Mobile menu toggle

David Snow - page 123

4 screens, an ‘OG’ HomePod and a Lego Porsche 911 [Setups]

By

That's a sweet ride in the center, there, under the 32-inch LG monitor.
That's a sweet ride in the center, there, under the 32-inch LG monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

It’s Christmas Eve, and all we want for the holiday is a Porsche 911. It could be a gleaming new one, with a base price of a mere $99,200. It could be super-cool vintage one. Or it could even be a Lego one like the one featured in today’s MacBook Pro and iPad Pro-driven setup.

OK, given our paltry income, who are we kidding — we’d even take a die-cast 911, like the Matchbox cars of our youth.

Beef up your video presence and your paired HomePod minis’ bass [Setups]

By

A key light can be a webcam's best friend. And did you know your HomePod minis need a subwoofer?
A key light can be a webcam's best friend. And did you know your HomePod minis need a subwoofer?
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes when you’re trawling the interwebs for cool computer setups, you learn a lot not just from the person bragging about their gear in a social media post, but also from the folks admiring or lambasting it. Such is the case with today’s iPad Pro and Dell widescreen setup.

Its owner and other folks push the importance of adding a good webcam and good lighting for successful videoconferencing. And other folks make a compelling case for adding a subwoofer to paired HomePod minis if you want any bass at all in your music.

Get 30% off the tiny but potent Journey 30W Mini Charger

By

Journey's mini charger is exceptionally small but delivers 30W of charging power.
Journey's tiny GaN2 charger is exceptionally small but delivers 30W of power to a variety of devices.
Photo: Journey

This GaN2 charger post is presented by Journey, a brand of Alogic.

These days, you really don’t have to live with slow chargers for your iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro and other devices. That’s because gallium nitride (GaN) technology makes it possible to pack components into small spaces, resulting in tiny but powerful charging gadgets like the Journey 30W USB-C Mini Charger.

It’s fast. It’ll charge almost anything. And because it’s one of the smallest chargers you can get, you can take it anywhere. Even better, Journey’s current promotion offers the little powerhouse for 30% off with the code BLACK30.

Protect your data with BusKill, a dead man’s switch for your laptop

By

BusKill is a USB kill cord for your laptop that protects your data if someone snatches your computer.
BusKill is a USB kill cord for your laptop that protects your data if someone snatches your computer.
Photo: Alt Shift International

Last week a crowdfunding campaign launched for the new BusKill USB kill cord. It’s a dead man’s switch for laptops designed to protect your data by locking or even wiping your computer if someone snatches it away from you while you’re using it.

BusKill is designed for journalists, activists, crypto traders and travelers, the company said. Though it seems it could come in handy for anyone at risk of losing a laptop via smash-and-grab tactics.

Dig the vintage vibe of Edifier’s new Bluetooth speaker

By

The new Edifier MP230 looks like it belongs in the study, but you can take it outside, too.
The new Edifier MP230 looks like it belongs in the study, but you can take it outside, too.
Photo: Edifier

China-based audio specialist Edifier said Monday its new MP230 Bluetooth speaker — a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree — is now shipping. For a hundred bucks, the portable stereo acoustic speakers come in a wood frame that would not look out of place in your grandfather’s den. Yet you can take your tunes outside, too.

Apple TV+ doc Sound of 007 explores 60 years of James Bond music

By

Has it been 60 years already, Mr. Bond?
Has it been 60 years already, Mr. Bond?
Photo: MGM & UAR

Marking the 60th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise, Apple TV+ plans to release a documentary film entitled The Sound of 007 in October 2022. It will celebrate the music of the Bond films, from Dr. No with Sean Connery in 1962 to Daniel Craig’s last romp as the man from MI6 in 2021, No Time to Die.

Schlage’s new smart lock first to support Apple Home Key

By

The Schlage Encode Plus could be the first smart lock to support Apple Home Key.
The Schlage Encode Plus could be the first smart lock to support Apple Home Key.
Photo: Schlage

The soon-to-launch Schlage Encode Plus smart lock could be the first to support Apple Home Key, according to various leaked documents. And, in another “first,” the smart lock looks likely to offer Thread support for HomeKit.

HomeKit Authority reported on the Schlage Encode Plus recently, citing a since-removed Home Depot listing, Schlage’s own installation guide as well as a Federal Communications Commission filing.

And the 2021 award for Most Fastidious Cable Management goes to … [Setups]

By

The Uplift standing desk and its accessories helped a lot with reducing cable clutter.
The Uplift standing desk and its accessories helped a lot with reducing cable clutter.
Photo: [email protected]

OK, so no 2021 award for Most Fastidious Cable Management, mentioned in this article’s headline, exists — at least not around here. But if it did, we might hand it to the person behind today’s setup.

It centers on a 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro and a 32-inch LG 4K display. And it keeps cable clutter to an extreme minimum.

Ghostly white M1 Mac mini centers a ‘sacrilegious’ sound machine [Setups]

By

Everything is white, even the M1 Mac mini. But how did that happen? Apple doesn't make it in white.
Everything is white, even the M1 Mac mini. But how did that happen? Apple doesn't make it in white.
Photo: [email protected]

If you look up “11.11” in the Slang Dictionary, it says, “If it’s 11:11, make a wish! Some people believe 11:11 is a magic number or lucky time of day, good for making a wish … or reaching cosmic enlightenment.” Well, if something’s enlightened, or at least en-whitened, it’s today’s Mac mini-based setup.

It’s all there in black and white, really, with “11.11” writ large on the dual displays — probably via the Fliqlo screensaver, though it could be a clock app — and Nintendo gaming consoles aplenty.

New Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub expands Mac and iPad Pro connectivity

By

The new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub provides 85W of charging power.
The new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub provides 85W of charging power.
Photo: Sonnet Technologies

Sonnet Technologies rolled out its new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 Hub on Tuesday to enable Mac and iPad Pro users — or anyone with a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port on their machine — to expand their connectivity to peripherals like displays, input devices and storage. And it offers a robust 85W of charging power.

When you get a computer or tablet and it has fewer ports than you’d like, hubs like this one can come in handy.

Jump-start gadgets and cars with mophie’s 3 rugged new portable batteries

By

The compact is a jumpstarter for your vehicle that powers up gadgets, too.
The compact is a jumpstarter for your vehicle that powers up gadgets, too.
Photo: Mophie

Accessory-maker mophie launched three new portable batteries in its powerstation go rugged series Wednesday. Each one is capable of charging mobile devices, powering lights and more during a power outage, or even jump-starting a car if necessary.

“The addition of rugged to our existing powerstation go lineup gives customers another option for power while on-the-go,” said Gavin Slevin, managing director of mophie parent company Zagg International, in a press release. “We are excited to equip users with another multifunctional and affordable portable power option for peace of mind while on the road.”

Yobybo X-Boat Pro ANC earbuds: If the buds fit, (maybe) wear them [Review]

By

The Yobybo X-Boat Pro earbuds come with a USB cable and a sleek
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 makes its Base Station Hub MagSafe-compatible

By

Nomad's updated Base Station wireless charger for up to four devices is now MagSafe-compatible.
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.

SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers free, continuous cloud recording

By

The SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers full-time continuous cloud recording -- forever.
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 bundles easy-to-use photo and video tools in Creative Cloud Express

By

Adobe's new Creative Cloud Express app aims to make content creation easier for all.
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.

Where did you get that wonderful wallpaper? Here are 11 sources. [Setups]

By

Fine setup, but where did you get that wallpaper?
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.

Would you go without an external keyboard and mouse? [Setups]

By

Would you make do with neither an external keyboard nor a mouse?
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 to turn Bluetooth on Mac without mouse or keyboard.