Massachusetts-based 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.
The family of Elago Neo devices could help newbies create great content, and look and sound good on calls. Photo: Elgato
The new Elgato Neo range of devices — condenser microphone, webcam, LED key light, capture card and stream deck — simplifies video calls, content creation and video streaming for newbies, the company said Thursday. The gear also looks good doing it, with a unified white design across all five devices.
All the Neo products are compatible with iPad, making them an excellent choice for creators who use their tablets for content creation.
Users pay a small annual fee. Developers can distribute apps for free. Photo: AltStore PAL
The first third-party app marketplace, AltStore PAL, launched in the European Union on Wednesday. The App Store alternative comes from Riley Testut, the developer who got his Delta retro-game emulator into the iPhone App Store on the same day.
Apple said it's working with River Partners in northern California to restore the natural function of the flood plain on 750 acres where the Sacramento River, Feather River and Butte Creek meet. Photo: Apple
Apple said Wednesday it has tripled its use of clean energy since 2020, among other benchmarks of progress toward its goal to reach carbon neutrality across its supply chain by 2030. And on Thursday, the iPhone giant released its full 2024 Environmental Progress Report.
“Clean energy and water are foundational to healthy communities and essential building blocks for a responsible business,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.
“We’re racing toward our ambitious Apple 2030 climate goal while taking on the long-term work to transform electrical grids and restore watersheds to build a cleaner future for all.”
UPDATE: Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, on Thursday Apple released its much more detailed 2024 Environmental Progress Report, laying out its progress on environmental initiatives related to Apple 2030. For example, the iPhone giant said its greenhouse gas emissions are down 55% since 2015.
Not only do fans of the hit sci-fi show get a new season, they get "For All Mankind" spinoff "Star City." Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ renewed its hit alternative-history sci-fi show For All Mankind Wednesday for a fifth season. And, while it was at it, it threw in a whole new spinoff series! For All Mankind spinoff Star City will delve further into secrets of the Soviet space program.
In the old version of the setup, the vintage displays were far apart. Photo: [email protected]
Multi-display computer setups with asymmetrical placements — aka, screens oriented in landscape and portrait orientations — are so popular that even vintage Apple displays are getting in the action. Today’s featured rig uses a modern MacBook and vintage displays. A M1 Pro MacBook Pro from 2021 drives a Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display from many years earlier.
Emma Thompson, left, and Ruth Wilson will star in Down Cemetery Road. Photo: Apple TV+
Fans of darkly comedic spy thriller series Slow Horses rejoice! Another of Mick Herron’s acerbic novels, Down Cemetery Road, is coming to Apple TV+. The show will star Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, the streaming service said Tuesday.
“‘Down Cemetery Road’ has all the hallmarks of Mick Herron’s funny and acerbic writing, and I’m delighted we will be bringing it to life for Apple TV+ with such a stellar cast,” said Jay Hunt, creative director, Europe, Apple TV+. “Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson will make it an unmissable companion piece for ‘Slow Horses’ on our service.”
A little bigger than Bose SoundLink Flex, the new speaker may have a handle on top. Photo: Tanguay/Bose
Bose could be about to launch SoundLink Max, a bigger and brawnier version of the popular and portable SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker, according to a leak and an FCC filing.
That will put another HomePod competitor on the market, and it may be a worthy one with quality sound plus portability.
Apple Watch SE2 may be inexpensive compared to higher models, but it's plenty of smartwatch for most people. Photo: Apple
Amazon just offered 40mm Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation) for $189.00. Not far from an all-time low, that’s $60 off the regular price of $249.00. And you can get a similar Apple Watch SE 2 bargains on other versions of the wearable, too.
Rebecca Ferguson sells the sci-fi in Silo. Photo: Apple TV+
Rebecca Ferguson, star of hit sci-fi series Silo on Apple TV+, just laid out the show’s possible future in an interview. So Silo continues on Apple TV+, and perhaps not just the second season we already knew about. That’s good news for the show’s many fans wondering what’s next, after that acclaimed first season.
Not only is season 2 filming finally complete after delays. There are reasons to hope third and fourth seasons are coming, too.
Our top pick for best audio interface for Mac is Universal Audio's Apollo Twin X Quad. Photo: Universal Audio
An audio interface serves as a bridge between your Mac and external audio sources like microphones and musical instruments. The hardware is essential for great sound reproduction, whether you’re a professional producer or a beginner. So finding the best audio interface for your Mac can significantly enhance your recording and mixing experience.
In this guide, we’ll explore top audio interfaces available for Mac, including several affordable options. We’ll discuss their features, performance, compatibility and price points to help you make an informed decision.
Yellow is just one of several fun color choices. Photo: Apple
Amazon budget website Woot! is a terrific resource for great deals on used, refurbished and new Apple gear. This week you can get a choice of deals on M1 iMacs. They’re “new,” as in apparently nobody bought them in the past few years. And they’re going for low prices you won’t see many, if any, other places.
Journalist Scott Johnson investigates the "Con Queen" for The Hollywood Reporter. Photo: Apple TV+
An upcoming three-part Apple TV+ documentary series entitled Hollywood Con Queen explores the story of an international con artist impersonating some of Hollywood’s most powerful women. The streaming service provided a “first look” image, above, plus details about the miniseries Monday.
Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith created the three-part series. It’s based on investigative journalism by Scott Johnson in The Hollywood Reporter. You can watch Hollywood Con Queen on Apple TV+ starting May 8.
The new Rode Phone Cage helps turn your iPhone into a serious video-recording rig. Photo: Rode
Rode showcased a new microphone and two MagSafe mounts for iPhone at NAB 2024 in Las Vegas on Sunday that should serve mobile content creators like podcasters and streamers. They’re the new Rode Interview Pro microphone, the Phone Cage and the Magnetic Mount.
This 40-inch Dell 4K curved monitor makes a great external display. Photo: [email protected]
A Dell curved 4K monitor — especially a big 40-incher — can make an excellent external display, if today’s featured MacBook Air and MacBook Pro setup is any indication. The user put the dramatic display together with a 27-inch 4K monitor after trying two other configurations.
These are Nanoleaf first outdoor string lights. Photo: Nanoleaf
Already known for all sorts of innovative smart lighting, Nanoleaf unveiled its first outdoor string lights at CES 2024 in January. But now you can finally buy them to dress up your yard or patio in time for spring. Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights come in three lengths.
Get your game on with Logitech G's capable new mechanical keyboard. Photo: Logitech G
Serious gamers will soon have a compact and highly equipped new input device to try — the Logitech Pro X 60 Lightspeed Gaming Keyboard. The Swiss peripherals giant said this week it designed the sleek board with leading gamers.
You can start with just the smaller soundbar and slowly build up with other components. Photo: Klipsch
Wish you could find affordable componments to build up mighty home-theater sound? Two trusted names in home audio — Klipsch and Onkyo — just teamed up to give you that with the new Klipsch Flexus Sound System.
The lineup of soundbars, wireless speakers and subwoofers starts at $349.
The built-in USB-cable can charge the power bank or other devices. Plus you get a USB-C port for charging gadgets. Photo: Anker
Accessories powerhouse Anker released a new hybrid power bank and wall charger this week that covers a lot of gadget-charging needs. The 30-watt device is called Anker 3-in-1 Power Bank Fusion.
This setups has two MacBooks, but the external keyboard is a Keychron Q3 Pro custom mechanical keeb. Photo: [email protected]
Today’s featured computer setup runs on two powerful MacBooks, which of course have their own keyboards. But the user doesn’t settle for those, except maybe when he’s away. Instead, he chooses to use a mechanical external keyboard with his dual laptops and dual displays. It’s a Keychron Q3 Pro custom keyboard, and it’s a beauty.
Charge iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all in one place. Photo: ESR
Accessories brand ESR stocked a new collection of Qi2 chargers for iPhone and other devices this week on Amazon. It should help you charge at MagSafe speed levels, but ESR Qi2 wireless chargers come at lower prices than many MagSafe chargers.
If you like to upgrade with discounted machines before the next new ones, this is a good opportunity. Photo: Apple
If you want a great deal on a fantastic laptop — one of the steepest price drops we’ve ever seen — you better act fast. You have until the end of Thursday to bag a huge discount on M2 MacBook Pro. So nab this deal at B&H Photo: $550 off a $2,500 machine.
For anyone who ever suffered buyer’s remorse over paying full price rather than waiting for inevitable discounts, this is an opportunity.
This is an iPhone repair in progress. Photo: Apple
Customers and independent repair services can include used Apple parts in repairs for the first time beginning in fall 2024 with select iPhones, the company said Thursday.
This-coming fall is when a new parts calibration process will launch. And it includes an Activation Lock to prevent use of parts from lost or stolen devices.
With these you can keep track of your heart rate and temperature while exercising (or anytime). Photo: Sennheiser
Sennheiser Momentum Sport wireless earbuds that track heart rate and body temperature finally started shipping this week after their big reveal in January at CES 2024.
Heart rate and body temperature sensors were expected in AirPods Pro (2nd generation), launched in September 2022, but didn’t end up in the product (yet).
This screenshot shows the new Quartiles word game in iOS 17.5 beta. Photo: Gadget Hacks/Apple
iOS 17.5, iPadOS 17.5 and macOS 14.5 Sonoma, all currently in beta testing, feature a new word game called Quartiles, according to a new report. The game joins Apple News’ pair of daily crossword puzzles.