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City on Fire lights a fuse and hopes for the best this week [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Wyatt Oleff in ★★★☆☆
Will Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff) ever get to the bottom of Sam's shooting?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review 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.

The Crowded Room tries to get inside a killer’s head [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

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Episode 1. Tom Holland in ★★☆☆
Despite starring Tom Holland, this is definitely not a Spider-Man movie.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review 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.

Use Home Key, fingerprints or passwords with new deadbolt smart lock

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Home Key lets you open this new deadbolt smart lock with an iPhone or Apple Watch.
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.

MacBook Pro rig enters beta mode following WWDC23 [Setups]

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You can see a StandBy Mode from the iOS 17 beta on the iPhone's display, which looks like a digital clock.
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.

Get Windows 10 Pro for just $13, Office 365 for only $20 at CdkeySales’ Mid-Year Sale

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Windows 10
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.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
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.

Slick new backpack includes Find My locator

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The straightforward backpack features Find My functionality and is made from recycled bottles.
The straightforward backpack features Find My functionality and is made from recycled bottles.
Photo: Targus

Known for laptop cases and other accessories, Targus recently unveiled its new Cypress Hero Backpack with Find My Locator.

So if it goes missing, you can find the eco-friendly pack and any gear in it using your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Hands on with Safari Profiles, Apple’s latest attempt to curb tab clutter

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Hands on with Safari Profiles
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.

Mark Zuckerberg says Apple Vision Pro is too expensive and antisocial

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Two people having a conversation, one wearing the Vision Pro headset with EyeSight.
A totally normal conversation between two humans.
Photo: Apple

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 absurd API price forcing Apollo to shut down on June 30

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New sharing features for Reddit content include rich URL previews.
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.

The Afterparty season 2 trailer promises more murderous fun

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The Afterparty season 2
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.

Apple health updates boost mind and body across platforms

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New health features come to iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10.
New health features come to iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

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.

Enter to win a clever AirTag bike reflector mount [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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A great bike reflector with a hidden place for your AirTag
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.

How to improve security in Safari Private Browsing with iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma

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How to make Safari Private Browsing much more private
Safari Private Browsing mode will soon get multiple new features to prevent online tracking.
Photo: Killian Bell/Ed Hardy
WWDC23

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.

Get Dad a lifetime of book summaries, just $69.99 for Father’s Day

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Get dad a lifetime subscription for premium book summaries; just $69.99 for Father's Day.
Lifetime access to text and audio book summaries cost only $69.99 with this Father's Day discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If your dad likes to read, you probably purchased him a book as a Father’s Day gift at least once over the years. With that holiday here again, you can help him discover hundreds of books at a surprisingly low price.

During our Father’s Day Sale, a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium costs just $69.99 (regularly $300), with no coupon required. That’s nearly 80% savings on an app that’s primed to provide many years of entertainment and enlightenment for your old man. This deal only lasts until June 11, though, so act fast.

13-inch vs. 15-inch MacBook Air: Which one should you buy?

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13-inch vs. 15-inch MacBook Air comparison
Which M2 MacBook Air model is right for you?
Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple’s redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air from 2022 remains among the best portable laptops you can buy. The 15-inch MacBook Air packs the same benefits in a slightly bigger form factor.

So, which MacBook Air model is right for you — 13-inch or 15-inch? Read our comparison to find out.

iOS 17 brings offline navigation to Apple Maps

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iOS 17 brings offline navigation to Apple Maps
Apple Maps can route users to their destinations even without a cell signal.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple is fixing one of the biggest annoyances of Apple Maps on iOS 17. You can finally download maps for offline use, complete with turn-by-turn directions.

Google Maps has long offered the ability to download maps for offline use. This allows you to use the app for navigation even when not in network range.

Set Dad up for a dream vacation with the 2023 Travel Hacker Bundle

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Set Dad up for a dream vacation with this discounted Rosetta Stone bundle.
Get Rosetta Stone and other travel essentials for just $159.99 for Father's Day.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You know how Dad is always telling you stories about the good old days? If you’re tired of hearing about them, maybe the best thing you can get him for Father’s Day is a whole new batch of great memories.

The best way to do that is with travel. And that’s what makes the 2023 Travel Hacker Bundle so appealing — especially now that it’s down to less than $159.99 through June 11 for our special Father’s Day Sale.

Peggy and Guru Bob find themselves in a tight spot on High Desert [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Rupert Friend and Patricia Arquette in ★★★★☆
Turns out selling bogus art to criminals isn't the smartest move.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+’s farcical neo-noir High Desert gets tied up this week as Peggy accidentally finds herself at the business end of some dangerous people’s guns. Guru Bob is kidnapped and tormented for his role in selling art forgeries to bad people, while Peggy’s quest to find Bob’s wife lands her in hot water with the Gatchi family.

The episode, entitled “A Nod Is Not a Hello,” is a raucous and funny time, even as the stakes climb higher by the minute

The internet won’t stop ragging on Vision Pro’s price tag

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Apple Vision Pro price tag: $3,499.
That $3,500 price tag certainly got people's attention.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

The $3,499 price of Vision Pro, the long-awaited AR/VR headset Apple rolled out at WWDC23, startles some people. You can find audience reaction videos out there with audible gasps when the price was announced (including among Apple employees, some posts claim). And mainstream headlines are joining in, too.

And of course social media hasn’t let up on the jokey memes. See below for a few choice examples.

Apple opens the floodgates for Mac gaming

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A lineup of Macs running The Medium
Porting PC games to the Mac just got “easier than ever before.”
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

A stealth announcement at WWDC23 is that Apple has significantly lowered the barrier of entry to port PC games to the Mac. A new Game Porting Toolkit “provides an emulation environment to run your existing, unmodified Windows game,” says Aiswariya Sreenivassan — a GPU, graphics and displays software engineer at Apple.

It’s a big gap to clear, which is why the Mac has been left behind in recent years. PC games are compiled for the Intel x86 architecture that the Mac just finished moving away from. The unified Apple silicon architecture bears little resemblance to the standard gaming PC with discrete graphics cards and memory. Apple’s Metal 3 library is very different from DirectX, Unity, Unreal and Vulkan — the usual suspects across the computing pond.

Apple’s new tools could open the floodgates for Mac ports of popular PC games. According to a game engine programmer I spoke with, the Game Porting Toolkit demo is “really impressive.” If the tools work as well in practice as in Apple’s demo, they “would be incredibly useful,” said the developer, who works for a major game developer and asked to remain anonymous.

Recurring payments are coming to Apple Cash

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Apple Cash reoccurring payments in iOS 17
Regularly send money to friends, family, etc. with reoccurring payments, coming to Apple Cash.
Photo: Apple

Making regular, reoccurring payments will soon be a feature of Apple Cash. This will make the payment system useful for rent or allowances or other financial transactions that happen each week or month.

Plus, the system will be able to automatically bring in more money when needed.

iOS 17 automatically blurs unsolicited nude images sent to adults

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iOS 17 Sensitive Content Warning
You might never have to look at a stranger’s private parts again.
Photo: Apple

If some random person decides you need to see a picture of his anatomy, iOS 17 will save you. The new Sensitive Content Warning scans texted images and automatically blurs any that contain nudity.

It’s a feature already in iPhone to protect children, and it’s now being extended to adults.

Things get awkward this week on Platonic [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Luke Macfarlane in ★★★★☆
Charlie (played by Luke Macfarlane) has a little trouble coming to terms with his "wife's boyfriend."
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ comedy Platonic finds Will and Charlie stepping outside of their comfort zones this week, at a greater cost than either imagined.

The show, about two adult friends who try to reclaim their nonsexual friendship at the start of their middle age, finds them Charlie’s wife Sylvia all keeping secrets from each other — a sure sign that everything’s going according to plan, right?

Entitled “My Wife’s Boyfriend,” it’s a surprisingly effective episode, despite all the comic games that come out of left field.