This Father's Day, set Dad up in the cloud with 1TB of storage for $119.97. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If dad needs a reliable cloud service, we have a Father’s Day deal for 1TB of lifetime cloud storage on Koofr for $119.97. This limited-time offer only runs through June 11th.
There are bigger streaming video services, but none with a higher average content ranking from critics. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple TV+ series and films earn a higher average ranking from critics than all other streaming services. So, despite its relatively limited catalog, Apple’s service offers an outsized collection of top-quality content.
Its average quality content ranking is well above Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Sylvia (played by Rose Byrne, left) and Will (Seth Rogen) are old friends trying to figure out how to be friends again on Platonic. Photo: Apple TV+
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we look at the Platonic, the surprisingly good comedy from stoner whisperer Seth Rogen, luminous star Rose Byrne and husband and wife writers/directors Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller.
In the show, which premiered last month on Apple TV+, Byrne and Rogen star as friends who become awkward appendages of each other’s already messy lives. Here’s why you should take a chance on Platonic.
The technology behind Apple Vision Pro looks amazing! Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first impressions of Apple’s just-unveiled Vision Pro headset leave us mind = blown. Still, no matter how vivid the VR is … or how flawless the visionOS user interface is … or how “natural” the headset looks to be … can anything justify its $3,499 price tag?
Also on The CultCast:
The load of new Macs showcased at WWDC23 left us surprised — and just a little perplexed. Who exactly is the Mac Pro for?
The iPhone’s voice recognition receives marginal improvements in the first iOS 17 beta, and that gives us hope for the future.
Marquee features aside, iOS 17 brings a ton of tiny, thoughtful improvements.
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!)
Viewers and critics are digging "Silo" on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The dystopian sci-fi mystery Silo launched on Apple TV+ in early May, and it’s been at or near the top of the ratings charts ever since. Last week, it was once again more popular than any other streaming series.
Plus, the finale of the sports dramedy Ted Lasso put it in the top 10 as well.
Tidy dad’s charging cables with this awesome 6-in-1 charging station, less than $50 now for Father’s Day. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If your dad loves Apple gadgets, we’ve found the ultimate accessory for him — just in time for Father’s Day. The ChargeUp 6-in-1 wireless charging station with Apple Watch charger will it keep all his gear charged and tidy. And right now, this great charging station is discounted for our Father’s Day Sale to just $49.97.
That’s more than half off the regular price of $99. Be quick to grab it, as the special low price will only last through to 11:59 p.m. on June 11.
Apple didn’t have time to show you all the awesome features in iOS 17. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Despite dumping massive engineering resources into its brand-new visionOS platform for the Vision Pro headset, Apple is bringing loads of new features to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and even tvOS this year. Headlining features include NameDrop, StandBy, Journal, Live Stickers, pet tagging in Photos and blurring unsolicited nude pictures.
However, Apple didn’t have time during its jam-packed WWDC23 keynote this week to cover all the new features. Now that iOS 17 is out, here are some of the hidden gems people have discovered in Apple’s latest operating systems.
★★★★☆
Lukas (played by Avi Nash, left) and Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) stumble upon something strange. Photo: Apple TV+
Silo, the hit Apple TV+ series about people dwelling in a titanic subterranean structure years after an apocalyptic event turned Earth’s air toxic, begins its final act this week.
Juliette discovers a horrible clue hidden in the memory of someone who can’t access it. And a risky mission will put her in close proximity to the one person she doesn’t want to see, but it’s now or never time in the silo.
The episode, entitled “The Flamekeepers,” is a very well-handled lynchpin episode of Silo.
Give your dad a lifetime of learning with this $80 Father's Day deal. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If your dad has always wanted to take up photography or finally learn what a tweet is, then he might enjoy enrolling in some professional courses. Upskillist is a learning platform that gives users more than 80 courses for personal and professional development in one convenient hub.
Your Pops can pop into courses on video production, social media, digital marketing, technical drawing and much more. Normally, a lifetime membership to Upskillist would cost $400, but it’s been marked down to $79.97 for Father’s Day. That sale ends June 11 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
★★★☆☆
Will Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff) ever get to the bottom of Sam's shooting? Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ drama City on Fire drops a bomb this week.
Charlie and Keith meet up under less-than-ideal circumstances, while Sam fights for her life. Nicky and Sol have one last missive for the city of New York — and the fat cat who set them up. And William has one more act left in his life as an amateur detective — and a family to reunite.
This week’s episode, entitled “The Demon Brother,” is full of engaging, but deeply ridiculous, stuff.
★★☆☆☆
Despite starring Tom Holland, this is definitely not a Spider-Man movie. Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ thriller The Crowded Room delves into a crime committed in New York at the end of the 1970s. Spider-Man star Tom Holland plays a troubled teen whose life in a halfway house leads to murder.
The miniseries stumbles a fair bit, but when it gets the steps right it proves quite compelling. Its depiction of lowlife decadence and debauchery almost hits the mark, but Holland can’t quite live up to the task of carrying all 10 episodes.
Home Key lets you open this new deadbolt smart lock with an iPhone or Apple Watch. Photo: Aqara
Aqara released its first deadbolt smart lock Friday, the Smart Lock U100. It’s fully compatible with Apple’s HomeKit and you can open it with Home Key, fingerprints, passwords or — get this — a physical key.
Snark aside (a physical if often provided with smart locks for power outages), the stout new lock integrates with the Matter home automation standard and could become a vital part of HomeKit users’ smart-home arsenals.
You can see a StandBy Mode from the iOS 17 beta on the iPhone's display, which looks like a digital clock. Photo: [email protected]
This year, WWDC delivered an avalanche of new hardware as well as the usual major planned software releases — and the latter is already showing up in computer setups while the hardware hasn’t shipped yet.
Today’s featured setup may be all about its MacBook Pro, iPad and fine external monitor, but you can’t miss the brand-new, unreleased functionality showing up on another screen on display in the photograph.
Use promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software. Photo: CdkeySales.com
While few people enjoy updating their Microsoft software, it’s important to do it to maintain the best productivity and security. So it’s a good thing you can score genuine copies of Windows, Microsoft Office and other great software at way below full price.
You can do that when you buy software activation keys.
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If you’re ready to stop paying full price for crucial software, try shopping at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. You can find low prices on Windows, Office and more. And if you want to score the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s super-low prices on software keys.
And don’t miss this — you get a free upgrade to Windows 11 when you buy Windows 10.
Safari Profiles make it easier to keep work and personal browsing separate. But the upcoming feature can also simplify sharing an iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
With Safari Profiles, Apple takes another swing at helping us organize all the browser tabs we have open. The new feature lets users put tabs and tab groups into separate areas, helping keep work and our personal lives from interfering.
Beyond that, Safari Profiles also could enable two or more people to more easily share the web browser, which can be a huge benefit for iPad users.
I’ve been testing the new feature in the first betas of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17, all of which Apple unveiled at WWDC23 this week.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg thinks Apple’s $3,499 Vision Pro headset does not pack any significant technological breakthroughs. He claims his company explored all options used by Apple — but ultimately decided against them.
Zuckerberg expressed his thoughts on Vision Pro in a companywide meeting with Meta employees.
Reddit's new API pricing is the reason behind Apollo's shut down. Photo: Reddit
Apollo, a popular third-party Reddit client for iPhone and iPad, will shut down on June 30. This is due to Reddit’s upcoming API policy that goes live on July 1, which makes it untenable for third-party apps to operate.
Apple highlighted Apollo multiple times on-stage at WWDC23 and even showed it as one of the apps for its Vision Pro headset.
Help Dad clean up his office with the iScanner app. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Everyone has paper documents they need to keep. But if your dad’s office is getting out of hand, the iScanner iOS app can turn his iPhone into a quick and easy scanning tool that can help him clear the clutter.
The star-studded second season of The Afterparty will make its global debut on Apple TV+ in July. Photo: Apple TV+
The second season of an Apple TV+ series that turns a murder mystery into a genre-mixing comedy will soon return. Fresh episodes of The Afterparty premier in July.
As the trailer released Thursday shows, there’s a new mystery to solve with a fresh cast of eccentric suspects, though Tiffany Haddish and some of the other stars of season one will be back.
New health features come to iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10. Photo: Apple
At WWDC23, Apple said it’s adding a slew of new health features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10 that will help you take care of yourself physically and emotionally.
And while new mental health and vision features are coming across platforms, the more-general Health app finally arrives on iPad, as well.
You can mount this reflective AirTag holder anywhere on your bike. Photo: Device Therapy
For this week’s giveaway, we teamed up with Device Therapy, which makes a clever disguise to keep an eye on your bicycle. Three lucky winners will receive an awesome Bike Reflector Mount that can help foil thieves who want to steal your two-wheeler.
The AirTag bike mount’s reflective surface is made from genuine 3M diamond-grade reflective material. The durable mounts are made from plant-sourced bioplastic, 3D-printed in-house by the product’s creator.
Safari Private Browsing mode will soon get multiple new features to prevent online tracking. Photo: Killian Bell/Ed Hardy
Private Browsing mode in Apple Safari will soon get even more secure. It’ll be locked against someone else accessing it, and incorporate new tools to prevent websites from tracking users.
The additional privacy features are coming in iOS 17, macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17, all of which were unveiled at WWDC23 this week.