Most of the videos we watch these days come to our screens thanks to streaming sites like YouTube and Hulu. Obviously we don’t always have the opportunity to connect to these sites when we want to, which makes saving them to our computers and mobile devices a great option. MovieSherlock Pro makes that easy, a powerful tool for downloading and converting video from a range of sites and for a wide range of devices. And right now you can get MovieSherlock Pro for just $15 at Cult of Mac Deals.

The European Union’s highest court has ruled that the U.K.’s Investigatory Powers Act, aka the “snooper’s charter,” is illegal.

The EU objects to the government’s “general and indiscriminate” retention of emails and other electronic communications. While the EU acknowledges that this information can be helpful, they argue that it should only be gathered in specific targeted instances to stop terrorism or serious crime.

Apple is now selling refurbished Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 models.

These devices aren’t outdated: They debuted back in September, when they got unveiled alongside the iPhone 7. You can find them cheaper if you buy them second-hand on eBay or Craigslist, but refurbished units from Apple offer a number of advantages.

The Japanese government has bailed out struggling Apple display supplier Japan Display with a 75 billion yen ($636 million) aid package, the company admitted today.

The government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan owns 36 percent of Japan Display, which works on Apple’s iPhones.

Super Mario Run only shipped late last week, and already it has set a new download record of 40 million downloads in only its first four days.

That may be where the good news ends, however.

Apple’s “thin and light” approach for its latest laptops totally breaks down when it comes to charging, due to the sizable power adapter that ships with the computers. Luckily, a tiny new USB-C charger will let you leave Apple’s ungainly charging brick at home.

Getting your hands on an Apple Watch Series 2 in time for Christmas has become nearly impossible for holiday shoppers.

Demand for the new watch has ticked up to a new level in the last month, according to Apple employees, who told Cult of Mac that stores are selling out of the Apple Watch Series 2 so fast that production can’t keep up.

This post is brought to you by Agent.ai.

Not all businesses can afford a full-time staff of phone operators. And let’s be honest: Frustration with automated systems can leave customers looking for another place to do business.

Agent.ai has created something that bridges the gap — a customer relationship management (CRM) system that’s powered by machine learning. It comes in two forms: Co-Pilot and Auto-Pilot.

Best List: Mythro Air wireless earbuds by Moshi

Moshi’s Mythro Air wireless earbuds look good and sound good. They offer all-day battery life, a clever magnetic clip to keep them in place, and a unique feature that allows you to share music from a single source to two sets of Mythro Air earbuds.

Best of all, they cost $69.99, and sound better than premium earbuds costing two or three times more.

Less than a week after dropping its last batch of betas, Apple has seeded new beta builds of iOS 10.2.1 and macOS Sierra 10.12.3 to developers this morning.

The new updates bring a number of performance enhancements and under-the-hood improvements, but it appears that no major new features have been added in the latest builds.

Apple’s swanky new AirPods are finally shipping, which means the teardown experts at iFixit have pulled them apart to give us a glimpse at their internals.

The AirPods themselves are filled with tiny components and copious amounts of glue, while an X-ray scan of their charging case could reveal the reason behind the lengthy shipping delay.

The iMac didn’t get much love in 2016, but according to Apple CEO Tim Cook, killer new desktop Macs are coming.

In a note to Apple employees, Cook assured staff that desktop computers are still “really important” and that they shouldn’t worry about future machines.

Getting online means leaving a trail of personal data that can expose you to attacks and identity theft. Hotspot Shield vastly reduces that risk, encrypting and anonymizing your traffic through a simple one-click interface. And right now you can connect 5 devices simultaneously by signing up for a lifetime of the Hotspot Shield Elite Plus plan for the newly dropped price of $54.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Want the MacBook Pro’s fancy new Touch Bar without forking out crazy money for a new machine? Now you can bring it to any Mac with Duet Display on your iPad.

Apple’s Mac team has “lost clout” with the company’s industrial design group and software team, claims a new report, arguing that Cupertino has “alienated Mac loyalists.”

The picture painted by the article is of a division with a lack of clear direction from senior management, departures of key employees, and technical challenges — all conspiring to make the Mac one of Apple’s forgotten divisions.

Apple may not have launched its most innovative products in 2016, but when it comes to marketing, Cupertino is still killing it.

By utilizing celebrities, musicians, athletes and everyday iPhone owners, Apple created some of its most memorable ads ever in 2016. Whether they were touting Apple TV with Kobe Bryant, or using the story of an autistic boy to show how technology can change the world, Apple ads entertained us and gave us all the feels.

These are our favorite Apple ads of 2016.

Apple is continuing to consider manufacturing its devices in India — but it wants the Indian government to make it worthwhile.

That’s according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, which notes that Apple recently outlined its wish for financial incentives in a letter to officials in India, and that the country’s Senior Trade Ministry authorities have since met to discuss the matter.

Waymo offered a first look at its fleet of hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivans today, showing off vehicles that pack an array of sensors and software that enable autonomous operation.

The self-driving fleet of 100 minivans from Waymo (which is run by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) will hit the streets in early 2017.

We value our Mac computers. Whether on a desk or in a lap, they help us complete many life tasks. But you and your machine wouldn’t make it without reliable accessories — especially now that we live in the USB-C era.

Storage drives, hubs with extra ports, a good pair of headphones, maybe a bag to carry your tech — all these Mac accessories play important roles. They often remain unsung, but sometimes come through to help us avoid a devastating loss of hardware or important work.

So if you are looking to bolster your Mac support team, look no further than this list of some of Cult of Mac’s favorites accessories from 2016 for iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

2016 is certainly ending with a bang for Apple customers. Just days after Nintendo dropped Super Mario Run for iOS, Mojang’s smash hit Minecraft has landed for Apple TV.

Costing $19.99, Minecraft: Apple TV Edition isn’t cheap, but it’s something which is sure to be very popular among the game’s ultra-passionate fanbase.

The eagerly-awaited Super Mario Run made upwards of $4 million worldwide in its first day on the market, according to analytics company App Annie.

The analytics firm suggests that the game — which represents the first official appearance of  Mario on iOS — was downloaded around 10 million times, and was the top-ranked game by downloads in 60 of the 151 countries it launched in within hours of its debut.

The guitar is a fantastic instrument, but it’s not exactly convenient to travel with. However, with the Jamstik and an iPhone or an iPad, you can shove a digital six string in your bag and play it pretty much anywhere. It packs all the features of a real guitar into an uber-portable package, with the versatility of MIDI. And right now you can get one for just $149.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple’s AirPods were due for release in late October, but the wireless headphones didn’t become available until last week from stores and via online orders (expect a six-week wait for the latter!)

Fortunately, we were able to get hold of a pair first thing today. Check out the video below to see what’s inside the box and get our first impressions.

Apple has launched its legal challenge against the European Union’s demand of $14 billion in allegedly unpaid back taxes.

In a statement, Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell said Cupertino has been targeted because of its success, implying that European legislators picked on the company for largely symbolic reasons.

The Cult of Mac Store keeps managing to top itself with great new deals on gear and gadgets. This week’s best new arrivals include a charging and storage hub for five devices, a single cable that connects USB, MicroUSB and USB-C, a rugged smartwatch that puts Alexa on your wrist, and a powerful VPN going for a mere fraction of its usual price. All of them are massively discounted, and great ideas for gifts and stocking stuffers.

Read on for more details: