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Rest easy with a high-tech sleep mask that shuts out light and sound

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Gift idea! Treat someone to more sound sleep with this high-tech, Bluetooth-enabled sleep mask for only $20.
Enjoy more restful sleep with this sleep mask that blocks out light and noises for only $19.97.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you want to have a better day, getting a good night’s sleep is crucial. That’s easier said than done for many of us, but there’s a hi-tech solution that’s on sale just in time for the holidays.

With Bluetooth technology and a form-fitting design, the Shut-Eye Wireless 3D Sleep Mask can calm restless sleepers in more than one way. And it’s now available for only $19.97 (regularly $49) through December 17.

Apple Watch Ultra may get bigger, pricier microLED display in 2026

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 diver
Think Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a big screen? Well, it's probably going to get significantly larger.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 2’s generously large display, expected to switch from OLED to microLED, will come out later than previously estimated, grow by 10% in size and cost more, according to a research company.

Other recent estimates pushed back the launch time frame to 2025, but now it may actually be 2026.

How many displays would you add to this MacBook Pro workstation? [Setups]

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MacBook Pro setup with ultra-wide Samsung display
Would you add displays alongside or above this ultra-wide monitor, or replace it?
Photo: [email protected]

If you had a gigantic 49-inch curved ultra-wide display, would you dream of adding more external monitors to it? If so, would you stack them, or add one or two displays in portrait mode (vertical) on either side of the big screen?

A MacBook Pro user with a giant Samsung display is pondering those very questions.

Brilliant Murderbot novels becoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series starring Alexander Skarsgård

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'Murderbot' novels becoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series
All Systems Red from Martha Wells is coming to Apple TV+.
Image: Tor/Cult of Mac

The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Murderbot novels by Martha Wells are getting adapted into a series on Apple TV+. The sci-fi show will star Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgård, perhaps best known for his role on Succession.

Wells’ action-packed bestsellers center on a robot that breaks the programming that forces it to kill. The move allows the android to go freelance as a security specialist. Fans eagerly awaiting the Murderbot TV series release date can find all the latest details about the adaptation.

HD camera binoculars capture every detail from up to a kilometer away

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Your favorite outdoor enthusiast can magnify and take pics at 12X with these $90 HD camera binoculars.
Get the hiker, adventurer or camper in your life these $90 HD camera binoculars.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s nothing better than a good pair of binoculars for capturing the perfect outdoor moment. But if you really want to capture it, these HD Digital Camera Binoculars can actually preserve that glimpse of faraway nature.

They’re the perfect tech companion for hikers, hunters or anyone who likes to get the most out of their journey. Just in time for the holidays, they’re now priced down to only $89.97 (regularly $199) through December 17!

Nab killer holiday deals on iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and Beats

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Best Buy sale Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best Buy offers $50 off Apple Watch Ultra 2, among many other bargains.
Photo: Apple

While Best Buy offers great deals on MacBooks, iMacs, Macs mini and iPads in its Apple Sales Event for the holidays, you can also score good deals on iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. See the selection below, or check out the whole sale here.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Top 10 Best Buy holiday deals on Mac and iPad

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M3 MacBook Pro in space black
Yes, an M3 MacBook Pro in space black is on the list.
Photo: Apple

With gift-giving season at full-tilt, Best Buy offers its Apple Sales Event on a full range of fabulous products you can check out here. We’d thought we’d focus below on 10 great Mac and iPad deals you won’t want to miss. Click on the prices below to go straight to the products.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

This 17-inch, 4K touchscreen is the best portable monitor we’ve ever used [Review] ★★★★

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espresso 17 Pro -- simulated screen image★★★★
espresso 17 Pro offers just about everything you could want in a mobile screen.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The espresso 17 Pro checks every box in a premium portable display. It sports a 4K resolution, touchscreen with stylus support, and a sleek design ready for on-the-go use.

The 17-inch screen is brilliant as a productivity enhancement when away from the office, but it’s also intended for digital artists to use everyday. Or just anyone who’d like a touchscreen Mac.

I tested the espresso 17 Pro in my home office and while traveling. Here’s why I love it.

A Time Machine widget for your Mac desktop [Awesome Apps]

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Backup Status
Get simple desktop widgets for monitoring Time Machine.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

Backup Status is a simple app that puts a Time Machine widget on your Mac desktop (or stows it away in your Notification Center). If you don’t want the Time Machine icon cluttering up your menu bar, this is a straightforward alternative.

Time Machine, of course, is Apple’s software that makes continuous backups of your files to a separate part of your disk, an external hard drive or network-attached storage. Everyone should use Time Machine.

And, after you set it up, you should try Backup Status, the fun little app that lets you easily monitor your Time Machine backups.

Conspiracy thriller Manhunt stalks Lincoln’s assassin

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Brandon Flynn and Tobias Menzies in Manhunt on Apple TV+
Bryan Flynn, left, and Tobias Menzies star in Manhunt.
Photo: Apple TV+

Did you know it took authorities 12 days to hunt down John Wilkes Booth after he shot President Abraham Lincoln in the head at Washington D.C.’s Ford’s Theatre in 1865? Apple TV+ gave a first look Thursday at Manhunt, the new conspiracy-thriller series depicting the frantic chase.

The seven-part series premieres March 15 with its first two episodes. A new episode follows on Fridays through April 19.

Apple market cap once again passes $3 trillion

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Apple money cash
$3 trillion yet again.
Photo: Cult of Mac

It’s a great time to be an AAPL investor, with the share price hitting an all-time high value on Wednesday. This drove Apple’s market capitalization back over $3 trillion.

For reference, Apple’s market cap was below $2 trillion at the beginning of 2023. If you’re interested in learning more about how Apple has historically performed in the grey apple market, take a look at this deep dive.

Score an Apple Magic Keyboard Folio for just $85

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Gift this Apple Magic Keyboard Folio to an iPad 10th Gen user for the holidays, now only $85.
This might be the ultimate keyboard case for the 10th-gen iPad. And you can't beat the price!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Apple Magic Keyboard Folio is a great combo keyboard case for the iPad, but its high retail price puts it out of reach for some consumers. Not so with this hot deal on an open-box model that slashes the price by 67%.

For a limited time, you can grab a Magic Keyboard Folio for just $84.97 (regularly $249) with free shipping. However, you need to order today if you want to ensure it arrives on time for Christmas!

This fun golf simulator lets you practice anytime, anywhere

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The TruGolf simulator will delight any golfer this holiday season, now only $173.
Give the golfer on your list the ability to hit the green whenever they like.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The golfer on your shopping list likely doesn’t need any more clubs, balls or polos. Why not surprise them with a golf simulator like the TruGolf Mini? It’s a hi-tech gift designed to delight golfers of any age.

You can gift any golfer the ability to hit the green anytime and anywhere with the TruGolf Mini. And it’s price-dropped to only $172.97 (regularly $399) through December 17.

Apple makes ‘push notification spying’ more difficult

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Apple makes ‘push notification spying’ more difficult for government agencies
A court order is now required for push notification spying on iPhone users.
Photo: rawpixel.com/Pexels CC

Governments will find push notification spying harder to do now that they no longer enjoy easy access to records of push notifications sent to iPhone users. Apple changed its policy so that law enforcement and other government agencies need a court order to obtain this data.

Previously, the data — which could be used to gain info about users’ activities — was available from Apple with just a subpoena.

Noble’s swanky new earbuds use xMEMS’ advanced solid-state driver

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Noble Falcon Max earbuds
Noble's new Falcon Max true wireless stereo earbuds feature xMEMS' solid-state driver.
Photo: Noble

Noble Audio’s new Falcon Max true wireless stereo earbuds are the company’s first to integrate advanced all-silicon solid-state MEMS-based drivers from xMEMS Labs, the company said Tuesday.

Release of the new earbuds with a hybrid-driver setup follows recent news that xMEMS plans to offer its first full-spectrum Cypress MEMS “ultrasonic” speaker in 2024. That should enable solid-state earbuds with remarkable full-spectrum audio quality.

Ugreen’s potent new power bank charges 3 gadgets on the go

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Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank
Ugreen's new power bank works with most devices and recharges itself in just a couple of hours.
Photo: Ugreen

The new Nexode 100W 20,000mAh Power Bank lets users fast-charge three devices at once on the go, the company said Tuesday.

And the portable charger’s 65W “rapid recharge” feature lets it fully power itself back up from an empty battery in just 2 hours.

Stunning view comes with top display and killer KEF sound [Setups]

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David David Heinemeier Hansson's Mac mini setup with Pro Display XDR and KEF speakers.
Hansson's setup in Malibu, CA, features a Mac mini mounted behind a Pro Display XDR and a phenomenal set of KEF speakers.
Photo: [email protected]

Developer David Heinemeier Hansson, known for creating the Ruby on Rails web development framework, showcased his rather stunning Mac mini computer setup this week on X (formerly Twitter).

The extraordinary 6K graphics of his Studio Display XDR and the articulate sound of his highly recommended KEF speakers complement the ocean views through the glass walls of his California office.

New Keychron mechanical gaming keyboard supercharges customization

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Keychron Q1 HE mechanical keyboard
Special switches make the new keyboard super responsive and customizable.
Photo: Keychron

Keychron launched a crowdfunding campaign December 5 for its new Q1 HE, calling it the first 75% layout wireless QMK custom keyboard with Hall Effect Gateron 2.0 magnetic switches, the company said.

The company noted the switch provides advantages to gamers with its extreme responsiveness and expanded customizability.

iOS 17.3 beta 1: All the features and changes

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Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 beta
Your iPhone can better protect itself from data thieves with a new iOS 17.3 feature.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The first beta of iOS 17.3 is now available. It comes a couple of days after Apple released the stable iOS 17.2 update with plenty of new features to the public.

iOS 17.3 beta 1 does not pack many changes but brings an important new security feature to iPhones. Below are all the changes we have spotted in iOS 17.3 beta 1.

Macintosh buying guide: Choose the best Mac and accessories

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Mac buying guide: Choose the best model and accessories
We'll help you pick the perfect Mac.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

When you buy a new Mac, you will spend a decent stack of cash. So, whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, ensuring you choose the best Mac is key. While every modern Mac can handle casual computing with ease, some are a much better fit for certain use cases.

In our Mac buying guide, we’ll look at all of the models offered by Apple today, as well as some of the best Mac accessories you can get to go with them.

Foodies love this 8-piece Japanese knife set

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This Japanese knife set is the perfect gift for the chef in your life, now under $130 with guaranteed Christmas delivery.
Home cooks will love this Japanese chef’s knife set.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to indulge the chef in your life with an updated set of tools? This Seido knife set — featuring eight expertly honed, made-in-Japan blades — is now discounted to only $129.97 (regularly $429), with free shipping until December 17.

This isn’t just a regular knife set, either. These blades could unlock a whole new world of culinary possibilities. They will upgrade the kitchen arsenal for home cooks and professional chefs alike.

How to switch back to the old notification sounds on iPhone [Updated]

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Did You Hear That?
Yes, the sounds in iOS 17 are a bit different. Here's how to get the old sounds back.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In iOS 17, many of the default sounds for notifications, alarms and timers have been changed — but how do you get back the old sounds if you don’t like the new ones?

A lot of people get deeply attached to the sound effects. If you want the old noises back, you can change (most of them) back manually. I’ll show you how.

Update: The new iOS 17.2 makes a nice change to alerts in third-party apps. Read on for more details.

Apple Self Service Repair program expands to iPhone 15 and M2 Macs

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Self repair components and tools for iPhone with the necessary tools from Apple.
Fixing your iPhone 15 or M2 Mac just got easier.
Photo: Apple

Apple Self Service Repair program is expanding to include the iPhone 15 and additional M2 Macs. The company is also making its repair program available in 24 new European countries.

With the latest additions, Apple’s Service Service Repair now supports 35 products and is available in 33 countries.