Mobile menu toggle

News - page 221

New Jya Fjord purifier for HomeKit lets you clear the air with Nordic flair

By •

The new Jya Fjord and Fjord Pro air purifiers support HomeKit.
The new Jya Fjord and Fjord Pro air purifiers support HomeKit.
Photo: Jya

If you’re looking for a HomeKit-enabled air purifier that can handle large rooms, you have a new option: SmartMi launched its new brand Jya and its Fjord air purifier.

It joins SmartMi’s two existing HomeKit air purifiers, but it features more of a “Nordic” aesthetic and is designed for larger rooms, the company said.

New Studio Display gives LG 4K monitor the boot [Setups]

By •

Another satisfied customer: New Studio Display pairs with an M1 MacBook Air and a homemade keyboard.
Another satisfied customer: New Studio Display pairs with an M1 MacBook Air (not shown) and a homemade keyboard.
Photo: Asleep_Painting6103

Another week, another bunch of new Studio Displays shipped. They’re cropping up in Setups far and wide as replacements for until-recently-good-enough 4K monitors by the likes of LG and Dell.

Today’s featured M1 MacBook Air setup runs a new Studio Display in place of a 4K LG screen. And for input devices, the user opts for a Magic Trackpad over a mouse, using it with a pretty nifty homemade mechanical keyboard.

M2 MacBook Air benchmarks show it’s plenty fast

By •

WWDC22: The new M2 MacBook Air gets a MagSafe charger.
The M2 MacBook was unveiled in June at WWDC22.
Photo: Apple

The first benchmark scores for the upcoming MacBook Air with an Apple M2 processor confirm that the device offers a considerable speed boost over the M1-powered version.

However, performance comes in well behind MacBook Pros with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

Apple’s cheaper AR/MR headset might arrive in 2025

By •

Apple VR/AR headset takes big step toward production
Wait until 2025 if you want don't want to spend a bomb on Apple's AR headset.
Concept: Martin Hajek/Computer Bild

Apple’s second-generation AR/MR headset could debut in 2025 with a more affordable price tag than the original. The company seemingly plans to launch two different variants of the headset to target consumers with different budgets.

Apple’s first-generation mixed reality headset is currently expected to launch in the first half of 2023.

My, what a big screen your ‘rugged’ Apple Watch has [The CultCast]

By •

The CultCast: What, exactly, will the rumored rugged Apple Watch look like?
What, exactly, will the rumored rugged Apple Watch look like?
Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: This could be the year Apple Watch goes large … and rugged … and maybe long. Like, long enough to track the kind of intense, multi-hour workouts that “extreme sports athletes” engage in.

So the question is, what will this beefier (and pricier) Apple Watch look like? We can’t help letting our imaginations run a little wild.

Also on The CultCast:

  • iOS 16 features that will keep us all waiting.
  • Apple’s new Lockdown Mode sounds super-serious.
  • The White House honors Steve Jobs with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • The dreaded pukerang!

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 livestream, embedded below.

Our sponsor: Squarespace

Special thanks to this week’s sponsor, Squarespace. Get all the tools you need to set up your very own website and commence selling anything online. Start your free website trial today at squarespace.com/cultcast (no credit card required). Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code cultcast at checkout.

New magnetic sleeve is a perfect fit for M2 MacBook Air

By •

Get the optional strap and the sleeve becomes a shoulder bag.
Get the optional strap and the sleeve becomes a shoulder bag.
Photo: WaterField Designs

Got a new 13-inch M2 MacBook Air in need of some stylish protection? WaterField Designs just unveiled its new Magnetic Laptop Sleeve. It’s custom-fitted to that ultralight laptop.

The sleeve, made of waxed canvas in four color choices, offers serious protection, too.

And if you preorder one soon enough, you can get special early-bird gift. See below.

Apple keeps up with rush of M2 MacBook Air preorders

By •

Apple keeps up with rush of M2 MacBook Air preorders
You'll probably have to wait for the M2 MacBook Air, but not more than a couple weeks.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Preorders for the svelte new M2 MacBook Air began early Friday morning and Apple is mostly keeping up with demand. There’s even one standard configuration still available for delivery on the July 15 launch day. The base model can be delivered a few days after that.

Build up the specs and the wait time can stretch out to August. But no farther than that.

New iPhone 14 case leak supports rumor of ‘Plus’ model

By •

This lineup of purported iPhone 14 cases shows a
This lineup of purported iPhone 14 cases shows a "Plus" non-Pro model.
Photo: DuanRui@Twitter

A photograph said to show leaked iPhone 14 cases supports the widespread idea that the series will feature four models and bigger camera bumps. And it appears to show a case for a large, non-Pro handset that may be called “iPhone 14 Plus.”

If this holds up at launch in a couple of months, the two smaller models will be iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro and the two bigger models will be iPhone 14 Plus (or Max) and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple Arcade collection of classic games adds something for everyone

By •

Visit alien worlds in 'Samorost 3+'
The "wonderfully weird" Samorost 3+ is the latest App Store Great to join Apple Arcade.
Screenshot: Amanita Design

Apple Arcade offers many original games, but the collection also includes quite a few App Store Greats: classic titles that have joined Apple’s gaming service. Recent additions include Samorost 3+, My Bowling 3D+, Jigsaw Puzzle+ and Pro Darts 2022+.

They join dozen of other classic games that players used to have to pay to play individually but are now all available with a single Apple Arcade subscription.

Tiny apartment benefits from beautifully backlit Studio Display [Setups]

By •

This cozy corner benefits from Philips Hue Play light bars behind the Studio Display.
This cozy corner benefits from Philips Hue Play light bars behind the Studio Display.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured M1 Pro MacBook workstation has a new Studio Display with bias lighting, illuminating the wall behind the display. It comes from three strategically placed Philips Hue Play bars that really make that corner of the small apartment “pop.”

Apple TV+ nabs record 53 Hollywood Critics Association Awards nominations

By •

Apple TV+ will clean up at this year's Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
Apple TV+ will clean up at this year's Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ garnered a record 53 nominations for 16 shows across a range of genres — comedy, drama, documentary, anthology series, variety-sketch series — for the upcoming Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

Psychological thriller Severance and comedy Ted Lasso led the way with a dozen nominations apiece.

Preorder the M2 MacBook Air now while supplies last

By •

2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor
Get your M2 MacBook Air preorder in early if you want it delivered on launch day.
Photo: Apple

Apple has started accepting preorders for the M2 MacBook Air. The company took down its online store for a couple of hours to prepare for the new Air’s launch.

The new MacBook Air will be available in retail stores from July 15.

Should you grab a great deal on AirPods Pro or wait for the new ones?

By •

A great deal is a great deal, but the coming AirPods Pro 2 may feature sweet upgrades.
A great deal is a great deal, but the coming AirPods Pro 2 may feature sweet upgrades.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Some great sales prices have popped up lately for Apple’s flagship earbuds, AirPods Pro. That may relate to the fact that the highly anticipated next-gen version with new features is expected to launch before the end of the year. And sellers want to clear out stock.

So should you take the deal behind door No. 1, or wait for whatever’s coming with AirPods Pro 2 behind door No. 2? Let’s look at your options for Apple’s top active noise-cancelling (ANC) wireless earbuds.

Elago brings back a classic colorful case for iPhone 13

By •

Elago brought back its best-selling Glide cases for iPhone 13.
Elago brought back its best-selling Glide cases for iPhone 13.
Photo: Elago

There’s nothing like a splash of color to jazz things up. Elago found that out years ago when it first offered its popular Glide series of cases, which feature two-tone color combinations. Now an improved, more-protective version of the case is out for iPhone 13 handsets.

And better yet, you can get a great price on a selection of Glide cases for iPhone 13 in the Cult of Mac Store.

Apple Watch 7 and SE hit all-time low prices

By •

You can get great deals right now on Apple Watch 7 and SE.
You can get great deals right now on Apple Watch 7 and SE.
Photo: Apple

Various discounts across the Apple Watch lineup appeared Thursday, including Apple Watch SE hitting an all-time low price on Amazon for the first time and models of Apple Watch Series 7 reaching or returning to all-time low prices.

Act fast, though — these deals often don’t last long.

Luck trailer: First full-length, 3D-animated film on Apple TV+ looks fun

By •

"Luck" takes you to where luck comes from.
Photo: Apple TV+

Feeling unlucky lately? Wouldn’t it be nice if a black cat who speaks English with a Scottish accent could take you to a magical land where luck is made?

Not bloody likely to happen, but you get the next best thing with Luck, the first full-length, 3D-animated film to hit Apple TV+, which offered a trailer for it Thursday.

It’s also the streamer’s first film through its exclusive deal with Skydance Animation. Look for Luck’s Apple TV+ debut on August 5.

Long-lost iPhone clownfish return in iOS 16 beta 3

By •

Long-lost iPhone clownfish are back in iOS 16 beta 3
Remember these guys?
Photo: Apple

When Apple first showed off the original iPhone in early 2007, the demo included a Lock Screen image of a pair of clownfish. The pic was not on the device when it shipped, but some people say the picture is included in the just-released iOS 16 beta 3.

Bringing back the image after 15 years is apparently a sort of Easter egg to celebrate the anniversary.

Apple TV+ keeps finding new viewers to grow faster than rivals

By •

Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Apple TV+ growth stood out in the streaming market in Q2 2022.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple TV+ saw strong growth in spring 2022, according to a company that tracks viewership. It grew to 6% of the U.S. streaming market.

During the same quarter, Netflix stayed on top but dropped by two percentage points. It’s now just ahead of Amazon Prime Video.

Extra-rugged Apple Watch for athletes will pack biggest screen yet

By •

A ruggedized Apple Watch for athletes
Just how radically rugged will the Apple Watch for extreme athletes be?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

The rugged Apple Watch designed for hardcore athletes will come with the smartwatch’s biggest screen yet, according to a new report.

Slated to launch this fall alongside Apple Watch Series 8, the sports-oriented smartwatch will come with a beefier battery to make it through longer workouts. A more shatter-resistant screen and a brawny metal case will round out the package — along with a hefty price bump.

New Lockdown Mode makes iPhone secure from sophisticated digital attacks

By •

New Lockdown Mode makes iPhone secure from sophisticated digital attacks
Lockdown Mode is designed to offer an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

A new hyper-secure Lockdown Mode should help protect the iPhones, iPads and Macs of journalists, politicians and activists who face “highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware,” Apple said Wednesday.

The new security measure is only for extreme cases, though, because it blocks commonly used features of messaging and web browsing.

This is how you power a home-automation station [Setups]

By •

An M1 Max MacBook Pro and Raspberry Pi help make this a home-automation station.
An M1 Max MacBook Pro and Raspberry Pi help make this a home-automation station.
Photo: [email protected]

Most of the time, when we talk about home automation, we’re talking about Apple’s HomeKit system. But today’s featured computer setup, which relies on a formidable M1 Max MacBook Pro and dual displays, goes another route.

The homeowner runs a Raspberry Pi with open-source software to achieve about 50 automations, including Siri integration.

Have your way with documents on iPhone and Mac with Kdan’s PDF Reader

By •

Create, convert, edit and share documents with Kdan's PDF Reader.
Create, convert, edit and share documents with Kdan's PDF Reader.
Image: Kdan

This post is brought to you by Kdan.

 If you want to work smoothly with PDF files, you need a capable tool like Kdan’s PDF Reader. The name may leave you thinking it just helps you read PDFs, but it actually does much more for your workflow. If you’re wondering how to convert to PDF on iPad, take a look at this step-by-step guide.

With PDF Reader, you can create, read, edit, sign, scan, secure and convert PDFs on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Learn more and download it below.