Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available for less than $1,000 right now. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s 2022 12.9-inch iPad is available with significant savings on Amazon. You can get the entry-level 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 128GB storage for as low as $999 after a $99 off.
You may see a smaller discount on the listing page. Amazon will automatically apply the remaining discount at checkout.
★★★★☆
The Edifier QD35 is not an average-looking speaker. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Whether it’s an RGB-plagued mouse or a stereo system that’s trying too hard, I tend to scoff at devices that light up in all the colors of the damned rainbow. But if they light up and also sound as good as Edifier’s QD35 Tabletop Bluetooth Speaker, I guess I’m sold. Let’s party.
Edifier recently sent me a unit to check out. You can read my thoughts below. In brief, the QD35 may not be everyone’s main stereo system, but it could be an ideal one-room speaker — whether that’s a kitchen, bedroom, rec room or man-cave/she-shack.
Apple Saket just became the second Apple store to open in India, highlighting Apple's growing focus on India. Photo: Apple
A government minister is “confident” that Apple will double or even triple the amount of money it has invested in India in the coming years. It’s expanding iPhone assembly in the subcontinent, and production of other devices there is expected to begin soon.
Put a lifetime of ASL lessons on your iPhone for $20. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
You don’t have to wait any longer if you’ve been looking for a chance to learn American Sign Language. The All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle gives you 13 courses on basic vocabulary, usage guides and signing skills, all taught by the pros from Intellezy Learning.
Normally, this ASL training bundle would cost $618. But for a limited time, you can get it for just $19.97.
NordVPN offers one of the best VPN deals on the web. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
TL;DR: If you’re looking for a dependable virtual private network with a no-log policy and 5,600-plus servers that can still stream Netflix U.S., here’s your chance to get NordVPN’s two-year plan — plus three free months — at up to 63% off.
One leather band is not really enough. Photo: Speidel
If you’re among the many people who stick with leather Apple Watch bands because they’re handsome, durable and timeless, can we interest you in a double leather band? They’re called double tour bands, and Speidel makes a beauty in brown leather.
You might think a bunch more fine leather would make it expensive. But the Speidel Brown Leather Double Tour Band stays under the $50 mark in the Cult of Mac Store.
★★★☆☆
A happy ending is the key to getting out of Schmicago. Photo: Apple TV+
This week on Apple TV+ musical comedy fantasia Schmigadoon!, Melissa and Paul try to leave Schmicago but learn that nothing is ever easy in a musical. The two lost lovers must figure out a way to sew a little harmony in their new digs. However, these people aren’t just garden-variety sad — they’re deranged and miserable.
This is going to be harder than they think. It’s also quite entertaining, thanks to a handful of great musical numbers in the episode, entitled “Something Real.”
The iPad Air gets a major speed boost with a Mac-quality processor. Screenshot: Apple
If you bought an iPad Air (5th generation) soon after it came out for full price — like I did — you hate to see news like this. Amazon just marked nearly every 2022 model down as much as $119, hitting all-time-low prices for both cellular and Wi-Fi versions.
But if you’re anybody else — like someone who needs a great iPad — it’s wonderful news. You can save $100 or more.
A visit with PM Narendra Modi capped Tim Cook's trip to India. Photo: Tim Cook/Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. It’s part of a busy agenda for the executive, including opening two Apple stores — the first in the subcontinent. But that’s just a small part of his activities as the executive traveled around to highlight how Apple products are being used in India.
Cook posted tweets from all the many events and meetings.
Renewable energy is one of many topics in Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report. Photo: Apple
With Earth Day coming up on Saturday, Apple devoted the top of its website’s homepage Wednesday to the company’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report. It recaps recent press materials about carbon neutrality and recycling measures, but also goes into comprehensive detail about Apple’s longterm approach to climate change.
“Behind every product is a plan for the future” serves as the 114-page tome’s tagline.
★★★★☆
When you pull the "Sheriff" card from the Morpho machine, things can get wild. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ sci-fi comedy The Big Door Prize, about a machine that reads people’s potential and possibly their future, takes a hard look this week at a character who’s maybe hardest to like among the ensemble.
Beau goes on the hunt for a cheater. Giorgio continues his quest to best Dusty. Trina has a terrible realization. And Jacob bears the brunt of it all, as usual. The episode, entitled “Beau,” serves up quite a good showing from the cast and writers. It’s one of the season’s best yet.
Are those MacBooks at left stripped of their cases?! Nope. Photo: [email protected]
What’s better than having two MacBook Pro laptops in your computer setup? Having the two powerful machines wrapped in cool-looking skins that confound and excite onlookers, of course.
Such is the case with today’s dual-MacBook Pro, dual LG-display workstation that the user depends on for coding and videoconferencing.
On April 22, Bluetti celebrates Earth Day with its event, Invest in Our Planet, Invest in Our Future. Photo: Bluetti
With our planet and its people facing increasingly dire problems due to climate change — exhaustion of resources, extreme weather, energy crises — the time is now to find ways to live sustainable lifestyles. Investing more in energy storage and reuse helps in the here and now, and also benefits generations to come.
SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Bluetti.
Bluetti has shown leadership in researching clean energy solutions for green living, helping families live sustainably. You can explore some of the company’s power-saving products below and even join in a special event called Invest in Our Planet, Invest in Our Future on Earth Day, April 22.
Want to watch New York City burn? "City on Fire" debuts May 12 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ lit the fuse on upcoming mystery-thiller City on Fire, releasing its first trailer Tuesday. The eight-episode series takes its tale of murder, arson and family drama from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg.
City on Fire debuts with three episodes on Friday, May 12, on Apple TV+.
Join more than 10 million people who use Babbel to learn new languages, all for less than $150 for life. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’re motivated to expand your cultural horizons and want to develop skills to confidently travel the globe, gaining a solid grasp of foreign languages is crucial. The right language-learning app can simplify that process. And for a limited time, you can score unlimited access to one of the best at a low, low price.
Through April 23, a lifetime subscription to Babbel costs just $149.97 (regularly $599), with no coupon necessary. You’ll have to act fast, though, since this is the last chance to grab Babbel at this incredible price.
★★★☆☆
Ted gets high and ponders Sunflowers this week on Ted Lasso. Photo: Apple TV+
Ted Lasso, the Apple TV+ show about a feel-good soccer coach who’s having a feel-bad time, takes a trip to Amsterdam this week. After another crushing loss, everyone sets out on their own adventures for a night on the town.
Rebecca meets a most charming man in an uncharming location. Ted and Beard trip on their trip. Roy and Jamie share some secrets over a bike ride. And the rest of the team can’t pick a way to unwind. It’s a revealing little jaunt for this crew and a mostly very entertaining outing.
The time to pay for your own Netflix account is coming. Photo: Netflix
Netflix’s restrictive new account-sharing policy will go live in the United States in the first half of 2023. The streaming company started cracking down on password sharing in New Zealand, Portugal, Canada and Spain earlier this year.
It is fairly common for friends and family members to share a Netflix account among themselves. With its new account-sharing rules, the company wants to clamp down on such behavior.
Surprise: the Apple VR/AR headset might be able to run iPad apps right out of the box. Concept: Amin Jony/Freelancer.com
There’ll be a lot more to Apple’s VR/AR headset than new hardware: an unconfirmed report leaks details on Apple’s plans for software. There’ll be games and fitness apps, a VR version of FaceTime and more.
That’s not surprising. What is eye-opening is the assertion that the headset will be able to run third-party iPad applications right out of the box.
Don't give up on plenty of screen space when on the go. Photo: Mobile Pixels
Mobile Pixels just started taking preorders for updated versions of Trio and Trio Max, clip-on accessories that add not one but two external displays to a MacBook or other notebook.
Don’t think these products will trap you in the office — the add-on screens are intended for use on the go.
The new versions offer larger screens in thinner, lighter designs. And there’s a new attachment system, too.
The new Withings Body Smart scale not only measures health metrics, it keeps them private if you like. Photo: Withings
Withings unveiled its newest smart scale Tuesday, the Body Smart. It provides precise weight, body composition and health measurements as well as an Eyes Closed Mode “for those that dare not look,” the company said.
Eyes Closed Mode instead shows encouraging statements on the scale and surfaces your actual stats in the Apple Health-connected app so others can’t see them.
Elago's MS pad is a perfect accessory for your iPhone and MagSafe charging puck. Photo: Elago
If you use a MagSafe charging puck with your iPhone, you may want to try Elago’s MS Charging Pad for MagSafe with it. Not only does the pad surround the little charger with soft silicone to get a good grip and protect your handset and surfaces from scratches, it helps channel the cable and brings a welcome splash of color.
You can choose from seven fun colors for the Elago MS Charging Pad in the Cult of Mac Store — white, black, red, lavender, pink, mint and jean indigo.
You don't want to miss this amazing deal on the M1 iMac. Photo: Apple
Apple’s 24-inch iMac is down to its lowest-ever price after a whopping $299 discount. While the machine usually retails for $1,499, you can currently get it for $1,199.99 on Amazon.
You can get a lower but equally enticing $199 discount on the entry-level configuration of the M1 iMac.
★★★★☆
Expand the capabilities of your Mac with Satechi's surprisingly small three-port Thunderbolt 4 hub. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Satechi Thunderbolt Slim Hub doesn’t take up much room on your desk, but it packs in a trio of very high-speed USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, plus a USB-A port.
Apple BKC features huge glass walls and a timber ceiling. Photo: Apple
Apple’s first retail store in India opened its doors to shoppers Tuesday, and CEO Tim Cook showed up to celebrate. Apple BKC — housed in an energy-efficient structure with some stunning architectural details — is located inside Jio World Drive, a huge shopping complex in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The Indian store opening marks an important milestone for Apple, as it seeks to expand its retail and manufacturing presence in the world’s most populous country.
Prehistoric Planet 2 debuts May 22 in a week-long event on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
On Tuesday, aka National Velociraptor Awareness Day, Apple TV+ dropped a teaser trailer for season 2 of its award-winning natural history series, Prehistoric Planet. And it comes complete with an exciting “new” lineup of dinosaurs.
Narrated by the inimitable Sir David Attenborough — the voice of nature — the series uses new research and technological wizardry to create an in-depth nature documentary. But this one, returning May 22, takes you to landscapes filled with fearsome predators and gentle giants of many millions of years ago.