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.
Sennheiser's affordable CX earbuds line gets active noise cancellation. Photo: Sennheiser
Like many true wireless earbuds manufacturers, Sennheiser offers active noise cancellation (ANC) — but until now it hadn’t done so in its affordable CX line. The new Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless earbuds come in at a price of $179.95.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2, in black or white, can sit in front of a TV or be mounted easily. Photo: Sonos
Known for its impressive Sonos Arc soundbar for home cinema, Sonos now rolls out updates to its more compact and less expensive Sonos Beam, including the Arc’s Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Apple's "California Streaming" event by the numbers. Photo: Apple
If there’s one thing you can expect from a new Apple product release like its “California Streaming” event on Tuesday, it’s a lot of impressive facts and figures. After all, the older products are still impressive, yet the new ones have to be better. And they always are, at least to some degree.
It’s a little bit like the staggering numbers Apple throws around on its quarterly earnings calls. But here it’s all about the product performance indicators that will most likely lead to more record-breaking earnings in the near future. Shipping on the items below is imminent in most cases.
See below for a rundown of the newly announced products and updates by the numbers.
Sony's new mid-priced home theater soundbar has plenty of competition. Photo: Sony
Almost as if on cue after similar recent announcement from other companies, Sony has rolled out a feature-packed home cinema Dolby Atmos soundbar called the HT-A5o00 at a price of $899.99. That’s $400 less than the company’s flagship soundbar, the HT-A7000.
"Honestly that's how it is supposed to be," one comment said of the cable mess. "Bushy just like the 70s." Photo: [email protected]
A recurring theme across computer setups everywhere is the need for better cable management. It’s all about how well the careless, disheveled slob throwing together the gear — here we’re referring mainly to ourselves, not you — deals with the thorny mess of electrical cords and connectors that help make the workstation go.
The Elago Snapshot Cover for AirPods Pro looks like a tiny camera with an AirTag for a lens. Photo: Elago
If you’d like a distinctively cute case for your favorite earbuds and an extra layer of security, you might try the new Elago Snapshot Cover for AirPods Pro. It makes the case look like a tiny camera with an AirTag for a lens.
Isaiah Hill and O’Shea Jackson Jr. in Swagger, premiering globally October 29, 2021 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Streaming service Apple TV+ offered a premiere date for its upcoming sports drama Swagger, loosely based on superstar NBA basketball player Kevin Durant’s early years in the sport he eventually came to dominate. It looks into the world of youth basketball and the lives it touches.
Secure your valuables with the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock with HomeKit support. Photo: Yale
The Yale lock company dates back to 1868, but that doesn’t mean it’s only about that heavy padlock grandpa had on his shed. These days, it even makes smart locks for your smart home system. The Yale Smart Cabinet Lock, for example, integrates with HomeKit to protect your indoor valuables.
Even a beginner can customize the new Keychron Q1 mechanical keyboard. Photo: Keychron
Those who love the old-school touch and feel of a mechanical keyboard have long-admired Keychron for its range of K-series keebs. The newest member of the family offers a new series name, Q1, an affordable price and more customization than the company has yet put out there.
Here's to a 'maximalist' setup in a minimal space. Photo: [email protected]
With all the staged, pristine-looking computer setups flaunted all over the web, regular folks can really appreciate a “lived in” and productive workstation — especially in something like the “maximalist” setup approach we came across recently.
The new Opal C1 webcam is designed for macOS. Photo: Opal
Former designers and staff from Apple, its Beats subsidiary and Uber are offering an opportunity to beta test the Opal C1, a new 4K webcam designed for Mac. The folks behind the new company, Opal, call it “the first professional webcam.”
Apple has tapped Apple Watch software chief Kevin Lynch to run the Apple Car project. Photo: Apple
On the heels of Apple VP Doug Field’s departure as chief of the Apple Car project for a role at Ford, Cupertino has named longtime Apple Watch software head Kevin Lynch its new exec in charge of Project Titan. That’s the code name for the company’s self-driving electric car effort.
If you're getting rid of an old Apple Watch for any reason (Series 7!), you should factory reset it. Photo: Nomad
Unless you just emerged from a cave or a doomsday bunker, you probably know everyone expects Apple to announce new products releases next week — most likely including the Apple Watch 7.
If you’re considering selling, trading, giving away or returning your Apple Watch for that or any reason, we’ll show you how to factory reset it first.
The Apple Car is way down the highway. But Apple has the pedal to the metal. Photo illustration: Cult of Mac/Wikipedia CC
Apple resumed development of its autonomous electric vehicle on its own after failing to secure a major automotive partner, according to a new report. Cupertino supposedly is in touch with global auto parts manufacturers, indicating selection of a supplier(s) could be imminent.
Twitter's new Communities feature will help you tweet at people who share your interests. Photo: Twitter
Twitter is testing a new feature called “Communities” via an invitation-only roll-out on iOS and the web, with Android to follow at some unspecified point. It will help users find and join groups with shared interests and direct tweets to them.
Apple TV+ show Wolfboy and the Everything Factory premieres on September 24. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ plans to air three new shows for kids and families in the coming weeks. One is set to debut later in September, while two others premiere in October.
We’ll have to see if any of them can match the critical success of Apple TV+’s award-winning kids’ show Stillwater.
The Anker 511 Charger (Nano Pro) comes in four colors. Photo: Anker
Anker just expanded its lineup of USB-C wall chargers with an unusually compact and colorful set of four Nano Pro gallium nitride (GaN II) units offering 20W of power on the cheap. And they arrive just in time to help you charge Apple’s new iPhone 13 handsets.
A hackintosh forms the core of this three-display setup. Photo: [email protected]
If you’re out there pimping your computer setup on a Mac social media list, but you don’t have a Mac, what do you do? Well, you could flex your Hackintosh laptop and surround it with some Apple gear to make things look good.
The new Meross MAP100 Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier works with HomeKit. Photo: Meross
Meross wants to help clear the air in some of your small-to-medium-sized rooms with its new MAP100 Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier. It works with HomeKit and other systems. And it’s priced affordably.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 fits well under a 50-inch TV, the company said. Photo: Bose
Bose just rolled out its new flagship soundbar for use with a TV in a home-theater environment — the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. And guess what? The product’s name pretty much matches its price tag — $899.99.
The Signe floor lamp and a light strip add ambiance. Photo: Signify/Philips Hue
Signify, the parent company of Philips Hue, put the word out last week that funky new lighting products are coming. Some are out now and some will light up later. A new partnership with the music platform Spotify has launched, too.
Several items offer the gradient technology Philips Hue added last year to its Play Lightstrip.
Apple fans can buy a perfect re-creation of the Apple-1 Operation Manual, along with a custom case to display it in. Photo: Armin Hierstetter
This Apple collector’s item post is brought to you by apple-1-manuals.com.
In 1976, the Apple-1 became the future Cupertino tech giant’s first product. Fewer than 70 of the devices remain today, only six of them believed to be in working order. And even the original Apple-1 Operation Manual is incredibly collectible. But now you can get a faithful re-creation of the manual — the product of hundreds of hours of work — for your very own.
You can find basic copies of the original on cheap printer paper, but Armin Hierstetter, a German entrepreneur and retro computer enthusiast, took it upon himself to do it better.
Kingston's XS2000 lets you take up to 2TB of data with you. Photo: Business Wire
Kingston Digital is now shipping its new XS2000, a portable SSD featuring USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 speeds in a tiny drive you can slip into your pocket. So you can carry around up to 2TB of data and barely notice it’s there.
iMac and MacBook Pro, check. Massive display, check. Le Creuset mug, check. Photo: [email protected]
Redditor Doyniish runs a Mission Control-looking workstation, thanks a gargantuan monitor in between a substantial 24-inch iMac display on the left and a MacBook Pro on a stand to the right. In the shot, they’re all festooned with open windows, making it look like all the work in the world is in progress at that particular desk.