2016 has been a tough year for fitness trackers, with scientists questioning their effectiveness and headlines boldly proclaiming that “fitness trackers don’t work.”
And yet, sales of fitness trackers are healthier than ever, while struggling smartwatch makers are desperately trying to reposition their gadgets to muscle into the fitness market. So what is going on? If fitness trackers really don’t work, why are consumers still buying them?
Apple’s product portfolio is crying out for something new. Fans and investors are itching to see where the company will go next, and whether it can revolutionize yet another industry. Should a games console be top of its list?
Some fans may not know this, but Apple has produced a console before. It wasn’t too successful, but Apple is a different company now, and it’s already serving hundreds of millions of avid gamers with its Apple TV and iOS devices. In some ways, a console makes a lot of sense.
But could Apple really topple the PlayStation or Xbox? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple should build its own console!
The world of quotes is a poorer place without Steve Jobs, who was a quote machine. Nonetheless, plenty of people talked about Apple this year, whether lauding the company’s successes or damning its strategies.
Here are the most memorable Apple quotes of 2016.
Like a computer, we use our iPhones and iPads to store all sorts of data. Unlike a computer, you can’t just plug in a USB thumb drive to expand storage or transfer that data. Unless of course you have an iKlips DUO+, an dual sided Lightning and USB-compatible thumb drive that you can carry right on your keychain. It’s a sleek and simple upgrade for any iOS device, and right now you can get one for $69.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
LG Display is to start mass-producing folding OLED displays in 2018, and new reports claim Apple is one of the first companies to have already placed an order. The displays pave the way for smarter flip phones that can be folded in the middle.
Maybe your Apple Watch is broken, or you want to get some extra cash to spend on a Series 2 upgrade (or a totally different device). Whatever your reason for wanting to sell your Apple Watch, the best and easiest bet is selling it to us through Cult of Mac’s Apple gear buyback program.
It’s been a banner year for iOS apps. From smart photo-editing tools to music-generating apps, Apple and third-party developers alike brought some serious heat to the App Store. We’ve combed through our home screens to pick out the best iOS apps of 2016.
Check out our picks below.
At long last, Nintendo’s long-awaited Super Mario Run has sprinted into the App Store, in what is certainly the biggest iOS game launch of 2016 after Pokémon Go.
Marking the first time Nintendo’s most iconic character has been available on iOS — outside of dodgy third-party game emulators — a demo of Super Mario Run is downloadable for free, while the whole game priced at $9.99.
Instagram’s move to adopt features similar to SnapChat seems to have paid off for the globally popular photo-sharing network.
On its blog Thursday, Instagram sent a thank you note to its community, a number that surpassed 600 million users since it was founded in October of 2010.
Fitbit is buying Pebble and killing its existing lineup of wearables to focus on new ones — but it won’t be dropping support for those devices right away. Pebble today confirmed that its software and services will continue to run through 2017.
Holidays can stress anyone out, and the music that comes around this time each year sure doesn’t help. Whether you’re trying to focus on your gift list, relax after a busy day of shopping, or just tune out the holiday noise altogether and get some work done, Brain.fm might offer something you can use. It’s an AI-powered streaming station that composes music scientifically designed to help you relax or stay on task, and right now you can get a lifetime of Brain.fm for just $39 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Yahoo today confirmed that hackers have stolen data from over 1 billion user accounts.
The breach occurred in 2013, and Yahoo warns that stolen data may have included names, dates of birth, email addresses, telephone numbers, hashed passwords, and more.
Apple just released macOS 10.12.2 to the public, so in today’s video I’m going to give you a guided tour of everything that’s new or missing.
Check it out below.
The people on your holiday shopping list deserve cutting-edge gifts. That’s why you won’t find ugly sweaters or gifts that are actually meant for pets not people in the Cult of Mac gift guide.
Loaded with tech gift ideas for Apple fans, this handy guide will make you the best gift-giver in the family for once.
Gmail can be as useful as it is overwhelming, especially when keeping the lid on an overflowing inbox. ActiveInbox creates a new task management dimension within your Gmail dashboard that helps cut through the inbox based on what needs doing. It integrates right into Gmail on browsers and mobile devices alike, adding a degree of organization and efficiency that can transform the way you work. And right now you can get a year of ActiveInbox for $24.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Finding the love of your life on Tinder should be a very personal thing. But thanks to the new Tinder app for Apple TV, you can now enjoy the unsolicited opinions of friends and family while you get your swipe on in front of everyone.
Apple was quick to rectify the “random shutdown” problem affecting some iPhones by offering in-store battery replacements for affected customers. Unfortunately, it seems that already-busy Apple store employees aren’t too happy about the replacement program.
Given that each replacement takes between 20 and 45 minutes, and staffers are doing 15 to 30 replacements per day, it’s quickly adding up to “more than we [can] replace,” according to a longtime Genius Bar guru.
Google is giving iPhone users yet another easy way to switch to Android.
The latest update to its Google Drive app for iOS brings the ability to backup some of your most important data in just a few taps before migrating it all to a new Android smartphone.
To promote his new design book, Jony Ive has made a video giving a very rare peek inside Apple’s ultra-secretive design studio.
The video is only the second one that I know of that shows the inside of the “studio behind the Iron Curtain” — so called because it’s so sealed off from the outside world. (The other was last year’s 60 Minutes episode).
While watching it, I recognized a lot of details that I mention in my book about Jony Ive but I don’t think are generally well-known. So I screenshot the video and made a few notes. Warning: This one’s for the design nerds.
Apple’s new AirPods have finally arrived after months of waiting.
Shipping estimates for the new wireless earbuds have already been pushed back to 2017, thanks to the overwhelming demand, but if you’re lucky enough to get them in your ears this week, you’ll need some tips on getting started.
Here’s everything you need to know to use AirPods:
Mac owners can now take advantage of all the new emoji iPhone users got earlier this week, thanks to today’s release of macOS 10.12.2.
Apple launched the macOS update this morning, bringing a host of performance enhancements to users, as well as couple new features and small tweaks.
You can find some incredible new gadgets on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that often go unnoticed. We’re rounding up some of the best every week to help them get the funding they need to become a reality.
This week, we’ve got super smartwatches that keep your kids safe, incredibly intelligent headphones with artificial intelligence, a device that measures your nutrient levels, and more!
Already thinking about how to fulfill your 2017 New Year’s resolution of becoming a rock god?
If so, check out the jamstik+. This MIDI guitar, and its associated collection of apps, promises to help anyone who wants to learn to play guitar or improve their existing skills.
The year’s almost over, so it’s time to review the best deals that graced the Cult of Mac Store in 2016. Our top deals include a bundle of three extra long, MFi-certified Lightning cables, a lifetime of VPN protection, a powerful planning tool for turning to-do lists into flowcharts, and a comprehensive set of lessons for coding in iOS 9 and 10. They’re all massively discounted, but you can shave off another 16 percent by using the code: “BESTOF2016” (some exclusions apply). Read on for more details:
Apple TV owners can finally start using the new TV app that Apple unveiled at a keynote in October.
Apple released tvOS 10.1 to the public this morning, giving users their first taste of the grand TV-watching experience Cupertino hopes to create by wrangling all your favorite video content into one app.