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Apple car: Good riddance 🚗

Apple car: Good riddance 🚗

Why it's a positive thing that Apple killed Project Titan.

Leander Kahney
February 28, 2024

Most of us at Cult of Mac are bummed about Apple killing its long-running secret car project.

As managing editor Lewis Wallace said in an opinion piece yesterday, the news is sad and depressing.

Just imagine what Cupertino might have come up with! Given Apple’s stellar record at reimagining products — and even entire industries — it’s tempting to think the results would have been spectacular: a fully electric, self-driving robot car that would have completely changed how everyone travels (and maybe rewired roads, cities and everything else).

The news is even more depressing given that Apple is diverting staff from an exciting blue-sky project into generative AI — which, on the face of it, sounds like a bandwagon move.

Apple’s been criticized for seemingly dragging its feet on generative AI, which at first glance looks impressive but on closer inspection is found to be unreliable, unusable, sometimes racist and wildly overhyped.

Today, another of our writers, D. Griffin Jones, argues good riddance to the Apple car project.

It never made much sense for Apple, he says, and it’s a good thing that the company is turning its full attention to AI, because it’ll show the rest of the industry how AI should be done. It’s an interesting piece.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Despite indications to the contrary, the Vision Pro headset apparently isn’t being returned to Apple in huge numbers.
This great deal drops Apple Watch Ultra to a new low of just $500 and change. (Other refurb Apple Watch models also get exceptional discounts.)
If you’ve ever struggled to take a screenshot of an entire webpage or long email, here’s a great solution: Use your iPhone.
Are triple 4K displays too much for a setup — or just right?

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Canceling the Apple car is a sensible move we should celebrate

As a big car enthusiast (and a bigger AI pessimist), I think Apple’s cancellation of its car project in favor of taking on AI is good news.

Killing the Apple car is depressing and sad

Why did Apple pull the plug on Project Titan? Canceling the Apple car in favor of generative AI shows a demoralizing lack of ambition.

Vision Pro returns aren’t as bad as we feared

An analyst says less than 1% of Apple headsets are being returned. Despite low Vision Pro return rates, it remains a niche product.

Loop your current faves with Apple Music's new Heavy Rotation playlist

Unlike other automatic playlists, the new Apple Music Heavy Rotation playlist updates daily with your most-current favorite tunes.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Stunning deals drop Apple Watch Ultra and other models near new lows

Maybe you couldn't swing spending $800 on Apple Watch Ultra, but how about $500? That and other great refurbished Apple Watch deals await.

Apple Pay Later loans now appear on your credit report

Learn how Apple Pay Later can boost your credit score now that these small loans go on consumers' credit reports.

Aqara pledges Home Key support for new Matter-enabled smart lock

Aqara Smart Lock U200 will add more HomeKit functionality and support for Home Key with future software updates.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Treat your Apple gear to a 5-in-1, MagSafe-compatible charging stand

Get the streamlined 5-in-1 MagSafe charging stand for just $54.99 (regularly $79). It can charge iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and more.

Screenshot a whole page (or an entire email) on iPhone

You can screenshot a whole page on an iPhone at once using a somewhat hidden feature without the need to stitch them together after the fact.

New documentary trailer: Meet the men who inspired ‘Masters of the Air’

Attention fans of hit World War II drama "Masters of the Air" on Apple TV+. Upcoming doc "The Bloody Hundredth" hails those same airmen.

Today in Apple history: Mac mini arrives with Intel inside

On February 28, 2006, Apple introduced its "headless" Mac mini with Intel processor. It turned out to be a pretty darn great media player!

Triple 4K displays: Too many or just right? [Setups]

Could you deal with triple 4K displays in your computer setup? Some people think it's going totally overboard.

Tweetz o’ the day

First option I disable when setting up a new Mac
Ain't nothing natural about this 🥲
— Daniel Nguyen (@daniel_nguyenx)
10:41 AM • Feb 28, 2024

I designed a cover for the Apple Vision Pro.
The holes line up with the cameras and sensors, so tracking and capture work as expected.
Thinking of making a small run of these if theres enough demand. Leave a ᯅ if you want one!
— Kyle Goodrich (@_kylegoodrich)
6:31 PM • Feb 27, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

The Macintosh experience taught me that A players like to work only with other A players, which means you can’t indulge B players.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

Is focusing on generative AI a smart move for Apple?

Results from yesterday’s poll: Were you looking forward to an Apple car?

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