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Get up to 63% off popular Keychron mechanical keyboards

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Get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards
A wired version of the customizable Keychron Q3 mechanical keyboard is on sale.
Photo: Keychron

Amazon bargain site Woot! currently offers incredible deals where you can get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards — up to 63% off normal prices. Plus, you can nab an extra $10 off if you’re a new Woot! shopper. While quite a few of the keebs have sold out, you still have six excellent choices, listed with details and direct links below, and a bit more than a week to grab yours. The sale end January 31 at 10 p.m. PT.

Severance promo almost reveals Lumon’s keys to maximizing innies’ glee

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Lumon Industries management training video
Lumon has 127 steps for "maximizing glee and enforcing a productive workplace," but unfortunately, they've been redacted.
Photo: Apple TV+

In yet another creative promo for its hit workplace thriller series Severance, Apple TV+ dropped a new video Wednesday that masquerades as a Lumon Industries management training video.

“Lumon Industries is proud to present the Lumon Management Program — otherwise known by its breviloquent moniker of LUMP,” Apple TV+ wrote on X, announcing the video. “Today’s practicum: Integrating New Team Members.”

Math unlocks conspiratorial mayhem in Prime Target [Now streaming!]

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Prime Target trailer
A brilliant math postgrad finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy in thriller series Prime Target, debuting January 22 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

When a brilliant math postgraduate verges on sussing out a certain pattern in prime numbers, he finds himself in between unseen enemies and government forces in a burgeoning conspiracy. That’s according to the new Apple TV+ trailer, below, for series Prime Target. After all, the whiz kid’s discovery could unlock every computer and unravel digital security worldwide, apparently.

“A brilliant mind is a dangerous weapon,” notes the tagline on the new series’ key art. The eight-episode conspiracy thriller debuts January 22 on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer below.

Update: Prime Target started streaming on Apple TV+ Wednesday. While The New York Times calls it a “charming popcorn thriller,” other reviews are less charitable. And “rotten” ratings on Rottentomatoes.com — critical rating of 43% and viewer rating of 56% (60% and up is “fresh”) — don’t appear too promising, either.

New Shure smart mic doubles as audio interface

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Shure MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface
The new mic makes two-channel recording so easy you don't even need a separate audio interface.
Photo: Shure

A potentially big development for Apple-focused content creators is on display at 2025 NAMM Show, as Shure shows off the new MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface it first unveiled earlier this month at CES 2025, calling it a first of its kind.

The innovative $350 mic brings professional-grade two-channel recording capabilities to Apple’s ecosystem, eliminating the need for a separate audio interface. You can plug an XLR mic or instrument right into Shure’s new mic. And you can connect it to Apple devices via USB-C to work with tracks using Shure’s MOTIV audio and video apps.

See Vietnam War through eyes of those who survived it [Apple TV+ trailer]

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trailer for Vietnam: The War That Changed America documentary
The new Vietnam War documentary series debuts on Apple TV+ January 31.
Photo: Apple TV+

Upcoming documentary series Vietnam: The War That Changed America tells the story of the conflict through those who survived it on both sides, according to the trailer Apple TV+ dropped for it Wednesday. Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke narrates the six-part series. Featuring rare archival footage and moving reunions of service members, it’s set to premiere January 31. As one of the most anticipated new movies Apple TV has to offer, this documentary provides a compelling look at the war’s lasting impact.

M4 Mac mini lives in a killer backyard shed conversion [Setups]

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Mac mini in
This M4 Mac mini setup shares a converted shed with an epic home theater.
Photo: [email protected]

I’ve seen a few amazing man caves and she shacks while covering cool computer setups for Cult of Mac, but not many can compete with the home of today’s M4 Mac mini setup. The user converted a backyard shed nestled in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. So now the man shed M4 Mac mini setup doubles as a home theater sporting a gargantuan screen. You can find all the gear in the links list below for both the computer and home theater setups.

Top Apple TV+ shows like Severance bring in big bucks, new report shows

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how much money do Apple TV+ shows make?
Apparently the first season of "Severance" brought in $200 million.
Photo: Apple TV+

The psychological workplace thriller series Severance proved to be a major success story for Apple TV+, generating over $200 million in revenue from its first season alone, new analytics data shows. And it’s not the only Apple TV+ show bringing in big bucks for the iPhone giant, according to a new report. So how much money do Apple TV+ shows make? See below.

Clip-on earbuds excel at comfort but fit can mess with sound quality [Review] ★★★☆☆

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Edifier Comfo C earbuds review★★★☆☆
These lightweight clip-on earbuds have a comfortable and secure fit. But that includes a big downside for me.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Perfection is hard to find in life, and so it is with the world’s many and varied earbuds. In my hands-on Edifier Comfo C earbuds review, I look at how the supremely comfortable and secure the clip-on wireless earbuds fit, making them a solid choice for many active users. And yet for me, that same fit keeps the sound quality from being all it could be, which makes me less likely to wear the buds.

Apple dedicates homepage to Martin Luther King Jr.

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Apple MLK Day homepage takeover
Apple celebrates MLK Jr Day with a "Homepage Takeover" every year.
Photo: Apple

As it has done on every Martin Luther King Jr. Day since 2015, Apple used nearly all of its website homepage to pay homage to the slain Civil Rights Movement leader Monday. The page is filled with quotations from King and links to learn more through a free book by the icon in Apple Books and a feature article about him in Apple News.

MacBook Air rig boasts ‘best’ noise-canceling headphones [Setups]

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Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones on desk
This shot from Sony shows the XM5 cans laying flat on a desk by a MacBook and an Android smartphone.
Photo: Sony

In today’s M2 MacBook Pro setup, the user stores one of the best-reviewed sets of wireless, over-ear headphones of all time on a stand over to the side. The cans are almost easy to miss in the photograph, but well worth noticing. AirPods Max competitor Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, in a Mac setup, make for a relatively rare sight. But they’re often at or near the top of “best of” lists — not just for great sound and a comfortable fit, but especially for their vaunted noise cancellation.

Apple will stream star-studded FireAid benefit concert

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Apple will stream FireAid Benefit Concert
The concert, loaded with star talent, streams January 22 on Apple TV and Apple Music.
Photo: FireAid.org

Apple TV and Apple Music will stream the upcoming FireAid benefit concert to help victims of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, a new report Thursday. The concert lineup so far includes Billie Eilish, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Sting and many others.

The concert will rock out in two Los Angeles performance venues near each other, but most people will get to see and hear it via streaming services.

M2 MacBook Air takes off like rocket with 3 external displays [Setups]

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Ugreen Revodok connects multiple displays
A Ugreen Revodock is the key to connectivity in this multiple-display M2 MacBook Air setup.
Photo: [email protected]

For about as long as MacBooks have existed, confusion, questions and angst over how many external displays can run with them have plagued users. But at least some of the guesswork can be swept aside with a capable USB-C dock. In today’s M2 MacBook Pro setup, the powerful Ugreen Revodok connects multiple displays — three, to be precise — and other peripherals.

‘It’s been a minute’ since we felt that Severance vertigo [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★★

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Severance season 2 episode 1 recap★★★★★
Reunited, the Macrodata Refinement team meets the Severed floor's new deputy manager, Ms. Huang.
Photo: Apple TV+

After a three-year wait that felt longer than a day working at Lumon Industries, Severance is finally back! The season two premiere, entitled “Hello, Ms. Cobel,” picks up right where we left our favorite corporate drones. In our Severance season 2 episode 1 recap, we look at the fascinating twists and turns that prove the show hasn’t lost its edge. As the season goes on, let’s see if it keeps it.

EarFun OpenJump earbuds: Your budget-friendly fitness pal [Review] ★★★★

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EarFun OpenJump earbuds review★★★★
EarFun OpenJump wireless earbuds hook on comfortably and securely.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Are you into exercise and looking for wireless earbuds that’ll take your workout punishment but not break the bank? Look no further than EarFun OpenJump Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds. They aren’t fancy, but the lightweight, hook-on earbuds deliver comfort, security and solid audio without a premium price tag.

Let’s dive into what makes these earbuds, available now for preorder at a substantial discount, stand out in a crowded market.

Severance season 2 promos try to out-weird the show itself [Updated again]

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Severance season 2 promos
In a "Severance" season two marketing stunt, Lumon Industries employees toil behind glass in New York City's Grand Central Station. The new season debuts Friday.
Photo: @ParkerOrtolani, X.com

Commuters trudging through Grand Central Station in New York City got an eyeful of Apple TV+ series Severance on Tuesday. That’s because employees of the bizarre workplace dramedy’s fictional Lumon Industries appeared to work on Lumon terminals behind glass for all to see in the historic train terminal’s grand halls.

Severance stars Adam Scott, Zach Cherry and Britt Lower entered the fake Lumon workspace Tuesday afternoon. And soon enough, Patricia Arquette and Tramell Tillman appeared. Earlier in the day, other people staffed the workstations.

That promotional stunt and a new “Lumon Is Listening” video, which promotes Lumon’s Severance brain surgery as a work-life balance solution, go hand-in-hand with the show’s own creepy weirdness. Check out the images and video below!

2 banks in talks to take over Apple Card management from Goldman Sachs

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Apple Card banking partners
Apple Card launched in 2019. And although Goldman Sachs' management of it is scheduled through 2030, someone like Barclays or Synchrony may take over sooner.
Photo: Apple

Apple is in ongoing talks with two financial companies to take over Apple Card credit services management from Goldman Sachs, according to a new report. The iPhone giant has been discussing the matter with Barclays and Synchrony Financial for a while, apparently.

News of the talks comes just one day after Goldman Sachs’ CEO said on an earnings call the firm’s Apple Card management, scheduled through 2030, might end sooner than that.

Escapee from Apple TV+’s Silo shows up at NBA game

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Silo shows up at NBA game
Not the most comfortable b-ball-watching garb, but the suit might protect him from other fans.
Photo: Dallas Mavericks/Apple

The Apple TV+ marketing department sure kept itself busy Tuesday. A space-suited denizen of the streamer’s hit sci-fi series Silo showed up in the stands at an NBA game ahead of the show’s season two finale, which arrives Friday.

Earlier Tuesday, a Severance office popped up in New York City’s Grand Central Station. The pop-up drew stars from the show as well as plenty of curious commuters ahead of the Severance season two premiere, which also arrives Friday on Apple TV+.

Apple TV+ ran a full-court press on the promo stunts this week, a departure from the norm. What else could be in store?

Apple gives users simple way to help LA wildfire victims

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Apple gives users simple ways to help LA wildfire victims
Donating to the American Red Cross through Apple to help wildfire victims takes just a few clicks.
Photo: Apple

To help expedite recovery in response to deadly Los Angeles wildfires, Apple gives users simple ways to help LA wildfire victims by linking donation pages in popular apps directly to the American Red Cross, CEO Tim Cook said in an X.com post Wednesday. This follows the iPhone giant’s own donation of an undisclosed amount as well as considerations extended to wildfire victims regarding their Apple Card payments.

Software engineer shows off parade of powerful MacBooks [Setups]

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MDM testing on MacBooks
This guy has thousands of dollars' worth of MacBooks because of his job.
Photo: [email protected]

Wouldn’t you love to have half a dozen M-series MacBooks in your computer setup? One second thought, maybe that’s too much of a good thing. And it might only come up if you had to use most of them for work, like in today’s featured setup. A mobile device management (MDM) engineer does a lot of MDM testing on MacBooks for his job. If you use a Mac for work, he’s the guy who makes sure it keeps working efficiently and securely.

Here’s a sign Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are coming soon

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Powerbeats Pro 2 filings
New regulatory filings suggest we can expect redesigned Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds soon.
Photo: 91Mobiles.com

 After teasing the upcoming release of fitness-oriented Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds in September 2024, Apple and subsidiary Beats just made new filings with regulatory agencies that all but confirm the new buds will come out soon, according to a Wednesday report. The new earbuds likely will go on sale within weeks (or a couple of months at the latest). Apple continues to integrate its ecosystem, and users can take advantage of features through the Beats app for iPhone to optimize their listening experience.

CarPlay 2 could feature iPhone-style widgets

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CarPlay 2 widgets
A selection of widgets might give CarPlay 2 an interface already familiar to iOS, iPadOS and macOS users.
Photo: [email protected]

While Apple CarPlay 2’s expected 2024 release still hasn’t happened, newly leaked images Tuesday show a familiar widget-based interface that mirrors experiences across iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices.

The leaker is considered reliable. If the images prove genuine, they suggest a sensible drive by the iPhone giant to provide a seamless experience across the Apple ecosystem, even on the road.

Cool new case helps make M4 Mac mini portable

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WaterField Designs Shield Case for Mac mini
Shield Case looks like a stylish and practical way to tote M4 Mac mini, along with cables and an AirTag.
Photo: WaterField Designs

The ruggedly handsome new Shield Case brings true portability to the small-but-mighty M4 Mac mini and its accessories, WaterField Designs said Tuesday. It’s the latest in the company’s long line of cool cases for Apple gear.

“We designed the Shield Case for professionals who take advantage of the portability of Apple’s most compact desktop computer yet,” said Gary Waterfield, the San Francisco-based company’s owner. “The M4 Mac mini’s reduced size makes it an ideal candidate for mobile use, but its unique dimensions require thoughtful protection.”

Why the latest location data leak won’t hit iPhone users as hard

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location data breach
Simple settings can help protection iPhone and iPad users when it comes to app tracking.
Screenshot: Apple

A massive breach revealed last week exposed location data from apps on millions of iPhones and Android phones. But at least iPhone users have better protection against exposure through a simple action they can take against app tracking, a new report noted Monday.

Gravy Analytics, one of the world’s largest location data brokers, disclosed the big data breach last week. Leaked data points came from smartphone apps ranging from popular mobile games like Candy Crush to dating apps and pregnancy-tracking applications. While investigations into the breach continue, experts point out that iPhones and iPads have a pretty simple way of avoiding exposure in the first place.

How to stop spam and scam calls with Surfshark’s Alternative Number

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alternative phone number - Surfshark VPN Alternative ID
Use an Alternative Number from Surfshark to shield your primary phone number from spammers and scammers.
Image: Surfshark

 In an online world filled with identity thieves, robocallers, “smishers” (SMS phishing scammers), and all sorts of marketers hassling you for your personal information whenever you sign up for anything, wouldn’t it be great if you could protect your personal information by becoming someone else with a different phone number? With Surfshark’s Alternative ID service, you can now access a new Alternative Number feature that does just that. If you’re looking for the best Surfshark VPN deals, you can take advantage of great offers while enhancing your online privacy.

Alternative Number is incredibly easy to use — and highly effective at keeping your real phone number safe from spammers and scammers. All you need to do is sign up for a Surfshark bundle that includes Alternative Number. You can pay monthly, but Surfshark also offers 24-month plans that give you four extra months of service for free.

Pairing tiny M4 Pro Mac mini with giant curved display [Setups]

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curved ultra-wide display
Today's M4 Pro Mac mini setup user loves this Dell ultra-wide display -- but with one downside.
Photo: Dell

No matter how delightfully small and incredibly powerful the new M4 Pro Mac mini may be, it’s helpless without an external display of some sort. Today’s Mac mini setup pairs the tiny beast with a gigantic pal — a curved ultra-wide display from Dell spanning 40 inches. And the mini shares the monitor and Logitech input devices with a Windows laptop.