After Apple’s thunderous launch of the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chips a few months ago, these chips likely will roll out as spec bumps in the MacStudio, Mac Pro, and Mac mini later this year. Additionally, Apple enthusiasts are eager to see how the m3 ultra chip will further enhance Mac performance in upcoming releases.
An M4 MacBook Pro remains a possibility for this fall. (I suspect M4 will be the first “must-have” Mac upgrade for anyone still on an M1-series chip.)
If you’ve ever misplaced your house keys, wallet or backpack, you know how stressful it can be. Fortunately, you can eradicate this experience with a Nut Mini tracker. This inexpensive Bluetooth tracking tag works a bit like our favorite tracker (Apple’s AirTag, natch) — but costs a lot less.
Bluetooth trackers prove super-helpful when it comes to ensuring all your items remain safe and whatever the opposite of “lost” is. And the Nut Mini is undoubtedly one of the more affordable options. Through April 7, you can snag this nifty gadget for only $11.99 with code SECURE20.
The Apple TV+ comedy Palm Royale holds on near the top of the streaming ratings charts for the second week in a row. It’s drawn in a large audience since it’s debut March 20.
And the new detective series Sugar on Apple’s streaming service might do just as well.
Apple reportedly struck a deal with Shutterstock to license its massive library of images and videos to train its AI models. The precise deal value remains unclear, but estimates suggest a range of $25 million-$50 million.
As a part of the licensing, Apple will gain access to millions of images and videos in Shutterstock’s library.
The Device Therapy Bike Mount & Reflector gives you a place to hide an Apple AirTag tracker. With this combination, you can (hopefully) track the location of your bike if it gets stolen because millions of iPhones around the world can report the location of your lost item.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After pulling the plug on an ambitious project — creating a self-driving car — Apple sets its sights on making … home robots?!? Say it ain’t so, Tim!
Also on The CultCast:
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.
Sega’s newest action puzzle game Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is a falling-object game on which players connect icons to erase them. The latest addition to the Puyo Puyo series is playable on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, and is an Apple Arcade exclusive.
Plus there are two new classics in the gaming service for young and old.
Apple is opening its walled garden to game emulators. The company has updated the App Store guidelines to reflect that developers can now list retro game emulators for download worldwide.
Additionally, the updated guidelines make it easier for music streaming apps to redirect users to an external website. However, this change is only applicable to the EU.
Elago makes a staggering array of accessories for Apple products, from Apple Watch bands and device chargers to iPad stands and whimsical cases that look like classic gear from yesteryear.
The Cult of Mac Store offers 173 Elago products for sale. Check them out, and see some highlights below.
A collection of 100 wild-looking smartphone cases inspired by the upcoming solar eclipse is selling out fast. The one-of-a-kind solar eclipse iPhone cases, made by the craftspeople at Carved, will give your handset an out-of-this-world look.
“We’ve been working hard to capture the essence of this coming 2024 eclipse,” the company said Friday on its Facebook page. “In all the excitement we’ve made a very limited run of eclipse designs just for you!”
It’s somewhat rare that we come across a Mac Pro setup on social media for the obvious reason that Apple’s top desktop computer costs a fortune. And the ones we see are often older than 2019’s cheese grater design. But today’s Mac Pro and smart TV setup is a welcome exception to that rule.
It sports a powerful cheese-grater Mac Pro driving a gargantuan smart TV as an external display.
And what’s more, a classic iMac G4 that still works and Wall-E and Eve toys from the Pixar movie look on from a shelf!
Amazon bargain site Woot goes big on Logi Friday in its Logitech Peripherals and Accessories Sale. Keyboards, mice, iPad keyboard cases, webcams, gaming devices, headsets — you name it, it’s there. Some items are priced at half off.
As of Friday morning, 55 discounted new and refurbished items await you. The sale ends April 20 at 10 p.m. PT (but when items sell out, they’re gone).
The CdkeySales Spring Sale blooms with hot bargains. You can pick amazing deals on Microsoft software. Many special prices await on Microsoft productivity software like Windows and Office. That includes a beautiful Windows 10 Pro deal. You can get it for only $18.27. And that includes a free upgrade!
You can find surprisingly 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 25% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And you get a free upgrade to Windows 11 if you buy Windows 10!
A day after a pair of unknown iPads were found listed on the Bureau of Indian Standards certification website, two more have now turned up. These are almost certainly tablets that have been the topic of many leaks in recent months.
The 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air might have just taken another small step toward release.
Sometimes you need to call co-workers, businesses, Craigslist sellers — all sorts of people you might not want having access to your personal phone number and the ability to reach you at all hours of the day. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a little privacy, and with a Hushed private phone line, you can get that privacy without getting a whole new iPhone.
For a limited time, this app — which functionally gives you a second phone number — is on sale for $19.99 with code SECURE20 (regularly $150).
There are lots of questions about how to take solar eclipse photos with your iPhone. Firstly, can a solar eclipse harm your iPhone’s camera or lenses? Won’t the sun’s rays damage the camera?
Not according to Apple. Cupertino says it’s safe to photograph a total solar eclipse with your iPhone; but be sure to protect your eyes.
However, photographing the solar eclipse is hard without the right tools. To get a good picture of the solar eclipse with your iPhone, you’re going to need a 12-18x telephoto lens attachment, a solar filter and a tripod. Make sure you have everything you need before the big event on Monday.
Here’s how you can get prepared. Watch our new video or keep reading below.
Following the shutdown of the Apple Car project, the Cupertino giant is laying off more than 600 employees. Many other affected employees worked on developing micro LED displays for the Apple Watch and future products.
The laid-off employees worked in and around Santa Clara, near Apple’s California headquarters.
You can’t see everything. If you’re out of the house, you might miss a package delivery. On the road, you might not see the person who cut you off in traffic. You might not even notice an animal right in front of you during a hike. But you can capture practically anything on video with Tokk Cam C2+ — a combination bodycam, dashcam and security camera.
You can mount this 1.5-inch Wi-Fi camera discreetly on your clothes, your dashboard or at home. And for a limited time, you can get one for just $48.79 with code SECURE20.
Sure, it’s nice to get the latest MacBook model when you can, but not everyone needs a mega-powerful M3 chip. And that’s especially true when you can save hundreds on laptops with a merely super-powerful M2 chip. Best Buy is offering M2 MacBook Air models for up to $400 off as well as other deals.
But if you want to spend even less — or if you really want an M3 MacBook — we’ve included a selection of deals below. There are sweet deals on refurbished M1 and M2 MacBook Air models as well as $200 off a selection of M3 MacBook Pro models.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
★★★★☆
Looking for a better office chair? You don’t have to spend several hundred dollars or more. I’ve found the Silybon Ergonomic Office Chair does a good job for about $110 after a discount.
With a history of back trouble, I was a little nervous about the purchase. But it’s a good, comfortable chair paired with a standing desk, so my back is fine.
Images of iPhone 16 “dummy” units have been published by a tipster with an established record. They show the redesigned camera hump reportedly coming to the two non-Pro models and other changes.
The pictures are the best look yet at the handsets Apple is expected to launch in autumn 2024.
If you want a successful career in IT, you need the proper certifications. This limited-time deal on CompTIA study guides will help you rack up those crucial IT certifications and broaden your horizons. Through April 7, you can get a lifetime subscription to The CompTIA and IT Exam Study Guides Training for an extra 20% off with code SECURE20.
That drops the price to just $23.99 (regularly $259). You’ll gain a lifetime of lessons on CompTIA and IT topics including Amazon Web Services, Salesforce, Microsoft Azure and much more.
Teams in Cupertino are working on Apple personal home robotic devices, including a mobile robot and a table-top device with a moving display, according to a new report.
These early efforts toward Apple robots could constitute future revenue sources now that the Project Titan car sits on the scrap heap.
★★★★☆
The SwitchEasy Orbit Universal Magnetic Stand is an incredibly handy little stand that’s sturdy and easy to use. It’s seamlessly blended into my daily iPhone habits — and unlike most products I review, everyone I show it to instantly wants one.
The handy stand props up your iPhone on a table, desk or kitchen counter. Its puck shape allows you to orient your phone vertically or horizontally. It collapses and folds flat, so you can carry it around.
You can also stick on double-sided tape and attach it to the back of your monitor as a camera mount for your iPhone.
I’ve been using it for a few months now at my desk and around the house. Here’s why I recommend it.
The citizens of a small town called Deerfield continue to see their lives upended by a fortune-telling machine known as Morpho, according to the season 2 trailer Apple TV+ dropped Wednesday for philosophical comedy series The Big Door Prize.
Starring Emmy Award winner Chris O’Dowd, the well-liked comedy’s 10-episode second season debuts Wednesday, April 24, with three episodes.