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.
This would be less expensive most really nice USB microphones. Photo: Shure
If you have a high-quality XLR microphone, how do you use it with your computer? Shure made that easier Monday with its new MXV2U USB digital audio interface that turns XLR mics into USB mics.
Using the simple, compact interface, you can adapt any XLR mic to USB and start recording, podcasting, streaming and more.
A new competitor to Apple's 5K Studio Display arrives. Photo: Samsung
The new 27-inch Samsung ViewFinity S9 Monitor with 5K resolution started shipping to addresses in the United States Monday, the company said. It comes along with specs and price very similar to Apple’s popular Studio Display.
The new monitor, which won a CES Innovation Award earlier this year, costs $1,599 — just like Studio Display. But Samsung’s comes with a tilt- and heigh-adjustable stand while Apple charges $400 for one.
Even if you have a lot more gear than this, a standing desk can make a world of difference. Photo: [email protected]
Maybe you’ve got back pain, or maybe your rear end falls asleep too much when you sit for long periods. Whatever the case, you, like many Apple fans, can benefit from a standing desk in your computer setup.
Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup features an affordable sit-stand desk, but there are many options. We’ll go over some of them below.
The BuhoCleaner app from Dr.Buho is a breeze to use. It'll speed up your Mac. Photo: Dr.Buho
Seeing the spinning “beach ball” a little too often as your Mac struggles to complete a task? If your machine is a little sluggish, it’s time to do some cleaning. A highly useful and intuitive tool for that is the BuhoCleaner app from Dr.Buho.
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I tried it out and found it sped up my 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro noticeably after just a few simple scans. The machine was a touch more responsive when opening apps and files.
Bask in the warm glow of antique Macs actually being used. Photo: [email protected]
At Cult of Mac we love vintage Apple gear, of course. But to avoid confusion with what Apple means when it says “vintage,” perhaps we should say “retro” or even “antique.” You know, the old stuff people like to collect and put in computer museums.
Today’s featured setup sports both old and new. An M1 MacBook Air is the main computer, but it’s used as a desktop machine, sans built-in monitor. And right next to it are a working Macintosh SE/30 and an iMac G3.
Cherry calls its new MX2A switches "the new gold standard." And they include some actual gold. Photo: Cherry
Some of the best-known and most commonly used switches for mechanical keyboards worldwide are getting a major redesign, German company Cherry said Thursday.
Known for its popular Cherry MX mechanical switches, it now debuts Cherry MX2A switches. And they come with the company’s new XTRFY K5V2 mechanical keyboard, but they may be everywhere soon enough.
At less than $20, this power bank is surely one of the cheapest ways to fast-charge your iPhone and more. Photo: Baseus
With fast chargers for iPhone and other gadgets becoming common, it’s no surprise they’re getting cheaper. But Baseus may have reached a new low with its Airpow PD 20W Fast Charging Power Bank, the company said Thursday.
It costs just $20 normally and is on sale now at just $16.
A research paper found TP-Link's Tapo L530E smart bulb suffers four security flaws. Photo: TP-Link
A popular smart light bulb from TP-Link suffers from severe security flaws that could give hackers passwords and other information, researchers said Wednesday.
A paper examined four flaws in the bestselling TP-Link Tapo L530E, which works with Apple’s HomeKit platform.
Young indigenous women work to preserve a scared black-oak grove at the base of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Photo: Apple
The National Parks Foundation is putting up money to help indigenous youth restore a sacred tribal spot in California’s Yosemite National Park, Apple said Thursday. The iPhone-maker helps fund the foundation through Apple Pay sales.
Who killed the groom? Better have a look at the wedding videographer's footage. Photo: Apple
A TV director just revealed that he and his crew “got away with” using an iPhone to shoot much of an episode of murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty on Apple TV+.
Season 2, episode 8 of the show benefited from the sense of iPhone “found footage” because it takes place mostly during a wedding, so they took pains to make it look like some amateur shot it.
The orange button alone suggests Apple Watch Ultra, even though it's not. Photo: Nomad
Nomad unveiled its new Rugged Case for Apple Watch Wednesday, and it might just satisfy a few folks who wish they had an Ultra rather than a standard model.
The new steel case and included Rugged Band fit Apple Watch Series 4 or newer. And the gear gives you a rugged look and plenty of protection for your wearable at a much lower price than Apple Watch Ultra, of course.
There's the happy mum and her darling boy! Looks like somebody needs a crappy guitar. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ dropped a trailer Wednesday for it upcoming Irish dramedy Flora and Son, saying “never underestimate a Dublin woman with a guitar.”
Bad Sisters mainstay Eve Hewson stars as that Dublin woman, a beleaguered mom trying to give her rebellious teen son a focus in life through a beat-up old acoustic guitar.
The film debuts in theaters September 22 and streams on Apple TV+ September 29.
In a world where advancing computer technology often seems like an arms race, with ever-more-powerful processors and compact chargers that pump out hundreds of watts, it’s no surprise docking stations keep boosting their port arrays.
Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup almost seems like it doesn’t have enough gear to merit its Plugable dock’s whopping 14 ports. But it supports multiple external displays for M1 Macs, and that’s why the user loves it.
The cosmic pink ones have a two-tone thing going on. Photo: Beats
Apple subsidiary Beats added two new color options to its recently released Beats Studio Buds+ noise-cancelling earbuds — cosmic pink and cosmic silver.
The new metallic finishes are part of a collaboration with press-on nails retailer Olive & June. They’ll become available September 7, the companies said.
These earbuds don't go in your ear at all, so you can hear external noises. Photo: OneOdio
OneOdio unveiled its new OpenRock S Open Air Conduction Earbuds Tuesday, meant for active users who want to listen to music while doing sports activities.
Using air-conduction technology, the buds don’t go in your ear canal. So you can stay better-aware of what’s around you while you run, cycle or work out.
Soundcore already rocked outstanding noise cancellation with previous products, so an improved system in the Space One headphones bodes well. Photo: Soundcore
Anker audio brand Soundcore launched its new Space One over-ear headphones Tuesday with an upgraded noise cancelling system. It’s designed to reduce the voices not already in your head.
The new cans also claim long playtime, high-quality audio through the LDAC codec and a “floating” design built for comfort, Soundcore said.
It's a potent little charger with a built-in kickstand. Photo: Spigen
Using older magnetic chargers, lots of folks still charge their iPhones at a pokey rate of 7.5 watts. So it’s good news Spigen just rolled out its first 15W MagSafe device, the ArcField Wireless Charger.
You can use it to quick-charge any MagSafe iPhone 12, 13 or 14 handset, and it’ll juice up an AirPods Pro charging case at 5W.
This portable power bank will keep all your Apple gear humming. Photo: Momax
It’s a total drag when your iPhone, iPad or other device runs low on power and you don’t have a way to charge it — or your charger is old and slow but you don’t have much time. That’s when the new Momax 100W 6-Port Charging Station comes in super handy.
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The charging station’s name pretty much says it all, minus one crucial feature. Not only does it deliver a blistering 100 watts of power via six convenient USB-C and USB-A ports, it can fast-charge wirelessly. You just lay your iPhone or other Qi-enabled device on top of the station for that. Plus, it’s reasonably priced — and Cult of Mac readers can knock 30% off the normal price with the discount code below.
Help keep national parks going with your next Apple purchase. And there's an Activity Challenge, too. Photo: National Park Foundation/Jeremy Wade Shockley
The U.S. National Park Service turns 107 on Friday. And, as usual, Apple is running its donation campaign to the National Parks Foundation to celebrate.
Each purchase made with Apple Pay in the Apple Store and on Apple sites through Sunday, August 27, donates $10 to the National Parks Foundation.
With this projector, you can use AirPlay or ChromeCast to project a big screen almost anywhere. Photo: BenQ
Want to create an immersive cinematic experience almost anywhere? Now you can with the GV31 Portable Projector BenQ released earlier this month.
With built-in Netflix and Android TV among other streaming options, the 1080p projector can stream on walls or ceilings via AirPlay from your Mac, iPad or iPhone, or from Android devices via ChromeCast.
That's a Hexgears mechanical keyboard in tfront of the iPad mini. Photo: [email protected]
It’s not every day you see a teeny, tiny little display under an ultra-wide one. But today’s M2 MacBook Air setup sports its dual screens that way by putting an iPad mini at the center under the big external monitor, flanked by paired HomePod minis.
The setup’s interesting highlights include a gaming handheld and a full-sized mechanical keyboard we rarely see.
Momax Airbox stores and charges your Apple devices. Photo: Momax
Momax’s Airbox Portable Power Cabin may be the ultimate companion for your Apple devices. The clamshell case not only charges your gadgets fast with its built-in 10,000mAh battery, it also stores them on the go — including iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods or AirPods Pro.
It’ll top up your iPad quickly via USB-C as well. And there’s even a special, non-charging slot to store your Apple Pencil.
The company calls the Airbox the world’s first foldable power bank. And Momax is offering a limited-time deal that drops the price considerably — plus an additional discount for Cult of Mac readers only!
Woot's latest sale offers a selection of reconditioned MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Amazon bargain website Woot! is offering a sale on factory-reconditioned and refurbished MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models — with prices as low as $280!
That low price is for a 2017 MacBook Air, but you can also score hot deals on 2022 M2 models. See below. The sale ends Tuesday, August 22, at 10 p.m. Pacific.