Car thefts are on the rise in New York City, and Gotham’s finest are turning to Apple’s AirTag trackers for help. On Sunday, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD said 500 free AirTags would go to residents by request in the police precinct hardest hit by car thieves.
“This simple device, this simple AirTag, hidden in a car location that a person is not aware, of is an excellent tracking device,” Adams said. “It’s easy to monitor. You can see in real-time where the vehicle is located.”
You can use a free Mac app called LocationSimulator to hide your real location on your iPhone. It works great as a Pokémon Go spoofer. Just set it up, then plug your phone into a Mac and tell it where you want to “be.” You don’t need to jailbreak your phone or install anything on it.
When using LocationSimulator, every app on your iPhone will use this new GPS location. It’s useful for maintaining privacy — for instance, if you’re posting screenshots online, it’ll mask your real home address. Developers can use it, too, for testing location features in their apps.
Best of all, you just need a Mac. LocationSimulator is free and open-source.
As iPhone 14 Pro owners already know, the latest generation of Apple’s signature device can do a whole lot. But just because you’ve got the “next big thing” doesn’t mean you can’t go bigger. This six-piece iPhone 14 Pro accessory bundle will make your sexy smartphone cooler and easier to use in multiple ways.
Apple reportedly will make meaningful improvements to the Stage Manager multitasking feature in iPadOS 17. Tweaks and additions include support for streaming multiple audio/video sources simultaneously, external monitor webcam support and more.
These changes should make Stage Manager much more useful, especially when connecting your iPad to an external monitor.
Production on the second season of Severance, the Apple TV+ thriller about a profoundly creepy workplace, has seen delays because the series’ two showrunners hate each other, according to a recent report.
Scripts were scrapped amid the two not speaking to each other as director Ben Stiller searched for help. And it seems he finally found it. Stiller also downplayed on-set drama in a tweet.
Apple Watch reportedly will get iOS-like widgets when watchOS 10 arrives later this year. Plus, Apple might change the way some Apple Watch buttons work.
The company plans to make these changes to give Apple Watch users faster access to important information. Widgets will mean users won’t need to open a dedicated app to quickly see an overview of vital information at a glance
We all need more space for our photos, videos and files, especially as picture quality (and file size) is ever-increasing. If you’ve ever faced the dreaded “iPhone Storage Full” notification, or even missed out on taking photos of precious memories as a result, you’ll know how frustrating it is to run out of space. What you need, then, is a hefty cloud storage option to keep all your files safe.
One of the best out there is Prism Drive cloud storage. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to 10TB of secure cloud storage for only $89.99 (regularly $2,490). That’s the best price you’ll find on the web.
Creating stunning images is made easier than ever with the power of AI photo editing. The latest software allows you to bring your ideas to life, regardless of your graphic design training (or lack thereof).
The award-winning Luminar Neo is one of the best AI photo editors out there. And right now, you can grab a lifetime bundle that includes the software and a range of add-on packs for only $119.99 (regularly $400). That’s the best price you’ll find on the web.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The iOS 17 leaks start drip, drip, dripping out as we approach Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Sounds like a minor update overall, but there’s some interesting stuff coming down the pike.
Also on The CultCast:
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.
Ghosted had the most successful launch of any Apple TV+ film since the debut of the streaming service. Enough viewers tuned in to the action flick starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas to push it near the top of the charts.
And the third — possibly final — season of the comedy Ted Lasso continues to draw plenty of eyes.
Accessories maker iOttie unveiled two new MagSafe car mounts for iPhone this week, including one with smart cooling.
The Velox Pro with the cooling feature is top of the line, while the Velox Mini is more affordable.
★★★☆☆
Apple TV+ thriller The Last Thing He Told Me hits the books this week as Bailey and Hannah recover from some dead ends and track down some new promising leads in the search for a missing man.
The limited series, about an AWOL software programmer and the trail of devastation he left behind him, finds bereaved Hannah and Bailey inching closer to the truth of who their husband/father really was, while the noose tightens back home. The episode, entitled “Witness to Your Life,” is a reasonably gripping installment of a show that’s getting a little better with each episode.
Apple has shared its annual Mother’s Day gift guide to help you celebrate your mom on May 14 in the United States and many other countries. Dozens of gift ideas, from AirTags to iPhones to various accessories, cover a range of prices from $15 to about $1,000.
And you can “make it mom’s” with free engraving of emojis and messages on a range of gifts, too.
Esteemed Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen unveiled its new portable Beosound A5 speaker Thursday. The pricey and powerful device’s design results from a collaboration with the Danish-Italian duo GamFratesi.
“Beosound A5 is our new high-end portable speaker which combines Bang & Olufsen’s long-standing approach to timeless design with our vision on sound for the future,” said VP of Product Marketing Michael Henriksson.
“We’re excited to collaborate with GamFratesi for the first time, to create two speaker designs that are rooted in a Scandinavian aesthetic with a distinct design signature on their own,” he added.
★★★★☆
New Apple TV+ series Drops of God, about a contest of senses to win the fortune of the world’s most famous eccentric wine connoisseur, hits a roadblock this week. Issei considers quitting — and Camille isn’t 100% she’s ready to face him if he doesn’t.
Plus, Camille hatches an elaborate plot to get herself back on equal footing with Issei. And Issei’s plans to save face don’t go as planned. Entitled “Duel,” it’s a most exciting episode of this excitingly peculiar show.
At first glance, the new OnePlus Pad looks like solid competition for iPad, with a beautiful 11.6-inch screen and a $479 price tag.
But a closer look shows the computer suffers from the same crippling flaw as every other Android tablet.
Any conversation about “perfect” displays might just start and end with Apple’s Pro Display XDR. But not everyone is rich enough to buy one of those 6K monitors, which cost $5,000 or more. So the popular 5K Studio Display might have to do, along with something complementary.
One option graces today’s featured MacBook Pro setup. It recently swapped out ultra-wide and 4K monitors for a Studio Display and and the eccentric LG DualUp. They seem especially well-suited to certain types of workers.
Before the big April Sale ends, you can still snatch up hot deals on Microsoft software at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. In other words, it’s not too late to nab great prices on Microsoft Windows, Office and more. Don’t miss it.
What could be better than paying less than full price for Windows 10 and other crucial software from CdkeySales? You can 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.
CdkeySales’ prices are always affordable. But 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.
Paint matching is an exact art. Previously, you’d take a paint sample to the home improvement store to ask for help or bring home armfuls of samples to try and find the closest color match for your project. Even then, that would only work for existing paint. Try matching an exact color to a different object or another surface, and, well, you can’t.
That is, you couldn’t — until the innovative Nixi Mini 2 color sensor came along. It can scan any surface, from wall paint to leather, and find you the exact paint color match. This little gadget earns rave reviews from designers worldwide. Usually $99, right now you can grab it on sale for only $69.99.
That’s cheaper than Amazon — and the best price you’ll find for the Nix Mini 2 on the web.
★★★★★
New Apple TV+ children’s show Frog and Toad, based on the classic book series by Arnold Lobel about two amphibious friends, is smartly and simply animated in the style of the Caldecott Award-winning author.
Frog and Toad is a real gem — a welcome inclusion in the Apple TV+ lineup, and an honorable adaptation of a classic.
Apple has reportedly delayed the Apple Watch Ultra’s rumored transition to microLED screens. Initial rumors suggested the company could make the switch by 2024.
However, display analyst Ross Young believes Apple has pushed back the change to the second half of 2025.
If you’re a programmer, you know that Python is a coder’s Swiss Army knife. It can help you do almost anything, from game creation to complex data analysis. And, as you can imagine, it also can open the door to a wide range of careers.
If you don’t already have Python expertise on your resume, there’s now a comprehensive way to level up your skills or even make a career switch. Meet the 2023 Python course pack. It’s now on sale for only $19.97 (regularly $2,388).
iPhone shipments increased modestly in the first three months of 2023, according to a market research firm. That’s in stark contrast to Android-makers, most of which experienced double-digit drops.
The trend carried through in China, making Apple the largest smartphone seller in this critical market.
Apple’s continued march towards owning your personal wellness is set to continue in iOS 17 according to a new (paywalled) Wall Street Journal report. According to the report, a journaling app to document your thoughts, feelings, and daily activities is likely on the way. The app will purportedly also provide insights into how the people you are around influence your mood.
Epomaker and Createkeebs said Thursday their recent collaboration resulted in their release of the compact new High65 V2 mechanical keyboard.
“Featuring a compact and portable 65% layout, the High65 V2 is the ideal choice for professional gamers and keyboard enthusiasts alike,” the companies noted.