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.
Get ready to pay more for OLED MacBook Pro, which might be called MacBook Ultra (with a touchscreen!). AI image: ChatGPT
Apple has resisted putting a touchscreen on its laptops for years. But one of the most credible voices in the Apple supply chain rumor space declared that resistance officially over on Thursday. The long-rumored touchscreen MacBook is “100% confirmed,” they said.
Apple Maps' Flyover feature gets a lot more realistic. Photo: Apple
Once a bit of a sketchy upstart, Apple Maps has become one of the best iPhone navigation apps. And upcoming iOS 27 — previewed at WWDC 2026 this week — pushes it even further. Here’s every notable Apple Maps upgrade in iOS 27.
The new BenQ MA320UG 120Hz Glossy Monitor for Mac could appeal to users at $830. Photo: BenQ
The new BenQ MA320UG 120Hz Glossy Monitor for Mac is a 32-inch 4K display running at 120Hz with a glossy Nano Gloss panel and deep macOS integration, the company said Tuesday. It arrives as the first 120Hz model in BenQ’s MA Series for Mac.
“Today’s Mac users expect one setup to handle it all, and the MA320UG is the perfect answer for those users,” said Jeffrey Hsieh, head of the BenQ Consumer Line of Business. “The MA320UG combines 120Hz performance with matching Mac colors, intuitive controls and the flexible connectivity that Mac users depend on to work, create, and unwind.”
Soon iOS 27 will make this process a lot smoother. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple’s WWDC26 keynote brought a wave of updates to Apple Wallet well beyond cosmetic tweaks. From AI-assisted bill splitting to richer hotel stays, iOS 27 turns Wallet into a more capable everyday tool. Here’s what’s coming.
Updates unveiled at WWDC26 should boost Apple's Home app nicely. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
WWDC26 drew plenty of attention for the rebuilt Siri and the relatively substantial iOS 27 overhaul. But buried beneath those headlines lies Apple’s biggest push yet to turn the Home app into a genuinely capable smart home platform. iOS 27 and tvOS 27 updates make your home smarter, from AI-powered security cameras to a more reliable wireless backbone.
This 40-inch ultrawide display sports a Mac-friendly look, feel and functionality -- and will work all the better with macOS 27, apparently. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Mac users who rely on ultrawide monitors (ahem, like me) have been waiting years for Apple to treat their setups as first-class citizens. With macOS 27 Golden Gate unveiled Monday at WWDC26, that wait appears to be over.
The new tools should help parents create safer digital experiences for their kids. Photo: Apple
A sweeping set of child safety features including parental controls give families sharper tools for managing what kids see, who they talk to and how long they spend on devices, Apple said Monday at WWDC26.
“At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe,” said Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apple’s vice president of Health and Fitness.
“Our approach to helping families create safer digital experiences is grounded in the belief that every child is unique,” she added. “That’s why we build simple and intuitive tools, based on expert guidance, to let parents tailor their kids’ digital journey.”
The features arrive with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 this fall.
As Apple said, "With its new architecture and capabilities, the next generation of Apple Intelligence powers helpful features across the system, simplifying the things users do every day." Photo: Apple
While Siri got a complete redesign to include a dedicated chatbot app, on-screen awareness and deeper integration with third-party tools, that’s not the only AI upgrade cited by Apple in Monday’s WWDC26 keynote. A bunch of new Apple Intelligence features are set to upgrade your life, too.
“Truly helpful AI must be centered on our users’ needs, deeply integrated into the products they rely on every day, grounded in personal context, and built with privacy at every step. That is our vision for Apple Intelligence,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering.
“With useful features for browsing the web, expressing creativity, editing photos and so much more, today marks a big step forward on our journey to integrate powerful AI into the core of our platforms and make our products even more personal and useful,” he added.
The new features will become available with the release of iOS 27 and other OS updates coming in September 2026.
Siri gets a whole new look, and a ton of new AI capabilities, in iOS 27. Image: Apple
The much-anticipated iOS 27 update for iPhone showcased at the Worldwide Developers Conference rebuilds the Siri voice assistant from the ground up as Siri AI, improves Apple Visual Intelligence, offers an improved Camera app, fixes myriad bugs and more, Apple said Monday. It turned out to be quite the consequential update.
“We’re excited to bring a wide range of improvements to each of our platforms, making them even more useful and delightful,” said CEO Tim Cook as he began to close out the keynote presentation. It’s expected to be his last before he steps down from the role on September 1.
The last "good morning!" greeting could come from Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday, so celebs lend a hand in a video. Photo: Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook’s chipper “good morning!” from many, many events got the quasi-royal treatment Monday in a video he shared on X.com filled with celebrities saying the phrase just hours before WWDC26 kicks off.
For Cook, who remains CEO until John Ternus takes over September 1, today’s keynote might be the last opportunity to say it on such a big stage.
And it begs the question: What will be Ternus use as a catchphrase, anyway?
We're not saying any of these tech executives would go to jail, but the UK may target anyone whose products let kids see nudity on their devices. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
The UK government plans to compel Apple, Google and other technology companies to block children from encountering any nudity on their devices like iPhones and iPads — and to imprison executives who fail to act for up to 5 years, according to a new report Friday about policy changes in the works.
Seems like the sort of thing that could make incoming Apple CEO John Ternus a little nervous.
Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence should get a jolt of new features at WWDC26. AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac
Everybody expects Apple’s Siri voice assistant to get a big AI-powered makeover Monday at WWDC26. But there’s more to the picture, in that Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence will see a bunch of separate new features, too, according to rumors rounded up in a new report Friday.
Bask in the warm glow of antique Macs actually being used. Photo: [email protected]
Apple designs hardware for the ages — sometimes quite literally. The Cult of Mac Setups archive is full of users who never got around to retiring an old Cinema Display. Or who deliberately hunt one down online for new-to-them use. Some keep a 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro running as a daily driver because it still gets the job done. Some love old gear so much they maintain as much as possible — or at least classic posters — in their setup. And here’s the result: the best vintage and retro Setups in our archive.
Get ready to pay more for OLED MacBook Pro, which might be called MacBook Ultra (with a touchscreen!). AI image: ChatGPT
Apple’s long-anticipated high-end MacBook — the OLED-display machine, possibly with touchscreen, that many expect Apple to call the MacBook Ultra — could arrive a lot sooner than expected, according to a new report Thursday. As in, possibly as soon as 3Q 2026, which probably means September.
App Store developer sales hit $1.4 trillion in 2025, thanks in part to AI-focused apps. Photo: Apple
The App Store ecosystem generated more than $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales during 2025, Apple said Thursday. The figure nearly triples what the platform posted in 2019 and underscores how central the App Store has become to digital earnings. And artificial intelligence-boosted apps played a huge role.
★★★☆☆
Baseus Bowie MC2 open-ear clip-on earbuds make a solid case for value. But they suffer from a few limitations. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
At $79.99, Baseus’s new Bowie MC2 enters a crowded field of clip-on open-ear earbuds looking to challenge better-known names. Are they worth a try? My Baseus Bowie MC2 Open-Ear Earbuds review finds they might fit the bill for for users who hate having anything in their ears and for those who want an unobtrusive workout buddy. But they have some shortcomings to work out. Here’s what you actually need to know before buying.
Will macOS 27 look as gorgeous as California's Big Bear Lake? Photo: San Bernardino County
With WWDC26 just days away, the annual guessing game over California place-names that could become the new macOS name is in full swing. Various clues and speculation about macOS 27 suggest this year’s leading candidates are Big Bear and Emerald.
A new Apple Developer Center is coming to Berlin. It's the first of its kind in Europe. This is the auditorium. Photo: Apple
Apple will open a new Developer Center in Berlin later this year. It’s the first of its kind on the continent and its fifth worldwide, the iPhone giant said Wednesday.
“Europe is home to an extraordinary community of developers who are building apps that create connections, encourage creativity and drive innovation,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We have always believed that when developers have the right tools and resources to do their best work, incredible things follow. That belief is what this center is built on, and we look forward to seeing what the community continues to develop.”
Find out which 12 apps and games took top honors. Photo: Apple
Apple chose 12 apps and games as the best of the best in 2026 from its developer community on Tuesday, honoring titles spanning six award categories for recognition at WWDC26 next week.
“This year’s Apple Design Award winners are a remarkable reflection of how developers are creating exceptional experiences,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. She added that honorees “represent the very best of what our platform makes possible.”
The hinge is a critical component of any foldable, and Apple wants the best technology possible for its first folding iPhone. Photo: Amanz/Unsplash License
Apple is building its long-anticipated folding iPhone around a liquid metal hinge, and the device has now actually reached mobile carriers around the world for compatibility testing, a prominent Apple supply chain leaker said Tuesday.
Slated for closure, Apple Towson Town Center store in Maryland was the first one to unionize. Photo: Apple
With a letter signed by 40 members of Congress sent Monday, Apple faces increased federal pressure over its plan to shut down the Apple Towson Town Center store in Maryland. The location, set to close on June 20, holds the distinction of being the first Apple retail store in the United States to unionize.
The congressional letter pulls no punches. The lawmakers describe the closure as “unacceptable in its impact, and deeply troubling in its national implications for workers’ rights.”
Apple Watch OLED displays are great now, but more advanced tech could boost power efficiency and, therefore, battery life. Photo: Apple
The display in your Apple Watch may already seem pretty great, but a new type of screen technology in development could make models in the next year or two even better by running for longer on a single charge, according to a new report.
If you're one of the unlucky few the charging problem vexes, here's your solution. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple made an update available for its iPhone operating system Monday with iOS 26.5.1. It addresses a wired charging problem some users with iPhone Series 17 or iPhone Air handsets face.
Apple said the problem affects a “small number of users.” But for the few users who face it, the problem probably feels pretty big. The same goes for a Mac glitch fixed by macOS 26.5.1, also released Monday.
Soon iOS 27 will make this process a lot smoother. AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple prepares to bring one of the most-requested social money features directly into iPhone, with a new bill-splitting tool expected to debut as part of iOS 27 this fall, according to a new report Monday. We expect to hear more about it next week at WWDC26.
Regarding the leaked image, some suggest if he had the device, he'd put out more and better images of it. Photo: Ice Universe, Weibo
Apple’s long-awaited foldable phone took another step out of the shadows on Monday, as a flurry of new leaks put a face — and a few specs — to a device the company has yet to officially acknowledge.