- Cult of Mac Today
- Posts
- This is clever
Lots of people complain about the European Union and other regulators meddling in tech.
Leave technology and design to Apple, they say, not lawmakers who don’t know what they’re doing.
But I think, in general, EU regulations have led to a lot of improvements: the iPhone moving to USB-C, for example. The newest iPhones are better for having USB-C ports instead of Lightning, a change forced by EU legislation.
Now Apple has come up with a super-clever innovation in response to another “meddling” EU law due to go into effect next year, which dictates that all gadgets sold in Europe must come with easily replaceable batteries.
In response, Apple designed the upcoming iPhone 16 with an easily replaced battery. Instead of gluing the battery in place, the battery will be enclosed in a metal shell that can be detached by applying an electrical current.
Previous leaks showed the new battery and its metal casing, but until now, no one knew why Apple made the change. Details here.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Talking of the EU: The block is mad that Apple isn’t bringing Apple Intelligence to Europe. Yeah, I know: It’s not perfect, but on balance…
The new iPad Magic Keyboard has backlit keys — but there’s no button to turn them on or off. The controls are deviously hidden away.
With MagSafe, you need good magnets. These nice-looking iPhone cases from Torras feature strong magnets — and handy kickstands.
Despite rumors of disappointing sales, the Vision Pro headset just launched in Asia. (Plus, preorders opened for other regions.)
AirPods’ automatic switching between devices can be very useful, but it can also drive you mad. Here’s how to manage it.
Don’t forget our exclusive sale on SwitchEasy’s EasySelfie combo tripod/selfie stick/camera remote. It’s gonna come in handy for all your summer adventures.
Belkin’s Wemo smart plugs are a great way to get started on home automation (or expand your current setup). This three-pack comes at best-of-web pricing, features Thread mesh networking, and plays nice with Apple’s HomeKit.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from Torras
A message from the Cult of Mac Store
Tweets of the day
My android phone just notified me that I'm being tracked by Apple Air Tag.
(The Air Tag is attached to a trailer I rented, and I knew it was there)
Super cool that both operating systems are working together to prevent nefarious tracking. AND apparently I can make the Air… x.com/i/web/status/1…
— JerryRigEverything (@ZacksJerryRig)
3:56 AM • Jun 28, 2024
iPhone's evolution from 2G to 13
[✏️ photonsnare]
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973)
12:34 PM • Jun 28, 2024
Wallpaper of the day
Another depth effect wallpaper for your lockscreen 🔥
— Vuk Andric (@vukandric)
3:51 PM • Jun 28, 2024
One more thing ...
I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.
Today’s poll
Do EU regulations make Apple products better? |
Results from yesterday’s poll: Should iPhone be more durable or more repairable?
Best reader comments
Subscribe to The Weekender — Get the week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.
Reply