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.
Noah Emmerich and Uma Thurman star in Suspicion on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
A new international whodunit is coming to Apple TV+. It’s Suspicion, a limited series starring Uma Thurman and Noah Emmerich. The streaming service said the show debuts with two episodes on February 4, 2022.
The Yobybo X-Boat Pro earbuds come with a USB cable and a sleek "open" charging case. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
I think it was a Kickstarter campaign that first drew my attention to the Yobybo X-Boat Pro noise-cancelling earbuds, “the first open-casing true wireless stereo headphones with LDAC,” the company said, referring to Sony’s hi-res codec. Well, while the sleek “open” case is super-cool and the buds’ sound is vibrant, some earbuds just aren’t for everyone.
Nomad's updated Base Station wireless charger for up to four devices is now MagSafe-compatible. Photo: Nomad
Earlier this year, accessories maven Nomad made its popular Base Station Mini wireless charger — suitable for juicing up one iPhone — MagSafe-comptible. Now it has added magnets to another popular product, the Nomad Base Station Hub, which can top off up to four devices at once.
Cyber Acoustics' new USB speaker bar mounts right on your display. Photo: Cyber Acoustics
Cyber Acoustics launched its new USB speaker bar with an integrated monitor mount on Tuesday. Perched on your display, it offers well-projected audio while helping to keep your desktop clutter-free.
The SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers full-time continuous cloud recording -- forever. Photo: SpotCam
SpotCam recently unveiled its new SpotCam Pano 2, a smart, 5-megapixel cloud security AI camera with free, full-time, continuous cloud recording to make sure you always have your footage. The company, founded in Taiwan in 2013, said it’s the only camera brand to offer that.
Adobe's new Creative Cloud Express app aims to make content creation easier for all. Photo: Adobe
With its launch Monday of the Creative Cloud Express mobile and web app, Adobe bundles tools from its Creative Cloud Suite and Acrobat PDF into a simple platform amateurs can use to create a variety of projects. The app means to make it simple to make social media posts, promotional posters, invitations, videos and more.
Totallee's new Hybrid MagSafe cases for iPhone 13 are tough but minimal. Photo: Totallee
Totallee’s new Hybrid MagSafe cases for iPhone 13 bring to mind the company’s usual “barely-there,” brand-free aesthetic. But these thin cases are a little more sturdy than some of the company’s other ultra-thin products.
Fine setup, but where did you get that wallpaper? Photo: [email protected]
One of the questions you see most in the comments sections of posts about computer setups on social media is: Where did you get that wallpaper? To many folks, the setup may be fine and dandy, but what they really care about is not so much the fancy hardware, but the imagery on the display that they might easily get for themselves.
Today’s setup is a prime example. It made us look back at 10 great wallpaper sources we’ve come across, below. That’s 11, actually, including today’s subject.
The new Anker 333 Wireless Charger comes with a power adapter, which is not always the case with new Anker chargers. Photo: Anker
Anker is out with yet another charging accessory, this time the Anker 333 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station. It’s another convenient means by which to power up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all in one place.
Tronsmart Onyx Prime Dual-Driver Wireless Earbuds Photo: Tronsmart
Is it just your imagination, or are there billions of affordable earbuds boasting great sound quality on the market now? Well, maybe not billions, but many. And now Chinese audio brand Tronsmart adds its new Onyx Prime True Wireless Earbuds to the mix for $69.99.
StarTech.com's new USB-C multiport adapters help turn your laptop into a workstation. Photo: StarTech.com
Connectivity accessories maker StarTech.com expanded its lineup of USB-C multiport adapters. The company said the new adapters enable you to create a powerful mobile workstation no matter where your work takes you.
Vanarama's 3D render imagines a sleek Apple "SUV coupe." Photo: Vanarama
Taking Apple products and patents for inspiration, A UK-based vehicle-leasing company called Vanarama has offered a detailed look at what it thinks the first Apple Car could look like. You can explore the 3D concept render inside and out.
Would you make do with neither an external keyboard nor a mouse? Photo: [email protected]
With the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models selling like hotcakes, a lot of people are wondering how to incorporate their new laptops into their computer setups. Is it enough just to use the laptop, or should it be used with an external keyboard, mouse or trackpad, as well as an external monitor? If you’re setting up your Mac and find that Bluetooth is off, you may need to know how toturn Bluetooth on Mac without mouse or keyboard.
Elago has you covered with its new Apple TV remote cases, plus a handy mount. Photo: Elago
Have you ever lost your Apple TV remote? What an annoyance. But Elago’s new accessories for the Apple TV — a neat bunch of cases for your remote-control device as well as a mounts for it and your Apple TV hardware — help prevent loss. And they make thoughtful gifts for Apple fans.
Premium audio components make this setup a sonic powerhouse. Photo: [email protected]
Premium computer setups for gaming are known for their eye-popping visuals, of course — but they need great sound, too. Today’s featured setup gets there with a killer display but also a raft of audio gear by companies like Aiyima, Burson, Kanto and Hifiman. The headphones, in particular, may make you green with envy.
Redditor IsTowel is a front-end developer and designer as well as a gamer. Their post about their “Working and listening station” outlines some pretty high-level gaming specs in a Mac and PC, dual-display setup — especially for stellar sound quality.
This online survey post is brought to you by PrizeRebel.
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Even better, PrizeRebel gives you several other easy and fun ways to earn money, too.
Bower & Wilkins revamped its powerful Zeppelin wireless speaker for today's streamers. Photo: Bower & Wilkins
UK-based audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins first released its Zeppelin speaker as an iPod dock in 2007. Following a couple of other iterations over the years — the most recent one released six years ago — the airship-shaped powerhouse is back, and refitted for the streaming age.
The Eve Room air quality monitor for HomeKit now supports the Thread standard. Photo: Eve
Eve Systems said Tuesday its third-generation Eve Room air quality monitor for HomeKit now supports the Thread home automation connectivity standard. That should improve its responsiveness over HomeKit and Wi-Fi.
Using iPad and Apple’s Everyone Can Code curriculum, kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen US cities will have the chance to learn the basics of app design and development. Photo: Apple
In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Apple said Monday it launched a new program that will help tens of thousands of kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen U.S. cities to learn how to code.
This clean, M1 Mac mini-based setup packs a lot of audio-visual firepower. Photo: [email protected]
Some computer setups are remarkably cool for their awesome computing power. Others wow you with incredible displays, with several high-def monitors. And still others blow you away with premium sound. Or, in the case of today’s featured setup, premium audio-visual gear many people would be psyched to get their hands on.
The Rode Lavalier II offers broadcast-quality recording in a tiny package. Photo: Rode
Australia-based Rode Microphones rolled out its new Rode Lavalier II microphone, a big update — or a small one, literally — on its original premium lavalier mic introduced about a decade ago. The new mic’s low-profile design makes it discreet and simple to conceal underneath clothing.
This giveaway could help you build the work-from-home setup of your dreams. Photo: HumanCentric
This post on home office setups is brought to you by HumanCentric.
Itching to upgrade your work-from-home experience? HumanCentric, a desk accessories and workspace design brand based in Chicago, is giving away a bundle of three new products every Friday that will transform any home office. Each winner gets the company’s desk shelf system, laptop riser and headphone stand — three matching accessories that work together to level up both the look and productivity of any workspace.
The Solo Loop for Apple Watch comes in nine sizes and seven colors. Photo: Apple
One of the many things that set an Apple Watch apart from traditional watches is the massive selection of inexpensive straps. Cupertino made installing Apple Watch bands so easy that you can change up your look on a dime — and for almost that little money.
While seemingly millions of options exist for a mere $10 or so, Apple makes some of the best bands in the business. They cost a little more than most, but they may be worth it.
And one band, in particular, stands as the “most ambitious” watch band Apple ever made, according to Evans Hankey, Apple’s VP of industrial design.
Pegasus spyware has infected US State Department officials' iPhones. Photo: Mikhail [email protected]
At least nine U.S. State Department employees saw their iPhone hacked by unknown attackers wielding Pegasus spyware from the Israel-based NSO Group. The attacks occurred over several months, Reuters reported Friday.
Car thieves can hide an AirTag somewhere on your car and track it for theft later. Photo: York Regional Police
Thieves in Canada have apparently found an unintended and novel use for Apple’s AirTag locator devices. They use them to track cars they’d like to steal.