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.
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.
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!
Five of best Jennifer Lawrence films are now on Apple TV+. Screenshot: Apple TV+
To celebrate the launch of Causeway on Apple TV+, the streaming service is now offering five other movies starring Jennifer Lawrence. That includes all four Hunger Games films.
It’s part of a recent move by Apple to temporarily add already-released movies to its catalogue.
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.
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.
★★★☆☆
Everybody's trying to connect in Acapulco. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple 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.
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).
★★★★☆
Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux) comes clean to the kids -- mostly -- in the season two premiere. Photo: Apple TV_
Apple 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.
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.
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.
★★★☆☆
Charlie Hunnam's effortless vibe gives Shantaram a definite boost. Photo: Apple TV+
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.
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.
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.
★★★☆☆Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me shows the private side of a public life Photo: Apple TV+
In new Apple TV+ documentary Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, we take a trip into the center of the pop star’s world to discover her journey has been nothing but hardship surrounded by impossible highs, which makes coping with her fame something like a near-impossibility.
Narrated by Gomez herself and directed by Alek Keshishian (Madonna: Truth or Dare), this revealing, well-intentioned and often quite beautiful documentary gets us inside of her turmoil and the whirlwind of both her fame and her illness. It’s important for people to know that being America’s sweetheart is no picnic, and that the machinery of fame is parasitic and unyielding. Hopefully, someone, somewhere will pull the brakes on throwing kids into the show business maelstrom.
Two Studio Displays are better than one, don't you think? Photo: [email protected]
People who show off their computer setups often go for a clean, spare look without much, if any, clutter — from cables or anything else. But few have as clean and spacious a look as today’s featured MacBook Pro setup with two Studio Displays. To learn more about this setup, check out the details here.
There are many ways of making a setup minimalistic without simply leaving out the crucial gear. In this case, it has a lot to do with a very cool desk with some interesting features.
About 190 products are certified for the Matter standard (or soon will be after testing). Photo: CSA
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) showcased companies and products using the newly available Matter home-automation standard at a launch event in Amsterdam Thursday.
The group, which includes Apple, Google and many other companies, emphasized the standard’s building momentum and drew a rough road map of what’s to come.
Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. Photo: CDKeySales.com
All over the world, November 11 (“11.11”) is a special discount day for many products. And so it is for Microsoft software when you visit the 11.11 Sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. As a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get a great deal on Windows 10 that gets you a free upgrade to Windows 11. And you can dig up big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software, too.
In order to maximize your 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.
Apple TV is currently unable to access the cheap new Netflix ad-supported plan. Photo: Netflix/Cult of Mac
The inexpensive new Netflix “Basic with ads” plan launched Thursday, but users of Apple TV quickly discovered they couldn’t access it. Netflix promised a fix, though.
Users of other devices can now watch the streaming service for only for $6.99 a month, as long as they also watch commercials.
Get an early start to your Black Friday shopping with this discounted Sam's Club membership. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Whether you’re hosting the family, grabbing gifts or trying to get your shopping done before the holiday rush, Sam’s Club is a great choice. When you visit Sam’s club, you can shop for all your groceries, home goods, pet supplies and even furniture under one roof rather than rushing all around town. All you need is a Sam’s Club membership, and we’ve got Black Friday deals happening early every Friday this month. That means you can sign up for one year of Sam’s Club for just $24.99 (Reg. $50). No coupon needed.
★★★☆☆
Jennifer Lawrence plays an injured vet in new Apple TV+ movie Causeway. Photo: Apple TV+
Depressive drama Causeway, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as a recovering Afghanistan war veteran trapped in her hometown, marks the latest collaboration between indie film company A24 and Apple TV+.
Lawrence, dipping her toe back into being a movie star following last year’s Don’t Look Up, returns to her roots in the film, which premieres Friday on Apple TV+. Causeway hits a lot of expected Sundance/indie movie beats but finds grace notes in quieter, less empathic scenes.
At $399, the iPad mini 6 provides a lot more value for money. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Apple’s 2021 iPad mini is down to $399.99 on Amazon, a sweet $100 discount off its usual retail price. You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular variant with a similar $100 off.
Featuring an A15 Bionic chip and an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple’s smallest iPad can be your perfect travel companion.
The July launch of the M2 MacBook Air helped propel Apple's to new heights in notebook shipments. Photo: Apple
Apple shipped a record number of MacBooks during the September quarter, a whopping 26% increase over the same period of 2021, according to a market-analysis firm. That’s more than the company has ever shipped in a single quarter.
At the same time, Windows notebook-makers saw their shipments decline.