Mobile menu toggle

Top stories - page 375

How to use iPhone 11’s flash-killing Night mode

By

Maybe the iPhone 11 can finally take a night photo like this.
Maybe the iPhone 11 can finally take a night photo like this.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Night mode is one of the iPhone 11’s two big new camera features (the other is the Ultra Wide lens). Night mode captures lots and lots of images, and then uses the iPhone’s A13 Bionic processor to combine them, pulling out details not available in a single low-light shot.

It’s the computational-photography mad science equivalent of putting your regular camera on a tripod and opening up the shutter for a few seconds to let more light in. Only you don’t need the tripod, and the images should almost always end up sharp. Here’s how to use iPhone 11’s Night mode.

iOS 13.1.2 is already out with big bug fixes

By

iPad Pro with iPadOS 13.1.2
Apple is bombarding people with iPad and iPhone updates. Here’s iPadOS 13.1.2.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 13 brought big changes and version 13.1 added some more, but Apple sure isn’t resting on its laurels — the company quickly rushed out iOS 13.1.2 and iPadOS 13.1.2. Anyone greedy for more new features is in for a disappointment, as this is entirely a bug-fix update.

This marks the fourth new iOS version in two weeks, and the third iPadOS version since Tuesday.

Hands-on with the new Apple Watch Series 5 compass

By

Apple Watch compass
The Milanese Loop's magnet doesn't seem to trouble the compass.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

WatchOS 6 introduces a new Compass app (only for the Apple Watch Series 5), along with a couple of Compass complications. It works pretty much exactly like you’d expect, only with a few neat extras. You can access it from the All Apps screen, or by tapping the Compass complication on one of your Apple Watch faces. Let’s take a look.

Tim Cook crows about iPhone 11’s ‘very strong start’

By

iPhone 11 camera lenses
Tim Cook says he couldn’t be happier about iPhone 11 sales. And J.P. Morgan is upbeat, too.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 11 reached customer’s hands just over a week ago, and Apple CEO Tim Cook told a German newspaper that the latest iPhone enjoyed a “very strong start.”

To add to the good news for Apple, analysts J.P. Morgan revised upward its estimate of how many iPhones will sell before the end of this year.

The combination touched off a mini rally in Apple’s share price, pushing the company’s market capitalization back up over $1 trillion.

Dig into a gold mine of books, audio books, articles and more from your iPhone [Deals]

By

Scribd
Save 25% or more on 6 month and year-long access to a million books, audiobooks, articles, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The world is awash in great writing and journalism, from books to articles on the internet. That leaves a ton of stuff to sort through. So having it all in one place makes it easier to find the best content, and saves lots of time.

Scribd offers access to a vast library of content straight from any device, via the app or a web browser.

2020 iPad Pro could pack brand-new display technology

By

2018 iPad Pro display
Mini-LED screens could make iPad Pro even greater.
Photo: Apple

You might want to think twice about upgrading your iPad Pro this year. A new report claims Apple could deliver a more significant refresh with brand-new display technology as early as 2020.

The same technology, which is expected to use approximately 10,000 tiny LEDs, could also appear in a new MacBook around the same time, according to one reliable analyst.

iPad Pro case rocks backlit keys in a rainbow of color combos [Review]

By

Inateck Stellarie KB02006 review
The Inateck Stellarie KB02006 is very useful with a touch of whimsy.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If you want to stand out in a darkened classroom, Inateck has the iPad keyboard case for you. The outside is professional-looking, and there’s an Apple Pencil slot. But the standout feature is the keyboard backlights, which can be set to more than 100 color combinations.

This affordable case believes in business on the outside and party on the inside. Is it right for you? Find out in our Inateck Stellarie KB02006 review.

iPhone 11 Pro Max review: Even better than the best! [Cult of Mac Magazine 316]

By

Hands down, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is our favorite iPhone yet.
Hands down, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is our favorite iPhone yet.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 11 Pro Max has it all: an unbeatable battery. The best display yet. A gorgeous, nearly unbreakable glass body. Maybe even dormant reverse wireless charging hardware. There’s no doubt about it. This is the finest iPhone yet.

Read our full iPhone 11 Pro Max review for all the details. Plus, don’t miss all the rest of the week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos. All that and more is jammed into this free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.

Plus, enter our Apple Watch Series 5 giveaway for your shot at winning the hot new wearable.

Enhance your iPhone with sweet savings on 4 awesome apps [Deals]

By

iOS Apps Main
Save big on private phone numbers, VPN protection and more for your iPhone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your iPhone comes out of the box full of potential. But a lot of that potential requires having the right apps. To put you on the right track, we rounded up some of the best iOS apps around — and all at the best prices.

From consuming content offline, to staying safe and anonymous online, to getting a secondary “burner” phone number and more, these top apps give your iPhone new capabilities. And they’re all going for anywhere from half to more than 90% off their usual prices.

Got a new iPad? Now get the best price for your old one

By

iPad-back
Cult of Mac pays real cash — and fast!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The brand-new 10.2-inch iPad is now available from the Apple Store. If you already have yours, it’s time to make some of your money back by getting rid of your old model.

Cult of Mac offers real cash for any unwanted Apple devices, and we typically pay more than anyone else. What’s more, we make the whole process quick and simple!

Two great sleep-tracker apps for Apple Watch

By

apple watch sleep tracking
Zzzzzz!
Photo: Danny G/Unsplash

The new Apple Watch series 5, running watchOS 6, can track just about any kind of activity. But one thing it doesn’t track is your sleep. Or at least, it doesn’t offer sleep-tracking in a native form. That’s left to third-party app makers. Today we’ll see two great apps to do just that. One is ultra-simple, and the other is super deep. Let’s take a look.

Apple’s original movies could hit theaters near you

By

Stephen Spielberg announcers Amazing Stories for Apple TV Plus.
Steven Spielberg’s 1980s anthology, Amazing Stories, is being reimagined for Apple TV+
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ may not be the only place to enjoy Apple’s original movies. Sources say Cupertino wants to bring its content to theaters in an effort to attract top Hollywood directors.

The move would also make Apple’s movies eligible for big awards.

iPhone 11 Pro is even better than we hoped! We tell why, on The CultCast

By

CultCast 407
We just spent our first week with iPhone 11 Pro...
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: We just completed our first week with iPhone 11 Pro, and it’s even better than we hoped. We’ll dive into all the features we love most. Plus: Details are emerging about iPhone 12, and we like what we’re seeing! And is Apple Watch Series 5 worth the upgrade? We discuss …

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create and maintain 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.

Access your App Store updates from the iOS 13 Home screen [Pro Tip]

By

iOS 13 app updates
The quickest way to see your app updates in iOS 13.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Pro Tip: This to-do list hack turns your tasks into questions iOS 13 did away with the old Updates tab in the App Store, and replaced it with Apple Arcade. That’s pretty bad news if you don’t want to use Apple Arcade. But on the plus side, you can access your app updates from the Home screen using 3D Touch. And the good news is that, in iOS 13, you can also use this trick on the iPad.

Apple patches security bug on Macs, plus older iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches

By

iPhone 6s colors
If you’re still rocking an iPhone 6S, Apple has an iOS update for you.
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced iOS 12.4.2 to fix a security bug that was found by Google Project Zero. After Tuesday’s launch of iOS 13.1, now seems an odd time to be updating last year’s version, but this patch is for iPhones and iPads made in 2014 and before that can’t upgrade to the new version.

In addition, the company released watchOS 5.3.2 for early Apple Watch models. Plus there’s a fresh security update for macOS Mojave 10.14.6. All take care of the same bug.

The best widgets apps for iPadOS 13’s new Home screen

By

Dark Mode on iPadOS
The new Home screen widget panel on iPadOS 13.
Photo: Apple

In iPadOS, the old Today View has shuffled over a little, and now lives right on the Home screen. You can pin widgets there, and they will be permanently shown on the left edge of the Home screen (in landscape, at least — in portrait they will act more like a temporary Slide Over panel).

This changes how we use widgets. Instead of being temporary, quick-info panels, or shortcuts for app functions, widgets are now always visible, and always available to tap. A weather widget can be checked with a single glance, for instance. Ditto countdown timers. And — best of all — Shortcuts can be triggered with a single tap.

Let’s take a look at some great widgets for the iPadOS Home screen.

2020 could bring Apple’s largest iPhone screen ever

By

Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
iOS is designed to hide the screen cutout as much as possible. This might not be necessary next year.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Significant design changes in next year’s top-tier iPhone might push the display size up to 6.7 inches, if an unconfirmed report from a reliable source is correct. This model will also supposedly have no need of a screen cutout — also known as the notch.

10.2-inch iPad hits Apple Store shelves

By

ipad
The quickest way to get the new 10.2-inch iPad is to go to an Apple retail store today.
Photo: Apple

The latest iPad just made its appearance in Apple retail locations. Those eager to get their hands on the first 10.2-inch budget tablet with iPadOS can hurry to the nearest store to pick one up now.

This is currently a quicker option than ordering the seventh-generation iPad for home shipment.

RIP Adam Rosen: Remembering one of the most passionate Mac fans ever

By

Vintage Mac Museum
Rosen would turn down 80 percent of what was offered to him because he only wanted the important models. He also couldn't let his collection outgrow another living space.
Photo: Adam Rosen

Adam Rosen was happiest standing over an old Mac computer, all pulled apart with wires sticking out and components scattered across his kitchen table.

Rosen knew this part of him might never land him a wife. Who could appreciate a home where each room was a gallery of old working Apple computers?

This private Vintage Mac Museum lost its devoted docent on Aug. 31 when Rosen, 53, died from pancreatic cancer.

iPhone 11 Pro Max: The best gets even better [Review]

By

How gorgeous is the iPhone 11 Max Pro?
How gorgeous is the iPhone 11 Max Pro?
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

This thing is a beauty. The first thing you notice is the glass back. The frosted matte finish makes it semi-translucent, giving it a weirdly illusory depth. It looks great. Not even the controversial, compound-eye camera bump can spoil its good looks. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is the best-looking iPhone to date, and I love it.

But don’t be fooled by the familiar design. This year’s refresh makes almost everything about Apple’s most expensive handset better than ever.

It’s faster, stronger and more water-resistant. It packs the best display you’ll find in a phone, and the best camera you’ve ever used. The battery lasts forever. Is it worth its hefty price tag? Absolutely.

Find out more in our full iPhone 11 Pro Max review.

4 reasons I’m disappointed with the iPhone 11 [Opinion]

By

iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are excellent, but there’s still room for improvement.
Photo: Apple

There’s a lot to like in the new iPhone 11 series, but there are reasons to be disappointed, too. Some features that should be a part of any handset released in 2019 are missing, and a few rumored improvements didn’t appear.

Here are four ways the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models fell short of the mark.