji has way too much in common with the disappointed face emoji.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when wearing a face mask slows the spread of this disease, Apple really must change its medical mask emoji. It seems like a small tweak, but it’s important.

Currently, the face shown is unhappy about having to wear a mask. The design needs to show the person is glad to do their part.

Apple gets hacked, and the vanishing of prolific leaker Jon Prosser, this week on The CultCast

By

CultCast 442: AirPods with health sensors
This week's gigantic Twitter hack gives us the creeps.
Image: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: A massive Twitter hack has Apple pushing a bitcoin scam to millions! Plus: iOS 13.6 brings some cool new features to Apple News. And we’ll tell you the newest info on Apple Glass, while pondering the fate of Jon Prosser, the prolific Apple insider who vanished right after leaking details on the AR specs.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Necrobarista serves up ‘death, coffee and feelings’ on Apple Arcade

By

‘Necrobarista’ debuted Friday on the Apple Arcade gaming service.
Necrobarista is a “spellbinding story of necromancy, friendship, and letting go.“
Photo: Route 59

The Terminal is a back-alley cafe where the dead mingle with the living. Necrobarista, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, is the story of Maddy Xiao, the new owner and an amateur necromancer.

Route 59 calls its creation “a unique take on the visual novel medium.” It offers a free-roaming first-person perspective on a 3D world with anime aesthetics.

Hurt Locker scribe brings his next action-thriller to Apple TV+

By

“Echo 3” is headed for Apple TV+. An Israeli version from the same production company is called ‘When Heroes Fly.’
Echo 3 was previously adapted into When Heroes Fly in Israel. Apple TV+ is producing a new version written by Mark Boal.
Photo: Keshet Studios

Apple on Thursday gave a straight-to-series order to Echo 3, a new action-thriller from Mark Boal, who picked up multiple Oscars for writing The Hurt Locker.

The 10-part series headed for Apple TV+ is inspired a novel by Amir Gutfreund.

How to enable Tap to Click for iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard

By

How to enable Tap to Click for iPad Pro's Magic Keyboard
Silence noisy clicks.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever used the brilliant Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro late at night, while someone sleeps quietly beside you, you’ve probably noticed that clicking its trackpad is too darn loud! But you can avoid it.

With one simple settings change, you can use a silent tap to click instead. Here’s how.

How to use the Command+Q shortcut to quit apps on iPad [Pro tip]

By

How to quit apps on iPad
Cmd+Q really does work on iPad.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Pro-tip-4 If you’ve ever spent any amount of time in macOS, you will have likely tried to use its familiar Command+Q keyboard shortcut to quit apps on iPad — only to find it does nothing. But you’re not using it properly.

There is a trick that allows you to use this shortcut to quickly close iPadOS apps, and in this pro tip, we’ll show you how.

iOS 13 eats away at battery life, but iOS 14 offers hope

By

iOS 13 battery life eroded. But iOS 14 offers better.
Reversing a trend, iOS 14 battery life could be noticeably longer than iOS 13.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Tests done on a range of iPhone models running the just-released iOS 13.6 reveal that it slightly reduces the battery life of all these handsets when compared to the previous version. And, generally speaking, that has held true for the last six iOS 13 updates.

But there’s good news. Tests with an early iOS 14 beta showed this upcoming version brings a significant increase to battery life.

Save up to $100 on the newest Mac mini for a limited time only

By

Apple Mac mini 2018
Bag yours before they're all gone.
Photo: Apple

B&H Photo has slashed up to $100 off Apple’s newest Mac mini for a limited time only. Prices start at $759 — down from $799 — for the entry-level machine, but you’ll save even more on beefier models.

B&H says a limited supply is available, so claim yours before they’re gone.

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

Spend quarantine time right with these Netflix alternatives [Deals]

By

Streaming Roundup
Browse the best in streaming services at the Cult of Mac Store.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Stuck at home? So is almost everyone else, making our TVs and computer screens essential portals to the outside world and entertainment. With these top alternative streaming services, you can keep your mind occupied with all kinds of fun and informative content.

If Netflix feels a little stale these days, expand your horizons with one of these deals on something you’ve never seen before.

Hackers hit Apple’s Twitter account in widespread bitcoin scam

By

Apple's Twitter account and other high-profile accounts hacked in massive Bitcoin scam.
Apple’s very first Tweet ever isn’t about Bitcoin. Twitter got hacked.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple is one of many companies and people who had their Twitter accounts hijacked on Wednesday. A hacker found a way to post on what seems to be any account, indicating that it’s Twitter itself that has been hacked.

All the posts pointed readers toward a bitcoin scam.

watchOS 6.2.8 brings digital car keys to Apple Watch

By

watchOS 6.2.8 is out now!
Digital car key support in watchOS 6.2.8 has the potential to make Apple Watch much more useful.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Starting Wednesday, an Apple Watch can be used to unlock a car, replacing the key, thanks to the release of watchOS 6.2.8. But it’s early days yet for this feature, as it doesn’t yet have wide support.

In addition, this software update enables people in a handful of additional countries to take advantage of the ECG in Apple’s wearable.

Apple TV+ still struggles to find an audience

By

Apple TV+ has yet to cut into the lead of well-established streaming video services.
Apple TV+ emphasizes that it offers only original programming. But so far that’s not working.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ has just a tiny fraction of the U.S. streaming video market, according to a market-research firm. Even nine months after its launch, it’s well behind well-established rivals like Netflix and even the other newcomer, Disney+.

iOS 13.6 brings expanded Apple News features and other cool stuff

By

Apple News layers on new features in iOS 13.6.
Apple News layers on new features in iOS 13.6.
Photo: Apple

Apple released iOS 13.6 Wednesday, boosting its Apple News offering and bringing other new features to iPhone and iPad.

As expected, the company added audio versions of key stories from Apple News+, the paid version of its news aggregation service. Apple also added a new daily audio show called Apple News Today, which is available in the free version of the Apple News app.

In addition, the company beefed up its list of organizations pumping news content into the service. However, the Apple News audio features will only be available to U.S. users, the company said.

Bag a 2018 iPad Pro for as little as $599.99 today only

By

2018 iPad Pro sizes: 2018 iPad Pro sizes
Stock is selling fast — don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Woot’s brilliant discounts on the 2018 iPad Pro are now better than ever, with prices starting at just $599.99 for 11-inch models, and $699.99 for 12.9-inch models. Bag yours before the sale ends tonight!

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

Pack your Mac and gear in Ekster’s slim laptop sleeve [Review]

By

Ekster Laptop Sleeve review
The Ekster Laptop Sleeve can hold your MacBook and a surprising number of accessories too.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Never carry your MacBook or iPad around “naked,” but a bulky case can be just too much. A laptop sleeve is a compromise, like the one recently released by Ekster. This protects your 13-inch computer, and includes room for a few accessories.

I’ve been using this leather-and-canvas folio for a couple of weeks. Here’s how is stands up to daily use.