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Slack gets easier to use with first Home Screen widgets

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Slack gets easier to use with first Home Screen widgets
You can set your Slack status and more from the iPhone Home Screen thanks to new widgets.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Slack added a trio of iPhone and iPad Home Screen widgets on Monday — the first ever for the popular team communication app.

Users can jump directly to unread messages or update their status with these widgets. Or even launch Slack directly from their Lock Screen.

Bulked-up iPhone SE 4 could add OLED screen for first time

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bigger iPhone SE with OLED display rumored
If the claim is true, iPhone SE 4 would be the first SE with an OLED display, not to mention a bigger size overall.
Photo: Filipe Alves

The upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE might see a pretty big size increase and become the first SE handset to boast an OLED screen, according to the latest rumors. Other rumored upgrades for the budget iPhone include a powerful 48MP camera and more memory so it can run Apple Intelligence features.

Those are some big changes for an entry-level handset folks thought might be on the chopping block not long ago.

‘iPhone 17 Slim’ could become Apple’s new premium handset

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iPhone 17 leaks, specs and price
We got an early look at the specs for iPhone 17 Slim.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A super-slim version of the iPhone 17 could stand out as the most expensive option in Apple’s lineup, even though it wouldn’t come with all the features of the Pro models in that same series.

Other specifications for 2025’s iPhone 17 series supposedly leaked out over the weekend as well.

Apple tightens the purse strings on Apple TV+

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Apple TV+
Apple TV+ costs billions to produce, but there are reportedly budget cuts.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple reportedly wants to reduce the amount of money it pours into its Apple TV+ streaming service. And the company also wants to get more bang for its buck.

The result likely will be fewer Apple TV+ shows, and decreased spending on marquee projects. Plus, underperforming series can expect to get canceled more quickly.

Here’s a good way to mount your USB microphone [Setups]

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Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Microphone setup
This well-equipped setup features an Audio-Technica microphone with shock mount on an Elgato arm.
Photo: [email protected]

If you want to sound good on video calls or podcasts, you need a good mic like the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Microphone with shock mount in today’s MacBook Pro setup. And the user can move it around easily enough because he places it on a low-profile Elgato microphone arm.

AirPods Max price falls below Prime Day low

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best deal on AirPods Max
For the absolute best deal, you have to get the pink ones. But other colors are marked down, too.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s vaunted AirPods Max noise-canceling over-ear headphones list for a wallet-bruising $549. They’re sometimes discounted a bit, but not usually like today’s deal on Amazon: $382.70, or 30% off. But it looks like you have to get the pink ones to grab the best deal. Or you could find lesser discounts on other colors, or even opt for the still-deeply-discounted Beats Studio Pro.

Do you need a VPN if you have a Mac?

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A photo of a smartphone running a VPN with a Mac in the background.
Any devices you use online can benefit from a VPN, including Macs and iPhones.
Photo: Dan Nelson/Unsplash License

VPNs are beneficial for gamers and streaming viewers, but they also enhance security and ensure privacy while you’re online, making them useful for all internet users.

Below we look at whether Mac users need to use a VPN device. We also provide information for those questioning VPN safety and wanting to how to choose a service that improves online security and privacy. One big question many users have is whether a free service offers the kind of protection you’re looking for while online. According to software reviews expert Aleksander Stevanovic, free VPNs don’t necessarily enhance security but might actually compromise your system. So, should you use a paid alternative? Let’s find out.

Upgrade your home office setup with these PC deals, starting at $185

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Upgrade your home office set up with these PC devices, starting at $185
Upgrade your home office set up with these PC devices, starting at $185.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

PC deals alert! While we’re firmly on Team Apple, it’s hard to suggest that PCs don’t hold their own, especially in terms of processing power versus price. Whether you’re an Apple fan who relies on a PC to play games more effortlessly or a professional who wants to ensure their work device is compatible with PCs at the office, we have a few PC deals that might give your Mac a run for its money.

Sunny mystery/dark comedy becomes latest Apple TV+ hit

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Sunny is an Apple TV+ mystery/thriller/dark comedy
Sunny is an Apple TV+ mystery/thriller/dark comedy
Photo: Apple TV+

Sunny, a mystery thriller with a darkly comic bent starring Rashida Jones and a robot, quickly became one of the most popular shows on streaming after premiering on Apple TV+ earlier in July.

But it’s not even the most-watched Apple series. That honor belongs to the crime drama Presumed Innocent, which has drawn a big audience for weeks.

Install this wallpaper on your Mac to celebrate ‘Blue Screen of Death Day’

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BSOD Windows 10
The BSOD is often the first indication that a Windows user is about to have a very bad day.
Screenshot: Microsoft

A faulty Windows security update crashed Windows computers across the world on Friday. Any PC that installed the update got hit with the infamous Windows Blue Screen of Death, leading to planes being grounded, disruptions at banks, stores that can’t make transactions, and many more problems.

As a macOS user, there’s no reason for you to feel left out. You can install the BSOD as a wallpaper on your Mac and pretend to join in.

Eve Weather station adds support for Matter standard

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Eve Weather station adds Matter support
Versions of the Eve Weather station have you covered for HomeKit use, with or without a hub.
Photo: Eve Systems

A new version of the Eve Weather Connected Weather Station supports the Matter home-automation standard even as the company maintains a HomeKit-only version for those without a Matter hub, Eve Systems said Thursday. Eve Weather keeps you informed of conditions outside and can interact with HomeKit and other platforms to set automations. That could include adjusting the thermostat and turning on lights, or even telling Siri to do so.

Vision Pro users get scads of new immersive content

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New Immersive Video for Vision Pro
"Boundless" premieres with Hot Air Balloons,” transporting viewers to Cappadocia, Türkiye.
Photo: Apple

Apple unveiled a slate of new Immersive Videos for Vision Pro in the form of series and films Thursday. So users of the AR/VR headset are in for some new audio-visual treats. And some are available now.

“Apple Immersive Video is a groundbreaking leap forward for storytelling, offering Apple Vision Pro users remarkable experiences with an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion,” said Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications.

Why you need some sort of monitor light [Setups]

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EppieBasic LED Desk Lamp setup
The user has lots of external displays. But he considers the overarching desk lamp crucial.
Photo: [email protected]

The computer setup we feature today sports a powerful Mac Studio desktop computer and an impressive phalanx of external displays, yet commenters’ attention focused mainly on the monitor light. It’s actually an EppieBasic LED Desk Lamp rather than a typical monitor light bar, but it serves the same purposes. The user obliged commenters and explained why he loves it.

Best Amazon Prime Day deals on all things Apple [Updated – deals extended!]

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best Amazon Prime Day Apple deals - extended
Prime Day is over but the savings haven't stopped.
Image: Tamanna Rumee/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

Amazon Prime Day officially ran July 16 and 17, but it’s not over yet, as Amazon extended many big bargains on Apple products. Tons of goods from Apple and others are discounted. See our selection of the best deals on AirPods (and Apple subsidiary Beats), AirTags, Apple Watch, iPads, MacBooks, Mac mini and more below. Return to this page for updates (and beware that deals can change suddenly with supply fluctuations, so you may click through to find updated pricing or sold-out items in some cases).

UPDATE: Amazon extended a host of Prime Day deals on Apple products into Thursday and Friday and even into Saturday, so you can still shop many of the items below!  Items with full strikethroughs represent deals no longer available.

CdkeySales Back to School Sale brings Microsoft Windows 11 for just $22

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CdkeySales Windows logo July 19 2024
Head to CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software (and use code CULT to save an additional 30%).
Photo: CdkeySales.com

This year’s CdkeySales Back to School Sale just launched, which means you and your family can score big discounts on Microsoft software and get to know your new software before classes begin. It’s your chance to nab 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 Windows 11 Pro for only $22.71.

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!

See Natalie Portman’s surreal nightmare in Lady in the Lake [Updated: Now streaming]

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Lady in the Lake
This series starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram looks a lot weirder than expected.
Photo: Apple TV+

At first glance a Baltimore crime story set in 1966, the limited series Lady in the Lake soon turns into a surreal nightmare, as shown in the trailer Apple TV+ dropped for it recently. As the streamer said in press materials, the show, starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram, turns into a “feverish noir thriller and an unexpected tale about the price women pay for their dreams.”

So it’s a bizarre and arresting trailer. It includes “live performances” that are like fever dreams. The seven-part series debuts with its first two episodes on Friday, July 19.

Update: The new Apple TV+ drama series Lady in the Lake is now streaming, as of Friday. Reviews look a bit mixed — with some offering high praise for Portman in her TV debut — but you should see for yourself and watch the new show here.

Faulty CrowdStrike Windows security update cripples businesses worldwide

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The dreaded Windows BSOD struck thousands of Windows machines globally after a faulty CrowdStrike update.
The dreaded BSOD struck thousands of Windows machines globally after a faulty CrowdStrike update.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Many thousands of Windows computers are showing the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) at boot today, impacting banks, airlines, TV broadcasters, supermarkets and many more businesses worldwide, according to reports. A faulty Windows security update from CrowdStrike knocked affected PCs and servers offline, forcing them into a recovery boot loop so machines can’t start properly. Note that the outage, causing headaches for IT admins everywhere, does not affect Mac or Linux machines.

Learn 5 popular video editing software suites for just $50

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A person looking at a computer screen: It's an ad for a video editing training course bundle
Master the must-know video editing software with this affordable bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Learning to edit video can be exciting because of all the tools available to you. However, it also can be daunting for beginners. You could trial-and error your way through the basics with apps like After Effects and Davinci Resolve, or you could get a little help from the pros with this video editing training bundle.

The 2024 Video Editing Master Class Bundle is a collection of guides for some of the biggest video editing apps around. It covers Adobe After Effects, Canva, Davinci Resolve, CapCut and Filmora. And it’s on sale right now: You can get the whole thing while it’s marked down to just $50.

Learn about using Apple gear on the go in funny video starring the Underdogs

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Learn about using Apple gear on the go in funny video starring the Underdogs
The Underdogs are back, and using laughs to demonstrate using Apple computers while traveling.
Image: Apple

Instead of an ordinary video demonstrating how useful MacBooks, iPads and iPhones are on a business trip, Apple presents another madcap adventure of the Underdogs.

The group is off to Thailand to have millions of boxes produced for their most difficult client, and everything possible goes wrong. Fortunately, it’s Apple gear to the rescue.

Apple TV+ plans to bulk up with more Hollywood films

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Apple TV+ may add Hollywood movies
Apple's temporary addition of hit movies recently went well. Now the streamer is talking to Hollywood studios to license more.
Photo: Apple

Here’s some good news for those who loved it when Apple TV+ recently added dozens of Hollywood films to its library (temporarily): The streamer is in talks to license more titles from major studios, according to a new report. So Apple TV+ may add Hollywood movies — maybe in huge numbers — soon enough.

Afirstsoft PDF: The ultimate PDF solution for Apple users in 2024?

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Afirstsoft PDF app for Apple devices
User-friendly and AI-integrated Afirstsoft PDF makes working with PDF files easy. And you can get a great deal on it.
Photo: Afirstsoft PDF

Apple fans are just like everybody else. In a world filled with digital documents, job applications and more, we often need to deal with PDF files. But instead of spending a ton of money on big-name software, or hunting around for severely limited free apps, wouldn’t you rather try the efficient and effective Afirstsoft PDF app for Apple users?

At a quarter the annual cost of Adobe Acrobat, Afirstsoft PDF helps you view, annotate, edit, convert, scan and organize PDF files. And its artificial intelligence feature analyzes and summarizes PDF files for you in seconds. Even better, you can use it across Mac, iPhone and iPad with ease (Windows and Android, too). And you can save even more money with special discounts for new users (see below).

Apple execs explain what makes the new Beats Pill speaker special

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What makes new Beats Pill speaker special
The completely revamped Beats Pill speaker catches the eye in black, red and gold color options.
Photo: Apple

The recent return of the iconic Beats Pill portable Bluetooth speaker wasn’t just a typical product update, but a complete overhaul to help cement Beats’ identity as a premium-products subsidiary of the iPhone giant, according to a new interview with Apple executives.

“We wanted to do something special with the Pill and completely re-architect and reimagine it,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple VP of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports and Beats. “It wasn’t a case [of] let’s swap out one or two things. We really wanted a complete refresh. This is a completely new product inside, and outside as well.”