David Snow - page 103

Cybersecurity expert Santego shared his computer setup with Cult of Mac recently, unveiling major audio-visual upgrades in the Mac Studio and ultra-wide display rig. He wanted to improve the quality of his overall sound and his video calls.

And those additions came on top of a beautifully put together setup with great connectivity, power management and backup, as well as specialized lighting and terrific input devices.

A follower of our Setups coverage, he said “You encouraged me to upgrade the space I spend 10 hours a day in working from home.”

Apple’s second-generation AirPods Pro look almost exactly like the original model released in 2019. But they’re upgraded in every way that matters most, thanks mainly to the new H2 processor. In this in-depth AirPods Pro 2 review, I’ll run through all the ways Cupertino gave its flagship noise-canceling earbuds a boost.

Apple may not have gone as far as it could have in some ways. But still, the second-gen AirPods Pro are among the best earbuds on the market and a worthy upgrade for almost anyone. They’re particularly great for those who use lots of Apple gear and love how seamlessly their devices can work together.

Let’s take a look at, and a listen to, the second-gen AirPods Pro, aka AirPods Pro 2.

If you’ve got a new iPhone 14 or an Apple Watch Ultra, it’s time to get tough about protecting them.

Good thing Nomad rolled out its special-edition Ultra Orange iPhone 14 case and Apple Watch Ultra band just for the occasion, now available for preorder at a discount.

And they’re not kidding about “ultra orange.” They’re vividly colored accessories.

If you’re at all into audio equipment, you’ve probably heard of a digital-to-analog converter, or DAC. You might think it’s a fancy thing for rich audiophiles. But, actually, even you already have a few DACs if you have gadgets that make sound, like a computer, tablet and smartphone.

But not every DAC is created equal. Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup illustrates the point by going to the trouble of adding a standalone DAC in between a laptop and a pair of excellent powered speakers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So go ahead. Get your glam on in the Cult of Mac Store.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.