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.
Upgrade your career with this resume and interview bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
While not everybody can land a job at Apple (especially in this economy), anyone can improve their career with the right resume. Admittedly, few folks are pros at writing resumes and cover letters, and if you don’t do it properly, you might fall victim to an applicant tracking system (ATS). This application template collection could simplify your job hunt and includes a course on how to nail your interviews. It’s on sale for $25 (Reg. $149) for a limited time.
Foxconn is Apple's biggest contract manufacturer. Photo: Puddingworld, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons
Days after reports of Foxconn employees hopping fences and fleeing from their jobs, a report late Wednesday from Taiwan News says Apple’s biggest iPhone factory is now on “total lockdown.” These new restrictions may have a big impact on Apple’s sales during the crucial holiday period.
Foxconn, whom Apple contracts to manufacture the lion’s share of iPhones, Macs and other Apple products, has had employees stay in on-site dormitories in a “closed-loop system” to prevent COVID outbreaks. Employees have been complaining about the “increasingly unsafe and inhumane working conditions” of the dorms.
"Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me" comes with a free trial of Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me premiers Friday on Apple TV+, and to be sure her fans can watch it, Apple is offering a free two-month trial of its streaming video service.
iPhone users in India don't have to wait much longer for 5G. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
5G service launched in India in October, but no iPhone supports the high-speed wireless networking standard… yet. Apple plans to change that in December.
And those who are part of the iOS beta program can get access even earlier.
Put the iPad 10 in a very protective case before handing it to child, like this one from OtterBox. Photo: OtterBox
The just-released iPad 10 is a major update, but the design changes mean new cases are required. Fortunately, accessory makers OtterBox and Logitech quickly brought out several of them for designed with children in mind.
★★★★☆
Your AirPods get more useful with AirPods 2. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
AirFly 2 from Twelve South can wirelessly connect your AirPods to any 3.5mm audio jack. It’s great for airline entertainment systems and gym machines. The new version has a longer battery life, adds new volume controls and costs less than its predecessor.
I tested the wireless audio adapter with AirPods and other headphones, as well as a variety of audio sources. Here’s why I’m quite pleased with it.
Momax's LED desk lamps have a wireless charging pad and a USB port for charging. Photo: Momax
Did you know that desk lamps are now smart? A new line of LED-powered desk lamps from Momax offer a host of smart features, including wireless Qi charging bases, voice control via Amazon Alexa, an iPhone app for advanced control, automatic eye health adjustments, the ability to set color temperature, color modes and brightness, an extra USB port to charge another device, and more.
Perhaps best of all, you can get 10% off the price of each lamp by using code CULTOFMAC10 at checkout.
T-Mobile turns November 3 into April Fools Day with a hot-purple suitcase-charger. Photo: T-Mobile
We had to check the calendar to see if it was April 1 when T-Mobile’s press release showed up. “Introducing the Un-carrier On from T-Mobile – the Smartest, Flyest Carry-On Ever,” it said, pushing a new carry-on bag the cellular carrier said is the only one on the market with wireless charging.
The suitcase, produced in partnership with Samsara Luggage, is awkwardly named the “Un-carrier On” and comes in one color: magenta. A big part of T-Mobile’s brand, that color is also the name of one of its membership plans.
Start playing piano and guitar today with this top-rated course bundle, less than $35 today. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Mastering an instrument takes dedication. But did you know that you can easily fit practice into your busy schedule without hiring an expensive tutor? A good way to study on your own time is with e-learning music courses. Take this top-rated, eight-part music training collection, which is on sale for just $34.99 (Reg. $1,600) for a limited time.
These musical training courses contain over 70 hours of content. Plus, each course comes out to under $5, making the entire bundle less than the average cost of one hour of old-school tutoring.
Qualcomm is a vital supplier for Apple until the latter's in-house 5G modem is ready. Photo: Qualcomm
Apple’s plans of using its in-house modem starting from the iPhone 15 in 2023 are unlikely to pan out. Qualcomm will continue to supply the Cupertino company with the “vast majority” of iPhone modems next year.
The San Diego chipmaker expects Apple to shift to its in-house modem by 2024 at the earliest. It had previously expected to supply the iPhone maker with only 20% of modem chips in 2023.
Enjoy the impact of proven Microsoft Office products on Mac or Windows with this low-priced license. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Microsoft Office and its components are a mainstay for millions of digital workers. Capable of providing an educational or professional boost, a lifetime license to Microsoft Office on Mac or Windows is currently available at a reduced price. Usually sold for $349, you can get the entire suite on either platform for just $39.99 throughout November.
The folks at Halide have published their thorough review of the iPhone 14 Pro camera system. Photo: Apple, D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
It’s taken a while to fully unpack and understand the technical improvements to the cameras in the iPhone 14 Pro. Camera nerd Sebastiaan de With, co-founder and designer of the highly-respected Halide camera app, has written a detailed review of the improvements to the camera system.
His professional opinion? These are not just great iPhone cameras, they’re great cameras, period.
We bet you're wondering where she got that Apple Watch band. Photo: Cult of Mac Store
At the end of the day, it seems like there are only so many types of Apple Watch bands. Leather. Stainless steel. Nylon. But what about something cool and cosmopolitan you don’t see everywhere? We think we found just the thing.
Goldenerre is known for some pretty glamorous accessories, and its Leather Link Apple Watch Band is an interesting option. It hand-wrapped leather links alternate with gleaming metallic ones for an exciting look. Check it out below and in the Cult of Mac Store.
Production is officially underway for Severance season 2 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Fans of the hit Apple TV+ series Severance can rejoice that production on season 2 started this week. More of what Stephen Colbert called a “dystopian workplace sci-fi mystery black comedy psychological thriller” is on the way.
Upcoming episodes of the Emmy-winning – and very creepy – series will feature the original stars as well as eight new ones.
Coding can be a rewarding career, but not if you don't ever get started. Devs have some suggestions to help. Inage: Apple
Creating iPhone and Mac apps can be a rewarding career, both financially and by doing something you enjoy. But some people find it hard to get started. Developers who’ve made the jump into coding point out that you can make your hobby into your career, it’s never too late, and more tips.
Anyone one considering becoming a dev might benefit from their advice.
This person mounts a portable monitor on their laptop keyboard and uses a 27-inch gaming display, too. Photo: [email protected]
We love it when a computer setup we’ve looked at before gets a facelift, or some sort of significant update. Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup stuck with the laptop, an interesting usage of a portable display and a highly unusual mechanical keyboard. But it added a beautiful gaming monitor, a rarely seen vertical mouse and some other details.
And of course it kept its beloved Lego Wall-E. And it even found a practical use for extra Lego bricks.
Wish you had a great iPad case? Huge numbers of people on Amazon wish for Zugu Case. Photo: Zugu Case
Retail juggernaut Amazon.com keeps running lists of its most-wished-for products that folks want to buy or get as gifts. Consistently at or near the top of the tablet case list, you’ll find Zugu’s popular cases for the 10.2-inch iPad and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
What makes those cases so coveted? There are plenty of reasons. Read on.
★★★★★
The iPad Pro 2022 is Apple's most powerful ever. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The launch of the 2022 iPad Pro in 12.9- and 11-inch versions means current tablet users have new upgrade options. Their M2 processor makes these the most powerful iPads ever made, but they are not right for everyone.
I’ve used an M2-powered iPad Pro for a week now, and that’s given me insight into who should upgrade and who should not. Some people should definitely go for the latest and greatest, but others would be disappointed if they did so.
Enjoy the impact of proven Microsoft Office products on Mac or Windows with this low-priced license. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Microsoft Office and its components are a mainstay for millions of digital workers. Capable of providing an educational or professional boost, a lifetime license to Microsoft Office on Mac or Windows is currently available at a reduced price. Usually sold for $349, you can get the entire suite on either platform for just $39.99 throughout November.
Easily move files between your iPhone and other devices with this top-rated flash drive, less than $23 today. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We’ve all felt the terror of the dreaded iPhone Storage Full notification. Luckily, you don’t necessarily have to comb through which files to delete, especially if you have a trusty smartphone-compatible flash drive on hand. This 4-in-1 Smart Flash Drive for iPhones, tablets and Android does the job perfectly, and you can purchase one on sale for $22.99 (Reg. $29).
Elago's W5 Apple Watch Stand is a blast from the past. Photo: Elago
Elago is known for its fun and interesting stands and cases, often in a retro vein. If you’re in need of Apple accessories along those lines — or along any lines, really — you should check out the big Halloween Sale in the Cult of Mac Store. It ends today (Tuesday, November 1).
The three Elago items below, for example, are all offered at 15% off regular prices.