Cult of Mac

Updating Microsoft software probably didn’t make your bucket list, but it’s important nevertheless. To keep productivity software working its best and also secure, update it. Luckily, you can find the latest Windows, Microsoft Office and other great software at incredibly low prices.

At the site, you’ll spot low prices on Windows, Office and more. And to secure the most-possible savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s super-low prices on software keys. Plus, you can get a free upgrade to Windows 11 when you buy Windows 10!

Even the greatest authors can encounter a serious case of writer’s block. But now there’s a modern way to overcome such situations — a highly rated writing app that comes at a low cost.

For a limited time, you can access Scrivener 3 for only $29.99 (regularly $59), the best price online. Pay only half-price for a writing app with an App Store rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on more than 500 verified reviews.

Apple is reportedly in talks with HDFC Bank to bring Apple Card to India. The latter is among the country’s largest credit card issuers and private banks.

The Cupertino giant also held discussions with NPCI to launch Apple Pay in the country.

Piano is one of the easiest instruments to learn to play, and technology has made mastering the keyboard even easier over the years. Like most things, it’s about finding a system that works for you. Sometimes you need to get over the hurdle of learning how to use a particular app before you can even start learning to make music.

That’s not the case with Skoove, an innovative piano-learning platform that you can use to start playing right away on any kind of keyboard. Even better, you can now get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium for only $149.99 (regularly $300), the best price online.

If you own a Mac, it’s almost certainly a MacBook rather than a desktop. New data from a market research firm shows that Apple’s notebooks made up the lion’s share of macOS sales over the last year.

Of desktop models, the all-in-one iMac is the most popular. On the other hand, the cheapest Mac is among the lowest-selling, according to the analysts.

The first trailer for upcoming Apple TV+ movie The Beanie Bubble has a lot of fun with the Beanie Babies fad of the 1990s.

“Witness the crazy … behind the craze,” shout title screens in all caps between scenes. And Zach Galifianakis and Elizabeth Banks, as the partners behind the bean-filled-stuffed-animal business, do a good job of showing it.

While Apple is encouraging developers to write software for the Vision Pro AR headset, there are some types of applications it doesn’t want. Camera-related apps and movement-based ones can’t be made.

Some of the restrictions don’t seem to be about privacy but instead result from limitations in the hardware. Others are a mystery.

The HyperPack Pro has room for a 16-inch MacBook plus plenty of other gear in three big pockets, three more smaller ones plus more inner pockets. But what sets the backpack apart is a built-in tracker using Apple’s Find My technology so it can easily be found if misplaced or accidentally left behind.

I field tested the bag from Hyper by taking it on holiday. Here’s everything I love about it … and a few small issues.

 Ugreen introduced its latest on-the-go charger for MacBooks and other gear Thursday. The new Ugreen 145W Power Bank offers fast charging and a rather large 25,000mAh battery capacity.

The company said, “the intelligent power bank can charge three devices simultaneously and even charge a 13-inch MacBook Air in just 90 minutes.” If you’re looking for the best GaN charger, check out this great option that provides high-speed charging in a compact design.

Apple’s entry-level 10.2-inch iPad is down to its all-time low price of $249.99. That’s a massive $79 off the tablet’s retail price, making it much more affordable.

Amazon is providing a $59.01 discount on the listing page, with an additional $20 off applied at checkout.

A long-requested feature is finally coming to iOS 17: interactive widgets. With these, you can control apps on the device directly from the convenience of the home screen.

iOS 17 is still in beta so not everyone has access to the new feature yet. I do, so here is what it’s like to use it on an iPhone (and iPad, too.)

If the weather is warm and the sky is clear, why not enjoy the outdoors in style with a quadcopter you can take flying through the park or zipping around your campsite? The Epic Flight S89 4K HD Drone is a low-cost quadcopter with easy-to-master controls and spare parts in case of a rocky landing.

Typically, you’d pay $249 for this compact folding quadcopter. But for a limited time, you can snag one for only $89.99.

Venerable audio brand Denon, founded in 1910 and now owned by health-and-audio-device maker Masimo, introduced its first sets of wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with audio personalization Tuesday — Denon PerL and PerL Pro featuring Masimo AAT.

AAT stands for “adaptive acoustic technology,” something Masimo enhanced when it absorbed Australian sound-personalization innovator Nura months ago. Hear that, AirPods Pro 2?

Summer is finally here, and with temperatures increasing, it can be hard to keep the cooling bill manageable. Chilling in a cool house is nice, but you might not need to cool down everything — especially if you’re just at your desk or in bed.

The evaChill EV-500 is a compact personal air conditioner that can cool down a small area. For $78.99 (regularly $99), this portable mini air conditioner can be a much cheaper option than cooling your whole home all summer.

Turning the Apple Vision Pro headset from an announcement into a shipping product took a big step forward Wednesday with the release of the visionOS SDK. This includes the software tools developers will use to write applications for the AR headset that Apple unveiled earlier this month.

Apple also said it will open developer labs around the world soon, giving coders a chance for some hands-on time with Vision Pro, which won’t launch until 2024.

Apple TV+ comedy Platonic, about two once-former-now-current best friends navigating their relationship, finds Sylvia back at work and Will out of step this week.

A lot has changed since Sylvia was last in the workplace, and the new workload is too much for her, without factoring in everything else that can go wrong in an office. Will tries to help but makes things worse as he himself learns a few lessons about the modern workplace. Entitled “Let the River Run,” it’s a very funny episode of the very funny series.

Apple just introduced a slew of operating system updates. That includes iOS 16.5.1, macOS 13.4.1, watchOS 9.5.2 and iPadOS 16.5.1, which fix bugs in the most recent versions.

But it also released bug-fix updates for older versions of the operating systems going back as far as 2020.

What hasn’t yet arrived on Wednesday are the much-anticipated second round of betas for iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma.

I always had a thing for mechanical watches’ intricate machinery. But I gave up my Swiss timepiece for Apple Watch’s amazingly smart functionality.

And now someone has gone to the trouble of marrying the two on video. He replaced a nearly defunct Apple Watch’s circuitry with watch-movement technology first established more than 200 years ago.

And the end result is a gorgeous watch, if you dare try this sort of recycling project yourself.

Apple TV+’s noir comedy High Desert comes to a close this week with a nicely judged final half-hour where streams and plots cross.

Arman and Heather, the Gatchis, Carol and Denny are all looking for Peggy in the High Desert season finale, entitled “I Need a Hero.” Can Peggy make up for a lifetime of misbehaving and lying and self-interest in one gesture? It’s a perfectly ridiculous ending to this laconic, if fast-talking, crime saga.

There’s nothing like working with windows — floor-to-ceiling ones with epic views of a world-class city, that is, not Microsoft’s OS software.

In today’s featured computer setup, a MacBook Pro and a Surface 8 laptop vie over a nice Dell 4K display overlooking Sydney, Australia.

If you feel lost in a sea of podcasts without a paddle, Apple offered some new rowing implements Tuesday. After all, navigating podcasts can feel as hopeless as floundering among streaming TV shows and movies.

The company said Apple Podcasts will elevate nine “new and noteworthy” subcategories for browsing, plus related popularity charts and the new Podcasts by Language browsing tool.

As nice as it is to have an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and iPad with you all the time, that’s a lot of batteries to keep topped up. If you’re lucky, you can get away with carrying around only two cables, but that still means juggling devices between chargers.

Instead, get one cable that works for three devices at once. The Three-in-One USB-C Charging Cable can power two Lightning devices and your Apple Watch, and it’s now on sale for $18.99 (regularly $34). Plus, it comes in a variety of colors.

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A National Labor Relations Board judge ruled Tuesday that Apple used illegal means to convince employees at one of its retail stores in New York not to form a union.

The judge issued several instructions to Apple that might assist in future unionizing efforts at the company’s 270-plus U.S. retail locations.

iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma are not big upgrades. However, they will bring plenty of little improvements that add up to a better experience on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Despite that, Apple dropped support for some older iPhones, iPads and Macs with its upcoming OS releases.

That’s only part of the disappointment equation, though. Several new features won’t work on older Apple gear, even though the devices can run the new operating systems.

Many of the new features in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 that won’t make it to older iPhones and iPads will go missing primarily because they are very resource-hungry. As for Macs, several macOS Sonoma features won’t come to Intel-based machines. This is sort of a given, since Apple switched to in-house chips that deliver better performance while maintaining ruthless power efficiency. The list of features not available on Intel Macs will only expand over time until Apple eventually drops support for them altogether.

Now that you the reasons for the omissions, here’s a rundown of new features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma that won’t work on older devices.

Google is making Chrome better on the iPhone and iPad with several new AI-powered features. The browser is gaining deeper Google Maps and Calendar integration as a part of its latest release.

Additionally, Google Chrome can now partially translate text on a page without you having to leave the app.