Mobile menu toggle

Schmigadoon! taps ’70s musicals for darker season two [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

By

Episode 1. Jane Krakowski, Jaime Camil, Dove Cameron and Alan Cumming in ★★★
The mean streets of Schmicago don't look anything like the small-town fantasyland of Schmigadoon.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ musical Schmigadoon! is whistling a brand-new tune. Our heroes find themselves not in the 1950s musical world of Schmigadoon, but in the bleaker, ’70s-style Schmicago.

The whimsy of the show’s first season is replaced with a sarcastic darkness in its second season, which debuts today. The songs get racier, but the show remains much the same. Schmigadoon! is still one of the better shows on Apple’s streaming service.

Not just you: Apple Weather is mucked up [Updated]

By

Not just you: Apple Weather is mucked up
Is this happening to you, too?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If the Weather widget on your iPhone says, “No weather available,” you’re in good company. Apple reports that its weather service has been having a problem since Monday.

It’s affecting some but not all users.

Update: Apple says the problems were resolved early Wednesday morning.

iOS 17 could drop support for iPhone X and several older iPads [Update: Nope!]

By

iPhone X with a red X sign on top.
iPhone X and other A11-powered iPhones could miss out on iOS 17.
Photo/Graphics: Bargus/Rajesh

A sketchy rumor claims Apple will drop support for iPhone X and iPhone 8 series with iOS 17. The next iPadOS release also reportedly will be incompatible with first-generation iPad Pros and iPad 5.

With iOS 16 last year, Apple stopped supporting several older devices, including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 series.

Kick-start your lucrative new career in cybersecurity

By

Let InfoSec4TC train you for a cybersecurity career, now only $70.
Get expert training for your cybersecurity career for less than $50.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Cybersecurity jobs are some of the most sought-after careers in the tech sector, but they’re also some of the hardest to train for. But here’s the good news. If you’re a self-starter serious about learning the ropes, you can now get a lifetime of training from one of the most trusted cybersecurity training providers for only $49.97 (regularly $999).

iOS 16.4 takes big chunk out of iPhone battery life

By

iOS update does not deliver promised iPhone battery improvement
iOS 16.4 appears to be draining iPhones much faster than previous versions.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A week after the release of iOS 16.4, tests show that the new version significantly reduces the battery lives of a wide variety of iPhone models.

This has happened in the past for iOS releases and later updates have fixed the battery drain.

A handy USB hub by day, a colorful mechanical keyboard by night [Review] ★★★★☆

By

Kebohub EE01 sitting on a very scratched up desk with a Magic Trackpad★★★★☆
It’s useful having ports right at your keyboard. Even if I’m not using any of them in this picture.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A utilitarian and professional-looking keyboard by day, the 3inus Kebohub EE01 turns into a light show for streaming Fall Guys or whatever on Twitch by night.  Live now on Kickstarter, it’s a full RGB-backlit customizable mechanical keyboard with a handy-dandy hub for your USB accessories and HDMI display.

To put it in car terms, it’s like the BMW X5 M, a practical, midsize luxury SUV that’s also trying to be a performance car. Or, in a less generous metaphor, a mullet.

I’ve had a few weeks with the Kebohub EE01; here’s why it’s a good mechanical keyboard plus a good desktop dock for a MacBook.

New Crystal Palette cases add whimsical color to iPhone 14

By

The four Laut Crystal Palette iPhone 14 cases are colorful indeed.
The four Laut Crystal Palette iPhone 14 cases, which come in sizes to fit the four iPhone 14 handsets, are colorful indeed.
Photo: Laut

Tired of subtle, utilitarian iPhone cases that make your handset look like everyone else’s? Take a peek at the Laut Crystal Palette cases for the iPhone 14 series.

You might find they’re worth checking out in the Cult of Mac Store. They don’t skimp on colorful, whimsical designs and even metallic flashes of rainbow foil.

Heirs duel over wine trove in Drops of God trailer

By

The drama series, adapted from Japanese manga, premieres April 21 on Apple TV+
The drama series, adapted from Japanese manga, premieres April 21 on Apple TV+
Photo: Apple TV+

When a young Parisian woman flies to Tokyo after learning of her estranged father’s death there, she finds something unexpected. He has left her the world’s greatest wine collection. It’s worth $148 million. But she can only have it if she defeats a brilliant young wine expert in a series of wine-tasting tests.

That’s the premise neatly poured in the trailer Apple TV+ released Tuesday for Drops of God. The live-action drama series, adapted from a popular Japanese manga (comics), premieres April 21 on Apple TV+.

iPhone still reigns supreme among US teens

By

6.1-inch iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus
In other news, the kids can't get enough of Nike, Amazon or Goldfish.
Photo: Apple

A whopping 87% of U.S. teens own an iPhone, according to a recent survey. This continues a long trend of iPhone reigning supreme in high schools.

The survey also shows that Apple Watch and Apple Pay prove quite popular with teens.

Instantly separate vocals from music tracks with this top-rated AI app

By

Instantly separate vocals from music tracks with this top-rated AI app, now just $30.
Musicians love this AI vocal remover app, and it’s now on sale for $30.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Anyone who makes music knows the painstaking struggle of manually removing vocals from a song. Thankfully, in 2023, one of the latest uses for AI technology is to do precisely this, saving you headaches and precious time.

The software in question is EasySplitter, an AI-powered vocal remover application. And a lifetime subscription to the EasySplitter Pro Plan is now only $29.99 (regularly $599)

Ridley Scott’s action epic Napoleon invades theaters in November

By

Ridley Scott’s action epic 'Napoleon' invades theaters in November
"To the cineplex!" -- Napoleon, probably.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ridley Scott’s epic starring Joaquin Phoenix as French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte as he conquers Europe will premiere in theaters this autumn. It will later appear on Apple’s streaming service.

The film will tell the story of Napoleon’s ruthless rise to power and his obsessive love for his wife, Empress Josephine.

Select from 3 comprehensive VPN subscriptions at discounted costs

By

Select from three comprehensive VPN subscriptions at discounted costs.
Remain anonymous online and avoid regional restrictions with this low-priced VPN service.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you rely on a consistent internet connection for professional purposes or spend your nights camped on the couch gaming, we all have the motivation to maximize our online experience. From the standpoint of ensuring personal security and unlimited access, the right VPN service can provide a considerable boost.

For a limited time, you can pick up a subscription to a Windscribe Pro plan for only a fraction of the normal cost of this highly rated VPN. And you’ve got three incredible options: Choose from a one-year plan for $39 (regularly $69), a two-year plan for $59 (regularly $138) or a three-year plan for $69 (regularly $207).

These are the best prices online, but you’ll have to act fast. The price drops only last until April 22.

New Tom Holland thriller hits Apple TV+ in June

By

'The Crowded Room' stars Tom Holland in a thriller with a surprise ending.
The Crowded Room stars Tom Holland in a thriller with a surprise ending.
Photo: Apple TV+

Tom Holland is coming back to Apple TV+ with The Crowded Room, a 10-part limited series about a very unusual murder investigation.

It was created and written by Akiva Goldsman, best known as the screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind.

In Jane trailer, Goodall inspires globe-trotting kids to save animals

By

"Jane" premieres on Apple TV+ April 14.
Photo: Apple TV+

Kids inspired by famous primatologist Jane Goodall go on epic quests to help protect wild animals in the upcoming Apple TV+ show Jane.

The first Jane trailer, which Apple released Monday, offers a glimpse of the new “live action/CGI blended” series. In it, 9-year-old character Jane Garcia says, “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Jane Goodall said that.”

“I know,” her mother replies, drily, at her bedside. “You recite it every morning.”

Last chance: Snag a Microsoft Office license for Mac or PC forever — just $39.99

By

Your very own Microsoft Office license for Mac or PC forever — just $39.99.
Owning a copy of Microsoft Office is simply essential in today’s world.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Owning a copy of Microsoft Office is simply essential in today’s world. Set yourself up to work from home or anywhere with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows, on sale now for just $39.99 (regularly $349).

This deal, part of our Spring Digital Blowout sale, ends tonight!

Tim Cook sees augmented reality as tool for collaboration, not isolation

By

Tim Cook sees augmented reality as tool for collaboration
Tim Cook is very optimistic about the potential for augmented reality once practical AR glasses become possible.
Illustration: Open AI/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook sounds very upbeat about the potential for augmented reality in a new interview. He says the technology “could greatly enhance people’s communication, people’s connection.”

Cook stayed mum about a related tech, virtual reality, though.

First-gen iPhone with rare ‘Lucky you’ sticker could (not) break auction record [Updated]

By

The packaging's not perfect, but the rare
The packaging's not perfect, but the rare "Lucky you" sticker could add value.
Photo: Wright

Last week we asked if you were lucky enough to have about $65,000 to spend on an iPhone that can’t connect to anything. Now we know you didn’t need that much money after all.

The original, sealed iPhone (1st generation) that went up for auction Thursday sported a rare “Lucky you” sticker on the box. But that wasn’t enough to vault the handset into the record books ($63,356). Bidding started at $32,000.

Update: And … bidding ended at $40,320, the low end of the projected range of $40,000 – $60,000. Too many old iPhones up for auction lately? Maybe.

Non-Pro iPhones get always-on, 120Hz screens in 2025

By

iPhone 14 Pro includes an always-on display.
The always-on display will apparently stay a Pro feature for years.
Photo: Apple

Some of the best features of iPhone 14 Pro screens won’t trickle down to future non-Pro versions until the iPhone 17 series, according to a reliable source for Apple information.

If correct, the prediction means we shouldn’t expect the iPhone 14 Plus or basic iPhone 14 to come with a 120Hz ProMotion display or an always-on screen. Apple will reserve these features for iPhone Pro models until 2025.

Apple classics: If it ain’t broke, don’t replace it [Setups]

By

You can't see it, but a Mac Pro from 2013 drives this trio of Cinema Displays.
You can't see it, but a Mac Pro from 2013 drives this trio of Cinema Displays.
Photo: [email protected]

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And if “it” refers to cool old Apple gear, you should reconsider replacing it, too — especially if it’s still going strong. Today’s featured setup boasts a “trash can” Mac Pro from 2013. It drives not one, not two but three Cinema Displays of yesteryear.

And that’s not all for the workstation’s retro wares. It also features Apple’s old iSight webcam, a Mighty Mouse and a Thunderbolt 2 hard drive for Time Machine backups. And how often do you see a solar-powered keyboard? It has one of those, too.

Steve Jobs’ Make Something Wonderful comes out April 11 (for free)

By

The new digital book comes out April 11 for free.
The new digital book comes out April 11 for free on the Steve Jobs Archive website and Apple Books.
Photo: Steve Jobs Archive

The Steve Jobs Archive’s first major release — a digital book titled Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words — will arrive April 11.

Despite the announcement coming in an email from the archive on April Fools’ Day, the news appears to be genuine. And that includes the part about the e-book, which is filled with Jobs’ emails, conversations, photos and more, being free online for all.

Cut down on cords with this 3-in-1 retractable cable

By

Cut down on cords with this 3-in-1 retractable charger, now only $18.
Always have the tip you need with this 3-in-1 retractable cable.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As much as we love our Apple products, whether that’s our iPhones for calls, Apple Watch for keeping track of our health or AirPods for constant jamming out on the go, there’s an age-old problem: How to charge them all without the problem of head-inducing, tangled cords? But what if we told you there’s a solution?

This 3-in-1 retractable charging cable gives you three standard tips in one compact package. You won’t have to pick and choose which of your devices gets the battery it needs when you can charge up to three at once. Even better, it’s now on sale for only $17.99 (regularly $39).

How to make Apple Passwords a standalone app

By

•••• ••••••• •• ••• ••••!
This feature is the best!
Image: Santeri Viinamäki/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There’s much more to iCloud Keychain than meets the eye. Apple’s password-management system suggests strong passwords, autofills them whenever you need to sign in later, and syncs across all your devices. But you also can use iCloud Keychain to keep two-factor authentication codes (instead of relying on Google Authenticator) and access your passwords on Windows.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about how Apple should make a standalone Passwords app. That’s because a lot of the more advanced features in iCloud Keychain are pretty hard to find. You have to dig into Settings to locate them.

There’s a workaround: I have a Shortcut that will add a convenient Passwords icon to your iPhone’s Home Screen. Using iCloud Keychain becomes a lot easier.