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.
Looking for some sweet holiday gifts that won’t break the bank? The Cult of Mac Store has a massive collection of affordable stocking stuffers, sure to put a smile on the face of any Apple fan, for less than $20 each.
You’ll find cases, screen protectors, bands, stands and more from our most popular vendors. And every product has been used and approved by us, so you can be confident you’re spending your hard-earned cash on great products.
★★★☆☆
Apple TV+’s Mosquito Coast, about a family uneasily fleeing terrorism charges by hiding in the jungle, is all about betrayal this week. Dina comes clean with Allie — and he almost ruins their relationship in return. Margot starts trying to get her family back to the states, but she’s going to need Richard to do it.
Meanwhile, Allie and William are back on a job. And every minute Charlie spends in the jungle makes him like the idea of returning to America a little less. It’s going to be a long Good Friday.
“These go to 11,” says lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel about his specially modded guitar amplifiers in music mockumentary classic This Is Spinal Tap. And today’s featured computer setup probably rocks just about that hard, too.
The Mac Studio, dual Studio Displays and array of killer audio gear in the home-basement setup belong to a working New York City-area rocker. Check out details about his chest-thumping rig, below.
★★★★★
Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest takes its annual journey to the past with a stunning episode about the origins of game designers Poppy Li and Ian Grim. We meet the geniuses when they were petulant kids who’d rather dream in nonexistent worlds than pay attention to the one they’re in.
Mythic Quest fans are in for a treat this week. This is a superb episode of this consistently well-played comedy series.
Packing is a great way of learning just how much room your necessities take up. Your clothes may look tidy in your closet, but throw them in a suitcase, and it starts getting pretty crowded. Save space on your next amazing vacation with a folding charger that can power three devices at once. For a limited time, you can purchase the MagStack Foldable 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station for $47.99 (regularly $74)
★★★☆☆
Apple TV+ limited series Shantaram comes to a thunderous close this week. The series, based on the novel by Gregory David Roberts about the travails of Aussie escaped convict Lindsay Ford, sees its hero making one last-ditch escape attempt while casting about for his last remaining friends in Bombay.
The Shantaram finale is riddled with questions. Will Abdullah, Prabhu, Lisa, Modena and Khan get out alive? Can Nightingale finally get his man? Will Shah win the war for the streets? And will Apple TV+ try to stretch Shantaram into a second season? We get answers to most of them.
While Apple is known for timeless hardware with relentlessly improving software, it’s hard to argue that it’s ahead of the curve when it comes to USB-C. That’s not a problem if all your gadgets still use Lightning, but if you have a MacBook or iPad with USB-C, you can’t share its cords with your iPhone.
A multi-connector charging cable like the InCharge X — which bundles Lightning, USB-C, USB-A and Micro USB into a single, streamlined package — can meet all your needs. And right now, it’s just $17.59 (regularly $29) with code WINTER20.
That’s not the only thing on sale, though. You can pick up more gadgets and apps for 20% off when using this coupon in our Winter Savings collection. But hurry! This event ends today.
Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura upgrades video calls by bringing the iPhone’s high-res camera to the Mac. It’s necessary to mount the iPhone on the computer though, but Belkin has just what’s needed for desktop Macs.
The accessory-maker released a very similar iPhone mount designed for MacBooks this fall.
Apple TV+ said Thursday its hit show Mythic Quest, a workplace comedy about a gaming company, will hatch a spinoff series called Mere Mortals.
Calling the new show an “extension series,” Apple TV+ said it “will explore the lives of employees, players and fans who are impacted by the game.”