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.
Never lose your Apple TV Siri remote again. Photo: Nomad
When Apple revamped the Siri Remote along with Apple TV in 2021, many people thought it odd the remote didn’t get Find My support. It is, after all, almost inevitable you’ll lose the sleek little device in the couch cushions.
Fortunately, Nomad just made it easier to find the remote — and to hold onto the slippery thing better when you do. The company’s new leather cover adds a touch of heft while also providing a space to insert an AirTag.
Take your tunes and everything else outside. Way outside. Photo: Bluetti
This solar power station post is brought to you by Bluetti.
Here’s some good news for campers and RV enthusiasts, as well as anyone who likes to have ready backup power. Bluetti jolted CES 2022 with news in January it would soon launch its ultraportable power station EB3A Solar Generator with 268Wh capacity and 600W inverter. Well, now that time has come.
The company said the lightweight EB3A power station and an available solar input that lets you stay powered up almost anywhere will go on sale June 14.
And even better, an early bird price could get you 23% off!
Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally. Photo: Apple
Global sales of smartwatches grew 13% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to last year, with Apple Watch gobbling the largest slice of the pie by far, new research indicates.
Apple’s wearable led in 2021, but new numbers show its lead continues to grow.
The Apple Design Awards recognize apps in six categories. Photo: Apple
With its Worldwide Developers Conference coming up, Apple revealed the finalists Tuesday for this year’s Apple Design Awards.
The Apple Design Awards, to be bestowed at WWDC22 next week, showcase apps with outstanding design, innovation, ingenuity and technical achievement, the company said.
Developers can connect with Apple staff and other attendees in Digital Lounges. Photo: Apple
Ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference next week, the company has opened registration for its Digital Lounges. The virtual spaces let developers and other WWDC22 attendees connect with Apple engineers and designers as well as other conference-goers.
Wozniak autographed the Apple-1's CPU in Dubai in 2021. Photo: The APPL Collection
A restored Apple-1 in good working order might see a winning bid of $485,000 in an upcoming auction. That’s not just because the antique computer is nearly all original and actually works. It’s also because Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak signed it.
Safari now has more than 1 billion users. Photo: Apple
Apple’s Safari web browser recently topped 1 billion users, a new study indicates, making it the second browser to do so. Even so, it still lags well behind Google Chrome in popularity.
“1,006,232,879 internet users (19.16% of all internet users) now use the Safari browser, making it the second browser with over a billion users,” the Atlas VPN report said.
Mifa's Apple Watch band might have people thinking you work for NASA. Photo: Mifa
Tired of searching for a utility band for everyday wear to match your space gray Apple Watch? Maybe something with a bit of a “tactical” look to it? Want to look like you’re going on patrol when you’re just headed to the flower shop? Well, stand down, because your mission may be accomplished.
It doesn’t matter if your Apple Watch is made of aluminum or stainless steel, Mifa’s rugged Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band can be a great complement to it.
And it’s 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store through the end of May. That’s a savings of $5.
An Xbox in the under-desk drawer handles the gaming chores. Photo: [email protected]
If you’re one of the many, many people waiting longer and longer periods for your Mac thanks to supply-chain delays, we apologize in advance. We don’t mean to rub your face in your misfortune.
But when we find a great computer setup featuring an exciting new 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro splitting time with an Xbox on a 40-inch, curved ultra-wide display, we’ve just got to talk about it.
More details emerge about Apple’s upcoming headset. Photo: RendersbyIan
On Sunday, when people noticed “realityOS” trademarks set for international filing on June 8, mad speculation flew that at least the software platform for Apple’s planned AR/VR headsets could be rolled out at WWDC22, which gets underway June 6.
And while it’s tantalizing speculation with other supporting evidence, there is reason for doubt, too. Especially since a reputable analyst threw cold water on the idea on Tuesday, contradicting others.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Tag that white charging case. Photo: Beats/Daily Paper
Apple-owned Beats drew up a new limited-edition Studio Buds design Wednesday in collaboration with Daily Paper, an Amsterdam-based, African-inspired fashion brand.
In the new design, the signature white case in particular looks heavily tagged with blacked graffiti and the brand name in red.
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 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).
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.