This year, WWDC delivered an avalanche of new hardware as well as the usual major planned software releases — and the latter is already showing up in computer setups while the hardware hasn’t shipped yet.
Today’s featured setup may be all about its MacBook Pro, iPad and fine external monitor, but you can’t miss the brand-new, unreleased functionality showing up on another screen on display in the photograph.
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MacBook Pro rig enters beta mode following WWDC23
Redditor Dj-Ken showcased the setup in a post entitled, “Still figuring out, iOS 17 and cable management.”
And iOS 17, unveiled at WWDC23 and currently in beta release for members of the Apple Developer Program to test, is clearly in the mix. You can see how on the iPhone perched on an Anker 633 PowerWave MagGo 2-in-1 charger on the right side of the photograph above.
iOS 17’s StandBy mode
Photo: Apple
The handset’s screen looks like an old-school digital clock. That means it’s in the new StandBy mode that will surface a different look when you set down your handset in landscape mode on a charger. Apple software chief Craig Federighi described it during the WWDC keynote on Monday, along with many other new features in iOS 17.
Here’s Cult of Mac‘s description of StandBy mode:
A new StandBy mode in iOS 17 will automatically replace your iPhone’s Lock Screen when your phone is docked horizontally on a charger. It will display the time, widgets and other useful information, turning your iPhone into a smart display.
When a commenter asked how he already has iOS 17, Ken confirmed he’s a beta tester. No sign in the setup of beta versions of macOS Sonoma, iPad OS or the others, but perhaps he’ll dabble in those, too.
Nice hardware on high-quality stands
As for the setup proper, Ken’s 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro drives a slick, 27-inch BenQ 2705U Mac-ready Monitor. The 4K in-plane switching (IPS) panel offers 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution, support for 1.07-billion colors, a 1200:1 contrast ratio, a 60Hz refresh rate and a 5 ms gray-to-gray response time.
The display sits on a nice white wooden desk shelf with two drawers. Ken described it as part of an Ikea Alex draw unit (that and a dedicated desk shelf are included in the gear list below). It’s an elegant solution both for raising up the display to a comfortable viewing height and for providing storage options.
And cables, like the one running from the round controller on the desk for the BenQ Screenbar Halo light sitting on top of the monitor (which the other little round controller is for), can run through the desk shelf’s open center. Another cable runs from the mouse pad because it’s an RGB pad that can light up with colors.
The 10.2-inch iPad (9th generation) also sits on that desk shelf, perched on an Omoton Tablet Stand for iPad. Ken is a fan of the adjustable aluminum stand, calling it “awesome.” He can raise it, lower it and rotate it.
Shop these items now:
Computers and stand:
Display, light bar and desk shelf:
- 27-inch BenQ 2705U Mac-ready 4K IPS monitor
- BenQ Screenbar Halo LED Monitor Light
- Wooden monitor stand with drawers
Input devices:
Furniture and accessories:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
