★★★★☆
Dina (played by Logan Polish, right) finally discovers the awful truth about her mom Margot (Melissa George). Photo: Apple TV+
Allie Fox finds himself in a tight corner this week on The Mosquito Coast, the absorbing Apple TV+ series about a family on the run from the U.S. government. His son Charlie’s been compromised, so Allie must do a local criminal kingpin a favor. And that puts him in a car with William Lee, the man who tried to kill him.
Also, daughter Dina learns something about her mom Margot that changes everything about their relationship. It’s a magnificently tense and very strong episode all around.
Did you like "Band of Brothers," about the 101st Airborne at Normandy and beyond? You might like "Masters of the Air," which follows the exploits of the Eighth Army Air Force during WWII. Photo: Apple
“In a world like this, you can have it all,” says actor Billy Crudup, from The Morning Show, at the top of a new Apple TV+ trailer. It’s called “Apple TV+ Winter 2022 & Beyond | Official Preview,” and it’s all about year-end fare on the streaming service and what you can look forward to in 2023.
It short YouTube video may not give you all, as the Crudup clip implies, but it shows a lot of quality entertainment on tap now and upcoming.
Does the iMac look better sans chin? Screenshot: Io Technology/Bilibili
The 24-inch iMac is a beautiful bit of kit, but it comes with a hefty “chin.” A custom modified version shows what the all-in-one desktop would have looked like if Apple had made some other design decisions.
Take a look and judge for yourself if this is an improvement.
★★★☆☆
A very special visitor arrives at the resort this week. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ comedy Acapulco heads as far into crowded crossroads as possible this week as people learn to be human again. The show about the hopeful staff of an exclusive Mexican resort finds Maximo faced with an important guest who will teach him there’s more to life than success.
Meanwhile, Nora misses Sara and has to stop fighting her heart. Diane has meddled with Chad for the last time. Memo tries to help Hector live for a day, and Julia needs to do some serious reconsidering. The episode, entitled “Money Changes Everything,” finds everyone in transition — and it’s better than we’ve gotten lately from this show.
Get the look of luxury for a low price. Photo: Rilee & Lo
You’ve got to love an Apple Watch band that looks like a million bucks but costs nothing near that. In fact, you can get Rilee & Lo’s stainless steel stretch-link bracelet and a matching stacking bracelet for well under $50 this week.
Zens' new modular charger for 3 or 4 devices is now on sale at Apple. Photo: Apple
Apple recently started selling the new Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger, which you can modify to power either three or four devices at once, including an iPad.
You can set it up as a 4-in-1 charging station for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods or a 3-in-1 that leaves out the Apple Watch charger.
More discounts added! Photo: Adel Neal/ Cult of Mac
Following Black Friday, the Cult of Mac Store added massive discounts over the weekend for Cyber Monday. So not only can you get a whopping 40% off SwitchEasy iPhone 12 series cases and accessories, you can get 30% a whole lineup of other great SwitchEasy gear.
See below for more details on all the great deals on many brands you can still get in the Cult of Mac Store. But if you like what you see, don’t hesitate. This deal ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, December 2.
★★★★☆
Poppy (played by Charlotte Nicdao, right) and Ian (Rob McElhenney) make a strange discovery at Grim Pop. Photo: Apple TV+
Everyone’s confidence is shaken on this week’s episode of Mythic Quest, the Apple TV+ office comedy about a popular computer game.
Poppy realizes she has no idea what fun is, and that revelation is unraveling her world. Ian feels left out of the development of the Mythic Quest movie, and David is his only way in. To top it off, Carol thinks she’s getting fired for mismanagement of company funds, energy, and time.
It’s a strong episode of the funniest show Apple TV+ has to offer.
"How many computers do you need," asked a commenter. Photo: [email protected]
We enjoy seeing computer setups grow and change. We last looked at today’s featured setup when its user described it as “temporary” back in June. Since then it has metastasized into a monstrous beast with a maxed-out Mac Pro, a 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, iPad mini and dual Pro Display XDRs.
And the custom-made desk with lights against a dramatic backdrop of 3D wall panels really enhances the setup, too.
★★☆☆☆
Things go from bad to worse for Amber (played by Jessica Ann Collins). First she's kidnapped, then she disappears! Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ military thriller Echo 3 finds its heroes in desperate times this week, anxious and ready to take desperate measures. The kidnapped Amber has been put in a hellish South American prison camp, her brother Bambi is abandoned by his cohorts, her husband Prince is back in America recovering from multiple gunshot wounds — and nobody has a clue how to make this situation any better. But the writers sure know how to make it weirder.
The show, about what happens when an American with clandestine government ties stumbles into a private war, gets good mileage out of mechanics over message in this week’s episode, entitled “Upriver.” The bizarro sexual subtext of intervention gets quite the workout in this show.
Creative Pebble Pro promise plenty of volume, bass and clarity. Photo: Creative
Creative recently unveiled a new addition to its distinctively round and tilted Pebble line of USB desktop speakers — Creative Pebble Pro.
With overhauled full-range drivers and digital amplifiers — plus flashy new RGB lighting — the new speakers jack up volume and bass so no subwoofer is needed, the company said.
Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. Photo: CdkeySales.com
While Black Friday sales are synonymous with savings on holiday shopping, they don’t last through the whole holiday season. But you can still get super deals on Microsoft software when you visit the extended Black Friday Sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com.
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This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
As a Cult of Mac reader, just click on the links below to get a great deal on Windows 10 that comes with a great bonus: a free upgrade to Windows 11. CdkeySales offers big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software, too.
To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will slash an extra 35% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
★★★☆☆
Everything's coming to a boil, including our hero's temper, as Shantaram heads for its final curtain. Photo: Apple TV+
This week on Shantaram, Lin is ready to flee except for one big thing: He wants revenge. The Apple TV+ limited series about a benevolent fugitive on the run from his past is coming to a bloody head as Lin tries to square accounts, Karla runs around town preparing the double-cross of a lifetime, the grim specter of death arrives in Bombay, and everyone else is caught in the middle.
Though this episode is well-played, it focuses on Shantaram’s least-interesting characters.
Get this 4K home golf sim in time for Xmas - at less than $190.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It may be the season to be jolly, but in too many parts of the world, it’s definitely not the season for golf. We all have that friend who can’t wait for the snow to stop falling so they can hit the links (that “friend” might even be us!). But, thanks to some cutting-edge sports tech, waiting for spring to swing isn’t necessary.
The SwingLogic SLX MicroSim golfing simulator lets anyone sharpen their game, no matter the weather. And if you order by December 8, you can get it for $189.99 (regularly $249) with guaranteed delivery in time for Christmas — free shipping included.
★★★★☆
Jackson Lamb (played by Gary Oldman, right) and his slow horses have a new mystery to solve. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ spy thriller Slow Horses returns this week for a slick second season of low-brow high tension.
Grotesque super spy Jackson Lamb (played by Gary Oldman) is on a personal crusade in the wake of a friend’s death. And the rest of his “slow horses” are desperately looking for work — even the ones who are still behind their desks at Slough House, the London HQ for MI5’s misfit spies.
Season two of Slow Horses starts at a good clip and just keeps galloping. The show, based on the Slough House series by British crime novelist Mick Herron, remains one of the most consistent secret pleasures of the Apple TV+ lineup.
Apple's AR/VR headset is inching closer to release. Concept: Martin Hajek/Computer Bild
Apple reportedly changed the name of the operating system that will power its upcoming mixed-reality headset. Previously referred to as “realityOS,” Apple now calls the operating system “xrOS.”
This internal change is another sign of Apple ramping up work on the headset ahead of its official launch.
Get 10TB of storage for your Apple gear with 97% off Degoo Premium. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Apple’s decision to introduce ProRes to Pro iPhones gave average consumers the ability to capture lossless video without investing in proper camera gear. But those large files can eat up your storage quickly, even if you purchased an iPhone with the maxium storage capacity.
Alternatively, you can offload those large video files to a cloud storage service like Degoo, which earned 4.4 out of 5 in our store. Premium 10TB Lifetime Plans are on sale for $99 for a limited time.
Lots of people love all things Lego. Now they can use Lego bricks to create whatever design they want on the front and back of a new mechanical keyboard, the tenkeyless (TKL) MelGeek Pixel.
The Lego-friendly keyboard has surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, so if you buy one, it will probably ship.
Keep your Apple Watch juiced up for days with the travel-friendly power bank from OtterBox. Photo: OtterBox
OtterBox merged a power bank, an Apple Watch wireless charger and a stand for the wearable into a single product. Just place the accessory on it end and it becomes a stand that juices up the Watch.
In addition, OtterBox also released on Thursday a MagSafe iPhone power bank that comes with a clip-on stand plus a car vent mount. This is joined by a foldable power bank with a built-in iPhone stand and Apple Watch charger.
All three new accessories are now available from the Apple store.
The special edition is purely a cosmetic tweak. Photo: Beats
Apple-owned Beats hooked up with Japanese fashion brand Wacko Maria to release a new special-edition set of Beats Flex earbuds Friday featuring a leopard print, the companies said Thursday.
Beats Flex are the brand’s most affordable wireless earbuds. But now they pack a little more street cred.
The updated hub supports HomeKit integration. Photo: Hubitat
With a new software update to the Hubitat Elevation hub, users can bridge hundreds of Z-Wave and Zigbee devices not normally compatible with HomeKit into their Apple Home app, Hubitat said Wednesday.
The Hubitat Elevation software version 2.3.4 update brings HomeKit integration. It lets the hub serve as a bridge for “countless lights, switches, sensors and other devices that are not natively HomeKit compatible,” the company said.
Get the full Microsoft Office suite for less than $30 with this early Black Friday deal. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether you like to work offline or simply want to work with the same software as 200 active monthly million users around the world, Microsoft Office is a great choice as opposed to using free online tools. There’s also never been a better time to purchase the full Office suite.
Get that yucky earwax out of your AirPods with this cleaning kit. Photo: Belkin
Your old AirPods aren’t what they used to be. The speakers can get gummed up, degrading the audio performance. But the Belkin Cleaning Kit for AirPods can take care of the problem.
This might save you the cost of buying a new pair of Apple earbuds.