One of the great new features in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra is shared documents. You can create almost any kind of file, and collaborate on it with other people. We’ll show you how to share and collaborate using GarageBand in iOS 11.

In this week’s issue, you’ll find that story and more. Find out why Apple’s ‘fast’ iPhone 8 charger isn’t as quick as you think. Teach Siri to pronounce a name correctly, and check out some great leather Apple Watch bands in wood and leather. Don’t miss your last chance to win an a free iPhone 8, and more. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Cult of Mac Magazine, Issue 215

How to collaborate in GarageBand using iCloud

One of the great new features in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra is shared documents. You can create almost any kind of file, and collaborate on it with other people. This can be a simple Pages document, or a complex song in GarageBand. Here’s how to share and collaborate using GarageBand in iOS 11.

Apple’s ‘fast’ iPhone 8 charger not super quick


The iPhones 8 and X both support Apple’s “fast-charging” option, which has been available on the iPad Pro since the first 13-inch model.

How to preorder an iPhone X the right way

Preorders for Apple’s futuristic iPhone X open in less than a week, but getting your hands on one won’t be easy. Don’t worry. We’ve created this quick guide on everything you need to know to get your iPhone X preorder in ASAP.

Yoink and Gladys, two great new iOS 11 shelf apps

Two great new shelf apps for iPads running iOS 11 have launched recently, and both are worth a look. One is Yoink, which has a long history as a shelf app on the Mac. The other is Gladys, with distinguishes itself by being both super-simple to use, and full of geeky extras.

E3’s Apple Watch bands are handmade in America

Whether they are rebuilding vintage motorcycles or crafting Apple Watch straps, the folks at E3 Supply Co. do everything by hand. It’s not that they can’t afford fancy robots to get the job done — the small team of three prefers to do things this way.

Wood is the new leather for Apple Watch bands
Nature is truly present in the Teton Apple Watch band in Zebrawood by Wood Mark Watches. The wood for this special band comes from a species of tree found and sourced in Central Africa. Read on to learn a bit more about these unique bands, and the many surprising benefits of wearing wood. Wood Mark’s entire lineup of wood bands is now available in Cult of Mac’s Watch Store.

How to teach Siri to pronounce a name
Siri is great for setting reminders and timers, but in recent times Apple’s AI assistant has gotten a lot better at other things, too. For instance, sending iMessages to folks via your EarPods or AirPods, with your iPhone still in your pocket, works well enough that you can use it reliably all the time.

Why every Apple user should be using a VPN
If you think the buzz around using a VPN service these days is exaggerated hype and paranoia, think again. Never before have so many day-to-day human interactions and transactions occurred online.

Catch the latest iPhone X pre-order strategies

This week, on The CultCast: You’ll have mere second to lock down your iPhone X pre-order on October 27th, and if you’re not ready, you’ll be waiting months! We’ve got the strategies you’ll need to employ to have your order placed seconds after the X goes live.