Japanese Rural Life Adventure uses a gorgeous and carefully crafted pixel art style. Image: Game Start/Apple Arcade
Fans of cozy life simulation games will enjoy Japanese Rural Life Adventure. It’s about living your best (digital) life, with plenty of the traditional culture of Japan mixed in.
The app debuted Friday on the Apple Arcade subscription gaming service.
With two Lightning connectors and one Apple Watch puck, this three-way cable is great for Apple fans. Just don't expect it to work with iPhone 15! Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you still need Lightning in your life, don’t miss this deal on a three-in-one cable that comes with two Lightning connectors and one Apple Watch charging puck. It costs just $24.99 (regularly $34), and it lets you charge three Apple devices at once. Plus, you can save even more with a two-pack!
This Skill Success lifetime membership is on sale for only $119.99. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether you want to boost your professional skills or branch out by mastering something a little less serious, Skill Success makes learning simple and fun.
Loaded with thousands of expert-driven online courses, Skill Success is your lifelong pass to personal enrichment. And for a limited time, you can get a Skill Success lifetime membership for only $119.99 (regularly $540).
The iPhone 15 doesn't care if you use an Apple USB-C cable or one made by some other company. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple didn’t tinker with the USB-C port in the iPhone 15 series to disadvantage standard cables. Instead, the port handles charging and data transfers like any other USB-C port.
This throws cold water on suspicions that the new iPhones would require special MFi cables to get the maximum data or charging rates.
Apple's CEO went for Natural Titanium, but all the colors caught his eye. Photo: @[email protected]
Lots of folks agonize over choosing a new iPhone color when fresh handsets like the 15 series come out — even Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Or so he said in a brief interview sometime around iPhone 15’s release Tuesday. But in explaining his choice of Natural Titanium, he managed to praise every available color equally, and even in exactly the same way.
You won't believe how little the user paid for those monitors. Photo: [email protected]
The No. 1 complaint about Apple displays? They’re too expensive. People love them, but not everyone will pony up the cash to grab a $1,600 Studio Display or, heaven help us, a $5,000 Studio Display XDR.
Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup provides a much-cheaper alternative that might work for some people. It uses a pair of old-but-beautiful Cinema Displays that cost a grand total of $74.
The premium charger is perfect for your nightstand, with an iPhone in Standby Mode like a classic alarm clock. Photo: Twelve South
With the iPhone 15 series and new Apple Watches now out, the accessories floodgates are open. One of the first products through is an updated Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand. And it’s made for MagSafe and ideal for iOS 17’s Standby Mode.
So you can turn your iPhone into a classic bedside alarm clock or smart display with various widgets. And you can charge it alongside Apple Watch and AirPods.
Use promo code CULT at SCDKey.com to score major savings on Microsoft software. Photo: SCDKey.com
Even with classes back in session at schools everywhere, it’s not too late to get ready with new versions of Microsoft’s crucial software, Windows and Office. You can score great low prices on them in the back-to-school sale at SCDKey.com.
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Check out the selection at software activation keys provider SCDKey.com. To get the most back-to-school savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low, low prices on software keys. And you get a free upgrade to Windows 11 when you buy Windows 10.
★★★★☆
This unusual GaN charger juices up MagSafe iPhones via the tilting platform and other devices via USB-C and USB-A ports (up to 100W). Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Need a compact and potent MagSafe charging station to replace a slow 3-in-1? Coming out just after iPhone 15’s release, Ugreen’s unusual new Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station could fit the bill, charging up to four devices at once.
Rolled out Thursday, the speedy charger takes up a small space by putting a MagSafe platform for iPhone that tilts up on top and USB-C and USB-A ports in the squat body. The company sent me one to try.
Costco savings seem even sweeter with this deal. Photo: JJBers/Flickr CC/Modified by Cult of Mac
Shopping on a budget isn’t easy, especially when you have to run from store to store to get all your errands done. That’s a waste of gas and a waste of time! Cut down on trips without limiting your selection by shopping at Costco instead.
With a Costco membership, you’ll save on high-quality items, from groceries to Apple gear. And now, you can get a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership plus a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card* for just $60.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are already in short supply. Photo: Apple
Anyone who even slightly delayed ordering the new iPhone 15 Pro models when they went on sale Friday morning faces a lengthy wait for their devices to be delivered. The delays extend into November for some handsets and configurations.
In addition, problems marred the preorder process via the online Apple Store, possibly due to high demand for the new titanium Pro phones.
iPhone 12's high radiation level is not a cause for concern. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will roll out a software update for the iPhone 12 in France to meet the required radio-frequency radiation levels. The company had to stop selling the iPhone 12 in the region due to RF radiation concerns.
A French regulatory body will test and approve the update. After that, Apple can resume iPhone 12 sales in the country.
Time to place your iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro preorder. Photo: Apple
Apple began accepting preorders for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro series early Friday morning. The company showcased the devices earlier this week during its “Wonderlust” event.
Unlike last year, when Apple staggered the iPhone release dates, the entire iPhone 15 lineup will begin shipping a week from now on September 22.
With eight complications, the new Modular Ultra face can show a lot of info. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple is about to launch a cool new watch face for the Apple Watch Ultra called “Modular Ultra.” If you’re looking for more variety, check out the50 best Apple Watch faces to find the perfect look for your device. The new face does a lot: It allows up to eight complications, including the customizable bezel that can show water depth, elevation or seconds. I think it looks super-cool. And just wait until you see the night mode.
Interested in a career in artificial intelligence and machine learning? This $30 program can help you build a strong foundation. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Just like artificial intelligence, which exploded into the mainstream recently, machine learning is the future. While most of us have heard about AI and how it’s changing how everything works with programs like ChatGTP, machine learning might not be as well-known.
Machine learning is a specific branch of AI that focuses on using data and algorithms to imitate how humans learn, with a gradual improvement in accuracy. According to an article on LinkedIn, both are rapidly growing fields. This Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners program can give you a solid foundation if you’re considering a career in either area. It’s now only $29.99 (regularly $300).
You can see in the photograph how the MagSafe charging pad for iPhone can sit flush or tilt up. Photo: Ugreen
The new Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station, rolled out Thursday, combines MagSafe charging for iPhone with GaN USB-C charging for other devices in a compact form factor, the company said.
I’ll have an in-depth review of the new charger, which Ugreen said is ideal for home and on-the-go use with the new iPhone 15 and other MagSafe iPhones, on Friday.
This cooking show comes with some broiling-hot commentary. Photo: Apple
Frustrated young scientist Brie Larson explores her love of cooking — it’s chemistry, after all — and her distaste for the patriarchy in the second trailer for upcoming limited series Lessons in Chemistry. Apple TV+ set it on the table for hungry viewers Thursday.
Larson plays a young scientist in the 1950s who is wrongly terminated from a lab job before becoming host of a cooking show where women’s rights serve as a crucial ingredient. You can have a bigger bite when the series debuts October 13.
We can help you pay for your next Apple Watch. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The entire iPhone 15 lineup goes up for preorder from Apple’s online store tomorrow morning. They might be pricey — in fact, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most expensive iPhone yet — but there’s an easy way you can earn some quick cash to help you pay for them.
Our buyback program makes it incredibly easy to turn your old iPhone, Apple Watch and other gear into real cash. And we typically pay more than any other service. What’s more, you can get a quote now and hold onto your device until your upgrade arrives. Click here to learn more.
Find out how much you could save on your next upgrade today.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in the epic historical tale. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ dropped the final trailer and some fine move-poster images Wednesday for Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone. And if the powerful video, below, doesn’t make you want to see the film, nothing will.
The streaming service often calls upcoming movies and shows “highly anticipated,” and it’s no exaggeration in this case. The epic historical drama premieres October 20 in theaters, including IMAX screens, and afterward on Apple TV+.
Is this band worth waiting five or six extra weeks for an Apple Watch Ultra 2? Photo: Apple
Those who want a new Apple Watch Ultra 2 as soon as possible need to think carefully about what band to get with it. With some bands, the wearable is available on launch day later this month. But with others the wait stretches out to November.
So do you really, really want that Trail Loop in Orange/Beige?
The best way to stop spam robocalls is to stop data brokers from collecting and selling your data. Image: Surfshark
Spam calls to your iPhone are an annoying distraction and — as many folks would say — a violation of your privacy. But you don’t have to live with them if you use Incogni.
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In fact, the Incogni personal data removal service does more than just cut down on spam call volume. It also helps defend against the scams and identity theft that can ensue when rogues find or buy your data online.
Apple's A17 Pro chip focuses more on efficiency than performance. Photo: Apple
Geekbench scores of Apple’s A17 Pro chip powering the iPhone 15 Pro series have surfaced online. The scores give a fair estimate of how fast Apple’s latest mobile chip is.
Based on the Geekbench listing, the A17 Pro ships with a higher base frequency and 8GB RAM.
It's not about money this time. Photo: Apple/Public Domain
No, Apple didn’t change the Lightning connector on the iPhone 15 to make more money selling you new cables and dongles. It’s a common conspiracy theory that Apple switches the connector all the time for lining their pockets, but it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
First of all, Apple changes the connector very rarely; this is only the second occurrence in 16 years. Secondly, Apple is actually giving up money to make the switch happen. Not that there’s much money to be made selling Lightning cables, anyway. And all that aside, it’s out of Apple’s hands — USB-C is European Union law.
You don't have to buy AirPods to get decent earbuds from Apple for your Mac or iPad. Photo: Apple
Apple’s transition away from the old Lightning connector includes a USB-C version of EarPods, and these can now be purchased online for under $20.
The wired earbuds that come with iPhone are surprisingly good — audio quality is closer to AirPods than you might realize. And there are other advantages for Mac and iPad users, too.