The new Soundcore AeroClip open-ear clip-on earbuds bring lasting comfort and awareness of surroundings without sacrificing sound quality, the Anker Innovations brand said Thursday. Clipping onto the ear, the bud speakers remain just outside the ear canal.
If you got or will soon get an iPhone 16e, way to go! The new iPhone 16e has plenty to recommend it, even if lacks MagSafe and it’s not as affordable, at $599, as the discontinued SE model it replaces. iPhone 16e boasts more functionality and costs more, so you have even more reason to get a nice case for it.
In my setups coverage across social media, I see plenty more man caves and she sheds for solitary dwelling than dual setups meant for spouses working side by side. No surprise there, right? And yet dual setups for couples pop up occasionally, like today’s double workstation with 2 MacBooks.
Enabot Ebo Air 2 Companion Robot brings enhanced features that make it an appealing addition to your home, the company said Tuesday. Launching with a price tag of $199 (minus 15% off launch discount), this compact mobile robot builds upon its predecessors with significant improvements in camera quality, interactive capabilities and personalization options.
New M4 MacBook Air reviews find it’s one of Apple’s most compelling laptop updates in recent memory — not because of revolutionary changes, but due to thoughtful refinements and a surprising price reduction. Here’s what reviewers said Tuesday about the new M4 MacBook Air.
In a literally royal musical celebration, Apple said King Charles III hosts a special radio show and playlist on Apple Music 1 titled “The King’s Music Room.” It commemorates Commonwealth Day, March 10. See King Charles’ playlist and watch his introductory video, below. This is the first time a reigning monarch has guest hosted on Apple Music, by the way.
“Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others,” King Charles said. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places.”
“But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration,” he added. “In other words, it brings us joy.”
Update: Check out the King’s list of songs, added below.
Ever wondered how closed-back and open-back headphones differ? Is one or the other better for your uses in your computer setup and elsewhere? What the heck is “impedance?” I recently experimented with both open- and closed-back cans in my evolving setup. I’ve laid out all the considerations and key differences for you below. And you can find my gear in the links list at the bottom of this article.
Sometimes even an advanced user runs into roadblocks getting their computer setup where they want it. Today’s Mac mini and MacBook Air setup, owned by a French software developer, relies on cable swaps to switch between devices on a big external display. But some straightforward Mac functionality and the addition of one piece of hardware could make things much easier.
★★★★☆
In our Severance season 2 episode 8 recap of “Sweet Vitriol,” we find a wavering Lumon loyalist — the terminated and nearly reinstated severed floor manager Harmony Cobel — facing old demons while searching for an important missing item. It seems to place her at the center of Lumon Industries’ mysterious technologies, and could be important to her return (or revenge).
Last week’s episode gave us the backstory of Mark S.’s wife Gemma, aka Lumon Industries’ Ms. Casey. With it came a deeper look at what’s really going at the company. This week we see some Lumon backstory, centered in Cobel’s dying hometown, site of a long-shuttered Lumon ether factory.
Apple’s recent decision to replace the iPhone SE with the more premium iPhone 16e marks a shift in the company’s approach to the budget smartphone market — and it might be a big risk, according to new research. The new iPhone 16e, priced at $599, represents a pretty big jump from the iPhone SE’s $429 price point. And that raises questions about whether Apple’s strategy will pay off. Will iPhone SE owners buy iPhone 16e?
In a world where people love their Macs for some uses and their PCs for others — especially gaming — a setup KVM switch comes in mighty handy. That’s because it lets you easily switch between Mac and PC using the same peripherals, like keyboard, video (displays) and mouse. That spells K-V-M.
Apple TV+’s six-part docuseries Vietnam: The War That Changed America offers a profound and multifaceted exploration of one of the most controversial conflicts in American history. In this Vietnam: The War That Changed America review, I’ll tell you why the series is worth watching.
Narrated by actor Ethan Hawke, this series provides viewers with a surprisingly personal look into the Vietnam War and its lasting impact on both American and Vietnamese societies. I felt its biggest impact in the first few episodes, perhaps because that’s when the novelty of the storytelling felt freshest. I’ve been hearing about the Vietnam War for decades, so it’s surprising when a documentary sucks me in, as the first half of this one did.
Apple unveiled the M3 Ultra chip as an option in the new MacStudio desktop Wednesday. As the company’s most powerful silicon chip to date, it brings unprecedented performance to pro users with demanding workflows. The other option in the new desktop machine is the M4 Max chip, which is actually less powerful than the M3 Ultra.
“M3 Ultra is the pinnacle of our scalable system-on-a-chip architecture, aimed specifically at users who run the most heavily threaded and bandwidth-intensive applications,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Technologies.
“Thanks to its 32-core CPU, massive GPU, support for the most unified memory ever in a personal computer, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, and industry-leading power efficiency, there’s no other chip like M3 Ultra,” he added.
The new premium Keychron K4 HE mechanical keyboard combines a 96% layout with customizable actuation for Mac power users. The new keyboard integrates Hall effect technology into the popular K4 design. That creates a versatile option for users who demand precision and customizability for both productivity and gaming.
“The K4 HE is a game-changer for professionals and gamers who demand precision and flexibility in their keyboard setup,” Paul Tan, COO of Keychron, said Tuesday in a press release. “With Hall effect technology, users can now customize their typing experience like never before, ensuring every keystroke meets their exact needs.”
Weather-permitting, spring has sprung. And Apple offered a fresh palette of vibrant colors perfect for the season in its new spring collection of iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands Tuesday. The collection features eye-catching new options for iPhone 16 users and Apple Watch enthusiasts, including premium Hermès Apple Watch band editions.
★★★★☆
In today’s fast-paced digital world, keeping your devices charged is crucial — but it isn’t always easy. Enter the Cuktech 30 Power Bank, a high-capacity portable charger that promises to keep your devices powered up no matter where you are. After my testing and research for this Cuktech 30 Power Bank review, I’ll let you know why you should buy it (or not).
After finally incorporating a proper pair of speakers into my evolving MacBook Pro setup in late 2024 — following years of writing Cult of Mac setups articles, often with a focus on high-quality audio gear I shamelessly envied — I just upped my rig’s audio ante again. And this time it’s mainly from the input perspective. I added a new Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, a condenser microphone mounted on an arm and, ridiculously, two more pairs of over-ear headphones (I already have too many cans and earbuds).
In a market dominated by high-priced headphones from Apple, Bose and Sony, EarFun made waves Monday with its latest release of over-ear, close-back headphones. They should appeal to Apple users looking for affordable alternatives without sacrificing much quality. New EarFun Wave Life hybrid active noise-canceling headphones promise premium audio features at just $60. That’s a fraction of what you’d pay for many premium cans. And a launch discount brings that down to an absurdly low $42. If you’re searching for offerup premium deals on high-quality audio gear, check out this review of EarFun Wave Life headphones.
Apple and the National Hockey League forged a partnership that puts Apple Watch at the center of game officiating, according to reports Friday. The collaboration introduced a custom-built NHL Watch Comms app designed specifically to assist on-ice officials during games, and it will see its first outdoor use Saturday.
“We wanted to make sure that the officials had really good awareness and were able to keep their eyes on play,” explains Andres de Corral, vice president of digital services at Presidio, the technology firm that developed the app. “So by enabling haptic responses, we were able to provide non-visual cues to the officials.”
These days, a well-equipped new Mac mini and a good docking station buy you loads of computing power and connectivity to plenty of peripherals for years to come. Today’s M4 Pro Mac mini workstation features a fine dock for Mac mini in the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 (even though the Thunderbolt 4 dock with a whopping 20 connection options was designed for MacBooks).
★★★★☆
In our Severance season 2 episode 7 recap of the episode “Chikhai Bardo,” we finally get the backstory of Mark S.’s wife Gemma, aka Lumon Industries’ Ms. Casey. With it comes a deeper look at what’s really going at the company. And by the way, the visually stunning, intellectually challenging and jarringly unfamiliar episode takes its title from a transitional experience in Tibetan Buddhist tradition, referring to the “moment of death” prior to rebirth. But whose death and whose rebirth?
Oh, and guest stars this week come as fascinating surprises: Robby Benson as the scary Lumon dentist who whistles “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and Sandra Bernhard as a scary Lumon nurse.
Last week’s episode brought us strange liaisons inside and outside of Lumon Industries. Mark S. and Helly R. got busy in an unused Lumon office. Outie Irving attends a tense but ultimately rewarding dinner with Burt and his husband, Fields. Before the end, Mark S. took a reckless risk that looked life-threatening.
Recently released Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds face major criticism due to substantial limitations in their heart rate monitoring capabilities, according to fitness reviewers and user reports. Inaccurate readings loom as an issue. iOS app pairing seems problematic. And you can’t listen to music via iPhone when you pair the Apple buds to gym equipment to show your heart rate — a fact Apple confirmed.
Oddly, the various Powerbeats Pro 2 heart rate monitor criticisms seem to apply only in the Apple ecosystem, not Android.
When you need a reliable keyboard and mouse, where do you turn? If you said “Logitech,” you’re far from alone. The Swiss peripherals giant’s input devices are seen in computer setups worldwide because they’re reliable and affordable. And right now Amazon sells them at a discount in pairs, or combos. We found five good deals, below. So you can make one purchase, not two, and get both devices.
A physically beautiful computer setup is a wonder to behold. And one loaded with primo audio gear truly turns me green with envy. So today’s PC setup with desktop and laptop machines got my attention both for its aesthetic and the fact that it sports a raft of cool components. They include a very useful item I’ve never seen before: a WiiM Ultra Music Streamer and Digital Preamp.
Apple’s audio lineup recently expanded with the arrival of Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, creating an interesting competition with the established AirPods Pro 2. Both high-end wireless earbuds share Apple’s technology backbone but target different segments of the market. So in a Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2 comparison, which should you choose?
Let’s compare these premium options across design, features, performance and value to help you determine which is right for your lifestyle.