Jan 8, 2022

Will Apple's car be this crazy?

Apple isn’t the only company working on the car of the future. And, unlike Cupertino, other potential players aren’t afraid to show off their biggest blue-sky ideas.

Just look at the mind-bending innovations in our roundup of crazy concept cars from CES.

Traditional automakers like Cadillac and BMW – and tech companies like Sony – showed off their wildest visions at the big consumer electronics show in Las Vegas this week. And they seem hell-bent on rethinking the car from the ground up.

I’m sure Apple is watching – and I can’t wait to see what Cupertino dreams up for its not-so-secret car project.

But in the meantime, I’ll take these innovative ideas for a spin.

– Lewis Wallace, managing editor

News and opinion

See all the craziest concept cars from CES 2022

In recent years, the world’s largest consumer electronics confab has become quite the major auto show. After all, consumer tech and automotive tech keep blending more and more. For CES 2022, automakers like BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai, Mercedes and Sony — wait, who? — really put some crazy futuristic concepts into high gear.

Plus: See all our gadget picks from CES 2022

What it will take to push Apple to $4 trillion

Two monumental events happened this week. Apple became the first U.S. company to be worth an astonishing $3 trillion. And BlackBerry went poof. Here’s how Apple will avoid that fate.

Apple’s hardware plans for 2022 sound positively intoxicating [The CultCast]

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Even more details surface about Apple’s hardware plans for 2022. If last year was “modest” (LOL), this year looks jam-packed with major updates.

Plus, more Apple hardware rumors:

HomeKit shakes things up at CES 2022

There was a lot to get HomeKit fans excited at this year’s tech showcase. Quite a few companies announced products that will support Apple’s home-automation system, including lights, door cameras and more.

Apple Fitness+ gets new workout Collections and Time to Run feature

Starting next week, new features will roll out to help subscribers achieve their fitness goals.

If Apple made a pro camera, here’s what it might look like

A concept designer explores the possibility of an Apple stand-alone camera for professionals. His Apple ProCam is loaded with features, like 8K support and a built-in printer. But is this a product that makes sense for Apple?

How-tos

HomeKit bug can send iPhone into reboot loop of death. Here’s how to avoid it.

A newly discovered HomeKit bug can render unsuspecting iPhone and iPad users with a completely unresponsive device. All it takes is for a smart home gadget to be given a super-long name. Once the bug affects an iOS or iPadOS device, the gadget will continually freeze and restart itself.

How to make your New Year’s resolution stick with Apple Fitness+

Answer these six questions and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your new year’s fitness goals.

Deals

New Year, New You Sale: Learn something new in 2022 for only $20

The best New Year’s resolutions are the ones you can actually act on, and there are few better than committing to learning a new skill. Cult of Mac Deals rounded up some of the best e-learning and skill-building courses — and they’re all on sale for $20, no coupon code needed.

Last chance: Save 15% on sweet Elago accessories

Elago’s awesome accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods are now available at 15% off in our big New Year’s sale.

Learn to create, buy and sell art on the NFT marketplace

With The All-in-One NFT Masterclass for Artists & Entrepreneurs Bundle, you can learn how to make, buy and sell non-fungible tokens on your own. And during our New Year, New Me Sale, the bundle costs only $20.

Elevate your photography (literally) with a top-rated drone for less than $75

If you thought drone photography was super-expensive, think again. Right now, you can grab this top-rated Black Drone with Dual HD 4K Camera on sale for just $74.95.

Reviews

With 'The Tragedy of Macbeth,' something wickedly inventive this way comes [Apple TV+ review]

The Tragedy of Macbeth is probably the most experimental thing to stream on Apple TV+ so far. The movie hits the streaming service on January 14 after a theatrical run, and you should probably add it to your Up Next queue now.

Stream 'El Deafo' and take a sensory journey to empathyville [Apple TV+ review]

Apple TV+’s newest animated kids show is all about accessibility. El Deafo, based on the book by Cece Bell, focuses on a little girl who loses her hearing just before the start of school. She goes on misadventures as she learns to navigate the world with the help of her imaginary superhero alter ego.

Setups

Trash can Mac Pro bathes in vintage Apple posters' glory [Setups] | Cult of Mac

For the first computer setup featured in the new year, we look backward. Not to the recently subsided and mostly loathed 2021, but further back to a controversial Apple product launch from nearly a decade ago. And even deeper into Apple’s storied history.

Going green with envy over space-gray peripherals [Setups]

If Apple takes something away, people tend to want it more. We see this in the persistent coveting of space gray peripherals — Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 — that the Cupertino tech giant stopped selling separately last year after the iMac Pro’s discontinuation.

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