Hands on with iOS 17's interactive widgets

iPhones (and iPads) are about to get a big upgrade.

Author

Leander Kahney
June 23, 2023

As iPhone and iPad users, we’ve had widgets on the Home Screen since iOS 13. But they didn’t do anything — they just displayed information. Until now.

Coming in iOS 17 (and iPadOS 17) are interactive widgets, which can be used to control your device.

For example, the new Podcasts interactive widget now features playback controls, as well as Up Next so you can easily jump to the next episode or another podcast.

It’s all very easy and convenient, and a big step up for interactive widgets. Here’s a quick guide about what to expect when Apple releases the feature this fall.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • No, this too-good-to-be true $35 SSD external drive isn’t a scam — we actually hands-on reviewed it.

  • This is a nice setup.

  • Apple Arcade continues to expand its already-impressive library with more classic games.

  • We have a special 20% off deal on Brilliant, an online math learning platform that’s a great place to level up on AI topics and more.

  • Cult of Mac readers are furious there’ll be no 3D interactive porn on the Vision Pro headset, according to yesterday’s poll. See the results below.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

PRESENTED BY:

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A UGR Tech 2TB SSD sells for a suspiciously low price. But testing shows an external drive with lots of storage — and a significant limitation.

Apple Arcade’s collection of classic games continues to expand

The sports games “Retro Bowl+” and “Retro Goal+” hit the Apple Arcade on Friday. And “Bold Moves+” was added earlier in June.

A message from Brilliant

AI won’t take your job. Someone using AI will. Luckily, there’s Brilliant — the interactive app that makes it easy to master concepts in math, data and computer science in just minutes a day. Here’s how:

  • Brilliant offers thousands of lessons on tons of topics — from AI and neural networks to data science.

  • The lessons break down complex concepts into digestible building blocks that stick.

  • The interactive style keeps you engaged, so it’s easy to build a daily habit.

Join more than 10 million people around the world and start building skills in minutes a day. You can try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days. Plus, right now you can get an exclusive 20% off an annual premium membership.

Apple Card and Apple Pay could soon launch in India

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‘The Crowded Room’ flashes back to Danny’s disturbing childhood [Apple TV+ recap] ★★½☆☆

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A message from CdkeySales

Giant Mid-Year Sale yields 90% discounts on Windows, Office and more -- prices as low as $13

At CdkeySales.com, you will find low prices on Windows, Office and more. To snag the most-possible savings, enter promo code CULT.

‘The Beanie Bubble’ trailer finds the crazy in '90s Beanie Baby craze

Zach Galifianakis and Elizabeth Banks star in "The Beanie Bubble," an Apple TV+ movie about the Beanie Babies collectibles craze.

New stock: This 2TB portable SSD holds all your data for less than $35

This 2TB portable SSD external hard drive keeps your data close and your devices unclogged. And for a limited time, it costs just $34.99.

Today in Apple history: Power Mac G5 packs world's first 64-bit CPU

On June 23, 2003, Apple released its gorgeous Power Mac G5 computer, sometimes affectionately nicknamed "the cheese grater" by Apple fans.

Portrait-mode monitor and classic Apple poster pump up workstation [Setups]

The owner of today's MacBook Pro setup lucked into a second monitor and set it up vertically -- right under a vintage PowerBook G4 poster!

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

Here was the best guy in advertising. And he hadn’t pitched in 10 years. Yet here he was, and he was pitching his heart out, because he loved Apple as much as we did. He and his team had come up with this brilliant idea, “Think Different.” And it was 10 times better than anything the other agencies showed. It choked me up, and it still makes me cry to think about it, both the fact that Lee cared so much and also how brilliant his “Think Different” idea was. Every once in a while, I find myself in the presence of purity — purity of spirit and love — and I always cry. It always just reaches in and grabs me. That was one of those moments. There was a purity about that I will never forget. I cried in my office as he was showing me the idea, and I still cry when I think about it.

— Steve Jobs on Lee Clow, 2011.

Today’s poll

Even though we reviewed the 2TB drive, do you still think it's a scam?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Results from yesterday’s poll: How bummed are you about no porn on Vision Pro?

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