The A16 processor in the iPhone 14 Pro models isn’t as powerful as Apple first hoped. Engineers reportedly mucked up the original design of the GPU so much that the company was forced to use essentially the same design as its predecessor.
Apple’s difficulties hiring and retaining top talent for its processor team apparently caused the problem.
★★★★☆
The second season of Apple TV+ spy drama Slow Horses is through warming up and starting to boil over. This week’s excellent installment has Lamb revisiting the past, Catherine playing a very important game of chess, River up a creek, Louisa and Marcus in the dark, and Roddy and Shirley on the run. Plus, the Tropper family is in trouble.
The whole episode, entitled “Boardroom Politics,” is about mounting tension and slow (but not too slow) reveals, as everyone races to either create or prevent a catastrophe.
Today’s featured Mac-and-gaming-PC computer setup pulls off a rare feat. It perfectly aligns three displays on one arm. The displays are a substantial external monitor, a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro mounted vertically (yet running Sidecar).
Read on for tips on how to pull all that off, as well as tricks to using an iPhone as a mounted webcam and more.
Christmas is finally upon us, and you can get very merry deals on Microsoft software when you visit the special sale at software activation keys provider CDKeylord.com.
Cult of Mac readers can click on the links below to get a great deal on Windows 10. And that deal comes with a great bonus: a totally free upgrade to Windows 11. Not Windows shopping? CDKeylord offers big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software, too.
To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CDKeylord.com. That will slash an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
★★★★★
There’s a rat at the office on this week’s episode of Mythic Quest — and for once it’s not one of the employees. David sees a rodent and makes it Jo and Brad’s problem, which they immediately take too seriously.
Meanwhile, Poppy and Ian are having spatial issues, but those are a mask for something larger eating away at their partnership. And, as usual, Dana is caught in the middle.
A typically funny episode of the Apple TV+ workplace comedy, entitled “To Catch a Mouse,” becomes shockingly tense in its final minutes.
Internet use is unavoidable these days, whether you rely upon that connectivity for professional efforts, educational purposes, gaming, streaming or social media engagement. That makes many of us susceptible to unseen risks daily, threatening personal privacy and data security.
Fortunately, the Windscribe VPN Pro Plan packs plenty of protection. A three-year subscription is currently available at a surprising price, making it a fantastic last-minute digital gift for the chronically online.
★★★★★
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse, a half-hour animated short based on the book by Charlie Mackesy, is a heartfelt and splendidly drawn detour into melancholy holiday cheer.
Beautifully drawn, sensitively acted by an all-star voice cast, and written to carefully corral the emotions of viewers young and old, this one is quite the Christmas miracle. Premiering December 25 on Apple TV+, it’s one of the best animated films the streaming service has yet produced.
So, you need a last-minute gift for the person who has everything. Look no further than an e-gift card for Saucey liquor delivery service. You can now get $30 to use on Saucey for just $22.99, with no coupon needed. You’ll receive the digital voucher immediately, with no shipping required.
No matter how much of a procrastinator you are, you’ll have this gift instantly.
Apple’s year-long effort to broadcast pro football games on Sunday nights has come to an end. The Mac-maker was reportedly in negotiations for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, but was outbid by Google’s YouTube TV instead.
Apple TV+ will continue to boast high-profile sports, but its roster won’t include NFL games.
Even if you’re not worrying about giving gifts that must arrive by a certain deadline, mid-to-late December is a great time to take advantage of holidays sales. And right now you can get a great deal on a handy SwitchEasy 4-in-1 MagPower Charging Stand that’ll keep your gadgets going.
Through December 26 you can get it for 20% the regular price in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $17.
Want to play location-based AR games from the comfort of your home? Prefer to explore apps without georestrictions? Hope to fake your GPS location to appear anywhere in the world — without having to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad?
Foneazy MockGo could be just the app for you. And right now, Cult of Mac readers can get a special 20% discount on this easy-to-use GPS location spoofer.
It’s almost Christmas, while Hanukkah is already in full swing, and the Apple store is helping last-minute shoppers with free two-hour delivery of some items.
You can literally order something on Christmas Eve and have it under the tree before Santa arrives, at no charge.
Blackmagic Design introduced the promised iPad version of it’s DaVinci Resolve professional video editing application. Beyond editing, it also handles color correction.
The software is available for download now from the App Store.
You can give an awesome last-minute gift, or make sure there’s plenty to drink at your New Year’s Eve party, without spending an absurd amount of money on wine.
This mixed box of red, white and bubbly from Splash Wines includes a collection of top bottles for fall for just $64.98, the best price we’ve seen for this offer.
With iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple introduced a new architecture for the Home app. Following issues reported by early adopters, the company has pulled the upgrade option altogether.
The new Home app architecture promises improved performance and reliability. It was an opt-in upgrade, with users getting the option when they opened the Home app after installing iOS 16.2.
★★★☆☆
Do you find some of Cupertino’s more innovative Apple Watch bands a bit ridiculous? Well, feast your luddite eyes on the Durham band from Nyloon. It’s made of nylon and comes in exactly one color: navy blue.
It’s a very traditional Apple Watch band at a lower price than any of Apple’s offerings.
At Cult of Mac we love retro Apple gear. Today’s featured setup pairs a powerful new M1 Max MacBook with a beautiful old Cinema Display plus the iconic Harman Kardon SoundSticks speaker system.
And if you love the old Cinema Displays but worry their resolution won’t cut it nowadays, read on.
If you create content for YouTube and TikTok, you know the quality of your video is key to getting your work noticed. But not just anyone can make great videos — unless they have the right tools. One of the best tools you can use to easily put your creativity to work making videos quickly is Wondershare Filmora.
What makes it great? Anyone at any skill level can use Filmora to import and edit video, add special effects and transitions, and share the finished product. And the new version of the software, Filmora 12, adds more than a dozen great new features.
Comcast customers can now wirelessly send cable channels to any TV over AirPlay. The Xfinity Stream application has been updated with Apple’s streaming video tech.
The app already supported Chromecast, but this latest addition is a better fit for iPhone and Mac users.
The gift of food is the perfect holiday present — everyone’s gotta eat, whether they’re dining in or out. This Restaurant.com gift card is perfect for anyone who waited until the last minute to buy gifts. It’s digital, and you’ll have it instantly — with zero delivery time.
To top it off, today you can grab one worth $100 for only $11.
Apple could delay or cancel the launch of the 2024 iPhone SE 4 due to cost and demand issues. The company’s budget products have not performed as well as initially thought.
The full-screen design of the iPhone SE 4 could also push its prices higher. This could affect its demand and position in Apple’s current lineup.
It’s almost time for the people you love to love their gifts. But, if you still have a bit of last-minute shopping to do, digital is the way to go. This one-year Sam’s Club Plus membership is 36% off until December 30, and you don’t have to wait for shipping time.
Apple’s Self Service Repair program now includes Mac desktops. That means those who want to fix their recent iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, etc. have access to repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools. Plus, info and tools for the most-recent Apple monitor are also available.
The program already included some MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, as well as recent iPhones.
Android users could soon find it easier to watch Apple TV+ shows and films. A reliable tipster says an Android version of the Apple TV application is in development.
It would be a win-win for both Android and Apple.
What’s better than a clear case that shows off the sleek beauty of your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max while protecting it from every bump, scrape and drop? That’s an easy question to answer — what’s even better is the same clear case with MagSafe technology.
Powerful magnets in Mkeke’s affordable and super-protective clear bumper cases for iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max make charging up the handsets fast and easy with any MagSafe or Qi charger. And they look good while doing it, too.