The Twelve South Curve SE does everying a MacBook stand should, at a lower-than-usual price. Photo: Twelve South
The Twelve South Curve SE stand holds up a MacBook so the screen is at eye level, making the laptop part of a desktop setup. It’s ergonomic and also cools the computer.
It’s a premium laptop stand made of aluminum but costs substantially less than the company’s other stands.
The new Anker Prime chargers handle charging multiple devices with less clutter. Photo: Anker
Anker rolled out eight new chargers Tuesday, including a 240-watt USB-C charger and a 250-watt power bank for fast-charging multiple devices.
The company said its new high-speed, multi-port chargers take good advantage of gallium nitride, aka GaN, technology, referring to efficient power transfer, compact design and active heat reduction.
This low-cost hub can handle a high-res monitor and high-speed USB accessories. Photo: Plugable
Connect the new Plugable USBC-4IN1 hub to a Mac or iPad to add an HDMI port, and two USB-A ones, also. And its USB-C port supports simultaneous 100W power pass-through charging and 10Gbps data transfers.
With this case, you might not need a new charger or cable for a long time. Photo: Elago
If you’re on the road a lot for work, you know your computer accessories — like chargers and cables — can take a beating. That’s why Elago now offers its MacBook Charger Cable Management Case.
Get the stunning Pro Display XDR with up to $300 off. Photo: Apple
If you are in the market for a 6K display for your Mac, it is hard to beat Apple’s Pro Display XDR. The 32-inch display with nano-texture glass is down to $5,699 on Amazon after a hefty $300 discount. And if you want the standard glass variant, it’s available with a $200 off.
Stocks are limited on this fantastic deal, so pull the trigger on the offer as soon as possible.
Coming to Apple Arcade in August: Samba de Amigo: Party-to-Go plus three puzzle games. Photo: Apple
Apple said Tuesday it will add four new games and more than 30 updates and events to Apple Arcade in August.
New games include a revival of Sega’s classic rhythm game Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, puzzle games Nekograms+ and Kingdoms: Merge & Build, and indie puzzle-remix game finity.
“Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go is coming soon to Apple Arcade with exciting new songs and a series first Story Mode only found on the service,” said Ian Curran, president and chief operating officer of Sega of America.
The Alliance for OpenUSD will promote the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology. Photo: AOUSD
The newly announced Alliance for OpenUSD is a collection of industry heavyweights — including Apple — putting their influence behind Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology.
The stated goal of the AOUSD is “to standardize the 3D ecosystem.”
Both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak signed this check. Photo: RR Auction
A unique bit of Apple history just went up for auction: Apple Computer check “No. 2” signed by company co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Bidding for the $116.97 check is already up to more than $55,000.
A number of other rare Apple items are also up for sale, some signed by Jobs.
Just twist the top to switch from one hand to the other. Here it's in left-handed mode (thumb rest on the right side of base). Photo: Targus
Known for laptop cases and such, Targus unveiled its new ErgoFlip EcoSmart Mouse last week. You can switch it from right- to left-hand use (or vice versa) with a simple twist of the top.
“This is the first mouse that provides true ergonomics for right- or left-hand use, solving the age old problem of finding a mouse that truly everyone can use,” said Mike Sexton, Targus’ senior director of Global Product Management & Development.
“This, along with its gaming-level performance and precision, and sustainable benefits, including its long battery life, makes it the mouse that does it all,” he added.
You might be wasting money on your unlimited data plan. Photo: Cult of Mac
Most Americans pay for more cellular data than they need or ever use, according to a recent study. Dropping to a plan that offers less data would benefit 72% of subscribers for an obvious reason: These plans are more affordable.
In short, unlimited data plans usually aren’t a good value.
Can you spot the chip/crack in one of the displays? Photo: [email protected]
The owner of today’s MacBook Pro setup chose two Studio Displays over one Pro Display XDR to suit his workflow and because he realized he could bag one of the monitors at half price. Lucky him.
Several folks on social media noticed the damage, and some said they’d grab that deal, too, if they could.
The new Beyond Hogwarts expansion pack to Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery lets players grow up and start careers. Image: Jam City
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery just got its largest-ever game expansion. Dubbed Beyond Hogwarts, it offers 50% more content as players leave the hallowed halls of Hogwarts and visit the magical haunts of London.
With the expansion, those who played the original game when it launched 5 years ago can come back and find plenty more to enjoy.
More premium in-hand feel? Customizable Action button? iPhone 15 Pro is shaping up to be a big upgrade. Photo: Cult of Mac
This year’s iPhone 15 Pro models will feature “stronger, lighter and more premium” titanium edges, according to a reliable source. And a customizable Action button could be another highlight, letting users quickly enable Focus mode, launch the Camera app or perform other common tasks.
All those new features could jack up the cost of the iPhone 15 Pro line considerably.
Not all iPhone rumors are created equal. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Not all iPhone rumors prove exciting. In fact, a big one this week — possible iPhone 15 price hikes — sounds downright depressing. But it’s not all bad news. The “normie” iPhone 15 might get some trickle-down camera tech that could make it easier not to go Pro this year.
Also on The CultCast:
Think of all the interesting ways you could use an Action button like on Apple Watch Ultra’s on an iPhone. Well, the iPhone 15 Pro might get in on that action.
Apple’s Vision Pro loaners for developers come with some absolutely ridiculous restrictions.
We’ve got an Apple Watch tip that we bet you don’t know — how to get the time with a tap on your wrist. Perfect for those long, boring meetings when you don’t want to peek at your watch.
Hang around for the great Apple Music versus Spotify debate of 2023.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Keep your iPad protected in luxurious leather. Photo: Harber London
For this week’s giveaway, we partnered with Harber London to offer you an opportunity to win an exquisite, handmade Magnetic Envelope Sleeve for iPad Pro valued at $118.
This gorgeous, full-grain leather iPad sleeve exudes elegance and durability, boasting a sleek design and robust construction. Crafted in either black or tan, the sleeve is made of top-quality leather, with 100% wool felt on the back and inner sleeve. This combination ensures comprehensive protection for your prized iPad, shielding it from potential scratches and impacts while providing a comfortable touch.
There’s a lot more to watch on Apple TV+ than there was this time last year. Photo: Apple
Apple aggressively added to its catalog of original films and TV shows between June 2022 and June 2023. The Apple TV+ total hit almost 200, and has since surpassed that milestone.
And some of the shows are very popular, appearing near the top of the ratings list always every week of 2023.
Turn your 11-inch iPad Pro into an MacBook Lite with Brydge Pro+, now available at a rock-bottom price. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Clip the Brydge Pro+ keyboard to an 11-inch iPad Pro to make an ultraportable laptop ready for school or work. And the useful add-on is available now for just $29.99.
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your first, second or third-generation iPad Pro 11-inch with a keyboard and trackpad, there’s never been a better time.
The Arc web browser is an all-new approach to the web. Image: The Browser Company
Arc is a new kind of web browser that recently launched for Mac. It breaks free of the conventional tabbed window design with an all-new approach to organizing your internet activity without slowing you down along the way.
The top talent at The Browser Company, Arc’s developer, are taking bold approaches behind the scenes as well. The Windows version won’t be rewritten in C++ as with most Windows programs. Instead, the team is creating a custom toolkit to compile its code in Apple’s Swift language on Windows.
More people in the U.S. unboxed an iPhone than an Android last quarter. Photo: Unsplash
iPhone shipments made up 55% of the U.S. smartphone market in the second quarter of 2023, according to a market-analysis firm. That’s the third quarter to a row that Apple handsets have made up more than half of the market.
iPhone shipments actually declined slightly in the April-though-June period, but not as much as some Android-makers — Samsung shipments dropped almost 40%.
Look past the dated design, and the M2 MacBook Pro is a great deal at its discounted price. Photo: Apple
Looking to buy a new MacBook Pro but find the 14-inch and 16-inch models expensive? You might consider buying the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which costs a much more reasonable $1,299.
Computer-setup gawkers on social media love their symmetry. It’s really just human nature to prefer those clean lines and even spacing — you know, stopping short of full-blown obsessive compulsive disorder and blowing a gasket if one little cable appears out of place.
Today’s M1 Ultra Mac Studio workstation brings not only powerhouse computing, but a few tricks of the trade when it comes to creating that pleasing symmetry. And it packs an interesting device we don’t see very often.
Just like you have fingerprints, your iPhone can have a device fingerprint. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple warned all App Store developers that it’s starting a crackdown on using device fingerprinting for user tracking.
As a means of preventing this invasive tracking, Apple will soon require devs to justify the inclusion of all APIs in software submitted to the App Store.
Want to watch Lionel Messi? Check out the Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass. Image: Apple
Apple pinned its hopes on soccer superstar Lionel Messi boosting interest in its MLS Season Pass, and the gamble is apparently paying off. After the legend joined Inter Miami CF, Apple reports that its soccer streaming service just had its best week ever.
And that’s after Messi playing only two matches on the service.