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New iPhone button does all this?

New iPhone button does all this?

iPhone 16 Pro's new camera button sounds awesome.

Leander Kahney
August 12, 2024

I accidentally pushed my iPhone 15 Pro’s Action button the other day — and was surprised when the Camera app opened.

I shouldn't have been surprised, because that’s exactly how I set it up. What shocked me was remembering that I even have an Action button on my iPhone.

After almost a year of owning the iPhone 15 Pro, I consistently forget the Action button is even there. I never use it, despite it being one of the marquee features of the iPhone 15 lineup.

Old dogs, new tricks, I suppose. (Plus, I’m convinced it’s in the wrong place.)

With this year’s iPhone, it sounds like the button situation will get even crazier. The iPhone 16 Pro reportedly will add a new camera button designed to operate like a DSLR button — but on steroids.

It sounds very, very cool — and there’s one trick in particular that’s convinced me that I will definitely have to train myself to use it.

Also in today’s newsletter:

Apple is readying to release the iPad 11 and iPad mini 7 shortly: Here's what to expect.
Apple skims 30% off donations to Patreon, and that’s got everyone fuming.
With new Apple Watches just over the horizon, Amazon offers some pretty deep discounts on the current lineup.
Adaptive Lighting is an Apple-only technology that automatically adjusts the color temperature of smart lights throughout the day. Nanoleaf is one of the first to start testing it.
Here's how to use some of the cool new accessibility features in iOS 18 — including eye tracking on iPhone.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

iPhone 16 Pro camera button will make taking pictures a snap

A new iPhone 16 Pro camera button supposedly will provide more DSLR-like control and versatility to this year's high-end models.

What to expect from iPad 11 and iPad mini 7

Leaks indicate the iPad 11 is nearly here, and an iPad mini 7 release date also isn't that far away. Here's what we're expecting.

Patreon iPhone app forced to charge Apple's 30% App Store fee

Learn about Patreon's switch to Apple's in-app purchase system and the implications for creators and fans.

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

Now's the time to get $100 off Apple Watch 9

Get $100 off Apple Watch 9 models at Amazon right now. And that means all models -- GPS, GPS and cellular, plus both sizes (41mm and 45mm).

Apple is unlikely to charge for Apple Intelligence anytime soon

Apple’s custom AI could gain advanced features in the future and will seemingly remain free to use until 2027.

Nanoleaf is among first to adopt Apple's Adaptive Lighting to Matter

Apple's Adaptive Lighting could come soon in Nanoleaf bulbs designed to work with the Matter smart-home standard.

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

Make your AI writing sound totally human

The Undetectable Humanizer transforms your AI-generated text into natural, human-like prose to help it bypass AI-detection systems.

Lisa Kudrow’s ‘Time Bandits’ becomes a surprise hit

Lots of people want to watch the “Friends” star lead a crew of thieves on a comedy adventure through time.

M4 Macs are on their way! [The CultCast]

This week on Cult of Mac's podcast, we discuss the latest M4 Mac rumors, including a new Mac mini that will be surprisingly small.

5 stealth iOS 18 features you don't want to miss

iOS 18 brings cool new accessibility features this year, such as eye tracking on the iPhone for the first time. Here's how to use them.

Today in Apple history: Apple's war with IBM commences

On August 12, 1981, IBM released the IBM Personal Computer. The first PC ignited a long-running tech rivalry between Apple and IBM.

Top audio interface sculpts software engineer's sound [Setups]

An Audient audio interface gives this software engineer's setup a serious boost.

Tweets of the day

Amsterdam in the fall — shot on an ancient iPhone 11 Pro.
— Sebastiaan de With (@sdw)
4:26 PM • Aug 12, 2024

My productive iPad home screen.
— Easlo (@heyeaslo)
12:18 PM • Aug 11, 2024

Every single iPhone box on a timeline from 2007 to 2024. #iPhone15#Apple
Which one brings back the most memories for you?
— Private Talky (@privatetalky)
5:03 AM • Aug 12, 2024

Foldable phones have been around for 5 years and have captured only 1.5% of the global smartphone market.
Nobody wants these.
— Sam Kohl (@iupdate)
2:19 AM • Aug 11, 2024

Wallpaper of the day

My highest resolution moon photo took me years of attempts before I got the right combination of equipment and conditions to create. This used nearly a terabyte of data and hundreds of thousands of photos.
This is formatted as a mobile wallpaper, I’m still doing these daily.
— Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy)
5:03 PM • Aug 11, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

Technology actually has a very beautiful definition: “The totality of means employed to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort.”

— Steve Jobs, 1988.

Today’s poll

How cool does the iPhone 16 Pro's camera button sound?

Results from last Friday’s poll: Are you going to change your iPhone Lock Screen buttons?

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