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.
We’ve already seen how Apple Watch holds up in a gruesome kitchen torture test, so it’s no surprise to hear that the device also performed well during more scientific testing with Consumer Reports, which found it hard to scratch, and good with water. During phase one of its testing, Consumer Reports looked at how susceptible Apple Watch’s display is to scratches, how well it holds up...
Wondering whether you should get AppleCare+ coverage with your new Apple Watch? It’s always a good idea for peace of mind, but you might be surprised by how durable the new wearable actually is. See how well it holds up in this gruesome torture test video. Many will use their Apple Watch in the kitchen to view recipes, set timers, and reply to messages while they’re watching the eggs....
Qualcomm's next-generation Snapdragon 820 processor will be manufactured at Samsung's chip-making foundries, according to a new report. The chip is expected to use the same 14-nanometer manufacturing process as Samsung's new Exynos 7 chipset, which features in the new Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., more commonly known as TSMC, has been responsible for...
LG is giving smartphone shoppers in South Korea a couple of incentives to convince them to adopt its new G4 over rivals from other manufacturers. In addition to a 64GB microSD card, the company is also offering a free one-time screen replacement. Although the G4 doesn’t get its official unveiling until April 28, LG hasn’t exactly been too concerned about keeping the device a secret. It...
Sprint has begun rolling out the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Galaxy S4 handsets that are compatible with the carrier’s Spark LTE network. The update brings lots of features and improvements, including the Factory Reset Protection service. Just like other Lollipop updates for the Galaxy S4, this one brings a revamped TouchWiz user interface with better visuals, and updated...
A WhatsApp update rolling out to users on Android adds the ability to backup to and restore from Google Drive. In addition to chat logs, the feature also saves received photos — but it doesn't appear to backup videos just yet. Google Drive integration was first spotted by WhatsApp translators — the team that helps translate the application into other languages — back in March. Now,...
Samsung’s latest Lollipop update for the Galaxy Note 4 — Android 5.0.1 — doesn’t just bring some crucial bug fixes, but also a proper mute mode that’s been missing from Android since Lollipop made its public debut last fall. “Samsung didn’t really make a big deal out of this for some reason, but the latest over-the-air update for the Galaxy Note 4 brings in some nice new features added...
Season 5 of Game of Thrones will finally begin airing in over 170 countries this evening, but its first four episodes have already been leaked online. In just three hours, the apparent press copies have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. “The copies were first spotted on the private torrent tracker IPT, but they soon made their way to more public sites such as The Pirate Bay,...
To celebrate today's launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, Samsung is giving away 8 devices to fans in the U.K. But to get yours, you'll need to find one of 8 golden envelopes that are hidden in cities throughout the country. "Throughout the day we will run a hunt an hour in our chosen cities. The first clue will be a live stream from the venue of a hidden Golden Envelope," Samsung...
Apple fans in Switzerland could be waiting until December to get their hands on the Cupertino company’s first wearable due to a 1985 patent that prevents it from selling an Apple-branded watch in the country. Apple cannot launch a watch that uses the image of an apple or the word “apple,” according to a report from Swiss broadcaster RTS, which cites a document from the Swiss Federal...
Microsoft has confirmed that its next Windows 10 preview for smartphones will support a significantly greater number of devices. In fact, if you own a Lumia handset, chances are you'll be able to get your hands on it. Until now, the number of smartphones compatible with Microsoft's Windows 10 preview has been extremely limited. The company explains on its blog that the reason for that...
Just one week after kicking off its Android 5.0.2 soak test for the original Moto X, Motorola has begun testing Android 5.1 for the 2014 model. Currently available to a select few Pure Edition handsets, the update brings a surprisingly long list of changes and improvements. Motorola has been one of the fastest to react to new Android updates in recent years — thanks mostly to its near...
BlackBerry today added a new smartphone to its high-end Porsche Design lineup. It's called the P'9983 Graphite, and it delivers "exclusive graphite-metallic colored elements and the finest, hand-wrapped leather on the back door cover." Internally, the P'9983 Graphite is identical to previous P'9983 devices, which is somewhat disappointing given its $1,950 price tag. You might expect to...
Apple is preparing a new "Reserve and Pickup" system that will be available in time for the Apple Watch launch on April 24, according to sources familiar with its plans. The service is expected to be slightly different to the existing Personal Pickup system. "The new system will allow potential Watch customers to reserve a desired case and band combination online, then try the specific...
Samsung's all-new design for the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge means its flimsy removable back panel is gone. But according to a Galaxy S6 user manual, it is possible to get inside the handset and replace its battery. "These instructions are only for your service provider or an authorised repair agent," the manual reads. "Damage or faults caused by the unauthorised removal of the battery are...
Remember that big white building Apple built for its big iPhone and Watch event last fall? It seems the Cupertino company is now constructing another outside the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for its upcoming "Spring Forward" gathering on March 9. Pictures obtained by 9to5Mac show the building being erected while guards wearing "Apple Security" shirts patrol nearby, all but...
Has the new BlackBerry OS 10.3.1 update been causing the screen to flicker on your Passport? Don't worry — you're not the only one. The good news is, BlackBerry is investigating the problem and working on a fix, but it's currently unclear when that will be available. The flickering issue first appeared in early leaks of the 10.3.1 software, CrackBerry reports, but it's still present in...
If you have a modern smartphone, you may not need a dedicated wearable for fitness tracking. A new study has found that mobile apps can be just as accurate as smartbands when it comes to tracking physical activity. Led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, the study tested 10 of...
Apple has begun installing custom safes in retail stores that will house its high-end Apple Watches when they go on sale this April, a new report claims. The safes are expected to carry inventory waiting to be sold, as well as store demo units overnight. "The custom-designed safes will be outfitted with Apple Watch MagSafe chargers in order to keep the demo units charged up and ready...
The incredibly popular Tweetbot app for Mac has returned to the Mac App Store after an authentication issue that surfaced over the weekend was resolved. New users are now able to purchase and authorize the application again without any hiccups. Tweetbot had to be taken down on Saturday after new users began reporting that they were no longer able to login. It was initially believed...