Mobile menu toggle

Hijack hits cruising altitude by focusing on suspense [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

By •

Idris Elba in ★★★
Airplane passenger Sam Nelson (played by Idris Elba) takes action against terrorists this week on Hijack.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ terrorist thriller Hijack finally takes off this week, introducing real challenges and intense, investigative set pieces as the people on the ground try to figure out if the plane has been taken over, and if so, why — and what can be done about it.

The calm, cool and collected interloper played by Idris Elba takes action as the plane he’s on descends further and further into chaos. The episode, entitled “Draw a Blank,” is the best this show has yet been.

Score open-ear headphones with bone-conduction tech for just $25

By •

Score pre-Prime Day savings on these open ear headphones with bone conduction technology, now only $25.
Get pre-Prime Day savings on these open-ear headphones, now just $24.97.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Everybody gets in the zone when it’s time to work out. Music is one great way to get there, but AirPods aren’t always the safest option if you’re biking or jogging on busy roadways. Audiophiles have been conditioned to think that earbuds are best when they drill sound waves directly into the ear, but these open-ear induction headphones are at the forefront of a new wave in personal audio.

During Deal Days, our version of Prime Day, Cult of Mac readers can get a pair of these innovative bone-conduction headphones for only $24.97 (regularly $79) with no coupon necessary. But you’ll have to move quickly, as this deal only lasts until July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific!

Turn your laptop into an immersive gaming station with this portable second screen

By •

Turn your laptop into an immersive gaming station with pre-Prime Day savings on this portable second screen.
Work or play from anywhere with pre-Prime Day savings on this second screen for your laptop or tablet.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Adding a second screen to any computer can instantly take your experience to the next level. For gamers that need additional playing real estate, or remote workers looking to boost productivity, the way to do it is with the USteam F22 15.6-inch 1080P FHD portable monitor, now on sale for only $129.99 (regularly $229.99) with no coupon necessary.

The super-low price is due to our epic Deal Days sale. It’s our answer to Prime Day — Black Friday in the summer, if you will. That means you don’t have long to snap it up. This price is only available through July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific (while supplies last).

Save on your summer vacation with a top-rated Dollar Flight Club membership

By •

Save on your summer vacation before Prime Day with a top-rated Dollar Flight Club membership.
Grab a lifetime of flight deals with a Dollar Flight Club membership for less than $60 ahead of Prime Day.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to see the world without being stung by the skyrocketing costs of flights? There’s a simple hack to save serious bucks on your summer vacation, and it comes in the form of getting alerts on ultra-low flight deals. Dollar Flight Club does precisely that. And right now, you can grab a Premium Plus+ lifetime subscription for only $59.97 (regularly $1,690), with no coupon necessary.

This discount on lifetime access to DFC’s Premium Plus+ plan is only available during our exciting Deal Days campaign — our version of Prime Day. So, you’ll have to act fast since this deal only lasts until July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific!

Apple TV+ has a lot more subscribers than you might realize

By •

Apple TV app lands on PlayStation
It’s time to stop thinking of Apple TV+ as a tiny part of the streaming business.
Photo: Apple

The number of Apple TV+ subscribers has more than tripled in the past two years, according to data from a market-analysis firm.

Apple’s streaming service now sits in the middle of the pack in the battle against competitors like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.

Get $200 worth of restaurant meals for just $20

By •

Save hundreds on date night meals with pre-Prime Day Savings on this $20 gift card package.
Score pre-Prime Day savings on two $100 Restaurant.com eGift Cards.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Everybody loves to eat a nice dinner out on the town, but have you checked restaurant prices lately? Outrageous! However, a limited-time discount can save you a lot of money when dining out.

For a limited time, you can get two $100 gift certificates to Restaurant.com for just $20 (regularly $200)! Grab it now during Deal Days — our version of Prime Day — where you can get special pricing on tech, software and services.

Last chance: Take 20% off stylish Apple Watch bands while they last

By •

Switcheasy's Silicone Magnetic Apple Watch Band
The comfy, secure silicone magnetic Apple Watch band fits most occasions with its sleek look.
Photo: SwitchEasy

SwitchEasy makes an array of cool bands for Apple Watch in different styles and with various materials, from stretchy nylon to stainless steel mesh. In the SwitchEasy Flash Sale, the Cult of Mac Store has four excellent choices on sale for 20% off the regular prices through July 3.

Check out all four SwitchEasy bands for Apple Watch below.

Mounts make the most of this MacBook Pro workstation [Setups]

By •

A dual monitor mount is used for the external display and the MacBook Pro.
A dual monitor mount is used for the external display and the MacBook Pro.
Photo: [email protected]

Monitor mounts and the like may not be terribly glamorous or exciting, but they can do an awful lot for a computer setup.

Today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation uses them to make the laptop and two other crucial pieces of hardware easy to move around. And they keep the hardware off the desk, creating space for other items.

Prep for wildfires and their aftermath with a Bluetti power station

By •

Increasingly, U.S. households need to prepare for wildfires, which can not only burn homes but cause widespread power outages.
Increasingly, U.S. households need to prepare for wildfires, which can not only burn homes but cause widespread power outages.
Photo: Bluetti

Canada’s 2,000 wildfires made news all over the United States when the resulting smoke drifted south in June. The fires burned more than 14 million acres, serving as a wake-up call for heightened attention to wildfire preparedness — especially because the United States is no stranger to its own conflagrations, with more than 72,000 communities at risk.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Bluetti.
Are you prepared for the possibility of a wildfire? In this post, we’ll go over the best ways to prep for when a wildfire threatens your household and damages your surroundings, and what to do afterward. One key part of your prep: a good portable power station from Bluetti.

Budget-friendly 15.6-inch external screen makes you more productive wherever you go [Review] ★★★

By •

Arzopa Portable Monitor A1C review★★★
The Arzopa Portable Monitor A1C (shown here with a simulated screen) offers more room to work at a very attractive price.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Arzopa Portable Monitor A1C is a 15.6-inch, 1080P monitor ready to be connected to a Mac, iPad or gaming device over USB-C or HDMI. Given its relatively low price, the screen is one of the better options available for those on a tight budget.

It’s currently available at a price below $100, which is significantly lower than the cost of rival products.

I tested the portable display in my home office and on a recent vacation. Here’s what I found.

Save more than $100 on this 5-star hardware VPN and firewall

By •

Save over $100 on this 5-star rated VPN and firewall ahead of Prime Day.
Protect yourself and your loved ones from cybercrime anywhere you go with this five-star firewall.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Cyberattacks can put you at risk of losing money, personal data and more. But you can protect your family from cybercrime with a top-rated VPN and firewall, like this Deeper Connect Pico decentralized VPN, which also comes with a Wi-FI adapter. Right now, you can grab this package for only $139.99 (regularly $248), no coupon needed. That’s this VPN bundle’s lowest price ever.

So, why so low? It’s all part of our epic Deal Days summer sale. It’s our version of Prime Day, where you can grab some incredible items at awesomely low prices. You’ll have to move quickly to grab this deal, though. It only lasts until July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific!

Vision Pro’s complex design forces Apple to make significant production cuts

By •

Vision Pro's ultra-high-resolution display system, with 23 million pixels across two displays, reportedly runs into manufacturing challenges.
Photo: Apple TV

Apple reportedly made hefty cuts to its production goals for the Vision Pro due to the headset’s complex design, which makes mass production a challenge.

Announced at WWDC23 in June, Apple’s mixed-reality headset will go on sale in early 2024. So the company has more than a few months to sort out these manufacturing challenges.

Next-gen AirPods Pro could measure your body temperature

By •

AirPods Pro 2 in hand with case opened
AirPods Pro 2 charging case with USB-C could debut this year.
Source: Unsplash

Apple is exploring adding health-focused features to future versions of AirPods Pro, including sensors that measure body temperature. The company also is working on features that would make the earbuds a viable hearing aid replacement, including an advanced hearing test to evaluate the wearer’s capabilities.

Apple also reportedly plans to transition the AirPods Pro’s charging case from Lightning to USB-C this year. This could happen alongside the iPhone 15 series in September.

New Apple Watch Ultra, 30-inch iMac make us salivate [The CultCast]

By •

Apple Watch Ultra rumors on The CultCast episode No. 601.
Rumors about a new Apple Watch Ultra leave us pleasantly surprised. And a 30-inch (minimum!) iMac sounds pretty sweet, too.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: While it’s no big shock that Apple continues to work on new Macs and iPads, two new products reportedly in the pipeline actually do sound surprising — and surprisingly tempting. What are they? An iMac with a big, beautiful 30-inch-plus screen, and a next-gen Apple Watch Ultra.

Where do we place our preorders?

Also on The CultCast:

  • A purported iPhone 15 Pro Max case leak makes us extra worried about that huger-than-huge camera bump. How much is too much?
  • Apple bumps up iCloud+ pricing in some places, but refuses to offer bigger storage options. Erfon is not amused.
  • The EU keeps writing new regulations designed to rein in tech companies. Ill-advised or efficacious?
  • Our giveaway this week is for anyone who craves a clutter-free desk.
  • And finally … a new edition of “What We’re Into.” Griffin talks up an impressive new car, while Erfon and I fixate on the same Apple TV+ sci-fi show.

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.

Covering Apple Vision Pro with 18K gold raises price to a mere $39,000

By •

Caviar version of Apple Vision Pro
A version of Apple Vision Pro with gold and leather trim will go on sale in 2024.
Photo: Caviar

For anyone who looked at the $3,500 price on the Apple Vision Pro and thought “that is so cheap,” Caviar has a version that’s over ten times as expensive. This specially modified AR headset is plated in gold and has a leather head strap.

Caviar even modified the design to make wearing the device a bit more private.

Get free shipping on a $20 cable that can connect to almost anything

By •

During our version of Prime Day, get free shipping on a $20 cable that can connect to almost anything.
Don't delay until Prime Day. You can get this 5-foot, 6-in-1 cable for $20 now.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you carry multiple devices you need to charge throughout the day, the cable struggle can be a lot to deal with. However, if you pack the right cable, you’ll only need one for your iPhone, iPad, MacBook and other tech.

The InCharge X Max is a 5-foot cable with folding ends that can connect to Lightning, USB-C, USB-A and micro USB ports. And you don’t have to wait for Prime Day to get it for a low price. Through July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, you can get one of these all-in-one cables for only $19.97 instead of $39.

5 fun iPhone games that won’t spam, scam or screw you

By •

Games on iPhone
There’s a bunch of fun games on iPhone… if you know where to look.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

So many games on the App Store are thinly veiled vessels for sucking away your money through in-app purchases, a problem that Apple is both the cause of and solution to. Today, I’m going to give you my five favorite non-spammy games for iPhone. They’re all highly addictive time-killers.

All of these games are devoid of manipulative game mechanics, pay-to-win schemes and scummy in-app purchases. They’re all free, included in a $4.99-a-month Apple Arcade subscription, or very cheap to buy. I don’t make a lot of time to play video games, so I’m certainly not going to waste time on a game that doesn’t respect me as a player.

Goldman Sachs wants out of Apple Card after massive losses

By •

Making Apple Card payments is as simple as its design.
Apple Card hasn’t been profitable for the bank that backs the credit card.
Photo: Apple

Goldman Sachs reportedly wants out of a partnership with Apple that has the bank backing the Apple Card and other financial services. It’s not hard to guess why: recent filings from the bank indicate it has lost at least $1 billion on the deal.

It’s supposedly looking to hand the business off to another megabank.

Jace faces troubles old and new in Swagger [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

By •

O’Shea Jackson Jr., Shannon Brown, Caleel Harris, James Bingham and Isaiah Hill in ★★★★
Like the players it follows, Swagger just keeps scoring.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ sports drama Swagger finds Jace preparing for a big birthday this week. He’s dealing with obstacles he sees — and bracing to be blindsided by some he can’t.

An estranged dad, an old adversary, a new teammate and coach Ike (who’s looking to Jace to secure his future) all conspire to keep the young basketball star from his A game. But for Jace, there’s always a way through. And this week’s excellent episode, entitled “18,” is a potent reminder of that.

Don’t wait for Prime Day to get the lowest price ever on this portable power station

By •

Don't wait for Prime Day to get the lowest price ever on this portable power station.
Shipping is free on the EcoFlow Delta Power Station, now the lowest price ever during our version of Prime Day.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Going camping doesn’t mean you can’t bring some of the comforts of everyday life into the great outdoors. If you want to stay connected on your iPhone or host a cozy MacBook movie night in your tent, make sure you can keep everything charged with a reliable portable power station.

The EcoFlow Delta can power small electronics and midsize appliances, and you can get it now at its lowest price ever. During our version of Prime Day, the EcoFlow Delta portable power station costs just $798.99. That’s $600 off the usual price of $1,399. Plus, with this deal, you also get free shipping.

However, this big price drop only lasts until July 14 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific!

Rya is ready for her close-up in The Crowded Room [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

By •

Amanda Seyfried in ★★★☆☆
This week's episode of The Crowded Room finally focuses on criminologist Rya (played by Amanda Seyfried).
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewCriminologist Rya Goodwin takes center stage in this week’s episode of Apple TV+ drama The Crowded Room. She discovers that the way around the many dead-ends in her life is to crack the case of Danny Sullivan, the man who opened fire in a crowded Manhattan street, and the many personalities living in his head who drove him to murder and mayhem.

Entitled “Rya,” it’s an above-average outing of this oft-frustrating show.

Casetify accessories will give Vision Pro a colorful makeover

By •

Casetify's Bounce Vision lineup of accessories for Vision Pro will feature a range of colors and textures.
Casetify's Bounce Vision lineup of accessories for Vision Pro will feature a range of colors and textures.
Photo: Casetify

We know not to expect Vision Pro to go on sale until early next year, yet accessories for the AR/VR headset unveiled at WWDC23 are starting to show up already.

Phone case maker Casetify previewed a lineup called Bounce Vision Friday.

Powerhouse MacBook Pro drives 2 Studio Displays with 1 cable [Setups]

By •

A powerful new MacBook Pro and two Studio Displays make the most of this attractive setup.
A powerful new MacBook Pro and two Studio Displays make the most of this attractive setup.
Photo: [email protected]

A top question folks have when they put together a computers setup is, “how simply can I connect everything?” How little hardware and how few cables can I get away with?

Today’s featured M2 Max MacBook Pro setup makes things easy by driving two beautiful Studio Displays with one cable via one of the best docks on the market. And don’t miss the great-yet-affordable speakers and cool podcasting gear, either.