In a significant shift in the podcasting landscape, YouTube has emerged as the leading platform for podcast consumption in the United States, surpassing long-time market leader Apple Podcasts and streaming giant Spotify, which is now in second place, according to recent studies. Meanwhile, former leader Apple Podcast loses market share, falling to third place. And that marks a turning point in how Americans access and consume podcast content.

Not everyone keeps an iPad in their computer setup, especially when it’s not their main computer. But today’s M2 Pro MacBook Pro user does. And as commenters on his post noted, he may have found the perfect placement for his iPad Pro stand. He seems to get his laptop and tablet mounts working in perfect unison, within view and also within easy reach.

The CdkeySales Back to School Sale rolls on, so you and your family can still find big discounts on Microsoft software and get to know your new software before classes begin. It’s your chance to score surprisingly low prices on productivity software like Windows and Microsoft Office. That includes Windows 10 Pro for just $17.05 — and a free upgrade comes with it! Or you can cut straight to the chase and get a deep discount on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro at $22.71. That’s an astounding 88% off Microsoft’s price, as shown in the image below.

You will find remarkably low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com now and throughout the year. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on genuine software keys. And don’t forget: When you buy Windows 10, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11!

Apple reportedly added support for JPEG XL to the iPhone Camera app in iOS 18. That’s left many iPhone users wondering, what the heck is JPEG XL?

It’s intended to be the replacement for the classic JPEG image format with new features for use on the web. And apparently, iPhone users soon can take pictures in this format, not simply view them.

Tired of your “sleep headphones” making you toss and turn all night? What an ironic name for things designed to help you relax. If that’s you, try the Sleeper Bluetooth pillow speaker instead. It uses bone-conduction technology to send sound waves through your favorite pillow.

Say goodbye to trying to sleep with earbuds jammed in your ears or some other similarly annoying contraptions. Get a Sleeper pillow speaker for $39.99 (regularly $49.99) and start listening to your nighttime music, podcasts or sleep sounds the comfortable way.

The macOS Sequoia release date could arrive alongside iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 next month. Apple typically releases a major new iOS and iPadOS update in September alongside new iPhones. And while the next version of the Mac operating system usually follows in October or November, that could change this year.

European iPhone and iPad users will be able to kick Apple’s Phone and Messages apps to the curb if they wish. The same goes for an array of other applications that iOS currently makes the default options.

These join a long list of other changes being forced on Apple by the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

The new Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 and Pi8 wireless, active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds aim to redefine the premium earbud market with upgraded features, impeccable design and stellar sound quality, the venerable brand said Wednesday. The new buds come from the same team behind the company’s acclaimed Px7 S2e and Px8 headphones.

“I’m thrilled that the Bowers & Wilkins team has once again been able to raise the bar for premium design, performance and quality in the headphone category,” said Giles Pocock, vice president of Brand Marketing at Bowers & Wilkins, founded way back in 1966. “Our new Pi6 and Pi8 earbuds are truly special — I’m certain they will be just as successful as our Px7 S2e and Px8 headphones have been.”

AirPods are the wireless earbuds that ordinary Bluetooth headphones want to be when they grow up. They’re seamlessly integrated with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. They’re deceptively simple — but if you want to get more out of them, you need to dig through Settings. These AirPods tips will show you where to look to unlock maximum functionality.

I did some spelunking and found six super-handy hidden features you might not know about.

A multifunction button specifically to control the Camera app will be included in all four iPhone 16 version, not only the Pro models, according to an unconfirmed report published Thursday.

The same source details a range of improvements to the cameras built into these iOS handsets expected to launch in September.

SwitchEasy is offering a great deal in the Cult of Mac Store through Thursday, August 22 — buy any SwitchEasy Apple Watch band at 20% off.

You can pick from an array of cool Apple Watch bands in different styles and made of various materials, from stretchy nylon to stainless steel mesh. See below.

Apple Watch SE and SE2 are great, affordable smart watches. But with the killer deals on grade A refurbished Apple Watches like Series 6,7 and 8 that Amazon bargain site Woot! offers this week, why not go for a wearable with more features than the budget models?

Act fast, though — the deals, which also include Apple Watch SE plus Series 4 and 5 — and and appealing variety of choices of models and colors — end Tuesday, August 27, at 10 p.m. Pacific.

Two brilliant detectives will clash again as acclaimed London-based thriller Criminal Record returns for a second season, Apple TV+ said Thursday. The engrossing series stars Peter Capaldi of Doctor Who and Cush Jumbo of The Good Wife.

So the streamer confirmed what Jumbo said on a talk show back in February. The renewal is great news for fans of the show. If you haven’t tried it, you should stream the first season.

The Zagg Crystal Palace solves a vexing problem for iPad users: you want to show off your gorgeous iPad but you need to protect it too. That’s why most of this folio case is transparent. Nevertheless, it provides 6.5 feet of drop protection.

It also acts as a stand, and there’s a useful Apple Pencil holder.

Zagg’s case offers plenty of great features, but an unfortunate design flaw in the cover flap makes it hard for me to recommend this product.

You’ve got friends who love Minecraft, but play on consoles or phones, while others stay immersed in their modded PC setups. Instead of choosing between different versions of the game, Minecraft: Java and Bedrock Edition for PC gives you access to both versions from one convenient launcher.

This dual-edition Minecraft bundle is great for anyone who wants to stay connected with friends and explore every aspect of the game without being restricted to just one platform or community. And you can download it for the best price you’ll find anywhere online. Get a digital download of Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC for only $24.99 (regularly $29.99).

The iPhone’s new Game Mode in iOS 18 will enhance graphics and reduce controller latency. It comes on automatically when you first launch a game.

Game Mode also reduces the background activities and services running on your phone. Luckily, if you don’t want that to happen, you can turn off Game Mode from your iPhone’s Control Center.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Game Mode works.

Apple has supposedly hit a major setback and significantly delayed the mass production of its MacBook with a super-size, folding screen. The company has run into technical issues with the display and other mechanicals.

Apparently, these problems will force Apple to delay mass production until as late as the end of 2027 or 2028.

Matt Fischer, the vice president in charge of the App Store since 2010, will leave Apple in October of this year. His departure will follow a major reorganization that splits the App Store team in two as Apple seeks to avoid further regulatory scrutiny.

One part of the team will oversee Apple’s App Store, while the other will manage third-party app marketplaces.

Want to make your iPhone crash? It’s easy. Type four simple characters into the App Library’s search field and the iOS SpringBoard will go down like a house of cards.

The good news is that a fix already seems to be on the way from Apple for this extremely minor bug.

A talented Mexico City medical student studies hard by day and saves lives by night, hurtling around the sprawling metropolis in her family’s private ambulance. But it looks like something’s got to give under the strain of it all in the trailer Apple TV+ dropped Tuesday for the upcoming Spanish-language drama series Midnight Family.

Sure, you might need subtitles, but it looks like a rewarding ride. The 10-episode series, based on a documentary, debuts on Apple TV+ September 25.

iCloud+ is Apple’s most successful service by a wide margin, according to an analysts’ report released Monday. Seems plenty of iPhone and Mac users are willing to pay for more than the 5GB of free storage available.

Adoption rates for the Mac-maker’s other services might surprise some people: A third of all Apple users subscribe to Apple TV+, for example.

Keeping up with the latest charging standards, Nomad released the third generation of its premium Stand One Max multi-device charger Wednesday. It features support for the new Qi2 wireless charging protocol, which enables up to 15-watt wireless charging speeds for compatible iPhones and Androids. And the luxe 3-in-1 stand keeps your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods going in style.

Apple introduced audio sharing to Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones in a firmware update Tuesday, a feature already known to AirPods Max and AirPods users. So once your Beats Studio Pro update over the air to firmware version 2C301, up from version 2B68 installed at launch, you can easily share what you listen to with family and friends via a connected iPhone or iPad.

In the battle of 5K resolution displays, it’s Studio Display against a small-but-growing army of foes (at least for Mac fans). Today’s M1 MacBook Pro user looks to replace a 1440K gaming display with either a Samsung ViewFinity S9 curved 5K monitor or with Apple’s well-liked but somewhat-pricey Studio Display. The advice she got leaned heavily toward Apple.

If your family owns several devices, it is important to own a good charging solution to ensure you can quickly and simultaneously top up everything. I typically relied on power bricks — despite them not being the best for the job. But then I switched to the Acefast Z4 218W power station, a sleek-looking, four-in-one charging station that pumps out plenty of power.

Read my Acefast Z4 218W power station review to learn why this capable accessory deserves a spot on your desk, thanks to an ideal mix of style and substance.