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.
No search was needed in this rescue, never mind helicopters. Photo: Robson Valley Search and Rescue
Emergency SOS via satellite on an iPhone 14 took the “search” out of “search and rescue” for two fortunate Canadian women. They got stuck in snow on a logging road in British Columbia, Canada.
Rescuers said they thought it was the feature’s first use in BC. And the way it pinpointed the women’s location may have saved the women’s lives without the need for a time-consuming search.
The 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro will last you even longer with 32GB of RAM. Photo: Apple
The 2021 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro with added memory is a popular choice, and Friday you can get a configuration with 32GB of RAM for about $300 less than usual prices at Woot!, owned by Amazon.
The configuration is a winner because folks know you can’t easily add integrated memory later to most Macs, so why settle for the base 16GB for that model?
Beware, though, the sale ends just after midnight in Saturday’s wee hours.
Pro surfers won't have to strain to see and hear on-shore announcements. Photo: Brent Bielmann, WSL
The World Surf League adopted Apple Watch as its official wearable Friday. The move enables pro surfers to use the water-resistant smartwatch with a certain app to track crucial metrics during competitions.
This marks the first time Apple Watch has become official equipment for a pro sport.
One in landscape, one in portrait. It's what the cool kids do with displays. Photo: [email protected]
Aspects of Apple silicon chips replacing Intel processors in Macs that you don’t always hear about are how quiet and cool the M1 and M2 machines are by comparison. In today’s featured computer setup, an IT engineer sings his M1 Pro MacBook Pro’s praises in that regard, not to mention its habit of sipping battery power rather than gulping it.
And he’s also got a popular dual-display configuration going. In this case it’s a Studio Display in landscape mode and a Dell 4K display in portrait mode.
★★★☆☆
EarFun Air Pro 3 ANC wireless earbuds are another great-value product from the company. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Calling them “the world’s 1st LE-Audio ANC true wireless earbuds,” EarFun plans to launch its new flagship Air Pro 3 active noise-canceling (ANC) wireless earbuds Thursday, February 2. The company recently sent me a pair to try out.
True to form, EarFun brings good value for the price with these buds, as it has with others. They’re not perfect, but for discounted pre-launch and launch prices at or below $60, you can’t really go wrong. See below for more details about the buds, including LE Audio.
Our reviewer wanted less talking and more surfing in season 1. Maybe season 2 will deliver. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ brought back surfing competition documentary Make or Break for a second season that starts February 17. The trailer pumps up the surfers’ desperation to win the coveted World Surf League Championship title.
“Season 2 … I guess we weren’t that bad,” one surfer chuckled. Sure, the show is back, but in the trailer it looks like some of the surfers could be done for good if they don’t do better.
An Intel Mac mini sits atop Satechi hubs to the left of the LG 4K display. An eGPU with a potent graphics card stands to the right. Photo: Hal Howell
Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Hal Howell recently shipped his computer setup to Cult of Mac for inspection, so to speak. He emailed photos and words, anyway.
He runs an Intel Mac mini with an outboard engine of sorts on it for extra graphics processing power, plus Satechi USB-C hubs with extra ballast (er, storage).
Check out the full manifest of the Navy man’s gear below.
Here's your chance to get a cosmetically imperfect iPhone 13 or other handset on the cheap. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The discount site Woot! is at it again with its great-deals-on-a-deadline thing. On Tuesday we noticed it’s offering cheap prices on a range of refurbished iPhone and Apple Watches that might show moderate wear, like minor scratches and dents.
Thing is, the sale ends Tuesday at midnight CT/10 p.m. PT. That’s just hours away.
Actor Nick Muhammed -- aka Nate on "Ted Lasso" -- makes learning about iPhone privacy features fun. Photo: Apple
Marking Data Privacy Day on Tuesday, Apple introduced new educational resources meant to help users take better control of their data, including a whimsical short film starring one of Ted Lasso‘s popular cast members.
The video, a new Today at Apple Session and Cupertino’s added statements on its ongoing security efforts come amid ever-rising cyberattacks and about a month after the company released Advanced Data Protection.
Turns out wine keeps across comic novels and live-action TV series. Photo: Legendary Entertainment
Into Japanese comics (manga) or fine wine (boozy grape juice)? Then you may know Drops of God in its bestselling comic-novel form. Soon you can watch it as a live-action, multilingual dramatic series on Apple TV+, the streaming service said Wednesday.
In a somewhat unusual move, Apple TV+ licensed the French-Japanese dramatic series adapted from manga form rather than producing it. It did not set an air date, however. It said only that the series will premiere in 2023.
Reviewers heartily recommend the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models for different types of users. Photo: Apple
With the new M2 and M2 Pro versions of Mac mini released last week and expected to ship Tuesday, reviewers are showing a lot of enthusiasm for the new compact desktop machines.
Starting at $599, the Mac mini remains the cheapest Mac, but with performance upgrades and a powerful M2 Pro version on offer, the machines are more than capable of meeting the needs average users and pro creatives alike, reviewers said.
This great-looking setup relies on Mac Studio, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and a PC. Photo: [email protected]
In the world of computer setups flaunted on social media, we run across lots of folks who have their cake and eat it, too — in that they’re avid PC gamers who love their Macs, as well. Macs are rarely, if ever, the darlings of hardcore gamers.
Today’s featured setup plays hardball with a PC and Sony PlayStation, but it also covers the Apple bases. In addition to a powerful Mac Studio sharing time on the ultra-wide 4K display with the PC, the workstation boasts a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro.
With Holafly eSIM you can stay connected wherever you go, all over the world. Photo: Holafly
An eSIM in your iPhone can keep you connected wherever you go internationally while avoiding expensive roaming charges. It’s super-easy to set up an eSIM. Plus, you can create different profiles for different countries or regions, so you never have to worry about getting hit with surprise charges.
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You can even use your regular SIM card alongside an eSIM. Find out more about how companies like Holafly provide eSIM service in this guide for international travelers.
It's a "budget" setup, but it really doesn't look it. Photo: Christian Panea@Workspace Setups Addict
Some budget computer setups look the part — cheap, utilitarian, uninspired, incomplete — and others don’t. Today’s featured setup falls in the latter category. You look at the well-equipped workstation and the word “cheap” doesn’t occur to you.
Against a DIY desk and pegboard, the setup features an M1 MacBook Air, dual Dell displays, some nice AV gear and plenty of nice touches.
Is the new HomePod really that different from the 2018 HomePod? Yes and no. Photo: Apple
Now that the full-size HomePod is finally back, just how different is it from Apple’s original smart speaker? At a glance, you might not think the $299 speaker Apple unveiled Wednesday is that different at all, because the exterior design looks so similar. But compare the new HomePod’s features to the old model, and you’ll find significant changes.
It seems potentially much-improved as a smart home device, but whether it’s a better speaker is questionable.
Watch the sun come up with Momax's nifty smart alarm clock. Photo: Momax
January isn’t over yet, so you might still be trying to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions. Why not give yourself a fighting chance with Momax’s nifty smart appliances?
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Three Momax products in particular might give you a jump-start on a healthy new year. They include a smart alarm clock that can help you get to sleep as well as wake you up, a super-precise smart food scale that can advise you on nutrition, and a smart jump rope that can replace your personal trainer.
What could be better? Well, how about getting 10% off all the products with the code CULT10OFF plus another 10% coupon at Amazon.
You can buy a shoulder strip for the new sleeve or provide your own. Photo: WaterField Designs
San Francisco-based WaterField Designs makes a line of popular Apple accessories. On Wednesday it released a new Magnetic Laptop Sleeve that fits Apple’s new 14- and 16-inch M2 MacBook Pro models as well as the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air.
The sleeve features waxed canvas, neoprene padding and rare-earth magnets to keep your new laptop safe.
There's nothing like a warmly lit, super-symmetrical setup -- especially if it has two Studio Displays. Photo: [email protected]
When it comes to computer setups, social media loves symmetry. People often praise perfectly symmetrical setups and plenty of folks kind of freak out if anything’s even slightly askew, often supplying their own joking references to obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD.
In today’s warmly lit and well-organized workstation, a high-spec MacBook Pro drives dual Studio Displays. And pairs of other items in the room contribute to the overall symmetry.
Traveling to another country? With an eSIM, rest assured your iPhone will work. Photo: Andrea [email protected]
Can you imagine switching to another cellular provider for your smartphone without having to go to a shop or wait for your physical SIM card to be shipped? Or traveling abroad knowing your phone will work and you won’t face data-roaming charges? Or using the same phone number on your smartphone, watch, car and even your refrigerator?
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Well, modern eSIM technology — the future of data connectivity — makes all of that possible and even easy. The “e” stands for “embedded,” and it’s probably already on your devices. Let’s look at how you can benefit from it, especially with international travel.
In Bluetti's big January promotion, you can find huge savings on power products and become a "Bluetti Hero." Photo: Bluetti
Solar-generator powerhouse Bluetti is throwing a New Year’s bash as the first month of 2023 unfolds. But instead of champagne and confetti, the ongoing promotional party — called “The Sun Shines Wherever You Go” — offers you great deals on new solar panels and other products.
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Running through January 25, the promotion celebrates Bluetti’s innovative new solar panels, offers great deals on other products, and serves as an open call for fans to become “Bluetti Heroes.” As such, you could showcase your experiences with the company’s power products for an upcoming documentary.
The case is shockproof, drop-tested and comes with a carabiner and lariat. Photo: Laut
Imagine pulling out your AirPods Pro in their case and seeing them slip out of your hand. As they go bouncing down the stairs or into the street, you may try to recall if you bought Apple Care. But with Laut’s tough Zentry case, you might not need it, actually.
The tough Laut Zentry AirPods Pro Case for first and second-gen AirPods is drop-tested and comes with a handy carabiner and lariat that make it easy to hold onto your earbuds.
Apple said Tuesday its new M2-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will ship January 24. Photo: Apple
Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models Tuesday powered by the company’s most advanced processors, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. The new laptops — which deliver the longest battery life ever in a Mac — are available to preorder now and go on sale January 24, Apple said.
“MacBook Pro with Apple silicon has been a game changer, empowering pros to push the limits of their workflows while on the go and do things they never thought possible on a laptop,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release. “Today the MacBook Pro gets even better. With faster performance, enhanced connectivity, and the longest battery life ever in a Mac, along with the best display in a laptop, there’s simply nothing else like it.”
The desktop wallpaper by Basic Apple Guy really does a lot for this setup's visual effect. Photo: [email protected]
Some workstations look boring and utilitarian while others, at least sometimes, look otherworldly. The difference between the two usually comes down to good lighting, skillful photography — and often a key visual you don’t see every day.
Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup relies on atmospheric lighting and exceptionally cool desktop wallpaper on the displays to make it look fascinating.
And because the workstation is used mainly for audio design and includes great gear, it undoubtedly sounds great, too.
Momax's universal travel adapter is small enough to fit in almost any bag -- and works in just about any country. Photo: Momax
If you’ve traveled extensively to other countries, especially more than one on a single trip, you know keeping your gadgets charged can be a tricky business. New day, new country … what kind of plug do you need this time?
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That’s where universal travel adapters come in. And the Momax 65W GaN Universal Travel Adapter is a great example. The compact powerhouse is easy to pack, and its variety of sockets work in more than 150 countries. Even better, high-flying Cult of Mac readers can get a sweet deal on the adapter right now.