Can you even remember what you learned in those boring high school French or Spanish classes, filled with rote memorization and writing exercises? There are better ways to master a foreign language than they way you learned way back when.

Thanks to apps like Babbel, you can learn a new language in your own way, on your own time. And right now, there’s good news for anyone prepping for a vacation or wanting to expand their communication abilities. Cult of Mac readers can now score lifetime access to Babbel for only $179.97 (regularly $399) during our version of Prime Day. This fantastic price drop only lasts until July 14!

Aside from the inevitable iPhone refresh (and the headset everyone’s buzzing about), Apple reportedly has several other major new products lined up for launch in 2023 and the first half of 2024. This includes revamped iPad Pros with OLED displays, new Macs powered by a next-gen M3 processor and an upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple also is supposedly in the early stages of developing an iMac with a display that measures more than 30 inches.

In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we’re touting stellar Apple TV+ basketball drama Swagger, produced by Kevin Durant and creatively shepherded by Reggie Rock Bythewood.

The show, about a high school phenom assailed by personal and professional pressures, just returned for its second season. And like its heroes, Swagger shows no signs of slacking now that the game is getting tougher. Here’s why you should give it a shot.

To say that it’s been a while since we featured new or interesting Awesome Apps would be an understatement. Fortunately, all that time has allowed me to discover a few great, useful apps to share with all of you. Whether you need something to help keep you in shape this summer, or want a quick and easy way to record a call on your iPhone, we’ve got some awesome apps for you.

And as I’ve said in the past, if you have something you want us to check out for a future Awesome Apps post, be sure to email your suggestions or tweet them over or toot at me.

The Crowded Room, a psychological thriller starring Tom Holland, is bringing in plenty of viewers. For two weeks now, the Apple TV+ series has been among the most popular shows on any streaming service.

And it’s not the only Apple series doing well — Silo continues to draw a large audience, too.

Those of us who suffer from wax buildup in the ear know that when things get bad, it’s all you can think about. It’s one of the toughest itches to scratch, whether you’re using your bare finger (gross) or a cotton swab (possibly harmful, as most ENT specialists can tell you).

The problem is that you can’t see what you’re doing, and the structure of the ear canal increases the possibility that you’ll do more harm than good. Now, technology has finally caught up to the problem with the Smart Visual Ear Cleaner.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Those EU technocrats plan to force Apple (and everybody else) to make batteries in their devices easier to replace. The specifics remain vague. But is forcing changes to the iPhone and iPad design a good thing or a bad thing?

Also on The CultCast:

• Apple gives us a peek at how the software sausage will be made for the upcoming Vision Pro headset. Looks promising!
• Some of the features coming to the Photos app in iOS 17 work wonders. Others not so much.
• HomePods are about to get a long-awaited feature — sort of.
• The latest Mac sales data seems impossible to believe.

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.

Your Mac is kind of like your house. Unless you’re diligent, it’s normal for a mess to start to build up. On your computer, that may look like half-downloaded apps, unused software, large untouched files, and other digital clutter.

If you want to freshen your Mac up without manually finding and deleting all your unnecessary files and apps, get CleanMyMac X. This one-time purchase could have your Mac feeling clean and quick, and you can get it for one or two Macs with 29% off the regular price.

Apple TV+ sports drama Swagger returns for a second season in fine form this week. Reggie Rock Bythewood’s account of a high school basketball star and his supportive coach continues with fresh challenges for Jace and his team to face.

With Jace gearing up for college, he needs Ike back in his corner after a brief separation. But will Ike make a good fit at Jace’s new school? This week’s episode, entitled “The World Ain’t Ready,” is thrillingly alive in its depiction of life in Baltimore and the pressures of being very good at what you do.

If you’re concerned about your privacy online or just want to get by those annoying geographical content restrictions, a virtual private network is the way to go. A good VPN can put your data on lockdown and open up new avenues online, and they aren’t that expensive.

For a limited time, a three-year subscription to UltraVPN Secure USA VPN Proxy — plus 30 days of free antivirus — costs just $29.99, marked down from $239.

Juliette is on the lam this week in the penultimate installment of Silo’s first season. The Apple TV+ sci-fi show, about the woman who discovers a massive conspiracy in the equally massive underground bunker containing the last dregs of humanity, finds Juliette looking for help and hope in all the strangest places.

Sims, Bernard and Billings all sweat her escape and what it might mean for the future of the silo in a white-knuckle episode entitled “The Getaway.”

Klipsch unveiled two new powered Bluetooth bookshelf speakers in its Reference series recently. The R-40PM and R-50PM speakers replace older “41” and “51” models, upgrading design, pumping up bass response and broadening connectivity with a phone preamp so you can easily connect a turntable, in addition to most other sound sources via USB and other line-in connections.

What you don’t need with these speakers is an amplifier, because they’re powered already.

The UGR Tech Portable SSD External Hard Drive 2TB offers a lot of storage for an exceedingly low price — it’s available from Cult of Mac Deals for just $34.99. I could even call that a suspiciously low price, because rival USB-C drives sell for about four times as much. So I ordered one and tested it out.

I discovered why the external SSD is so very cheap, but also that it’s not a scam or a ripoff … as long as you understand the significant speed limitation of this 2TB drive.

(Update: This incredibly popular 2TB external SSD sold out multiple times in 2023. Now it’s back in stock at Cult of Mac Deals, although the price has gone up to $44.97.)

Apple TV+ psychodrama The Crowded Room takes a look back at Danny’s childhood this week to examine the start of his troubles and trauma.

Danny’s issues began when he was young, in the presence of a mysterious twin brother, an absent father, a new stepdad and a mom tired of being defeated by life. Add to that a sexual abuse case and Danny’s mental illness, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster — and a show that keeps running right up to the line of greatness before retreating.

Adding a second or third external display in portrait mode can really enhance a computer setup and its workflow. The owner of today’s featured MacBook Pro setup lucked into a second monitor and set it up vertically. Many people find the orientation suits certain tasks, like coding or reading email.

And who doesn’t love a classic Apple poster? Don’t miss the nice framed PowerBook G4 poster on the wall above the desk in the photograph above.

The sports games Retro Bowl+ and Retro Goal+ hit the Apple Arcade on Friday. And Bold Moves+ was added earlier in June. These are the latest classic games to make their way to the subscription service, and join many others already available.

This is in addition to all the original games that are Apple Arcade exclusives.

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.