Looking at computer setups proudly flaunted on social media sometimes leads to cases of crippling envy. You may have some top-notch Apple gear, but you probably don’t possess treasures like those of today’s world-beating user: a new, high-end M2 Ultra Mac Pro, a Mac Studio, a Pro Display XDR and two Studio Displays. Sheesh. An M2 Ultra Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR is way over the top, but this rig adds another killer desktop machine as backup, plus a pair of Studio Displays!

Powered by artificial intelligence, the tiny new Plaud NotePin wearable records, transcribes and summarizes meetings and events to help you manage tasks at work, school or home, Plaud.AI said Wednesday. The company described the pill-shaped device, which you can wear on a necklace, wristband, clip or pin, as a “memory capsule.”

“Plaud NotePin is more than just an AI device,” said Nathan Hsu, CEO and Co-founder at Plaud.AI. “It’s your always-ready business partner, handling mundane, daily tasks so you can concentrate on what truly drives value in your life and career. This small but powerful device is reshaping the professional landscape, allowing users to optimize their day-to-day workflow and focus on what matters most.”

WaterField Designs’ X-Air Duffel is a carry-on duffel bag that solves many problems for frequent fliers. High-quality components and an incredibly well-thought-out design make it one of the best under-seat luggage options around — especially for anybody who tends to carry a lot of Apple gear.

Meticulously crafted, with loads of luxurious details, it’s roomy enough to hold a couple of days’ worth of clothing. And yet it’s still small enough to cram under most airlines’ seats. Dedicated compartments safely hold your MacBook, iPad and other devices, keeping them well organized for in-flight use.

Need to quickly generate new content for your website? You can give your blog an AI-powered SEO boost with Mind2Matter’s AI Articles plugin for WordPress. This AI-powered plugin integrates GPT-4o directly into your WordPress installation so you can generate custom blog posts in a matter of moments.

Think of all the time and effort you will save creating SEO-friendly content. You can grab a lifetime license to the AI Articles WordPress plugin for just $59.99 (regularly $229).

Apple’s 2025 iPhones could sport as much as 12GB RAM for more on-device AI features. A new leak from China claims Apple will equip the iPhone 17 with 12GB RAM.

Rumors indicate the iPhone 16 lineup will stick with the same 8GB RAM as Apple’s current iPhone 15 Pro series.

Apple reportedly laid off 100 employees from its services division Tuesday due to a change in priorities. The biggest job cuts hit the team that worked on the Apple Books app and the Apple Bookstore. This marks the company’s fourth round of layoffs this year.

The new mophie powerstation plus ultra plugs directly into a wall, and built-in cables let it plug straight into your iPhone or Mac. But it’s no simple wall adapter — it’s also a 10,000mAh power bank.

mophie also introduced on Tuesday two more models in the 2024 powerstation plus line with a variety of features.

The latest Snapchat version runs full-screen on an iPad, as the social networking service finally noticed Apple makes tablets.

Complaints aside, it’s a boon for users who can now see their friends and use silly filters on a larger display.

An update to the Wearable Devices Mudra Band for Apple Watch brings enhanced same-hand, touchless gesture control and task management for users even in older models of the device, the company said Monday. The artificial intelligence-powered functionality complements the band’s existing solutions for iPhone, iPad and other Apple products, it added.

“One of our initial goals with the Mudra Band has been to provide our users with same-hand touchless watch operation, and we are pleased to cater to multiple requests by our customers,” said Asher Dahan, CEO of Wearable Devices. “This is a step forward in AI-based wearable technology, pushing the boundaries of what wearable technology can offer.”

First Apple TV+ unveiled The New Look, a World War II drama depicting French fashion designers heroically carrying on with their vital work in Nazi-occupied Paris. Now the trailer for La Maison, a melodramatic family saga about a fictional French fashion house in crisis, struts down the catwalk. And it’s entirely in French. Hey, it could be great. Or, as the trailer suggests, it could be preposterously self-important.

And check out that tagline: “The fabric of power.” Seriously?

On the plus side, the show is brought to us by some talented folks behind good stuff — The Returned, Lupin and Le Bureau des Légendes. So I’ll leave out the “La Maison du Merde” jokes for now. La Maison debuts on Apple TV+ September 20.

The Pressure-Reducing Comfort Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro by Annapro is an absolute must-have game-changing accessory. It makes using the headset in its default mixed-reality mode far more engaging and comfortable, as it lets you use the device without Apple’s peripheral-blinding Light Seal. It also enables more people to use the more comfortable Solo Knit band, so it’s incredibly easy to put on and take off.

Annapro’s head strap makes the Vision Pro less like putting on ski goggles and more like putting on big glasses. It’s a small change that has radically impacted how I think about the device. And at a highly affordable $39.99, it’s a no-brainer accessory that every Vision Pro owner should pick up … all 200 of them.

Keep reading or watch our video review.

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Twelve South’s new ButterFly SE powers up iPhone and Apple Watch like the original version, but at a lower price. The Qi2 charger version of the tiny travel changer is also more colorful.

It can be preordered starting today.

Want to start the school year with an iPad? This refurbished iPad Air might be a great fit, especially since most students are on a budget and might not need the latest processor for their schoolwork or note-taking.

Shopping for refurbished tech is a smart way to ensure your school year starts on the right foot, and this fourth-gen iPad Air from 2020 is on sale for only $349.99 (compared to $599 for a sixth-gen iPad Air). It comes in sky blue, space gray and rose gold. Or, you can get a green one — with four times as much storage — for only $399.99.

The iPhone 16 is almost here — the release date is less than 3.5 short weeks away. We know the day Apple will announce the new models, which means we can make a solid estimate of the iPhone 16 launch date.

Even better, long-held Apple habits point to the same release date.

Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer (CFO) since 2014, will transition to head of Corporate Services on January 1, 2025, the iPhone giant said Monday. Kevan Parekh, Apple’s vice president of Financial Planning and Analysis, will assume the role of CFO.

“Luca has been an extraordinary partner in managing Apple for the long term. He has been instrumental in improving and driving the company’s financial performance, engaging with shareholders, and instilling financial discipline across every part of Apple,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “We’re fortunate that we will continue to benefit from the leadership and insight that have been the hallmark of his tenure at the company.”

The invitation to Apple’s September 9 “It’s Glowtime” event includes a gorgeous glowing Apple logo, and you can easily make this the wallpaper on your iPhone, Mac or iPad.

There’s no better way to show how excited you are about the iPhone 16, which is expected to debut at the event. Or maybe you’re anticipating new Apple Watch models or AirPods 4.

Apple sent out invitations Monday for a press event on September 9. The unveiling of the iPhone 16 series should be the highlight of the “It’s Glowtime” event.

But that’s not all. Get ready for AirPods 4, Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE 3 at Apple’s September event.

Labor Day comes up on Monday, September 2, but some sales on tech gear kick off as much as a week before that. Take Sonos, for example. You can find a range of great deals on headphones, speakers, soundbars and bundles of different products. Most of the bargains are at both Sonos and Amazon. Go to Sonos to see the whole sale on one page and grab the bundles. Follow links to either Amazon or Sonos below for various Labor Day deals on Sonos audio gear.

We’ve seen a trend for some time of people using massive smart TVs as external computer displays because they want something even bigger than most purpose-built monitors. But regular monitors are catching up. We’ve seen a few 49-inch curved gaming displays out there, of course, and today’s MacBook Pro setup uses a giant 43-inch Dell flat panel with 4K resolution.

Apple is reportedly testing multiple M4-powered Macs for launch later this year. More importantly, a new report says all the Macs ship with 16GB or 32GB of system memory.

This signals that Apple might finally bid farewell to the paltry 8GB RAM for Mac base models.

You’ve wanted to try iOS 18 since Apple showed it off in June but held off for fear of massive bugs. But the current iOS 18 beta is nearly the final one — and it’s really quite stable. Put it on your iPhone now and jump ahead of friends and co-workers by about a month.

And there are great new features to try, including a fully customizable Home Screen, an improved Control Center, a new Passwords app, and more.

If you appreciate the warm, rich sound of vinyl, you know that the right turntable can make all the difference. For those who love digging into their record collections or spinning tracks for an audience, finding a turntable that marries classic appeal with modern technology is key. The Gemini Sound TT-1200 USB turntable is a standout choice that combines timeless design with up-to-date technology, and it’s on sale for $159.99 (regularly $199).

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest batch of iPhone 16 rumors give us more insight into the probable camera upgrades — and color combos — coming to the lineup.

Also on The CultCast:

• A fake Apple event invite (which apparently nailed the date) whipped the internet into a frenzy. Find out how a 14-year-old Italian hoaxer fooled the internet.
• Want to give your iPhone a blackout? Have we got a four-character key combo for you!
• In a new Under Review segment, Griffin raves about a Vision Pro accessory that makes the device far more usable — and won’t ruin your hairdo!

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.

Despite Apple’s reputation for innovation, the company does not always adopt the latest cutting-edge smartphone technology. This year, I hope the company adds these six features in iPhone 16 — all of which you can find in Android phones.

Here’s my iPhone 16 wish list.

In an interesting turn of events, sources familiar with Apple’s plans reportedly confirmed the iPhone 16 event date as September 10, according to a new report. That date happens to match a recent hoax report that circulated online, adding an unexpected twist to Apple’s biggest product launch of the year, with the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch 10 and more expected.

Update: On August 26, Apple confirmed that the event will take place on Monday, September 9. The official invite bears the catchprase, “It’s Glowtime.”