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A spirited defense of Apple’s Stage Manager

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Hands on: Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 brings the floating app windows we asked for
Stage Manager isn't perfect but it doesn't deserve all the criticism being heaped on it.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The new Stage Manager multitasking system is Apple’s answer to requests for floating app windows on iPad. It’s drawn a lot of criticism, much of which is undeserved.

I use the new system all day every day. Here’s why there’s a lot to like in Stage Manager, although there are undoubtedly some problems, too.

Avoid inflated gas prices and find cheap airfare with this flight finding service

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Get a lifetime of discounted flights for you and a friend sent straight to your inboxes.
You and a friend can get discount flights for life with these affordable subscriptions.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Inflated gas prices may have put a damper on your holiday road trip, but there’s another affordable way to travel. Dollar Flight Club can turn your car-bound vacation into an affordable flight plan, and all you have to do is check your email. This flight-finding service sends deals on international and domestic flights straight to your inbox. For a limited time, you can get two lifetime Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ Plans for just $149.99.

Search for hidden cameras in your hotel or Airbnb with this camera finder

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Search for hidden cameras in your hotel with this pocket gadget.
Feel safe in your space with this hidden camera detector.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The holidays are a season for travel and joy, but feeling unsafe in your own hotel or Airbnb might undercut all that wholesomeness. If you’re worried there might be a hidden camera in your hotel or Airbnb, you can identify it by shining an infrared light in their general vicinity. This Anti-Spy Camera Finder is an easy-to-use tool for spotting rogue camera lenses in your lodging, and it’s on sale for $59.95.

New bumper case is tough enough for Apple Watch Ultra

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Now you can make your Apple Watch Ultra even tougher.
Now you can make your Apple Watch Ultra even tougher.
Photo: Elkson

If you’re into extreme activities, Apple Watch Ultra in the one-tough-hombre timepiece for you. But you can make it even more rugged — and protect your investment in the pricey wearable — with the new Elkson Quattro Max Bumper Case.

If you want to make sure your Apple Watch survives whatever you throw at it, pick up the case in the Cult of Mac Store.

14-inch MacBook Pro gets a gigantic $499 discount

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MacBook Pro notch won’t hinder mouse cursor movement
The 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro has never been this cheap before.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip and 1TB storage is down to $1,999 on Amazon. That’s a massive $499 off its $2,499 retail price.

The Cupertino giant is unlikely to unveil the M2 MacBook Pros until Q1 next year. So, this is the perfect time to grab the 14-inch MacBook Pro at its heavily discounted price ahead of Black Friday.

Thread-enabled Nano smart blinds work with HomeKit

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Nano Smart Blinds work with HomeKit.
Nano Smart Blinds work with HomeKit.
Photo: SmartWings

If you’re willing to get in on the ground floor of a crowdfunding campaign as an “early bird,” you can now score Thread-enabled smart mini blinds that work with HomeKit for $100 off the retail price.

SmartWings Nano Smart Blinds have surpassed their funding goal on Indiegogo, so they should ship to buyers in January, the company said.

Apple-hating programmer now swears by Mac Studio, Pro Display XDR [Setups]

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The person who uses this setup used to hate Apple.
The person who uses this setup used to hate Apple.
Photo: [email protected]

Some folks insist people never change, others say they often do. And proof of the latter shows up in today’s featured Mac Studio computer setup featuring Apple’s magnificent 6K Pro Display XDR.

It belongs to a Linux-loving software programmer who used to be strongly anti-Apple, according to her husband.

Bluetti crowdfunds $11 million for groundbreaking home-backup power station

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Bluetti's Indiegogo fundraising campaign was an unqualified success.
Bluetti's Indiegogo fundraising campaign was an unqualified success.
Photo: Bluetti

Power product provider Bluetti hit a big milestone recently when it raised a staggering $11.6 million on Indiegogo for its new AC500 and B300S Home Backup Power Station, a backup beast that can power a home for days.

The campaign raised the funds — $11,633,332 and counting, to be exact — between September 1, 2022, and October 30. That ensures production and sale of the advanced AC500 inverter and B300S expansion battery, set to go on sale November 25 on Bluetti’s website and Amazon (and available on Indiegogo in the meantime, see below).

This wearable translator knows over 37 languages so you don’t have to

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Speak to almost anyone with these translation earbuds that know 37+ languages.
Connect to clients, friends and strangers around the world with these translation earbuds.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Gift shopping for a globetrotter? You can give them the ability to understand languages without having to learn them. A wearable translator you can pop in your ear may sound like something out of a sci-fi flick, but it’s very much a reality with the Mymanu CLIK S Translation Earbuds. These wireless earbuds can do live translations of over 37 languages and are on sale for $157 or 28% off

Apple warns of iPhone 14 Pro’s limited availability ahead of holiday season

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iPhone 14 Pro held in hand
Your iPhone 14 Pro order might not arrive until after Thanksgiving.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Planning on getting the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max this holiday season? Getting your hands on one might be more difficult than you anticipate.

The latest COVID-19 curbs in China’s Zhengzhou have hampered the production of the latest Pro iPhones. Due to this, Apple now expects customers to wait longer to get their new iPhones.

Stock your wine cellar with 18 bottles for $70 with an early Black Friday discount

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Grab a case of top-rated wines for less than $4 a bottle with this early Black Friday deal.
 Grab 18 curated wines for less than $70 with this early Black Friday deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to find your new favorite wine or simply love a great deal? The experts at Splash Wines have hand-selected 18 of their favorite wines for fall. Though this selection would usually set you back $350, you can purchase them all for just $69.99 — no coupon necessary. That works out to less than $4 a bottle!

Apple wants to shorten ‘Hey Siri’ trigger phrase to simply ‘Siri’

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Siri
Siri could become easier to summon in the future.
Photo: Apple

Apple is working on changing the “Hey Siri” hotword to just plain “Siri,” and the change could roll out as early as next year.

Introduced in 2015 with the iPhone 6s, the “Hey Siri” hotword remains unchanged to this day. You also can use the phrase to invoke Apple’s voice assistant on the Mac, iPad, HomePod and Apple Watch.

Learn to fight cybercrime with this top-rated boot camp for just $3 per course

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Start an exciting new career as a cyber security pro with this top-rated bootcamp, $3 a course today.
Earn six figures as a cybersecurity developer with this top-rated course bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re an IT professional looking for a resume boost, you may want to consider cybersecurity, especially given the number of high-profile data breaches that occur each year. The Complete 2023 Cyber Security Developer and IT Skills Bundle is a top-rated e-learning IT bootcamp that can prepare you for ethical hacking roles, and it’s on sale for $79 (regularly $7,774). With 26 courses included, that works out to around $3 per course. 

Try the 2 Million Dollar Puzzle for life-changing money

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Check out this 500-piece jigsaw puzzle the provides cash prizes.
Piece together this puzzle for an opportunity at life-changing money.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Many of us want to make our money stretch further, but that can be challenging, especially around the holidays. Luckily, an unexpected financial boost may await in this 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. With The 2 Million Dollar Puzzle, you might win life-changing money, and we’re dropping the price to just $24.99 (regularly $30) with this early Black Friday deal. No coupon is necessary, but supplies won’t last long!

We dropped the price on these JBL earbuds well ahead of Black Friday

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Grab some JBL NC+ wireless earbuds for an Early Black Friday price.
Get an early Black Friday price drop on JBL noise-canceling earbuds.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re shopping for wireless earbuds, normally, you’d have to drop a pretty penny on a pair that pulls the trifecta of great sound, long battery life and a comfortable fit. Instead, you could grab a pair that’s on sale for its Black Friday price long before other sales go live. This pair of JBL Live Free NC+ Wireless Earbuds are on sale for $49.99.

Follow your favorite news, blogs and webcomics without Twitter

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Ditch Twitter, follow the news.
Ditch Twitter, follow the news.
Image: Mori aka ICE/Wikimedia Commons, D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

We all have our favorite news sites, independent blogs or webcomics. A lot of people keep up with new posts on Twitter — it’s where a lot of Cult of Mac traffic comes from. With a mass exodus of Twitter users after you-know-what happened, there’s a way you can still keep up with your favorite sites. It’s a technology that has powered the web for over twenty years called RSS; let me show you can follow the news without Twitter.

Love is in the air this week on Acapulco [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Acapulco review: Everybody's trying to connect in Acapulco.★★★☆☆
Everybody's trying to connect in Acapulco.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ ’80s comedy Acapulco has romance on the brain this week. Maximo and Julia have to talk, Hector and Don Pablo are feeling unloved by Diane, Memo’s love is over and blooming at once, and Sara is heartbroken but she ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

A strong episode of the tacky comedy reveals some important things about the limits of a show like this, how formula and reality don’t always match, and how much you can get away with in a comedy. It’s a fascinating, frustrating study in the state of the sitcom.

Save on a portable Apple Watch charger with an early Black Friday price drop

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Spend less than $20 on this portable and powerful solution to your on-the-move Apple Watch charging needs.
Bundle up to four Apple Watch charger key chains for 60% during this deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Out of all the smartwatches on the market, the Apple Watch is difficult to top, and its accessories will likely be in high demand this holiday season. But you don’t need to wait for Black Friday to find a sweet deal on Apple Watch accessories. This November, we’re running Black Friday deals every Friday. That means you’ll find early discounts to help you get a head start on holiday shopping. For example, this portable Apple Watch-compatible charger lets you power up while on the go, and it’s on sale this Friday for just $18.99 (Reg. $49).

The Mosquito Coast’s second season starts with a bang [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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The Mosquito Coast season 2 recap Apple TV+: Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux) comes clean to the kids -- mostly -- in the season two premiere.★★★★☆
Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux) comes clean to the kids -- mostly -- in the season two premiere.
Photo: Apple TV_

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ show Mosquito Coast returns Friday with more under-the-radar thrills. Based on the book by Paul Theroux and starring his nephew Justin as wanted criminal and escape artist Allie Fox, Mosquito Coast is about the many little compromises we make on our way to what we hope is a better life.

In the season two opener, Allie and his wife Margot reminisce about their past lives for their children Dina and Charlie, finally explaining why they’ve been living their lives on the run this whole time. And one telling lie means they’re still not really ready to be honest. It’s a solid return to form after last year’s stellar season finale.

Apple News will be shoved into the Weather app

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News in the Weather app.
If you're in the right city, and the weather is notable enough, and you're on the 16.2 beta, and all the stars are aligned, you just might see the News section of the Weather app.
Image: Dmitry Makeev, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons and D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Weather app for iPhone, iPad and Mac soon will incorporate local news sourced from the Apple News service.

In the latest beta of iOS 16.2, certain cities have an additional section for weather news, slotted between the 10-day forecast and the air quality meter. On iPadOS and macOS Ventura, this section occupies an even larger widget in the corner.

Start speaking a new language quickly with the Babbel app

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You can cross learning a new language off your bucket list with Babbel.
Babbel is the modern way to learn new languages.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For those ready to start on a new life adventure that sharpens their cognitive abilities, improves thinking skills, and opens up their minds to new cultures and ways of thought, it’s time to consider the Babbel Language Learning App. It’s so easy to add the platform to your new iPad 10 or MacBook Pro, and hit the world running.

Even with the threat of a noose, Shantaram’s still a pretty good hang [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Shantaram recap: Charlie Hunnam's effortless vibe infects Shantaram.★★★
Charlie Hunnam's effortless vibe gives Shantaram a definite boost.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review This week on Apple TV+ drama/thriller Shantaram, it’s all about escapes. Lin knows a story about his medical work will bring his flight from justice to the attention of the authorities, so it’s time to leave Bombay.

Meanwhile, Prabhu and Parvati want to marry in secret before her parents can prevent it. Lisa discovers Modena is still up to his old tricks, and now she wants out of their new arrangement. And just when Lin is in line for a fake passport, a whole new situation arises that threatens his freedom. It’s a suitably tense time.

Show off and protect iPhone 14 with a crystal-clear case

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Let them see your iPhone 14's vibrant color through a clear case.
Let them see your iPhone 14's vibrant color through a clear case.
Photo: Laut

There’s no better way to protect your iPhone 14 than with a tough case. And, short of going without any case at all, there’s no better way to show off your iPhone 14 than with a crystal-clear case, like the Laut Huex Crystal 14 Series iPhone Case.

And right now you can pick up the tough but absolutely clear case for just $20 in the Cult of Mac Store.

Streamers’ dream come true: Elgato launches first 4K60 webcam.

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Attention, streamers: Elgato's new Facecam Pro offers 4K streaming at 60fps.
Attention, streamers: Elgato's new Facecam Pro offers 4K streaming at 60fps.
Photo: Elgato

In a bid to capture the streaming content creator market, Elgato just launched what it called “the world’s first 4K60 webcam” — Facecam Pro. It shoot video in 4K resolution at a smooth 60 frames per second (fps), which previously required a DSLR or other advanced camera setup.

The pricey new camera joins the original Facecam in Elgato’s growing lineup.