Cult of Mac

Some people love peace and quiet. Others love mechanical keyboards. That clackety-clacking noise is the very sound of productivity, isn’t it? The feel of the keys. The way you can practically make a lifelong hobby out of customizing a “hot swappable” model with different keycaps, switches and more. Today’s Mac Studio and Studio Display setup relies on a Keychron K8 mechanical keyboard. 

The user swears by it, having chosen it over a couple of well-regarded Razer keebs. He’s still got the Razer wrist rest, though. 

Colin Farrell takes the lead in Sugar, an upcoming Apple TV+ series about a private detective searching for the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood magnate.

The trailer shows the series coming in April will be dark and violent.

OK, PC owners — time to load up on Microsoft software. With this package deal, you get a software bundle that includes Windows 11 Pro, plus Microsoft Office, Project and Visio, all for less than $80. That’s a ridiculous discount of more than $800 off the software’s regular price.

If that deal sounds too good to be true, don’t think about it too long. The deal ends March 10. And you must use code ENJOY20 to unlock maximum savings.

Osamu Tezuka’s Midnight manga gets adapted to live action in the latest “Shot on iPhone” project. It’s an action film about a mysterious late-night taxi driver.

Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the movie was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro.

The Translate app built into your iPhone is a hidden gem if you’re traveling abroad. It gives you the ability to download languages in advance, so you don’t have to worry about a dodgy cell connection.

The camera lets you translate text in-line of a restaurant menu or parking meter — it could help you out of a sticky situation. The Translate app’s conversation view makes it easy having a back-and-forth with someone who doesn’t speak your native tongue.

Here’s how to make the most out of the built-in Translate app.

When it comes time to deal with tax season, the amount of required documents can quickly become overwhelming. You could always attempt to collect and protect paper printouts like some kind of hoarder. But the smart move in this modern era is to digitize all your documents with an iPhone scanning app.

With all your documents scanned, you will benefit from a major shortcut when filing taxes. And you can streamline the scanning process by picking up a discounted lifetime subscription to the highly rated iScanner app. Normally priced at $199, you can get this iPhone app for only $31.99 with code ENJOY20 for a limited time.

Apple just removed a significant barrier for opening a rival iPhone app store in the European Union. Submitting a million-euro letter of credit is no longer required. There are still plenty of other requirements, though.

Rival app marketplaces are coming to the European Union — and nowhere else — because of landmark legislation that forced Apple to broaden the options for installing iPhone apps.

A flurry of iPhone market outlook reports shows Apple’s juggernaut handset is still the top-seller in Japan while slipping to fourth place in China so far in 2024. And that comes as Apple lowers component shipment targets for the year amid supply chain challenges, pointing to a possibly down year.

Apple just dropped iOS 17.4, bringing a plethora of new features — some of which fundamentally change how the iPhone works.

The biggest point update to iOS 17, iOS 17.4 comes almost six months after the operating system’s initial release. It enables support for third-party app stores, browsers and payment apps on the iPhone. The bummer? These major changes are only coming to the European Union. Still, there are a lot of new iOS 17.4 features that will enhance the experience of every iPhone user.

March 5, 2012: Apple reaches a staggering milestone, with 25 billion apps downloaded from the iOS App Store. The company celebrates with a giveaway titled the “25 Billion App Countdown.”

The lucky 25 billionth app downloader wins an iTunes gift card worth $10,000.

The Apple M3 processor in the 2024 MacBook Air brings a 25% increase to the upgraded notebook’s performance, according to early benchmark results. And the increase over the M1-based version is even more spectacular.

The M3 is Apple’s latest processor family, and it’s made using a cutting-edge 3nm production process.

You don’t need to completely revamp your home to make it feel new and cool again. Just a dash of color can completely change the mood of any space, and that’s easy (and affordable) with this modern LED floor lamp that can be controlled via an app.

Meet the 55-inch RGB LED Remote Floor Lamp, a practical piece of home decor that can help you create the perfect ambiance with its dazzling range of smart lighting features. Right now, it’s only $59.99 (regularly $99) when you shop at Cult of Mac Deals.

CleanMyPhone is a new app that will tidy up your photo library. Developed by MacPaw, maker of CleanMyMac X, the new app can do a thorough scan of images on your iPhone to clear out years of screenshots, saved TikToks and unusably blurry shots. It’s a simple way to clean up photos on your iPhone.

It also uses artificial intelligence to sort your photos into handy categories. Plus, it makes it simple to periodically look at the last week or month of your photos to sort things into albums and stay organized. As a bonus, the app comes with an internet speed test — good for checking if your connection is solid enough to take an important video call.

The CleanMyPhone app is available today from the App Store, with a free three-day trial. An annual subscription costs $24.99.

The new M3 MacBook Air laptops Apple rolled out Monday support up to two 5K (or lower rsolution) external displays in clamshell mode. And now the base 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro will add multi-display support, according to a report.

In the case of the entry-level MacBook Pro, which uses the same chip but lacks multi-display functionality, support will come in the form of a software update. M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro models already support the feature.

Apple is famous for quality products as well as the high prices that go with them. That’s true of its input devices like keyboards — including the excellent, $299 Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and 10.9-inch iPad Air (4th and 5th generations). But what if you could get that Magic Keyboard for $120 off?

Right now Amazon is offering Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro/Air — which offers case-like protection for the tablets and much more — for just $179.99

March 4, 2014: Peter Oppenheimer, the Apple chief financial officer who presided over a decade of skyrocketing growth, steps down from the company.

After becoming Apple CFO in 2004, Oppenheimer saw the company’s valuation soar from $8.8 billion to $471 billion. Luca Maestri, current Apple senior vice president and chief financial officer, replaced Oppenheimer in this crucial position.

Featuring 15 full-length video courses, the Complete 2024 CompTIA Certification Training Bundle by Idunova provides a quality IT education online. You can pick it up today for only $59.97 in a limited-time price drop at Cult of Mac Deals.

The just-launched Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K makes it easy to hold FaceTime calls with Apple’s set-top box. It magnetically holds an iPhone so its cameras point toward the user.

Video-chat capability is built into Apple’s set-top box — the mount just makes it simpler.

Apple unveiled new springtime colors Monday for its silicone iPhone cases and a selection of Apple Watch bands.

When new Apple gear comes out, sometimes it pays to wait a bit and grab it when the iPhone giant and other sellers start offering refurbished versions of it. Today’s setup boasts a Mac Studio desktop computer and a Studio Display, both refurbished, and the user said he had a hard time telling they’re not actually new.

The European Commission fined Apple more than 1.8 billion euros Monday for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.”

The ruling follows complaints by music streaming service Spotify. In a lengthy response to the fine, Apple said Spotify pays absolutely nothing for the array of services Cupertino provides. Apple also said it will appeal the EC’s decision.

Apple is preparing to launch new M3 iPads and MacBooks this month. But don’t expect an Apple March event for their unveiling. Instead, the company reportedly will announce the devices through a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns.”

Update: This is now confirmed, as Apple unveiled the M3-powered MacBook Air on Monday via a press release.

The 2024 MacBook Air lineup launched Monday by Apple runs on the company’s M3 chip, bringing a significant performance boost to the laptop. It also benefits from Wi-Fi that’s up to twice as fast. Plus, the new MacBook Air can support two external displays. This all comes in the same thin design, with the same two display sizes and four colors.

Apple’s press release says that “with a faster and more efficient Neural Engine in M3, MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best consumer laptop for AI.”

The M3 MacBook Air starts at the same $1,099 price as the outgoing M2 model, which remains on sale starting at $999. You can order the new MacBook Air now from the Apple Online Store and it will be available this Friday.

Apple last refreshed the iPhone SE in 2022. While the model is begging for an update, the company apparently plans to launch one only in 2025.

Despite the iPhone SE 4 a year away from launch, its alleged CAD renders have leaked online. They reveal its iPhone 14-inspired design and the addition of a 6.1-inch display with a notch.

March 3, 2014: With the CarPlay launch, Apple introduces iOS functionality for iPhone users behind the wheel via the car’s in-dash screen.

Showcasing the new car infotainment platform at the Geneva International Auto Show, Apple calls CarPlay “a smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car.” Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo are the first off the line to incorporate it.