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What does Siri AI mean for your old HomePod?

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Why HomePod and HomePod mini miss out on Siri AI
Will the conversational Siri AI come to your current HomePod?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation version of its voice assistant, might push everyone’s HomePods toward obsolescence. Technology is moving on, apparently leaving these smart speakers behind.

Still, the devices aren’t about to become rubbish. They’ll just miss out on some of the new Apple Intelligence features. Here’s what’s going on.

Most beautiful Mac setups: Symmetry, style and serious desk envy

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Most beautiful Mac setups - symmetrical setup with Mac Studio
A user joked that this setup is so clean it looks like artificial intelligence generated the image.
Photo: [email protected]

Among the thousands of Mac setups posted to social media each year, a small subset earns a reaction that’s different from the usual approving nod or dismissive scowl. These are the ones that make commenters stop mid-scroll and type something. “Peak coziness.” “Oozes good taste.” “This looks AI-generated.” Cult of Mac has featured hundreds of genuinely attractive workstations over several years, but the ones below stand apart as the most beautiful Mac setups.

Leaker claims health-tracking Apple ‘iRing’ now in development

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Apple 'iRing' is in development
Here's an Apple Ring concept image.
Photo: Concept: Victor Soto/BluePoly

Apple may soon enter the smart ring market, if a new leak is to be believed. Prolific Apple leaker Kosutami dropped a brief but striking post to that effect Wednesday, saying a health-tracking Apple ‘iRing’ is in development.

The disclosure marks the first credible insider signal that Apple actively builds a smart ring — rather than merely exploring the idea on paper, as it started doing years ago.

Apple plans for iPhone Ultra 2, plays wait and see on iPhone Air 3

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Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2
This foldable iPhone concept gives at least some idea about what subsequent generations could look like in fully open form.
AI image: Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple has already approved development of its second-generation foldable iPhone — before the first one even hits store shelves — while the future of the ultra-thin iPhone Air line stays up in the air, a prominent leaker said Thursday. So while Apple plans iPhone Ultra 2, sales worries may delay or even kill off iPhone Air 3.

Foldable iPhone hinge woes appear resolved ahead of likely September debut

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Photo of a folding Android device, used to illustrate a story about a rumored liquid metal hinge for the first folding iPhone
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone.
Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License

After months of swirling concern over hinge reliability, Apple’s long-anticipated foldable iPhone, aka iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, now looks to be on solid footing for a fall launch, according to a new supply chain report Wednesday.

Stylish 25W iPhone power bank comes with a display and clip-on cable [Review] ★★★★★

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Iniu SnapGo Air 10000mAh review★★★★★
The Iniu SnapGo Air iPhone power bank includes some sweet bonus features, including a status screen.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Iniu SnapGo Air 10000mAh power bank stands out in an increasingly crowded market with an array of premium features. The MagSafe accessory sports a built-in status display, plus a clip-on USB-C cable that also acts as a strap. And it can transfer up to 25W of wireless power to an iPhone or up to 45W to other computers via a USB-C.

And it looks good while doing it.

I tested the SnapGo Air with my iPhone and iPad. Here’s what I learned.

3 reasons to watch Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed on Apple TV

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Photo of Tatiana Maslany from Apple TV series
If you don't know Tatiana Maslany yet, this show is some of her best work.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV’s newest dark-comedy-thriller, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, may already stand as the platform’s most compelling series of 2026. If you haven’t started streaming the hard-to-classify series yet, here are three compelling reasons to try it tonight.

I mean, hey, none other than bestselling novelist Stephen King said to watch it, basically.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs returns to work after liver transplant

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Photo of Steve Jobs recapping some Mac OS X successes during the WWDC 2007 keynote.
Steve Jobs battled cancer for years.
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

June 22: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs returns to work after liver transplant June 22, 2009: Apple CEO Steve Jobs returns to work, a couple of months after undergoing a liver transplant as part of his treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Although Jobs has been steadily getting back into work for the past several weeks, the news is made official when a quote from him appears on a June 22 press release about iPhone 3GS sales. An Apple employee also alerts the media after spotting Jobs on campus.

With his return confirmed, everyone wants to know how long Jobs will continue to lead Apple.

8 new features in Safari in iOS 27 that make browsing better

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Safari
The web browser that comes on your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There are eight great new Safari features in iOS 27. The update fixes a lot of irritating design problems that have bothered me for years.

Plus, if your phone supports Apple Intelligence, you’ll enjoy some smart new features that make your browsing easier — I’ve already created a couple custom extensions. And everyone will appreciate the speed and performance gains when they update.

Check out what you can expect from Safari this fall when Apple releases iOS 27.

Today in Apple history: iOS 4 brings FaceTime and multitasking

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Photo of the iPhone 4, which ran on iOS 4
iOS 4 brought important new features to iPhones and the recently released iPad.
Photo: Yutaka Tsutano/Wikimedia CC/Modified by Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

June 21: Today in Apple history: Apple releases iOS 4, which brings multitasking and FaceTime June 21, 2010: Apple releases iOS 4, which introduces a range of productivity features as well as the FaceTime videotelephony service. The iOS 4 launch represents a big step forward for Apple’s flourishing mobile devices.

Due to the arrival of the first-gen iPad earlier in the year, iOS 4 also brings a transition from the mobile operating system’s original name, “iPhone OS.”

Your iPhone can track your medications — here’s how to set it up

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Image of an iPhone with the words
Your iPhone and Apple Watch can help you track your meds.
Image: MorgueFile/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Apple Health app on your iPhone makes it easy to track your medications — and help you remember to take them on time. It offers many advanced options and covers all kinds of medicines.

You can set up schedules, log your activity and even get advice on drug interactions. Let me show you how to get started.

Today in Apple history: Apple’s eWorld online service goes live

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Image of a Mac with
It doesn't get more 1990s than this!
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

June 20: Today in Apple history: Apple launches eWorld, a subscription service for Mac owners to get online June 20, 1994: Apple launches eWorld, a subscription service for Mac owners that’s designed to compete with America Online and other nascent online properties. Part messaging service and part news aggregator, the early internet service gives customers access to email, a bulletin board, and software downloads and support.

Apple envisions eWorld, which runs on Macs and Apple IIGS computers, competing with heavy hitters like AOL, Delphi, CompuServe and Prodigy. Unfortunately, Apple’s online service is doomed from the start.

10 products Apple should bring back and modernize

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Image with a few discontinued Apple products, captioned, Bring Them Back
Some old products might be a hit again today.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Some Apple products are discontinued before the time is right. Maybe, if they were introduced today with modern technology, they could become a much bigger hit.

A lot of Apple’s lesser-known experimental products were killed in 1997. Steve Jobs had just returned, the company was near bankruptcy, and he needed all hands on deck to develop the iMac and Mac OS X.

But some real gems were lost along the way. These are the 10 products that Apple should bring back with modern technology.

Why watchOS 27 drops support for 5 Apple Watch models

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Why 5 Apple Watch models won't get watchOS 27
Apple Watch Ultra 3 and 2 get the full update, but not so the original Ultra (among others).
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s watchOS 27 arrives this fall carrying one of the biggest leaps in Apple Watch intelligence yet: a dedicated Siri AI app, a redesigned dynamic app grid and deeper integration with Apple Intelligence across your devices. But a significant portion of Apple Watch owners won’t see any of it. Here’s why many Apple Watch models won’t get watchOS 27.

Resizable iPhone apps show what the folding iPhone will be like [Gallery]

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Mockup image folding a folding iPhone with a screenshot from iOS 27
The unfolded folding iPhone will be kinda like an iPad mini.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iPhone Mirroring in macOS Golden Gate gives us a clue about what the first folding iPhone will be like. For the first time, you can resize the window to any arbitrary size. That means you can stretch the screen to the rumored dimensions of Apple’s upcoming foldable and see how your favorite apps will look and work.

After all, it’s going to be an unusual iPhone. The unfolded inner screen will be roughly iPad mini-size, with an outer screen that’s much shorter and wider than any iPhone made in the last 15 years.

I took some screenshots of various Apple apps to demonstrate what the folding iPhone’s user interface will look like.

Apple Music top 20 most-streamed artists of all time, ranked

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Apple Music top 20 most-streamed artists
Wonder about the most listened-to artists ever on Apple Music? Check out the top 20.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple Music and music tracking account Chart Data published something on Thursday the streaming service has never shared before: a definitive ranking of its 20 most-streamed artists across the platform’s entire history.

Many of the megastars on it will come as no surprise, but you might find some head-scratchers on there, too.

Best Mac setups for streamers and content creators

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The desktop wallpaper by Basic Apple Guy really does a lot for this setup's visual effect.
The desktop wallpaper by Basic Apple Guy really does a lot for this setup's visual effect.
Photo: [email protected]

Somewhere along the line, Cult of Mac‘s Setups archive became a catalog of the content-creator condition. The gear tells the story: microphones on boom arms, audio interfaces bridging analog warmth and digital precision, Elgato Stream Decks converting complex workflows to a single keypress, key lights washing faces in flattering warmth for video calls and YouTube recordings, and AI-powered webcams that track subjects and adjust framing automatically. Here are the best Mac setups for streamers and content creators from the past few years.

Today in Apple history: Power Mac 9500 is faster and more expandable

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Photo of the Power Macintosh 9500
Back in 1995, the Power Macintosh 9500 was the Mac Studio of its day.
Photo: Übernommen/Wikipedia CC

June 19: Today in Apple history: Apple launches Power Macintosh 9500, which is faster and more expandable than previous models June 19, 1995: Apple releases the Power Macintosh 9500, a high-end Mac that boasts a second-generation PowerPC chip that’s much faster than its predecessor.

The Power Mac 9500 also packs six Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, slots. They allow owners to attach hardware using Intel’s industry-standard connection. Along with seven bays for internal drives and a swappable daughterboard, this makes the 9500 the most expandable Power Mac ever produced.

New Logitech travel mouse folds to be oh so portable [Review] ★★★★☆

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Logitech Mobi Fold review★★★★☆
The Logitech Mobi Fold folding travel mouse can make you productive wherever you go.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Logitech Mobi Fold is an ultra-portable wireless mouse designed for people who work on the go. It folds to fit easily in a pocket or bag, then unfolds into a full-size mouse when it’s time to work.

I just returned from a beach vacation where I put the Mobi Fold through hours of real-world testing. Here’s what it’s like to use.

Trump says Apple and Intel will build chips together in US

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Trump says Apple and Intel will build chips in US
A return to a new form of "Intel Inside" looks likely.
Photo: Intel

President Donald J. Trump took to his Truth Social media site after midnight Wednesday to say Apple and Intel will build chips in the United States together, having struck a design and manufacturing deal. The move sent Intel’s stock soaring and added new urgency to the American semiconductor push.

10 features in macOS Golden Gate that Apple barely mentioned

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macOS Golden Gate
The upcoming version of macOS.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

macOS 27 comes packed with features that will make your daily life on the Mac all the better. From an enhanced user interface to super-charged search, the new operating system delivers upgrades that should please every Mac user.

While Apple Intelligence and Siri AI dominated Apple’s WWDC26 keynote last week, and much of the fervor focused on improvements coming to iOS 27, the Mac is getting some great new features as well.

Here are the 10 best “hidden” features coming to macOS Golden Gate 27.

Today in Apple history: John Sculley steps down as Apple CEO

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Photo of former Apple CEO John Sculley talking at Web Summit 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.
John Sculley ran Apple for a decade.
Photo: Web Summit/Flickr CC

June 18 Today in Apple history June 18, 1993: John Sculley, the ex-Pepsi exec recruited by Steve Jobs to “change the world,” steps down as Apple CEO after a 10-year run.

The Apple board asks Sculley to leave after AAPL shares collapse from a high of $4.33 in 1992 to a measly 73 cents. Sculley hands over the CEO reins to Michael Spindler before briefly taking the role of Apple chairman, prior to departing altogether.

How I tweaked my fitness app Reps & Sets using Apple’s latest tools

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Image showing an iPad, an iPhone and an Apple Watch, all running strength-training app Reps & Sets, displaying the same exercise.
Reps & Sets is a strength-training app for iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch.
Photo: Graham Bower

Last year, WWDC25 inspired me to rewrite my strength-training app Reps & Sets in Swift so it could take advantage of Apple’s latest frameworks, like Foundation Models and Image Playground. It was a massive undertaking, even with the help of today’s AI-powered coding tools.

When I introduced the new version of Reps & Sets on Cult of Mac in January, it was fairly basic. The polite term is “minimum viable product.” All the core features were there, along with a slick Liquid Glass interface and iPad support. But there wasn’t much beyond that.

Many of my users are Cult of Mac readers, and you’ve had no shortage of ideas for improving the app. I’m a solo indie developer. So, over the last five months, in my spare time, I’ve been steadily implementing your ideas. Reps & Sets now includes Apple Intelligence workout summaries, Live Activities, custom exercise photography, a fully standalone Apple Watch app and much more. And it’s still completely free.

Today in Apple history: iPhone OS 3 brings copy/paste to iPhone

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Photo of an iPhone running iPhone OS 3
iPhone OS 3 turned Apple's smartphone into a much more capable device.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

friday_17 June 17, 2009: Apple releases iPhone OS 3, the third iteration of its mobile operating system (and the last before a name change to “iOS”). It adds Cut, Copy and Paste functionality, among the most requested features since the original iPhone shipped in 2007.

“iPhone 3.0 has more than 100 new features for our customers,” says Scott Forstall, Apple’s senior vice president of iPhone software, as he demos the new operating system in front of developers. “Let me walk you through just a few, starting with Cut, Copy and Paste. So, we’ve been working really hard to design an easy-to-use, straightforward user interface for Cut, Copy and Paste on our large touchscreen display, and we think we’ve nailed it.”

iPhone OS 3 also brings a host of other new features, including MMS, a landscape keyboard, support for audiobooks and iTunes video, and Spotlight search, which users can access by swiping left on the iPhone’s Home Screen. And the Find My iPhone app comes along for the ride.