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David Snow - page 66

Emergency SOS via Satellite saves family from Maui wildfires

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iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite comes to the rescue again.
Photo: Apple

iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite got credit for saving lives Wednesday when it was the only way a family trapped in a van amid raging wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii, could call for help.

The service has brought aid to plenty of people in need so far in its short life, since launch in 2022. This emergency seemed even more fraught than many, as you can see from the frantic texts shown in a post on X below.

Download pretty wallpaper inspired by … cable management?!?

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The new
The new "Flow" got inspiration from cable management, of all places.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy

Mac maven and designer Basic Apple Guy pumps out intriguing desktop wallpaper you can put on your Apple devices like Mac, iPad and iPhone.

But the latest one, “Flow,” which he put out Wednesday, came from a truly surprising place — his obsession with cable management in his home office and computer setup.

Ingenious ErgoFlip mouse works for righties and lefties [Review] ★★★

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The bulkier Targus ErgoFlip mouse looks like it could take the slender Logitech Anywhere mouse in a fight.★★★
The bulkier Targus ErgoFlip mouse looks like it could take the slender Logitech Anywhere mouse in a fight.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever suffered hand or wrist discomfort from long sessions at the computer, you probably wished you could switch mousing hands, or maybe use a trackball device. Now Targus has addressed that very issue in ingenious fashion with its new ErgoFlip wireless mouse.

With a magnetic top and a stationary base, the mouse lets you “flip” it anytime you want, using a comfortable, ergonomic grip with either hand, with no need to adjust for right- and left-clicking.

New Miops Spark turns iPhone into DSLR camera

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Miops Spark is a handheld device that gives your iPhone DSLR-like controls.
Miops Spark is a handheld device that gives your iPhone DSLR-like controls.
Photo: Miops

Camera products maker Miops unveiled a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday for Spark, a new camera companion designed to help iPhone users capture photos and video like professionals.

The handheld attachment provides DSLR-camera-like buttons that help you control your iPhone’s cameras.

Razer marks International Cat Day with new Kraken Kitty headsets

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If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
Photo: Razer

Gaming brand Razer birthed a new litter of Kraken Kitty headsets Tuesday in recognition of International Cat Day, “so gamers, streamers, and cosplayers alike can celebrate in style.”

It said its original Kraken Kitty headset is one its most popular models.

“When we first released the Kraken Kitty, it really scratched an itch in the market, as there was nothing like it before.” said Alvin Cheung, senior vice president, Hardware Business Unit.

Why the dream of Apple buying Disney won’t die

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Disney+ logo
The idea that Apple could buy Disney keeps coming up.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company

As legacy studios like Disney face formidable problems, a new report suggests CEO Bob Iger might revisit a “once-unthinkable option” — that Apple might buy the company, or at least a stripped-down version of it.

After all, in a near-future of even greater tech-company dominance over entertainment, Disney may need deep-pocketed protection. And its longstanding connection with Apple could come into play.

Save big on the mouse most Mac owners prefer and other Logitech gear

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Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Photo: Logitech

With summer on the wane and the new school year looming, peripherals giant Logitech — a mainstay in our computer setups coverage, especially for the MX Master 3S mouse and MX series keyboards — is running a site-wide sale through August 16.

Logitech’s back-to-school sale is “filled with cutting-edge technology and exclusive deals to help you embark on your academic journey with confidence and success,” the company said.

Obviously, you don’t need to be a student to get the deals. Anybody can do it. See below.

Mac Studio drives wild 4-monitor formation with Bat-Signal [Setups]

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The Bat-Signal is displayed on a giant screen atop three other monitors in a Batman-themed computer setup.
Gotta love the Bat-Signal.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup found an interesting way to arrange its four displays — three little ones in a row and one huge one broadcasting the Bat-Signal on top.

With Batman undoubtedly on his way (OK, maybe it’s just the logo, not the actual signal), the workstation also boasts a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Folio and a remarkably affordable mechanical keyboard for use with the desktop machine.

XuperCable’s 3 retractable connectors quick-charge your gear [Review] ★★★

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It's a funny-looking critter, but it's useful.★★★
It's a funny-looking critter, but it's useful.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In a world of ever-more-compact-and-potent chargers, Mobfree launched a surprising and innovative entrant Wednesday on Kickstarter. It’s XuperCable, a three-in-one gadget with three retractable connectors to fast-charge a variety of devices at up to a 100 watts

It’s a funny-looking critter with its tentacles (cables), but it’s quite useful. It sticks to surfaces, it rotates and its three cables unspool and retract — what could possibly go wrong? Not much, as it turns out. The company sent me a XuperCable to try out.

Nomad’s new Sport Band for Apple Watch glows in the dark

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You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
Photo: Nomad

Nomad added a new limited-edition Sport Band for Apple Watch Tuesday, and this one glows in the dark. That’s why it’s called Glow.

By day the waterproof bands appears off-white, but in the dark in glows bright green. It will be tough to misplace it, even at night.

Grab steep discounts on iPad Pro before they disappear

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These 2021 iPads are
These 2021 iPads are "new" in that they're not used.
Photo: Apple

Amazon deals site Woot! is at it again, offering great prices on Apple gear. This time the steals are big discounts on 2021 iPad Pro — 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with or without cellular coverage along with Wi-Fi.

They may not be new-new, but they’re not used and they could be new to you. The sale goes through August 14 at 10 p.m. PT.

The Changeling trailer reveals supernatural horror show

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You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV+ trailer for the upcoming drama series The Changeling starts off lightly enough — LaKeith Stanfield’s character, Apollo, can’t get a date with Clark Backo’s Emma in New York City because she’s moving to Brazil.

But once she’s there, dark magic soon reveals this Big Apple-based “drama” to be an absolute supernatural horror show. It premieres Friday, September 8.

New quad dock drives extra displays and other gear [Review] ★★★★☆

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This slim dock does a lot. You can run three external displays with your MacBook and hook up several other peripherals.★★★★☆
This slim dock does a lot. You can run three external displays with your MacBook and hook up several other peripherals.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Advanced computer docking stations keep getting better. The new Alogic Quad Display DV4 Universal Docking Station is a fine example, easily connecting up to four screens and several other peripherals to a computer.

That’s important for anyone relying on a laptop with limited ports — like many MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users over the years — who can appreciate a good docking station that broadens limited connectivity options.

See when your team’s on Friday Night Baseball in September

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With the regular season ending October 1, MLB action heats up in September.
With the regular season ending October 1 ahead of the playoffs, MLB action heats up in September.
Photo: Apple

On Monday, Apple and Major League Baseball called out the September Friday Night Baseball schedule for Apple TV+ subscribers.

As the season’s final stretch unfolds — the regular season ends October 1 ahead of the playoffs — don’t miss out when your team’s at bat.

Is Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad too heavy? [Setups]

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A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
Photo: [email protected]

We look at a lot of computer setups on social media, but sometimes what drives conversation among commenters surprises us. With today’s Mac Studio rig with an odd couple of mismatched displays, the main debate concerned … keyboards for iPad.

Specifically, when an iPad is so wonderfully light, what keyboard case doesn’t weight it down too much?

MacBook Air pairs with Studio Display in creator rig [Setups]

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Wade said his setup is usually a total mess, but he cleaned it up for once.
Wade said his setup is usually a total mess, but he cleaned it up for once.
Photo: Wade B. TechDaily

It’s only natural that a user would clean up his computer setup to show it off to the world, and that’s exactly what TechDaily’s Wade B. did with his MacBook Air and Studio Display setup before sending it to us with a video.

“It’s really the first time I’ve ever had a desk that wasn’t a total disaster area,” he told Cult of Mac.

Slash $50 off power bank perfect for blackouts and camping

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Anker's portable power bank has a light and 60,000mAh battery capacity to charge your devices.
Anker's portable power bank has a light and 60,000mAh battery capacity to charge your devices.
Photo: Anker

You may not want to lug around a full-on generator for the occasional camping trip or brief power outage, but wouldn’t it be cool to have a powerful little one to provide light and keep your gadgets going?

That’s the Anker 548 Power Bank PowerCore Reserve Portable Charger. And you can get $50 off the regular price right now on Amazon.

Would you buy Apple Watch 9 or Ultra 2 in these new colors?

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 may come with both plain and black titanium cases.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 may come with both plain and black titanium cases.
Photo: @ShrimpApplePro

You can expect a new color for Apple Watch Series 9 — pink — and a new black titanium case for the second-gen Apple Watch Ultra, according to a reliable leaker.

If Apple remains true to its usual scheduling, we should see both new items in September at an event unveiling the iPhone 15 lineup.

New MagSafe chargers bring fast fill-ups and cooling tech

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The 3-in-1 wireless charger juices up MagSafe iPhones, Apple Watch and AirPods.
The 3-in-1 wireless charger juices up MagSafe iPhones, Apple Watch and AirPods.
Photo: ESR

ESR unveiled two new MagSafe chargers Thursday. Its new 25-watt 3-in-1 Wireless Charger and 15-watt Car Charger follow last month’s launch of the 100W 6-in-1 Charging Station on Kickstarter.

All three feature “MagSafe + CryoBoost,” which we’ll get into below.

Apple TV+ courts college football with possible Pac-12 deal

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The deal is far from done, but Apple TV+ may pick up Pac-12 football games at some point.
The deal is far from done, but Apple TV+ may pick up Pac-12 football games at some point.
Photo: Pac-12

NCAA Pac-12 conference leaders saw an offer Tuesday from Apple TV+ for a streaming deal to replace the conference’s expiring TV contact for football games, a report noted.

After Apple’s deals to air Major League Soccer (MLS) and Major League Baseball (MLB) games, its potential entry into college football is intriguing — but it’s not a done deal yet.

ChatGPT digs up major threat to Macs on dark web

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An attacker could take full control of your Mac to steal your personal and financial information.
An attacker could take full control of your Mac to steal your personal and financial information.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A security company recently asked OpenAI’s ChatGPT about Mac threats online and used the results to uncover some scary malware for sale from Russia on the dark web.

At a price of $60,000, it can give an attacker total control of someone’s Mac. A more damaging version is available for $80,000.

In any case, if the malware gets on your Mac, you won’t know it’s there, it’s very hard to get rid of, and it can steal a lot of your information. Luckily, you can probably avoid it.

Fab office remodel suits MacBook Pro and massive display [Setups]

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The accent wall and solid-wood DIY standing desk steal the show from the M2 MacBook Pro and 49-inch curved display.
The accent wall and solid-wood DIY standing desk steal the show from the M2 MacBook Pro and 49-inch curved display.
Photo: [email protected]

When you remodel your home office, isn’t that a great excuse to revamp the ol’ computer setup? That’s what happened with today’s featured rig, which relies on a new MacBook Pro and a Samsung super-ultra-wide display.

But all commenters wanted to talk about was the accent wall and the solid-wood DIY standing desk. And the killer Klipsch audio got some love, too.

Introvert Marcie takes center stage in new Peanuts trailer

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You remember Marcie, don't you? She's the smart, quiet one.
You remember Marcie, don't you? She's the smart, quiet one.
Photo: Apple

“Sometimes, the people who make the biggest difference aren’t the ones who grab the spotlight,” Apple TV+ said Wednesday, when it dropped a trailer for a new Peanuts special focusing on the introverted character Marcie and all the behind-the-scenes work she does.

Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie premieres Friday, August 18.

Anker unveils Prime lineup of 8 powerful multi-device chargers

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The new Anker Prime chargers handle charging multiple devices with less clutter.
The new Anker Prime chargers handle charging multiple devices with less clutter.
Photo: Anker

Anker rolled out eight new chargers Tuesday, including a 240-watt USB-C charger and a 250-watt power bank for fast-charging multiple devices.

The company said its new high-speed, multi-port chargers take good advantage of gallium nitride, aka GaN, technology, referring to efficient power transfer, compact design and active heat reduction.