The new OWC miniStack gives your Mac mini (or any Mac) three Thunderbolt 4 ports and additional storage options. Photo: OWC
The new OWC miniStack STX hub stacks seamlessly with a Mac mini, adding storage capacity and a trio of Thunderbolt 4 ports. But it can be used to expand connectivity and add storage space to any Mac or iPad.
You no longer have to update storage locations for each Shortcut. Photo: Apple
Apple’s newest betas for iOS, iPadOS and macOS make a simple Shortcuts change that greatly improves the user experience across different devices.
Shortcuts now know which storage folders to use automatically — depending on your device — negating the need to manually update them individually for different hardware.
It still doesn't have a release date yet. Photo: WABetaInfo
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new app that will work on both iPad and Mac. It’s thought to take advantage of Apple’s Catalyst platform, which makes it easier for developers to build universal applications.
The popular messaging service is already available on macOS, but this would be the first native WhatsApp client for iPad. WhatsApp has already started rolling out improved multi-device support that is less reliant on a smartphone.
Well, that's a shame. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung has confirmed that it is dropping support for its official DeX app for Mac (and Windows 7) in January.
The move means Galaxy smartphone owners will no longer be able to connect their device to a macOS machine to turn it into an Android-powered desktop. However, the awesome DeX feature itself isn’t going anywhere.
The Apple Holiday Gift Guide 2021 is out with plenty of suggestions for hard-to-buy-for people. Image: Apple
The Apple Holiday Gift Guide 2021 is out with suggestions for phones, computers, audio accessories and exercise gear for a variety of people on your shopping list.
As a bonus, Apple is offering downloadable templates to make personalized holiday cards.
Download it today for free. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
TestFlight, Apple’s own platform for distributing beta software, is now officially available on Mac for the first time. It gives developers the opportunity to invite up to 10,000 people to test early versions of their apps ahead of their release.
Apple first confirmed TestFlight would be coming to Mac back in June at WWDC. It was previously only available on iPhone and iPad.
Learn everything you need to know about Macs with this affordable course bundle. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It pays to know your way around a Mac. Whether you want to keep your home or office machines humming, or become a fully qualified tech professional with a lucrative new career, the Apple Certified Support Professional macOS 11 Course can teach you everything you need to know.
And during our Pre-Black Friday Sale, you can get this ACSP course for only $25.49 (regularly $295) if you use the code SAVE15NOV.
Are your USB-C peripherals working properly under macOS Monterey? Photo: Satechi
A growing number of reports from macOS Monterey users suggest Apple’s newest operating system has issues with USB-C hubs and some other USB peripherals — some of which do not work at all.
Some users say that while there USB-C hub is detected and most ports work as intended, USB 3.0 ports supposedly aren’t seen by macOS.
Supply chain woes cost Apple an estimated $6 billion in revenues last quarter. Photo: Alireza Khoddam/Unsplash CC/Cult of Mac
Apple made a record $20.6 billion in profits last quarter but is getting punished because $83.4 billion in revenue didn’t meet Wall Street analysts’ expectations. Turns out even the Cupertino juggernaut is not immune to supply chain problems — $6 billion worth of them.
Here’s the bad news — and the good — from Apple’s September 2021 earnings report and a Q&A session with analysts afterward.
Was the Touch Bar out of touch with pro users’ needs? Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
The MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar was a technological marvel in its day. It brought the magic of multi-touch to macOS and, with its stand-alone T1 chipset, it put ARM-based Apple Silicon inside the MacBook when the M1 chip was still just a twinkle in Cupertino’s eye.
There’s no doubt it was a clever piece of engineering, but it proved unpopular with pro users. Many missed the tactile feedback of the traditional Escape key and function keys.
Apple rejigged things last year, shrinking the Touch Bar to make room for a physical escape key, but it was too little too late. Many will be glad to see the Touch Bar go, but I’m gonna miss that little sliver of multi-touch magic at the top of my keyboard.
Apple Logic Pro running on the 2021 MacBook Pro shows a lot of dead space because there’s no support for the screen notch. Photo: Apple
The just-launched MacBook Pro models are the first with a screen notch. And this apparently came as a surprise to many of Apple’s own software developers as some of the company’s professional apps don’t support the screen cutouts. Which means they can’t fill the new Mac displays and must leave blank areas.
This won’t make it easier for Apple to convince third-party developers to fully support the latest macOS notebooks.
Apple has finally put us out of our misery and confirmed Universal Control for macOS Monterey will be delayed until “later this fall.”
The new feature, which lets you seamlessly control a Mac and iPad with a single keyboard and mouse, has been missing from most macOS Monterey betas. It has popped up in more recent builds, but it still cannot be activated.
If you wish, you can make Safari in macOS Monterey look like it does in macOS Big Sur. Photo: Apple
Apple threw in the towel on its efforts to change the way Mac users interact with the Safari web browser. Most of the design modifications unveiled at this summer’s Worldwide Developers Conference to emphasize tabs are now completely optional as a result of protests from beta testers.
The latest revisions appear in the release candidates for macOS Monterey, which went to developers Monday.
It will be free for all compatible machines. Photo: Apple
Apple today confirmed after its big “Unleashed” event that macOS Monterey will make its public debut on October 25. It will be free to download and install on all compatible machines.
The next major upgrade to macOS brings a revamped Safari interface, Focus mode, and some big enhancements to the Notes app. It also paves the way for Universal Control, which lets you seamlessly control both a Mac and iPad.
Recent rumors suggested at least one of Apple’s next-generation chips, expected to debut inside a new MacBook Pro and possibly other machines that Apple will announce later today, will go by the name “M1X.”
It kicks off at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple’s next event is right around the corner, and it’s one you won’t want to miss if you’re a fan of the Mac. The “Unleashed” keynote is expected to bring a number of new Apple machines — all powered by an even faster “M1X” chip.
Just like recent Apple keynotes, this one will be streamed online, so you’ll be able to watch it in its entirety as it all unfolds. We’ll show you how.
Parallels Desktop 17.1 is now available for Mac, bringing improved Windows 11 support for those looking to run Microsoft’s latest operating system on their Mac, whether it’s powered by an Intel or Apple Silicon chip.
The update introduces Virtual Trusted Platform Modules (vTPM) for all future and past Windows 11 virtual machines — complying with Windows 11’s system requirements that call for a vTPM chip.
Amazon’s discount on the M1 Mac mini is now bigger than ever, with up to $149.01 off the usual price. Bag yours today to enjoy one of Apple’s fastest desktops at its lowest price yet.
What?! This laptop that runs Windows wasn't made by Apple? No way! Photo: Intel
Butthurt Intel just squeezed out another of its desperate taking-a-stab-at-Apple ads, and it might just be the worst one yet. It paints Apple fans as complete morons.
“Is this real life right now?” one user asks when shown a colorfully lit room filled with Windows machines.
The “real people” brought in for Intel’s “Social Experiment,” despite being apparent Mac users, all appear flabbergasted when told the Windows-powered laptops they’ve been shown aren’t made by Apple. Ugh.
Get the best performance when you need it most. Photo: Apple
Apple is working on a new “High Power Mode” that could boost MacBook performance when the device isn’t connected to a power source, according to the latest macOS Monterey beta.
The feature is thought to be similar to the “Pro Mode” that was first spotted in a macOS Catalina beta early last year. Pro Mode never made its public debut, but it seems Cupertino hasn’t given up on the idea.
Microsoft has dashed hopes that Windows 11 might one day be available on Apple Silicon machines. The company says running its newest operating system on an M1 Mac is “not a supported scenario.”
The statement comes after Parallels Desktop 17 users ran into hardware compatibility errors when running Windows 11 on newer Apple devices.
An all-in-one hub that hopes to make working from home easier. Photo: Logitech
The new Logi Dock from Logitech is an all-in-one hub that’s designed to make working from home — and all the dreaded online meetings that come with it — a little more bearable. It packs almost all the ports you’ll ever need, one-touch meeting controls, and a built-in speakerphone.
It also features pretty lights that will let you know when a meeting is about to start. What more could you want?
TSMC is planning its biggest price hike in over a decade. Photo: TSMC
Apple’s most popular devices could get even more expensive next year, with chip-maker TSMC said to be planning its biggest price increase in more than a decade. The move could also affect companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm.
Sources are blaming the price hike on a number of factors, including higher material costs and the ongoing chip shortage, which has encouraged some device vendors to buy up more components than they actually need.
Fewer than 300 new apps hit the Mac App Store last month. Photo: Apple
Developers are seemingly losing interest in bringing their titles to the Mac App Store, with new submissions steadily declining since the beginning of 2021. There were fewer than 300 new releases for the first time ever in July.
And research indicates August could prove even worse for new Mac App Store submissions.