This edition of Awesome Apps of the Week showcases an app to make your TV streaming life 10x easier, a gamified way to learn business, and a way to build (or grow) unique Spotify playlists.
The best gift you can give yourself is to always be learning. As John F. Kennedy said, “ Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” And as Einstein proved, “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
Make an investment in yourself and give yourself unlimited learning for life with The Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle featuring Rosetta Stone. Usually $749, not only is it on sale right now, but you can use the coupon ROSETTA at checkout for a further $30 off through August 13 — driving the price all the way down to $159.97.
Less than $160 to be set with learning languages and valuable skills for life? That sounds like the best investment you’ll make, perhaps, ever.
Hijack, the Apple TV+ thriller starring Idris Elba, wrapped up last week, and the finale pushed the series to the very top of the charts. It became the most popular show on any streaming service, according to a market analysis.
With the entire season of Hijack available, now is the time to binge-watch it.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Looks like we have an iPhone 15 launch date. An early hint pinpointed September 13, but now it looks like the big reveal might come a day earlier. Mark your calendars (but maybe use a pencil rather than a Sharpie).
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.
If you’re looking to upgrade your laptop setup, check out this portable dual-screen magic. Imagine your laptop, but with a cool extra screen sliding out. It’s like having a twin for your work!
Say hello to the Mobile Pixels Duex Plus: the champ of portable dual-screen laptop monitors. It’s got all the things you’d wish for in a second screen, plus it’s totally travel-friendly. And guess what? Right now, it’s up for grabs at a sweet price of just $249.97. That’s the absolute lowest you’ll find this gem going for online. You’re pocketing a solid $89 discount off its regular price tag of $339.
★★★★☆
Foundation finds old flames, new complications and uncertain allies in a very engaging episode this week. Hari, Salvor and Gaal find themselves in the company of a goddess. Dusk, Dawn and Day start suspecting each other. And Sareth gets closer to the truths she came to Trantor to divine.
Unsurprisingly strong performances elevate “The Sighted and the Seen,” this week’s episode of Apple TV+’s epic science fiction series based on the work of Isaac Asimov.
Picture this: You’re in the zone, creating killer docs, sleek spreadsheets, and presentations that practically pop off the screen. Who’s got your back? Drumroll, please … Microsoft Office to the rescue!
And guess what? Hold onto your hat, ’cause we’ve got a flash sale going on! You can snag a lifetime pass to Microsoft Office, whether you’re rocking a Mac or a Windows machine, all for the ridiculously awesome price of just $34.97. Yep, you heard right. It’s usually $219, but we’re hooking you up with this sweet deal.
So, if you’re all about boosting your productivity game and turning out those top-notch docs, spreadsheets and presentations, this is your golden ticket. Don’t miss out – grab your lifetime license now and let Microsoft Office take your work to the next level!
If you’ve got an iPhone, you need good ways to charge it. One of the more convenient methods is to use a magnetic wireless charging station that can charge more than just your handset. Momax makes 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 versions that should fit the bill nicely.
Just stick one of these on your nightstand or desk and it’s always ready to top up your iPhone and other gadgets. The 3-in-1 stand powers up an iPhone, AirPods case and Apple Watch, while the 2-in-1 juices an iPhone and an AirPods case.
And right now, Cult of Mac readers can get a 30% discount with a special coupon code. Read on.
Today’s featured computer setup comes from Mac maven and designer Basic Apple Guy. We know him from the free wallpapers he offers for download. Who knew he was such a cable-management Jedi?
We came across his powerful setup with nary an unsightly cable while writing about his new “Flow” wallpaper — which was actually inspired by his fight with cable clutter.
Jorge Mas, the managing owner of Inter Miami CF, says that the addition of Lionel Messi to his soccer team has “more than doubled” subscriptions to Apple’s MLS Season Pass, which allows viewers to watch Major League Soccer games.
Messi joined the Florida team in July. The huge boost in paid viewership is quick work, even for the man who’s been called the greatest soccer player ever.
★★★★★
Swagger closes out its brilliant second season in style this week, as the young basketball players prep for their futures and their most important game yet.
Jace needs to play his best to regain his sterling reputation in time to win over college recruiters — and that’s not all he’s worried about. Plus, Ike and Naim must patch things up in order to be there for the team ahead of a very important game. Entitled “Journey and Destination,” the Swagger season two finale is a very moving sendoff that only this team could provide.
You no longer need to blow up your bank account in order to improve your personal computer situation. Rather than spending too much money for a brand-new MacBook Pro with all the bells and whistles you’ll likely never use, refurbished Apple laptops deliver the reliable performance you require at an outstanding value.
For a limited time, an 11-inch MacBook Air from 2015 is available for only $247.99 with no coupon required. That’s a fraction of the standard price for a laptop of that quality. That’s nearly 70% savings, but it won’t last long.
Artificial intelligence became a buzz-worthy topic in almost every industry seemingly overnight. One thing is certain — AI is going to change the way you work, so you may as well make it work for you.
“Introduction to ChatGPT” is a comprehensive course that aims to dispel some of the myths around this powerful tool and give workers practical tips on how to use it.
macOS Ventura 13.5 users report a problem with Location Services. The bug apparently prevents users from giving or denying applications permission to gather and use information based on the current location of the Mac.
Reports of the bug date back weeks but Apple has yet to issue a fix.
Baseus Technology unveiled its Red Dot Design-awarded Baseus Metal Gleam 7-in-1 Docking Station Thursday. It supports ultra-high-def 4K@60Hz resolution for content output.
The company touted an absurdly low-sounding price of $19.99. “It has no match in its tier with a competitive price of $19.99 since the passkey to access such a high-resolution hub is way higher,” the company said.
iPhone’s Emergency SOS via Satellite got credit for saving lives Wednesday when it was the only way a family trapped in a van amid raging wildfires on the island of Maui, Hawaii, could call for help.
The service has brought aid to plenty of people in need so far in its short life, since launch in 2022. This emergency seemed even more fraught than many, as you can see from the frantic texts shown in a post on X below.
Mac maven and designer Basic Apple Guy pumps out intriguing desktop wallpaper you can put on your Apple devices like Mac, iPad and iPhone.
But the latest one, “Flow,” which he put out Wednesday, came from a truly surprising place — his obsession with cable management in his home office and computer setup.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday that the entertainment behemoth is exploring ways to prevent subscribers of its video streaming service from sharing passwords. Rival Netflix saw a surge in subscribers after it did its own crackdown.
The ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu are also getting a price increase this autumn.
★★★☆☆
If you’ve ever suffered hand or wrist discomfort from long sessions at the computer, you probably wished you could switch mousing hands, or maybe use a trackball device. Now Targus has addressed that very issue in ingenious fashion with its new ErgoFlip wireless mouse.
With a magnetic top and a stationary base, the mouse lets you “flip” it anytime you want, using a comfortable, ergonomic grip with either hand, with no need to adjust for right- and left-clicking.
Camera products maker Miops unveiled a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday for Spark, a new camera companion designed to help iPhone users capture photos and video like professionals.
The handheld attachment provides DSLR-camera-like buttons that help you control your iPhone’s cameras.
Apple is making significant improvements to its Stage Manager multitasking system so iPads can work even more like Macs. The iPadOS 17 version offers additional freedom in window sizing and position.
I’ve been testing the update since Apple began releasing beta versions of iPadOS 17 in June. I already liked the original version of Stage Manager — but the new one is even better.
Apple’s upcoming A17 Bionic, the 3nm chip that reportedly will power iPhone 15 Pro, could feature a six-core CPU and six GPU cores. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro’s A16 Bionic uses a five-core GPU.
Based on TSMC’s advanced 3nm node, which increases transistor density to boost processing power while simultaneously reducing power consumption, the A17 Bionic reportedly will ship with 6GB LPDDR5 RAM. (That’s the same as the iPhone 14 Pro series.)
The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by Epic Games that would have required Apple to immediately get rid of its “anti-steering” rule for third-party applications — a major change. Instead, the Mac-maker can wait until there’s a final decision by the high court.
This means Apple doesn’t have to change its policy that prevents developers from sending customers from their applications to their websites to pay for subscriptions or services … yet.
Most Nintendo Switch users love that they can bring gameplay just about anywhere, and the right accessory can enhance that feature. For a limited time, you can pick up a discounted plug-and-play upgrade for your Nintendo Switch setup.
Grab a mini docking station for Nintendo Switch at the low price of $18.99 (regularly $24) with no coupon required. For the cost of a few energy drinks, you’ll be primed to pursue gaming adventures on a variety of monitors no matter where you roam.
Apple’s chip-maker TSMC does not absorb the cost of defective processors created in the production process, according to a trusted analyst. That contradicts a recent report that TSMC “eats the cost of the defects.”
Which isn’t to say that Apple and the Taiwanese company don’t have a very close working relationship.