Apple is reportedly partnering with Valve, the company behind Steam, to develop its first augmented reality headset. Valve already offers a virtual reality headset of its own for gaming. But its work with Apple is said to be focused on AR, which Cupertino thinks will play an increasingly important role in the future.
Adobe’s Photoshop is now available in the App Store, ready for you to try. You have to sign up for a $10 monthly subscription, even just to test it out, but there’s a one-month free trial included in the sub. With that out of the way, how is it? Extremely limited, but very promising.
If you’re familiar with Photoshop on the Mac or PC, then you will feel immediately at home. You will also feel immediately frustrated, because the app does almost nothing. We learned earlier this month that Photoshop for iOS would offer a cut-down feature set compared to the full desktop version. Still, this app is so basic that — if you want to actually get any work done — you should grab something like Affinity Photo instead.
But as an example of an iPad app, Photoshop is stellar. It’s easy to use, and yet most of the basics are there. And there’s a new UI innovation, called the Touch Shortcut, that should be in every app. Let’s take a look.
If you need to work on virtually any graphics project, Adobe Illustrator can likely handle your task. Of course, to finish that task, you may need a post-graduate degree. Because for all of its capabilities, actually deciphering Illustrator’s quagmire of filters, layers, effects and hundreds of additional bells and whistles is…well, not easy.
This week we spend all our time on the Mac. Content blocker 1Blocker has a whole new look — and a new subscription model. BlackHole replaces the venerable SoundFlower on newer Macs, and ToothFairy puts your AirPods Pro in the Mac’s menu bar.
Who doesn’t want to fly? As drones get easier to use, we can get really close to the feeling of taking to the skies. Along with getting better, they’re also becoming more affordable, so even people on a budget can join the ranks of hobby pilots. One of the best names in the business is DJI, and they’ve got a pair of options that offer a great way into the world of drones.
Every once in a while, you’ve got to let a doctor take a look at you and maybe even hit you with a flu shot or some extra vitamins before deeming you a-OK. Well, your Mac is just like you. So consider The Ultimate Q4 Mac Freebie Bundle a trip to the doc for your Mac.
With AirPods Pro, Apple makes us oddly happy about shelling out for an upgrade. In fact, the new high-end wireless earbuds feel like a steal at $250. You might even say they’re fandabbydosey. (Our fearless leader Leander did. In fact, he can’t stop raving about AirPods Pro.)
Immerse yourself in our reviews and early impressions of one the most exciting Apple products in recent memory in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine. We also packed the issue full of how-tos for AirPods Pro and other Apple products. Plus, you’ll get the latest Apple news (including the lowdown on the just-launched Apple TV+ streaming service).
Get the iOS mag free from the App Store. And don’t forget to enter our latest, greatest giveaway. Enter to win an iPhone 11, AirPods and a custom Belkin charging pad.
A good projector might be the best way to enjoy visual content. From turning your living room into a theater, to creating immersive visuals for a house party, the possibilities are pretty much endless. But most projectors are bulky and expensive, especially if you want one with high brightness and good resolution. Not so with this pocket-sized projector.
Ryan Kaji is a YouTube megastar who leveraged the might of 22 million followers to earn $22 million last year. Did we also mention that Ryan, the star of Ryan ToysReview, is 8 years old?
Timely space-race drama For All Mankind just might propel Apple TV+ into becoming must-see TV. The show kicks off in the late 1960s, a couple of weeks before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin strap themselves into a giant metal tube full of fuel that’s aimed at the moon.
From there, the story takes a sharp turn away from history and examines what the world would look like if the USSR planted its flag on the moon first. Space is obviously a huge part of For All Mankind, but the way creator Ronald D. Moore uses it as a vehicle to tackle topics like family, patriotism and feminism is what makes the show worth watching.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Hot dang, Apple’s still got it. The new AirPods Pro are fantastic.
They’re truly great headphones, and every major new feature improves on the old AirPods in big and significant ways.
I freakin’ love the new AirPods Pro!
Lusting after Apple’s brilliant new AirPods Pro? Sell your old ones to Cult of Mac today and that sweet, sweet upgrade will be more affordable than you think.
We buy original and second-generation AirPods and make the whole process quick and easy. We also cough up real cash, so you can spend it anywhere you like.
Adonit Note+ is a pressure-sensitive iPad stylus that stands up well in a head-to-head competition with Apple Pencil, and even beats it in some areas. It offers tilt detection and pressure sensitivity, as well as shortcut buttons. All at a price definitely lower than Apple’s stylus.
We used this Apple Pencil alternative for both writing and drawing — read our Adonit Note+ review to see how it handles in real-world use.
Two just-released Apple Arcade titles demonstrate the wide variety offerings in this gaming service. The Mosaic is about escaping the dreadful loneliness of modern life, while Monomals features silly animal DJs having a music contest.
Apple also added three other titles to its service, two of which are platformers.
Google has confirmed plans to buy Fitbit as it looks to step up its fight against Apple Watch. The deal, worth approximately $2.1 billion, will bring new Made by Google wearables to market.
“Together, we aim to spur innovation in wearables and build helpful products to benefit more people around the world,” Google said.
Apple TV+ launched this morning. Costing $4.99 per month (or free to anyone who buys a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac), the subscription service brings Apple’s eagerly anticipated original TV shows to anyone who wants to watch them.
But what exactly does the service feature so far? And what’s the timeline for the release of Apple’s other shows? Check out our rundown.
Reading is the road to greater understanding of the world and ourselves. For many of us, though, it can be a slower road than we’d like. But reading is a skill like any other, so you can improve with practice and guidance. That’s just what this bundle of six speed-reading courses offers.
This week on The CultCast: AirPod Pros! You want them, we got them. We’ll tell you what’s new, what’s good, what’s not, and how they compare to the regular AirPods. We’ve got lots to say…. Plus: The first Apple TV+ reviews are trickling in, and, well … they’re not great.
Our thanks to Belkin for supporting this episode. Belkin cables are built to last and supported with a five-year warranty. If you’re tired of broken, burned-out cables, switch to Belkin, and save 30% off your order with code CultCast at checkout.
Apple TV+ is here, and anyone can test it out for a week for free. After that, the $5-per-month charge will be billed automatically, just like any other Apple subscription you may have. Unless, of course, you get to watch Apple TV+ for free. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Apple’s new TV subscription service is pitched as a rival to Netflix, Amazon Prime and so on. It works on Apple devices. Plus, you can watch Apple TV+ on Samsung TVs, Roku boxes and in pretty much any web browser. Signing up is absurdly easy, but a few tips will help you get the most out of the service.
Apple TV+ service launched this morning. And, with it, The Morning Show, Apple’s star-studded drama about the goings-on at a morning news show.
It stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. With that cast, it’s an illustration of the ambitions Apple has for creating top-tier entertainment for its streaming show. But is it any good? Here’s what I made of the first episode.
Why am I returning my AirPods Pro just a day after receiving them? If the AirPods Pro don’t fit in your ears, then tough. There’s pretty much nothing you can do about it short of returning them to Apple.
However, if you’re prepared to wait, there might be some hope.
It has taken me just over a day to realize AirPods Pro are the best accessory I’ve ever purchased from Apple. They sound terrific, work exceptionally well with other Apple products, and feel great.
They might be pricier than their siblings at $249. But with new features like active noise cancellation and Transparency mode, they’re worth every penny.
Here’s our full review of AirPods Pro.
If you ever sat with a pair of earbuds, and a handful of interchangeable silicone tips, and felt a sense of apathy and confusion creep over you, then you’re going to love the new AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test. This clever new feature uses the AirPods Pro’s own microphones to test how well the variously sized silicone tips fit in your ears.
It works really well. The only problem is, the results could be bad news.
Now that the iPhone 11 line brings an ultra-wide camera to the bump, there is some question on what to do with an extra-wide lens attachment you may have purchased from brands like Moment, Sandmarc or olloclip.
The short answer: Use it. For now, it’s the better option.
Amazon is blowing out refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro units today only. You can save up to $709 on mid-2018 models with beefy specifications. And there’s a whopping $700 off a 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display.
There’s even more to enjoy in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. You can bag a stellar USB-C hub for iPad Pro at 41% off its usual price if you act fast, and pick up a two-pack of anti-spy screen protectors for iPhone 11 Pro for under $8.
Plus, there are sweet savings to be had on Case-Mate accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
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