Idris Elba in Hijack, premiering globally June 28, 2023 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ revealed the launch date for Hijack, a seven-part thriller starring Idris Elba. When it debuts June 28, the series will follow a hijacked plane in “real time,” with Elba playing a passenger trying to negotiate with terrorists.
The first images from the show were also released on Friday.
★★★☆☆Drops of God pours out some backstory this week. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ series Drops of God, about two wine experts competing to win a priceless cellar and their dead father figure’s favor, takes a trip down memory lane this week.
Alexandre and Marianne Léger relive their first tribulations, as well as their decision to move to Japan. And Issei’s mother remembers her first encounter with Alexandre, and how he ended up changing her life.
It’s a bit of a letdown that the episode, entitled “Foundation,” drifts from the show’s main action. However, this beautifully acted and well-directed detour proves very good nevertheless.
★★★☆☆
Bailey (played by Angourie Rice) is looking for clues to her father's disappearance in all the right places. Photo: Apple TV+
The Last Thing He Told Me, the Apple TV+ limited series about a shady software developer with a checkered past who vanishes from his wife and daughter’s life, heads to a bar for a fateful drink and a little interrogation this week.
Hannah and Bailey find themselves dancing ever closer to the truth about their missing husband/father, and danger looms around every corner. The episode, entitled “The Never Dry,” makes for a pretty tense outing of the sometimes-too-casual mystery series.
Ed Sheeran plays on Apple Music Live from London May 10. Photo: Apple Music
Apple Music Live returns for its second season May 10 with a concert by Ed Sheeran at the Eventim Apollo in London. He’ll perform the whole of his new album “-” (aka “subtract,” because it’s a minus sign), Apple Music said Friday.
For the show, Sheeran will play with a 12-piece band that includes The National’s Aaron Dessner, who also produced Sheeran’s album. And in a new twist, you can watch Sheeran’s show and others to follow during the season on Apple TV+.
A Pro Display XDR typically costs about $5,000, but this user got his for quite a bit less. Photo: [email protected]
In a world of shockingly expensive Apple products, one magnificent items stands supreme — Pro Display XDR. If you’re among the legion of Apple fans who can’t quite crack open their wallets wide enough for a $1,600 Studio Display, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Today’s MacBook Pro setup sports a Pro Display XDR that came at a shocking price, too — shockingly good, that is, all things considered.
Thanks to AirPlay, you don't have to watch video on your iPhone's small screen. Screenshot: Apple Support
With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream video from your Apple devices to a large-screen TV. It’ll let you enjoy Ted Lasso or share a TikTok video with a group of friends on a big screen, not your iPhone’s relatively small one.
If this handy option is new to you, Apple made an explainer video. Watch it now.
Get genuine Microsoft software on the cheap using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. Photo: CdkeySales.com
In the big new May Software Sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com, springtime deals on Microsoft software are blooming. You can find great prices on Microsoft Windows, Office and more. Don’t pass it up.
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If you could pay much less than full price for Windows 10 and other critical software, wouldn’t you? Just click on the links below to secure low prices on loads of Microsoft software. Plus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Note: To get the absolute best savings possible, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will slash an additional 30% off the site’s super-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
Learn the ins and outs of starting your own biz on two of the biggest platforms around. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Starting a side hustle that actually pays is tough. You’re essentially building a business from the ground up while still having another job that takes most of your time and energy. Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula for a low-effort side hustle with a big paycheck, but dropshipping with Amazon FBA or Shopify can be easier than other options to get off the ground.
Learn how to be a drop shipper on the cheap with the Amazon FBA and Shopify Dropshipping 2023 Business Model and Strategies Bundle. Its price recently dropped to only $29.99 (regularly $597).
★★★☆☆
Sheriff Holston (played by David Oyelowo) is looking for answers about the silo. Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ series Silo packs what may be the last people on earth into a huge, mysterious structure. Like Snowpiercerpointed straight up, this show offers a look at the hierarchies and conspiracies of silence that lead to cataclysmic turns of events.
This shaggy dog post-apocalyptic story — with an all-star cast spouting a lot of silly sci-fi lingo and exaggerated futurespeak — gets off to a compelling start this week.
Apple dominated the smartphone market in Q1 2023. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Shipments in the global smartphone market declined by 14% YoY in Q1 2023 to 280.2 million units. Despite the slowdown, Samsung replaced Apple as the world’s largest smartphone maker during the period.
Apple, however, continued its dominance, with iPhones accounting for nearly half the revenue generated by the smartphone market in Q1 2023. The company also took the lion’s share of the market’s profit.
Apple could find itself in hot water if it places limits on how iPhones work with non-MFi cables. Photo: Josh Davidson/Cult of Mac
Ahead of Apple’s transition from Lightning ports to USB-C for its devices, the European Commission warned the company not to limit the functionality of charging cables that don’t carry Apple’s MFi certification.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton reportedly sent a letter to Apple addressing rumors that iPhone charging and data-transfer speeds might be reduced when using non-MFI USB-C cables. Breton reminded Cupertino that such limitations could lead to iPhones being banned from the European market.
Despite a 3% year-to-year drop in quarterly revenue (to "only" $94.8 billion), Apple delivers plenty of reasons for optimism. Photos: Michael & Diane Weidner and Sumudu Mohottige/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
Perhaps the best phrase to describe the results of Apple’s most recent financial quarter is, “It could have been worse.” Total revenue dropped 3% as the company battled inflation and other macroeconomic problems not of its making.
Still, Apple’s quarterly numbers beat the overly pessimistic Wall Street estimates. And there is more good news buried in the results Apple reported Thursday (and in the company’s earnings call with investors). Read on for five reasons to be optimistic about Apple’s future.
Start an exciting new career in cybersecurity with this 200-hour training bundle that costs just $3 a course. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether you want to start an exciting new career as a cybersecurity professional, take on lucrative freelance or contract work, or add desirable new skills to your LinkedIn profile, this top-rated cybersecurity developer and IT bundle can teach you the latest essential skills.
What’s more, you can learn on your own time, and from anywhere, with the course pack’s 400 hours of training.
It’s a steal, too. Usually $7,774, you can now grab it for only $79.99. That’s just $3 a course — the best price you’ll find for this bundle online.
Apple posts quarterly revenue of $94.8 billion, down 3% year over year. Photo: Alex Kalinin/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
During the first three months of 2023, Apple’s total revenue dropped 3% year over year. iPhone was a bright spot, but revenue from virtually all of the company’s other product segments saw annual declines. CEO Tim Cook blamed the drop on a “challenging macroeconomic environment.”
While the financial news isn’t good, Wall Street had been expecting it to be even worse. AAPL is up in after-hours trading on the news.
Your Apple device might be worth more than you think. Photo: Cult of Mac
The amount of money Apple will pay you to trade in a previous-generation iPhone just increased. And that’s the second time this spring. The same holds true for Mac and iPad.
So, if you have an older Apple device sitting around, it might be worth more than you suspect.
You can have your pick of older and newer iMacs. Photo: Apple
Want an Apple desktop computer at a good price? Amazon bargain site Woot! is selling refurbished iMacs at discount prices through May 8. You can pick from 21 machines — right now, that is, while they last — with a selection of specs and colors.
The newest rigs date from 2021, most harken back to 2019 and a few date back to 2017 and even 2013.
The Holafly app makes managing eSIMs easy. Photo: Holafly
If you own an iPhone XS or newer, your device comes with eSIM built in. That means you can skip physical SIM cards and simply set up cellular plans for international travel right on your phone, avoiding roaming charges wherever you go.
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You can do that using one of the best apps out there — the Holafly: International eSIM app. With the free app, you can activate and manage eSIMs for different countries from your iPhone. And that means you can enjoy reliable, affordable internet on all your international travels.
Smith, just through the airplane's door, loses his iPhone at 14,000 feet. Photo: [email protected]
You might’ve dropped your iPhone on the floor and felt massive relief to find it undamaged. Or maybe a bit cracked. But what happens when an iPhone plummets 14,000 feet?
Thanks to TikTok and a skydiver who failed to secure his handset, now we know. At least in this one very lucky case.
Upgrade your cloud storage with this 1TB plan from Koofr. The lifetime subscription costs less than $140. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Before the work-from-home revolution, cloud storage was a boon. Now, it’s a necessity. For so many of us, the office isn’t in some cubicle or even our home laptop. It’s wherever we are, on whatever device we can access. Files need to be both accessible and secure, and that’s why savvy cloud users are turning to Koofr.
Now that Koofr is offering 1TB of lifetime cloud storage for just $139.99 (regularly $2,700), you can expect even more people to jump on board.
The store employees are now demanding a 10% hike in their pay, overtime policies and more time off. More importantly, they also want Apple to allow consumers to tip retail employees.
Ford is sticking with CarPlay, even as GM opts out. Photo: Apple
The Ford CEO Jim Farley indicated his company will not end support for Apple’s CarPlay in the vehicles it makes. He said the decision was an easy one because a majority of Ford buyers own Apple products.
He was asked the question in an interview because rival GM recently announced it will end CarPlay support in some of its vehicles.
Why pay more to host your website(s)? This one-and-done subscription sets you up for life. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Skip the monthly cost of web hosts and get it all your website management needs covered in one go. With DoRoyal, you get a host that can help you manage, protect and grow your web space, and it’s on sale for a super-low price.
A lifetime subscription is now on sale for only $49.99 (regularly $750), but it’s up to you to get started.
Market watchers predict a down quarter for Apple. Photo: Anna
Nekrashevich/Pexels
Don’t expect record-breaking profits when Apple reveals its financial results from the first three months of 2023. Quite the opposite. Analysts are predicting that the company’s revenue and profits will be down when compared to the same quarter of 2022.
If true, this will be the second quarter in a row in which global problems cut into Apple’s bottom line.
★★★★☆
The Schmigadoon! season two finale was great. Will we get a season three? Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ musical comedy Schmigadoon! wraps its second season with an action-packed episode this week entitled “Over and Done.” Josh and Melissa are being held captive, and unless some unlikely people decide to change their ways and recover from past wounds, they’ll be killed or married — or both!
It’s a lovely little wrap to the big-hearted show’s second season.