Pick up the premium AirPods Max with a $80 discount Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
AirPods Max, Apple’s premium over-the-ear headphones, are currently discounted by $70 to $479.
If you are in the market for a high-end headphone that integrates seamlessly with your iPhone and other Apple devices, you cannot go wrong with the AirPods Max.
You must turn off Activation Lock when you sell your AirPods. Here’s why, and how. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple added Find My to AirPods in 2021, and it’s causing problems for resellers of these wireless headphones. Many people are unaware that their AirPods now support Activation Lock, which means they are locked to their user’s Apple ID. This must be deactivated when selling or giving the devices away or no one else can use them.
Here’s how to turn off Activation Lock on your AirPods.
The Mac Studio replaced an LG 5K monitor. So far, no complaints. Photo: [email protected]
The official release date for sales of Apple’s new Studio Display was Friday, March 18 — same as the Mac Studio desktop computer. Both are winning accolades — the desktop more than the display, actually — but in the days since launch we’ve seen quite a few more of the displays cropping up on social media site posts by new owners than the desktops.
There could be various reasons for that. It could mean more people are buying the displays. Or maybe display shipping has been more efficient. Or it could be that displays are simply a little faster and easier to add to a computer setup, so they’re showing up quicker.
Today’s featured setup pairs the new Studio Display — which ousted an LG 5K monitor — with a 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro.
The Ophidia case brings “vintage and contemporary together through its archive-inspired design elements” — whatever that means. It’s also emblazoned with a pretentious quote (in Latin, of course) on the inside. Order yours now for $980.
That's not just any webcam perched above the monitor. Photo: [email protected]
On Fridays it’s fun to focus on computer setups with entertaining features whenever possible. Sometimes it’s seriously vintage gear. Or it could be wacky decor. Once in a while, an exotic location pops up. Today we found one where a brand new M1 Pro MacBook meets a kooky crew of bobbleheads and other figures under a really over-the-top camera rig used as a webcam.
Basic Apple Guy's setup, the "kitchen edition," needs to be easy to clean and move. Photo: BasicAppleGuy.com
Blogger Basic Apple Guy, whom we’ll call BAG, has been an Apple fan since high school shop class, when he convinced the teacher that making an iMovie on the teacher’s iMac G3 should fit into the curriculum. Now, decades later, BAG’s passion lives on. It showed when he recently shared one of his computer setups, the “kitchen edition.”
Satechi's new stand holds and charges AirPods Max and other gear -- and it looks good doing it. Photo: Satechi
Among accessories maker Satechi’s new products showing at CES 2022 is the new 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger designed for AirPods Max, rolled out Thursday.
While a sleek, stainless steel arm suspends your headphones, the base charges your iPhone or other Qi-enabled device and provides a USB-C port to power up the headphones, too.
AirPods Max owners grumble about the hefty price tag. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
A year after the debut of AirPods Max, an analysis of user reviews found that buyers like the over-the-ear headphones less than rival products. The main problem: price.
For comparison, the same study by consumer research company Revuze shows people who buy Apple’s basic AirPods seem much more satisfied. And user reviews of other Apple products are usually quite positive, too.
“It is off-brand and surprising to see how poorly the AirPods Max product was received over the course of the year since its release,” Revuze CEO Boaz Grinvald told Cult of Mac.
AirPods firmware updates shouldn’t be so frustrating. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
What’s in that firmware update for a couple of AirPods that came out Tuesday. Who the hell knows?!? Apple doesn’t announce updates for its truly wireless headphones — and won’t tell anyone what’s in them. It’s very frustrating.
Apple’s attempt at making AirPods firmware updates simple instead makes them way more complicated than necessary. Currently, they happen in the background, but what’s really needed is an “Update Now” button.
Pick up Apple’s most impressive AirPods headphones today to enjoy $100 — the biggest discount yet — off the usual price. AirPods Max are now available in select color options for just $449.
The discount won’t last long, so enjoy it while you can!
But only if you have AirPods Max or AirPods Pro. Photo: Apple
Apple upgraded AirPods Pro and AirPods Max on Tuesday to enable Find My tracking. It allows users to locate missing AirPods even when they’re not connected to another Apple device.
It's not the only iOS 15 feature we'll have to wait longer for. Photo: Apple
It seems Find My network support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max won’t roll out with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as originally planned. Apple says the feature, which can make lost headphones easier to find, will be available “later this fall.”
Once the Find My network is enabled for the high-end headphones, another iPhone, iPad or Mac owner in the vicinity of the lost item can can passively update your gear’s general location. The Find My network functionality makes the feature far my powerful by tapping the millions of Apple devices in use around the world.
Don’t leave your pricey AirPods Max lying around, waiting to be sat on, when you’re not using them. Pick up Laut’s aluminum Free Stand and give your headphones the perfect place to rest. It’s sturdy, stylish, and nicely priced.
Netflix has begun rolling out Spatial Audio support. This lets the streaming service offer a surround sound-like experience but without all the speakers. Currently, it requires AirPods Pro or AirPods Max but that’ll change soon.
And Netflix beat out Apple TV in offering the feature.
But only if you have AirPods Max or AirPods Pro. Photo: Apple
Hidden code in iOS 15 confirms AirPods Max and AirPods Pro will be tied to an Apple ID to enable Find My tracking. The upgrade will allow users to locate missing AirPods, even when they’re not connected to another Apple device.
Apple’s nifty and well-loved AirPods Max headphones are on sale for a full $100 off their $549 MSRP. Available from Adorama, all colors are available for just $449.
There’s better than usual sale on AirPods Pro. And AirPods 2, as well. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
AirPods are truly outstanding headphones, especially for iPhone users. They aren‘t cheap, though. But it’s Amazon’s annual Prime Day, and both AirPods and AirPods Pro are on sale for 25% below the regular price. That’s as much as $60 off.
And there are smaller savings on the recently released AirPods Max.
A desk with a metal frame and a bunch of clips and magnets help make a great setup. Photo: QasimZafaraYouTube@Reddit
Quasim Zafar’s neatly laid out computer setup serves as his filming area for YouTube product reviews, his general workstation using a 2020 M1 Mac mini and his Xbox Series S gaming station where he plays Call of Duty.
But that’s only incidental to what you’ll probably love about it and want for your own setup.
Conversation Boost in iOS 15 lets AirPods enhance the audio in face-to-face communication. Screenshot: Apple
iOS 15 will bring a range of improvements to AirPods. Apple’s wireless headphones will get easier to find, and they can fill in as hearing aids in noisy environments. And Apple plans another tweak or two as well.
A MacBook Pro and widescreen display setup has a secret weapon: a desktop whiteboard. Photo: TheCrunks@Reddit
If you look at enough computer setups, you get used to seeing the amazing technology that impresses people on social media sites. But then, sometimes the cool innovation, or let’s say killer retro-innovation, is just an unfamiliar form of whiteboard with dry-erase notes scribbled on it.
Redditor TheCrunks has an admirably capable but compact setup with plenty of tech to like.
A new house calls for a first-time home office with an ultrawide monitor and plenty of toys. Photo: StevenJ95
Redditor StevenJ95 recently moved from an apartment to a house, allowing him to have a new home office. For the first time. He’s got room enough in there for his MacBook Pro, his Samsung curved ultrawide monitor and even his Tesla Model S, Cybertruck and Supercharger.
OK, those last three are two diecast model cars and a cute little desktop Tesla charger for phones and such. But he does have a real Tesla Model 3 — which he sensibly parks elsewhere — as well as a lot of enthusiasm for the brand, judging by how he decorates his setup.
But you'll have to wait until 2022 to get your hands on them. Photo: Apple
Apple’s next-gen AirPods Pro will feature updated motion sensors for fitness tracking and arrive in 2022, according to a Bloomberg report Friday.
This would be in keeping with Apple’s increasing focus on the fitness and wellness field, both with Apple Watch and its Fitness+ subscription service. AirPods Pro made their debut in October 2019, and have not been updated since.
Perhaps AirPods will be able to play Apple Music’s new lossless option. Photo: Apple
There’s hope for AirPods users unhappy that the new Apple Music lossless option won’t work on their wireless headphones. Tipster Jon Prosser said on Wednesday that Apple will introduce a software update that will allow the earbuds to play lossless audio. Supposedly, AirPlay and Wi-Fi are just waiting to be enabled in AirPods.