Save $200 on one of Apple’s finest all-in-ones. Photo: Apple
When Apple unveiled its spec bump for the 4K iMac at WWDC 2017 this week it didn’t seem like a major update. However, a teardown of the new 4K iMac reveals that the new machine is the most upgrade-friendly iMac Apple has released in years.
Want to run VR on a new iMac? Get ready to spend big money on an external GPU with a Thunderbolt connection. Photo: Apple
The new Macs that Apple unveiled Monday bring welcome upgrades to Intel’s latest Kaby Lake processors. However, if you want to use the latest Apple computers for virtual reality, you’ll need to add an external graphics card in a pricey Thunderbolt 3 enclosure.
It’s yet another problem “solved” by Thunderbolt connectivity, but the do-it-all USB-C connector Apple is forcing down our throats isn’t the answer to everything.
Tired of talking to Siri? In iOS 11, you can tap out your requests silently. Photo: Cult of Mac
Using Siri in public places can be a drag. Either it’s too noisy for Apple’s AI assistant to understand your query, or it’s too quiet and it’s embarrassing (or even risky) to ask Siri for help.
Luckily, iOS 11 brings a Siri upgrade that changes all that: The new Type to Siri feature lets you silently send all your questions and commands. This feature comes disabled by default, but enabling it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds.
New watch faces as part of Apple Watch OS 4. Photo: Apple
In watchOS 4, you can use an image from your Photos library on your iPhone as a custom Apple Watch face. It’s an easy way to add a touch of personalization to your wearable.
Despite removing its annual Design Awards show from the WWDC 2017 schedule last month, Apple still handed out awards for the best apps of the year at its developer conference and games were the biggest winners.
Apple's WWDC 2017 Platforms State of the Union session gets boiled down to its bare essentials in these sketchnotes. Photo: Andy McNally/Cult of Mac
The WWDC 2017 Platforms State of the Union, during which Apple laid out what’s new for developers, brimmed with updates. The session at Apple’s annual developer conference focused on fundamentals of and refinements to iOS 11, Swift and Xcode, delivering vital details for coders.
Relive the session’s highlights with these sketchnotes, which should give Apple developers and Apple users alike much to be excited about.
Mann was tickled by macOS's new name. Photo: Jonathan Mann
When Apple revealed the name of its next macOS update this week, Jonathan Mann — like a lot of Apple watchers — found himself somewhat amused by the “High Sierra” moniker.
If you don’t know Mann by name, you may well be familiar with his work. A YouTube musician and Apple fan, he has composed more than 40 songs about his favorite tech company over the years — including one that once made Steve Jobs dance.
Check out his appropriately smoky macOS High Sierra song below.
iOS 11 brings plenty of powerful new features. Photo: Apple
Rather than completely overhauling the Home screen in iOS 11, Apple settled for a few neat tweaks that will make using your iPhone easier. One of the coolest new features makes the previously clunky process of organizing your Home screen a lot less annoying.
Rather than painstakingly dragging individual app icons across the pages of your Home screen, iOS 11 lets you move multiple icons simultaneously with this hidden trick.
Michelle Obama addressing Apple developers at WWDC. Photo: Kenny Batista
This week, student Kenny Batista will be writing a diary from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California. Kenny won a coveted WWDC Scholarship, which includes food, lodging and VIP access.
SAN JOSE, California — Amazing first two days here at dub dub. Let me give you a detailed, eye-witness journal entry!
Today was Day 2 of WWDC. Former first lady Michelle Obama came in to speak on stage. She was truly inspirational. And Christine Darden, a NASA engineer portrayed in the book Hidden Figures, taught us all about supersonic airplanes.
The honeycomb app screen has always been a pain. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is looking to move away from the honeycomb-style app selection screen that debuted on the first Apple Watch.
With the new watchOS 4 software update coming to the public later this fall, Apple added an option that lets Apple Watch owners change the way they view and select apps.
iOS finally has a command line. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Talking to Siri can be a bit embarrassing when you’re in crowded public spaces, but with iOS 11, Apple is finally allowing users to submit questions to the digital assistant via text.
Apple didn’t mention the new feature during its WWDC 2017 keynote, however it’s already become one of our favorite additions in the new beta because it gives iPhone and iPad owners the closest thing yet to a command line.
Sitting on a cash pile of billions, Apple’s not a company that’s used to being left behind. But when it comes to artificial intelligence, that’s exactly what has happened in recent years. While companies like Google and Facebook led the way with cutting-edge AI, Apple lagged. It was embarrassing for a company in Apple’s position to miss out on the single best tech revolution taking place at the moment.
Bozoma Saint John is in charge of hyping Apple Music. Photo: Apple
This story has been updated to include comments from Bozoma Saint John.
Bozoma Saint John, one of Apple’s most entertaining keynote presenters, is leaving the company to work for Uber as the ride-sharing startup’s chief brand officer.
Her task? Fixing Uber’s tarnished image in the wake of sexual harassment allegations and other recent turmoil
Kenny Batista/ Cult of Mac Photo: Kenny Batista/Cult of Mac
This week, student Kenny Batista will be writing a diary from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California. Kenny won a coveted WWDC Scholarship, which includes food, lodging and VIP access.
SAN JOSE, California — Apple does a great job making its WWDC scholars feel special. The company planned an awesome orientation day for us, full of Apple swag, insights about what Cupertino’s core teams are working on, and one-on-one networking with Apple engineers.
And then there were the secret events throughout the orientation. Hands down, Sunday was one of the most exciting days of my life. Let me tell you about it.
All this week, illustrator and senior UX/UI designer Andy McNally will be sketchnoting Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference for us.
My markers and pens worked overtime to capture all of the news and announcements in this year’s WWDC keynote. I captured three pages of notes on watchOS 4, macOS HighSierra, the iMac Pro, the new 10.5 inch iPad Pro, and iOS 11. The artist in me is excited about trying out the new iPad Pro to test the improved Apple Pencil latency. You can check out all of Apple’s announcements and details here.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad. Photo: Apple
Three of the new hardware products Apple unveiled today at WWDC 2017 won’t be available until then end of 2017, but thanks to a hands-on section Apple hosted to developers, you can already get an idea of what it’ll be like to use the new iPad Pro, iMac Pro and HomePod.
Press members have been busy playing with the new products all afternoon and the early impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Of course, some issues on the iMac Pro and HomePod may still need fixing before launch, but it sounds like fans will love them.
Tim Cook uncorked a load of surprises during the WWDC 2017 keynote. Photo: Apple
If you felt worried about Apple’s supposed lack of innovation, today’s action-packed WWDC keynote should have allayed your fears. Apple execs sprinted through a 2.5-hour technology showcase filled with hardware updates, serious software upgrades and even a whole new product category.
The whirlwind presentation showed the end result of a busy company with almost unimaginable assets. Far more than a sleepy kickoff to an annual developers confab, today’s stunning presentation showed the magical output of an innovation machine firing on all cylinders.
Anyone who pegged Tim Cook as asleep at the wheel better think again. Here are the key takeaways from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2017 keynote.
Samsung doesn't want to fight HomePod... yet. Photo: Apple
Apple’s HomePod is sure to fit in our surroundings. It already resembles a couple of items found around the home, as many astute Twitter users pointed out when Phil Schiller unveiled the new smart speaker at WWDC 2017 Monday morning.
Many thought it looked like a ball of string while at least one saw its look inspired by a roll of toilet paper.
The new iMac Pro brings awesome firepower to the desktop. Photo: Apple
Hot on the heels of it’s big batch of software and hardware announcements at WWDC 2017, Apple has published a series of new ads to its YouTube channel promoting its new products.
Apple fanboys won’t even be able to by the new iMac Pro until the end of 2017, but for now you can lust after it by watching Apple’s teaser ads over and over. There are also some new ad spots for the powerful new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad. Photo: Apple
Developers just got an early preview of Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 update for iPhones and iPads today during the company’s WWDC 2017 keynote in San Jose.
The new update packs some huge new features that make iOS more powerful and easier-to-use than ever. Apple’s update is so jam packed that some of the best new additions didn’t even get some stage time at WWDC.
HomePod will launch in December, but supplies will be constrained. Photo: Apple
Apple’s upcoming HomePod smart speaker will “reinvent the way we enjoy music in the home,” says Apple exec Phil Schiller, who offered a sneak peek at the product today.
Calling it a “breakthrough home speaker,” he outlined how the 7-inch wireless speaker will work seamlessly with Apple Music — and totally rock the house, while also giving you a way to control your house.
Meet the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and improved 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Photo: Apple
Apple just unveiled the 10.5-inch iPad Pro we’ve all been waiting for. It delivers a faster 120Hz display for smoother motion and enhanced Apple Pencil performance, but Apple’s latest A10X Fusion processor for the best performance on an iPad to date.
iOS 11 is Apple's biggest update in years. Photo: Apple
Developers received an early look at iOS 11 today, Apple’s next big update for iPhones and iPads that adds a host of new features and user-interface changes to make iOS devices better than ever.
“Today we’re going to take the world’s best and most advanced operating system and turn it up to 11,” said Tim Cook.