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David Snow - page 102

Last chance to save! Protect your Apple gear with tough SwitchEasy cases

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SwitchEasy's Odyssey lanyard cases for iPhone make it super-easy to keep the handset handy and safe.
SwitchEasy's Odyssey lanyard cases for iPhone make it super-easy to keep the handset handy and safe.
Photo: SwitchEasy

SwitchEasy’s rugged Odyssey line of Apple cases is known for being protective, stylish and convenient. You can safeguard your iPhone 13 or 12 Series handset, your Apple Watch and your AirPods 3. Some clip on for added carrying options.

And best of all, the SwitchEasy flash sale on Odyssey cases goes through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 30, in the Cult of Mac Store. You can get 20% off — see the deals below.

Full-on ‘Dark Mode’ brings creativity into focus [Setups]

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The setup proper in
The setup proper in "Dark Mode." Atmospheric, eh? It's a space dedicated to creativity, but it also helps with focus.
Photo: Chris Denbow

Photographer and writer Chris Denbow puts an interesting twist on his computer setup. He credits its “Dark Mode” — which is obvious in the photographs of the desk and the room, but extends to the machines and the software he uses — for boosting his focus and creativity. He said the dark theme gives him a “space dedicated to creativity.”

“Introducing ‘Dark Mode,’ a minimal, monochromatic home office/workspace that helps eliminate distractions, [and] allows focus and productivity,” Denbow told Cult of Mac.

This camera solves a major problem with drone photography

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The Insta360 Sphere camera works with two DJI Mavic drones, keeping them out of the shot.
The Insta360 Sphere camera works with two DJI Mavic drones, keeping them out of the shot.
Photo: Insta360

An issue amateur drone pilots face taking photos or shooting footage is that the drone itself often shows up in the shot. Then, if they want to make that aerial photography perfect, they — or someone they pay — has to edit the drone out afterwards.

Insta360 said Tuesday it solved that problem with it’s new Sphere, a 360-degree camera specially designed to keep the drone “invisible.”

Affordable new Xbox streaming device could mean trouble for Apple TV

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Pretty soon Xbox gaming and media streaming may not require a console.
Pretty soon Xbox gaming and media streaming may not require a console.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft confirmed Friday it’s developing a low-cost streaming device that would allow users to play Xbox games and stream media without needing a full console. That could directly compete with Apple TV.

Meanwhile, Apple’s product — sometimes criticized as overpriced — may see a less-expensive iteration later this year, according to analysts.

Tiny, smiling Macintosh is actually a potent GaN charger

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The cute little GaN charger puts out up to 35W of power.
The cute little GaN charger puts out up to 35W of power.
Photo: Shargeek

Whether you’re nostalgic for early Macintoshes or you simply like the cuter things in life, Shargeek has the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for you. You can join the campaign at a low, early-bird price to get the company’s new Retro 35 GaN Charger. It looks just like a toy version of an original Macintosh, complete with a little smile on its screen.

And with 35W of power, it can readily charge up laptops, tablets and smartphones.

Veteran actor Ray Liotta, star of Black Bird on Apple TV+, dead at 67

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Actor Ray Liotta, set to appear in the upcoming drama series
Actor Ray Liotta, set to appear in the upcoming drama series "Black Bird" on Apple TV+, died Thursday in his sleep.
Photo: Apple TV+

Actor Ray Liotta, famous for his roles in Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, Cop Land and other films and TV shows, died in his sleep Thursday at age 67, his publicist said.

Liotta also stars in the upcoming Apple TV+ drama series Black Bird, set to premiere on July 8.

Former trombone player Tim Cook gives $100,000 to his high school band

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The Robersdale High School Band poses with instruments.
The Robersdale High School Band poses with instruments.
Photo: Baldwin County Public Schools

We’ve all heard the “sad trombone” sound. Well, today all brass is happy — or at least some brass, down south in Alabama — because Apple CEO Tim Cook just gave his alma mater’s band program a donation to the tune of $100,000.

Cook played trombone in the Robertsdale High School band in Robertdale, Alabama, near Mobile. He graduated in 1978, on his way to an engineering degree from Auburn University and later an MBA from Duke University.

Apple TV+ could get new NFL Plus streaming alongside Sunday Ticket

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It seems the new NFL Plus streaming service could go to the bidder who wins NFL Sunday Ticket.
It seems the new NFL Plus streaming service could go to the bidder who wins NFL Sunday Ticket.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Some sources suggest Apple TV+ has already signed a deal for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket. Now a new report say the football league’s planned NFL Plus streaming service could sweeten the deal for Apple — or another winning bidder, as the case may turn out to be.

The two services together on Apple TV+ could offer fans a great selection of viewing options.

Ikea’s new smart-home hub and app support Matter standard

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Ikea will launch a new smart home hub and Home app with support for the new Matter standard.
Ikea will launch a new smart home hub and Home app with support for the new Matter standard.
Photo: Ikea

Ikea, known for a growing array of smart home products in recent years, said Wednesday it will soon replace it’s HomeKit-compatible Tradfri gateway with a new hub and Home app that support the upcoming Matter standard.

Matter is a smart-home technology standard Apple, Amazon, Google, the Connectivity Standards Alliance and others are working on to make smart home-automation products work together — even when they come from different brands.

MacBook Air centers wide-ranging workstation in Germany [Setups]

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It looks like a comfy chair, but you can only get it in Germany.
It looks like a comfy chair, but you can only get it in Germany.
Photo: [email protected]

We don’t run across huge numbers of computer setups online driven by M1 MacBook Air laptops. When a laptop is the main computer, it’s more often a MacBook Pro.

But a MacBook Air powered by an M1 chip is a formidable machine, whether you’re tossing it in your knapsack for work on the go or leaving it on a stand on your desk, jacked into a USB-C hub and external display.

An M1 MacBook Air drives today’s featured setup — located in Germany — which also features some interesting bits and pieces we haven’t seen elsewhere. Those are a nifty Marshall wireless speaker and a foot hammock.

Tap to Pay rolls out at Apple Stores across US

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Apple's Tap to Pay functionality is fast becoming the easy way to pay.
Apple's Tap to Pay functionality is fast becoming the easy way to pay.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new contactless feature that lets one iPhone user pay another without additional hardware — known as Tap to Pay — is rolling out to Apple Stores across the U.S. starting Wednesday, according to a new report.

This follows a trial earlier in May at the Apple Park visitor center. The system lets iPhones accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets.

FileBrowser Professional: Manage iPad files across network and cloud storage

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FileBrowser Professional helps you work with files anywhere in network or cloud storage, right from an iPad or iPhone.
FileBrowser Professional helps you work with files anywhere in network or cloud storage, right from an iPad or iPhone.
Image: Stratospherix

This post is brought to you by Stratospherix, developer of FileBrowser Professional.

Although plenty of big businesses use Stratospherix’s FileBrowser Professional, it’s also a great product for home users and small offices. It helps users simplify their network and cloud storage, so they can easily work with files in just one app.

Individuals and businesses alike have trusted FileBrowser Professional for quite a while. It appeared on the App Store in 2009 and was among the first apps for the iPad when it launched in 2010. Since then, FileBrowser Professional has only gotten better, helping people use Apple devices more like they use a desktop computer.

It’s easy to download FileBrowser Professional from the App Store for iPadOS or iOS. Or you can try the free version, FileBrowserGo (see below).

These award-winning apps showcase young coders’ bright ideas

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Winners created an interesting array of apps in the Swift Student Challenge.
Winners created an interesting array of apps in the Swift Student Challenge.
Photo: Apple

Just under two weeks from its Worldwide Developers Conference 2022, Apple notified winners Tuesday of its annual Swift Student Challenge. Along with typical prizes for winners as in recent years — outerwear and a pin set — the company is giving winning students a pair of AirPods Pro.

This year’s winners made an interesting variety of apps, according to quick replies to queries via Twitter.

iPhone 14 Pro models could feature an always-on display

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iPhone 14 Pro models may get an always-on display, finally.
iPhone 14 Pro models may get an always-on display, finally.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models could feature always-on displays because of the handsets’ ProMotion technology, which allows for variable refresh rates, a well-known analyst said Tuesday.

Essentially, an inactive iPhone 14 Pro handset may be able to drop all the down to a 1Hz refresh rate, similar to recent Apple Watch models.

New RodeCaster Pro II offers content creators an all-in-one audio tool

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The new Rodecaster Pro II can be an all-in-one audio production tool for content creators.
The new Rodecaster Pro II can be an all-in-one audio production tool for content creators.
Photo: Rode

Rode unveiled its RodeCaster Pro II Monday, giving content creators a powerful production studio tool that adds features over its popular predecessor, the RodeCaster Pro.

The update provides an all-in-one audio tool for streamers, podcasters, musicians and other content creators at a price you don’t need to be famous to afford.

New Linksys mesh systems make Wi-Fi 6 affordable

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The Linksys Atlas 6 Wi-Fi 6 mesh router system comes in multiple variations.
The Linksys Atlas 6 Wi-Fi 6 mesh router system comes in multiple variations.
Photo: Linksys

Linksys launched two new Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems Tuesday. They’re for anyone hoping to find affordable home-internet options that support the fastest wireless speeds.

And the two mesh systems — Linksys Atlas 6 and the Linksys Hydra 6 — are the company’s lowest-cost such systems so far.

Cupertino offers new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands and faces

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Apple's ew Pride Edition Sport Loop
Experimental street dancer Jin Lee Baobei wears the new Pride Edition Sport Loop band for Apple Watch, shot on iPhone 13 Pro by Collier Schorr.
Photo: Apple

Cupertino rolled out its new Apple Watch Pride Edition bands and faces Tuesday in support of the global LGBTQ+ community. Long a supporter of LGBTQ+ advocacy through numerous programs, Apple launched two new bands and two new watch faces.

The launches come ahead of Pride Month in June, when the company said it will also run a Shot on iPhone Pride Campaign.

Logitech upgrades popular mouse and offers 2 new mechanical keyboards

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The new Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless Keyboard pairs with the updated MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse.
The new Logitech MX Mechanical Wireless Keyboard pairs with the updated MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse.
Photo: Logitech

In its latest release, Logitech offers an upgraded logitech mx master 3s Wireless Mouse and two new mechanical keyboards. The new mouse is an update on the popular MX Master 3 mouse. The 3S has a quieter click and a more sensitive sensor.

And the new MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini keyboards feature mechanical switches, a departure from the existing MX Keys keyboards.

The MX Master 3S, MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini, which will ship by the end of May, all readily pair with both Macs and PCs.

Who says wireless magnetic chargers can’t be fun?

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The 10,000mAh 3-in-1 wireless charger is made to look like a digital camera.
The 10,000mAh 3-in-1 wireless charger is made to look like a digital camera.
Photo: Zendure

Wireless magnetic chargers don’t have much of a reputation for being fun, but a new one features a playful design, at least. Zendure will soon launch preorders for the new SuperMini Go, which features MagSafe-compatible docking and up to 15W of wireless charging power.

A crowdfunding campaign for the pocket-sized power bank starts in June, the company said.

Aqara offers a third, more-advanced smart lock for HomeKit and Home Key

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The Aqara Smart Door Lock D100 Zigbee works with HomeKit and Home Key.
The Aqara Smart Door Lock D100 Zigbee works with HomeKit and Home Key.
Photo: Aqara

Aquara launched its third and most-advanced smart lock for HomeKit and Home Key on Thursday, the D100 Zigbee.

Unlike the previously released N100 Zigbee and A100 Zigbee, which are handle locks, the new D100 is an automatic mortise lock that lets users open a door without pushing a handle or turning a knob.

It’s expected to roll out in more countries soon, but for now you can get it in parts of Asia and the Middle East. You can find more information about its distribution below.

What could be in store for the return of the big HomePod?

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The big HomePod could be back soon. But how pricey and how functional will it be?
The beloved big HomePod could be back soon. But how pricey and how functional will it be?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple plans to produce an updated version of the HomePod as soon as the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Friday.

As reliable as Kuo can be, little other information exists beyond speculation. But that’s part of the fun.

A lot of folks are jonesing for an Apple smart speaker that goes beyond the HomePod mini. The original HomePod, while much more expensive, earned a great reputation for sound quality before Apple killed it in 2021. So naturally, Apple fans are interested in a successor, possibly with new features.

Composer makes beautiful music with 2013 Mac Pro and big Cinema Display [Setups]

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A 9-year old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display. You don't see those every day.
A 9-year old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display. You don't see those every day.
Photo: Travis Lohmann

Las Vegas-based pianist, composer and educator Travis Lohmann reached out to Cult of Mac recently with an intriguing setup that hearkens back to yesteryear but still gets the job done in the here and now. Or in the “hear and now,” if you like.

It’s not every day you see a 9-year-old Mac Pro and an even older 30-inch Cinema Display getting the job done in 2022, but it happens.

Sony pushes comfort with its new lightweight LinkBuds S earbuds

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Sony's new lightweight LinkBuds S with ANC cost $199.99.
Sony's new lightweight LinkBuds S with ANC cost $199.99.
Photo: Sony

Sony brought out its latest earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) Wednesday, the $199.99 LinkBuds S. The consumer electronics giant appears to be going for “Goldilocks” buds here, fitting a super-lightweight option for comfortable, long-term wear just below its flagship WF-1000XM4 ANC earbuds in both price and quality level.