Microsoft’s new flagships have finally arrived. Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft hopes to tempt you away from Android and iOS with a pair of flagship smartphones that boast built-in facial recognition and liquid cooling.
The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL scan your eyes instead of your fingerprints for lightning-fast unlocking, and they’re the first smartphones on the market powered by Windows 10.
The Pakpod quickly adjusts to any level with the turn of one knob. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac
Two things about me as a photographer: I hate tripods and I will never tell another photographer what they must carry with them. Both changed when the Pakpod arrived in the mail.
Weighing 15 ounces, the PakPod has legs that can quickly extend and lock in crazy asymmetrical positions with the turn of a single knob. Legs extend and lock with the push of a button or can be anchored to the ground or even the ocean floor with flip-out stakes at the feet.
Look, ma, no menubar! Screen: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Sometimes you need to use your entire screen at once, like when you’re working on a serious photo-retouching project or need more screen real estate for an epic GarageBand session and you don’t want to maximize the app you’re using.
If you’ve ever wanted to regain a little bit of space on your Mac’s screen, the time is right to make sure you’re running the latest version of OS X, El Capitan. It will let you hide the menu bar up top to give you more space to work with.
Here’s how to have your menu bar hide itself when you’re not using it.
Connor Chung, 14, of Bethlehem, NY, at the WWDC 2015. Photo: Connor Chung
Few things could excuse a kid from skipping his middle school graduation. Connor Chung had a note from Apple.
It explained he would be needed in San Francisco for the WWDC. Once there, he would meet important people like Tim Cook, take part in brainstorming sessions with developers and engineers and lay the groundwork for an Apple Watch app that would be among the first in iTunes on the day OS 2 launched.
Flip PDF easily transforms simple PDF documents into beautiful digital books. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
PDFs are convenient and used by almost everybody, but flipping between preview windows is not a very attractive or engaging way to view content. Flip PDF for Mac makes it easy to create beautiful digital books and presentations out of your PDFs, perfect for designers, photographers, advertisers, anyone who could benefit from a beautiful digital presentation of their work. And right now, you can get a copy for a tenth of the normal price, just $9.
Combining the existing Apple Watch hardware (only with the addition of a Hermès logo) with luxury leather straps from the Parisian fashion brand, the result is quite possibly the most stunning range of Apple Watches yet. They even come with unique Hermès watch faces.
Steve Jobs connects the dots in his commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. Photo: Stanford University
It may not seem like it, but Steve Jobs passed away four whole years ago today — leading to his colleagues paying tribute to the late Apple CEO.
In an email sent out to employees, Tim Cook praised Jobs as a “visionary,” reminding people that Jobs’ office remains untouched at Apple, and encouraging people to post their own memories to Apple’s internal AppleWeb intranet and messaging system.
Laurene Powell Jobs probably won't be lining up to watch the movie opening weekend. Photo: Universal Pictures
Could the story behind the upcoming Steve Jobs movie be even more exciting than the movie itself?
Having seen the movie dropped by its original backers, experienced damaging leaks as a result of the Sony hack, and topped off by a recent war of words between Tim Cook and writer Aaron Sorkin, now a new report claims that Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, tried to block the film’s release altogether.
Every year, millions of older smartphones get dumped. Cult of Mac hopes to change that with a new buyback service that pays more than similar programs. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
I’m super-excited to announce that Cult of Mac is launching a gadget buyback program that promises to pay more for used and broken Apple devices than Gazelle, Walmart and even Apple itself.
As we enter the annual upgrade season, we’ve teamed up with a U.S. recycling company to offer what we believe is the highest-paying buyback program right here at buyback.cultofmac.com.
We pay cash for old iPhones, iPads, iPods and MacBooks. We accept both used and broken devices — even dead iPhones that have fallen in the toilet.
Titan's MFi-certified Loop is a superb way to keep a charging cable on hand when and wherever you need it. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
These days, the charging cable for our mobile devices is almost as important to keep on our person as the house keys. Titan Loop is a great way to keep both on hand, a lightweight, steel-sheathed lightning cable that can also fold into a loop that attaches to anything else you regularly carry around with you. For a very short time, Titan Loops are still available for $19.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Your Mac—it just learned some new tricks. Photo: Library of Congress
This week: we’ve spent seven full days with iPhone 6s and we’re ready to report what we love and what we don’t. Plus: El Capitan just made your Mac a lot better! We’ll cover the cool tricks your Mac just learned. And then, how does $9 for an Apple Watch Sport band sound? How about $28 for a Leather Loop? Sure, the fake Apple Watch bands are 1/5 the price of genuine bands, but are they any good? We’ve been testing two fakes to find out, and the results might surprise you.
Our thanks to Lynda for supporting this episode. Lynda is like the Apple Music of online education, with over 3000 expert-taught video courses you can stream straight to computer or mobile device. Learn how to use Logic’s new super powerful Alchemy synth, or develop Mac apps for OS X—learn all you want for free for 10 days at lynda.com/cultcast.
Beats by Dre, like their namesake, are well known for making sound that's guaranteed to move you. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’ve got a phone, you’ve got to have a good set of headphones. We’re all looking for something different from the music makers we put into our ears, whether it’s studio quality sound, wireless convenience, or something that can survive a daily workout regimen. No matter what your needs, we’ve got you and your budget covered with these four deals on top notch earbuds.
Runtastic's text is sometimes too small to read while running Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
WatchOS 2 offers cool new features for third-party fitness apps. But a week after its launch, most leading fitness apps have yet to go native and take advantage of the Apple Watch update.
So what’s up? The answer may lie in Apple’s new workout API, which does not provide the GPS coordinates required for apps to map your run or cycle ride.
It's all in here. Cover Design: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus came out last week, and it’s been a fun ride getting to know what makes these sexy beasts tick.
Check out this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine for all the tips, tricks, reviews, news, and just plain great content with yet another digital issue of your favorite magazine.
Download the brand new Cult of Mac Magazine app from iTunes right now, and you’ll get all this, and more, absolutely free.
What's wrong with thousands of great apps? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch is missing a “killer app.”
At least that’s what some say. Apple’s first wearable has been selling well, but its inability to convince everyone they need a smartwatch since it went on sale in late April is being blamed on its lack of stellar software by some analysts. But are they right?
Does Apple Watch really need a killer app to become the next iPod (in sales terms), or will it do perfectly well with thousands of great apps?
Ever wish you could watch all those great Key & Peele or Inside Amy Schumer clips from YouTube on the big television in the living room?
Sometimes the small screen on your MacBook just isn’t large enough to contain all that hilarity. It’s times like these that you’ll want to send video to that massive HDTV, and El Capitan makes it even easier with a new AirPlay feature.
Here’s how to beam your favorite clips to your favorite screen.
iBlazr 2 is a wireless flash that opens whole new ways of taking photos with your phone Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The phones in our cameras, especially with the release of the iPhone 6S, have become as good as what the pros use. Of course the pros also use more than just cameras to make their pictures look great, and iBlazr 2 brings one of the most important of them to your phone: a wireless flash. Right now it’s going for just $55.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
We won again, Android bros! Photo: Cult of Android
Android users are into some pretty weird… stuff. I know you’re probably denying that now — I tried, too — but you can’t, because Pornhub has its eye on us all. Sort of.
According to the website’s latest browsing statistics, the list of things Android users are into makes for a much more intriguing reading that that for iOS users. Mobile devices are also crushing the desktop when it comes to overall traffic, and Android has the edge.
This iPhone 6 dock will simplify your life. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Best List: iPhone 6 dock by Kanex
Every now and then, I need to FaceTime with someone. Holding my iPhone still is kind of a challenge when I’m chatting, plus I can’t gesticulate wildly when I’m keeping the iPhone upright with my hands. The folks at Kanex have me covered thanks to this slickly designed aluminum dock for iPhone 6 or 6 Plus (and I’m pretty sure it will work with the newer “s” models, as well).
Where should you buy that fancy new iPhone 6s or 6s Plus from? We've got the skinny. Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac
There’s never been a more confusing time to buy an iPhone.
If you’re looking for the best deal on a new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you have tons of options. From Apple to AT&T, Verizon to T-Mobile, carriers and retailers have expanded their options for buying a new iPhone. That, plus an upheaval in traditional cellphone pricing and plans led by T-Mobile, has us all rather confused.
Where can you find a comparison of all the major US options? Right here, of course. We spent the time with our spreadsheets and the websites of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Apple, T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile, and (yes) Consumer Cellular to help you cut through the confusion and find the best iPhone purchase plan for you.
This is a comparison of buying your iPhone 6s, not the coverage or monthly cost of phone calls, text or data on any specific carriers, though that will factor in to your choice, of course.
Office is having a tough time right now. Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft Office is still the champ of content creation in workplaces the world over, so it’s well worth getting acquainted with. These 12 courses cover the works: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access, for beginners and advanced users alike. It’s hours of content and invaluable insight that right now you can get it for whatever you’re willing to pay.
The Grip&Shoot steadies a smartphone photographer's shaky hand. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac
Best List: Grip&Shoot Bluetooth smart grip for photographers
Nobody likes a blurry picture. And while smartphone snappers might think they don’t miss a viewfinder, holding an old-school camera close to the face allowed photographers to use their arms against their torsos to steady things.
With a smartphone, which is held out in front of our bodies, there’s far more risk of shake and blur. Luckily, the Grip&Shoot is a simple solution that will steady the hand.
Are iPhone sales slowing down? Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 6s smashed records in its first weekend on sale, selling a massive 13 million handsets in just three days. However, integrated circuit makers in Apple’s supply chain are complaining that Apple is reportedly lowering its number of orders for this year’s holiday season.
LG's smartwatches have always been bad, but the W7 is even worse. Photo: LGLG’s new Watch Urbane doesn’t need your phone. Photo: LG
LG today unveiled a second edition of its Watch Urbane smartwatch, which finally frees Android Wear from your smartphone.
Thanks to its built-in 4G and 3G connectivity, the new Watch Urbane makes calls and continues to receive notifications even when you leave your phone behind.