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Servant mixes horror, humor and a dubious myth [Apple TV+ recap]

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Toby Kebbell and Rupert Grint looks for clues in
Sean (played by Toby Kebbell, left) and Julian (Rupert Grint) looks for clues about Leanne's true nature.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ thriller Servant heads toward mutually assured destruction this week. Sean and Julian start believing in angels and demons. Dorothy chases down a lead. Leanne is becoming too powerful to even speak to. And a stranger from the past shows up to tell a story that the Turner family does — and does not — want to hear.

It’s a conflicting, confounding and con … ehh very good episode of the show created by M. Night Shyamalan and Tony Basgallop.

Shrinking pukes up a party — and a proposal! [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Devin Kawaoka and Michael Urie in ★★☆☆☆
Will they or won't they?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ hit comedy Shrinking has marriage on the brain this week.

Brian is finally proposing to Charlie. That couldn’t come at a better time for Jimmy, who is not ready but suddenly has to be ready to relive the last few weeks of his marriage when old friends come over. It’s also not great timing for Gaby, who is trying to roger her way to clarity over her divorce.

Meanwhile, Paul’s upset that his daughter cares too much about him. And Jimmy’s daughter Alice and his troubled patient Sean endure an awkward moment. Even the few laughs it serves up can’t make this week’s episode of Shrinking,  entitled “Impostor Syndrome,” more than cloying and predictable.

Avoid PDF-related frustrations while filing taxes by saving big on PDF Expert

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Avoid PDF-related frustrations while filing taxes by saving big on PDF Expert.
PDF Expert will help streamline your tax preparation process for just $69.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When it comes to quickly saving, sharing and editing documents, PDFs are a daily staple for many. Routinely necessary for professional and educational purposes, they’re also a crucial way to streamline the tax preparation process each year.

PDF Expert is a smart resource for Mac users who want to eliminate unnecessary frustrations caused by file compatibility problems. And a lifetime license is currently available for only $69.99 (regularly $139).

New feature coming to Apple TV+: More ads

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Ads might come to Apple TV+
You might someday see this message on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly hired someone to grow the advertising business on its streaming video service. This is likely for ads shown during sporting events.

But it also raises the possibility that Apple TV+ might get an ad-supported tier some day. There have been hints of this in the past.

Truth Be Told turns post-trauma reality into high-stakes drama [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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David Lyons and Mekhi Phifer face off in a scene from crime drama ★★★★
Detective Aames (played by David Lyons, left) and Markus (Mekhi Phifer) face off over crime and lack of punishment.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ crime drama Truth Be Told takes a hard look at sexual assault in this week’s episode, entitled “From My Hand the Poisoned Apple.”

True crime podcaster Poppy (played by Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer) must bear witness to the aftermath of her friends Markus and Zarina’s awful ordeal. Their daughter was kidnapped and assaulted by millionaires who might not be held accountable for their actions.

Elsewhere, Desiree and Eva face their own crises in the wake of the police raid on the mansion. And Detective Aames finds himself caught in the middle of everything. It’s a grueling watch, to be sure, but solidly constructed.

Beats Fit Pro earbuds in bright new colors already $30 off

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Coral pink, never subtle, is one of the discounted colors.
Coral pink, never subtle, is one of the discounted colors.
Photo: Beats

Cult of Mac reported Tuesday that Beats Fit Pro would come out in three bright new colors. And as of Friday, two of those three new cheerful hues showed up on Amazon at $30 off. That was fast.

The somewhat dark tidal blue is sticking at the normal price of $199.95, but volt yellow and coral pink — the colors that will really get you noticed — are now just $169.83.

Make or Break needs to find a way to make surfing look more exciting [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Stephanie Gilmore surfs a big wave in docuseries ★★★☆☆
The surfers' skills are staggering, but the action could look better on the screen.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewMake or Break, Apple TV+’s surfing competition series, brings its second season to a close this week, concluding this saga of the World Surfing League’s championship.

In the final four episodes, we check in on major international players and see what shakes out as they near the end of the competition season. Though the surfers’ stories all boil down to their positions in the finals, the stakes ramp up as we near the end — and the drama on the waves becomes most exciting.

4 tips for making life easier on Mastodon

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Quit Twitter in style
Moving to Mastodon is made easier with these top tips.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

I have four top tips for Mastodon users after spending a few months on the hot new social media platform. There’s a healthy community of Apple writers, developers, creators and fans — even Phil Schiller — who have all jumped ship from Twitter.

I’ve previously written a detailed guide to getting started. I’ll start with some brief advice on picking an instance and move on to the pro tips I’ve picked up.

Steve Jobs Archive shares blast from the past on his birthday

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The Steve Jobs Archive shared this photograph from 1984, when he was 28, spotting a Mac user on a New Orleans street.
The Steve Jobs Archive shared this photograph from 1984, when he was 28, spotting a Mac user on a New Orleans street.
Photo: Steve Jobs Archive

On what would have been Steve Jobs’ 68th birthday, the Steve Jobs Archive shared a favorite photo from 1984 — along with the promise of more content to come.

“We have so much to tell you about, but I want to start by sharing one of my favorite images from our collection,” wrote Leslie Berlin, the archive’s co-founder and executive director, in an email newsletter. “It’s Steve in 1984, spotting a new Macintosh in the wild.”

Dear Edward adds more survivors to the grief-a-thon [Apple TV+ recap] ★☆☆☆☆

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Jenna Qureshi and Colin O’Brien in a scene from ★☆☆☆☆
Edward (played by Colin O’Brien, right) survived a plane crash. So why is he such a jerk?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ series Dear Edward spins in circles toward destruction and catharsis this week. The titular Edward, sole survivor of a horrific deadly plane crash, finds himself in the middle of all the grieving widows and widowers — and he’s kind of a dope.

Among the living, it’s basically a nonstop, annoying grief-a-thon. Dee Dee contemplates a future without her daughter and her money. Linda reaches out for help and hopes someone reaches back. Lacey and John realize they must come clean. Shay and Edward engage in their first fight. Adriana must make a hard choice. Steve and Amanda act out some more. Plus, we get even more characters — as if you didn’t need to catch your breath after just reading all of that.

This show’s gotta go.

Here’s how you gut a whole office and start over [Setups]

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De Jong gave his computer setup -- and his whole office -- a makeover.
De Jong gave his computer setup -- and his whole office -- a makeover.
Photo: Michael De Jong

How refreshing it must be to make over your computer setup and, while you’re at it, gut and refresh your whole home office. That’s what Michael De Jong did recently. And he shared his transition with Cult of Mac.

First, he tinkered with the setup, going with dual displays and adding a soundbar and a slick gaming chair. Later he gutted the whole office and added a whole raft of upgrades. Take a look at his photos and gear, new and old, below.

Late-February deals at CdkeySales: Windows 10 for $13 (free Windows 11 upgrade), Office only $27

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Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com.
Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com.
Photo: CdkeySales.com

The end of February is a great time to save big on Microsoft software at CdkeySales.com. You can find surprisingly great deals on Windows, Office and more from this trusted software activation keys provider.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
Cult of Mac readers who want a bargain on Windows 10 and more can click on the links below. And as a bonus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will chop an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

Second-gen Apple VR/AR headsets coming in 2025

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Apple VR/AR headset concept by Amin Jony.
Apple is allegedly prepping a product line of AR/VR headsets running xrOS.
Concept: Amin Jony/Freelancer.com

A new report from a reliable tipster indicates that the second-generation of Apple’s VR/AR headsets will launch in 2025. This will supposedly consist of two models.

But Apple still needs to get the first generation on the market, and it’s possible the release date for the product is slipping yet again.

Moon hucksters head for a meltdown on Hello Tomorrow! [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Billy Crudup plays Jack Billings, who's shown giving a sales presentation for lunar timeshare in a scene from Apple TV+ show ★★★★☆
Who doesn't want their own little piece of heaven on the moon?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewHello Tomorrow!, the new Apple TV+ show about a depressed Space Age huckster and his team of dreamer lackeys who are selling the moon as fast as they can, heads into stormy weather this week.

Slick salesman Jack must agree to a big little lie to cover up an even bigger lie, while his colleagues Joey and Herb face romantic crises (and Shirley’s at her wit’s end). Disgruntled customer Myrtle and fraud-buster Lester chase a big lead they must follow to achieve satisfaction.

In the episode, entitled “Forms, Appropriately Filled and Filed,” this retro-futuristic wonder is off and running to the moon.

Conquer your taxes with expert financial advice plus a copy of MS Office, all for $54

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Conquer your taxes with expert financial advice plus a copy of MS Office, all for $54.
Prep for tax season with this $54 MS Office bundle, which includes expert financial help.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If it’s been a tough year for you financially, you’re definitely not alone. The last thing you might want to hear is that tax season is right around the corner, but there are two ways you can approach it: Let it blindside you, or go in prepared.

Getting the most out of your filing might be easier than you think, especially when you can now get a copy of Microsoft Office Professional for Windows, bundled with more than 30 hours of online financial advice, on sale for $54 during our Tax Season Prep event.

In The Reluctant Traveler, Eugene Levy comically kvetches his way around the world [Apple TV+ review] ★★★☆☆

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Eugene Levy travels to Finland in a scene from ★★★☆☆
Just how far will Eugene Levy go for a laugh? At least as far as Finland.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review In new Apple TV+ reality series The Reluctant Traveler, Eugene Levy takes a trip around the world to face his anxieties and fears. And we get to tag along and see a little bit of how people who aren’t famous actors live.

The 75-year-old Levy, who starred in Schitt’s Creek after years of work on SCTV, wants to see the international sights before he gets a little too infirm to do so. The occasionally quite charming series, which takes Levy to a new exotic locale each episode, won’t change your life. But it’s fun to watch, and an easy enough way to while away an afternoon while you’re stuck at home.

If Pretzel and the Puppies doesn’t charm you, you’re probably dead [Apple TV+ review] ★★★☆☆

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Puppy Puck (voiced by Max Mitchell) in a scene from season two of ★★★☆☆
Cute pooches and wholesome lessons. What's not to like about Pretzel and the Puppies?
Image: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewPretzel and the Puppies, the adorable Apple TV+ kids’ show about a family of dachshunds and their gentle misadventures in their hometown of Muttgomery, returns for a second season today.

Created by relative newcomer Kim Howitt and veteran Steven Altiere (Scooby-Doo!, Dinotrux), this show serves up low-stakes lessons of acceptance and perseverance —  everything that needs to be reinforced during a child’s formative years. Plus, it’s got cute dogs animated with care. Nobody with a heart can say no to this charming animated series.

Apple-1, factory-sealed iPhone 2007 and more rare Apple items go up for auction

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Apple-1 signed by Steve Wozniak
You can own one of the first Apple-1 units produced.
Photo: RR Auction

An Apple museum could be made of just the items currently up for bid at a single auction. There’s a fully functional Apple-1, an Apple Lisa 1, some technical notes handwritten by Steve Jobs, an original iPhone still sealed in the plastic and much, more.

Many of these items are expected to bring in big bucks.

App Store, Apple Music and many other services all suffer outage [Updated]

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Apple online services having technical problems
Apple reports that over two dozen Apple services are having an "outage." That includes many of the most-used ones.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Linnaea Mallette/PublicDomainPictures.net

Apple is having a major outage of its online services. No less than 29 of them are reporting major problems, including the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts, and some iCloud services.

So it’s not just you. Stop rebooting your computer trying to fix it.

Update: Apple was able to quickly fix some of these, so the current total is eight services still having problems.

Update 2: All problems with Apple online services have now been resolved.

Travel in style (and save on gas) with a major discount on this electric Segway KickScooter

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Travel in style and save on gas with a major discount on this electric KickScooter.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy using this KickScooter, and it's now only $399.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Gas prices are cause for financial frustrations, and warmer weather is on the way. So why not explore the benefits of an electric kickscooter? This budget-friendly and efficient transportation option is perfect for getting around town or campus, and you can currently pick up a premium product for half the regular price.

Get cruising with a Segway Ninebot Air T15E Electric KickScooter, now only $399.99 (regularly $799). Whether you want one for yourself or think it would be a great gift for someone else, don’t miss this opportunity to save some serious cash.

Affordable new Sony headphones borrow premium cans’ tech

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The new noise-cancelling cans share the same processor with Sony's high-end headphones, but not their price.
The new noise-cancelling cans share the same processor with Sony's high-end headphones, but not their price.
Photo: Sony Electronics

Not into paying what Apple’s top-shelf noise-cancelling AirPods Max headphones cost? You have options. In fact, Sony Electronics rolled out two new mid-tier headphones Tuesday at modest price points — the over-ear WH-CH72ON and the smaller, on-ear WH-CH520.

The higher-end WH-CH72ON set, at $150, costs well under half the price of the brand’s acclaimed WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling cans, but uses the same V1 chip. And the lower-end WH-CH520 headphones, at $60, are just downright affordable.

Latest Mophie Powerstation battery sports AC socket, pumps 130W into 4 devices at once

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Latest Mophie Powerstation battery sports AC socket, pumps 130W into 4 devices at once
The Powerstation Pro AC can juice up an iPhone, iPad, Mac and a non-USB device.
Photo: Mophie

The new Mophie Powerstation Pro AC is for anyone who has multiple devices they need to charge on the go, and not just phones and tablets. The 27,000mAh external battery includes four charging ports, including an AC socket.

Mophie also introduced updated versions of its more basic Powerstation and Powerstation XL offerings on Thursday. These pack 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh, respectively.

Shake hands with the world’s creepiest Apple Watch charging stand

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As far as we know, it doesn't run around on its fingertips. But it does charge your Apple Watch.
As far as we know, it doesn't run around on its fingertips. But it does charge your Apple Watch.
Photo: Design_factory@Ultimaker

Got access to a 3D printer? You can make your own Apple Watch charging stand in the form of “Thing,” the disembodied hand from the Netflix series Wednesday and its Addams Family predecessors, all the way back to the original magazine cartoons.

It might scare some people, but ghoulish types are going to want to make his thing pronto.

Low-cost M2 Mac mini gets an even nicer price

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The Mac Mini with M2
M2 Mac mini gets its first discount on Amazon.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s powerful M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini are available with their first-ever discount since launch. Depending on your configuration, you can save between $19 to $49 on the 2023 Mac mini.

Amazon is providing a modest $19 discount on the entry-level M2 Mac mini. On the more powerful M2 Pro Mac mini with 512GB storage, you can save $49.