You can buy a shoulder strip for the new sleeve or provide your own. Photo: WaterField Designs
San Francisco-based WaterField Designs makes a line of popular Apple accessories. On Wednesday it released a new Magnetic Laptop Sleeve that fits Apple’s new 14- and 16-inch M2 MacBook Pro models as well as the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air.
The sleeve features waxed canvas, neoprene padding and rare-earth magnets to keep your new laptop safe.
The second-gen HomePods play nice with each other, and with Apple TV 4K, but not with Apple's previous smart speakers. Photo: Apple
Don’t think you’re going to add a new HomePod 2 to your original HomePod to make a stereo pair. It’s not possible because pairs can only be made with two of the same model.
It’s not a new limitation – a first-generation HomePod can’t be in a stereo pair with a HomePod mini, either. But many people might be unaware of the restriction.
There's nothing like a warmly lit, super-symmetrical setup -- especially if it has two Studio Displays. Photo: [email protected]
When it comes to computer setups, social media loves symmetry. People often praise perfectly symmetrical setups and plenty of folks kind of freak out if anything’s even slightly askew, often supplying their own joking references to obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD.
In today’s warmly lit and well-organized workstation, a high-spec MacBook Pro drives dual Studio Displays. And pairs of other items in the room contribute to the overall symmetry.
Apple’s 2023 Unity watch band, watch face and wallpaper have a really cool geometric pattern using Pan-African colors. Photo: Apple
Apple has released a special new Apple Watch band, watch face and iPhone wallpaper celebrating Black History Month. Apple has done this every February in 2021and 2022.
The Black Unity Sport Loop is available today in the online store and in “select Apple Store locations beginning January 24” Apple said in its press release. It will cost $49, the same price as other Sport Loop bands. The watch face and iPhone background will be released in a software update next week.
Traveling to another country? With an eSIM, rest assured your iPhone will work. Photo: Andrea [email protected]
Can you imagine switching to another cellular provider for your smartphone without having to go to a shop or wait for your physical SIM card to be shipped? Or traveling abroad knowing your phone will work and you won’t face data-roaming charges? Or using the same phone number on your smartphone, watch, car and even your refrigerator?
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Well, modern eSIM technology — the future of data connectivity — makes all of that possible and even easy. The “e” stands for “embedded,” and it’s probably already on your devices. Let’s look at how you can benefit from it, especially with international travel.
Listen to romance novels with a soothing robot voice. Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac/Mads Dyrmann/John Salatas/Anna Schroeder/Wikimedia Commons
It’s annoying when a book you want to read doesn’t have an audiobook version — they’re great while you’re driving, doing dishes or folding laundry. Apple is now offering authors AI-generated audiobooks of their work. Novels you otherwise wouldn’t be able to hear, you can now find in the Apple Books app. Let me show you how you can find and listen to them if you’re curious.
Pick up the top-rated PDF Expert app for half the price. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
PDFs remain one of the best ways to transmit documents and data. However, handling these files can be tricky if you don’t have the right tools. A lifetime license to PDF Expert immediately empowers you to manage, secure and share PDFs with ease, speeding up daily tasks and increasing your ability to seamlessly collaborate on projects.
Typically $139.99, you can now pick up this license now for just $69.99 (a 50% discount).
Apple unveiled HomePod 2 on Wednesday, bringing its full-size smart speaker back from the dead. The new model offers high-quality audio and new smart-home features, but comes in at the same price as its predecessor.
“With the popularity of HomePod mini, we’ve seen growing interest in even more powerful acoustics achievable in a larger HomePod. We’re thrilled to bring the next generation of HomePod to customers around the world,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s SVP of worldwide marketing, in a press release.
Apple's cheaper AR/VR headset could debut in 2024 or 2025. Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash License
Apple has indefinitely postponed development on its first AR/VR glasses. The device was supposedly going to launch a couple of years after Apple’s first mixed-reality headset’s debut, which is due to come out later this year.
Instead, the Cupertino giant is now focusing on building a cheaper version of its AR/VR headset. The device could debut in 2024 or early 2025.
Laura Metz, the
director of Mac Product Marketing, details the 2023 MacBook Pro in a product-launch video. Screenshot: Apple
Those who prefer to get their Apple announcements via video don’t have to feel left out. Although the 2023 MacBook Pro and Mac mini didn’t get a big, glitzy press event, and were instead unveiled Tuesday via press release, Cupertino created a launch video much like the ones put out with previous products.
Watch as John Ternus, SVP for Hardware Engineering, plays host to announce the latest macOS notebook and desktop.
This super bundle can jump-start your career in IT. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
From keeping apps running to protecting your iPhone from hackers, IT professionals are in high demand in all areas. If you’re looking to answer the call or upgrade your career, this IT certification super bundle explores 13 different certifications.
It’s a great way to learn the latest tech or even switch career tracks.
A MacBook Pro with an enhanced, 3nm processor is expected in the first half of 2024. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The just-announced 2023 MacBook Pro includes Apple M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, but these weren’t made with the newest 3nm process. That will have to wait until the 2024 versions, according to a reliable source of insider info.
At least the wait supposedly won’t be much more than a year for the faster, more efficient processors.
These wallpapers would look great on your MacBook. Photo: Apple
Part of the reason the 2023 MacBook Pro looks amazing is the wallpapers Apple used. But obviously you don’t have to buy the new notebook just to get the wallpapers. They’re available to download now.
A radical change on the camera could allow the iPhone 15 Pro to take significantly better telephoto pictures than its predecessors. Photo: Apple
The telephoto lens in the iPhone 15 Pro will get a noticeable jump in image quality if a series of leaks about a periscope lens turn out to be accurate.
The change should also shink the thickness of the camera hump.
In Bluetti's big January promotion, you can find huge savings on power products and become a "Bluetti Hero." Photo: Bluetti
Solar-generator powerhouse Bluetti is throwing a New Year’s bash as the first month of 2023 unfolds. But instead of champagne and confetti, the ongoing promotional party — called “The Sun Shines Wherever You Go” — offers you great deals on new solar panels and other products.
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Running through January 25, the promotion celebrates Bluetti’s innovative new solar panels, offers great deals on other products, and serves as an open call for fans to become “Bluetti Heroes.” As such, you could showcase your experiences with the company’s power products for an upcoming documentary.
The case is shockproof, drop-tested and comes with a carabiner and lariat. Photo: Laut
Imagine pulling out your AirPods Pro in their case and seeing them slip out of your hand. As they go bouncing down the stairs or into the street, you may try to recall if you bought Apple Care. But with Laut’s tough Zentry case, you might not need it, actually.
The tough Laut Zentry AirPods Pro Case for first and second-gen AirPods is drop-tested and comes with a handy carabiner and lariat that make it easy to hold onto your earbuds.
Apple said Tuesday its new M2-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will ship January 24. Photo: Apple
Apple released new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models Tuesday powered by the company’s most advanced processors, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. The new laptops — which deliver the longest battery life ever in a Mac — are available to preorder now and go on sale January 24, Apple said.
“MacBook Pro with Apple silicon has been a game changer, empowering pros to push the limits of their workflows while on the go and do things they never thought possible on a laptop,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release. “Today the MacBook Pro gets even better. With faster performance, enhanced connectivity, and the longest battery life ever in a Mac, along with the best display in a laptop, there’s simply nothing else like it.”
“With its powerful media engine with ProRes acceleration, Mac mini with M2 Pro delivers unbelievably fast video processing.” Photo: Apple
Apple launched a new Mac mini Tuesday, an upgraded model that uses the M2 chip seen last summer in the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. A higher-end version runs on the brand-new M2 Pro chip, which also powers the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, also introduced today.
“Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release. “And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.”
The computers are available to preorder today and will arrive January 24.
Apple's next-generation M2 Pro and M2 Max SoCs are its fastest chips yet. Photo: Apple
Apple’s next-generation M2 Pro and M2 Max chips went official on Tuesday. The new processors power Apple’s brand-new MacBook Pro lineup and, for the first time, the Mac mini.
Both SoCs deliver better CPU and GPU performance than their M1 predecessors, along with faster image processing.
Make ASL your second language with this $20 instructional course pack. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
American Sign Language is an exciting, vibrant language used by nearly 1 million people. If you have a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor who communicates in ASL, taking the initiative to learn it could help you foster a better relationship with them while you also learn an interesting new skill.
Start your ASL education with the All-in-One American Sign Language Bundle for just $19.99.
Apple’s new full-size HomePod with even better sound quality could launch “fairly soon,” according to the latest rumor. The updated smart speaker should pack improved touch controls and feature Matter with Thread support for more reliable use as a home-automation hub. And it should come at a lower price than the original model.
You can never have too many high-speed data ports, and the HyperDrive Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub adds three more to your Mac or iPad Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The most important feature of the new Hyper Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub is something it doesn’t have: a giant power brick. The three-port hub offers 40Gbps data transfers as its rivals do, but in a more compact form.
The device was unveiled in summer 2022 and went through crowdfunding but is only now available for all to buy.
Use this $29 meeting app to connect with colleagues in a whole new way. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We’ve been hammering away at this remote work thing for a while now. So why are we still holding meetings the same old way? Instead of “stop everything and head to the conference room,” it’s “stop everything and open up Teams.”
Let’s face it, though. Stand-up meetings are awkward at the best of times. But they can be counterproductive when colleagues are on different schedules or time zones. Luckily, Standuply users are starting to discover a better way to organize meetings.