A feast for the eyes and ears. And mouse. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week we create music-synced video art with Glitch Clip, import music to our iPhone with Doppler 2, take proper control of Shortcuts with LaunchCuts, and more.
With location sharing, safety monitoring and emergency alerts, this app ensures your family's safety wherever you or they are. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Phones are tracking devices for big companies and the government, so why shouldn’t we also use them to keep track of our family’s wellbeing? This one app contains multiple tools and features to do just that.
No Way Home promises loads of lighthearted blasting fun. Photo: Apple/SMG Studios
You’ll need your ship, your blaster and a wacky robot companion to survive the excitement of No Way Home, a role-playing game for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV that just debuted on Apple’s gaming service.
It features hand-drawn artwork and a story that spans a huge universe.
Another disposable camera app, but this one has a big name behind it. ScreenShot: David's Disposable/App Store
More than a dozen apps in the photo category of Apple’s App Store appropriate the shoddy, snapshot esthetics of single-use, or disposable, cameras.
The newest joining this niche category two weeks ago features nothing unique. Yet it quickly surpassed 1 million downloads because the popular internet celebrity behind the app told followers to “check out my new app.”
Imagine an iMac that looked like this. Photo: Cult of Mac
The iMac is far overdue for a redesign. The current “tapered edge” design dates back to 2012, and was itself mostly a slimming-down of the original aluminum iMac from 2007. Viewed from the front, the iMac looks the same today as it did 13 years ago. You could say that the iMac doesn’t need to change its look, and that’s a valid point. But it’s showing its age in other areas too, and that’s more of a problem. Could we soon see an ARM iMac? If so, what might it look like?
It's shaping up to be an exciting year for tech. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The post-holiday tech fest that is CES shutters its doors today for another year. This week’s event has been as weird and as wonderful as any other, giving us a glimpse of all kinds of innovative gadgets on the way in 2020.
Better AirPods alternatives. Wireless chargers that achieve what Apple couldn’t. iPhone cases you can throw on the compost heap when they’re no longer needed. Here are the biggest trends from CES 2020.
Learn the ins-and-outs of Adobe Photoshop with this 4-hour crash course. Photo: Kerde Severin
Adobe Photoshop is one of the most common and most powerful apps in all of digital photography and design. So if you’re looking to work with digital images, it’s software you’ll want to know well. This bundle of lessons offers an easy way to go from Photoshop beginner to skilled user.
The second-gen Apple Pencil has a single capacitive button, but Apple is considering several more. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Building on the capabilities of the Apple Pencil active stylus, Apple proposes adding additional touch-sensitive controls to the exterior. This would expand the capabilities of this drawing tool for the iPad without making it more difficult to use.
This is just one of several ways Apple is considering to improve the Pencil.
The window 'manager' you never knew you wanted. Photo: John Siracusa
If you’re at your Mac, go ahead and click a window for another app (don’t forget to come back right away). Clicking an app’s window brings it to the foreground, of course. But did you notice that only the window you clicked came forward. If that other app has any other windows open, they will stay hidden. It wasn’t always this way. In pre-OS X days, the default behavior was to bring all those windows to the front. And now, thanks to a new app called Front and Center, from John Siracusa, you can get this behavior on a modern Mac.
The Apple Watch can tell you about the batteries in your AirPods. Photo: Cult of Mac
There are several ways to check the remaining battery life on your AirPods and AirPods Pro. You can flip open the AirPods’ case, and wave it near your iPhone or iPad to see a pop up battery screen. Or, if the AirPods are currently connected to your iPhone, you can swipe to the batter widget in the Today widget screen. But did you also know that you can check your AirPods’ battery from your Apple Watch?
Understand your mind as you work and improve on 4 types of focus with this cognitive biometrics app and accessory. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It’s possible for anybody to cultivate focus and mindfulness, with the right help. Some take up meditation, or yoga, or chanting, but technology also offers a way to train your mind.
Cook’s award shelf is quickly running out of room. Photo: Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to receive a Special Recognition Award for the company’s 40 years of investment in Ireland, the IDA confirmed to Cult of Mac.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will present Cook with the accolade on January 20 in Dublin. It may be met with criticism from some as Apple continues to pay back €13 billion in unpaid Irish taxes.
Speaker company JBL week announced this week the JBL Bar 9.1, a new soundbar with AirPlay 2 support. Photo: JBL
JBL used CES this week to introduce an AirPlay 2-ready soundbar with Dolby Atmos support and a unique take on wireless rear speakers.
Instead of cables running through the room or wireless speakers plugged into the wall for power, the JBL Bar 9.1 uses wireless, battery-powered rear speakers.
Surprisingly, the App Store makes up less than half of revenue from Apple Services. Photo: Apple
Revenue from Apple services reportedly grew 16% year-over-year in 2019 even as sales of iPhones declined. This indicates this company’s growth doesn’t depend on increasing handset sales, according to a market analysis firm.
Investor optimism about Apple’s services may have helped increase its share price almost 2% in the last month.
Satechi's new hub charges everything — and fast! Photo: Satechi
Tech accessory maker Satechi announced Wednesday its 108-watt Pro USB-C PD desktop charger which can power multiple devices simultaneously without needing to share power between ports.
The unit simultaneously charges four devices and includes two USB-C PD (90W, 18W) and two USB-A (a total of 12W) ports.
This is the simplest "hack" ever. Photo: Cult of Mac
I sent my first pair of AirPods Pro back to Apple soon after buying them. Why? Because they were too small for my ears. Even with the biggest silicone tips fitted, I could never get too green checkmarks on the Ear Tip Fit Test. But, thanks to an absurdly simple hack, I’m back in the game. Now my AirPods Pro past the fit test every time. More importantly, noise really is sealed out, and the AirPods Pro are super comfy.
Check out these advanced settings for your AirPods Pro. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
By now, you already know how to customize the regular stuff on your AirPods and AirPods Pro. You just find them in the list of connected Bluetooth gadgets, and tap the i button to see a list of handy settings. But what about deeper-level customization? Like most things in iOS, there’s an extra set of advanced AirPods Pro settings inside the Accessibility settings. You even change double-squeeze speed of the AirPods Pro stems if you want to slow things down.
What Apple TV+ needs to be a big player in 2020 Photo: Apple
Buried in a press release with nothing from the manufacturers themselves, Apple revealed Wednesday its Apple TV+ app is coming to Sony and Vizio smart televisions “later this year.”
The additions join Samsung, which added the app to some of its TVs in December 2019. LG also announced this week it would be adding the app to its units later this year.
This powerful bookkeeping tool makes tracking your budget easy and enjoyable. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Staying on top of our budgets and finances is just part of being an adult. No one said growing up would be all fun and games, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable. This personal finance app sports intuitive tools and features for managing money so managing your money feels easy satisfying.
Can you take Night mode photos as good as this? Prove it! Photo: Apple
Apple is inviting owners of its latest iPhone lineup to share their best Night mode photos. It plans to choose five winning snaps that will be showcased on the Apple website and official Instagram channel.
Winners may also see their photos featured in digital advertising campaigns, at Apple Stores, on billboards, or in third-party photo exhibitions, Apple says. You may also receive some cash.
Apple today marked the close of an historic 2019 for its Services businesses following its biggest ever year so far.
The introduction of Apple Arcade, Apple Card, News +, and TV+ helped ensure Services continued to reach new heights. They also mean Apple goes into 2020 with “incredible momentum.”
Apple's famous tagline has become a punchline. Photo: Apple
Apple’s ‘Shot on iPhone‘ campaign is taking over TikTok, only probably not in the way Apple would like.
‘Shot on iPhone’ ads have been used by Apple for years to highlight the amazing quality of videos and photos that can be captured by normal people. Now TikTok users are reappropriating the term to show the type of dumb videos most people actually shoot on their iPhones and the results are absolutely hilarious.
Check out this compilation of funny ‘Shot on iPhone’ TikToks: