Epic sci-fi series Foundation, based on the work of Isaac Asimov, returns to Apple TV+ for a second season this week and blows expectations clean into the next galaxy.

The expensive, expansive show overcome opening night jitters in season one to become one of the more watchable and exciting things on Apple TV+, thanks in no small part to a game cast, tense set pieces, fleet drama and exquisite effects.

Apple TV+ needed its own Battlestar Galactica or Mandalorian, and Foundation more than met the challenge. Will it be able to repeat the successes of its first season?

Wireless charging is one of the iPhone’s best conveniences, and it’s even better with the right charger. Now through July 14, you can get the Speedy Mag wireless power bank during Deal Days, our answer to Amazon’s Prime Day.

The list of new emoji up for approval includes a phoenix, a breaking chain, a lime, a person nodding or shaking their head, plus a handful more.

These are being proposed to the Unicode Consortium in September, but are very unlikely to appear on iPhone and other computers before 2024.

Although Amazon’s Prime Day is over, you have not missed your chance to save money on iPad, MacBook or AirPods. These Apple products are still on sale with enticing discounts.

But don’t wait — these deals could disappear at any time.

Attention iPad owners: This is your last day to slash 30% off a fantastic variety of iPad cases in the Cult of Mac Store.

SwitchEasy’s sleek and protective cases cover any iPad you might own. See key highlights below and check out the SwitchEasy Flash Sale, which ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on July 13.

Suppose you could change the channel on your TV by moving a sofa cushion? Or adjust the volume with a plate of nachos? That’s the simple but somewhat ridiculous idea behind a patent Apple applied for.

While silly, it would mean we’d never need to worry about losing the TV remote.

Instead of searching for new Mac apps, why not spring for a subscription that gives you instant access to more than 240 of them? Setapp is a collection of more than 240 apps for basic tasks like finances, creativity and more.

Normally, a one-year subscription would cost $119. But right now, you can get it for just $84.99.

Apple’s on again/off again Rapid Security Response patches for iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 are once again available. These have been cleared of the bugs that caused Apple to withdraw them after the initial release.

The updated RSR patches are critical because they close a security hole that has been exploited by hackers.

Apple launched in mid July a trio of Rapid Security Responses to fix urgent security problems in iOS 16.5.1, macOS Ventura 13.4.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1. It was then forced to withdraw them, but they have since been debugged and re-released.

These are the latest entries in a relatively new system created to quickly fix security holes without requiring a full OS update.

Apple has expanded its Tap to Pay on iPhone feature to businesses in the UK. This comes within a few months of the feature rolling out to small businesses in Australia.

Tap to Pay allows businesses and merchants to turn their iPhones into a Point-of-Sale terminal and accept payments from customers.

Apple is bringing iCloud’s password manager to third-party web browsers with macOS Sonoma. So far, you could only access passwords saved in iCloud from Safari on your Mac.

This will no longer be the case once macOS Sonoma lands later this year. The move will make iCloud Keychain a more compelling alternative to popular third-party password managers.

You people apparently love your trackers. The Momax Tracking Tag — an affordable AirTag alternative that uses Apple’s Find My network — topped the list of items purchased by Cult of Mac readers during Amazon’s Prime Day event this week. And AirTags themselves didn’t come in far behind.

What else proved popular with our readers? Here’s the list — and some of these deals are still available!

Apple TV+ comedy Platonic closes its hilarious first season this week with a sentimental look at the way two people have to understand the limits of their relationship.

Sylvia and her husband Charlie find a new home that seems to signal the end of their recent troubles. But will there be a place for Will in this new version of their life? The answer probably won’t shock you, but it’s basically moving anyway.

Upgrading your computer can be costly, even if you’re just using an emulator app to throw Windows onto your MacBook. Those OS keys usually don’t come cheap, but there’s actually a way to get Windows 11 Pro and more for a one-time payment.

Deal Days is Cult of Mac Deals’ version of Prime Day, and it’s an exclusive chance to get Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft Office 2021 and 1TB of cloud storage — all for just $79.97. This deal only runs through July 14.

Apple just gave the general public access to the latest iOS 17 beta, but before you put it on your iPhone, the Cult of Mac staff has some warnings. We’ve used the betas for weeks, and while it’s gone well for some people, it’s been a dumpster fire for others.

Public betas for macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17 are also available, and we also have comments for anyone thinking of putting those on their Mac or iPad.

The third season of the Apple TV+ dark comedy Physical will feature a psychological battle between Rose Byrne‘s Sheila and a new rival for premier fitness entrepreneur status played by Zooey Deschanel. The first trailer for the upcoming season gives a first look at their struggle.

In addition, Apple’s streaming service revealed Wednesday that the series will return in early August -0- and that this will be the final season of Physical.

Juuk’s Qrono band for Apple Watch offers everything you could want from a metal bracelet without the nasty drawbacks. It looks terrific but won’t weigh you down. And, like all Juuk bands, it’s built to last.

Here’s why the Qrono is the only metal band I’ll wear with my Apple Watch.

Apple TV+ earned dozens of 2023 Emmy nominations, with the Ted Lasso juggernaut racking up no fewer than 21 on its own.

Also gaining recognition for TV’s highest honor are comedies Shrinking and Bad Sisters, jailhouse drama Black Bird, musical spoof Schmigadoon! and current-affairs series The Problem With Jon Stewart. Plus more.

High-flying Apple TV+ thriller Hijack deals with a new threat this week even as the last one is still being mopped up in the airplane’s aisles.

As Sam finds himself in bondage, he devises a clever new avenue of contacting the ground and gaining the upper hand without seeming to. There’s panic in Bucharest, Marsha gets a message, and the hijackers are getting jumpy on a perfectly decent installment of the new hit series.

Porsche just became the first carmaker to give drivers personalized control over vehicle functions from an app within CarPlay, accessible via new digital controls on the dashboard (and on iPhone).

With the My Porsche app showing up in CarPlay to control features like audio, climate and lighting in the latest Cayenne SUV, the integration may give a sense of what CarPlay could be like soon in other cars.

Increasingly, gamers and other users replace traditional computer monitors with large smart TVs or ultra-wide monitors that eclipse screens like Apple’s 27-inch Studio Display and 32-inch Pro Display XDR in size. Today’s featured M2 Max Studio Display setup sports a 55-inch Samsung 8K OLED smart TV, for example.

Everybody loves plenty of screen real estate, but ergonomically speaking, is it healthy? Today’s setup represents the debate, offering pros and cons.

Momax jumped on the Amazon Prime Day bandwagon this year in a big way. The company’s offering a bunch of great deals on a slew of specialty accessories for all your Apple gear. Sale items include a compact GaN travel adapter you can use in 150 countries, a magnetic portable charger with a stand and a bunch of other great products.

See some highlights below and get ready to save even more with coupon code CULTOFMAC10.

Luna Display’s ability to turn an iPad into a high-performance second screen for a Mac got an upgrade with peer-to-peer networking, reducing the latency between the two computers.

In addition, a software update for the video adapter from Astropad now supports making one Mac acts as another’s external monitor via a USB connection.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard brunch, hitting the beach or firing up the grill, wine and summer just go together. Wine and a budget, however, often don’t pair so well. If you want wine that’s easy on the wallet and playful on the palate, check out this one-time shipment of 15 bottles of red, white or mixed wines from Swirl.

These wine shipments are on sale for 73% off during our Deal Days Sale, which ends July 14.

Apple TV+ comedy The Afterparty returns for a second infuriating season Wednesday. Not even the presence of some of our best actors (Paul Walter Hauser, Mary Holland and John Cho among them) can focus the writing and direction of this show to the point where its gimmick makes sense or its performances seem calibrated to the design of the show.

Unfortunately, this genre-hopping misfire was spent before it was reloaded.