Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That's because he's a "tablet first" type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don't try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
★★★★☆
The EZCast Beam J4a pico projector goes anywhere and works brilliantly with Mac or iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
With the EZCast Beam J4a, you can carry a big-screen TV everywhere you go. The pico projector is amazingly small, but is ready to show movies, games or presentations wherever you need it to. Just plug it into your Mac or iPad.
I love this thing. Absolutely freaking love it. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Read on to see what I mean.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max could cost more than its predecessor. Photo: Cult of Mac
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost more than last year’s equivalent version, according to an analyst. If true, this will be the first time the largest and most powerful of Apple’s flagship handsets has seen a price change since 2019.
The analyst also predicts the entire iPhone 15 series will go into production in August. The four new models are expected to launch in September.
Meta just launched Threads, a new text-based social networking service that goes head-to-head with Twitter. Meta’s Facebook and Instagram have always competed with Twitter, of course, but Threads does so directly. The two apps are nearly identical.
Twitter has struggled since being acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg clearly sees an opportunity to supplant it.
Deep Field transforms kids’ drawings to 3D with AR and iPad. Photo: Apple
With all the buzz about its upcoming Vision Pro augmented-reality headset, Apple sent out a reminder that iPad Pro also has AR capabilities. The tablet powers Deep Field, an application that lets children use an Apple Pencil to draw plants inspired by works of art, and have their creations rendered into 3D via the magic of augmented reality.
★★★☆☆
The Arzopa Portable Monitor A1C (shown here with a simulated screen) offers more room to work at a very attractive price. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Arzopa Portable Monitor A1C is a 15.6-inch, 1080P monitor ready to be connected to a Mac, iPad or gaming device over USB-C or HDMI. Given its relatively low price, the screen is one of the better options available for those on a tight budget.
It’s currently available at a price below $100, which is significantly lower than the cost of rival products.
I tested the portable display in my home office and on a recent vacation. Here’s what I found.
It’s one and done for “High Desert” on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The dark comedy High Desert will not be returning to Apple TV+. The series starring Patricia Arquette earned generally positive comments from critics and viewers, but perhaps didn’t find a big audience.
A version of Apple Vision Pro with gold and leather trim will go on sale in 2024. Photo: Caviar
For anyone who looked at the $3,500 price on the Apple Vision Pro and thought “that is so cheap,” Caviar has a version that’s over ten times as expensive. This specially modified AR headset is plated in gold and has a leather head strap.
Caviar even modified the design to make wearing the device a bit more private.
Apple Card hasn’t been profitable for the bank that backs the credit card. Photo: Apple
Goldman Sachs reportedly wants out of a partnership with Apple that has the bank backing the Apple Card and other financial services. It’s not hard to guess why: recent filings from the bank indicate it has lost at least $1 billion on the deal.
It’s supposedly looking to hand the business off to another megabank.
Apple doesn’t make MacBooks this small any more. Photo: Apple
The original 12-inch MacBook released in 2015 has been added to Apple’s list of “obsolete” machines. Despite what the word implies, this doesn’t mean the notebook just became useless. But it will now be much harder to get one of these laptops serviced.
Apple labels products as obsolete seven years after it stops selling them.
The total value of all AAPL shares passed the $3 trillion mark. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple is once again worth a whopping $3 trillion. Hitting this market capitalization milestone reflects what an amazing 2023 the company is having, considering its market cap dropped below $2 trillion at the beginning of the year.
The company previously surpassed the triple-trillion mark 18 months ago.
Brydge Max+ is solid competition for the Apple Magic Keyboard case. And it’s not being discontinued. Photo: Brydge
The company that made the Brydge line of innovative iPad keyboards collapsed earlier this year, but a deal announced Thursday will return its products to the market.
Uinta Products is a new company with many former Brydge employees — and the rights to make Brydge-branded products.
★★★★☆
Belkin’s affordable USB-C hub offers four high-speed ports and can charge your devices, too. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Belkin Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub seems like a simple product, but it’s something we’ve had to wait years to finally get. It’s a simple, inexpensive hub that turns one USB-C port into four that can provide high-speed data transfers while also powering a MacBook or iPad.
I put the device to the test in my home office. I lives up to just about all my expectations. Here’s why.
Fans of The Morning Show will be able to enjoy season 3 in fall 2023. Photo: Apple TV+
The wait for a new season of The Morning Show is nearly over. On Thursday, Apple TV+ promised that season 3 of the popular and award-winning drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon will premiere in September.
The highlight of the new season will be the arrival of Jon Hamm in the cast.
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock offers seven USB ports, four video ports and more. Photo: Satechi
Connect the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock to a Mac to get access to no less than 16 ports. There’s a plethora of video ports, high-speed USB ports, card readers, Ethernet and more.
The dock launched Thursday, and is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
★★★★☆
The Moft Snap Float Folio can be folded into a stand that holds an iPad screen 4 inches above your desk. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPad cases that act as stands to prop up the tablet’s screen are old news. But the Moft Snap Float Folio takes the concept to a new level… literally. It can be folded to raise the iPad up to 3.8 inches so it’s easier to see. If that’s not enough, the case/stand also folds into multiple other configurations to allow the iPad to be used in different ways.
The product first launched in 2022, then recently updated it with stronger magnets for a better hold on the tablet. It’s also a bit more robust.
I wrapped my iPad Pro in the Moft’s new-and-improved case to see how easy it is to use, and how stable when used as a stand. I came away impressed.
Stardew Valley+ is only one of the games coming soon to Apple Arcade. Image: ConcernedApe
The popular farming simulator Stardew Valley will debut on Apple Arcade in July. The award-wining game promises many hours of entertainment, with farming, ranching, fighting monsters and even getting married.
In addition, Apple’s gaming subscription service will also soon add other classic titles, including Ridiculous Fishing EX, Millionaire Trivia+, Slay the Spire+ and more.
In Silo, if the lies don't kill you, the truth will. Photo: Apple TV+
Normally, you need an Apple TV+ subscription to watch the first episode of the hit sci-fi drama Silo. But it is now posted on Twitter for all to see, in its entirety.
This isn’t piracy — Apple itself shared the video Tuesday.
No one expected a kid at a Division I college to become the sports phenomenon he is. Photo: Apple TV+
Basketball superstar Steph Curry will get a documentary on Apple TV+ in July. The trailer for Stephen Curry: Underrated gives a first look at the athlete’s rise to fame.
The film uses a mix of archival footage, new interviews and “intimate cinéma vérité” to explore the life of the basketball great.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened mixes role-playing with card collecting. Image: Warner Bros. Games/Netease
Players become students at Hogwarts and engage in magical duels against dark wizards in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, which launched Tuesday. It’s a collectible card (CCG) and massively multiplayer (MMO) game, and is free to play — with in-app purchases.
There are versions for iPhone and iPad. (Android too.)
The iPad's slender bezels won't make drawing a challenge any more with Darkboard. Photo: Astropad
The Astropad Darkboard is a new lightweight, ergonomic drawing surface for iPad. It gives artists a place to rest their arm while drawing without covering the tablet’s screen.
After a successful launch on Kickstarter, the product is now available worldwide.
We’ll plug a USB-C cable into the iPhone 15 Pro Max right there. Screenshot: Majin Bu
Those eager to get their hands on the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max should check out a short video showing a case supposedly designed for Apple’s next flagship smartphone. This helps confirm a few details that previously leaked out.
Juana Reyes was very happy she’s not an Android user on Saturday. Photo: Mike Leum/Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
A California hiker who broke her leg in the Angelos National Forest was able to get help thanks to the Emergency SOS via satellite service built into the iPhone 14 series.
The feature enables those range of cellular network coverage to call for rescue.
Tom Holland‘s star power helps put his Apple TV+ series near the top of the charts. Photo: Apple TV+
The Crowded Room, a psychological thriller starring Tom Holland, is bringing in plenty of viewers. For two weeks now, the Apple TV+ series has been among the most popular shows on any streaming service.
And it’s not the only Apple series doing well — Silo continues to draw a large audience, too.
★★★☆☆
UGR Tech‘s 2TB SSD definitely isn’t top quality, but it works. And it puts less strain on your credit card. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The UGR Tech Portable SSD External Hard Drive 2TB offers a lot of storage for an exceedingly low price — it’s available from Cult of Mac Deals for just $34.99. I could even call that a suspiciously low price, because rival USB-C drives sell for about four times as much. So I ordered one and tested it out.
I discovered why the external SSD is so very cheap, but also that it’s not a scam or a ripoff … as long as you understand the significant speed limitation of this 2TB drive.
(Update: This incredibly popular 2TB external SSD sold out multiple times in 2023. Now it’s back in stock at Cult of Mac Deals, although the price has gone up to $44.97.)