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David Snow - page 13

Sydney Sweeney kills in thriller Echo Valley [Update: Now streaming]

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Echo Valley movie
It's described as an "edge-of-your-seat thriller," and it might actually be one.
Photo: Apple TV+

“It” girl actress Sydney Sweeney plays a drug addict and probable killer whose mom, played by Julianne Moore, will do anything to save her, according to a trailer Apple TV+ dropped recently for the new Echo Valley movie. It’s now streaming, as of Friday, and you can watch the trailer below.

Ridley Scott produces the thriller, which also stars Kyle MacLachlan and Domhall Gleeson.

Update: Echo Valley, now available to watch on Apple TV+, garners mixed reviews so far. Empire calls it a “superbly acted rural thriller.” Financial Times said it’s “delightedly twisty” with “dark dashes of Hitchcock.” But IGN calls it “hollow” and “dull,” and a New York Times review says: “A stellar cast led by Julianne Moore is unable to breathe life into this unsuccessful blend of maternal drama and crime caper.”

iOS 26 lets you watch videos via CarPlay for first time (when parked)

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watch videos on CarPlay
Soon this same CarPlay screen will be able to show videos when the car is parked.
Photo: Apple

In a significant policy shift, Apple will let iPhone users stream videos directly to their CarPlay screens for the first time since the platform’s launch. With iOS 26, showcased at WWDC25, the tech giant introduced AirPlay video functionality for CarPlay. So you can stream video from apps in the car — but only when you’re parked.

Wobkey Rainy 75 mechanical keyboard feels (and sounds) rock solid [Review] ★★★★☆

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Wobkey Rainy 75 mechanical keyboard review★★★★☆
The little storm cloud at lower right is a cute touch on the Rainy 75.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Among keyboard enthusiasts, the Wobkey Rainy 75 mechanical keyboard recently gained a deserved reputation as a rock-solid budget-to-mid-priced option. The 75% layout keeb for Mac or Windows combines premium materials, customizable features and impressive performance in a package that punches above its price point. This hands-on Wobkey Rainy 75 mechanical keyboard review will cover the bases to help potential buyers make an informed decision.

New Logitech Flip Folio keyboard case snaps onto iPad Pro or iPad Air

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Logitech Flip Folio
The keyboard stows easily for productivity anywhere.
Photo: Logitech

Logitech’s latest iPad accessory, Flip Folio, is a protective keyboard case specifically engineered for Apple’s iPad Pro and iPad Air models, the Swiss peripherals giant said Wednesday. Logitech Flip Folio promises to enhance the iPad experience at home or on the go with a unique magnetic storage system and multi-device connectivity. Those should appeal to users seeking versatility in their mobile computing setup.

“We’ve designed Flip Folio to make the iPad experience both fun and functional, helping you stay focused on what matters,” said Joseph Mingori, Logitech GM of mobile and audio solutions. “Flip Folio enhances everyday experiences — from binge watching to checking your social media or emails — by delivering portability and connectivity, setting people free so they can do what they love from anywhere.”

Triple-display MacBook Air rig wows the crowd [Setups]

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3 monitor setup
People on social media loved the clean look of the three wall-mounted LG displays.
Photo: [email protected]

The 3-monitor setup isn’t terribly rare in the world of computer workstations displayed on social media. But a MacBook Air driving a trio of wall-mounted 4K monitors — all in landscape orientation, end to end — isn’t especially common, as it appears in today’s featured setup. Viewers loved its clean look. And it turned out the user employs a couple of tricks to help keep it that way.

AI updates bring new tricks to Apple Maps, Music, Wallet and more across devices

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OS 26 AI updates
A slew of new features will come in core Apple services across devices this fall.
Photo: Apple

Updates coming this fall to core Apple services like Maps, Music and Wallet focus heavily on artificial intelligence integration and personalization. The updates promise to make everyday tasks more intuitive and enjoyable for users across the Apple ecosystem.

New Apple Games app centralizes play across iPhone, iPad and Mac

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Apple Games app announcement
The Apple Games app is a new all-in-one destination for games and playing with friends on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Photo: Apple

A major new addition to Apple’s software lineup at WWDC25, the Games app, centralizes gaming experiences across all Apple devices, the iPhone giant said Monday. And it adds powerful social features that turn even single-player games into shared experiences with friends.

The Games app is going to be a game changer for playing on iPhone, iPad and Mac,” said Tim Garbos, creative director and cofounder of game brand Triband. “The app makes it easy for us to create moments just for groups of friends. The new challenges feature works great and feels natural for our games on Apple Arcade, including our latest release, What the Clash?, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it!”

Readability concerns take shine out of Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic

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Liquid Glass harder to read
This user said Liquid Glass just seems harder to read.
Photo: @Stammy on X.com

Liquid Glass looked great in WWDC25 demos Monday, but reactions soon afterward put a few cracks in it. The new transparent and reactive design language coming to all Apple devices this fall strikes many folks as making it too hard to read information on their screens.

Many initial reactions to Liquid Glass make it look like a misstep.

“Can’t wait to not be able to read anything on my iPhone,” grumbled one user. Several others implied Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would hate the new design language.

iOS 26 sports striking redesign, smarter AI, better cross-platform integration

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iOS 26 announcement
The big iOS 26 update brings a beautiful new design, intelligent experiences and various other improvements to the apps users rely on every day.
Photo: Apple

With Monday’s iOS 26 announcement at WWDC25, Apple transforms how users interact with their iPhones through big design changes headlined by the striking look of “Liquid Glass,” enhanced AI capabilities and improved cross-platform integration with helpful changes to core apps like Phone, Messages and more. All in all, iOS 26 represents Apple’s boldest OS step forward in years.

“iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most.”

“And with powerful new Apple Intelligence capabilities integrated across the system, users can get things done easier than ever,” he added.

User wants to downsize ultra-wide display, jack up refresh rate [Setups]

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Setups tech-ant-Reddit high refresh rate June 6 2025
The M1 Pro MacBook Pro is still going strong, but the user wants to get a smaller external display with a higher refresh rate.
Photo: [email protected]

In Setups world, the struggle continues over display preferences, in terms of those who want bigger and those who want more. Today’s MacBook Pro user dwells on the “bigger” side an an ultra-wide monitor user, but they actually want to downsize from a mammoth 49-incher and get something with a higher refresh rate. Meanwhile, they’re thrilled their M1 Pro MacBook Pro still runs like a champ. And they conceived a way to have Touch ID while hiding the keyboard it comes with.

Apple plans major changes to some of your favorite apps at WWDC25

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App updates at WWDC25
As WWDC25 looms, rumors flow of more Apple app updates.
Photo: Gemini

Apple reportedly is cooking up significant changes to core iPhone and iPad apps, with redesigned interfaces coming soon to the Phone, Safari, Camera and Messages apps. The company plans to reveal the app updates Monday during the WWDC25 keynote, alongside other sweeping changes to its operating systems.

Apple Watch excels at some fitness tracking metrics, sucks at others

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Apple Watch calorie counts
Trust the heart rate and steps metrics, but be skeptical about the calories.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

While your Apple Watch excels at measuring some fitness metrics, when it comes to calorie counts, it struggles and flails like me on a too-rare gym visit. A new study raises questions about how much trust you can place in data gathered by the smartwatch.

Basically, Apple Watch is great for measuring heart rate and counting steps, but not so much for tallying calories burned. It’s a common problem with consumer-grade health devices.

5 new Apple Arcade games include hit What the Car? for Vision Pro [Updated]

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5 new Apple Arcade games
Apple Arcade adds five new titles in June, along with lots of updates to existing games.
Photo: Apple

Apple Arcade expanded its growing library with five new games on June 5 and looks forward to four more in early July. They will offer subscribers fresh gaming experiences across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro. And Vision Pro headset users will get to play a spatial-computing version of the comedy racing game What the Car?

The new titles include original releases and popular games making their debut on the subscription service. Plenty of existing games will get updates, too.

Update: Five new Apple Arcade games, described and linked to below, came out June 5, plus Apple looked ahead to four more coming out July 3: The much-anticipated Angry Birds Bounce plus Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+, Suika Game+ puzzles and Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+.

App Store hits new global high of $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales

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App Store hits new global high
Apple says developers are doing well on the App Store, globally.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s global App Store ecosystem facilitated an impressive $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales throughout 2024, marking a milestone for the platform, the iPhone giant said Thursday.

“It’s incredible to see so many developers design great apps, build successful businesses and reach Apple users around the world,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “This report is a testament to the many ways developers are enriching people’s lives with app and game experiences, while creating opportunity and driving new innovations.”

New Apple MagSafe charging pucks could double iPhone charging speeds

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MagSafe 50W charging pucks
They look the same as existing Apple MagSafe charging pucks, but they'll bring more power.
Photo: 91mobiles

The iPhone could soon take a big leap in wireless charging technology, with new MagSafe 50W charging pucks that support the upcoming Qi 2.2 standard. A well-known leaker found regulatory filings that reveal two new MagSafe charger models from Apple that could enable dramatically faster wireless charging speeds, at least for newer handsets.

Trade tensions stall Apple Intelligence rollout in China

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Apple Intelligence rollout in China
A regulatory mess and political uncertainty delay the rollout of Apple Intelligence in China.
Photo: Grok

Apple’s much-anticipated launch of Apple Intelligence in China has been indefinitely delayed as the company’s AI partnership with Alibaba faces regulatory roadblocks tied to the intensifying trade war between the United States and China, according to a new report.

Apple Design Awards: Try the best apps and games of 2025

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Apple Design Awards winning apps and games
Take some time to check out this year's Apple Design Awards winners -- the best apps and games.
Photo: Apple

Apple revealed the winners of its prestigious 2025 Apple Design Awards Tuesday, celebrating 12 exceptional apps and games that showcase the very best of what’s possible on Apple devices. And the celebration of Apple Design Awards-winning apps and games will carry on at WWDC25, Apple said.

“Developers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating apps and games that are not only beautifully designed but also deeply impactful,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We’re excited to celebrate this incredible group of winners and finalists at WWDC and spotlight the innovation and craftsmanship they bring to each experience.”

Get a refurbished M2 iPad Air at a discount straight from Apple

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get Apple refurbished M2 iPad Air models
If you don't want to shell out for a new M3 iPad Air, consider a refurbished M2 iPad Air.
Photo: Apple

Apple quietly expanded its refurbished product lineup in the United States this week, adding 11-inch and 13-inch M2 iPad Air models to its Certified Refurbished store for the first time. Now you can take your pick of Apple refurbished iPad Air 2 models at discounts of around 15% off.

Apple previously made these refurbished iPad Air models available in the United Kingdom. But this marks the first opportunity for U.S. customers to purchase these previous-generation iPad Air models at a significant discount directly from Apple.

Apple TV+ takes swing at Sunday Night Baseball streaming rights

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Friday Night Baseball and Sunday 2
Winning bids might result in Sunday Night Baseball on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple TV+ steps up as a front-running candidate to acquire Major League Baseball’s Sunday night games and other premium content currently held by ESPN, according to a new report. This means Apple TV+ might acquire Sunday Night Baseball streaming rights.

That potentially expands the streaming service’s baseball offerings significantly beyond its existing Friday night package, even as it pushes for more sports content across the board.

2 iPhone 17 models may lack ProMotion features in their 120Hz displays

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iPhone 17 and 17 Air may lack ProMotion display features
The debate continues over whether all four iPhone 17 models will get ProMotion display, or if two of them will just be 120Hz.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will probably receive significant display upgrades, but recent leaks suggest the improvements may not be as comprehensive as initially hoped. While multiple sources have indicated the non-Pro models will finally get high refresh rate screens, a conflicting report now questions whether these will include Apple’s full ProMotion technology.

In other words, base iPhone 17 and super-thin iPhone 17 Air may lack what makes ProMotion what it is.

MacBook Pro covers for aging Mac mini in picture-perfect rig [Setups]

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LG ultra-wide display
Cool wallpaper on that LG ultra-wide display, eh? There's also an old Mac mini hiding in this pic.
Photo: [email protected]

Some computer setups showed off on social media aren’t packed with the latest and greatest tech gear — they just look great. Today’s featured setup is a fine example. It packs two still-going-strong older Macs — a MacBook Pro from 2021 and a Mac mini from all the way back in 2012 — driving an LG ultra-wide display. But the subtle lighting and tasteful decor, including great use of plants, go a long way in this one.

Here’s the agenda for WWDC25, Apple’s big dev event [New moniker: ‘Sleek Peek’]

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WWDC25 schedule
WWDC25 kicks off at Apple Park and (mostly) online June 9.
Photo: Apple

WWDC25, this year’s edition of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, will take place June 9 to 13, offering Apple enthusiasts and developers a comprehensive look at upcoming software innovations in the latest iOS, macOS and other platforms, the company said recently. The WWDC25 schedule, updated this week with the new moniker “Sleek Peek,” offers developers and users alike plenty of excitement.

The mostly online annual tech showcase promises groundbreaking updates across Apple’s ecosystem while also welcoming over 1,000 developers and students to a special in-person celebration at Apple Park.

Updates: Apple Developer’s WWDC25 web page added the name “Sleek Peek” for developer conference proceedings. Lots of new user interface design elements to take a look at, for one thing, as suggested in our looks ahead to what we expect will be called iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26. Updates are also expected for tvOS 26, watchOS 26 and visionOS 26. Apple also set up the YouTube livestream page, so you can sign up for alerts, like when the Keynote starts.

iPad saves world-renowned pianist’s career

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iPad saves classical pianist's career
Carrying an iPad onstage eased that crippling stage fright.
Photo: George Beckker@Pexels

Classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein has performed on stages around the globe, from solo recitals to collaborations with prestigious orchestras. Famed composer Philip Glass even wrote a concerto specifically for her to perform. But stage fright nearly ended it all — until iPad saved her career, according to a new interview.

We’re used to iPhone saving lives and what-not, so it’s cool to see Apple’s tablet get some credit.

Apple appeals EU interoperability rules, citing privacy risks

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Apple compliance with DMA
The EU's Digital Markets Act causes plenty of headaches for Apple.
Photo: European Commission

Apple officially filed an appeal against the European Union’s Digital Markets Act interoperability requirements Friday. That’s no big surprise, and neither is the reason why. Apple argues the regulations pose significant privacy and security risks to iPhone users, while also stifling innovation.

Apple submitted its challenge to the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, targeting the commission’s March decision that requires Apple to make iOS more compatible with rival products, including smartwatches, headphones and VR headsets.

Apple picks ‘macOS Tahoe’ for this year’s major interface redesign

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Apple names macOS 26 after Lake Tahoe.
Apple names macOS 26 after Lake Tahoe.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple reportedly chose “Tahoe” as the name for the upcoming macOS version, according to a new report. This marks the third significant redesign of the Mac operating system since the company began using California-themed naming conventions in 2013.

The name macOS Tahoe, inspired by the iconic Lake Tahoe resort area, signals Apple’s commitment to delivering another major visual overhaul to its desktop platform.