Reliable photo uploads to third-party apps is finally coming to the iPhone. Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
With iOS 26.1, Apple will finally address one of the most annoying issues iPhone users face when uploading photos to third-party apps. They will no longer need to keep the app open for the upload process to complete.
Right now, only Apple’s Photos app can reliably back up your pictures to the cloud even if the app is not in the foreground.
This iPhone and iPad-compatible scanning app works wonders. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With the right scanning app, your iPhone or iPad can scan documents with vivid clarity. There’s no need for a printer-size scanner — you just need your Apple gear. A great example of such an app, iScanner is now on sale for only $24.99 with code SCAN (regularly $199.90).
There’s an easy way to keep your apps hidden. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
You can hide apps on your iPhone so they’re completely invisible, and you can lock all kinds of apps so they require Face ID to open.
Why would you want to? Maybe you have sensitive content you don’t want anyone to see, or you don’t want anyone to know you’re using dating or hookup apps. Hiding apps is also good for staying off social media or away from addictive games. Plus, it’s a great way to declutter your iPhone’s Home Screen. You can really clean things up without deleting apps you might want to keep.
There are, however, a few essential apps on your phone that can’t be hidden. Here’s how it all works.
If you are looking to buy an iMac, there’s no need to pay full price. Photo: Apple
A new M4 iMac deal knocks 9% off the price of Apple’s 24-inch computer, dropping it to just $1,182.10. The all-in-one desktop machine is right for both families and businesses.
Besides its stellar performance, the machine stands out for its beautiful 4.5K Retina display and sleek design.
Anne Meara Stiller, Jerry Stiller, Ben Stiller and Amy Stiller back in the day. Photo: Apple TV
Ben Stiller, a driving force behind Apple TV hit workplace psychodrama Severance, now turns to a much more personal subject as a director: his famous comedian parents. His new documentary, Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost, begins streaming Friday on Apple TV. And it looks like it might prompt laughs as well as tears.
People couldn't wait to discover Steve Jobs' next move. Image: Newsweek
October 24, 1988: Three years after leaving Apple, Steve Jobs prepares to launch the NeXT Computer, a machine he hopes will cement his reputation as a tech genius and blow away the machines produced by Cupertino.
The new NeXT Computer receives a wave of positive publicity. Fawning stories show exactly what the 33-year-old Jobs has been working on — and what’s coming next.
★★★★☆
It's a lot like M4 MacBook Pro -- but under-the-hood upgrades make it much better. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
After spending some time with Apple’s new base-model 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro, I’ve come to a clear conclusion: It’s an excellent laptop that represents the absolute best iteration of a formula Apple perfected years ago. But whether you should buy one depends entirely on what you’re upgrading from and what you actually do with your computer.
The team behind Shortcuts will now work on the ChatGPT app. Photo: OpenAI
ChatGPT maker OpenAI has acquired Software Applications Inc., a company founded by former Apple employees who worked on Workflow, the software Apple acquired in 2017 and renamed “Shortcuts.”
At Software Applications, the team has been hard at work on Sky, an AI-powered assistant that can perform actions across any app on your Mac. The acquisition should give OpenAI a leg up when it comes to integrating ChatGPT into Macs.
Maximize your stock portfolio with this AI investing app. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Without an AI investing app, trading in today’s unpredictable market can feel like throwing darts blindfolded. (Pro tip: Don’t try that unless you’re Mike Tyson.) One day, stocks are up; the next, they’re crashing. Not to mention, every so-called expert has a different opinion.
Sterling Stock Picker changes the game. This AI-driven platform taps OpenAI to take the guesswork out of investing, using advanced technology to guide you toward smarter financial decisions.
Whether you’re looking for long-term growth, dividend stocks or high-risk/high-reward opportunities, this AI investing app helps you navigate the stock market with clarity. And speaking of good investments, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $55.20 with code SAVE20. That’s a massive, limited-time discount off the original price of $486.
As beautiful as the iPhone Air is, the super-slim handset simply is not selling well. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The iPhone Air is Apple’s latest attempt to make a fourth iPhone variant. It’s bombing, just like previous similar efforts. It’s clear that the vast majority of customers are happy with the other versions and have no interest in another type of iPhone, no matter what design it uses.
Apple should drop the whole idea. Too many options are as bad as too few.
Eleven states or territories, including Georgia, are fully on board. Image: Georgia Department of Driver Services
When will you be able to add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet on your iPhone? In the United States, it varies by where you live. It’s not up to Apple: Each state and territory maintains a completely independent registry of drivers and identification cards, so each one must independently pass legislation and implement digital IDs.
If you live in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico or West Virginia, you can do it today. (Our guide will show you how to add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet.) Otherwise, check our map and lists below to see how likely your state is to let you add your ID to Apple Wallet, and when it might happen.
Get a gorgeous state ID in Apple Wallet. Image: Apple
In several states, Apple’s digital ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watch to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets.
The day when an iPhone can completely take the place of an old-fashioned wallet is still years away, but it’s a goal Apple is working toward. Apple Pay is making progress on replacing credit cards, you can put airline tickets in the Wallet app, and the same goes for loyalty cards.
But no wallet is complete unless it can hold a driver’s license. And that’s where Apple’s digital ID initiative comes in.
Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license and ID to your Apple Wallet.
West Virginia motorists, add your driver’s license to Apple Wallet today. Graphic: Cult of Mac
West Virginia has just become the thirteenth U.S. state or territory to support digital driver’s licenses and IDs stored in the Wallet app on iPhone or Apple Watch.
Check our list to see if your state has already joined the program.
Introduced on this day in 2001, the iPod quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Photo: Newsweek
October 23, 2001: Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces the first iPod, a device capable of storing an entire music library in a highly portable package.
The first-generation device boasts a 5GB hard drive capable of putting “1,000 songs in your pocket.” That may not sound too dazzling in a world in which people can stream the massive Apple Music library from their iPhones, but it was a game-changer at the time!
Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV with a more colorful logo. Screenshot: Apple
It seems Apple might buy Warner Bros. Discovery, the media and entertainment company that owns HBO, CNN and other high-profile properties. Apple reportedly expressed interest in acquiring parts of the company, particularly its extensive film and television library, as the media giant explores a potential sale, according to a report Thursday.
Such a deal would be a massive boost for Apple TV, adding depth to the streaming service’s catalog.
The iPhone 20 might step on the iPhone 19. AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 20 is reportedly coming sooner than you might think. Apple is so eager to release the 20th anniversary model that it might skip a number and introduce the iPhone 20 months before the usual schedule.
Make the smart investment today with FileJump’s 2TB lifetime subscription for $89 and enjoy secure, hassle-free storage for life.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We all know subscription fees multiply like rascally rabbits. Wouldn’t it be nice to have cloud storage that doesn’t add to the misery? FileJump offers a refreshing alternative. Why rent your cloud storage month after month when you can score 2TB of cloud space for just $69.97 for life?
No more recurring payments or surprise fees. Just a one-time investment for a lifetime of secure, accessible cloud storage.
Correct the record. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Knowing how to edit or unsend iMessages on your iPhone could come in clutch. Like when you text your mom, “Finally got laid today” when you meant to say “paid.”
Thankfully, it’s easy to rewrite history in iMessage. Let me show you how this lifesaving feature works.
We can stop wondering -- Hijack season two is on! Photo: Apple TV
Critically acclaimed thriller series Hijack returns to Apple TV for a second season on January 14, 2026, Apple said Tuesday as it released a moody teaser trailer for the show.
The second edge-of-your-seat hijacking once again puts Emmy-nominated actor Idris Elba at the center of the action. He sure gets into some trouble, doesn’t he?
Want to learn coding, marketing, music, investing or something else entirely? Get a lifetime pass to a bigger brain with StackSkills Unlimited. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
StackSkills has a news flash for anyone who got a little too comfortable after high school: It’s not smart to stop learning. That’s especially true in this accelerated stage of the information age, where new tech skills are increasingly in demand.
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to catch up to the needs of today’s job market, thanks to resources like StackSkills. This vast platform for online education can help anyone chart a path to a new career. And lifetime subscriptions cost just $19.97 (regularly $600).
The A20 chip will arrive in 2026 with the iPhone 18 generation. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The Apple A20 chip in next year’s iPhone will be made using a new 2nm process that will increase the performance while boosting battery life. But the new chip won’t come cheap, according to a Wednesday report. A considerable jump in price is expected … though perhaps not enough to force Apple to raise the cost of its handsets.
The same goes for the M6 processor headed for future Macs.
The App Store racked up 200 million downloads in less than five months. Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
October 22, 2008: During a conference call, Apple CEO Steve Jobs reveals that a user downloaded the 200 millionth app from the App Store that very day.
The news comes less than five months after the launch of the App Store, and only a month after Apple surpassed 100 million app downloads.
Pluribus debuts November 7 on Apple TV. Photo: Apple TV
How would it feel to be the last unhappy person on Earth, and the world’s resources are trained on making you happy? The new Apple TV trailer for Pluribus, from Breaking Bad and X-Files creator Vince Gilligan, brings you deeper into that world.
For my money, the rampant happiness the world’s population apparently feels — aside from the story’s main character — is actually some sort of contagion with dire consequences. And she has immunity.
The unsettling new series debuts November 7 on Apple TV. Read more and watch the latest trailer, plus two previous teasers, below.
★★★★☆
The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand works with any current or future iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth Keyboard with Stand is an ideal option for those who need to add a travel keyboard to their iPad and don’t want to limit the accessory to only one tablet. Or want to add a portable keyboard to their iPad without giving up the case they like.
It can switch between computers with a simple push of a button. Plus, it’s not limited to tablets.
I’ve tested the multi-device input device with my iPad and iPhone, and came away quite pleased.
iPhone Air sales figure are as slim as its profile. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Low demand for the super-slim iPhone Air in markets outside China led Apple to drastically cut its production orders, according to a new report. But the company is increasing assembly for other iPhone 17 models due to high demand.
The report comes after the iPhone Air sold out within minutes of preorders opening in China last week. After the initial buzz faded, demand appears to have dropped off