Make your work more comfortable with the Casa Hub Stand Ultra for laptops or iPads. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Say goodbye to awkward angles and neck strain with the Casa Hub Stand Ultra. This laptop stand with a built-in USB-C hub and magnetic iPhone dock is your ultimate ergonomic upgrade. Whether you’re working from home or enjoying some Netflix on your laptop, this stand offers the perfect height adjustment to keep you comfortable and/or productive for hours.
To preserve the battery in your iPhone as long as possible, follow the 40-80 rule. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone 15 has a charging trick many users might not be aware of: It can automatically stop charging when the battery level hits 80%. This makes it much easier to follow the “40-80 rule,” which helps increase the long-term useful life of the battery.
Here’s more on how it works, whether you should follow the rule, and how to flip on the setting on your iPhone.
Tripp Lite's new Thunderbolt 4 hub supports dual 4K displays. Photo: Tripp Lite
Tripp Lite, known for its power strips and surge protectors, released its new Thunderbolt 4 hub, the MTB4-Hub3-01. Capable of 8K video support, it can run two 4K displays in addition to other devices and power your computer.
Kensington's new 8-in-1 hub turns one port on your machine into eight. Photo: Kensington
Kensington brought out two new USB-C hubs this week featuring up to 100W passthrough charging and as high as 4K 60Hz HDMI connectivity along with other features.
The Anker PowerWave 3-in-1 charging stand lets you take power on the go. Photo: Anker
Anker’s first announced its new PowerWave Go 3-in-1 Stand for charging iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods back in January. Well, it just came out. The cool wrinkle here is a removable power bank to charge devices on the go.
The Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 dock has a whopping 12 ports. Photo: Anker
Anker’s new Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station, available July 1, sports a familiar design but packs an usually high number of ports for the maker’s typical consumer wares — 12. They include a 90-watt power pass-through slot and legacy options.
Charging -- not just about cables any more. Photo: Cult of Mac
Charging an iPhone used to be so simple. You’d grab your 30-pin dock connector cable, the one that was almost as big as an AirPods charging case, and you’d jam it into the huge slot on the bottom of your iPhone. Then you’d wait.
Today, the kids don’t know how easy they have it. They can plug in a svelte, skinny Lightning cable to charge their iPhones, but they can also opt for several other ultra-modern (and probably fashionable) charging methods. Hell, even the olde worlde cable method has some high-tech, high-speed alternatives.
Let’s get right into it. Here are six different ways you can charge your iPhone.
Assemble your tools for a fun hack attack Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
USB is dirty. Just like you’d never stick your body parts into a mysterious public hole, neither should you plug your iPhone into a public charging station. iOS is pretty good at rejecting unknown connections from USB, but why take the risk?
There are a few ways to make public iPhone charging safe. One is to plug into a power outlet using your own plug and cable. But what about on a plane or train, or other public spot where only USB outlets are available? Or a friend’s computer, one that might be riddled with malware? Then you need a custom USB cable, one that only passes power, and not data. The good news is that, if you have an old Lightning USB cable laying around, you can easily fashion your own, just by yanking out two pins from inside the USB plug. Alternatively, a charging keychain can be a great portable solution to ensure safe and convenient charging wherever you go.
The charging issue that afflicted some iOS 12 users has apparently been taken care of in iOS 12.1. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Some, but not all, iOS 12 users complain their iPhone or iPad won’t begin charging if it’s in sleep mode when a Lightning cable is plugged in. Apple has introduced a beta of iOS 12.1 that appears to fix this problem.
This is one of the prettiest docks we've ever seen. Photo: Belkin
iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4 owners looking for the perfect chargers to both of their new devices just got a lot of love from Belkin with a dock that works on both iPhones and Apple Watch.
Belkin introduced its new BoostUp wireless charging dock for iPhone + Apple Watch today that not only keeps your new tech juiced up, but it’s also so pretty you won’t be ashamed to have it on full display in your house.
These type of iPhone cables are about to become way more common. Photo: Apple
Third-party hardware manufacturers have finally been given the green light from Apple to start making USB-C to Lightning cables.
The new Made For iPhone (MFi) certification should open the door for a bunch of faster-charging solutions to come out for iPhone owners, but according to the report out of Asia, the new cables will be a little bit more expensive.
Will we finally get a release date for AirPower? Photo: Apple
Apple’s upcoming AirPods case will offer more than just wireless charging for your headphones, according to a sketchy new report.
A source familiar with Apple’s plans claims the case will double as an iPhone charger that will give you a boost in battery life when you’re in a pinch. The device could be available before the end of this year.
Wireless charging, distraction-free writing, and more are part of this week's best deals. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
This week’s best new deals in the Cult of Mac Store include some futuristic goodies. From a wireless charging pad to ultra durable wireless earbuds. There’s also a powerful planning platform for iOS and a distraction-free writing app, all of it discounted by half off or more. Read on for more details:
This week's best deals include tools for keeping all your passwords safe, all your devices charged, and lots more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
To celebrate the start of a new week, we do what we do every week: gather up some of the best deals on gear, gadgets, and more. This round, we’ve got a comprehensive course in iOS 11 coding, and a ‘Hiffecient’ USB charging hub. We’ve also got a tool for streamlining online form-filling, and an upgrade for your Mac’s calendar. Everything is discounted by more than 40 percent. Read on for more details:
This week's best deals include a new way to take selfies, 2 TB of secure cloud storage, and lots more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Another week, another round of awesome new deals on gear and gadgets in the Cult of Mac Store. This go around, we’ve got a special lens for taking ultra slick selfies, and 2 terabytes of secure cloud storage for life. On top of that, there’s a powerful VPN subscription, and a special podium stand for your iPhone. Plus, everything’s discounted more than 60 percent. Read on for more details:
Whatever your power needs, this roundup of outlets, surge protectors and USB chargers will solve them. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Life in the digital age means keeping a bunch of devices charged. Between our homes, workplaces, cars, and travel destinations, that can become a complicated task. We’ve rounded up a set of charging accessories to handle any personal power shortage. We’ve got a 6-port modular surge protector, a smart power strip with USB outlets, a car charger with four ports, and a super thin, massively powerful portable battery. Read on for more details:
Seems every week there’s something new and exciting arriving at the Cult of Mac Store. This week is no exception, with a deals that include a lesson bundle in iOS 11, ahead of its fall release. There’s also a tool for bypassing geo-restrictions on streaming content, a universal remote for the Bluetooth age, and a wireless charging system for Apple Watch. Everything is discounted by massive margins, some by more than 95 percent. Read on for more:
We've rounded up some of the best deals on essential accessories for your charging-related needs. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
For all the convenience of mobile technology, it can be a drag having to keep our devices juiced up. Whatever your situation, we’ve rounded up some top shelf charging upgrades that’ll offer new ways to juice up your most-used devices. We’ve got a universal Lightning dock, a wireless charging station for Apple Watch, a set of extra long set of Lightning cables and super sleek USB charging hub for your car. Everything’s going for a healthy discount, read on for more details:
Apple should include free AirPods instead. Photo: Ste Smith
Apple’s mission to kill the use of headphone jacks on the iPhone may be completed by 2018, according to a new report from Barclays.
In a note to investors today, the research bank says the three new iPhone models Apple introduces this year will all come with a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, but this could be the last time buyers get a free dongle.
Apple's not giving up on Lightning quite yet. Photo: Apple
The rumor that Apple plans to switch to USB-C on all 2017 iPhones has been shot down by one of the most reliable Apple analysts in the game.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent a note to investors today claiming that all three new iPhone models supposedly set for release this fall will come with a Lightning port, not USB-C.
The amazing minds at Apple have developed a new method of charging electronic devices using tiny magnets.
Revealed in a new patent application published today, the system could be used in a future Apple Watch to allow users to top up their battery by winding the Digital Crown.
The world’s largest fried chicken chain has come up with a wacky new idea that will fill your stomach as well as your iPhone.
As part of a promotion in India, KFC has introduced a new limited edition “Watt A Box” that packs all the greasy finger-lickin’ chicken you could want, along with with a USB port and portable battery that eaters can use to recharge their iPhones with while grubbing.
Instead, the company is said to be developing a long-range alternative that means you won’t need to place your iPhone down on a special charging pad. But is this really necessary? Will the technology be worth waiting for, or should Apple just deliver wireless charging already?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we fight to the death over this very topic. It promises to be… electrifying.