We recently talked about what a boon to computer setups stands and mounts usually are — but not when they cause problems. Today’s featured M1 MacBook Pro setup is an interesting example. The bass player who runs it said the gas-powered arm of the mount where the laptop sits is so hair-trigger it can “randomly launch it into the air.”

That’s not ideal when you have $2,000 laptop not designed for flight. The user also has a PC laptop for work, a massive 4K display and a compact mechanical keyboard and badass speakers we haven’t seen elsewhere.

Onvis updated its formerly Bluetooth-only CT3 contact sensor with the Thread wireless protocol. That means it should work smoothly with HomeKit and Siri. It won’t just let you know when doors or windows open or close, it will launch related automations.

This is especially good news if you want to jack up home security by automatically tripping alarms or turning on lights when a door or window opens.

We’re not sure exactly when anonymity became a luxury, but there’s now a cottage industry dedicated to restoring your privacy. VPNs can hide your location, and apps like Signal can keep your messages on the down low, but your phone number? For the most part, that’s still an all-too-public commodity, as the rise in spam calls and telemarketing has shown.

Luckily, there’s now a service called Hushed that can give you a second phone line that’s completely private. But time’s running out to try it for a greatly reduced price.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave Apple TV+ its latest Oscar win, this time for The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. It is hand-drawn animation, and it therefore took home the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

The Oscar was awarded Sunday night at the 95th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly sided with COO Jeff Williams to launch the company’s AR/VR headset this year, despite the fact that Cupertino’s design team wanted to wait a few more years to launch a sleeker pair of AR glasses.

The headset’s launch time frame has been a point of contention inside Apple. Until 2019, when Jony Ive led the design deapartment, it was unimaginable to go against his team’s wishes.

If you’re any kind of golfer, you’re likely counting down the days until the Masters Tournament starts in early April. So, what can you do until then? To get into the golfing spirit, you could hit the green at your local course. Or, you could invite some friends over and play 18 holes on a virtual version of your dream course, whether that’s Augusta National or Loch Lomond.

The PhiGolf at-home golf simulator can take you there and beyond. And that’s just the start of what this innovative product offers. During our Golf Campaign, which ends March 15, you can score the PhiGolf for only $189.99.

The beautiful images of the moon taken with a recent high-end Samsung Galaxy are apparently faked. A Reddit user took a picture of a low-resolution moon picture and got a high-res picture.

In other words, Galaxy Ultra cameras aren’t as powerful as people claim.

Wearing chunky over-ear headphones or finicky in-ear buds can become super-uncomfortable. The secret to comfortable listening for hours on end is with technologically advanced induction headphones, which don’t require sitting in your ear at all.

And right now, you can grab a pair of highly rated Open Ear Induction Stereo Wireless Headphones on sale for just $33.99. That’s more than half off the regular price of $109.

If you rely on your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods like we do, a low-battery warning is not what you want to see, especially while away from your home or office. Ensure those tools are always ready when you need them by taking advantage of a surprisingly low price on an advanced charging solution.

For a limited time, you can get a foldable MagStack three-in-one wireless charging station for only $47.99 (regularly $74) with no coupon required. That’s nearly 40% off on a product that instantly streamlines your approach to powering up.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Did the world really need a yellow iPhone 14? Especially one that looks about as bold as a buttered banana? At least we’ve got new iMacs coming to ease our disappointment.

Also on The CultCast:

• Those new iMacs are just the beginning of a coming wave of even-more-powerful Apple computers.
• Who in their right mind would pay $600 for an Apple Watch band?
• At least the yellow iPhone wallpaper is free (and so is Microsoft Outlook for Mac).

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.

Our sponsors

• Kolide by Okta
• Lectric eBikes

I’m going to show you five ways you can instantly boost your productivity on your Mac. You might not have thought your Mac was capable of these advanced features. But in my opinion, the Mac’s reputation for being un-customizable is misunderstood. Four of these tips depend on third-party productivity apps that will add radical new system features to your Mac.

I’ll show you how to get instant window snapping on the Mac, powerful screenshot and recording tools, a clever clipboard manager that should be built into macOS, a simple tip for opening apps faster, and a smart time-tracking tool that’ll keep you productive.

Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon is one of the best RPGs in Apple Arcade. It’s a relatively simple dungeon crawler in the spirit of great 16-bit games of the past like Gauntlet. And it can be enjoyed by up to four players at once.

I’ve spent more hours than I could possibly count playing this title from Cornfox & Brothers. Here are seven reasons I think you’ll like it too.

Historically, winter and golf don’t mix too well. That’s why the upcoming Masters Tournament is so exciting. Golf season is coming back soon, and there’s just enough time to get into the spirit by playing a few games. While you may not be able to spend a day on the course, whether it’s because golf fees are increasing or the weather’s simply too bad out, you could bring golf to your home.

The SwingLogic SLX MicroSim is a super-compact golf simulator that lets you avoid rising fees and stay on top of your swing from the comfort of your home. Compatible with iOS devices, the simulator with the swing stick now costs just $204, while the simulator without it is $99.99 through March 15.

Apple TV+ thriller Liaison gets down to the dirty business of statecraft this week as Alison and Gabriel head to Brussels for different reasons. A daring refugee camp breakout leads to almosts and what-ifs that drive Alison mad.

Plus, a couple of unfortunate lackeys get put through the ringer — and Britain is still under attack. The episode, entitled “Manipulations,” delivers another solid hour from a team with enough star power to light up London.

If you’re the kind of Apple Watch owner who loves swapping your bands on a regular basis, you’ll want to carry more than one while traveling. Keep them organized and protected with the handy Canvas Strap Roll from BluShark.

It has enough space for at least three bands, and it ensures they all stay separated so they can’t damage each other. It also features a secure snap button closure to prevent the case from spilling its contents on the go.

Get yours today for just $18 from the Cult of Mac Store.

Alice goes missing this week on Apple TV+ hit comedy Shrinking, and Jimmy, Paul and Brian are on the case. After exposing Alice to the awkwardness of a social curveball, Jimmy and Gaby alienate her so much that she decides to act out like her dad has been doing for so long.

Meanwhile, Gaby needs to face down a big challenge as she prepares to maybe move on from her divorce. And Brian must confess something to Jimmy that’s going to be painful — and chooses the worst time to do it. All in all, it’s an above-average episode of a very tiresome sitcom.

Whether you’re a content creator with a buzzy blog, a college student powering through a midterm essay, or a bestselling author chipping away at a first draft, you don’t have to be stuck with the same old writing apps.

Scrivener 3 is not only a writing platform, but also an in-depth organizational tool that lets you visualize your entire writing project. Now, you can get lifetime access to this innovative writing app for only $29.99. And, if you add promo code SCRIVENER10 at checkout, you’ll save an additional 10%!

Lots and lots of bad judgment and mistakes come to light on this week’s episode of Truth Be Told, Apple TV+’s true crime podcast drama.

It turns out Emily Mills’ kidnapping was something else altogether. Plus, Poppy is pressing hard into other people’s secrets — and into her own for a change, much to Leander’s chagrin. Markus has hit bottom and can’t seem to pull up. Trini gets a much-needed wake-up call, and Eva can’t stop living in the past.

This week’s very fine episode brings some extremely strong performances, and some equally impactful revelations.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will earn considerably less in 2023 than he did in the last two years. The pay cut comes at the recommendation of the company as well as Cook himself. And it was approved Friday at Apple’s annual shareholder’s meeting.

In addition, five proposals made by shareholders for changes at the company were also voted down at the meeting.

M. Night Shyamalan returns to the director’s chair for the penultimate episode of Apple TV+’s Servant, his show about a nanny terrorizing a Philadelphia family in their brownstone.

Leanne has Dorothy all to herself — and Dorothy can’t help but notice. A last-ditch rescue attempt is scuttled after Dorothy insists on hearing some hard truths from Sean and Julian, who may not have the upper hand when they’re done.

Though unnerving and quite upsetting, “Awake” stands tall as one of the greatest episodes yet of this outstanding show.

Hello Tomorrow!, the Apple TV+ show about hucksters selling a place in the sun (on the moon), takes a trip back in time this week as Jack relives some foundational traumas.

Also this week: Shirley thinks she has a way out of the hole that Brightside’s in, while the one that Herb is stuck in gets deeper by the minute. And Joey finds that there is no end to a life of lies once it really gets going.

This week’s offering, entitled “The Numbers Behind the Numbers,” stacks up as a superlative episode of a superlative program.

Apple TV+ dropped the trailer (below) for the new limited drama series The Last Thing He Told Me Thursday, and it looks like a gripping thriller with a loaded cast.

Based on a bestselling novel and starring Jennifer Garner along with other familiar faces, the show premieres April 14.

Continue reading

Do you dream of ditching your mouse? Maybe you have the wrong one. Or maybe you’re onto something, like the software developer who works sans rodent with today’s featured M2 MacBook Pro setup featuring dual external displays in different orientations.

Instead of a mouse for input, she relies on a radically split keyboard with a trackball, plus a macropad. See those and all of the other gear in the cool setup below.

The March Madness Sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com continues, with remarkably great deals on Microsoft Windows, Office and more. Don’t miss out on your chance to save big on Microsoft software.

The online Apple store began taking preorders on Friday for the recently announced iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in yellow casings.

The canary-colored handsets won’t be in stores until March 14,though.