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.
Zach Cherry, left, Adam Scott and John Turturro star in Severance on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Production on the second season of Severance, the Apple TV+ thriller about a profoundly creepy workplace, has seen delays because the series’ two showrunners hate each other, according to a recent report.
Scripts were scrapped amid the two not speaking to each other as director Ben Stiller searched for help. And it seems he finally found it. Stiller also downplayed on-set drama in a tweet.
What's good enough for mom? An iPad? An Apple Watch? Maybe both. Photo: Marek [email protected]
Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.
And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.
It costs more than a grand, but it's designed to last a lifetime. Photo: Bang & Olufsen
Esteemed Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen unveiled its new portable Beosound A5 speaker Thursday. The pricey and powerful device’s design results from a collaboration with the Danish-Italian duo GamFratesi.
“Beosound A5 is our new high-end portable speaker which combines Bang & Olufsen’s long-standing approach to timeless design with our vision on sound for the future,” said VP of Product Marketing Michael Henriksson.
“We’re excited to collaborate with GamFratesi for the first time, to create two speaker designs that are rooted in a Scandinavian aesthetic with a distinct design signature on their own,” he added.
The user, a developer, finds a Studio Display paired with an LG DualUp monitor (left) ideal for his work. Photo: [email protected]
Any conversation about “perfect” displays might just start and end with Apple’s Pro Display XDR. But not everyone is rich enough to buy one of those 6K monitors, which cost $5,000 or more. So the popular 5K Studio Display might have to do, along with something complementary.
One option graces today’s featured MacBook Pro setup. It recently swapped out ultra-wide and 4K monitors for a Studio Display and and the eccentric LG DualUp. They seem especially well-suited to certain types of workers.
Consider this your personal invitation to extraordinary savings on Microsoft software with promo code CULT. Photo: CdkeySales.com
Before the big April Sale ends, you can still snatch up hot deals on Microsoft software at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. In other words, it’s not too late to nab great prices on Microsoft Windows, Office and more. Don’t miss it.
SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
What could be better than paying less than full price for Windows 10 and other crucial software from CdkeySales? You can click on the links below to secure low prices on loads of Microsoft software. Plus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11.
CdkeySales’ prices are always affordable. But to get the absolute best savings possible, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will slash an additional 30% off the site’s super-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
With a 65% layout, the new High65 V2 is compact and portable. Photo: Epomaker
Epomaker and Createkeebs said Thursday their recent collaboration resulted in their release of the compact new High65 V2 mechanical keyboard.
“Featuring a compact and portable 65% layout, the High65 V2 is the ideal choice for professional gamers and keyboard enthusiasts alike,” the companies noted.
Transparent plastic is a new look for Beats. Photo: Amazon/Beats
Before Apple subsidiary Beats could get the word out, a listing appeared briefly on Amazon.com Tuesday showing upgraded Beats Studio Buds+ coming out May 18.
They take the same shape as existing Beats Studio Buds, but they feature a cool new transparent design option, upgraded performance and a slightly higher price of $169.95.
With National Small Business Week upon us, Apple celebrates how it helps entrepreneurs. Image: Apple
With National Small Business Week starting Sunday, Apple profiled three small businesses Wednesday, describing how they harness Apple products to grow.
In addition, the company will feature “Grow Your Business with Apple” Today at Apple sessions next week in select U.S. cities.
That's not a display configuration you see every day.
Just when you thought you’d seen every arrangement of displays known to computer setups, something comes along to surprise you. Today’s featured M2 Pro Mac mini setup puts a portrait-mode display at center and two landscape-mode displays sticking out like wings on either side of it. It’s kind of odd how rarely seen it actually is.
Another rarity is the user’s amazing assortment of audio components, including an unusually big “Schiit stack.”
Locally sourced building materials help give a bright and airy feel to the store, which opens Friday. Photo: Apple
Apple previewed MixC Shenzhen Wednesday, showing off its second retail store to open in China’s third most-populous city after Shanghai and Beijing.
“We are very excited to open a beautiful new Apple Store in Shenzhen and deepen our connection with the local community,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail.
“At Apple, we’re constantly innovating to deliver the best possible experience for our customers, and our incredible team members in Shenzhen can’t wait to welcome them when doors open on Friday,” she added.
The new drone's third medium telephoto lens opens up lots of possibilities.
DJI said Tuesday its new flagship consumer drone, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, features the company’s first triple-camera setup, adding a 70mm medium-telephoto lens to previous configurations.
“The additional 70mm 48MP medium telephoto lens gives beginner and professional content creators alike increased creative options when shooting aerial images and video,” B&H Photo Video said in a press release about the news.
At just over $22 for a limited time, this power bank is a good deal.
Anker unveiled its newest and lowest-priced magnetic power bank Monday. And a 30% off launch discount makes the new 321 MagGo Battery PowerCore 5K an even better deal. See below for details.
Update:This deal has expired. Nevertheless, the power bank is only $31.99, which is a third of the cost of Apple’s own version.
★★★★☆
Tozo's new flagship earbuds check most of the boxes for a reasonably low price. If the price drops, grab 'em. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Already known for surprisingly good budget earbuds, Tozo rolled out new flagship active noise-canceling (ANC) wireless earbuds at CES 2023 to compete with the big players. And the Tozo Golden X1 Wireless Earbuds do just that, with a sleek design, quality sound but somewhat meh noise cancellation for a reasonable price (especially with available discounts).
Tozo sent me a pair of Golden X1 buds to check out. They sound excellent — as good as premium earbuds that cost twice as much — but the active noise canceling could be better.
In my case, the great sub-$50 adds were a wrist rest (wood or memory foam), a laptop stand and a monitor light bar. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Computer setups aren’t all about the main machine and displays that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Plenty of smaller, less-expensive items turn out to be crucial — like gadget stands, USB-C hubs, the perfect mouse, smart light strips, desk mats and much more.
Today’s featured setup is a tribute to all the little things that make a difference — even double-sided tape.
How could two beautiful displays be any trouble? Photo: [email protected]
A computer setup sporting a Mac Studio desktop computer and two Studio Displays is a marvel to be envied. And yet, the two gorgeous displays in today’s featured workstation present some problems, believe it or not.
They make the user wish Apple would just make a widescreen monitor.
Get ready to learn about the patriarchy, viewers. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ dropped a teaser trailer Thursday for the upcoming drama series Lessons in Chemistry, starring Oscar-winner Brie Larson. She plays a frustrated young scientist in the early 1950s who gets fired from a lab, takes a job as host of a TV cooking show and “sets out to teach … a lot more than recipes,” according to the streaming service.
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Bonnie Garmus, the new series debuts this fall, Apple TV+ said.
The AirTag holder is discreet and designed to move with fabric. Photo: ElevationLab
ElevationLab released a new accessory called TagVault: Fabric on Wednesday, saying it’s “the first AirTag fabric mount.” You can discretely stick the fabric holder for Apple’s tracking device almost anywhere, like inside your suitcase or in the lining of a jacket.
★★★★☆
The Edifier QD35 is not an average-looking speaker. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Whether it’s an RGB-plagued mouse or a stereo system that’s trying too hard, I tend to scoff at devices that light up in all the colors of the damned rainbow. But if they light up and also sound as good as Edifier’s QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker, I guess I’m sold. Let’s party.
Edifier recently sent me a unit to check out. You can read my thoughts below. In brief, the QD35 may not be everyone’s main stereo system, but it could be an ideal one-room speaker — whether that’s a kitchen, bedroom, rec room or man-cave/she-shack.
One leather band is not really enough. Photo: Speidel
If you’re among the many people who stick with leather Apple Watch bands because they’re handsome, durable and timeless, can we interest you in a double leather band? They’re called double tour bands, and Speidel makes a beauty in brown leather.
You might think a bunch more fine leather would make it expensive. But the Speidel Brown Leather Double Tour Band stays under the $50 mark in the Cult of Mac Store.
The iPad Air gets a major speed boost with a Mac-quality processor. Screenshot: Apple
If you bought an iPad Air (5th generation) soon after it came out for full price — like I did — you hate to see news like this. Amazon just marked nearly every 2022 model down as much as $119, hitting all-time-low prices for both cellular and Wi-Fi versions.
But if you’re anybody else — like someone who needs a great iPad — it’s wonderful news. You can save $100 or more.
Renewable energy is one of many topics in Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report. Photo: Apple
With Earth Day coming up on Saturday, Apple devoted the top of its website’s homepage Wednesday to the company’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report. It recaps recent press materials about carbon neutrality and recycling measures, but also goes into comprehensive detail about Apple’s longterm approach to climate change.
“Behind every product is a plan for the future” serves as the 114-page tome’s tagline.
Are those MacBooks at left stripped of their cases?! Nope. Photo: [email protected]
What’s better than having two MacBook Pro laptops in your computer setup? Having the two powerful machines wrapped in cool-looking skins that confound and excite onlookers, of course.
Such is the case with today’s dual-MacBook Pro, dual LG-display workstation that the user depends on for coding and videoconferencing.
On April 22, Bluetti celebrates Earth Day with its event, Invest in Our Planet, Invest in Our Future. Photo: Bluetti
With our planet and its people facing increasingly dire problems due to climate change — exhaustion of resources, extreme weather, energy crises — the time is now to find ways to live sustainable lifestyles. Investing more in energy storage and reuse helps in the here and now, and also benefits generations to come.
SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Bluetti.
Bluetti has shown leadership in researching clean energy solutions for green living, helping families live sustainably. You can explore some of the company’s power-saving products below and even join in a special event called Invest in Our Planet, Invest in Our Future on Earth Day, April 22.