Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
The wait is over. YouTube picture-in-picture is now available for all iPhone and iPad users. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
YouTube has brought picture-in-picture support to all U.S. users of its iOS and iPadOS apps. The feature is rolling out now, and will allow users to watch videos in a mini player while also using other applications.
The convenient feature has been in beta testing for many months
The Apple car might never need a driver, just passengers. Concept: LeaseFetcher
You’ll never get behind the wheel of an Apple car. That’s because the Mac-maker’s plan is a fully autonomous vehicle, according to a trove of information about the upcoming car that came to light Monday. That means no steering wheel and no brake pedal.
But Apple does not yet have a car that’s capable of reliably driving itself. And at least one high-level exec sounds skeptical that it ever will.
Just can't wait to try the new iOS 16 Lock screen or Stage Manger in macOS Ventura? Now is your chance. Photo: Apple
Anyone who wants to can now install a beta of iOS 16, macOS Ventura, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9 or tvOS 16. Until now, these have been reserved for developers.
Those who are interested should take care: these are still fairly early betas. They have bugs and are not recommended for devices that will be used daily.
Shipments fell far short of demand for the Mac Studio this spring. Photo: Apple
Apple’s struggle to get computers assembled in China during COVID lockdowns this spring had the expected result: Mac shipments dropped 22.5% in the spring quarter of 2022, according to a market-research firm.
At least company execs can take solace from the fact that this is not a demand problem. Consumers want to buy Macs but Apple can’t supply them.
The M2 MacBook was unveiled in June at WWDC22. Photo: Apple
The first benchmark scores for the upcoming MacBook Air with an Apple M2 processor confirm that the device offers a considerable speed boost over the M1-powered version.
However, performance comes in well behind MacBook Pros with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
You'll probably have to wait for the M2 MacBook Air, but not more than a couple weeks. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Preorders for the svelte new M2 MacBook Air began early Friday morning and Apple is mostly keeping up with demand. There’s even one standard configuration still available for delivery on the July 15 launch day. The base model can be delivered a few days after that.
Build up the specs and the wait time can stretch out to August. But no farther than that.
The "wonderfully weird" Samorost 3+ is the latest App Store Great to join Apple Arcade. Screenshot: Amanita Design
Apple Arcade offers many original games, but the collection also includes quite a few App Store Greats: classic titles that have joined Apple’s gaming service. Recent additions include Samorost 3+, My Bowling 3D+, Jigsaw Puzzle+ and Pro Darts 2022+.
They join dozen of other classic games that players used to have to pay to play individually but are now all available with a single Apple Arcade subscription.
Here's how to be ready to order the amazing M2 MacBook Air so you get one on launch day. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The most exciting MacBook of 2022 goes up for preorder on Friday, and the M2 MacBook Air is likely to sell out quickly. You need do some early prep work if you want to get your hands on this beautifully redesigned notebook as soon as possible.
Here’s how to be completely ready to put in a preorder.
When Apple first showed off the original iPhone in early 2007, the demo included a Lock Screen image of a pair of clownfish. The pic was not on the device when it shipped, but some people say the picture is included in the just-released iOS 16 beta 3.
Bringing back the image after 15 years is apparently a sort of Easter egg to celebrate the anniversary.
Lockdown Mode is designed to offer an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
A new hyper-secure Lockdown Mode should help protect the iPhones, iPads and Macs of journalists, politicians and activists who face “highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware,” Apple said Wednesday.
The new security measure is only for extreme cases, though, because it blocks commonly used features of messaging and web browsing.
The European Union takes another step toward tough regulations on tech giants like Apple. Photo: Freestocks.org
The European Parliament passed the landmark Digital Markets Act on Tuesday. The legislation aims to outlaw many common practices of Big Tech companies, especially Apple, Google and Amazon.
For iPhone users, the DMA would force Apple to allow rival app stores and sideloaded applications. And these are only two of many significant changes in the act.
There are still further steps the the EU government must go through before the DMA goes into effect, but that’s expected to happen before the end of 2022.
Your Apple TV can be your cable box with the new Xfinity Stream app. Photo: Comcast/Apple
An Apple TV can now be used to watch all of Comcast’s live, on demand and DVR programming. The cable behemoth’s subscribers just need to install the newly-released Xfinity Stream app on Apple’s streaming box.
Thursday’s release makes it simple for Apple TV users to add Xfinity access to additional rooms. No traditional cable box necessary.
The M2 MacBook Pro can get hot, hot, hot. What does that mean for the M2 MacBook Air, which has no fan? Graphic: Apple
The just-released MacBook Pro running Apple’s new M2 processor offers generally good performance, but its single fan can’t stop it from experiencing ‘severe’ thermal throttling under certain conditions, according to tests done on the device.
The upcoming MacBook Air also uses an M2 chip and doesn’t have a fan at all. How much thermal throttling it will experience is not yet knownn, but it could be signficant.
CleanMyMac X adds monitors for the processor, HD, RAM and more. Photo: MacPaw
MacPaw’s CleanMyMac X now includes five new ways to track the health of Mac computers. They monitor the CPU, RAM, storage, battery and more. The software already blocks malware and ensures other third-party apps are always up to date.
MacPaw also announced that its raffle to raise money for Ukrainian aid brought in far more than expected.
Double your Apple Card cash back with select retailers in July. Photo: Apple
Use an Apple Card at certain online retailers and service providers between now and the end of July to earn 4% cash back. It’s a summertime promotion, and the companies involved offer sunglasses, movie tickets, coolers, hotel rooms, etc.
Apple Pay and the Mac-maker’s credit card regularly offer at least 2% cash back for online purchases but some special deals bring larger percentages. Like this one.
You won't need a calendar to track your 2021 MacBook Pro order. It might help, though. Photo: Cult of Mac
Wait times for Apple’s hottest MacBooks are shorter than they were this spring. It’s now possible to get some versions of the 2021 MacBook Pro delivered in less than a month.
And the COVID outbreak in China that caused the delays is apparently over.
Jason Momoa in the third season of “See,” premiering globally Friday, August 26 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
See is coming to an end. The epic, post-apocalyptic adventure series starring Jason Momoa will wrap up with season 3, which premieres on Apple TV+ in late August.
A just-released teaser trailer for the upcoming season reveals a new threat for Baba Voss and his family.
Apple TV+ content gets top marks. Graphic: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ content enjoys the highest average IMDb score of any streaming service, according to a new study. It comes in tops in a variety of areas, including dramas and child-friendly shows.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise: Apple’s streaming video service regularly wins awards, including a Best Picture Oscar in 2022.
Belkin's iPhone/Apple Watch/AirPods charging stand just got better. Photo: Belkin
An improved version of the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand supports fast charging Apple Watch Series 7 – up to 33% faster than Series 6.
And the stand still charges MagSafe iPhones at up to 15 watts. And it provides 5 watts to AirPods wireless charging cases.
We apparently won't see an Apple 5G modem for years to come. Artists concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly unable to produce the 5G modem for the 2023 iPhone, as it had hoped. It will instead have the buy the critical component from Qualcomm, a company that Cupertino has quarreled with in the past.
Cupertino already sank more than a billion dollars into this so-far-unsuccessful effort.
Viewers are more satisfied with Apple TV+ this year. Screenshot: Apple
Apple TV+ subscribers seem much more satisfied with the streaming service than they were a year ago, according to a survey of viewers. The home of Ted Lasso and Severance even made gains on Netflix – streaming’s 800-pound gorilla – in a couple of categories, including value.
And more people than ever would make Apple TV+ their one and only streaming service.
A MacBook Pro in a BookBook has a unique look. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s latest BookBook case makes the 2021 MacBook Pro look like a leather-bound book. The unique case manages to simultaneously make your macOS laptop stand out from the crowd and blend into the background.
There are versions for both the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. BookBook is also available for iPad and iPhone.