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Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs visits the Soviet Union

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A red flag with a rainbow Apple logo and a golden Soviet hammer and sickle.
Steve Jobs' one and only trip to the Soviet Union yielded lots of intrigue.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

July 4: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs visits the Soviet Union July 4, 1985: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs visits Moscow for the first time, with the aim of selling Macs to the Russians. During his two-day trip to the Soviet Union, Jobs lectures computer science students, attends a Fourth of July party at the American embassy and discusses opening a Mac factory in Russia.

He also reportedly almost runs afoul of the KGB by praising assassinated Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

How to take fabulous fireworks photos with your iPhone

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These tips will help you take better fireworks photos.
These tips will help you take better fireworks photos.
Photo: Richard Dongses/Flickr CC

With a little know-how, you can photograph fireworks with an iPhone and achieve great results. But just pointing and shooting with no prior planning can lead to blurry, unexciting fireworks photos.

For instance, does this sound familiar? Last year’s fireworks made you say ooh and ahh, but when you look at your iPhone photos from that night, the sound you make is more of an ugh. Don’t blame Siri or some engineer in Cupertino for previous photo fails. The iPhone camera, as mighty as it is, can’t do all the thinking for you — especially in challenging lighting conditions like a fireworks display.

But with a little thought and preparation, you can make this holiday worth reliving on your iPhone camera roll. Below are some simple tips to make your iPhone fireworks photos sizzle.

Best Pro Display XDR setups: Apple’s most magnificent monitor in the wild

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Liam Hudson setup with 3 Pro Displays XDR
A 2019 Mac Pro is the core of this three-Pro Display XDR computer setup, along with a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook (not pictured).
Photo: Liam Hudson

The Apple Pro Display XDR is, by almost any measure, the most spectacular external monitor ever made for a Mac. Launched in 2019 at a price that shocked even committed Apple fans — $4,999 for the standard glass version, $5,999 for nano-texture, plus $999 for the Pro Stand — it takes your breath away for several reasons. A dozen great workstations below are the best Pro Display XDR setups in Cult of Mac‘s archive.

Today in Apple history: MobileMe gets to R.I.P.

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Image of a red sign, on a black background, that says,
So long, MobileMe.
Photo: Apple

July 1: Today in Apple history: Apple shuts down MobileMe web service, pushes iCloud July 1, 2012: Apple shuts down MobileMe, its subscription-based suite of online services and software offering push email, chat, data storage, a photo gallery and other features.

After letting the service limp along for four years, Apple finally decides to pull the plug, pushing users to switch to iCloud. The company gives MobileMe users until the end of July to remove their data from the service.

4 features that supercharge Notes in iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate

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Graphic for the Notes app in iOS 27
The Notes app gets more powerful in Apple’s OS 27 updates.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate add a handful of Notes features that will supercharge your note-taking. There are new options for formatting, working with Markdown and even drawing on a Mac for the first time.

It’s not a big year for the popular note-taking app, but the changes Apple added will please plenty of power users. Here’s what’s new.

TP-Link Roam 7: Don’t leave home without this reliable travel router [Review] ★★★★

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TP-Link Roam 7 review★★★★
The TP-Link Roam 7 is ready to go on your next holiday, like it went to the beach with me.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The TP-Link Roam 7 is small enough to be easily portable, but nevertheless provides speedy and reliable wireless connections to all your gear, no matter where you go.

I tested the travel router with Wi-Fi 7 on a recent beach trip. Here’s how it stands up to real-world use.

Why you should expect much richer Apple OLED display colors soon

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Apple OLED panels target wider color gamut
If you think Apple displays are amazing now, just wait a few years. Color will really pop.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Future MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and iMac models look set to gain OLED displays with dramatically richer color, according to a new report Monday. That’s because upcoming Apple OLED panels target a wider color gamut, a new industry standard that makes today’s screens look narrow by comparison.

Today in Apple history: Mac LC 520 sets its sights on the classroom

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Photo of a Macintosh LC 520
The Macintosh LC 520 became the face of classroom Macs in the '90s.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

June 28: Today in Apple history: Mac LC 520 sets its sights on the classroom June 28, 1993: Apple ships the Macintosh LC 520, an “all-in-one” Mac targeted primarily at the education market.

The first Macintosh ever shipped with a non-optional 2x CD-ROM drive, it is designed to capitalize on schools’ growing multimedia requirements.

Why Apple silicon Macs aren’t immune to RAM price hikes

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Image of an Apple M-series processor, used to illustrate a story on Mac price hikes result from rising memory costs
Every Mac's Apple silicon processor includes RAM and storage outsourced from memory chipmakers.
Photo: iFixit

Can’t understand why the rising cost of memory chips forces a hike in Mac prices? Apple silicon processors include Unified Memory, so Apple has no need to buy RAM chips, right?

No, that is not how it works. Mac processors include RAM that Apple must purchase from outside suppliers.

Still confused? Here’s what’s going on.

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.