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I keep forgetting about the Camera Control button on my iPhone 16.
My habits are so ingrained, I often use the software button on my iPhone’s Lock Screen to open the Camera app and snap a pic instead.
Even months later, I still haven’t successfully drilled using the Camera Control into my muscle memory. Now that my kids are grown, I take a lot fewer pictures than I used to, I guess (sad face emoji).
But when I do remember to use Camera Control — it works great!
However, I appear to be one of the few members of the Cult of Mac team who like it. My colleague Ed Hardy, for example, hates the Camera Control. He finds it fiddly, confusing and unnecessary.
But Ed recently discovered a new way to use the Camera Control that, for him, works way better.
It involves holding your iPhone upside down. Check it out.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Apple will release a bunch of new products in 2025, but none have me as intrigued as a rumored smart home hub. Depending on the different rumors, it could be some kind of wall-mounted smart screen or an unholy marriage of an iPad mini with a HomePod. Whatever it is, it may be delayed, though. Bummer.
Scammers can’t scam you if they don’t have your contact details. SurfShark’s Alternative Number and Alternative ID are a great way to keep your contact info private.
I’m not a huge fan of the iPad mini, but a lot of people love Apple’s smallest tablet. And right now, it is on sale.
The Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo continues to top the streaming charts. Two other shows — Shrinking and Severance — are doing well, too.
The Sonos app cockup just cost the company’s CEO his job.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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A message from Surfshark
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
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One more thing ...
(After returning to Apple) I wouldn’t be honest if some days I didn’t question whether I made the right decision in getting involved. But I believe life is an intelligent thing – that things aren’t random.
Today’s poll
How do you like the iPhone's new Camera Control?
Results from last Friday’s poll: Apple's AI Writing Tools: Helpful or no?
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