Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple's products and ecosystem.
Apple’s revenue in India hit an all-time high of nearly $8 billion in the last fiscal year. The company reported a 33% jump in revenues, up from $6 billion a year ago.
iPhones led the growth, accounting for over half of all Apple devices sold in India.
The first PC emulator for iOS is now available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Vision Pro. Free app UTM SE allows you to run “classic software and old-school games.”
Apple first rejected the developer’s submission in June, citing a violation of the App Store Review Guidelines. However, Apple appears to have changed its stance regarding PC emulators on the App Store since then.
I just couldn't resist that 5x telephoto zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This move will benefit the company’s current prisms supplier, Crystal-Optech.
Apple plans to use a larger tetraprism sensor with 48MP resolution on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup in 2025.
Apple wants to ship 90 million iPhone 16s this year. Photo: Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly wants to ship 90 million iPhone 16 units in 2024. The company hopes Apple Intelligence and other AI features will fuel the demand for its new iPhones.
For comparison, Apple shipped about 81 million iPhone 15 units in H2 2023.
Discover the difference between soft and hard resets. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Are your Apple earbuds acting weird? Sometimes you need to reset your AirPods Pro, AirPods Max or regular AirPods to eliminate connection problems and other minor glitches. You have two possible courses of action: a hard reset and a soft reset.
Follow this guide to learn the difference between those two options, plus how to reset, unpair and remove the earbuds from the Find My network.
You will have to wait to enjoy some of Siri's best upgrades in iOS 18. Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly will make us wait until next year for the smarter Siri the company showcased during June’s WWDC24 keynote. According to a new report, the updated voice assistant won’t enter developer beta testing until January, with a public release slated for next spring in iOS 18.4.
Don't expect blood pressure monitoring on Apple Watch Series 10. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 could sport a thinner design with a bigger display, but it sounds like new health sensors won’t arrive this year. Apple also plans to use a faster processor on its next-gen wearable, possibly laying the groundwork for new AI features.
Google wants iPhone users to move away from Safari for web search. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
A new report details that Google wants to reduce its reliance on Apple for search revenue. Despite being the leader in search, Google pays Apple billions of dollars yearly to remain the iPhone’s default search engine.
iPhone searchers comprise about 36% of Google’s total search revenue.
Sonos Ace or AirPods Max? Photo/Graphics: Apple/Sonos/Rajesh Pandey/CultofMac
The Sonos Ace is the first pair of wireless headphones from the company renowned for its room-pounding wireless speakers. With premium features and a fat price tag to match, the Sonos headphones compete with Apple’s over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. But in a Sonos Ace versus AirPods Max comparison, which pair of high-end headphones comes out on top?
If you have the money to spend, check out the specs, pros and cons of each model in our hands-on comparison.
Pay for Vision Pro apps through third-party payment methods in the EU. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cut of Mac
Apple has added support for alternative payment methods to the visionOS App Store. This move comes following the release of visionOS 1.2 in early June.
The Vision Pro’s App Store will support alternative payment methods only in the EU, where the headset launches on July 12.
The IR cameras can help improve the spatial computing experience. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple could equip a future AirPods variant with camera modules. The earbuds may incorporate an IR camera, like the one Apple uses for iPhone’s Face ID.
This will apparently help the AirPods Pro to better integrate with the Vision Pro and improve the spatial computing experience.
Apple Intelligence could take a while to come to the Vision Pro. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple will reportedly bring Apple Intelligence to the Vision Pro. The AI-powered features will not arrive alongside iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, but will eventually come to Apple’s AR/VR headset.
Many Apple Intelligence features would greatly benefit visionOS and help speed up its existing workflows.
A new tech from Apple could make iPhone battery replacement easier. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple could use electrically induced adhesive debonding to make battery removal easier on future iPhones. The company reportedly might use this technology in at least one iPhone 16 model this year.
The move could help Apple make iPhones more repair-friendly — and help Apple comply with upcoming EU laws.
True Tone on third-party iPhone displays? Yes, please! Photo: Apple
Apple will improve support for third-party iPhone displays and batteries later this year. The company revealed this in a new whitepaper published on June 26.
Titled “Longevity, by Design,” Apple detailed approach to longevity in the whitepaper.
Are you ready for a bigger Apple Watch? Render/Graphics: 91Mobiles/Rajesh Pandey
Supposed CAD renders of the Apple Watch Series 10 leaked online Wednesday, revealing a device with a bigger display than its predecessors. The renders show Apple’s upcoming smartwatch with a 2-inch display.
Despite the bigger screen, the Apple Watch Series 10 will seemingly be smaller than the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
RCS messaging will improve the texting experience to Android users. Image: Apple
US carriers have enabled support for RCS messaging for iPhone users on their networks. This comes following the release of iOS 18 beta 2, which shipped with an RCS toggle in the Messages app.
Multiple reports from iPhone users running iOS 18 beta confirm that RCS messaging is now live for them.
After talks broke down, it looks like Meta's AI won't come to iOS 18. Photo/Graphics: Meta, Apple, Rajesh Pandey/CultofMac
In a move bound to raise eyebrows, Apple and Meta Platforms reportedly discussed integrating Meta’s generative AI model into Apple Intelligence. Besides Meta, AI startups Perplexity and Anthropic also reportedly talked with Apple about integrating their offerings into Apple Intelligence.
Update: The initial report of a possible partnership to bring Meta’s Llama large language model to Apple Intelligence made it sound like talks were ongoing. However, a new story published Monday said Apple rejected Meta’s LLM “months ago.”
Some iOS 18 features won't be ready at launch. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
iOS 18 will bring lots of useful features, big and small. But when the new iPhone operating system launches later this fall, you won’t get to enjoy all its new additions on day one. Many headlining features won’t arrive until later in the year or early 2025. But which iOS 18 features will be delayed?
Here’s a roundup of iOS 18 features that won’t arrive on launch day. Note: Many of these delayed features also will come to iPads and Macs in iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. For the purposes of this article, we will talk in terms of iOS 18 only.
Don't expect the Vision Pro 2 to launch anytime soon. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly wants to launch a cheaper AR/VR Vision headset, codenamed N107, as soon as late 2025. While the company set this plan even before the Vision Pro‘s launch, it might fail to meet the deadline.
The company’s engineers are struggling to reduce costs without affecting the headset’s key features.
Spotify has launched a cheaper Basic streaming tier. Photo: Cult of Mac
Following a price hike in the US earlier this month, Spotify has unveiled a cheaper streaming music plan for its users. The new “Basic” streaming tier costs $10.99/month, $1 cheaper than the Premium plan.
Spotify charged the same price for its Premium plan before increasing it in early June. That was the company’s second price hike in less than a year.
You will have to wait for a few weeks for iOS 18 public beta. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple dropped the first iOS 18 developer beta right after the opening keynote of WWDC24. While the build packs several changes, many headline features are missing, and it is also buggy. But what about the iOS 18 public beta, which should bring even more features and offer better stability? When will it arrive?
The timing should be similar for the upcoming iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia public betas, too.
You now have another way to reclaim access to your 1Password account. Image: 1Password
1Password — a popular password manager for iPhone, Mac and other platforms — added support for recovery codes Thursday. This will make it easier to recover your account when you can’t remember your password.
Recovery codes also will help you get into your 1Password vault if you lose access to your Secret Key.
Apple's Back to School promo is live in the US. Screenshot: Apple
Apple’s annual Back to School promotion went live Thursday in the United States. As a part of the deal, eligible students and faculty members will receive up to a $150 gift card on the purchase of select Macs and iPads. Apple also offers a 20% discount on AppleCare+, its premium support and repair service.
The back-to-school promo runs through September 30, so students and parents have ample time to take advantage of Apple’s discounts.
M4 MacBook Pros could debut before the end of 2024. Photo: Apple
Apple could refresh its MacBook Pro lineup with M4 chips as soon as Q4 2024. Based on supply-chain checks, panel shipments for the 14-inch and 16-inch models will start in Q3 2024.
Typically, this indicates that Apple will start shipping new MacBook Pro models in the last quarter of the year.
The Apple Watch Series 10 might adopt a thinner design with a bigger display. Reportedly, Apple will bump the chassis size from 41mm and 45mm to 45mm and 49mm.
Disappointingly, the company apparently does not plan significant upgrades for the Apple Watch Ultra this year. It might get a new black color option, but that’s about it.