Ed Hardy

iPhone SE 4 might avoid Apple’s screen notch

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iPhone SE 4 camera upgrades
Rumors point to the iPhone SE 4 being surprisingly advanced.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE 4, expected soon, makes the Dynamic Island universal on current Apple handsets, according to a generally reliable tipster. If true, it means the iPhone SE 4 will skip the screen notch previously expected.

It’s already virtually certain that Apple’s upcoming lower-cost model will drop another bit of obsolete tech: the Lightning port. And the Home button is on the way out, too.

iPad stylus sale drops Apple Pencil Pro to just $99 [Still going!]

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Apple Pencil in use
Apple Pencil adds so much to iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple Pencil Pro is the best iPad stylus on the market, and a deal knocks a whopping $30 off the regular cost. For a limited time, you can get an Apple Pencil Pro from Amazon for just $99. That’s over 20% off.

Or consider a new Apple Pencil (USB-C). There’s currently no discount on it, but the stylus still costs less than the premium model.

iPad Air with quicker M3 chip appears imminent

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Woman working on 13-inch M2 iPad Air
A faster iPad Air with the M3 chip could debut soon.
Photo: Apple

An iPad Air with a speed boost is on the way, according to a report posted Friday by a generally reliable source. The tablet won’t have Apple’s latest processor, though.

And a cheaper alternative, the iPad 11th generation, also could launch soon.

Silo going out big while Severance comes on strong

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Apple TV+ sci-fi mystery SIlo stars Rebecca Ferguson.
Apple TV+ sci-fi mystery Silo stars Rebecca Ferguson.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo didn’t lose viewers as it approached the end of season two. It stayed on the lists of the top 10 most popular streaming series maintained by two ratings companies. just as it has since new episodes started appearing in November.

And Apple’s deeply odd workplace drama Severance did well with audiences as its season two premiere approached.

How the Apple Watch SE 3 could go carbon negative

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Apple Watch SE 3 rumors
Apple Watch SE 3 might actually be good for the environment.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The plastic used to make the casing for the upcoming Apple Watch SE 3 will be taken from the ocean, making it environmentally friendly, according to a tipster.

The next-gen smartwatch will supposedly be more colorful so it’ll appeal more to an important demographic.

HomePod with a large screen still set to launch in 2025

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HomePod with a larger Display concept
A HomePod with a larger touchscreen -- perhaps something like this concept -- is supposedly on the drawing board at Apple.
Concept: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly picked the companies to supply the display for a screen-equipped HomePod scheduled to reach the market later in 2025.

Previous reports say the device will put more emphasis on functioning as a hub for a smart home than current HomePod models do.

Apple TV+ streaming market share holds steady but no growth

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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.

Handheld iPhone gimbal redesigned for more stable filming

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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.

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

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'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.

Innovative Mcon iPhone game controller looks like a million bucks

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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.

3 overlooked Apple products getting updates in 2025

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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.

China hinders moving iPhone assembly to other countries

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Foxconn
China doesn’t want these workers at a Foxconn plant to lose their jobs making Apple computers.
Photo: Foxconn

Apple’s efforts to move iPhone assembly to India and Vietnam are reportedly being hampered by the Chinese government.

The iPhone-maker wants to increase the number of countries in which its products are assembled amidst a worsening U.S./China trade war.

iPhone sales slip a bit, but there’s also good news for Apple [Updated]

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iPhone Series 16 day in photos
iPhone 16 got off to a slow start.
Photo:

iPhone sales dropped in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to separate reports released Monday by a pair of market research firms. Still, Apple shipped more handsets last year than any other company, including arch-rival Samsung.

And 2024 brought strong sales growth in Apple’s non-core markets. Premium iPhone models are selling well in China, too.

How to make the new iPhone Camera Control suck less

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iPhone Camera Control
The iPhone 16 Camera Control doesn’t have to be terrible. It can be just not very good, instead.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

I’m not a fan of the Camera Control on all the iPhone 16 models. It’s too hard to use, it’s in the way, and it’s mostly unnecessary. But I stumbled across an alternative way to use it that’s preferable.

Even so, I can honestly see the Camera Control going the way of the infamous MacBook Pro Touch Bar in a few years.

Skate City: New York zooms onto Apple Arcade

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Skate City: New York
Skate City: New York is just one of the games just added to Apple Arcade.
Photo: Apple Arcade

In Skate City: New York, you take your skateboarding game to the iconic streets of the Big Apple, where you can master hundreds of tricks in real-world locations. The game hit Apple Arcade on Friday, and is playable on iPhone, Mac and more.

Several other titles also joined Apple’s gaming service, including a remodeled version of the original Final Fantasy.

You have to see this super-slim, 15-inch portable display [Review] ★★★★★

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espresso Display 15 review★★★★★
espresso Display 15 stands out from its rivals.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The espresso Display 15 doubles down on appearance. Not only does it have a great-looking LCD, its aluminum-and-glass exterior makes the screen match a MacBook or iPad perfectly.

Even better, it comes with a clever magnetic stand that can hold the display above your notebook, or beside it if you prefer.

espresso’s 17-inch Pro version from 2023 is the best portable monitor I’ve used, so I went into my review of the smaller version with high expectations.

Mac shipments grow strongly, outpace all PC-makers

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M4 MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini
These new models helped spur Mac shipments in Q4 2024.
Photo: Apple

Mac shipments in the last three months of 2024 rose sharply, hitting 17.3% in year-over-year growth according to a market research firm. Apple enjoyed a better growth rate than any of its top rivals, some of which saw their shipments decline.

The company also experienced growth in Mac shipments for the entire year compared to 2023.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone

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Photo of Steve Jobs holding an iPhone in front of an Apple logo during the first iPhone demo on January 9, 2007.
Steve Jobs introduces the smartphone that changed smartphones.
Photo: Apple

January 9 Today in Apple history January 9, 2007: Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives the world its first look at the iPhone onstage during the Macworld conference in San Francisco. The initial reaction to that first iPhone demo is mixed. But Jobs is confident that Apple has created a product that people want — even if they don’t know it yet.

The palm-size device combines an iPod, a phone and a PDA. The iPhone unveiling excites many Apple fans but critics remain skeptical.

AirFly deal saves money on gadget that makes AirPods more useful

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AirFly deal
Once you get an AirFly, you won’t want to travel or go to the gym without it.
Photo: Twelve South

You’re in the gym sticking with your New Year’s resolution, and want to connect your AirPods to your treadmill’s TV to make running less of a drudge. AirFly is exactly what you need. Plug the gizmo into any audio port to connect it to your wireless headphones.

And you can pick up the Twelve South AirFly SE at 14% off thanks to a deal available from multiple retailers.

TSMC Arizona foundry now makes 2 Apple chips

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TSMC Arizona
All iPhone and Apple Watch chips aren’t made overseas.
Photo: TSMC/Cult of mac

The chip fabrication plant TSMC opened in Arizona reportedly began producing a second Apple processor, a win for those eager to see more chips produced in the United States.

The fab now reportedly makes Apple Watch processors. It began manufacturing iPhone chips in 2024.

Dell ‘borrows’ Apple’s Pro and Pro Max product names

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Dell Pro Max
There’s something familiar about that name…
Photo: Dell/Cult of Mac

Dell rebranded all its PCs with names that should sound very familiar to Apple users. Going forward, the company’s computers will either be part of the Dell, Dell Pro or Dell Pro Max product lines.

That is, of course, exactly how Apple divides up the various iPhone versions. And the PC-maker immediately faced mockery for its new product names.

Affordable iPad stylus copies one of Apple Pencil Pro’s best features

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Geo Digital Pencil
ESR’s Geo Digital Pencil is inexpensive but still offers a range of useful features.
Photo: ESR

The Geo Digital Pencil from ESR costs a quarter of what Apple Pencil Pro does, but both iPad styli support Find My so they can be easily located. And they cling magnetically to an iPad, and can be used for writing or sketching.

In addition, ESR also unveiled a mouse that magnetically attaches to a MacBook for easy portability.

Record terabytes of ProRes video onto tiny ShiftCam Planck SSD

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ShiftCam Planck
This svelte combo is ready to record 2TB of ProRes video.
Photo: ShiftCam

ShiftCam calls the Planck “the world’s smallest portable SSD,” and it’s certainly very small. That and the unusual placement of its USB-C connector allow the drive to fit neatly on the bottom of an iPhone Pro and hold up to 2 TB of high-resolution ProRes video as it’s being recorded.

The accessory hits the market soon and is being shown off at CES 2025 this week.