iOS 18.3 will nuke bogus notification summaries for news stories

By

Apple pressured to drop AI news summaries
The inaccurate notification summary that sparked the criticism.
Photo: BBC News

Following major criticism from major media outlets, Apple is making changes to how its AI-powered notifications summaries work with iOS 18.3 beta 3.

The newest iOS 18.3 beta disables notification summaries for apps in the news and entertainment categories. It also makes several other changes to highlight the feature being in beta and potentially generating summaries with errors.

Exclusive price drop: EDC keychain charging cable packs some secrets (and a low price)

By

Product photo of the GoCable keychain charging cable.
Get a GoCable 8-in-1 EDC charging cable on sale for just $24.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With multiple devices to manage and little room for bulky chargers, it helps to have an all-in-one solution to keep everything powered. GoCable is up to the task. This 8-in-1 keychain charging cable is designed for modern travelers, creators and adventurers who need fast, reliable juice for almost any device

It’s small enough to fit right in with your EDC essentials. And an exclusive price drop from Cult of Mac Deals chops the price down to just $20.99 (regularly $44.99).

Price drop: Get a barely used 2017 MacBook Air for less than $230

By

Spend only $389.99 on a powerful MacBook Air featuring 128GB of storage.
Get great value by snagging this proven Apple MacBook Air for only a fraction of the price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Joining the Apple ecosystem can cost a pretty penny, but not when you opt for a refurbished MacBook Air. Buying a barely used Apple laptop offers a more affordable way to join the family.

Want in? You can purchase a refurbished MacBook Air from 2017 for just $229.97 for a limited time.

Apple TV+ streaming market share holds steady but no growth

By

Apple TV+ best quality and other streaming service logos
Apple TV+ goes up against tough competition.
Image: Cult of Mac

The Apple TV+ share of the U.S. streaming market stayed at 7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to an analysis. That’s the same share Apple TV+ achieved in Q4 2023, though up slightly from where it stood two years ago.

Still, the service seems to have settled solidly into the “also ran” category in the battle for streaming supremacy. But it’s a role Apple itself seems comfortable with.

Severance season 2 promos try to out-weird the show itself [Updated again]

By

Severance season 2 promos
In a "Severance" season two marketing stunt, Lumon Industries employees toil behind glass in New York City's Grand Central Station. The new season debuts Friday.
Photo: @ParkerOrtolani, X.com

Commuters trudging through Grand Central Station in New York City got an eyeful of Apple TV+ series Severance on Tuesday. That’s because employees of the bizarre workplace dramedy’s fictional Lumon Industries appeared to work on Lumon terminals behind glass for all to see in the historic train terminal’s grand halls.

Severance stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry and Britt Lower entered the fake Lumon workspace Tuesday afternoon. And soon enough, Patricia Arquette and Tramell Tillman appeared. Earlier in the day, other people staffed the workstations.

That promotional stunt and a new “Lumon Is Listening” video, which promotes Lumon’s Severance brain surgery as a work-life balance solution, go hand-in-hand with the show’s own creepy weirdness. Check out the images and video below!

2 banks in talks to take over Apple Card management from Goldman Sachs

By

Apple Card banking partners
Apple Card launched in 2019. And although Goldman Sachs' management of it is scheduled through 2030, someone like Barclays or Synchrony may take over sooner.
Photo: Apple

Apple is in ongoing talks with two financial companies to take over Apple Card credit services management from Goldman Sachs, according to a new report. The iPhone giant has been discussing the matter with Barclays and Synchrony Financial for a while, apparently.

News of the talks comes just one day after Goldman Sachs’ CEO said on an earnings call the firm’s Apple Card management, scheduled through 2030, might end sooner than that.

Today in Apple history: Macintosh Plus brings big changes to Mac

By

The MacIntosh Plus was arguably the first truly great Mac.
The MacIntosh Plus was arguably the first truly great Mac.
Photo: Rama/Wikipedia CC

January 16: Today in Apple history: Macintosh Plus brings big changes to Mac January 16, 1986: Apple introduces the Macintosh Plus, its third Mac model and the first to be released after Steve Jobs was forced out of the company the previous year.

The Mac Plus boasts an expandable 1MB of RAM and a double-sided 800KB floppy drive. And it’s the first Macintosh to include a SCSI port, which serves as the main way of attaching a Mac to other devices (at least until Apple abandons the tech on the original iMac G3 upon Jobs’ return).

Handheld iPhone gimbal redesigned for more stable filming

By

Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro keeps your iPhone steady when its moving during filming.
Photo: Insta360

Insta360 Flow 2 Pro gimbal keeps an iPhone steady during filming so it can be moved to follow the action. Or it can act as a tripod stand and automatically keep the camera pointed at the person being recorded even if they move around. Plus, the accessory can recharge the phone.

“The idea of Flow 2 Pro is simple: Bridge the gap between professional-quality tools and everyday accessibility,” shares JK Liu, founder of Insta360.

Stream the Super Bowl in 4K on any Apple device for free

By

stream Super Bowl for free
Are you ready for some championship football? (Not to mention the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar.)
Photo: Fox Sports

Even folks who don’t pay for access to TV channels can watch the Super Bowl for free on any Apple device or on the web. Fox Sports plans to stage a “takeover” of the Tubi streaming app for the event. The free Super Bowl stream will include a pregame run-up and the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show featuring rapper Kendrick Lamar. And it requires no viewer sign-in.

So now what’s your excuse to blow off the year’s biggest sporting event? Oh, you probably hate football, not to mention all the commercialist hoopla that comes with America’s modern-day gladiatorial bloodsport. Oh well. For tens of millions of others, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday.

If you want a tech job, here’s how to get the training you need

By

Man navigating a large screen, used to illustrate an IT training bundle deal.
Kick-start your IT career with this $59.99 training bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Solid certifications like CompTIA, ISC and CISSP can boost your IT career, but the exams to acquire said certifications are tough. If you want to learn the basics, check out the Complete 2025 Cybersecurity Developer and IT Super Skills Bundle. This IT training bundle helps you prepare for multiple certification exams, offering detailed lessons for beginners and advanced learners.

Bonus: This ticket to a high-paying IT career is on sale for just $59.99 (regularly $936).

Samsung’s iPhone 17 Air rival could be just 6.4mm thin

By

Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim leaked renders
This is Samsung's super-slim Galaxy that will take on the iPhone 17 Air.
Photo: SmartPrix

Apple is not the only company reportedly working on a slim flagship phone for 2025. Samsung is also working on one, and a new leak indicates the company’s iPhone 17 Air rival will have a 6.4mm thick waistline.

Despite the slim profile, Samsung’s super-slim Galaxy reportedly will pack impressive specs, including a 200MP rear camera.

Noel Fielding’s time starring in Dick Turpin Apple TV+ series abruptly ends

By

'The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin' stars Noel Fielding
Cancelled.
Image: Apple TV+

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin reportedly won’t return to Apple TV+ after all. Apple reportedly canceled Dick Turpin season two, laying the blame on star Noel Fielding.

The comedy series premiered in 2024, and Apple TV+ renewed it for a second season. However, word came Wednesday that The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stopped mid-production.

This USB-C travel hub is your new vacation bestie

By

Product photo of the portable 10-port USB-C travel and charging hub.
Pick up this USB-C travel hub for just $23.99 and see how it can make your digital life more convenient.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Finding an outlet at the airport or keeping devices charged on a trip can feel like a treasure hunt. But this portable USB-C travel hub changes the game. Designed for on-the-go charging, this hub lets you power up multiple devices from just one outlet — no need for extra adapters or clutter. It includes a high-power USB PD slot for MacBooks and iPads, and a built-in wireless MagSafe charger for iPhone, AirPods and more.

Now at a budget-friendly $23.99 (regularly $36), it’s a great travel companion for those who value convenience, functionality and, most importantly, fully charged batteries.

Escapee from Apple TV+’s Silo shows up at NBA game

By

Silo shows up at NBA game
Not the most comfortable b-ball-watching garb, but the suit might protect him from other fans.
Photo: Dallas Mavericks/Apple

The Apple TV+ marketing department sure kept itself busy Tuesday. A space-suited denizen of the streamer’s hit sci-fi series Silo showed up in the stands at an NBA game ahead of the show’s season two finale, which arrives Friday.

Earlier Tuesday, a Severance office popped up in New York City’s Grand Central Station. The pop-up drew stars from the show as well as plenty of curious commuters ahead of the Severance season two premiere, which also arrives Friday on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ ran a full-court press on the promo stunts this week, a departure from the norm. What else could be in store?

Apple gives users simple way to help LA wildfire victims

By

Apple gives users simple ways to help LA wildfire victims
Donating to the American Red Cross through Apple to help wildfire victims takes just a few clicks.
Photo: Apple

To help expedite recovery in response to deadly Los Angeles wildfires, Apple gives users simple ways to help LA wildfire victims by linking donation pages in popular apps directly to the American Red Cross, CEO Tim Cook said in an X.com post Wednesday. This follows the iPhone giant’s own donation of an undisclosed amount as well as considerations extended to wildfire victims regarding their Apple Card payments.

Today in Apple history: MacBook Air becomes ‘world’s thinnest notebook’

By

A plain manila envelope became a key stage prop for selling the MacBook Air.
A plain manila envelope became a key prop for selling the MacBook Air.
Photo: Apple

January 15: Today in Apple history: MacBook Air becomes 'world's thinnest notebook' January 15, 2008: Steve Jobs shows off the first MacBook Air at the Macworld conference in San Francisco, calling the revolutionary computer the “world’s thinnest notebook.”

The 13.3-inch laptop measures only 0.76 inches at its thickest point and 0.16 inches at its tapered thinnest. It also boasts a unibody aluminum design, thanks to an Apple engineering breakthrough that allows the crafting of a complicated computer case from a single block of finely machined metal.

In a brilliant piece of showmanship during the MacBook Air launch, Jobs pulls the super-slim laptop out of a standard interoffice envelope. (You can watch his keynote introducing the MacBook Air below).

Software engineer shows off parade of powerful MacBooks [Setups]

By

MDM testing on MacBooks
This guy has thousands of dollars' worth of MacBooks because of his job.
Photo: [email protected]

Wouldn’t you love to have half a dozen M-series MacBooks in your computer setup? One second thought, maybe that’s too much of a good thing. And it might only come up if you had to use most of them for work, like in today’s featured setup. A mobile device management (MDM) engineer does a lot of MDM testing on MacBooks for his job. If you use a Mac for work, he’s the guy who makes sure it keeps working efficiently and securely.

Here’s a sign Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are coming soon

By

Powerbeats Pro 2 filings
New regulatory filings suggest we can expect redesigned Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds soon.
Photo: 91Mobiles.com

After teasing the upcoming release of fitness-oriented Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds in September 2024, Apple and subsidiary Beats just made new filings with regulatory agencies that all but confirm the new buds will come out soon, according to a Wednesday report. The new earbuds likely will go on sale within weeks (or a couple of months at the latest).

This startup is building a real-world version of Her’s Samantha by tackling screen addiction

By

Photo of woman lying on grass and wearing Natura Umana's HumanPods earbuds.
HumanPods earbuds are just the start of Natura Umana's AI plans.
Photo: Natura Umana

In a world dominated by screens, where the average person spends more than seven hours a day glued to digital devices, the question arises: Is there a better way to integrate technology into our lives? Swiss company Natura Umana believes there is. Taking inspiration from Spike Jonze’s iconic film Her, the company is developing a revolutionary AI ecosystem that replaces screen dependency with natural, voice-first interaction.

At the heart of Natura Umana’s vision are two pioneering products: HumanPods, the first AI earbuds designed for all-day wear, and NatureOS, a software platform that introduces “AI People” — intelligent agents that feel more like companions than tools. Together, these innovations aim to reduce screen addiction, enhance productivity and foster real-world human connections, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to privacy.

Innovative Mcon iPhone game controller looks like a million bucks

By

OhSnap Mcon game controller earns accolades, whopping $1.2 million in crowdfunding
OhSnap Mcon iPhone game controller is already a huge success month before its launch.
Screenshot: OhSnap

Only about 0.1% of Kickstarter campaigns bring in over $1 million. The latest to pass that lofty mark is the OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller, which magnetically attaches to an iPhone to add joysticks, buttons and a D-pad.

A prototype of the accessory was on display at CES 2025 where it earned loads of compliments. It “may set a new standard for mobile gaming,” said Engadget, for example.

Affordable movie projector comes with 36,000 preloaded games

By

A projector with two gaming consoles and a monitor behind.
This 2-in-1 gaming projector comes with gaming controllers!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ever see those ads for renting a full movie theater for a game or movie night? It looks fun, but it’s not cheap. However, that’s not the only way to create a real cinema vibe for the whole gang. Instead, you can make movie night at home and elevate game time with a 2-in-1 HD projector for video games and video.

This portable projector runs Android 11, so you can stream directly from it. And gamers will get a kick out of the 36,000 classic games that come preloaded. The whole thing is on sale for just $99.99 (regularly $149.99).

3 overlooked Apple products getting updates in 2025

By

Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in 2025
Apple has mostly neglected three of its products, but that’s reportedly about to change.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iPhone and Mac get all the attention — and the annual upgrades — but you can expect a trio of Apple products that haven’t been improved in years to get some love from Cupertino in 2025.

Fans of some of Apple’s secondary devices rejoice: Rumors point to new versions of Apple TV, AirTag and HomePod in the coming months.

Transcribe, translate and summarize any conversation with this advanced AI voice recorder

By

Woman using her phone with the Focais Meet One AI voice recorder attached to it.
This AI-powered voice recorder offers a high-tech solution for capturing, transcribing, translating and summaring long calls, meetings and classes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Focais Meet One is an AI-powered device that elevates note-taking and voice recording to a new level. Designed for convenience and accuracy, the AI voice recorder combines voice recognition with advanced AI features to streamline capturing and organizing essential details from conversations.

Its AI transcription feature supports more than 120 languages. This makes it an ideal tool for multilingual environments and anyone dealing with diverse clients or partners. Whether it’s a meeting, lecture or phone call, the Focais Meet One transcribes conversations accurately.

It’s a perfect companion for busy professionals, students or anyone who regularly handles meetings and calls. And for a limited time, this advanced AI voice recorder is on sale for just $99.99.

Top tips for traveling with AirTags in your luggage

By

Travel smarter with AirTags
An AirTag in a bag can find a solution to an absolute calamity.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Traveling is a lot easier if you can keep track of your stuff with AirTags in your luggage. It’s been in the news lately: Airlines have lost flyers’ bags and people have recovered them because they had the foresight to put an AirTag in the luggage. You can make sure it’s with you all the way along your journey and quickly find it among the baggage claim at your final destination.

Read on for my tips on traveling with AirTags.

CarPlay 2 could feature iPhone-style widgets

By

CarPlay 2 widgets
A selection of widgets might give CarPlay 2 an interface already familiar to iOS, iPadOS and macOS users.
Photo: [email protected]

While Apple CarPlay 2’s expected 2024 release still hasn’t happened, newly leaked images Tuesday show a familiar widget-based interface that mirrors experiences across iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices.

The leaker is considered reliable. If the images prove genuine, they suggest a sensible drive by the iPhone giant to provide a seamless experience across the Apple ecosystem, even on the road.