David Snow - page 40

Sorry, HomePod! Sonos speakers add Apple Music’s spatial audio.

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The new Sonos Era 300 features a new look and support for Apple Music's spatial audio.
The new Sonos Era 300 features a new look and support for Apple Music's spatial audio.
Photo: Sonos

Alongside the release of its new Era 300 and Era 100 speakers, Sonos said Tuesday it will “add support for spatial audio on Apple Music in what will be a significant expansion of its next-gen sound experience offerings.”

The company said customers can access spatial audio on Apple Music via the Era 300 and two older Sonos speaker systems starting in three weeks — Tuesday, March 28 (the new speakers’ shipping date).

Cool clear case keeps AirPods Max safe and looking new

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Want your AirPods Max headphones to keep looking like they did the day you bought them? Try Elago's clear case.
Want your AirPods Max headphones to keep looking like they did the day you bought them? Try Elago's clear case.
Photo: Elago

Apple’s AirPods Max are premium wireless noise-cancelling headphones, and they don’t come cheap ($549). So shouldn’t you protect those top-shelf cans like you protect your other Apple gear?

Fortunately, Elago makes a clear case that’ll keep your headphones looking new. And unlike other cases, you can keep them on the headphones all the time, even when you’re wearing them. And they’re inexpensive, too.

New multicolored Hermès Apple Watch band is $599 of unicorn vomit

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The new Hermes Casaque line of Apple Watch bands is inspired by
The new Hermes Casaque line of Apple Watch bands is inspired by "bold jerseys worn by horse jockeys."
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced a veritable rainbow of new hues for Apple Watch bands Tuesday — including the new Hermès Casaque multicolor bands inspired by “bold jerseys worn by horse jockeys,” Apple said.

The top Casaque band, a double-strapped leather number with four colors in it, costs $599. And that’s with no watch included. But at least you get a borderline-hideous Apple Watch band.

Fortunately, new spring colors are also available for several styles of reasonably priced bands like the Solo Loop and Sport Band.

Apple launches yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, plus new case colors

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iPhone 14 lineup colors: You can't miss the yellow one on the right. The others are midnight, starlight, Product (Red), blue and purple.
You can't miss the yellow one on the right. The others are midnight, starlight, Product(Red), blue and purple.
Photo: Apple

Apple rolled out yellow versions of its iPhone 14 and 14 Plus handsets Tuesday as part of a typical midcycle refresh. The new color joins midnight, starlight, Product(Red), blue and purple in the lineup. Apple made four new silicone case colors available, too.

You can preorder the new yellow iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus as of Friday. The new phones arrive in stores on March 14, Apple said. The cases are available now.

Small desk fits mini-but-mighty workstation [Setups]

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Small desk? No problem. You can still have a solid computer setup.
Small desk? No problem. You can still have a solid computer setup.
Photo: pale00@Reddit.com

Even a small desk can’t keep you from having a powerful computer setup — if you get the right gear and not too much of it. All it takes is a great laptop — like a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air — a vertical laptop stand, a not-gargantuan display and a minimal amount of other gear, as shown in today’s featured setup.

Oh, and consider a monitor arm rather than a stand. That helps keep the external screen out of the way.

Severance grabs top Writers Guild awards

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From left, Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, John Turturro and Britt Lower star in “Severance.”
From left, Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, John Turturro and Britt Lower star in Severance.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ correctly referred to its hit psycho-drama Severance as a “cultural phenomenon” Sunday when it pointed out the show nabbed Best Drama and Best New Series at the Writers Guild Awards. It’s the only show to win two major categories this year.

Maxed-out Mac Studio drives ‘dream setup’ Down Under [Setups]

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This handsomely compartmentalized setup gets its computing power from a maxed-out Mac Studio and a MacBook Pro.
This handsomely compartmentalized setup gets its computing power from a maxed-out Mac Studio and a MacBook Pro.
Photo: vincesuarez@Reddit.com

With all the computer setups showcased on social media, it takes something special to earn the description “dream setup.” Today’s featured Mac Studio Ultra and M2 Max MacBook Pro setup, which hails from Australia, could be a contender.

Why? Well, when you combine two of Apple’s newest and most powerful computers with a Studio Display and put them in a beautifully laid out workstation with great cable management and premium audio, you’ve got a real ripsnorter (to put it like an Aussie might).

Wannabe pro wrestlers go mano a mano in Monster Factory documentary trailer

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There's a school for aspiring pro wrestlers that teaches you everything from building the stage to mugging for the cameras? Who knew.
There's a school for aspiring pro wrestlers that teaches you everything from building the stage to mugging for the cameras? Who knew.
Photo: Apple TV+

You might love pro wrestling and find documentary films tiresome — or vice versa. Either way, the new trailer for the upcoming Monster Factory documentary series on Apple TV+ may be for you. It tells the stories of those yearning to get into the ring.

Just the fact that a school trains aspiring pro wrestlers on every aspect of getting into the business is interesting. And so are some of the contenders trying to change their lives.

New Apple TV+ trailer showcases Real Madrid soccer club’s epic season

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The new three-part documentary debuts March on Apple TV+.
The new three-part documentary debuts March on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ kicked off an upcoming documentary series — Real Madrid: Until the End — with a trailer Wednesday. In it, soccer icon David Beckham raves about the famous Spanish soccer club’s remarkable 2021-2022 season. It was loaded with drama and plenty of come-from-behind victories on the way to the club taking the Champions League title.

The three-part documentary series premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, March 10.

3 loaded iMacs and a PC pump up 8-display workstation [Setups]

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Three of the displays are iMacs and five are Dell 4K monitors.
Three of the displays are iMacs and five are Dell 4K monitors.
Photo: Hoa Mai

In Monday’s featured computer setup we showcased four tall displays and mentioned we sometimes see six-display setups. But how about eight displays in one setup? That’s today’s outfit.

Hoa Mai, who works in post production on documentary films in Los Angeles, sent Cult of Mac his massive setup. It features three iMacs, a PC and five Dell 4K monitors. Talk about Mission Control.

Want to never lose your keys again? Here’s how.

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With an AirTag keychain, Find My will keep those keys from getting away from you.
With an AirTag keychain, Find My will keep those keys from getting away from you.
Photo: Mujjo

If you’re tired of misplacing or flat-out losing your keys, take heart. Accessories maker Mujjo introduced its new, luxe-leather Canopy AirTag Keychain on Tuesday.

It includes a little magnet to help keep the AirTag tracking device in place inside the pocket. And while it’s just another one of many AirTag keychains out there, it looks like a nice option.

Google tweaks Chrome to reduce MacBook battery drain

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The Chrome browser may soon become a more efficient MacBook battery user.
The Chrome browser may soon become a more efficient MacBook battery user.
Photo: Google/Apple

Google said Tuesday it’s making several changes to the Chrome browser to make it less of a MacBook battery hog. Modifications include adjusting timers to wake the CPU less often, tuning memory compression and further optimizing Energy Saver mode.

The company’s tests using a 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro suggest the tweaks may help folks browse for 17 hours or watch YouTube for 18 hours on a single charge.

Your new wardrobe hero: Stunning braided-metal Apple Watch band

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This is one elegant Apple Watch band.
This is one elegant Apple Watch band.
Photo: Goldenerre

“Meet your new wardrobe hero!” Goldenerre enthused about its drop-dead gorgeous Herringbone Braided Apple Watch band. It comes in gold, rose gold or silver stainless steel. It’s another Goldenerre piece that makes a statement. It could be yours for less than $150.

And you can find your new wardrobe hero in the Cult of Mac Store. Whether you’re going to dinner around the corner or at The White House, this thing fits in.

Last chance to save 15% on tough case for Apple Watch Ultra

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Apple Watch Ultra may be tough, but this bumper case makes it even more rugged.
Apple Watch Ultra may be tough, but this bumper case makes it even more rugged.
Photo: Elkson

Everyone knows Apple Watch Ultra is made for the rough stuff — endurance sports, scuba diving, summiting high peaks and the like. However, rugged though it may be, it’s just a smartwatch. It’s not bulletproof. So why not toughen it up with the protective-but-sleek Elkson Quattro Pro 2.0 bumper case?

Better yet, you can get 15% off the case through the end of February in the Cult of Mac Store. Then, the next time you put your Ultra through its paces, you’ll enjoy some extra peace of mind.

Even Roy Kent warms up in Ted Lasso trailer’s love-fest

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Brett Goldstein in “Ted Lasso” season two, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Roy Kent (played by Brett Goldstein) turns over a new leaf in the Ted Lasso season three trailer.
Photo: Apple TV+

The season 3 trailer for hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso is a total love-fest. Not a lot happens in it. But everyone’s so happy the show is back — if only for one final, fleeting season of humor and hope — that it doesn’t much matter, does it?

Just watch the trailer, which Apple released Monday, and be positive!

US cybersecurity chief thinks Microsoft and Twitter can learn from Apple

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A cybersecurity honcho singled out iCloud for praise in a speech Monday.
A cybersecurity honcho singled out iCloud for praise in a speech Monday.
Photo: Apple

A high-level US cybersecurity official pointed to Apple as an example of a company with good accountability and transparency in its security practices. And she added others — like tech giants Microsoft and Twitter — might learn a thing or two from it.

“Apple is taking ownership for the security outcomes of their users,” said Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly in a speech Monday at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania.

Elephas app uses AI to take the time and tedium out of writing

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Powered by artificial intelligence, the cross-platform Elephas writing app works seamlessly with apps you already use.
Powered by artificial intelligence, the cross-platform Elephas writing app works seamlessly with apps you already use.
Image: Elephas

People in almost any business must write from time to time, whether they like it or not. But whatever the project — like a marketer’s blog post, a business leader’s executive summary or a developer’s technical use case — there’s a tool out there that makes writing easy and effective.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Elephas.
It’s the Elephas app, which runs on Macs, iPads and iPhones. It’s powered by artificial intelligence, and it works seamlessly with all the apps you already use. Sound like a useful tool? You can try Elephas for free, and get 20% off when you sign up for an annual plan.

High-end MacBook Pro sits in a forest of tall 5K displays [Setups]

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This setup's not exactly lacking for upscale 5K screen real estate, is it?
This setup's not exactly lacking for upscale 5K screen real estate, is it?
Photo: Overtime@Reddit.com

At Cult of Mac, we’re no strangers to looking at computer setups loaded with displays — even as many as six. But we’re less used to seeing certain orientations, like in today’s featured M1 MacBook Pro and custom PC setup.

The workstation seems to reach for the ceiling with four 5K displays. Two stack horizontally in landscape mode and two stand tall, shoulder-to-shoulder in portrait mode.

Beats Fit Pro earbuds in bright new colors already $30 off

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Coral pink, never subtle, is one of the discounted colors.
Coral pink, never subtle, is one of the discounted colors.
Photo: Beats

Cult of Mac reported Tuesday that Beats Fit Pro would come out in three bright new colors. And as of Friday, two of those three new cheerful hues showed up on Amazon at $30 off. That was fast.

The somewhat dark tidal blue is sticking at the normal price of $199.95, but volt yellow and coral pink — the colors that will really get you noticed — are now just $169.83.

Steve Jobs Archive shares blast from the past on his birthday

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The Steve Jobs Archive shared this photograph from 1984, when he was 28, spotting a Mac user on a New Orleans street.
The Steve Jobs Archive shared this photograph from 1984, when he was 28, spotting a Mac user on a New Orleans street.
Photo: Steve Jobs Archive

On what would have been Steve Jobs’ 68th birthday, the Steve Jobs Archive shared a favorite photo from 1984 — along with the promise of more content to come.

“We have so much to tell you about, but I want to start by sharing one of my favorite images from our collection,” wrote Leslie Berlin, the archive’s co-founder and executive director, in an email newsletter. “It’s Steve in 1984, spotting a new Macintosh in the wild.”

Here’s how you gut a whole office and start over [Setups]

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De Jong gave his computer setup -- and his whole office -- a makeover.
De Jong gave his computer setup -- and his whole office -- a makeover.
Photo: Michael De Jong

How refreshing it must be to make over your computer setup and, while you’re at it, gut and refresh your whole home office. That’s what Michael De Jong did recently. And he shared his transition with Cult of Mac.

First, he tinkered with the setup, going with dual displays and adding a soundbar and a slick gaming chair. Later he gutted the whole office and added a whole raft of upgrades. Take a look at his photos and gear, new and old, below.

Affordable new Sony headphones borrow premium cans’ tech

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The new noise-cancelling cans share the same processor with Sony's high-end headphones, but not their price.
The new noise-cancelling cans share the same processor with Sony's high-end headphones, but not their price.
Photo: Sony Electronics

Not into paying what Apple’s top-shelf noise-cancelling AirPods Max headphones cost? You have options. In fact, Sony Electronics rolled out two new mid-tier headphones Tuesday at modest price points — the over-ear WH-CH72ON and the smaller, on-ear WH-CH520.

The higher-end WH-CH72ON set, at $150, costs well under half the price of the brand’s acclaimed WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling cans, but uses the same V1 chip. And the lower-end WH-CH520 headphones, at $60, are just downright affordable.

Shake hands with the world’s creepiest Apple Watch charging stand

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As far as we know, it doesn't run around on its fingertips. But it does charge your Apple Watch.
As far as we know, it doesn't run around on its fingertips. But it does charge your Apple Watch.
Photo: Design_factory@Ultimaker

Got access to a 3D printer? You can make your own Apple Watch charging stand in the form of “Thing,” the disembodied hand from the Netflix series Wednesday and its Addams Family predecessors, all the way back to the original magazine cartoons.

It might scare some people, but ghoulish types are going to want to make his thing pronto.

Choose from a dozen slick iPad cases at 20% off

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SwitchEasy's Origami Protective Case really shines as an iPad stand.
SwitchEasy's Origami Protective Case really shines as an iPad stand.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If you’ve got one of Apple’s wonderful iPads, you need a case to keep it safe. And the cool thing about iPad cases and folios is that they often serve as both protective cases as well as stands. Some even store your Apple Pencil.

And right now you can take 20% off every SwitchEasy iPad case in the Cult of Mac Store. That gives you a choice of 12 different products and a savings of up to $10 each. The sale goes through Thursday, March 2.

Inside the secret mission to add glucose monitor to Apple Watch

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In a possible groundbreaking new product, Apple Watch could monitor blood glucose with the help of device strapped to the bicep.
In a possible groundbreaking new product, Apple Watch could monitor blood glucose with the help of device strapped to the bicep.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch is well-known as a health tracker, but a new report said a secret project dating back to Steve Jobs’ era — to use the wearable to monitor glucose without pricking the skin to get blood — has made headway recently. And that has major implications.

The secret effort, known as E5, could involve a device that straps to the bicep and works with the watch. If it comes to market, it could disrupt industries and help millions of diabetics.