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David Snow - page 36

Surprising choice of retro wireless speaker ‘gets the job done’ [Setups]

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Edifier desktop speaker setup
Did you know you can turn any computer setup "retro-cool" with the right choice of wireless speaker?
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s M3 MacBook Air setup features a retro-cool speaker unlike most you’ll see in workstations. When people look beyond the laptop for sound, the usual answer is bookshelf speakers. But the doctor who runs this MacBook Air and iPad Pro setup likes an unusual choice — an Edifier desktop speaker called the MP230.

iPhone and Apple Watch refurbs sale brings great bargains [Updated]

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iPhones and Apple Watches sale - iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini
In addition to iPhone 14 models, both iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini are on sale.
Photo: Apple

For all the bargain hunters and late adopters out there, Woot just launched another iPhone and Apple Watch sale on great (but not new) gear. The big sale on Apple refurbs runs through July 31 at 10 p.m. Pacific. It’s your chance to grab refurbished models at great prices.

Woot calls it the “Big Value Little Price iPhones and Apple Watches.” The cheeky Amazon site says “now E.T. can phone home in style!”

Indeed, you can find refurbished iPhones in all shapes and sizes, including the discontinued iPhone mini. Same goes for Apple Watch. Don’t dally, though. One of the deals already sold out!

Why Tim Cook uses Vision Pro headset every single day

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Tim Cook uses Vision Pro every day
Apple's CEO said he's developed quite a reliance on the Vision Pro AR/VR headset.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook says he uses his Vision Pro headset every day and explains why he thinks the device is “very revolutionary,” in an interview published Thursday.

“I think it delivers stunning entertainment,” Cook told The Sun in an interview tied to the AR/VR headset’s U.K. launch. “It unleashes this infinite canvas for productivity. It gives you new ways to connect and collaborate. These are just huge ideas that affect all of the things that we do every day, so I’m a huge believer in it.”

Developer loves ‘hated Touch Bar’ on MacBook Pro [Setups]

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MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Unlike many, this developer actually likes the Touch Bar on his 2017 MacBook Pro.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple doesn’t have a very long list of unpopular products or features, but whatever list of shame it may keep probably includes MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar. But not everyone hates the feature. The Python developer who runs today’s MacBook Pro setup actually loves it.

Finally, Silo season 2 details arrive — in a couple of weeks

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Silo season 2 details
"Silo " star Sarah Ferguson peers at you mysteriously in this season 2 teaser image.
Photo: Apple TV+

Release dates for new seasons of hit Apple TV+ shows like Severance and Slow Horses are in the news, and now we can add Silo to that list — maybe. The show’s stars and producers will discuss season 2 details at San Diego Comic-Con July 27, Apple TV+ said Friday. And a release date — and maybe more, like a trailer — will probably come out of that panel discussion.

$100 off: Nab early Prime Day deals on Apple Watch 9 and SE

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Great deals on Apple Watch 9 and SE
Apple Watch 9 has more features, but Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, pictured above), is a fine fitness and sleep tracker.
Photo: Apple

Mega retailer Amazon often offers early discounts on the run-up to Prime Day, July 16 and 17. So now’s a great time to bag great deals on Apple Watch Series 9 and SE. Several models are already $100 off the regular price. That may drop even further next week, but you never know.

Early Prime Day deals: Up to $90 off M2 iPad Air models

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early Prime Day deals on M2 iPad Air
M2 iPad Air is a new tablet, yet you can get almost $100 off it already.
Photo: Apple

If you can’t wait for Amazon Prime Day July 16 and 17, turns out you don’t even need to — every Prime Day, deals start leaking out early. Right now you can take up to $90 off the recently released M2 iPad Air, for example. And that’s just the biggest savings on a top model. Plenty of early Prime Day deals on M2 iPad Air models with lesser specs can be had, too. See the examples below.

iPhone 16 could get twice as fast charging

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iPhone 16 rumors
iPhone 16 rumors
Photo: Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 lineup could see a significant boost in charging speeds, potentially doubling the current fast-charging capability to 40W when using a compatible power adapter, according to a recent rumor.

While late-model iPhones are already pretty fast chargers, twice as fast is a serious improvement.

Catch a scary glimpse of Severance season 2, coming in January

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Severance season 2 trailer
This glimpse of Adam Scott carrying balloons down a Lumon Industries hallway appeared during the WWDC24 keynote.
Photo: Apple TV+

Just as we thought when Apple put out a Severance teaser Tuesday in Morse code saying nothing but “tomorrow,” word of a season 2 air date arrived Wednesday, along with a spooky teaser trailer. But our wishful thinking that the air date would come in fall 2024 was just that. It’s actually slated for January 17, 2025. And in the meantime, the short trailer below is worth a watch. It brings eerie Severance vibes.

Apple TV+ Morse code video hints at big Severance season 2 news

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Severance Morse code teaser video
The WWDC24 keynote featured an Apple TV+ reel with Severance season two footage of Adam Scott walking down a Lumon Industries hallway with balloons.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ dropped an odd Severance Morse code teaser video Tuesday that simply spells out “tomorrow,” suggesting news about the workplace thriller’s second season will arrive Wednesday. We expect an air date announcement for fall 2024, and perhaps more.

Apple offered a scant first look at the upcoming season of the hit show during the WWDC24 keynote in June. But other than that, fans of the funny and disturbing workplace thriller have had little to go on — until now (or until tomorrow, that is).

Microsoft mandates employees in China dump Android, use iPhones

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Microsoft employees in China must use iPhones
Microsoft will make its employees in China use iPhones for security purposes.
Photo: Nomad

Starting in September, Microsoft will require its employees in China to use iPhones for work-related activities, effectively banning Android devices from work use, according to a new report. And of course the irony of a new policy stating that Microsoft employees in China must use Apple devices isn’t lost on us.

Affordable new gaming headset aims high on audio, comfort

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OXS Storm G2 Wireless Gaming Headset on gamer
Whether you're gaming, taking a call or listening to tunes, this affordable headset might do the trick.
Photo: OXS

The new OXS Storm G2 Wireless Gaming Headset comes equipped with a 50mm full-range dynamic driver and 7.1 virtual surround sound technology for wired, wireless and dongle connectivity to Macs, PCs, consoles, tablets and more, OXS said Monday.

And despite aiming high on audio quality for gaming, music and calls, the new cans go low on price. You can buy them on Amazon for $59.99 (with 25% off coupon), or just $49.99 for Prime Day, July 16 and 17. The regular price is $79.99.

Want to try a mechanical keyboard? Don’t miss these deals.

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mechanical keyboard deals -- Keychron's tenkyeless Q3 follows the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Keychron's customizable, tenkyeless Q3 followed release of the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Photo: Keychron

Amazon bargain site Woot! celebrates summer with a big blowout sale on an unusual item — mechanical keyboards. The site offers up to 61% off an array of Keychron mechanical keebs, plus a couple of other can’t-miss mechanical keyboard deals.

A dozen keebs are on sale. Most items are discounted to at least half off regular prices. The sale runs through Friday, July 12, at 10 p.m. Pacific.

Play all day in comfort with AutoFull’s super-adjustable gaming chair

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AutoFull M6 Gaming Chair
This chair's porous leather even stays cool in summertime.
Photo: AutoFull

AutoFull’s new M6 Gaming Chair is a serious gaming chair. Luxe and highly adjustable, the M6 comes with three levels of temperature control to cool you down in the heat of battle, or heat you up for a long gaming session.

Your body and your winning gaming stats will thank you. And it’s not only a special chair for gaming. Any chair this good for gaming makes a great office chair for study or work, too.

Light up July 4 with up to $500 off M3 MacBook Pro models

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MacBook-Pro-M3-trio
You have your choice of big deals on MacBook Pro with M3, M3 Pro or M3 Max chips.
Photo: Apple

Want to kick off your July 4 holiday weekend with a bang? Bag a 14- or 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro for up to $500 off at Amazon or Best Buy. You’ll have it by the time the smoke clears from the fireworks. And compared to whatever machine you have now, your computing power will more-or-less explode.

This top webcam captures crisp video [Setups]

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Logitech c920s pro webcam
This Logi webcam takes high-def video so you look like a pro on calls.
Photo: Logitech

The difference between a good webcam and a mediocre one can be revealing — you either look and sound good or you look and sound like crap. So if you’d rather take the professional road to quality videoconferencing and self-made videos, a good device like the Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam in today’s M1 MacBook Air is a great way to get there.

Compact power bank keeps gadgets juiced on your jaunts [Review] ★★★

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CukTech 10 Power Bank charging iPhone 13 Pro★★★
If you're nowhere near a power outlet and your iPhone battery is about to die, CukTech 10 Power Bank can really help you out.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

When you move around a lot with your devices, a portable power source like the CukTech 10 Power Bank can be a lifesaver. Keep the 10,000mAh device charged and throw it in a bag with USB-C and USB-A cables, and you needn’t fear gadgets with dead batteries under routine circumstances (but if you throw in a major power outage, your mileage may vary).

So if you’re in the market for a portable power bank, act fast — for a limited time, you can nab the CukTech 10 for just under $30. That’s a great price on a good-enough charger.

World’s most unpopular emoji: Did your favorites make the list?

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world's most unpopular emoji
Supersize collected the 14 least popular emoji worldwide and in the United States.
Image: Superside

A whole gaggle of once-popular emoji seem to be falling out of favor among texters and others, according to a new report from creative subscription service Superside. So now you can see if your faves made the list of the world’s most unpopular emoji.

“When conducting our study, it was shocking to see some once-popular emoji among the most endangered globally,” a Superside spokesperson told Cult of Mac. “As new emoji continue to emerge, it will be quite interesting to see if these rankings might change as the years go on and trends change.”

And what happens to deeply unpopular emoji, anyway? In a word, nothing.

Apple chip orders suggest high demand for AI-boosted iPhone 16

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iPhone 16 rumors
Apple Intelligence could fuel an iPhone "supercycle" this year.
Photo: Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

Apple has increased its order of next-generation A18 chips from TSMC to between 90 million and 100 million units, according to a new report. That suggests it may anticipate increasing demand for its upcoming Apple Intelligence-boosted iPhone 16 series. An increase of roughly 10 million units over last year is nothing to sneeze at.

Ending soon: 22% off this handy camera accessory

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EasySelfie is a versatile selfie stick, tripod and camera remote.
EasySelfie is a versatile selfie stick, tripod and camera remote.
Photo: SwitchEasy

There are some photographs you just can’t get — or get well — without a selfie stick. And if that selfie stick is also a portable tripod and a camera remote, all the better, right? That’s the SwitchEasy EasySelfie. It does it all.

If you hurry, you can get it in the Cult of Mac Store for just $34.99 (22% off). However, this sale ends next Wednesday!

Apple puts iPhone X plus original AirPods and HomePod on ‘vintage’ list

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iPhone X plus original AirPods and HomePod on ‘vintage’ list - AirPods (1st generation)
The original AirPods are now on Apple's "vintage" list, along with the original HomePod and iPhone X.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple officially designated some classic products “vintage” Monday, as it put iPhone X plus original AirPods and HomePod on the “vintage” list. That’s a classification that the iPhone giant includes prior to the products becoming “obsolete” and no longer serviced.

Mechanical gaming keyboard revs up Mac mini rig [Setups]

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NZXT Function mechanical gaming keyboard
This wired mechanical gaming keyboard from NZXT is hot-swappable.
Photo: NZXT

For those unfamiliar with NZXT, it’s a company based in Los Angeles that makes high-performance gaming PCs and the gear that goes with them. Today’s M1 Mac mini setup relies on a raft of NZXT devices, including a NZXT Function keyboard. It’s a customizable mechanical keeb designed for gamers with some pretty high-level functionality.