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.
Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 makes Apple’s tablets act much more like a Mac. The optional multitasking system puts applications into floating, resizable, overlapping windows.
Even better, the system can also be used on external displays, greatly increasing the available space to work in.
Here’s how to get started using Stage Manager.
Owning a copy of Microsoft Office is simply essential in today’s remote and hybrid working world. Set yourself up to work from home or anywhere with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 for Mac, on sale now for just $29.99 (regularly $349).
If you want to truly take advantage of your iPad and/or MacBook’s many talents, you probably need a dock. You can add a very versatile tool to your computing arsenal with this limited-time discount on 13-in-1 docking station.
The USB-C hub is a dongle-killer — and it’s currently available for only $59.99 (regularly $70).
Although Apple killed off the iMac Pro line, it’s coming back better than ever, according to a reliable source. That means a high-end macOS all-in-one is supposedly on Apple’s product roadmap.
The company is also reportedly working on a Mac Pro desktop, also powered by Apple silicon.
Apple’s 2022 11-inch iPad Pro has dropped to its lowest-ever price ahead of Christmas. You can get the M2-powered tablet for $699, a $100 discount from its MSRP.
If you want the tablet before Christmas, Amazon promises delivery of the Space Gray mode before Christmas. However, it is available with a slightly lower $70 discount.
To a lot of people, “home for the holidays” may mean even more massive amounts of gameplay than usual. That could be the case with the owner of today’s featured computer setup. In addition to two Mac minis, the workstation sports an Xbox Series S with a couple of special-edition controllers.
And two of the three displays in the setup are curved gaming monitors. The other’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro mounted on a stand.
Apple’s efforts to broadcast pro football games on Sunday nights reportedly have come to an end. The Mac-maker has pulled out of negotiations with the NFL.
Apple TV+ will continue to boast high-profile sports. But apparently its roster won’t include the NFL Sunday Ticket.
There are certain essentials you don’t realize you need until their time comes, and a reliable flashlight is arguably No. 1 on that list.
The MaxLight 8-in-1 Mini Super Bright Utility Flashlight is one of the most convenient around. And right now, you can grab a four-pack on sale for just $64.99. That’s a 39% discount off the regular price of $107.
At WWDC20, Apple promised to complete its transition to Apple silicon inside Macs in two years. It missed that deadline, and the company is yet to reveal a replacement for its 2019 Intel Mac Pro.
A new report details the reason behind the delay in the next Mac Pro’s launch. It also sheds light on why, contrary to initial rumors, Apple won’t launch a version powered by an upcoming processor that’s essentially four M2 Max processors merged together, sometimes called the M2 Extreme.
Criminals around the world are surely celebrating news that Apple is being forced by the European Union to enable iPhone to install applications from outside the App Store. The move will allow hackers to release a fresh tidal wave of malware, hoping to slip it onto iOS handsets. iPhone users will be forced to fend off attempts to trick them into installing this malware virtually every day.
And well-known, unscrupulous companies will take advantage of the new security hole, too.
Apple is currently working on multiple new external monitors powered by Apple silicon. This includes a replacement for the Pro Display XDR that launched in 2019.
There’s no confirmed timeline for the launch of the new monitors.
Popular hybrid game console Nintendo Switch offers options for at-home or portable play. And, while much remains the same about this setup, there are ways to upgrade, including the addition of this 3-in-1 docking station. It could make a great choice as we approach the last days for gifting this holiday season.
Normally sold for $24, you can pick up one of these lightweight, multiport stations for only $19.99.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If the EU does indeed force Apple to open up the iPhone to allow alternative app stores, is that a bad thing? Some people think sideloading apps will be fantastic.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
★★★★☆
Apple TV+ spy thriller Slow Horses nears its bogey this week, in an excellent episode full of richly drawn character detail from the show’s charismatic cast.
Lamb is on the hunt for more evidence, Louisa’s giving in to her grief over Min, River’s getting lost down a rabbit hole of suspicions, Catherine relives a bad moment from her past, and the Russians are cleaning house.
The episode, entitled “Cicada,” stands as a fine and compelling exercise in tension and unspoken personal development.
Whether it’s the cold weather or a busy schedule, getting to the golf course in winter can be difficult. But, that doesn’t mean your game has to suffer. A home golf simulator like the SLX MicroSim Golf MicroSimulator will help you improve your swing from anywhere. And right now, you can grab it for just $129.99 — that’s a 27% discount off the regular price of $179.
All you need is the clubs you already have and your mobile device, and you’re ready to swing. Simply mount the device onto your real golf club, and together with the sensor, you’ll be able to analyze and improve your swing with the free SLX Connect app for iOS, Android or PC.
Fans of My Little Pony have a new game to enjoy. It’s up players to help the Mane 5 save Equestria, and they’ll do so by solving multiple puzzles.
My Little Pony: Mane Merge debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, and is playable on a wide range of Apple computers.
It’s no secret that a VPN can make a huge difference in how you use the internet. A good VPN can protect your network, expand what you can access online and even block ads. While many VPNs require recurring fees, with a Deeper Network hardware VPN, you only have to pay once.
The Deeper Connect Mini is a decentralized security device with no subscription fees — and you can get one for just $199 ($160 off the regular price).
★★☆☆☆
Acapulco, the bilingual Apple TV+ comedy about the staff at a high-end Mexican resort, reaches the end of its wildly uneven second season this week. Maximo and Hugo make it to the former’s childhood home. Nora and Esteban are getting married. Julia and Maximo need to make a choice about the future. Memo gets what he wants in life. And Diane gets her resort back in order.
Indeed, everyone gets exactly what they want. What a very, very pat ending for a show that promised to tackle more real-life issues.
With Christmas on the way, you can get super deals on Microsoft software when you visit the special sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com.
Cult of Mac readers can click on the links below to get a great deal on Windows 10. And it 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 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
★★☆☆☆
Echo 3‘s gung-ho warriors spring back into action after weeks of repose and dissolution. Prince decides he’s had enough of a glimpse into a life without his kidnapped wife, Amber, and he’s ready to become part of the rescue operation again. But he’s going to need to get back into her brother Bambi’s good graces if he wants to make any semblance of a clean getaway.
Their next best hope is a DJ with bad security and bad habits — but getting him is going to be a chore and a half. It’s another baffling episode of the really odd Apple TV+ action thriller.
I’ve reviewed quite a few active noise-canceling wireless earbuds for Cult of Mac, including the magnificent new second-gen AirPods Pro. And while the high quality and excellent features of Apple’s updated ANC buds make them a favorite as well as a benchmark, there are great alternative earbuds that do a nice job for a much lower cost.
What follows isn’t a “top 5 in the world” list, which would be an assortment of mostly super-pricey earbuds. It’s my favorite earbuds among those I’ve reviewed in the past year or so, mostly focused on high-value products, considering the quality you get for the cost.