There are outstanding improvements coming to many Apple product in 2021. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple broke new ground in 2020, and will build on that in many ways in 2021. It should be a really significant year for Mac. And iPad and Apple Watch are expected to get important new features as well.
Plus, this could be the year a product Apple has been quietly developing finally breaks out.
Time’s up for excuses - get in shape in 2021 Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple Fitness+ makes it easier than ever to get in shape. So you should have no problem smashing your New Year’s resolution. Right?
Wrong. The sad fact is, despite the best of intentions, most New Year’s resolutions fail. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I know from personal experience as someone who went from a middle-aged slob to the proud owner of six-pack abs for the first time in my life. Now I’m a qualified personal trainer and I write about fitness for Cult of Mac.
So what’s the secret? Why do some resolutions succeed where others fail? Here are my top five tips for how you can use Apple Fitness+ to get in shape in 2021 and stay that way.
By this point, the honeycomb app grid that debuted with the original Apple Watch must have fueled millions of frustrated app hunts.
That swirling sea of apps certainly looked innovative and magical during Apple’s demo in 2014. Apple called the unique interface “fluid and vital,” but in practice, the honeycomb grid often makes it difficult to find the particular app you want.
Luckily, Apple gave you another option. These days, there’s no need to suffer through the search for the app you want. You can easily switch to an alphabetical list view that makes it much easier to find Apple Watch apps.
The Apple Watch has come a long way since its early days. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
A Twitter user by the name of @AppleDemoYT has posted images online they claim to be an early Apple Watch prototype, built as part of the pre-production process before Apple introduced the device in 2015.
Such prototypes are very rare, with Apple preferring not to show images that shed light on how it develops products. Somehow this one made it out in one piece — provided it’s legitimate, of course.
Apps! On your wrist! Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Got your new Apple Watch up and running? It’s time to start exploring all the amazing watchOS apps available to you. We’ve rounded up five of our favorites that we think every Apple Watch owner should be using.
A great leather band that does away with fiddly buckles. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Thanks to a wonderfully simple quick-release clasp, Monowear’s new Deployant Reserve band for Apple Watch is ideal for anyone who despises traditional buckles. It’s made from genuine leather that’s wonderfully soft, and like all Monowear products, it’s also nicely priced.
Strong, practical, and nicely priced. Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac
A decent all-in-one charging hub that can top-up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously doesn’t have to break the bank. Elago’s is insanely practical, virtually unbreakable, and a steal at just $30.
It’s ideal not only for desks and bedside tables, but also those who frequently travel. It supports all iPhone and Apple Watch models, and it’s available in a number of smart and subtle color options.
Vengeance is one of many brilliant leather options. Photo: Watch Store Co
Watch Strap Co’s impressive lineup of high-end Apple Watch bands is now available from the Cult of Mac Store. There are great nylon, leather, and stainless steel options to choose from — all brilliantly made and available in a range of color options.
We couldn’t be more delighted to have added them to our collection, and we think you’ll love them just as much as we do.
Shopping for an Apple Watch wearer? Start here! Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Holiday shopping for an Apple Watch fan couldn’t be easier. There are so many awesome bands and accessories out there, you’re bound to find something they’ll love. But we’re here if you need a helping hand.
We’ve rounded up some of the best Apple Watch gifts that are a steal at under $40. There are bands, charging stands, cases, and more to choose from. All from brilliant brands like Mifa, Elago, and Rilee & Lo.
I let Apple Fitness+ test me to the limit, so I could test it to the limit. Photo: Apple
Apple Fitness+ only came online yesterday, but I’ve already logged 10 workouts with it. I let Cupertino’s new subscription service put me through my paces, so I could put it through its paces to bring you this review.
I’m a qualified personal trainer and a fitness fanatic who trains hard every day. So I was curious to find out if Apple Fitness+ could give me a challenging workout.
Most of the interesting stuff in your body happens in your core, not on your wrist. Photo illustration: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple’s VO2 max metric measures the performance of your heart and lungs when you push yourself to the limit. Up until now, though, it’s only been useful to serious fitness fanatics. No wonder Apple buried it in the Health app, where most users never found it.
But watchOS 7.2 and iOS 14.3, which Apple released Monday, change all that. In those updates, the VO2 max metric has been renamed Cardio Fitness. Now it can detect lower ranges and send alerts when the reading gets too low. That makes it the latest in a series of potentially life-saving health notifications from Apple Watch.
Here’s everything you need to know to get the benefit of this essential new feature.
The Zens Liberty charges iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Wireless chargers don’t get much cooler than the new Liberty from Zens. Available with a tempered glass surface that lets you see all 16 of its copper charging coils, it tops up iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously.
It’s probably the only wireless charger you’ll ever need, and it does its job brilliantly. It’s like an AirPower you can actually buy.
Apple Fitness+ will whip you into shape starting Monday. Photo: Apple
Apple Fitness+, Apple’s $9.99-a-month subscription workout service built around Apple Watch, will launch December 14.
The service will launch with 10 workout types. These include High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, Cycling, Treadmill (for running and walking), Rowing and Mindful Cooldown. The sessions are led by an elite team of fitness experts we profiled here.
What if your Apple Watch face was pristine because the complications were hidden out of the way? Screenshot: A Better Computer
Apple Watch offers watch faces that’s do much more than tell time. But a user thinks the extra snippets of information — called complications — junk up the appearance of the wearable. They created an Apple Watch concept that moves them off the display and onto the pop-up window that’s currently the Control Center.
Wristcam probably isn’t the Apple Watch camera you’ve been hoping for. Photo: Wristcam
Wristcam puts a camera into an Apple Watch band. That’s a product many people have been asking for, but this version seems impractically large. Much larger than anyone wants to wear on their wrist.
Get the upgrades your Apple Watch deserves at prices you can afford. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Right from the start, the Apple Watch was all about personalization, thanks to interchangeable bands and watch faces. Now, Apple Watch owners enjoy even more options for making their wearables their own. To aid that quest for customization, we rounded up a bunch of brilliant Apple Watch accessories you can get right now, all for $35 or less.
You’ll find beautiful bands, brilliant bumpers and the coolest charging docks — all reviewed or approved by a member of the Cult of Mac team.
Here’s how to get your Apple Watch ready for your new iPhone. Photo: Cult of Mac
You just got a shiny new iPhone 12 and of course you want your Apple Watch to play nicely with it. You could reset the Watch to start out fresh, but there’s an easier way switch your Apple Watch to your new iPhone.
Just for Cyber Monday! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Picked up a new Apple device at a big discount this weekend? Now it’s time to sell your old ones and make back some cash for the holidays. Cult of Mac is here to help with a sweet Cyber Monday buyback deal.
Sell your old Apple devices to us today and we’ll give you an extra $15 for each one. This deal ends at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, so take advantage of it while you can
These discounts will disappear soon — don't miss out! Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Black Friday might be over, but Cyber Monday has only just begun. That means there’s still time to pick up the hottest Apple devices at a big discount. You’ll find generous savings on everything from AirPods and Beats to the newest M1 Macs and Apple Watch models.
We’ve rounded up some of the best deals for you to make the hunt a little easier — and to ensure you don’t miss out! So, grab your wallet and get shopping!
New iPads with mini-LED displays could come even sooner. Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac
Apple will introduce a redesigned Apple Watch and MacBook lineup in late 2021, according to one reliable analyst.
Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities expects Apple’s next-generation wearable to bring “innovative health management functions.” He also told investors iPhone 12 is off to a strong start.
Apple today unveiled its four-day shopping event that kicks off on Black Friday. The company is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you buy select products, including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac.
The event runs through Monday, November 30, but it excludes some of Apple’s newest products — such as iPhone 12 and the new iPad Air.
Do you know how Apple Watch counts your swim strokes? Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch is a great swimming companion, offering highly accurate length counts, pace measurements and stroke recognition. But the benefits to swimmers don’t stop there.
You’ll find plenty more useful swim stats in the Fitness app on your iPhone. Strokes Per 25/50/100 is especially valuable because it tracks your swim efficiency, which is key if you want to go faster, further or just look more cool in the pool.
But the way Apple Watch counts your strokes is not as simple as it seems. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert swimmer, it’s worth taking time out to understand exactly how it works.
Winter is coming. And based on what we know about 2020 so far, it’s likely to be a nasty one. Get set for the wet and miserable months by bagging a rugged, waterproof Nyloon band for Apple Watch.
Their NATO-style design makes them super-strong and ready for anything, and they’re available in a range of colorful styles. They’re also nicely priced from just $24.99.
Intercom is on its way. Here's all you need to know. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s new Intercom feature lets you use HomePods to send short audio messages to almost anyone with an Apple device. While Apple showcased Intercom when unveiling the upcoming HomePod mini smart speaker, the feature also works with the regular HomePod as well as iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and more.
If you a HomePod, and you’ve updated it (and your other Apple devices) with the latest software, you can use Intercom to communicate with your family or housemates in new ways.
Spotify for Apple Watch no longer requires an iPhone to be useful. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch users can finally listen to Spotify music without an iPhone. This is a boon to runners, and continues the trend of making Apple’s wearable more independent.