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.
From the “he must be doing something right” department: An Apple attorney sent a note and called designer Antonio De Rosa this week, asking him to adjust some of his design concepts for possible new Apple products because they look “too real,” according to De Rosa, CEO of ADR Studio.
“I received a call from an Apple attorney asking me to adjust some of my concepts because they were considered too realistic,” De Rosa wrote Wednesday on X. He told Cult of Mac it came as quite a shock.
Update: De Rosa responded to Cult of Mac‘s initial inquiries and we included them below.
Californians will soon be able to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet. Photo: Apple
California residents will soon gain the ability to add their driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet, Apple said Thursday. The feature will let users present their identification using just an iPhone or Apple Watch rather than using a physical card. California drivers licenses in Apple Wallet is a big step forward for the program, given that the Golden State is the country’s most populous, with nearly 40 million residents.
“We’re excited to be working with the state of California to bring IDs in Apple Wallet to Apple’s home state soon, and provide residents with an easy, secure, and private way to present their California driver’s license and state ID in person and in app using Apple Wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
“Whether using IDs in Apple Wallet to breeze through travel, or to securely verify age or identity at businesses, California driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet make ID presentment seamless — all with the security built into iPhone and Apple Watch,” she added.
The new Kardashian colors for Beats Fit Pro are like her previous neutral tones for Feats Fit Pro earbuds. Photo: Apple
The new Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian over-ear headphones came out Thursday in moon, dune and earth colors, broadening the noise-canceling cans’ color palette with some neutral Kardashian hues a la her previous Beats Fit Pro earbuds release. But the over-ear cans in new colors cost full price, at $350, whereas it’s not difficult these days to find the four regular colors on sale for about $180.
“I’m so excited we’re bringing these three popular, chic colors to Beats’ most iconic and advanced headphones,” Kardashian said in press materials. “Beats Studio has always been a fashion statement, so I can’t wait to see how everyone styles them.”
The J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study named Apple Card the Best Co-Branded Credit Card for Customer Satisfaction with No Annual Fee. Photo: Apple
For the fourth year running, Apple Card is tops in customer satisfaction, along with issuer Goldman Sachs, according to the 2024 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power. They came out No. 1 in their segment, co-branded credit cards with no annual fee.
The teaser trailer doesn't tell us much. Photo: Apple TV+
The enigmatic teaser trailer Apple TV+ dropped Wednesday for psychological thriller series Disclaimer, from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón and starring Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, disclaims very little beyond a dark and foreboding mood and a warning to “be aware” of the assumptions that color our understanding of a story.
The seven-episode limited series debuts on Apple TV+ October 11.
UPDATE: After publishing the initial post, I realized a clever deep fake appears to be in play in the trailer’s narration, so I thought I’d better mention it (better late than never!) It only took seven days after posting about the trailer for me to realize I knew the narrator’s voice. And it seems she never said what she seemed to say in the trailer. See below.
Apple Watch Series 9 takes the prize at the iPhone giant's top-selling wearble. Image: Apple
A new study sheds light on which Apple Watch model consumers buy most — and least, and in between — Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) said Wednesday. Enthusiasts who assume the most popular Apple Watch model must be the biggest and best (Ultra 2) or the most cost-effective (SE2) miss the mark. They might be surprised that middle-market Series 9 takes the crown, followed by Series 8, which Apple no longer even sells.
With iOS 18.1, developers will gain access to API enabling secure, in-app NFC payments. Photo: Square
The introduction of NFC and Secure Element (SE) APIs in iOS 18.1 unlocks new monetization opportunities for iOS app developers, Apple said Wednesday — though fees apply. But on the plus side, secure in-app near-field communication (NFC) transactions in iOS 18.1 will let devs integrate secure, contactless transactions directly within their apps on iPhone, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
In the fourth leg of "The Relay" race, a wheelchair racer takes on a runner in the 400m. Photo: Apple
Ahead of the Paralympic Games in Paris, a new Apple video called ‘”The Relay” shows athletes with and without disabilities training and then competing together in a series of events. Each competitor shows the same drive, dedication and spirit — all with the help of Apple gear, of course.
“Apple products are designed for every athlete,” reads the video tagline. “And every body.”
In this setup, one arm mounted on the desk handles the laptop and two external displays. Photo: [email protected]
Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup belongs to a coder in Panama who uses two excellent stands to lift almost all of his gear off his desk. One’s a microphone arm doubling as a headphone stand. The other, more-substantial rig is a Vivo Dual Monitor Desk Mount that holds aloft two external displays and a MacBook Pro on a tray. That really tidies up the desk.
Vince Vaughn stars in the new Apple TV+ comedy series "Bad Monkey." Photo: Apple TV+
Curiously, a furry primate only shows up in glimpses in Wednesday’s new trailer for Bill Lawrence’s new Apple TV+ comedy series Bad Monkey. Not counting glib ex-detective Vince Vaughn, that is. Lawrence brought us vaunted comedy smash hit Ted Lasso, by the way.
The show, based on Carl Hiaasen’s New York Times-bestselling novel, debuts on Apple TV+ on August 14.
UPDATE: The new 10-episode comedy series Bad Monkey from Ted Lasso creator Bill Lawrence is now streaming on Apple TV+ as of Wednesday. Vince Vaughn stars as a disgraced Miami detective who might get his job back if he can just transport a severed arm from point A to point B, and maybe prove murder along the way. Reviews so far seem to like Vaughn in the wise-cracking role, with a few caveats. Time‘s review headline: “Bad Monkey Is a Beachy Crime Drama Drowning in Ted Lasso Quirk.” You can watch and decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Applications for the fifth Apple Entrepreneur Camp are now open. And it will include in-person sessions for the first time. Photo: Apple
Apple just opened applications for its fifth annual Entrepreneur Camp, and for the first time since it started in 2019, it will feature in-person sessions, Apple Developer said Tuesday. Until now it’s been all-virtual, mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic precautions.
Apple called the camp “a one-on-one, product-focused technology lab designed to empower underrepresented founders and developers, elevate their app-driven businesses and build dynamic communities.”
Apparently the new sensor knows when it's a cat and not a person. Photo: Aqara
Aqara’s new Presence Sensor FP1E monitors smart-home spaces for human activity and helps launch automations via HomeKit and other platforms, the company said recently. To get the most out of it, though, you need an Aqara Matter bridge.
The new Opera One on iOS brings a raft of appealing features for iPhone users. Photo: Opera
The Opera browser’s new mobile version for iPhone, dubbed Opera One for iOS, integrates artificial intelligence features like image generation and voice input, a free VPN for private browsing and other elements to offer a fresh alternative to pre-installed browsers on Apple devices like Safari, the company said Tuesday.
“Our research shows mobile phone users are six times more likely to be happy than not, after switching away from their system’s default browser,” said Jona Bolin, product manager at Opera. “So with Opera One for iOS, we want to further raise the bar and deliver a better browsing experience versus what users will find pre-installed.”
Whatever model and size you want, you can. get $100 off right now. Photo: D. Griffin Jones / Cult of Mac
Prices on Apple Watch Series 9 tend to fluctuate, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a full $100 off a nice range of models with or without cellular coverage and in both 41mm and 45mm sizes. Amazon is running such a sale right now. But models at these prices might not last long. See the links below.
This software engineer uses a bigger version of one the best audio interfaces for Mac. Photo: [email protected]
In today’s enviable computer setup, a software engineer drives a Studio Display with an M2 Pro MacBook Pro. But among other impressive peripherals connected in the rig we found a great version of one of Cult of Mac‘s Best Audio Interfaces for Mac. An interface serves as a bridge between your Mac and external audio sources like microphones and musical instruments to make the most of recording and mixing.
Nanoleaf Essentials bulbs work with the Matter standard. Photo: Nanoleaf
Apple plans to expand its Adaptive Lighting feature to Matter-compatible smart lights with the release of iOS 18, which will significantly increase the number of smart lights that can use the popular feature in the Apple Home ecosystem. And among the first to work on it is Nanoleaf, according to a new report.
The new StandBy mode in iOS 17 really shines with a MagPower charging stand. Photo: SwitchEasy
This is your last chance to slash up to 65% off these multidevice charging stands from SwitchEasy. The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on August 9.
If you own an iPhone, you need a MagSafe charging stand. They’re incredibly convenient, and they work great with StandBy, which instantly turns your iPhone into a smart display.
SwitchEasy offers two great wireless magnetic charging stands in the Cult of Mac Store — a powerful 4-in-1 and a compact 2-in-1 — and both feature a night light. And they’ve got something else in common. They’re both on sale at up to 65% off in our SwitchEasy Sale.
You have your choice of big deals on MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max chips. Photo: Apple
Some great deals on Apple gear only last for a day, like Woot’s nice discounts on 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) and Beats Solo3 headphones. Others may last longer, but for an unknown amount of time, like the price war we’ve been tracking between Amazon and Best Buy. Loads of M3 MacBook Pro models are on sale. See some sample below.
Yamaha HS7 speakers on stands blow out this setup's sound. Photo: [email protected]
What would the computer setup that has everything — in fact, two of many things — be missing? Well, in the case of today’s dual MacBook Pro workstation, it’s not excellent audio gear. Not only does it double up on high-end laptops, Studio Displays, Trackpads and more. It also mounts powerful Yamaha HS7 speakers and an AKG condenser microphone to help provide a fabulous soundtrack.
Sure, it's got Boston big-shots Damon and Affleck, but you won't believe the supporting cast on this thing. Photo: Apple TV+
Desperate dad Matt Damon and ex-con Casey Affleck join forces for the heist of a lifetime in Boston, and guess what — it goes horribly wrong. With high-speed car chases, multiple explosions and Boston accents flying all over the place from a smart-alecky veteran cast, the new trailer for Apple Original Film The Instigators stormed computer screens Thursday in entertaining fashion.
The Instigators debuts in select theaters on August 2 before streaming on Apple TV+ August 9, but you can watch the first trailer now.
UPDATE: With its week in select theaters now past, star-studded Apple Original Film The Instigators starts streaming Friday on Apple TV+. Reviews of the caper-gone-awry flick find a lot to like, particularly in the chemistry between Boston-bred leads Matt Damon, one of the film’s producers, and Corey Affleck, one of its writers. Doug Liman (Swingers, Go, The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) directs.
The EU's Digital Markets Act causes plenty of headaches for Apple. Photo: European Commission
Apple is making changes to its App Store policies in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act. It’s essentially easing linking rules for developers, so they can send customers elsewhere than the App Store for purchases. And it’s attaching new fees for sales that result from the links.
With Clooney and Pitt headlining, it seems Apple smells a mega-hit. Photo: Apple Original Films
Apple Original Films gave writer, director and producer Jon Watts the nod to write a sequel to action-comedy film Wolfs, with Academy Award winners George Clooney and Brad Pitt — even before the first installment comes out. Wolfs premieres at the 81st Venice International Film Festival ahead of its limited theatrical release on September 20. Then it debuts on Apple TV+ on Friday, September 27. Hey, when Apple plans a Wolfs sequel even before the original proves popular, you know it expects a hit.
High winds caused the two mega-yachts to collide. Photo: X.com, @RicardoBSalinas
Laurene Powell Jobs’ super-yacht recently crashed into another billionaire’s even bigger yacht off Naples, Italy, according to a report. Steve Jobs originally commissioned the $140 million Venus, collaborating on its design. High winds pushed the boats at anchor into each other.
Damage is estimated to be costly, given the yachts’ combined value of $265 million. For the merely wealthy or well-adjacent, that’s like paying through the nose to get a scratch fixed on your Bentley.
Anker has a whole new powerful lineup of Prime chargers. Photo: Anker
Anker’s new Prime charger lineup includes high-end docking stations, power banks, wall chargers and more to support all charging scenarios.
“With the future of work evolving, we wanted the Anker Prime lineup to evolve with it,” said Shaun Xiong, general manager of Anker Charging, in a press release Wednesday. “When we first introduced the Anker Prime line of charging devices, we wanted to provide high-quality, multi-port charging devices. These new desktop charging stations this year take that experience to the next level with highly flexible designs that are more durable, provide additional functionality, and use durable materials for wfh people and at-home use.”
Stacking Studio Displays might seem odd to many folks, but this user loves it. Photo: [email protected]
We’ve seen quite a few instances of stacked external displays in setups, but today’s M2 MacBook Pro rig might be the first time we’ve seen Studio Displays mounted that way. With all the questions commenters asked about the workstation, the user ended up laying out quite a few points about why it works great.
