Mobile menu toggle

Top stories - page 568

Apple drops fourth betas for iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS

By

RED iphone
Future iPhone displays could all be made by LG.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Just an hour after I finished installing the third iOS 10.3.2 beta on my iPhone, Apple has dropped a fourth. Alongside it comes new betas for macOS 10.12.5, tvOS 10.2.1, and watchOS 3.2.2 — all of which are available to download now if you’re a developer.

Apparent iPhone 8 dummy unit is super-confusing

By

iPhone-8-dummy-1
Is this the real iPhone 8?
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Thanks to recent leaks, we thought we had a good idea what the iPhone 8 might look like. But forget what you thought you knew about Apple’s next-generation smartphone.

This apparent dummy unit blows all our previous conceptions right out of the water and leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions.

These armored Lightning cables are worthy of Iron Man [Deals]

By

CoM - Fuse Chicken Titan Plus MFi Lightning Cables
Add a layer of armor to your iPhone's lifeline, with these extra tough Lightning cables.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Part of owning an iPhone or iPad is replacing the Lightning cable that keeps them charged and synced. After all, the standard Apple Lightning cable is a short and fragile affair, made with thin plastic and wrapped in soft white rubber that’s prone to tearing and fraying. That’s why it’s good to have a backup, but why not also get one that’s built to last? That’s what the Fuse Chicken offers: an extra long, extra strong Lightning cable that’ll probably outlive the devices you connect to them. Right now you can get a Fuse Chicken Titan Plus for just $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Siri can now read out your WhatsApp messages

By

WhatsApp
You’ll need a new iPhone if you can’t update to iOS 8 or later.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The latest WhatsApp update adds the ability to have Siri read aloud your WhatsApp messages.

You can also use the virtual assistant to compose and send replies, so urgent conversations can continue while you’re busy or driving, and you don’t even need to touch your iPhone.

How to enable YouTube’s secret dark mode

By

How to enable YouTube Dark Mode
YouTube's hidden Dark Mode is perfect for late-night video consumption.
Screenshot: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

YouTube is testing a Dark Mode design, which can be toggled on and off once you activate it.

If you’re watching videos late at night, Dark Mode is super-useful to help avoid straining your eyes — plus, it just looks cool. Find out how to enable YouTube Dark Mode it in the video below.

Get Me Outta Here, Sky Guide, and other awesome apps of the week

By

Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

Want to find out which apps were gracing our Apple devices this week? Check our list below.

From a great piratical RPG to an… erm, naked selfie sharing app, here are the apps that occupied our time over the past seven days. There’s simply no better way to spend the remainder of your weekend.

Wi-Fi cameras, wearable subwoofers, and more [Week’s newest deals]

By

collage-2017-04-18
A home monitoring camera and a subwoofer you wear on your wrist are just two of this week's newest deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Spring is in the air, which means you’re either enjoying the new blooms or fighting a fresh round of allergies. However the weather has you feeling, the newest deals at the Cult of Mac Store are sure to please. This week, we’ve got a decked-out Wi-Fi camera for home monitoring, a powerful business planning platform, a stylus that doubles as a working pen, and a powerful subwoofer you wear on your wrist (talk about personal audio). Read on for more details:

Instantly upgrade your security, privacy and productivity [Week’s Best Deals]

By

collage-2017-04-18
Protect your online life with a VPN, guard your privacy with a second phone number, and lots more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Welcome to the new week, same as the last week. Except of course for the great deals in the Cult of Mac Store. This go around, our very best deals include a lifetime of VPN protection, comprehensive training in Microsoft Excel, a powerful alternative to Search and Spotlight, and an anonymous second phone line perfect for first dates or Craigslist deals. Everything is discounted by more than half, read on for more details:

Apple training documents leak details of self-driving car project

By

lexus
The 2015 Lexus RX450h is Apple's vehicle of choice.
Photo: Lexus

Getting behind the wheel of one of Apple’s self-driving cars requires drivers to pass a series of tests, based on new information about the secretive project that leaked out today.

Details of Apple’s self-driving car program have been revealed by documents filed with the California DMV that shed light on the “Apple Automated System” currently under development.

Should iPhone 8’s Touch ID be on its back? [Friday Night Fights]

By

A sacrifice worth making?
A sacrifice worth making?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Recently “leaked” schematics for Apple’s next-generation iPhone reveal the company could be returning to a sharper, squarer form factor similar to that of the iPhone 5. They also hinted at a big change for Touch ID.

Friday Night Fights bugWith Apple expected to eliminate the Home button from this year’s iPhone, its fingerprint scanner could be relocated to its back — like on many Androids. This would free up space on the front of the phone for a larger display, while maintaining the secure and super-fast biometric sensor we all love.

But is a rear-facing fingerprint scanner a smart move, or should it remain on the front of the iPhone? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over the iPhone 8’s Touch ID button.

Last chance for Earth Day bonus: Get an extra $10 for your old Apple gear

By

Earth Day gadget buyback
Save the earth and get paid! Trade-in your old Apple gear this week for cash, and take advantage of our Earth Day bonus: an extra $10 on every trade-in.
Photo: Pexels

Last chance! We’ve extended our special Earth Day buyback bonus until Monday.

Americans throw away 9.4 million tons of electronics each year, according to Earth 911. That’s roughly equivalent to the weight of 1.88 million elephants — way more elephants than are even alive today.

Fight that e-waste nightmare by trading in your old Apple gear, and you can take advantage of our Earth Day bonus: You’ll get an extra $10 on every trade-in — just use the coupon code “earthday”!

Touch ID moves to the back in new iPhone 8 renderings

By

iPhone 8 rear shell mockup.
iPhone 8 rear shell mockup.
Photo: Weibo

Apple may make the surprising move of relocating the Touch ID button to the back of the iPhone this year, but based on renderings of a leaked schematic, it wouldn’t look that bad.

Several renders, based on the supposed iPhone 8 schematic that hit the internet this week, show what the device’s rear shell might look like during production. It’s not a photo of the real iPhone shell, but for now this is as close to the real deal as we’re going to get.

Here’s another angle:

Everything we think we know about the iPhone 8

By

iPhone 8 concept
Same size as the iPhone 7, but with a bigger screen.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Thanks to a bevy of leaks that flooded the internet this week, we know more about the iPhone 8 than ever before. Even if only half the rumors turn out to be true, this year’s iPhone is set to be the most innovative device Apple has made in years.

Here’s what we know so far.

Get a second (private!) phone number for $25 for life [Deals]

By

CoM - Hushed
Get the flexibility of having a second phone number without the hassle of opening up a new line.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether for dating, work or just buying something on Craigslist, giving out your phone number can be stressful. It’s basically a form of personal ID, a surefire way to be reached whether you want to be or not.

We have secondary email addresses, so why not phone lines? Hushed is offering just that — a private and secure second phone line. It’s a great way to get a layer of peace of mind and privacy when it comes to your digits. And right now you can get a lifetime of Hushed Private Phone Line for just $25 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Instagram is finally cracking down on fake accounts

By

These Instagram tips will help you connect with photographers who share your interests.
We don’t want to see photos from everyone we follow.
Photo: Lee Peterson/Cult of Mac

Instagram is finally clamping down on fake accounts that aren’t controlled by real users.

Instagress, a service that helped Instagram users gain additional followers for a fee, has been forced to shutdown as a result of the crackdown.

Give your iPhone a new set of superpowers [Deals]

By

collage-2017-04-14
Add grip, extended vision, extra life, and other powers to your smartphone with this bundle of accessories.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your iPhone comes out of the box full of possibilities. But with the right accessory, you can vastly expand the powers of your phone. This bundle of upgrades will allow your iPhone to cling to walls, see into your house no matter where you are, throw its voice, and add up to 10 extra lifespans.

It’s like Jedi training for your iPhone!

It’s time for Apple Watch to get serious about fitness

By

Here's how Apple could improve watchOS 4 for fitness buffs.
Here's how watchOS 4 could improve Apple Watch for fitness buffs.
Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple puts fitness front and center in its advertising for Apple Watch Series 2, even going so far as to claim the device is a “superior sports watch.” But in reality, it is not a sports watch at all. It’s a smartwatch. And that’s a massively important distinction.

Sports watches, like the TomTom Runner or Garmin Forerunner, are cheaper and more reliable at logging workouts, while smartwatches are jacks of all trades, which usually means they are masters of none. Or at least, not masters of fitness.

The sad fact is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, it’s mostly the software that is letting Apple Watch down. That’s why I’m hoping that with its next major software update, Apple will finally get its smartwatch into shape for fitness fans. Here’s what I want to see in watchOS 4, which Apple will likely unveil at its Worldwide Developers Conference this June.

Apple wants all its devices to be made from recycled or renewable materials

By

iPhone 7 back
Future iPhones will be made from 100 percent recycled and renewable materials.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has pledged to end its reliance on mining, and to make its devices from only renewable or recycled materials — although it’s not announced any timeline to do so.

The pledge was announced as part of the company’s Environmental Responsibility Report.

Best List: These ‘social’ headphones let you share your music [Review]

By

Wearhaus Arc Headphones
The Wearhaus Arc headphones are the first 'social' headphones that allow music sharing between headsets.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Best List: Wearhaus’ Arc ‘social’ headphones

Wearing headphones tends to cut you off from the world, but Wearhaus’ Arc headphones are more sociable.

The wireless Arc headphones allow multiple headsets to stream audio from the same source. Think silent disco, watching a movie together, or sharing tunes with your BFF.

Galaxy S8 review roundup: Samsung just schooled the iPhone

By

Galaxy S8 Infinity Display
Samsung has a winner in the Galaxy S8.
Photo: Samsung

The first reviews of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have dropped a day ahead of their official launch in many markets, and there’s one thing to take away from them: Samsung just knocked it out of the park with its best smartphones to date.

Despite the problems the company encountered with the Galaxy Note 7 last fall, it has managed to produce two new devices that don’t disappoint. From gorgeous design and impressive cameras to the best display on the market, the Galaxy S8 series has it all.

It might not perfect, but the changes and improvements Samsung has made show Apple what a smartphone should be in 2017, and make it even more difficult for the iPhone to catch up.

Here’s our review roundup.

It’s time to really perfect your Excel skills [Deals]

By

CoM - eLearnExcel Microsoft Excel School- Lifetime Subscription
With this lesson bundle, you can up your Excel chops and make yourself even more marketable.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

OK, let’s face it: Excel is anything but sexy. But the spreadsheet software is essential to any digital workplace, so it’s well worth knowing how to use it. If you’re looking to boost your skill level with this essential app, take a look at this bundle of lessons from eLearnExcel.

With a lifetime license to eight lesson modules, you’ll learn the ins and outs of one of the most widely used applications in business today. It’s an instant upgrade to your marketability, offering crucial knowledge and even certification. And right now you can get lifetime access to eLearnExcel Microsoft Excel School for a mere $39 at Cult of Mac Deals.

‘Leaked’ iPhone 8 drawings reveal surprising design

By

iPhone 5's straight edges could be making a comeback.
iPhone 5's straight edges could be making a comeback.
Photo: Sonny Dickson

A new photo of what is believed to be iPhone 8 schematics reveals a surprising new design direction.

Apple appears to have done away with the smooth curves we’ve come to expect from its smartphones in recent years, opting instead for sharper edges and flat sides. This image suggests the next iPhone will be much like the iPhone 5, only bigger.

Much bigger.

Expand your creativity with this Mac app kit [Deals]

By

CoM - The Supersized Creative Mac Bundle
This bundle of 12 apps and 3 lessons will upgrade your and your Mac's productivity potential.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your Mac is a creative powerhouse — if it’s loaded with the right apps. With the Supersized Creative Mac Bundle, you’ll supercharge your computer with a dozen top-notch creative apps, like Storyist and Aurora HDR.

Plus, the bundle comes with more than 25 hours of coursework covering the essentials of digital photography, video and web design. This is the shot of productive and creative energy you’ve been looking for. And right now, you can get the Supersized Creative Mac Bundle for just $29 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Sources confirm some of iPhone 8’s biggest upgrades

By

iPhone 7
Technical challenges could put the kibosh on some of iPhone 8's possible features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next iPhone refresh will be the device’s biggest in years, but some of the more dramatic upgrades could be curtailed by technical challenges.

In its report on the new iPhone 8, Bloomberg corroborates many previous rumors about the next-gen iPhone, but suggests that more “ambitious” features may be scaled back or ditched due to manufacturing problems.