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.
2022's Super Bowl LVI halftime show featured Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem (not pictured). Photo: NFL
The National Football League brokered a multiyear deal with Apple to bring the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show to one of the world’s biggest stages, the league said Friday.
The new halftime show debuts at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, February 12, 2023. But most details about it have yet to take the field.
You can use a smartphone or the touchscreen or keypad on the lock. Photo: Yale
Yale, long known for its old-school locks, updated its Assure smart lock series Thursday. In addition to being 30% smaller than the original Assure smart locks, the new Assure Lock 2 models work with HomeKit and Siri voice control.
AirPods Pro 2 look pretty much the same as the original, but they're better in nearly every way. Photo: Apple
Reviews of Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) are rolling in. The overwhelming consensus? The design is only slightly changed from the first-generation buds, but almost everything else is improved, with a few minor caveats.
They’re better than the original where it counts most: Higher sound quality, stronger ANC, more controls, longer battery life and an improved wireless charging case.
In short, given that the wildly popular AirPods Pro launched way back in 2019, it’s time for an upgrade for most people.
Wondershare FamiSafe helps you keep track of your kids. Photo: Artem Podrez@Pexels
This parental control app post is presented by Wondershare.
Do you know what your kids are doing right now? These days, parents typically keep a pretty close eye on their children’s whereabouts and activities. And technology can help you do an even better job of it, thanks to apps like Wondershare FamiSafe.
FamiSafe lets you control kids’ screen time, detect inappropriate content on their devices, and track their locations in real time. In this article, we’ll cover FamiSafe’s benefits with a focus on live location tracking. Because if you don’t know where they are, you can’t keep them safe.
Mac Studio, check. Dual Studio Displays, check. Crippled bank account, check. Photo: [email protected]
The term “money pit” usually refers to an old house that needs a lot of expensive work that never seems to end. But it could actually refer to a computer setup, too. After all, it’s never really finished and the next round of irresistible gear is always about to come out.
Today’s featured Mac Studio setup is a good example. After years of saving and planning, a setup centered on a struggling 2015 iMac metastasized, at great cost, into a Mac Studio powerhouse with dual Studio Displays.
Probably best not to wear it to the gym. Photo: Goldenerre
There are plenty of fancy Apple Watch bands out there, but how about one with more than 800 brilliant crystals on an ornate link band? That would be the Goldenerre Crystal Pavé Apple Watch Band. Its elegance will not be denied, and neither will yours when you wear it.
★★★★☆
Which one is the new Apple Sport Loop? Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Whether or not you took the plunge and upgraded to a new Apple Watch Series 8 or SE, you can partake of something more affordable if you own any model of the wearable — Apple’s new lower-end Apple Watch bands. I picked up the new Apple Midnight Sport Loop for my Apple Watch Series 6.
I like the new band. But I found it interesting to compare it to third-party versions of similar quality that go for a lot less money.
Lupa Legacy offers slim, elegant and protective folio cases for the iPhone 14 series. Photo: Lupa Legacy
Lupa Legacy released the slimmest folio case available on the market for the new iPhone 14 series, the company said Thursday.
The brand’s Original Wallet Collection features animal- and cruelty-free faux leather folios with sleek designs.
And the Apogee Series includes a patent-pending case design that delivers secure card storage combined with heavy duty, drop-proof phone protection, Lupa said.
Elago's new silicone cases, with or without MagSafe, are easy to get a grip on. Photo: Elago
It’s time to get a grip — on a silicone case for your new iPhone 14, that is. Elago has two super-grippy silicone cases — one with MagSafe and one without — that are easy to hold, protective and colorful.
The two cases, which come in a variety of colors, are priced right in the Cult of Mac Store — just $20.99 for the MagSafe version and $14.99 for the regular one.
Three types of RGB lighting create this effect. Photo: [email protected]
Sometimes you just can’t help taking a wholistic approach to a computer setup, taking in the whole room. That’s what happens when the user makes their home office a veritable museum like that which surrounds today’s featured MacBook Pro setup.
Three themes set it apart: The Beatles, the variety of RGB lighting and the concrete blocks holding up the Ikea countertop and the retro Thunderbolt Displays sitting on it.
MagEasy's Vetro Privacy Screen Protector keeps your screen from prying eyes. Photo: MagEasy
A new case is a good way to protect your pricey new iPhone 14 from scrapes and drops. But it’s not the only protective measure you should take, whether or not you pay for Apple Care insurance. You might also want to get a screen protector to safeguard the HDR display and a shield for those fabulous camera lenses.
The Cult of Mac Store has the goods you need. Its screen and lens protector collection features six screen protectors and one lens protector from two of our favorite brands, all at great prices.
That giant screen is a 48-inch LG OLED monitor. Photo: [email protected]
Some well-developed computer setups go for quantity in their displays, with three or more, but others stick with a solo screen and go for quality.
And no, with today’s featured setup we’re not talking about a $5,000 Pro Display XDR. We’re talking about a massive, $1,500 OLED display. If you’re searching for the best monitors for Mac, be sure to check out this article on Apple Music Classical on the web for more insights.
Speck's lineup of new iPhone 14 series cases includes 10 models. Photo: Speck
Speck released a wide assortment of 10 new cases for the iPhone 14 series. All but one of them are designed for MagSafe. The collection includes Presidio cases with 13-foot drop protection and and upgraded version of the colorful CandyShell Pro case.
The company said the cases are slim, durable and protective, with Microban antimicrobial protection.
Logitech Brio 500 webcam series and Zone Vibe headphones series are designed for hybrid workers. Photo: Logitech
Logitech unveiled its new Brio 500 webcam series and Zone Vibe headphones series for hybrid workers Thursday. The company said “they bring quality, style, affordability, and sustainability to today’s workers for ultramodern collaboration experiences.”
“Many remote and hybrid workers are still underequipped and grappling with pre-pandemic era solutions,” said Scott Wharton, Logitech Video Collaboration general manager. “Our innovative new genre of Brio webcams and Zone Vibe headphones answer the call of modern workers who need business-grade quality, style, and affordability for work and play.”
The folio case keeps your iPhone 14 and other valuables safe. Photo: Laut
Some new accessories for iPhone 14 are almost unbelievably practical. Why just slap a plain-jane case on your handset when you get much more use out of a Laut MagSafe Urban Folio?
The Urban Folio is both a protective case and a handy, detachable wallet for your cards and cash. And you can get right now in the Cult of Mac Store.
Apple Watch 8 is great. But it's not necessarily great enough to upgrade, given its minimal improvements. Photo: Apple
The upcoming Apple Watch Ultra garners most of the oohs and aahs, and the Apple Watch SE takes the cake as Cupertino’s best-selling wearable, but gosh darn it, people like the Apple Watch Series 8, too. And by people, I mean reviewers.
Early reviews of Apple Watch Series 8 started coming in Thursday morning. They tend to emphasize that it remains the best smartwatch you can buy, even though its upgrades over the Series 7 seem minimal.
Feeling hunted and reckless? Welcome to 1980s Bombay. Photo: Shantaram
Looking for romance, adventure and more than a little life-threatening danger? That’s easy, just head to Bombay in the 1980s. Apple TV+ offered first-look images and an action-packed trailer Wednesday for the upcoming series Shantaram. It ticks all those boxes.
The 12-episode first season starring Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) debuts October 14. Watch the trailer below.
iPhone 14 could be a good upgrade for those coming from iPhone 11 or older. Photo: Apple
Early reviews of the new iPhone 14 are rolling in. The consensus? It’s a capable iPhone — basically an iPhone 13 with minimal improvements (and nowhere near as cool as the feature-rich iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max).
So it’s not quite worth an upgrade from an iPhone 13, or maybe even the fairly similar iPhone 12. Only people holding iPhone 11 and older have something to get excited about.
But for some who want the big screen of the iPhone 14 Plus — not yet in the hands of reviewers — an upgrade from a recent handset may be worth it.
Using Running two ultra-wide displays and a portable monitor with an M1 Mac mini isn't very difficult. Photo: [email protected]
We’ve covered many computer setup with multiple displays, even as many as six. But we don’t come across many purpose-built portable displays, perhaps because iPads often serve that purpose.
But today’s featured gaming setup uses an M1 Mac mini to drive two LG UltraWide monitors and a 15.6-inch Full HD portable screen, claiming no lag or latency. If you’re searching for the best monitor for Mac mini, check out this guide on top display options.
The secret? Well, as is often the case, it’s in the hub.
No matter why a video is corrupted, Repairit may be able to fix it. Photo: Wondershare
This post on restoring corrupted video files is presented by Wondershare.
Finding out your videos got corrupted is a drag. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but the result is usually that you can’t enjoy the video. That is, unless you can fix it.
Wondershare Repairit is an easy-to-use app that can quickly fix damaged video files on your Mac or PC. Find out more about it, and see how to use the software to fix corrupted MP4 files, below.
Ugreen's new charger can pump 140W of power to up to three devices. Photo: Ugreen
Ugreen rolled out its new Nexode 140W Charger Tuesday, saying it “can charge as fast as any charger currently on the market, while also being able to fast charge three devices at once.”
The compact charger has three ports to charge MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and other devices. I plan to review it soon.
The new Casetify Bounce Case features fortified corners and more. Photo: Casetify
Casetify made a bold claim when it released its Bounce Case for the iPhone 14 series on September 7, along with its upgraded Impact and Ultra Impact series cases.
It said the Bounce is “the world’s most protective case for the mass market.”
“Tested to withstand over 156 drops on all angles and falls from up to 21.3 feet, the 6x Military Grade Standard Bounce Case is the most protective of its kind,” the company added.
The Zip iPhone Holster is the more compact of the two holsters. Photo: WaterField Designs
WaterField Designs introduced two American-made cases for iPhone 14 and other handsets that you probably won’t see everywhere else: the Zip iPhone Holster and the Finn iPhone Holster Wallet.
“The two fully-enclosed iPhone14 holsters ideally suit contractors, field technicians, or anyone looking to free up hands and pants pockets with a more comfortable, secure way to carry their iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 and wallet contents,” the San Francisco-based company said.
The new Sonos Sub Mini is designed to punch up bass while blending in. Photo: Sonos
Audio powerhouse Sonos launched the long-awaited Sub Mini on Tuesday. The small, cylindrical wireless subwoofer is designed to add low end to home theaters in smaller rooms.
It’s compatible with the company’s range of products, including its AirPlay-enabled sound bars and speakers. The affordable subwoofer goes up for sale on October 6 for $429. You can preorder it now.
These magnetic chargers and power banks feature a unique industrial design. Photo: Momax
This magnetic wireless chargers post is presented by Momax.
Need a powerful and effortlessly cool-looking magnetic wireless charger for your iPhone 14, 13 or 12? Momax offers a line of four transparent chargers for home and car that not only feature a powerful magnetic grip, but a rather eye-catching cyberpunk-industrial design as well.
The lineup includes something for almost everyone — a choice of battery packs with USB-C or Lightning inputs, a charging pad and a car charger.
And better yet, Cult of Mac readers can get 10% off the chargers with a special coupon code.