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.
Chipolo Loop tracker with Find My gets a rechargeable battery and double the Bluetooth range. Photo: Chipolo
Two new Bluetooth trackers offer big improvements over the company’s previous models while maintaining compatibility with Apple’s Find My network, Chipolo said Wednesday. The Loop and Card trackers, both priced at $39, add rechargeable batteries and double their previous Blueooth range to 400 feet.
Apple Watch Series 11 might bring a rush of new features. Or maybe not. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
With the launch of Apple Watch Series 11 likely just weeks away, rumors about what to expect remain surprisingly rare. Still, we know a fair amount about what’s coming, based on watchOS 26 and Apple’s usual moves. Additionally, some rumored Apple Watch Ultra 3 features might arrive on the regular model, too.
So, will Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 bring only minor upgrades, as in the last few years? Or will 2025 be the year Apple recaptures the buzz surrounding its smartwatch, adding exciting new features?
Here’s what we know about Apple Watch Series 11 so far.
The Apple Music migration tool makes it easy to transfer music from services like Spotify to Apple Music. Photo: Apple/Spotify/Rajesh Pandey
Apple significantly expanded availability of its Apple Music migration tool, bringing the service to the United States and eight other major markets this week after months of limited testing. It helps users transfer their music libraries from competing streaming services like Spotify.
The xMEMS Sycamore microspeakers sit in the stems of AR glasses near the ear. Image: xMEMS Labs
As rumors continue to swirl about Apple’s potential entry into the smart glasses market, xMEMS Labs plans to unveil innovations that could address some of the biggest challenges facing next-generation wearable devices, the company said Tuesday. At September events it will roll out new xMEMS Labs smart glasses prototypes featuring ultra-thin speakers and active cooling technology that promise to make AI-powered eyewear more comfortable and practical for everyday use.
Disk Drill 6 gives you advanced camera recovery. Photo: CleverFiles
CleverFiles just launched Disk Drill 6, a major update to its popular data recovery Mac software. (It works on Windows, too.) Among other things, it can now recover deeply fragmented videos. Plus, it boasts significant performance improvements.
The new version, which can recover footage from almost any camera, addresses some of the most challenging data recovery scenarios while delivering up to 25% faster scan speeds and improved success rates.
“We’ve re-engineered Disk Drill 6 to solve some of the toughest recovery cases our users face,” said Roman Kropachek, co-founder and CEO of CleverFiles. “From fragmented video footage to encrypted or lost partitions, Disk Drill 6 brings professional-grade recovery technology to every desk.”
Invasion season three debuts August 22 on Apple TV+. Watch the new trailer. Photo: Apple TV+
Ready to face the end of the world as we know it? The new 10-episode season of Apple TV+’s epic alien onslaught series Invasion streams its first episode Friday. A new one follows each Friday through October 24.
And you can watch the recently released Invasion season three trailer below. It shows the evolving face of the alien menace. And it looks like the horrific inroads the extraterrestrials made in seasons one and two of Invasion, seemingly slowed by a determined but disconnected human effort, might be just a preview of much worse to come.
★★★★☆
The headphones and cable bring some serious quality. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
While Røde built its reputation on microphones, the Australian company’s first on-ear wired headphones deliver surprising audio quality for everything from studio monitoring to casual listening. This Røde NTH-50 headphones review finds the $99 wired cans challenge what we expect from professional headphones at this price point.
Is Røde’s entrance into the headphone market worth your attention? Let’s find out if these newcomers deserve a spot in your audio setup.
Apple’s workhorse professional laptop is a great get for anyone when it goes on sale. And with the M5 models reportedly delayed until 2026, now’s the time to upgrade. If you want a model with a bigger screen and/or beefed-up specs, you can browse a bunch of great MacBook Pro deals in the sale links below, many with nice new price cuts.
Apple's latest base-model MacBook Pro features an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. It also boasts a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD storage and silver or space black colors.
Pros:
Great performance and "built for Apple Intelligence"
Apple's new synthetic fabric iPhone cases will take the name "TechWoven," apparently. Photo: Majin Bu
Apple will replace its much-maligned (and quickly abandoned) FineWoven material for iPhone cases with a new synthetic fabric for the iPhone 17 lineup, according to a new leak Tuesday. And on Wednesday a new name — “TechWoven” — and images of Apple packaging came to light. The new MagSafe cases might feature a cross-body strap and lanyard support, too
The new material appears to be Apple’s next attempt to create a leather alternative for iPhone cases, following the company’s 2023 decision to eliminate leather products from its lineup for environmental reasons. The resulting FineWoven came under heavy fire from users for poor durability and its tendency to show wear quickly.
The leaker Majin Bu followed up on his Tuesday post with a post Wednesday indicating the name “TechWoven” and showing images of Apple product boxes for the MagSafe cases.. See below.
The good-looking and symmetrical setup features a pair of Asus displays nicely mounted on arms. Photo: [email protected]
Some people take an orthodox view of external computer displays and opt for just one with proper windows management. For the rest of us, the best dual-monitor setup we can afford is the best way to go for plenty of screen real estate without going overboard. Check out some of the greatest two-display rigs from setups coverage over the past few years below.
iPhone 16e's successor could feature Dynamic Island in place of a notch. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple’s budget iPhone might get a significant visual overhaul in 2026, with the iPhone 17e ditching the notch in favor of the Dynamic Island, according to a new leak.
That would finally bring the modern Dynamic Island experience, which debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro, to price-conscious consumers. However, the leaker didn’t clarify whether we can count on Apple adding MagSafe to the new budget phone, a key feature left out of the iPhone 16e.
The DoCast app makes it easy to mirror your iPhone or iPad to Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV and more. Photo: Electronic Team
If you want to mirror iPhone to TV, Apple’s built-in AirPlay is a great option. But what if your TV doesn’t support AirPlay?
Enter the DoCast screen mirroring app for iOS, a comprehensive screen mirroring app that supports Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV and DLNA-enabled TVs. It bridges the gap between your iPhone or iPad to stream high-quality video, music or pictures to almost any smart TV.
We know a lot about the likely iPhone 17 Air features. Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
Apple will shake up its iPhone lineup this September with the introduction of the iPhone 17 Air, a dramatically thinner device that could replace the Plus model entirely. Based on numerous reports and leaks we’ve included in this iPhone 17 Air rumor roundup, this new phone promises to be Apple’s most significant design departure in years.
The Omni's innovative, flexible backrest provides support for natural motions.
Photo: LiberNovo
With only seven days remaining, the LiberNovo Omni Kickstarter campaign is closing in on the finish line, and it’s already a record-breaker.
With over 8,000 supporters pledging more than $7 million, the Omni has become the highest-funded ergonomic chair in Kickstarter history.
The campaign officially ends August 23, 2025, at 8:51 am Pacific. When it does, the up to 31% early-bird discount will disappear, along with free U.S. shipping, no customs fees and stretch goal rewards. Heard enough? Reserve yours now on Kickstarter.
For Mac users who spend hours perfecting videos in Final Cut Pro, coding the next breakthrough app or designing stunning interfaces, the right workspace setup is everything. But while you’ve invested in the best displays, keyboards and other ergonomic gear, you may overlook one crucial element: a highly adaptable massage office chair that supports you through those marathon creative sessions. And from what we’ve seen, that chair should be the new LiberNovo Omni with its innovative Bionic Flexfit Backrest, available now at a discount on Kickstarter.
Its advanced features work together to keep you comfortable and relaxed through long days of computer work.
Here are some of the greatest multi-display setup workstations out there, plus some of the gear they rely on. Photo: [email protected]
A big trend in recent years in Cult of Mac‘s setups coverage has been ever-increasing displays — either bigger ones, more of them or both. Sometimes it seems like an arms race to create the most NASA-Mission-Control wall of screens ever. But sometimes it’s not about size, but variety and convenience, including portable monitors and device screens. Take a look at our best-multi-monitor-setup workstations below, along with top displays and other gear that makes them tick.
Catch the new “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical" starting Friday, August 15, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Streaming Friday (or really Thursday night, per typical Apple TV+ practice), Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical — the first Peanuts musical in more than three decades — sees Charlie Brown and the gang trying to save their beloved summer camp from going bust. And the music part is no joke here, featuring songs from singer-songwriter Ben Folds and other award-winning composers. Watch the recent trailer below.
Reviews so far seem quite positive. The New York Times talked about the show’s “new direction,” depicting Charlie Brown’s triumph while celebrating Charles M. Schulz’s legacy 25 years after his death and 75 years after the birth of his iconic comic strip. Nerds that Geek calls the musical numbers “a real treat.” The San Francisco Chronicle said it “charms with heart and songs” and “hits the right notes.”
Control the lamp naturally, using gestures in the air. Photo: Apple
Apple plans an ambitious return to artificial intelligence hardware with a slate of new devices, headlined by a tabletop robot designed to serve as an interactive AI companion, according to a new report. Cult of Mac reported on the “Pixar Lamp” robot and its physical motions before, but new information indicates a new version of Siri could make it surprisingly human-like in its interactions with people.
New Apple home security devices like a face-recognizing doorbell cam would complete with other HomeKit-friendly products from comanies like Aqara. Photo:
As Apple seeks to establish a stronger foothold in the connected-home market, it works on an ambitious lineup of home security devices that include smart cameras and a facial-recognition doorbell that can unlock doors, according to new report Wednesday.
Beats Solo 4 come in four colors, including slate blue. Photo: Beats
One of the better pairs of on-ear headphones you can get is now half off at Amazon — Beats Solo 4. The current $99.95 price doesn’t beat what I paid during Prime Day in July, but my miracle deal was only $2 cheaper! And I have zero regrets.
Seriously, these little cans for less than $100 makes for a great deal anytime.
In each case so far, only the first season of each show is available. Photo: United Airlines
United Airlines passengers can now watch popular Apple TV+ originals including Severance, Ted Lasso and Slow Horses for free during flights, the airline said Tuesday. The partnership brings full seasons of award-winning Apple TV+ content to United’s 130,000-plus seatback screens and mobile app.
The new UltraLoq NFC smart deadbolt lock offers native support for Apple Home Key. Photo: UltraLoq
Smart lock manufacturer UltraLoq released its first deadbolt compatible with Apple home key last week, offering iPhone and Apple Watch users a seamless way to unlock their doors with a simple tap. You can buy the UltraLoq Bolt NFC smart deadbolt lock for $199.99 with discounts.
“Our product strategy is rooted in delivering both convenience and security,” said Raj Sundar, Senior Product Director at Xthings, UltraLoq’s parent company. “With Bolt NFC – Works With Apple home key, we’re not just launching our first lock with Apple home key support, we’re answering the call from Apple Home users who expect a fast, secure, and truly native unlocking experience.”
Jason Momoa co-created, wrote, executive produces and stars in Chief of War. Photo: Apple TV+
While historical dramas often recycle familiar European or American narratives, Apple TV+’s Chief of War breaks cool new ground by exploring less-charted territory. The ambitious production transports viewers to 19th-century Hawaii, offering an authentic indigenous perspective on a pivotal period rarely depicted in mainstream media.
It’s bloody and brilliant. And you end up seeing Jason Momoa’s nearly bare backside so often that you just become numb to it.
Kidding aside, it only takes the first three episodes now available to stream as of Friday to see that Chief of War isn’t just another historical drama. It’s more of a cultural phenomenon that challenges conventional storytelling while delivering the great-looking cinematic work Apple TV+ subscribers have come to expect. The series masterfully weaves together political intrigue, cultural authenticity and human drama in ways that should captivate history buffs, cultural diversity seekers, bloodthirsty battle lovers and pretty much anyone hungry for some fresh storytelling.
If the iPad Air as an external display for the Mac mini seems odd, get a load of that split keyboard with a Magic Trackpad in the middle. Photo: [email protected]
Some computer setups on social media are like highly functional art, beautifully curated and seemingly permanent, like museum pieces. Others are just weird, wonderful and fleeting. Today’s example is more the latter case, featuring a “spec’d out” M4 Mac mini used with an iPad Air and a tiny touch screen as external displays, plus a Magic Trackpad and a crazy split keyboard.
People questioned the lack of a MacBook, but other commenters rose up in defense of the oddball setup.
Four exclusive games come to Apple Arcade August 7. Photo: Apple
Everybody’s favorite gaming service, Apple Arcade, expanded its library Thursday as four new exclusive games joined. We knew they were coming — and now you can play them. That brings the subscription service’s catalog to over 200 ad-free games, Apple said.
Here are the latest additions: Play-Doh World, a creative digital playground; Worms Across Worlds, the newest entry in the beloved strategy series; Let’s Go Mightycat!, a whimsical puzzle adventure; and Everybody Shogi, a colorful take on the traditional Japanese board game.
As soon as iPhone 18 in 2026, Apple's handsets could pack 200MP Samsung sensors. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
A major shift in Apple’s iPhone camera technology could come soon, as it partners with Samsung to manufacture advanced image sensors at a Texas facility for the first time, according to new reports. They stem from Wednesday’s big news from the White House about the iPhone giant’s new US manufacturing program.
“By bringing this technology to the US first, this facility will supply chips that optimize power and performance of Apple products, including iPhone devices shipped all over the world,” Apple said.
Previously, Apple worked exclusively with Sony on iPhone camera sensors, including its recent 48MP sensors. Now, it may use more advanced 200MP Samsung sensors — perhaps as soon as iPhone 18 drops in 2026.