Go get 'em! iOS 16 and watchOS 9 arrive

I've been beta testing iOS 16 on my iPhone for a few weeks, and I generally love it.

It's fast, stable and packed with a ton of useful features and upgrades.

I've re-enabled the battery percentage, sent goofy cutout photos to my kids, and scheduled emails.

I've started using Focus modes, too, which are like Do Not Disturb on steroids. I appreciate the quiet time they afford, especially when driving.

But best of all, I love the new customizable Lock Screen.

I have mine set to Photos, and it does a great job of surfacing pictures from my photo library.

It's a delight to see a constantly changing carousel of pictures of my kids, wife and pets every time I pick up my phone -- pictures I sometimes forget even taking.

It's a small thing, but it's surprising how much joy it brings me.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

Apple today released iOS 16 and watchOS 9 for all compatible iPhones and Apple Watches. The public release of these operating systems comes after months of beta testing. iOS 16 introduces a customizable new Lock Screen, Mail and Messages app enhancements, an improved Focus mode, and more.

Early benchmark tests show that Apple's new A16 processor offers far better performance than the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. So, for another year, Apple’s flagship smartphone is much faster than Samsung’s.

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If you have a new iPhone 14 on the way, you may want to protect that investment with a new case. MagEasy offers an interesting selection of options, from glamorous to rugged (but without the bulk). You’ll also find four screen protectors and a portable stand in the mix. You can see the whole MagEasy iPhone 14 collection — four cases, four screen protectors and one stand — in the Cult of Mac Store.

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Maybe you’re planning on a new iPhone 14 and wondering if you can still use your iPhone 13 case with it. Unfortunately, for most models the answer is a hard “no,” thanks to a bunch of subtle differences.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We can’t figure out which is more exciting, the brawny new Apple Watch Ultra or the brainy new Dynamic Island. Will the rugged new smartwatch prove too big for Erfon’s skinny wrists? Or does its bold size and styling elevate it to “big enough” status?

On September 12, 2012, the new Lightning connector replaced Apple’s aging 30-pin interface, a proprietary data and power connector that debuted on the iPod Classic in 2003. The slender and capable new Lightning port debuts in the iPhone 5, bringing big improvements — and no small amount of controversy.

Displays aren’t just going up from 4K to 5K and beyond, they’re also taking new forms. Today’s featured setup is the first we’ve seen with the recently released LG DualUp monitor in real-world use. It features an unusual 16:18 aspect ratio. Here it’s paired with an older LG display and a Mac Studio.

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One more thing ...

"Sometimes, when we get rid of things like the floppy disk drive on the original iMac, people call us crazy.... Sometimes, you just have to pick the things that look like they're going to be the right horses to ride going forward." -- Steve Jobs, D8 conference, 2010.

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