Cult of Mac

If you can’t swing an Apple Watch, try this $40 starter device

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This Apple Watch alternative is on sale for $39.99.
Apple Watch Series 9 too pricey? Try this $39.99 alternative.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for an Apple Watch, but are curious about its benefits, check out this $40 starter smartwatch. The CMax Lite Bluetooth Smartwatch is not as slick as Apple’s device, but it does some of the same things: heart rate monitoring, calorie counting, alarms, weather, calendar and more.

The CMax Lite Bluetooth packs a lot into a low-cost package. For just $39.99, you can pick up a smartwatch to use fitness tracking, maximize your connectivity and give you a little more info about what your body’s doing.

Father’s Day Sale: Get 20% off and other deals on Apple accessories

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SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand with devices
Wireless charging is easier than plugging in a bunch of cables every day.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

Father’s Day is the time to show your appreciation for dear old dad — or hip young dad, as the case may be. Maybe he’d appreciate accessories for his beloved Apple products. The Father’s Day Sale in the Cult of Mac Store features a great selection of deals!

For starters, Laut is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on its wide array of accessories, including iPhone and AirTag cases, Apple Watch bands, laptop stands and much more.

See below for many more discounts on great gifts. You can get 20% off a huge number of items.

Why Jamf Now is the official MDM solution of Cult of Mac

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Mobile device management products are designed to solve exactly this problem, and today we're announcing Jamf Now as our official Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.
Photo: Jamf Now

badge It’s pretty hard to run a business today without accounting for the devices your employees use to do their jobs. We’re all pretty technically savvy here at Cult of Mac, but as a distributed team, there is a huge need for us to agree on apps, settings and tools that we use.

Mobile device management products are designed to solve exactly this problem, and today we’re announcing Jamf Now as our official Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

Why the iPhone 7 Plus camera is a major milestone

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The iPhone 7 Plus made 2016 a memorable year for photography.
The iPhone 7 Plus made 2016 a memorable year for photography.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review Cult of Mac We roll our eyes when Tim Cook introduces a new iPhone and says, “This is the best iPhone ever” each year. But the iPhone 7 Plus will be different.

Sure, ambitious upgrades remain in the pipeline, but the remarkable camera in the iPhone 7 Plus will make this year’s model memorable. Fifty years from now, photography historians will talk about the iPhone 7 Plus they way they do the first Leica or the first Polaroid.

Best Mac accessories of 2016

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Best Mac accessories 2016
From dongles to docks, these are the year's best Mac accessories.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2016 Year in Review Cult of Mac We value our Mac computers. Whether on a desk or in a lap, they help us complete many life tasks. But you and your machine wouldn’t make it without reliable accessories — especially now that we live in the USB-C era.

Storage drives, hubs with extra ports, a good pair of headphones, maybe a bag to carry your tech — all these Mac accessories play important roles. They often remain unsung, but sometimes come through to help us avoid a devastating loss of hardware or important work.

So if you are looking to bolster your Mac support team, look no further than this list of some of Cult of Mac’s favorites accessories from 2016 for iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

3rd-party Apple Watch faces, and how the iPhone was really invented, this week on The CultCast

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cult cast
Catch our unfiltered reactions to Apple's newest products.
Photo: Apple/Erfon Elijah

This week on The CultCast: You’ll laugh, you’ll cry — wait till you hear the latest lawsuit aimed right at Apple’s biggest products. Plus: Leaked photos of EarPods with a Lightning connector look better than expected; why we may never get third-party Apple Watch faces; Netflix is adding a feature it swore would never happen; and a man builds a vibrant photography career in the world of sports with nothing but his iPhone. Oh, and Val Kilmer dances with a carrot in his derriere. Just hit play already.

Our thanks to Freshbooks for supporting this episode. FreshBooks is the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started now with a 30-day free trial.

Hungry publicity hound saves his spot in Apple history

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Greg Packer is described as a professional line-sitter with a knack for getting publicity. He often can be found at or near the front of the line at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City whenever a new iPhone is about to go on sale.
Greg Packer goes where the new iPhones are.
Photo: Gizmodo

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugGreg Packer is a shirtless footnote in the history of the iPhone. The retired highway maintenance worker from Long Island made a name for himself as the first person to line up for the sale of the first iPhone in 2007.

During his nearly weeklong stint sitting outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City, scores of reporters came by to interview him as he sat in a lawn chair, at times not bothering to put on a shirt during his many closeups.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Speed up iPhone and Apple Watch + Why Apple shouldn’t kill headphone jack + more

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Quick tips to save you time and energy.
Quick tips to save you time and energy.
Photo: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

Another week, another Cult of Mac Magazine – the best place to get your Apple fix in one place.

This week, we’ve got quick tips to speed up your iPhone and Apple Watch, our take on the stupidity of killing the iPhone’s headphone jack, new how-tos for Apple Music and Apple TV, a hilarious bit of Star Wars fever that Siri’s picked up, and the latest rumors about iPhone 6c and iPhone 7. That not enough? There’s tons more inside.

Here’s the rundown for this week’s cover stories:

Must have the iPhone 6s? These are your must-have accessories

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A lens attachment with case by Moment is a good compliment to the 12-megapixel camera in the new iPhone 6s.
A lens attachment with case by Moment is a good compliment to the 12-megapixel camera in the new iPhone 6s.
Photo: Moment

Your personal hero now has an S on its chest and, behind it, are some new superpowers. Behold, the iPhone 6s.

But wait: There’s still some money to be spent on a new suit of armor and some other accessories to exploit the talents of the latest hardware out of Cupertino.

Cult of Mac has drawn up a shopping list for you. You could probably squeeze the 6s into the same case and carry on with your current set of headphones, but hey — a new iPhone only comes around once a year.

How we put the Mac-gic in Cult of Mac’s videos

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Setup
This is where Cult of Mac's videos get edited.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Want a sneak peek behind the scenes of Cult of Mac? In my tech-setup tour video below, I’ll show you where I produce and edit all the videos for the site, and what kind of equipment I use to do it.

This is one of the most-requested videos I’ve had so far, so I won’t keep you waiting any longer — let’s get to it.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Welcome to the new site, plus Apple TV’s big update

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In case you hadn't noticed, Cult of Mac's got a new look!
In case you hadn't noticed, Cult of Mac's got a new look!
Cover: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We have the technology. We can make the Cult of Mac website better than it was. Better, stronger, faster.

We can and we did (and it didn’t cost us $6 million, either). In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iPhone and iPad, you’ll get the scoop on our website’s redesign, plus updates on Apple TV, opinions on Apple Watch and some totally disarming selfies.

Unicorns, horror and bikes: 8 Instagram accounts to follow right now

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adam-jones
A detail of Adam Jones' art for new Red Hare album. Photo: Adam Jones/Instagram

Instagram has become riddled with so many photos of kitty cats, inspirational sayings and kitty cats spouting inspirational sayings that it has become nearly impossible to find fun and interesting feeds to follow without spending hours staring at your iPhone. So we did it for you.

This is not so much a “best of” list as a starting point that should open your mind to what else is out there in the great big Insta-world.

Use your iPhone’s hidden sleep timer to fall asleep to music

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Sometimes it’s difficult to fall asleep, even after a long day. While listening to music can help some, they wake only to find their device’s battery dead from playing all night. In this episode of Cult of Mac’s how-to, find out how to use your iPhone’s hidden sleep timer, thanks to our quick and easy steps.

Take a look at the video to see what to do.

Slice everything (and the price) for high scores in Apple’s free app of the week

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While many are sure to remember the old hit-game Fruit Ninja, not many are still playing it. Though the slicing mania may be on halt in one app, Apple’s current app of the week KingHunt aims to keep you going at it. Claiming to be the next generation of the slicing game genre, slice your way through crazy objects and plenty of fun-filled levels. Do you think you can become the ultimate hunter?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

How to listen to YouTube audio outside of the app

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With such a large music library on YouTube it’s an ideal way of listening to your favorite artists. Playing music videos in the native YouTube app is convenient, but playing and leaving the app to still listen to your video’s audio isn’t possible. Luckily thanks to iOS 7 there’s a simple way around this, allowing you to enjoy your music in no time.

Take a look at the video to see what to do.

How to get beta seeds of OSX for your iMac and Macbooks

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With Apple recently making OSX Beta Seed downloads available to the general public, Cult of Mac’s Ste Smith shows you how to prep your Mac to install the latest software. Get the latest OSX updates before general release by following the simple steps shown.

Take a look at the video to see what you need to do.

Recycle your way to world domination in Scrap Squad

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Recycling is generally perceived as a good practice to help save the Earth. In the new game Scrap Squad, it’s quite the opposite: You sort and recycle to dominate the world.

Tap and drag bottles, cans, paper and other refuse down a conveyor belt and into corresponding colored robots as fast as you can. Do you think you’re a good enough evil genius to top the high-score charts?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Whirl away your free time with unique match-three game Spin It

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It’s not uncommon to find yourself in a situation throughout the day when you’re just bored and looking for something to do. New iOS game Spin It will bring a fresh type of gameplay to your device to keep you entertained. Spin colored circles around the screen to match them in sets of three and four. Can you spin your way to the top of the high-score charts?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Jumping Jaxx Reinvents Endless-Jumper Gameplay [Video Review]

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The app store is notoriously known for having tons of endless runner games. While some developers are sticking to the running genre, others have taken to jumping. The new app Jumping Jaxx is an endless jumper where players must swipe platforms on the screen to keep the character from falling into a giant wave. Dodge piranhas, catch powerful boosts and collect as many flowers as possible to reach a new high-score and purchase upgrades. How high do you think you can help Jumping Jaxx reach?

Take a look at the video to see what you think.

Bike Assault Is A High-Speed Heist For High-Scores [Video Review]

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It’s easy to get a thrill from the action portrayed in the movies. While these characters perform bank heists and other risky situations, these are all far from being like our average days. When the office isn’t giving you a rush, the new app Bike Assault is perfect for you. Tilt your way through traffic shooting an armored truck, and catching as much money as possible, without crashing. Just how much loot will you be able to pick up?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Fend Off Swarms Of Crazy Critters In Swamp Attack [Video Review]

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Murky water and alligators may not exactly be something you see everyday. While some may live the swamp-life, others can get an entertaining feel of it in the new app Swamp Attack. Protect your home with your trusty weapons, tapping all incoming waves of enemies to progress from level to level. Do you think you can fight off all alligators, raccoons, turtles and more to keep your land safe?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

Boredom Is Impossible In The Intense New Game Unpossible [Video Review]

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Enter another dimension in the new app Unpossible. Dodge all incoming obstacles as you use tilt or touch controls running your way along a 3D pipeline. Avoid hitting obstacles at all costs as speeds increase and obstacles get harder to see. Do you think you can dodge your way to the top of the high-score charts?

Take a look at the video and see what you think.

You can also check out an interview with the developer behind Unpossible here: https://www.cultofmac.com/270311/play-cult-mac-game-developers-conference-liveblog/#liveblog-entry-157439