David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
A 4-display setup is one thing. But in this rig, the monitors are massive. Photo: [email protected]
Today’s featured Mac Studio setup may win the external display arms race — for bigger monitors and for more of them. A 4-display setup displayed on social media is not super rare, but one sporting such large screens is. This one pushes the limit of too much screen space with two stacked 57-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung displays bookended by two 32-inch Samsungs in portrait (vertical) orientation. Yikes, that’s a lot of screen.
Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can watch every match of the Leagues Cup 2025 tournament via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Photo: Apple
Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass will once again serve as the exclusive global streaming destination for the Leagues Cup, North America’s premier cross-league soccer tournament that kicked off Tuesday and runs through August.
The monthlong competition brings together clubs from Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX in what organizers call the first in-season club tournament across all men’s professional sports in North America.
Apple loses is fourth AI expert in only a few weeks. Photo: Meta
Apple faces big challenges in its artificial intelligence efforts as another key researcher leaves the company to join Meta’s ambitious superintelligence project, according to a new report Tuesday. The departure marks the fourth AI expert to leave Apple’s foundation models team in just one month, raising questions about the future of Apple Intelligence and the company’s AI strategy.
The Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit will offer free programming to train and support American businesses, innovators, and manufacturers. It opens August 19. Photo: Apple
Apple launches its new Manufacturing Academy in Detroit on August 19, offering free training programs designed to help American businesses adopt advanced manufacturing techniques, the iPhone giant said Tuesday.
“Apple works with suppliers in all 50 states because we know advanced manufacturing is vital to American innovation and leadership,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s chief operating officer. “With this new programming, we’re thrilled to help even more businesses implement smart manufacturing so they can unlock amazing opportunities for their companies and our country.”
When both silence and music are bliss, make sure you pick the ideal noise canceling headphones or earbuds. Photo: Grok Aurora AI
Whether you’re navigating a noisy commute, seeking focus in a bustling office, trying to unwind during air travel or simply blissing out to your favorite tunes, the right pair of noise-canceling headphones can transform your audio experience. These sophisticated devices do more than just play music — they create a mobile personal sanctuary.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, with options ranging from premium over-ear headphones to compact wireless earbuds. The best models excel not just at blocking out unwanted noise, but also deliver exceptional sound quality, comfortable fit and long battery life.
Our comprehensive guide discusses key factors like a model’s noise-reduction capabilities, audio performance, comfort during extended wear and additional features that enhance the user experience. Find help navigating the options to find your perfect audio companion below.
A huge smart TV and a complete Audioengine sound system distinguish this M2 Mac mini setup. Photo: [email protected]
Big smart TVs crop up in computer setups online as external displays with increasing regularity. That includes today’s featured M2 Mac mini rig with a 55-inch Hisense smart TV as well as a 32-inch LG 4K monitor that looks tiny by comparison.
And the setup’s audio is no slouch. It features excellent Audioengine bookshelf speakers, a dedicated digital-to-audio converter (DAC) plus a wireless subwoofer for a big low end. Most setups stop at speakers on the desk.
"Stick" is the nickname pro golfers give the greats -- sometimes before they flame out, like Owen Wilson's character. Photo: Apple TV+
Popular Apple TV+ sports comedy Stick just completed its first season and got its green light for season two. So while comparisons to feel-good soccer phenom Ted Lasso seem inevitable, this Owen Wilson-led golf series carves out its own distinctive identity.
Rather than trying to replicate the wholesome optimism and wildly unbelievable story that made Ted Lasso a cultural phenomenon, Stick takes viewers slightly further into somewhat darker territory and into a slightly more believable story with suburban grift, sardonic humor and complex characters navigating grief and redemption.
Hey, I said somewhat darker,slightly further and slightly more believable, OK?
In a nutshell, Stick, like Lasso, is danged wholesome and all about redemption. And both series are feel-good shows people want to watch right now, given the societal circumstances. But for my Apple TV+ Stick review, here are three compelling reasons why Stick deserves your attention, regardless of how you feel about its more famous predecessor.
If this MacBook and PC user could only have one, he'd take the Studio Display over the 240Hz OLED display. Photo: [email protected]
Though relatively high costs is a perennial complaint about Apple’s popular Studio Display, the 5K resolution monitor with a fair number of bells and whistles continues to gain fans willing to pay. Today’s setup belongs to a gamer with a MacBook Pro and a gaming PC, plus a Studio Display and a 240Hz OLED monitor.
He said if the house caught fire and he could only choose one display to save, it’d be Apple’s.
Apple previewed it's new store in Osaka, Japan, opening Saturday. Photo: Apple
Apple’s newest retail destination opens its doors to customers Saturday in the heart of Osaka, Japan. That’s two decades after its first store opened in the city, located in Japan’s Kansai region. The new Apple Umeda store promises to deliver the full Apple experience to one of the country’s most vibrant commercial districts. It includes an exclusive Vision Pro demo area and a Today at Apple session on Apple Intelligence.
“I am very pleased to open Apple Umeda, a wonderful space that reflects the energy of the vibrant city of Osaka,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail and Human Resources. “This new store is a place to walk with creative communities and local businesses in Kansai.”
This user ponders replacing both the M1 MacBook Pro and the M3 iMac, possibly with an M4 Pro MacBook Pro. Photo:
Today’s featured setup user seeks out and gets good advice on his upgrade questions. He runs an aging MacBook Pro and a more recent iMac, but wonders about replacing them both with a newer MacBook Pro, perhaps an M4 Pro model. Commenters on his post offered useful thoughts, below, on future-proofing choices of Mac models as well as external display options.
That's one less reason to upgrade your older iPhone with a Lightning connector. Photo: Obsoless
Swiss robotics engineer Ken Pillonel just developed a commercial solution for iPhone users with Lightning connectors who want fully functional USB-C connectivity without upgrading their devices. The new case gives Lightning iPhones a USB-C port.
Known for his viral 2021 project that added USB-C to an iPhone X through hardware modification, Pillonel has now created a snap-on case that brings the modern port to any Lightning-equipped iPhone. You can watch his video below.
UK regulators armed with new antitrust rules go after Apple and Google. Photo: hozinja (CC BY 2.0)
Apple users in the UK could see significant changes to how they download apps, browse the web and make payments on their devices following new regulatory proposals announced Wednesday by Britain’s competition watchdog.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) proposed designating both Apple and Google with “strategic market status” under new digital competition laws. That gives regulators unprecedented power to force changes to how the tech giants operate their mobile platforms.
“The targeted and proportionate actions we have set out today would enable UK app developers to remain at the forefront of global innovation while ensuring UK consumers receive a world-class experience,” CMA head Sarah Cardell said.
The EU's Digital Markets Act causes plenty of headaches for Apple. Photo: European Commission
Apple appears set to dodge potentially devastating daily fines from European Union regulators, according to a new report Tuesday. Sources indicate the company’s revised App Store policies will likely receive approval in the coming weeks.
Apple Store online and the app launched in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They introduce support directly from Apple in Arabic for the first time. Photo: Apple
Apple expanded its retail presence to Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online and Apple Store app, marking the first time the company has offered direct support in Arabic, the iPhone giant said Tuesday. The move is a significant milestone for Apple users in the Kingdom, who can now access the full range of Apple products and services with localized support from Apple’s team.
“We are thrilled to bring the Apple Store online and the Apple Store app to Saudi Arabia, offering customers a new way to explore and shop Apple’s extraordinary lineup of products and services,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and People. “Our customers in Saudi Arabia are passionate about the things they can do with technology, and our teams can’t wait to connect with customers and help them discover how Apple innovations can meaningfully enrich their daily lives.”
One of the new Baseus security cameras tracks the sun's path to stay charged. Photo: Baseus
Two innovative new outdoor cameras could change how homeowners approach property surveillance, Baseus said Sunday. The standout feature? The more advanced Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4K packs a small solar panel on top that actually moves to follow the sun throughout the day, keeping the cameras charged. And the budget-friendly new Baseus Security S1 Lite 2K model uses solar charging, too.
The user wants suggestions on how to "get rid of" those MacBooks on the right. Photo: [email protected]
Sometimes even a MacBook in a vertical laptop stand takes up too much space on the desk. Today’s dual MacBook Pro setup user asks the question of how to “get rid of” the laptops — as in how to mount MacBook out of the way but still in use. And they get plenty of excellent advice, below.
And in addition, the workstation grabs the attention for its “odd couple” of Apple monitors, old and new. The user said they love both displays (despite that rather significant differences between the two).
Apple Sports app bolsters soccer coverage with FA Cup and comes to Mexico for the first time. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple rolled out version 3.1 of its Sports app Monday, delivering expanded soccer content with the UK’s FA Cup and making the application available to users in Mexico for the first time.
The update arrives just in time for the FA Community Shield match and marks another significant milestone in the app’s rapid evolution.
Be the cool kid on the block with Atomic Keyboards' MDR Dasher Keyboard from Severance. Photo: Atomic Keyboards
Severance, the dystopian workplace thriller that captivates Apple TV+ subscribers, makes the leap from screen to desk with a meticulously crafted replica of the show’s distinctive keyboard. Atomic Keyboards announced recently that its MDR Dasher Keyboard — inspired by the mysterious input device used by Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G., and Irving B. in Lumon Industries’ sterile offices — now heads to Kickstarter with reservations open for just $10.
Just remember, the retro keeb is three keyboards in one, but it features no Escape, Option or Control keys. And it’s steep pricing might make you lose hope altogether.
This 2021 iMac shows two of its four rear ports have Thunderbolt capability. Note the lightning-bolt symbol. Photo: Apple
Apple sometimes mixes up connector types among devices, and that might confuse people even more over the differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt. The connectors look alike, work similarly and accept the same cables. Yet they’re not the same.
Let’s look at the key differences, how the ascendant Thunderbolt 5 improves on Thunderbolt 4, and which kind of port and cable best suits your tasks like charging and data transfer.
Sure, you can give them a no-brainer gift like an AirTag, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Photo: Grok/Cult of Mac
Tech travel accessories have become essential companions for modern travelers who rely on their Apple and other devices for everything from navigation to entertainment. Ever found yourself with a dead iPhone in a foreign country or frantically searching for your AirPods before boarding a flight? These scenarios can quickly stress-bomb an exciting trip. Peruse our guide to learn about the best tech gifts for travelers (whether that’s you or someone else in your life!)
My setup now bristles with four separate input devices and a new webcam. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Guess what, it’s time for another installment of Dave’s Setup Upgrades. Only about six weeks after I last wrote about my own computer setup instead of everybody else’s, here I go again. An M4 Pro MacBook Pro driving a pair of 5K touchscreen displays remains the core of my rig. But I’ve gone a little nuts lately with computer input devices as I strive for a more ergonomic workstation. I’m up to four, with backups for most, and that’s got to be some kind of record.
And I added a webcam because my current external displays don’t pack one. And my laptop, with its only-pretty-good webcam, sits hidden away on a vertical stand. I don’t want to have to pull it out for video calls.
This is the one PDF tool Apple fans need. Image: PDF Editor, PDF Book Reader
Struggling trying to figure out the best way to edit PDFs? Thanks to the PDF Editor ,PDF Book Reader ® app for Mac, iPhone and other Apple devices, editing and managing PDF documents doesn’t need to break the bank — or frazzle your mind.
It’s a great all-in-one PDF app — and Cult of Mac readers can get a free one-year subscription.
We hope you like SpongeBob SquarePants, because he and his undersea pals are about to show up all over Apple Arcade. Photo: Apple
Apple Arcade subscribers can now enjoy special SpongeBob SquarePants content across multiple games on the platform — if they’re into that fishy sort of thing. The gaming service continues its strategy of bringing beloved characters to its exclusive titles. The latest crossover events feature the iconic Nickelodeon character in Snake.io+, Crossy Road Castle and an updated SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit game.
Said Phil Schiller, Apple fellow and former SVP for worldwide product marketing, in a post on Mastodon Social: “Jumping Jellyfish!”
No need to wait until September to play the new Emoji Game. Photo: Apple
Apple gave its News+ subscribers an unexpected treat Thursday. It rolled out the new Emoji Game on Apple News+ ahead of schedule to celebrate World Emoji Day. Originally slated to debut with iOS 26 this September, the puzzle game is now available for users running iOS 18.4 and later versions.
“Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News.
Razer's entrant brings built-in support for SSD storage expansion to the Thunderbolt 5 dock race. Photo:
The new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma promises to transform how Mac users connect their devices while delivering blazing-fast data speeds, support for massive SSD storage expansion, expanded display capabilities and RGB lighting, the gaming peripherals giant said Wednesday. Priced at $399.99, the dock stands in the first wave of major accessories to fully embrace Intel’s latest Thunderbolt 5 standard.
“The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock is designed to meet the growing need for faster data transfer and robust multi-display support,” said Travis Furst, notebooks and accessories chief at Razer.
