Killian Bell is a 20-something technology journalist based in a tiny town in England. He has an obsession with that little company in Cupertino which has been growing rapidly since he bought his first Mac several years ago, and in an attempt to curb it somewhat, he also writes for Cult of Mac. His fascination with technology began with his first Nokia 5110 a long time ago. When he isn't tapping away behind a keyboard, he's either putting his thumbs to work in front of a PlayStation or spending time with his fiancée and two daughters.
Samsung has now confirmed the findings of an internal investigation into the Galaxy Note 7’s overheating issues — and it seems bad luck played an important part. The South Korean company discovered not one but two problems with the batteries it used. As many predicted, the problem was not caused by the Note 7 itself, Samsung says. One of the issues was a...
HTC is now rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat for unlocked versions of the One A9. The release brings performance enhancements, new features, a bunch of new emoji, and Google’s latest Android security patch for January. The One A9 made its debut in October 2015, so it’s well over a year old now. This will likely be the last major Android upgrade it receives, then — but it’s a significant...
You can finally upload your home videos in crisp, HD quality using the Facebook app for Android. Support for high-definition uploads has been available on iOS for a while, and the wait is finally over for those who choose Android instead. Facebook users will find a new "Upload videos in HD" option inside the Settings menu after updating to the latest version of the app. Users should...
Microsoft built Windows 10 with touchscreens in mind, but there are times when you want to use an external monitor with a touchscreen device. You will soon be able to do that without having to use a mouse thanks to Windows 10's new virtual touchpad. If you have a touchscreen Windows 10 device — like a Surface Pro tablet — plugging it into an external monitor gives you more room to be...
Owners of the 2016 12-inch MacBook are reporting a strange screen flickering issue when using an external display and Apple’s official USB-C to HDMI adapter. The number of complaints online is growing fast, but it seems 2015 MacBook owners are not affected. It’s not totally clear whether the issue is with the MacBook itself or Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. However, given...
Galaxy Note 7 owners whose handsets overheated and caught fire say Samsung isn’t doing enough to compensate them for damage caused by the device. At least 96 devices exploded due to a battery fault, and many caused damage to property, including a Jeep. Samsung recalled 2.5 million Note 7 units when it discovered the fault, then made the device available again after believing it had...
Samsung is planning to ditch its popular Galaxy Note series and focus on launching just one flagship family every year, according to a new report. The South Korean company is making the change to ensure product quality and prevent another explosive debacle. Fans had been wondering whether Samsung’s decision to cease Galaxy Note 7 production would mean the end of the Note series as we...
BlackBerry may not be designing its own smartphones anymore, but that doesn't mean we won't see new devices sporting the BlackBerry logo. What's more, some of them will feature the iconic BlackBerry physical keyboard, according to CEO John Chen. BlackBerry has been designing and manufacturing its own smartphones since the very beginning, but it took a different route with the recent...
Apple has confirmed that it is all out of jet black iPhone 7 units ahead of Friday’s launch, and there won’t be any iPhone 7 Plus handsets, either. Those who were hoping to pick up one of these models without a reservation will have to look elsewhere. The jet black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have been in short supply since preorders kicked off last week. Fans found that both models...
Verizon has rolled out a software update for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge to activate FM radio functionality. The move gives users the ability to tune into their favorite local radio stations, but they’ll need to download an app first. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge have always had FM radios built-in, but until now, those on Verizon were unable to take advantage of them. That...
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners worldwide are being plagued by “Touch Disease” — an issue that causes a flickering gray bar to appear at the top of their display. The issue is becoming more common as these devices age, and there is no simple fix. “Lots of repair pros are experiencing the same influx of faulty iPhones—most with flickering gray bars and all with glitchy touch...
Samsung is to begin selling refurbished smartphones at a discount, according to sources familiar with its plans. Its new program, which is expected to launch next year, will give fans the opportunity to pick up high-end devices at a lower price. "The South Korean technology firm is looking for ways to sustain earnings momentum after reviving its mobile profits by restructuring its...
Samsung has confirmed that a production line flaw has compromised the water-resistance of some Galaxy S7 Active units. Its announcement comes after it was discovered that handsets were becoming unusable after being submerged in water. Consumer Reports was first to bring this issue to light earlier this month when it put two Galaxy S7 Active handsets in water and found that both of them...
Infected Pokémon Go APKs being distributed online are spreading new malware across Android devices. “Droidjack” can give attackers full control over your smartphone or tablet, but it can be easily avoided. Pokémon Go made its official debut exactly one week ago, and it has become insanely popular during that time. However, the title still isn’t available in all countries yet, which...
Apple has already started a slow production run of its 4.7-inch iPhone 7, according to one reliable tipster. Pegatron has been tasked with building the device first, but it won't be responsible for assembling the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. "Mass production of 4.7″ #iPhone7 has slowly started at Pegatron factory (where the 5.5″ model won't be assembled," tweeted @OnLeaks, who has...
Apple is said to be planning a major Siri overhaul as it looks to compete with more intelligent virtual assistants like Google Now and Amazon Alexa. The company will reportedly use technology it acquired last year when it snapped up VocalIQ. “According to a source familiar with VocalIQ’s product, it’s much more robust and capable than Siri’s biggest competitors like Google Now, Amazon’...
Samsung has rolled out an update for its Always On Display feature on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge to give users greater control. Instead of just activating or deactivating it, you can now create a schedule that takes care of it automatically. Always On Display is a terrific feature, and Samsung insists it doesn't burn a lot of battery life. But there are times when you simply don'...
Apple has been holding talks with podcast creators to discuss the future of the medium and the concerns they have with the way in which the Cupertino company currently supports it. Many are said to be unhappy with the way things are right now. Podcasts have come a long, long way since Steve Jobs first gave them his backing in 2005. More than 46 million Americans listened to podcasts...
Microsoft has rolled out new firmware updates for the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 that finally fixes a lingering sleep issue. The problem has been plaguing some users since back in February when it was introduced with another firmware release. Some Surface adopters have suffered all kinds of problems with Microsoft’s new machines, including display glitches, and power management...
Apple has begun removing third-party Reddit clients from the App Store because they can be used to view NSFW content. Eggplant and Narwhal are two of the apps that have disappeared, while Reddit's official client remains for now. Apple has been informing the developers behind these apps that they violate App Store guideline 18.2, which states, "Apps that contain user generated content...