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.
A late-October Apple event is expected to bring out a collection of new Macs. Image: Apple
With Apple’s invitations sent, it’s official, a second Apple product-release event of autumn takes place the evening before Halloween — Monday, October 30 at 5 p.m. PT. Most folks expect some new Macs to shamble forth.
Robert De Niro, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio bring plenty of star power to Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Photo: Apple TV+
Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon saw both critical acclaim and solid box-office proceeds the opening weekend of it theatrical run ahead of its release on Apple TV+.
In terms of dollars, it placed second among movies in theaters now and third among films in Scorsese’s long directing career.
SwitchEasy's MagEasy lineup of iPhone cases is on sale. Photo: SwitchEasy
If you have an iPhone, you should probably protect that expensive gadget from drops and scrapes with a case. And it’ll change up your handset’s look, too. Good thing SwitchEasy is having a big sale on its MagEasy lineup — one case for 20% off and an additional 15% off when you buy two cases.
The Matter 2.1 update adds support for 9 new kinds of appliances and more. Photo: Connectivity Standards Alliance
The Matter connectivity standard helps different devices and smart-home platforms like Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa work together. And with an update Monday, it added nine home-appliance types and got other improvements, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) behind it said.
Matter specification 2.1 adds support for refrigerators, dishwashers, laundry washers, robot vacuums, air-quality sensors, air purifiers, fans, stand-alone room air conditioners, and smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms.
Start with a new 16-inch M2 MacBook Pro, a CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 dock and a huge Samsung display, and go from there. Photo: [email protected]
Perhaps you’ve heard an expression often used in sports commentary — “so-and-so is running a clinic on this,” meaning showing anyone and everyone how it’s done.
Today’s featured computer setup comes from an Apple administrator who clearly knows how it’s done, if “it” is setting up a rock-solid and highly functional workstation.
If you’re in the market for a MacBook Pro, a bunch of deals currently at B&H Photo are too good to pass up — like $1,900 off a 2021 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro. And other laptop deals range from a couple hundred bucks off to more than a thousand bucks off regular prices.
Remember when those MacBook models seemed beyond your financial reach? Well, all you had to do is wait a couple years. See below, and we threw in some newer M2 models, too.
This setup features an M2 MacBook Pro, but it still uses a 2015 Retina model, too. Photo: [email protected]
Who says an 8-year-old MacBook Pro is too old? Today’s featured setup relies on a new M2 MacBook Pro for most of the real work, but a 2015 Retina model still contributes regularly.
“Used it for school but recently graduated in May, only use for it now is YouTube/visuals until it dies,” graphic designer and Redditor izzyontheweb said. “Could you believe it’s a 2015 model and still works amazing?”
The new AirBox Go weighs less than most iPads, fits in almost any bag and charges three Apple devices at once. Photo: Momax
Ever find your Apple devices running on empty while you’re on the go? That’s when you need a power bank or battery pack small enough to fit easily in your bag, so you can charge up devices without a power outlet.
The Momax AirBox Go is a 3-in-1 charging station that will keep your gadgets going wherever you are. This unique Apple accessory is on sale, cutting the price drastically.
Maintain natural eye contact while your read from a script with Elgato Prompter. Photo: Elgato
Video streamers with a lot to say know that working without a script can be challenging, and most teleprompters TV hosts use to read while maintaining eye contact are pricey. But the new Elgato Prompter brings the technology to the masses for $280, the company said Tuesday.
So you can look like a pro on your YouTube video or Zoom call. And Promter’s screen serves as an extra monitor for Mac or PC, too.
More evidence points to fast-charging having little detrimental effect on iPhone battery health. Photo: SwitchEasy
Users have long suspected fast-charging hastens iPhone battery drain more than low-power charging, but a new experiment supports Apple’s claim that it doesn’t. At least, not much.
The magnetically attached polycarbonate cases come in five colors. You can also get black or silver aluminum. Photo: Drop
Drop rolled out its new CSTM80 line of customizable mechanical keyboards starting with a tenkeyless model, the company said Tuesday.
“CSTM” in the name hints at how much you can modify them — in addition to easily swapping out keycaps and switches, you can change the magnetically attached case for a different look.
That desktop wallpaper is distracting, to say the least. Photo: [email protected]
A problem users face with home computer setups is how to separate work from personal use. Today’s setup brings work and personal laptops to the mix — both M1 Max MacBook Pros, coincidentally — along with three displays, including a massive OLED smart TV.
And as is often the case on social media, solid advice sounded loud and clear above the noise.
Never heard of pickleball? Don't worry, Apple has tips for you. Photo: Apple
As the nascent sport of pickleball becomes more popular worldwide, new Apple research shows both it and its older sibling, tennis, pack big health benefits.
The Apple Heart and Movement Study tracked Apple Watch data from thousands of users to get the results.
You can slip one of these right in your pocket. They're not much thicker than your iPhone. Photo: Nomad
Sure, gallium nitride (GaN) technology keeps making powerful device chargers smaller, but Apple accessories maker Nomad looks to be pushing the envelope further with its remarkably slim new USB-C adapters.
The 35W and 65W chargers could be perfect for grabbing some juice for devices like iPhone 15 and MacBook Air while you’re out and about.
You're on camera via thermostat screen, complete with vertical field of view and smart sensing. Photo: Ecobee
The new Smart Doorbell Camera that Ecobee rolled out Tuesday offers an “industry leading” vertical field of view and a “first of its kind” live video stream beamed to a thermostat screen, the company said.
For any smart home powered by HomeKit or Amazon Alexa, the camera offer clear vision day or night, radar-sensing tech for accurate detection and a battery-free enclosure that allows reliable usage in extreme temperatures, Ecobee said.
The affordable Momax Tracker Tag uses the Find My network to help keep track of your belongings. Photo: Momax
If you have a knack for losing items like car keys and handbags — or if you’re often targeted by thieves — you need a location-tracking device. And it doesn’t have to be Apple’s AirTag. That’s because you can get something very similar for less with the Momax Tracker Tag.
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This post is brought to you by Momax.
The Momax Tracker Tag works with Apple’s brilliant Find My network, but costs much less than an AirTag. And you can get an extra-good deal on Momax’s tracking tag right now.
"Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas" debuts November 22. Photo: Apple TV+
English actress Hannah Waddingham won an Emmy Award playing AFC Richmond soccer club owner Rebecca Welton on Apple TV+ hit comedy Ted Lasso. But now she’s changing into a glittery gold dress and leading a holiday music special, the streamer said Tuesday, dropping a fabulous photo.
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas debuts November 22 on Apple TV+.
Just a few years ago I worked on a laptop on whatever messy desk I found. Now I have dual-monitor M1 MacBook Pro setup with a standing desk and a proper office chair. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
I moved to a new home over the weekend, and in it I’ve already built a new workstation. What better time to revamp things? Actually, it’s more like another stage in my computer setup’s herky-jerky evolution.
I went from just a PC laptop a few years ago to various iterations of a MacBook Pro workstation to my new rig, featuring dual monitors, a standing desk and a proper office chair for the first time in ages.
With LivePod, you'll never have to open Apple Music to know what song is coming. Photo: LivePod
Wish you didn’t have to open the Apple Music app to see what song will play next? The new iOS app LivePod turns your Apple Music Up Next queue into a Live Activity on your Lock Screen. And with newer iPhones, it shows up in the Dynamic Island.
You can get M2 models for $100 off and some M2 Pro models like this one for $150 off. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
With Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Behind Us — with no sign of a discounted Mac mini that we noticed — here’s your chance to bag deals on M2 Mac mini from B&H.
They include the entry-level model of the small-but-mighty desktop machine for a hundred bucks off, at just $499. And some models are marked down $150.
You really don't need a bunch of chargers when one will do. Photo: Momax
Gone are the days when you needed a separate charger for pretty much every device. These days, with gallium nitride, aka GaN, technology allowing for small-but-powerful chargers, you can handle most of your charging needs with just one device.
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This post is brought to you by Momax.
And that’s especially true if that one device is the Momax 100W GaN 4-Port Charging Station. Potent, compact and portable, it’s perfect for powering up to four gadgets at once, whether at home, in the office or on the road.
This M2 MacBook Air and Studio Display setup is well-equipped for such a clean and simple-looking rig. Photo: [email protected]
Some computer setups look “clean” and “minimal” because they’re, well, empty. Under-equipped. Not all there. But today’s featured M2 MacBook Air setup with Studio Display actually brings enough gear, it just does so in a beautifully clean way that has the rest of us slobs drooling with envy.
Hell, our setup is practically a waste dump half the time, compared to this thing.
That space rock holds massive mineral wealth, and everyone wants it. Photo: Apple
It’s 2003, and the United States leads the way on Mars in its Happy Valley Base, having turned its international space-race competitors into allies. But when an asteroid presents an almost-unimaginably rich mining opportunity, it’s back to pitched competition, as seen in the For All Mankind season four trailer Apple TV+ dropped Thursday.
The alternative-history sci-fi series started with an interesting premise — what if the United States lost the moon race in 1969 to the Soviets? — and has run with it into a fourth season, which debuts November 10 on Apple TV+.
Journey's new Nexa is a sleeve for MacBook, ,sure, but it also charges gadgets and works as a desk mat and mouse pad. Photo: Journey
Citing a workforce that has become more mobile than ever before, Journey unveiled its newjourney laptop sleeve that also works as a wireless charger, mouse pad, and desk mat for a mobile setup, the company said Thursday.
“The Nexa is a laptop accessory that actually does the job of four accessories – a sleeve, charger, mousepad, and desk mat,” Journey said. ““Laptop users with a NEXA in hand can enjoy better mobility when they come and go between different workspaces each day.”