The war over the Macintosh's soul started on this day in 1979. Photo: Apple
September 27, 1979: Years before the Macintosh will ship, Steve Jobs and Jef Raskin clash for the first time over the direction of the R&D project to produce Apple’s revolutionary computer. Raskin, the founder of the Macintosh project, wants to produce a machine that’s affordable for everyone. Apple co-founder Jobs wants a computer that’s going to be the best, regardless of price.
The superstar actors pair up in a movie for the first time since 2008. Photo: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Annoyingly handsome superstar actors George Clooney and Brad Pitt pair up in the amusing new trailer for action-comedy movie Wolfs. Sony Pictures Entertainment dropped it Wednesday on YouTube the day after Apple TV+ released a 30-second teaser trailer.
The two stars play underworld “fixers” who accidentally come together over a job that turns out to be more than the simple disposal of a body it first appears. The movie comes out in theaters September 20 and should stream on Apple TV+ after that.
UPDATE: After seeing its larger theatrical run busted down to one week in limited venues, madcap comedy caper film Wolfs streams on Apple TV+ Friday. Reviews so far are mixed, mainly saying superstars Clooney and Pitt carry the somewhat-problematic film, with various opinions on how well they fare. At the very least, it should be a good popcorn flick for this weekend. And Apple Original Film already plans a sequel with writer, director and producer Jon Watts.
Apple's next Vision Pro headset could use an M5 chip. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s M5-powered Vision Pro will apparently enter into mass production in H2, 2025. The switch to a faster M5 chip will boost the AR headset’s computing power.
This should help improve the overall user experience, especially for Apple Intelligence tasks.
Remember when Apple used to lose money? Photo: Apfelike
September 26, 1997: In one of his first tasks after returning to Apple as interim CEO, Steve Jobs reveals the company’s massive quarterly loss of $161 million. It’s Apple’s biggest loss ever.
Giving investors the bad news is miserable, but things are about to change dramatically for Cupertino.
Does a case cutout work best with the iPhone 16's new Camera Control? Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Every model in the iPhone 16 lineup comes with a Camera Control, the new camera button that’s pressure- and touch-sensitive. It offers an entirely new way to access and adjust your settings in the Camera app by clicking and swiping. But what kind of iPhone case works best with the Camera Control?
Most cases come with a cutout, exposing the Camera Control on the side of the iPhone. Other cases cover the new button completely, but feature a capacitive sensor that conducts your finger’s swipes through the case.
In evaluating which cases work best with the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control, I considered a few questions. Is it any harder using the Camera Control through a cutout? Do third-party iPhone 16 cases with a capacitive sensor work as well as Apple’s cases?
Apple can’t bypass the encryption on iPhones, not even when they belong to criminals. Image: Apple
A request by former President Donald Trump that Apple help law enforcement access the contents of iPhones owned by men who tried to assassinate him is apparently based on a mistaken idea about how encryption works.
If the contents of the devices are secured by encryption, there’s nothing Apple can do to access them. That’s the very nature of encryption.
The glory days of sharing your Disney+ password are over. Photo: The Walt Disney Company
Disney has a simple message to those sharing a password to its streaming service with friends: Pay up. The password-sharing crackdown the House of Mouse has been threatening officially began Wednesday in the United States, Canada, Europe and elsewhere.
If you watch Disney+ on your iPad, Mac or Apple TV using someone else’s password, the company plans to find you and make you stop.
Go ahead and get your iPhone 16 up to date with iOS 18.0 (22A3354). Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
Don’t be alarmed if your brand-new iPhone 16 prompts you to update to iOS 18 even though your phone is already running iOS 18. And also don’t freak out when you see a fear-inducing “Welcome to iPhone” screen after you update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354, even though it looks suspiciously like you will need to go through the tedious iPhone setup process again.
Apple is currently distributing an unexpected iOS 18 update to brand-new iPhones that are already running iOS 18. It looks like Apple installed an earlier version of iOS on phones in the factory. Now it is updating them to the latest version.
As Apple says, the update to iOS 18.0 build 22A3354 currently rolling out brings “important bug fixes and security updates” to all models in the iPhone 16 lineup. With any luck, it will fix the touchscreen problems reported by some iPhone 16 Pro owners, but that might just be wishful thinking. (Cult of Mac asked Apple if the update addresses the touchscreen problem. We’ll update this post when/if we receive info on the update.)
September 25, 2006: Apple ships its second-generation iPod nano, offering a fancy redesign of the pocket-size original.
“iPod nano is the world’s most popular digital music player, and we’ve completely redesigned it to make it even better,” said Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a press release. “The all-new iPod nano gives music fans more of what they love in their iPods.”
Among the new iPod nano’s improvements are a slimmer, anodized aluminum casing; a brighter screen; longer battery life, and a wide range of colors. And, oh yes, it also includes gapless music playback for the first time!
This MacBook Book Pro uses loves his CalDigit Thunderbolt dock, but a Satechi user thought of making the switch. Photo: [email protected]
Certain names in USB-C and Thunderbolt docks and hubs carry a lot of weight, like CalDigit and Satechi — both well-respected brands. But in today’s M2 MacBook Air setup, a discussion broke out over the user’s exceptional experience with a CalDigit Thunderbolt dock and a commenter’s woes over a Satechi Thunderbolt dock. Read some of the commentary and learn more about the gear below.
Budget versions of Vision Pro might cut costs with a big drop in resolution, among other measures. Photo: iFixit
Apple continues looking into using lower-resolution displays for a budget-friendly version of its Vision Pro spatial computing headset, according to recent reports. They cite resolution much lower than what Apple refers to as “4K for each eye” in the original Vision Pro.
Create great videos with the Hohem iSteady v3 Gimbal Stabilizer for iPhone. Photo: Hohem
Whether you’re shooting an iPhone video of a breaking news event, chronicling your global travels for your vlog, or capturing a particularly choice dance move to show off on TikTok, certain tools can help you boost your video quality as well as your creativity. For example, the Hohem iSteady V3 Gimbal Stabilizer is a great tool to steady and extend your shots.
It’s a three-axis iPhone gimbal with a magnetic AI tracker and fill light, a built-in extendable rod and tripod, and a detachable remote control. We explain how this must-have video tool can help below. And what’s more, you can get it now for 20% off at Amazon.
The new Logitech MX Creative Console streamlines creator workflows like Elgato Stream Deck. Photo: Logitech
In a move Tuesday that should catch the eyes of Mac-loving creative professionals, Logitech unveiled MX Creative Console. The new device aims to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks for digital creators. So it could rival the popular Elgato Stream Deck.
“The MX Creative Console is designed to help people redefine their workflow, enabling them to work smarter and faster,” said Anatoliy Polyanker, general manager of MX Business at Logitech.
Will the real rights holder please stand up! Photo: Apple
September 24, 2009: After Eminem sues Apple, the company’s lawyers head to court to defend the company against the rapper’s music publisher, Eight Mile Style. The lawsuit alleges that Apple unlawfully sold 93 of Eminem’s songs on the iTunes Music Store.
This marks the second time Apple finds itself on the opposite side of a courtroom from the Detroit rapper. (A previous lawsuit involved improper use of Eminem’s hit single “Lose Yourself” in an iTunes ad.)
Tim Cook suspects real New Yorkers don't really wear NYC baseball caps covered in glitter, as Fallon implied. Photo: The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
On Monday’s Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the host hits the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in New York City to pick up his new iPhone 16 — and ends up taking a very long walk in Central Park with Apple CEO Tim Cook. And is a walk-and-talk filmed on iPhone 16 of Tim Cook and Jimmy Fallon in Central Park funny? Well, here and there it is.
Along their mildy amusing way, the two chatted about the new handsets, upcoming Apple Intelligence features and favorite hot dog condiments.
Tougher Ceramic Shield on iPhone 16? Sure, but don't just rely on it. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple claims the iPhone 16 Pro ships with “2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.” And it survived a series of realistic drop tests with only a few scuffs. Yet more rigorous testing suggests it’s not a tough as its predecessor.
The iPhone 16 Pro might be more prone to damage upon fall due to its slimmer bezels and increased weight.
Audioengine A5 speakers on Kanto stands and an Audioengine S8 subwoofer on the floor power this setup's sound. Photo: [email protected]
If you’re serious about high-quality audio, you should crank up the quality level of audio components in your computer setup just like you do in your living room. Today’s MacBook Pro user maxes out sound using Audioengine speakers mounted on stands along with a powerful Audioengine subwoofer on the floor under the desk. So they can get clear and detailed audio at low volume, but they can also shake the whole room with powerful sound when they want.
Cupertino sums up "Apple Values" in an exuberant document. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
September 23, 1981: Years before Steve Jobs would tell us to “think different” and Tim Cook would say Apple should act as a “force for good,” Cupertino lays out what it calls its “Apple Values.” The mission statement will guide the company for years.
In the memo, management defines Apple Values as “the qualities, customs, standards and principles that the company as a whole regards as desirable. They are the basis for what we do and how we do it. Taken together, they identify Apple as a unique company.”
The rest of the MLS season and playoffs are available for very cheap or free. Graphic: Apple
With the 2024 Major League Soccer season ending in October, fans can watch the remaining games as well as the playoffs for only $10. That’s the current cost of an MLS Season Pass.
Even better, Apple TV+ subscribers can get in on the action for free.
iPhone 16 makes battery replacement easier and faster. Photo: iFixit
iFixit says the iPhone 16 is “Apple’s most-repairable iPhone yet. ” This is thanks to Apple making several internal changes, including using a new glue to hold the battery in place.
On the flip side, you’ll need a new tool to debond the glue from the battery and chassis.
The iPhone 16 Pro's new desert titanium finish looks disappointingly demure. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin takes the wraps off his new iPhone 16 Pro in desert titanium — and he doesn’t like what he sees. The new “color” revealed in his iPhone 16 Pro unboxing fails to knock our socks off.
Still, there’s plenty to talk about, though, including the new Camera Control and how third-party case manufacturers are coping with it.
Also on The CultCast:
The new satin black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the other hand … smokin’! It’s enough to make a guy upgrade for the color alone.
The first AirPods 4 reviews say the active noise cancellation works surprisingly well. They’re on Erfon’s list.
New delays hit the rumored plastic Apple Watch SE and the first MacBook Pros with OLED screens.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Apple finally cracked the 10 million sales opening weekend benchmark. Photo: Apple
September 22, 2014: Apple notches a new sales record with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus launch, selling an astonishing 10 million units in the first weekend the handsets go on sale.
The eagerly anticipated smartphones bring a redesigned form factor that will persist for years. The most obvious change? Larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays built to lure phablet fans. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also boast an A8 chip, improved iSight and FaceTime cameras, and — significantly — Apple Pay for secure mobile payments.
“Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn’t be happier,” Apple CEO Tim Cook says in a press release. “We would like to thank all of our customers for making this our best launch ever, shattering all previous sell-through records by a large margin.”
You will have to wait until iOS 18.4 to try out all the Apple Intelligence features. Photo: Apple
Apple Intelligence is not a part of iOS 18’s initial public release. Apple plans to debut its AI features with iOS 18.1 sometime in October and continue improving them with subsequent releases.
With iOS 18.2, Apple Intelligence will gain features like Genmoji, Image Playground app, and optional ChatGPT integration.