Top Stories - page 4

Clever videos personify powerful new M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini

By

M4 promotional videos
The video suggest the new M4 chips will wow us in many ways.
Photo: Apple

With the release this week of new M4 Mac mini and M4 MacBook Pro computers comes a return to form for Apple advertising, with delightful M4 promotional videos that give the new hardware relatable human characteristics. They’re fun to watch, and you can do so below.

Tuesday’s animated video turns Mac mini into an affable yet capable and hyper-productive guy you might want to get a beer with. Wednesday’s MacBook Pro video depicts a power lifter-turned-showman flaunting effortless feats of strength, not to mention acrobatic prowess and grace.

Mac mini smackdown: M4 vs. M2 vs. M1

By

M4 Mac mini vs. M2 vs M1 comparison
How does the M4 Mac mini compare to its M2 and M1 predecessor?
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

Apple gave the Mac mini a long-overdue redesign Tuesday, making the pint-size desktop computer smaller than ever. The M4 chip and the new M4 Pro processor also bring a massive bump in performance. And perhaps surprisingly, the new Mac mini packs almost all the ports you can ask for.

Given these improvements, should you upgrade to the M4 Mac mini from the M2 or even the M1 Mac mini? Find out in this comparison.

Apple TV+ hit Presumed Innocent replaces star and story for season 2

By

Jake Gyllenhaal in Presumed Innocent, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Jake Gyllenhaal won't star in “Presumed Innocent” in season 2, but he remains an executive producer.
Photo: Apple TV+

In a surprising development, Presumed Innocent — Apple TV+’s most-watched drama — will return with a fresh narrative unrelated to Scott Turow’s novel as well as a new female lead replacing star Jake Gyllenhaal for its second season, according to a report Tuesday. These Presumed Innocent season 2 changes spring the adoption of a first-time novelist’s upcoming legal thriller as source material.

Extra small 4-in-1 iPhone/Mac charging cable fits on a keychain [Review] ★★★★☆

By

inCharge XS review: 4-in-1 iPhone/Mac charging cable★★★★☆
Believe it or not, this gizmo expands to be a multi-connector iPhone/Mac charging cable.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Rolling Square’s inCharge XS is a finger-size iPhone or Mac charging cable that squeezes in enough connectors and built-in adapters to ensure you can juice up virtually any Apple device.

Despite its diminutive size, the cable handles up to 240W of power. And it provides fairly quick data transfers, too.

I attached the inCharge XS to my keychain so I could put it to the test.

M4 iMac vs. M3 iMac comparison: What’s changed?

By

M4 vs. M3 iMac comparison
M4 iMac - Should you upgrade?
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

The M4 iMac that Apple launched Monday looks the same as its predecessor but brings some big changes internally. So, how does the M4 iMac compare to the M3 iMac, which arrived less than a year ago? Our M4 iMac versus M3 iMac comparison will show you  how the 2024 model ups the ante on performance.

Mac mini radically redesigned with M4 and M4 Pro chip

By

Hand holding the tiny new Mac mini with two ports on the front
The new Mac mini with M4.
Photo: Apple

Apple unveiled the radically redesigned Mac mini on Tuesday, with versions powered by the M4 chip and a new M4 Pro chip. The smaller-than-ever desktop computer features a new design with convenient ports on the front and back, faster processing speeds and, for the first time, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and a carbon neutral guarantee.

“The new Mac mini delivers gigantic performance in an unbelievably small design thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative new thermal architecture,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, in a press release.

The faster Mac mini is available for preorder now, with a release date of November 8.

How to use the (somewhat) new and improved Siri

By

What Can The New Siri Do?
Learn what powers the upgraded Siri has (and doesn’t yet have) with Apple Intelligence.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple Intelligence brings the long-awaited new Siri … but not quite yet. The Siri improvements so far include extensive knowledge of Apple products, integration with ChatGPT, a brand-new design and the ability to text Siri your questions rather than speaking them aloud.

The even-more-powerful Siri that will be able to see your screen and take actions on your behalf inside apps is still on the road map for next year — and a fully conversational LLM-powered Siri may not arrive until 2026. But there are quite a few neat things you can try out now, if you’re willing to board the Apple Intelligence train. Here’s what the new Siri can do.

New Magic Keyboard, mouse and trackpad spell end for Lightning

By

Apple USB-C input devices
The latest full-sized Magic Keyboard with USB-C.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad finally ditched the Lightning connector to become USB input devices Monday when they rolled out alongside color-matched versions for the new iMac, the first in this week’s M4 Mac announcements. The input devices, expected to ship October 31, are among the last of the iPhone giant’s accessories to make the change to USB-C.

Inside Apple’s Audio Lab: Creating the ‘interface to the ear’

By

Apple Audio Lab
The Fantasia Lab uses a spherical array of 50 loudspeakers to simulate hundreds of real-world sound scenes.
Photo: Apple

Apple developed its groundbreaking Hearing Health experience for AirPods Pro 2 in its state-of-the-art Audio Lab in Cupertino. The innovative features, available in a free software update, turn AirPods Pro 2 into hearing aids and offer advanced tools for testing and protecting the hearing of people who wear the earbuds.

As one Apple engineer put it, with the new Hearing Health features, AirPods Pro 2 become “truly the interface to the ear.”

iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and more usher in Apple Intelligence

By

iOS 18.1 release date: Today!
iOS 18.1 just launched, bringing Apple Intelligence to iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The wait for Apple Intelligence is over. iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iPadOS 18.1 can all be installed now, and they all include Apple’s AI-powered features.

“Apple Intelligence introduces a new era for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, delivering brand-new experiences and tools that will transform what our users can accomplish,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a press release Monday. “Apple Intelligence builds on years of innovation in AI and machine learning to put Apple’s generative models at the core of our devices, giving our users a personal intelligence system that is easy to use — all while protecting their privacy. Apple Intelligence is generative AI in a way that only Apple can deliver, and we’re incredibly excited about its ability to enrich our users’ lives.”

But that’s not everything coming out of Cupertino today. watchOS 11.1, tvOS 18.1 and visionOS 2.1 went out, too — alongside upgraded iMacs powered by Apple’s M4 chip.

This one’s huge: The boatload of new features in iOS 18.1

By

New Features in iOS 18.1
There’s more than Apple Intelligence. Although, Apple Intelligence is a lot.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iOS 18.1 comes with a veritable boatload of big new features. The update, which is out now, brings Apple Intelligence, hearing aid support for AirPods, sleep apnea detection for Apple Watch, phone call recording and more.

Apple Intelligence features are being rolled out slowly with every new iOS update. The process is expected to take a while. This first update hits the ground running with 10 features. But that’s not all — there’s more in this update for those of us with an older iPhone or who live in the European Union.

Keep reading or watch our video on the new features in iOS 18.1.

Apple’s next health frontier: Tackling diabetes with blood sugar app

By

Apple blood sugar app
The app under development is separate from plans for a noninvasive blood sugar monitor.
Photo: Pexels

Apple is secretly testing a new health app designed to help individuals with prediabetes manage their diet and lifestyle choices, according to a new report. The experimental app, tested with select employees earlier this year, focuses on helping users understand how different foods affect their blood sugar levels. That might help stave off Type 2 diabetes for some.

Some might use it just to marvel at how that cookie is spiking their blood sugar and choose an apple next time, instead.

Apple’s October Mac event is on … sort of

By

Apple October 2024 event invitation
An invitation went out to watch out for Apple product announcements all next week.
Photo: Apple

Apple let the world know Thursday that its much-anticipated October event won’t be a traditional one. Instead, it’ll be a week of announcements of new products via press releases.

What the PR blitz will bring is supposed to be a secret, of course. But we already know much of what’s likely coming: MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac mini, all running the M4 processor, plus the iPad 11.

Mujjo MaizCase for iPhone gets right what Apple FineWoven got wrong [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Mujjo MaizCase review★★★★☆
The handsome case offers a snug fit and a good grip. Shown here with iPhone 16 Pro.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In the ever-evolving world of smartphone accessories, Mujjo MaizCase for iPhone stands out as a compelling alternative to traditional leather for anyone looking for a blend of sustainability, style and protection. In this Mujjo MaizCase review, I’ll go into the various reasons why.

As Apple moves away from its traditional leather cases — with a stumble into the unpopular FineWoven material — Mujjo steps in with an eco-friendly alternative that delivers premium feel and functionality.

Beta testing begins for iOS 18.2 with Image Playground, Genmoji, more new AI features

By

Genmoji are custom emoji you can create in iOS 18.
iOS 18.2 beta 1 gives developers a chance to test Genmoji and more.
Image: Apple

Apple seeded the initial beta of iOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2 and iPadOS 8.2 to developers on Wednesday, giving them their first opportunity to test the Image Playground app, Genmoji and more. Also on the list is perhaps the most controversial feature of Apple Intelligence: optional ChatGPT access.

Expect testing to end and the full launch before the end of the year.

Great-looking portable display does double duty as USB-C hub [Review] ★★★★

By

Plugable 15.6” USB-C Portable Display review★★★★
You might not need a USB-C hub if you use this great-looking portable monitor.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Plugable 15.6” USB-C Portable Display connects to MacBook or iPad to add more screen space, but that’s only the start: it’s also a hub with a pair of high-speed USB-C ports available for external drives, a keyboard, etc.

As a person who regularly works outside of the office with an iPad Pro, I’m more than qualified to test this accessory for road warriors who are perpetually short of USB-C ports. Here’s why I love it.

iPad mini 7 review roundup: Better in small ways

By

iPad mini 7 with Apple Pencil Pro
Reviewers got their hands on the iPad mini 7.
Photo: Apple

Early reviews of the iPad mini 7 praise the faster processor, additional storage and support for the upcoming Apple Intelligence AI features on the way to the tiny tablet when it launches on Wednesday. Reviewers are also happy that a screen problem in the previous version got fixed.

As the Engadget review says, the new iPad mini “looks the same on the outside but has some notable upgrades on the inside.”

Read on for more comments about Apple’s latest tablet.

Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 take a big step toward release

By

iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and Apple Intelligence are almost here
The iOS 18.1 release candidate means Apple Intelligence for iPhone is about a week away.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple gave developers access to the release candidates of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 on Monday. This is the last round of testing before introducing them to the public, which means Apple Intelligence will finally launch in about a week.

Release candidates for tvOS 18.1 and visionOS 2.1 also went out. However, watchOS 11.1 RC is not yet available.

Tim Cook reapplies ‘not first, but best’ mantra to Apple Intelligence

By

Tim Cook on Apple Intelligence
Tim Cook spoke recently at Apple Park during the "It's Glowtime" event.
Photo: Apple

You can encapsulate Apple’s approach to innovation in four words, according to a new profile of CEO Tim Cook: “Not first, but best.” It’s not a new sentiment, but Cook doubles down on it in a long magazine article that came out over the weekend, complete with interesting tidbits about his life and his journey with Apple, past and present.

And in a colorful side note: The man apparently loves Diet Mountain Dew. And yet Apple Park doesn’t stock it, so he doesn’t get to drink it as much as he used to. (Theory: Cook banned it himself in an act of self-discipline.)

AirPods Pro as hearing aids reviews: Yes, it works

By

iOS 18 could bring hearing aid functionality to AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro 2 act as real, legit hearing aids.
Graphic: Apple

Apple gave reviewers early access to a soon-to-be-released software update that allows AirPods Pro 2 to go beyond providing entertainment to become hearing aids. They report that the wireless earbuds really do help people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

There’s also a huge cost advantage, but there are limitations that keep AirPods from being the right solution for everyone.

iPad mini 7 vs. iPad mini 6 comparison: Not the time to upgrade

By

iPad mini 6 vs. iPad mini 7 comparison
You might want to stick to your iPad mini 6 for now.
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

Apple gave the iPad mini a surprise refresh with faster internals and other minor upgrades. The highlight is Apple Intelligence support, bringing Apple’s AI suite of tools to its smallest iPad.

So, should you ditch your iPad mini 6 for these upgrades? Or hold on to it for another year or two? Find out in our iPad mini 7 vs. iPad mini 6 comparison.

Vision Pro looks like a game changer in the operating room

By

Vision Pro helps surgeons and patients
Surgeons at UC San Diego Health wear Vision Pro during a procedure.
Photo: UC San Diego Health

Despite suffering modest sales with consumers, Apple’s Vision Pro mixed-reality headset seems to be finding an unexpected but promising application in the medical field, particularly in surgery, according to a new report Tuesday.

So as Vision Pro helps surgeons and patients — and even cash-strapped medical providers — it could be a big deal in healthcare.

New iPad mini 7 gains the brains for Apple Intelligence

By

iPad mini 7 includes support for Apple Intelligence
The wait is over for iPad mini 7, with Apple Intelligence and more storage.
Photo: Apple

The iPad mini 7, the first new version released in three years, offers support for the AI features dubbed Apple Intelligence. Plus, the tablet comes with a significant jump in storage capacity and supports the new Apple Pencil Pro. Otherwise, it is very similar to its predecessor. That includes sticking with the same prices.

“There is no other device in the world like iPad mini, beloved for its combination of powerful performance and versatility in our most ultraportable design. iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal, and private,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Here’s all the immersive content coming soon for Vision Pro

By

Apple Immersive Video coming soon
Filmed on location in Prague, Brussels, and Malta, "Submerged" used Apple Immersive Video cameras, which feature two lenses to record 8K 3D video.
Photo: Apple

Submerged, the first immersive scripted film for Vision Pro, is now out. But new show episodes, films, series and concerts captured in Apple Immersive Video will debut later this year and early next year, Apple said Thursday.

“Apple Immersive Video allows Apple Vision Pro users around the world to experience the next generation of sports, documentaries, and music performances. With Submerged, we’re excited to premiere the next generation of narrative filmmaking,” said Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications.

“Vision Pro places you in the middle of the story — inside a densely packed submarine, shoulder to shoulder with its crew,” he added. “That deep sense of immersion just wasn’t possible before, and we can’t wait to see how it inspires filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.”