Neil Hughes

Neil Hughes is an award winning journalist who lives in Brooklyn, New York. After working for years in newspapers and magazines, he joined AppleInsider in 2009, and served as the website's editor in chief for nearly a decade, chronicling the rise of the iPhone, the loss of Steve Jobs, and all the other highs and lows as Apple grew to become the most successful technology company in the world. As a respected and renowned expert on technology, finance and industry trends, Neil has appeared in a variety of media outlets, including NPR, CNN, the BBC, USA Today, CNBC, Bloomberg and more.

Neil is now an AppleInsider contributor, drawing on his years of experience spent closely covering Apple, offering a unique perspective on the company's products and direction. He is a graduate of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

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Latest Articles from Neil Hughes

The critics were impossibly wrong: Apple CEO Tim Cook was -- and is -- the right person for the job

11 months ago

The critics were impossibly wrong: Apple CEO Tim Cook was -- and is -- the right person for the job

A lot of nonsense has been said about Tim Cook since he took over as chief executive of Apple nearly a decade ago, and with his company's latest quarterly blowout, he has proven the naysayers all wrong yet again.

By Neil Hughes | 11 months ago

Wristcam review: The most feature-complete Apple Watch accessory to date

1 year ago

Wristcam review: The most feature-complete Apple Watch accessory to date

Designed to be a wearable camera with full integration with the Apple Watch, Wristcam is an impressive achievement that pushes the watchOS platform to its absolute limits. It's a unique product that will ultimately only appeal to a niche market because of its price tag.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount review: Good iPhone car charger, but not quite MagSafe

1 year ago

Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount review: Good iPhone car charger, but not quite MagSafe

Mophie's MagSafe-compatible Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount is a somewhat odd product, offering an affordable magnetic puck that mimics Apple's own MagSafe charger, but only at half the charging speed of the official accessory.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini review: Apple's MagSafe, but not

1 year ago

Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini review: Apple's MagSafe, but not

Mophie's new Snap+ Juice Pack Mini is a well-priced and well-designed compact portable battery that plays nicely with MagSafe, but there are some caveats that potential buyers should be aware of before purchasing.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

How to connect iPad Pro & Mac to one LG UltraFine USB-C display simultaneously

1 year ago

How to connect iPad Pro & Mac to one LG UltraFine USB-C display simultaneously

A new accessory allows two USB-C devices, like an iPad Pro and Mac, to connect to a monitor with a single USB-C input — including the LG UltraFine series of monitors, and potentially Apple's Pro Display XDR.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

USA's 2023 Real ID air travel requirement could benefit from Apple's iOS 15 digital driver's licenses

1 year ago

USA's 2023 Real ID air travel requirement could benefit from Apple's iOS 15 digital driver's licenses

Repeatedly delayed, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Real ID enforcement, which will require more secure identification credentials for domestic air travel by May 2023, could see even stronger uptake once Apple launches digital driver's licenses in its upcoming iOS 15 update.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Creepy data hoarders at Facebook working on Android-powered wearable camera to track your health & location

1 year ago

Creepy data hoarders at Facebook working on Android-powered wearable camera to track your health & location

Years after failing to get into your pocket with the Facebook phone, the social media giant is reportedly at it again, this time hoping to compete with the Apple Watch and land on your wrist with a wearable camera, gaining valuable data about your health and location in the process.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

iPadOS 15 confirms Apple's M1-equipped iPad Pro is a V8 engine powering a Ford Pinto

1 year ago

iPadOS 15 confirms Apple's M1-equipped iPad Pro is a V8 engine powering a Ford Pinto

The hardware on the new iPad Pro is absolutely stellar, far beyond any competition in the tablet space. But, Apple's newly announced iPadOS 15 is so decidedly not-pro that it's fair to question whether the company will ever fully take the training wheels off of its restrictive software.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

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Reminder: Don't install Apple's betas on any critical devices unless you really hate yourself

1 year ago

Reminder: Don't install Apple's betas on any critical devices unless you really hate yourself

New features for you iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch are almost here — they're fun! They're exciting! They're in beta form and they're inevitably going to cause you a lot of misery, so unless you're a developer or you have old hardware to test it on, be patient.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Xcode Cloud will let developers remotely build apps, improving collaboration and efficiency

1 year ago

Xcode Cloud will let developers remotely build apps, improving collaboration and efficiency

Apple's new Xcode Cloud allows development teams to more easily collaborate, even when working remotely, and it automatically builds apps for all Apple devices and platforms, freeing up a developer's Mac to accomplish other tasks.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

HomeKit enhancements include home keys, SharePlay, and new Matter interoperability standard

1 year ago

HomeKit enhancements include home keys, SharePlay, and new Matter interoperability standard

A multitude of improvements are coming to Apple's HomeKit platform later this year, led by a new industry interoperability standard called Matter that will see support from Apple and others, helping to unify the smart home market.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Privacy-focused iCloud+ includes Private Relay browsing, Hide My Email, secure HomeKit cameras

1 year ago

Privacy-focused iCloud+ includes Private Relay browsing, Hide My Email, secure HomeKit cameras

Paid iCloud subscriptions will soon have access to an enhanced iCloud+ feature, including a Private Relay VPN, a new Hide My Email capability, and support for unlimited secure HomeKit video cameras.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Swift Playgrounds for iPadOS 15 lets users code & submit apps to App Store

1 year ago

Swift Playgrounds for iPadOS 15 lets users code & submit apps to App Store

While it isn't quite the full-fledged Xcode on iPad that some developers have been clamoring for, Apple on Monday announced that Swift Playgrounds in iPadOS 15 will be greatly enhanced, teaching users how to build iPad apps and even allowing them to be submitted to the App Store.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Apple enhances AirPods with Conversation Boost, Find My integration, Spatial Audio for Apple TV

1 year ago

Apple enhances AirPods with Conversation Boost, Find My integration, Spatial Audio for Apple TV

Apple's AirPods lineup will gain several improvements later this year. This includes a new Conversation Boost feature to help people with mild hearing challenges. It also features integration with the Find My network to locate lost items and support for Spatial Audio on Apple TV in tvOS.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

2021 2nd-Generation Siri Remote Review: The star of the show

1 year ago

2021 2nd-Generation Siri Remote Review: The star of the show

The revamped 2021 Siri Remote is the best thing about the new Apple TV 4K. And since it's sold separately for $59, those who have the previous 2017 Apple TV 4K can save themselves over $100 and get the only thing that really matters.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

2021 Apple TV 4K Review: Seeking a blockbuster, given a Band-Aid

1 year ago

2021 Apple TV 4K Review: Seeking a blockbuster, given a Band-Aid

Too expensive to compete with streaming sticks, and not powerful enough to take on the likes of full-fledged game consoles, the 2021 revision of the Apple TV 4K is a competent product that continues to serve a niche market within the Apple ecosystem, but won't win over any converts.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Apple doesn't dominate in most product categories -- and that's a very good thing

1 year ago

Apple doesn't dominate in most product categories -- and that's a very good thing

In an increasingly tribal world where seemingly everything, including consumer support of trillion-dollar corporations, has turned into unwavering fandom and cheerleading, it's easy for Apple users to forget that sometimes a moderate success, instead of a home run, is what's best for everyone involved.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Flying with Apple's AirTag: When 'boring' is genuinely high praise

1 year ago

Flying with Apple's AirTag: When 'boring' is genuinely high praise

It turns out, flying with AirTag is about as exciting as waiting in a TSA security screening line, and that's perfectly OK.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Hands On: Wristcam, an Apple Watch band with dual cameras

1 year ago

Hands On: Wristcam, an Apple Watch band with dual cameras

For those hoping to ditch their iPhone entirely, the Wristcam is a unique product, offering dual wearable cameras worn on the wrist that connect to the Apple Watch. AppleInsider takes a first look at the new accessory and how it integrates into the rest of the Apple ecosystem.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Notes of interest from Apple's Q2 2021 earnings report and conference call

1 year ago

Notes of interest from Apple's Q2 2021 earnings report and conference call

Apple posted the financial results from its second fiscal quarter of 2021 on Wednesday, reporting $89.6 billion in revenue for the period, up a massive 54 percent year over year. Following are the notes of interest from both the report and the subsequent analyst conference call, with remarks from Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Apple burns early iPad Pro adopters, loyal customers with Magic Keyboard incompatibility

1 year ago

Apple burns early iPad Pro adopters, loyal customers with Magic Keyboard incompatibility

In making the $349 2020 Magic Keyboard incompatible with the 2021 iPad Pro just a year after it launched, and not offering early adopters a reasonable upgrade path as an alternative, Apple risks burning its most devoted — and highest spending — iPad users.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

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Ransomware group attempts to extort Apple with supposed leaks from supplier Quanta

1 year ago

Ransomware group attempts to extort Apple with supposed leaks from supplier Quanta

In an attempt to capitalize on the timing of Apple's "Spring Forward" event on Tuesday, a ransomware group posted on the dark web claiming it has obtained stolen schematics for upcoming products from Apple supply partner Quanta Computer.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

New 2nd-gen Siri Remote backward compatible with older Apple TVs, available for $59

1 year ago

New 2nd-gen Siri Remote backward compatible with older Apple TVs, available for $59

Though it was announced alongside a new Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, the second-generation Siri Remote is compatible with previous models of Apple's set-top box, and can be purchased from Apple for $59.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

M1 chip and Thunderbolt come to Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro

1 year ago

M1 chip and Thunderbolt come to Apple's 11-inch iPad Pro

The lines between Mac and iPad were further blurred on Tuesday, as Apple announced a next-generation iPad Pro lineup featuring the same M1 chip found in the new iMac, as well as the MacBook Pro, Mac mini and MacBook Air.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

Apple debuts colorful 24-inch iMac with M1, upgraded camera and audio

1 year ago

Apple debuts colorful 24-inch iMac with M1, upgraded camera and audio

Apple's all-in-one desktop became the latest Mac to make the transition to Apple Silicon on Tuesday, with a new iMac sporting the M1 chip and an array of color options.

By Neil Hughes | 1 year ago

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