Mobile menu toggle

News - page 244

Studio Display is worth the price for the levitation alone [Setups]

By •

Oh, you didn't know the new Studio Display levitates? Well, sort of.
Oh, you didn't know the new Studio Display levitates? Well, sort of.
Photo: [email protected]

After Apple rolled out its new Studio Display on March 18, the reviews poured in. Many praised the 27-inch 5K display. But some found faults. Ultimately, after the dust settled, a primary question lingered. It’s good, for the most part, but is it worth the $1,600 price?

Today’s featured setup seems to answer the question in the affirmative. See how the Studio Display in the photo floats in the air? When you think about it, it’s really just a matter of factoring in the value of levitation.

Eufy’s new fingerprint ID smart lock is also a 2K security camera and doorbell

By •

Eufy's new smart lock is also a wide-angle security camera and a motion-detecting doorbell.
Eufy's new smart lock is also a wide-angle security camera and a motion-detecting doorbell.
Photo: Eufy

Eufy has a new Kickstarter campaign for what it calls “the see-everything smart lock.” It’s the Eufy Video Smart Lock, a 3-in-1 device that works as a fingerprint-detecting lock, a 2K, wide-angle camera and a dual motion-detection doorbell, the company said.

Now that’s a capable gadget. And it has a substantial price to match. See below.

Two Apple TV+ shows beat anything on Netflix and Disney+ in Q1 2022

By •

Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Apple is managing to stand out in the streaming market in Q1 2022.
Photo: Cult of Mac

More streaming viewers watched the drama CODA on Apple TV+ than any other movie or series during the first three months of 2022, according to a ratings tracker. And the thriller Severance on Apple’s streaming service came in third place overall.

That means Apple TV+ streamed two shows with more viewers than anything on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or Disney+.

Ends Sunday: 20% off all Elago Apple accessories

By •

Yes, you're AirPods Pro case can look like an adorable little Mac.
Yes, you're AirPods Pro case can look like an adorable little Mac.
Photo: Elago

Elago makes so many fun and interesting accessories for Apple products, it’s hard to know where to begin. But begin you should, because Saturday and Sunday you can get 20% off everything Elago in the Cult of Mac Store.

Don’t worry. There are a mind-numbing 148 products to choose from, but we’ll help you pick some choice items below. And you can browse everything in Elago’s Easter weekend sale, of course. But don’t dawdle. It’s only for the weekend, and it ends Sunday!

This weekend only: Take 20% off all BluShark bands for Apple Watch

By •

BluShark's Apple Watch bands come in a great variety of materials and colors.
BluShark's Apple Watch bands come in a great variety of materials and colors.
Photo: BluShark

If you’re thinking about freshening up your Apple Watch band — or giving one as a gift to a family member or friend — you’re in luck. This weekend only, April 16 – 17, BluShark is offering all of its bands at 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store.

With a choice of 41 different straps in a variety of materials and colors, you’re bound to find something great. And there’s a handsome Canvas Strap Roll to carry your watches, straps and tools, as well.

iPad Pro is a real steal after a $400 discount

By •

Logitech Combo Touch review
The deals on the 2021 iPad Pro lineup are too good to ignore
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The M1 iPad Pro is discounted by up to $400 on Amazon, making it the perfect time to pick one up. The 11-inch iPad Pro sees a sweet $50 discount off its retail price, bringing its price down to $749.

The best deal is on the top-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro with cellular connectivity and 2TB storage that’s discounted by $400.

Unreal Engine’s free Core game creation tool comes to macOS and iOS

By •

Core is a game-development tool previously limited to PCs.
Core is a game-development tool previously limited to PCs.
Photo: Manticore Games

Core is a free tool for creating games that runs on Unreal Engine, which is only available on PC. But as part of its one-year anniversary, developer Manticore Games said Friday that Core is coming to macOS and iOS in summer 2022.

When Mac, iPhone and iPad get Core, gamers will be able to cross-play between versions with Windows gamers, Manticore said. And developers can start playing with Core for iOS on Friday.

New China COVID-19 lockdowns could hit iPhone production hard

By •

A new wave of lockdowns in China could put Apple millions of units behind on iPhone production.
A new wave of lockdowns in China could put Apple millions of units behind on iPhone production.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

Analysts note that new COVID-19 lockdowns in China are hitting Apple’s supply chain hard. And the pain will likely worsen, with production falling behind by up to 10 million iPhones.

And this is not just about iPhones. Authorities have halted production at three key suppliers for iPhone, iPad and Mac assembly. Meanwhile, Apple is negotiating to reopen production lines, though success could be hard to come by, according to one analyst Friday.

This follows recent news of assembly and shipping delays on built-to-order MacBook Pro models.

Simple Mac mini workstation packs more than meets the eye [Setups]

By •

This computer setup simply has more in it than there appears.
This computer setup simply has more in it than there appears.
Photo: [email protected]

At a glance, today’s featured computer setup appears simpler than it really is. It showcases a Mac mini, a pair of mounted monitors and some typical-looking input devices. A row of water bottles stands to the right because the owner, who lives in India, is big on hydration as summer hits the subcontinent.

But there’s more to the setup than meets the eye. And some of it escapes the camera’s lens.

Apple preps 9 Macs with new M2 processor

By •

M2 MacBook Pro
Is a new M2 chip right around the corner?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly has half a dozen Macs with the next-generation M2 processor in testing. These are a mix of MacBooks and desktops.

Some supposedly will arrive later in 2022, but Apple won’t release the rest until 2023.

Celebrate Earth Day the Apple Pay way, auto-donating $1 at a time

By •

Use Apple Pay to donate to a good cause this year around Earth Day.
Use Apple Pay to donate to a good cause this year around Earth Day.
Photo: Apple

If you care about environmental causes, Apple just gave you a pretty painless way to give. Starting Thursday and running through Earth Day on April 22, Apple will donate $1 to the World Wildlife Fund for every Apple Pay transaction in Apple stores, on the store app or on Apple.com.

So start buying stuff and join the fight to save the planet’s beleaguered species.

M1 MacBook Pro is a total steal after a $249 discount

By •

MacBook Pro Black Friday deals
This deal gives you the perfect excuse to buy the M1 MacBook Pro
Photo: Apple

Apple’s excellent M1 MacBook Pro is discounted by as much as $249 on Amazon. The base model with 256GB storage is down to its lowest price of $1,099 in the last 30 days, down from 1,299.

The deal on the 512GB variant is even better — it is available for $1,249 after a $249 discount, with the last $50 off automatically applied at checkout.

Get inspired by trailer for The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball on Apple TV+

By •

Get inspired by trailer for ‘The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball’ on Apple TV+
Makur Maker is the focus of in The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

A docuseries about an NBA hopeful determined to take control of his journey premieres on Apple TV+ on April 22. The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball tells the story of how Makur Maker, a five-star NBA prospect, ended up at Howard University.

A new trailer for the upcoming series gives an early look at his inspirational story.

WhatsApp finally adds emoji reactions and features for groups

By •

At first, WhatsApp users will have just six emojis to choose from.
At first, WhatsApp users will have just six emojis to choose from.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Looks like secure chat client WhatsApp just got a little livelier. Its long-promised emoji-based Reactions and newly developed Communities features for organizations rolled out on Thursday.

Users will have six emojis to play with to start. And in addition to new Communities, WhatsApp’s Groups functionality gets a revamp, too.

New signs point to periscope lens coming to iPhone 15

By •

Apple may have found a new periscope lens supplier for iPhone 15.
Apple may have found a new periscope lens supplier for iPhone 15.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

It looks like the rumored periscope lens in iPhone 15 just took a step closer to reality. Jahwa Electronics in South Korea said it plans to expand production on new models and invest $155.7 million in new facilities. A new report suggested the company’s new customer is Apple, for whom it will supply periscope lens components.

Jahwa currently supplies such tech — optical image stabilization (OIS) actuators — for Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup.

Jack up efficiency with Satechi’s slick new laptop accessories

By •

You can get Satechi's speedy new HDMI 2.1 cable and dual vertical laptop stand at a 20% off discount for launch.
You can get Satechi's speedy new HDMI 2.1 cable and dual vertical laptop stand at a 20% off discount for launch.
Photo: Satechi

If you make your MacBook Pro or other laptop the center of your office, Satechi rolled out new accessories Thursday that can help increase your efficiency factor.

The company launched its new 8K Ultra HD High Speed HDMI 2.1 Cable for fast display connections and Dual Vertical Laptop Stand to keep your gear neatly housed out of the way while you work.

Apple accuses Meta of ‘hypocrisy’ for nearly 50% commission on metaverse sales

By •

Apple accuses Meta of ‘hypocrisy’ for nearly 50% commission on metaverse sales
Selling anything in Meta’s VR metaverse will cost developers quite a bit.
Photo: Meta

Facebook’s parent company Meta will claim almost half of the money third-party developers earn from sales in Horizon Worlds, the VR platform for Quest headsets. An Apple executive says that “lays bare Meta’s hypocrisy,” considering it has criticized Apple in the past for its 30% App Store fee.

Apple helps suppliers more than double their use of clean power

By •

Apple helps suppliers more than double their use of clean power
Apple invested in the IP Radian Solar project to help offset the electricity used to charge iPhones, Macs, iPads, etc.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s suppliers have more than doubled their use of clean power over the last year. There’s over 10 gigawatts operational today.  In 2021, these projects avoided 13.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

And the iPhone-maker itself is investing in green energy projects.

Elon Musk wants to take over Twitter by spending $41 billion

By •

Elon Musk
Elon Musk now wants to acquire the whole of Twitter
Photo: NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affair/Wikipedia CC

Tesla CEO and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has offered $41 billion in cash to take over Twitter. He wants to take the social media company private to ensure it is able to thrive and “be the platform for free speech around the globe.”

The move comes less than two weeks after Musk spent $3 billion to become Twitter’s largest shareholder.