Cult of Mac

Ever wondered what the + in Apple TV+ stands for? According to Jon Stewart, it means you can go into an Apple Store and find him and other Apple TV+ stars working at the Genius Bar.

Watch this clip to see the former host of The Daily Show utterly failing to provide tech support.

Reports that Apple is making fewer iPhone 14 units than its predecessor are true… but that’s not the whole story. Apple is producing many more units in the entire iPhone 14 series than it did the earlier models, according to an analyst.

And the change will be a benefit for Apple’s bottom line.

This post on discount Microsoft software is presented by CdkeySales.com.

Software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com offers fantastic deals on must-have Microsoft software in its Autumn Sale. And as a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get an even better deal on Windows 10 — with a totally free upgrade to Windows 11. (You can score big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software, too.)

To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will take an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

The tech industry has exploded since the ’90s, and with that comes numerous opportunities for programmers. Fortunately, coding doesn’t require traditional schooling. However, to find success in the field, you absolutely need to show employers that you know your stuff.

If you’re looking to make your move into tech, or simply refresh your existing skills, this 14-part Python training bundle could be for you. It offers lifetime access to nearly 1,000 lessons. And it’s a steal at just $40 (regularly $2,798) for a limited time.

With new movie The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Apple TV+ seems anxious to pick up some easy awards from industry insiders who prefer heartwarming tales of friendship and broad gestures over strong ideas and nuance.

Zac Efron leads an ensemble cast as John “Chickie” Donohue, a guy going nowhere in life during the Vietnam War who decides he’s going to finally do something with himself. Chickie’s crazy bid for respectability — via a wild trip to the war zone, toting beer for the demoralized troops — provides hope for his whole neighborhood back home.

Director Peter Farrelly, who won the Best Picture Oscar in 2019 for the risible Green Book, returns to the well of  hopelessly condescending middlebrow emptiness with The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

The new Adaptive Transparency feature found in second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds could make its way to the original model. The feature blocks loud noises above the 85 dB threshold to protect the wearer’s hearing.

iPhone users running iOS 16.1 beta 3 and the latest AirPods Pro beta firmware spotted the Adaptive Transparency toggle for the wireless earbuds in the Settings app.

Poor visuals can make even the best businesses look sloppy. Fortunately, you don’t need to hire a dedicated graphic designer or contractor to make professional-looking images. VistaCreate gives you (or your digital media team) intuitive tools to bring your brand to life. And one-year Pro Plans are available for $71.99 (regularly $120).

Gamer-themed workplace comedy Mythic Quest returns to Apple TV+ on November 11. That’s the date the third season of the hilarious show premieres, Apple said Thursday.

Apple’s streaming video service also announced the launch dates for new seasons of Slow Horses and Little America.

Raymond and Ray is a film about two half-brothers who reunite at the funeral of their terrible father. The dark comedy starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke will reach theaters and the Apple TV+ streaming service in October.

The trailer released Thursday gives a glimpse of the difficulties the two men face coming to terms with their father – whose last wish was for them to dig his grave.

Your search for a perfect sports strap for your Apple Watch could be over. The Mifa Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band might just be the ideal go-anywhere, do-anything accessory for your wearable — especially if it’s space gray.

And through September 30, you can get 20% off the tactical, sporty utility band in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $5.

Google Stadia cloud gaming service is being shut down. It allowed Mac, iPad and iPhone users to play console-quality games, but its developer admits it never found an audience.

Other cloud-gaming services remain, including Microsoft’s online version of Xbox and Amazon Luna.

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s unannounced European tour has taken him to the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy so far. And on one of his latest stops, he received an honorary master’s degree Thursday from the Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in Naples, Italy.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by an institution with such a distinguished history, one that has nurtured Italy’s brightest young minds for nearly 800 years,” Cook said, accepting the honorary master’s degree for innovation and international management.

You can currently grab Apple’s 24-inch iMac with an M1 chip with a sweet $100 discount. The deal is applicable on both the entry-level and the 8-core GPU variant.

Thanks to the discount, you can get the M1 iMac for as low as $1,199.

RiotPWR teamed up with Microsoft on an Xbox-licensed game controller for iPhone. It’s nearly identical to one of Microsoft’s own but the RiotPWR Controller for iOS (Xbox Edition) connects through a Lightning cable and includes a mount to hold your handset. And it comes with a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get you started playing console games online.

I’ve enjoyed a couple of weeks of gaming on RiotPWR’s iPhone controller. Here’s why.

This post on transferring files between iPhone and Mac is brought to you by Digiarty Software.

Transferring things like documents and photos between your Mac and iPhone can be tricky, especially when file sizes get large. Here are the top five ways to transfer files from Mac to iPhone and back again.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and Premiere Elements 2023 launched Thursday. These are the latest versions of apps intended to simplify photo and video editing simple for users at any skill level.

They offer new AI-powered features, as well as new step-by-step Guided Edits. Plus, it helps users add animation to photos.

From shooting 4K HDR footage to scanning documents, there’s a lot that your iPhone can accomplish. You can even use it as your personal plant assistant.

With the NatureID app, you can identify plants, determine the best way to care for them, and even spot early signs of disease. Lifetime subscriptions to NatureID are currently available for $19.99 (regularly $59)

Live Captions, in iOS 16, generate subtitles of any audio playing in any app on your iPhone. Powered by the Neural Engine in Apple’s custom silicon, the capability to turn words from music and/or videos into real-time text is a boon to many users, in many different situations.

If you’re hard of hearing, for instance, the ability to see instant captions on the screen is a game changer. Or, if you don’t have headphones when you’re sitting in bed late at night and your partner is asleep – or you’re in any situation where you don’t want to make noise, like on the bus or in an office – you can turn on Live Captions to get subtitles.

The applications are endless and exciting. Here’s how to use Live Captions in iOS 16.

Microsoft is killing SwiftKey for iOS, one of the most popular third-party keyboard apps for iPhone. The company will remove the app from the App Store and end its support on October 5.

SwiftKey first became available for iPhones in 2014. Microsoft acquired the keyboard app in 2016 and eventually discontinued its own Word Flow keyboard for iPhone.

The Cult of Mac giveaway prize this week is a great fit for anyone who has any electrical device they wish to charge quickly. We teamed up with Lululook for five lucky winners to get their hands on a four-port, 100W USB-C GaN charger.

This fierce device houses three USB-C ports along with one USB-A port, and pumps out enough power to charge up a MacBook Pro. And, at just over 2 inches, it’s the perfect charger to take anywhere to keep all your gear juiced up.

The Adonit Log is a new iPad stylus that skips the usual plastic or metal body and instead uses sustainably-sourced wood. It’s like using a pencil with your tablet.

But the stylus still includes high-tech features, including a 1-millimeter tip for high accuracy, palm rejection and a long-lasting battery.

The music industry has exploded in recent decades, and with numerous courses teaching people how to create their own hits, virtually anyone with a laptop can make something majestic.

The challenging part is choosing the right software. EasySplitter Pro offers helpful tools that might become one of your mashup essentials. Lifetime subscriptions are on sale for $39.99 (regularly $599) for a limited time.

Apple’s Automatic Verification system for websites is getting a big boost from Cloudflare. The web security company just unveiled Turnstile, a free alternative to those irritating CAPTCHA image tests. This has Apple’s system built in.

Turnstile, now in open beta testing, is available to anyone, not just Cloudflare customers.

Square now offers Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone system to sellers in the U.S. With it, businesses can accept contactless payments directly on their iPhone – no additional hardware required.

Apple launched its new payment method earlier in 2022, and already uses it in its own stores.

Logitech just launched its first mechanical keyboard optimized for Mac. The MX Mechanical Mini features low-profile switches and backlighting.

It’s joined by the MX Master 3S mouse and the Lift mouse in Logitech’s new “Designed for Mac” collection.