Mobile menu toggle

Get a magnetic iPad stylus for about half Apple Pencil 2’s price

By

Palm sensitivity lets you rest your palm as you write or draw without messing anything up.
Palm sensitivity lets you rest your palm as you write or draw without messing anything up.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Buying an iPad doesn’t usually mean just buying an iPad. Many people want useful accessories, like a stylus that lets them write and draw more precisely than they can with their fingers. But Apple Pencil 2 usually goes for a fairly steep $129.

If you’d like to get an advanced stylus with most of Apple Pencil 2’s features for much less, you have options. A good one is the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Pro.

You can get the fourth-gen version of it in the Cult of Mac Store for just over half the cost of Apple Pencil 2, plus a supply of extra tips for different uses. Or you can nab the third-gen EasyPencil for a little less. See more information below.

iPad Pro extends brilliant 5K display through Sidecar [Setups]

By

The LG 5K display and the iPad Pro work together through Sidecar.
The LG 5K display and the iPad Pro work together through Sidecar.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple has said many times it won’t produce a touch-screen Mac because that’s what iPads are for. But Sidecar functionality can make an iPad a touch-screen extension of a Mac, where you can drag and drop elements and work with them using Apple Pencil or your fingertips.

Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup mounts a big 5K display and an iPad Pro right next to each other. In the photograph, you can see the desktop wallpaper running right onto the tablet’s display through Sidecar (more on that below).

And who doesn’t love an all-Apple audio arsenal? This setup rocks paired OG HomePods, AirPods Max on a cool charging stand and AirPods, too.

New Edifier ANC earbuds offer solid sound at a good value [Review] ★★★

By

Edifier's new W240TN wireless earbuds have a bit of an industrial look going.★★★
Edifier's new W240TN wireless earbuds have a bit of an industrial look to them.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Noise-cancelling wireless earbuds that cost under $100 jostle in a competitive field. One company that consistently stands out from the crowd with high-quality goods that are a great value for what they cost is Edifier.

And the company, based in China, has done it again with the Edifier W240TN true wireless earbuds. They launch Thursday for a price of $79.99. Edifier sent me a pair to try out.

There really aren’t many reasons not to buy these if you want good earbuds for well under $100. But there are a couple of potential reasons, depending on your priorities.

Fix your swing without breaking the bank with this discounted golf simulator

By

This affordable at-home tool is key to cutting down your golf score.
Improve your golf swing without spending big money on pro instruction.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The TruGolf Mini golf simulator could revolutionize the way you approach practice. The affordable golf gadget gives you ample opportunities to polish up your swing any time at home.

Earning an Amazon rating of 4.1 stars out of five, and equipped with advanced technology that analyzes the details of your golf swing, this package is available for only $229.99 (regularly $249) for a limited time.

Have fun with photos: How to copy and paste subjects in iOS 16

By

Using iOS 16's Visual Look Up feature, you can instantly copy the subject out of your pictures.
In iOS 16, you can instantly copy the subject out of your pictures.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

One of the more surprising features in iOS 16 is the ability to cut out people from a picture (or a dog, a car, whatever’s in focus) and copy it into another app. You can send it in iMessage, paste it in a photo editing app, or use Universal Clipboard to paste it on a nearby iPad or Mac.

What’s it for? Well, it’s great for making stickers for WhatsApp and Snapchat, plus it’s a hell of a lot of fun. If you’re putting together a YouTube thumbnail or making memes, it can significantly cut down the time you spend precisely cutting out edges, but it’s by no means precise enough to use professionally.

New iPad USB-C hub is tiny but packs 6 useful ports

By

New iPad USB-C hub is tiny but packs 6 useful ports
Add ports to your iPad with the the Satechi USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD.
Photo: Satechi

Satechi’s USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD sits flush with the side of an iPad and adds a USB-A port, plus there’s one for video, headphones and more.

It is an updated version of one of the very first hubs launched back in 2018 specifically for iPads with USB-C. The new model adds SD and microSD card slots plus an extension cable.

Take a stab at cooking with these high-carbon Japanese knives

By

These high-carbon steel knives are some cutting edge stuff with a price that has been slashed.
This set of eight high-carbon forged knives is on sale for a few more hours.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The most fun part of cooking doesn’t have to be eating what you made. You’ll enjoy your time in the kitchen more if you have tools that make prep work fun. So level up your kitchen arsenal with this Seido Japanese Master Chef Knife Set.

Get these superb kitchen blades for just $139.99 (regularly $429) through August 31.

New Belkin Boost Pro GaN chargers top off iPhones fast

By

Belkin's compact new GaN chargers feature dual USB-C ports and fast charging.
Belkin's compact new GaN chargers feature dual USB-C ports and fast charging.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin trotted out two new Boost Charge Pro GaN wall chargers Tuesday in 65W and 45W versions. Both adapters feature dual USB-C ports and programmable power supply (PPS).

The compact chargers are designed for fast charging. You can use them to power up an iPhone 13 to half-full in 28 minutes, the company said.

Lug your MacBook in this primo streamlined backpack

By

The new Essential Backpack stuffs premium features into a stripped-down bag.
The new Essential Backpack stuffs premium features into a stripped-down bag.
Photo: WaterField Designs

WaterField Designs’ new Essential Backpack can swallow up a 16-inch MacBook Pro. And its stripped-down design pairs ballistic nylon with smart features to create a lightweight backpack that seemingly does it all.

“Dense foam inserts distribute weight evenly and allow the bag to stand on its own,” WaterField said in a press release marking Tuesday’s launch. “The bag’s elegant, arched top contours the user’s shoulders so the bag feels like an extension of the body.”

Make your light switches more useful with Wemo Smart Dimmer [Review] ★★★★★

By

Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread review★★★★★
Your smart home needs smart switches, and Wemo's latest looks good, is highly configurable and works reliably.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread is a new version of Belkin’s HomeKit-compatible wall switch. It can be controlled with the press of a finger or from anywhere – across the room or across the country.

Putting “with Thread” in the name isn’t some odd reference to sewing. The switch uses a new form of mesh networking to provide fast, reliable connections to your home-automation system.

I was able to install the latest Wemo Smart Dimmer in my home because it doesn’t require a neutral wire. Here’s what it’s like to use everyday.

HP debuts first monitor with ‘IPS Black’ contrast and Thunderbolt 4

By

HP's new display, coming soon, offers IPS Black contrast and speedy Thunderbolt 4 connections.
HP's new display, coming soon, offers IPS Black contrast and speedy Thunderbolt 4 connections.
Photo: HP

HP rolled out a new 4K monitor at its Amplify Executive Forum Thursday, calling it “the world’s first IPS Black display with Thunderbolt 4 technology.”

The HP Z32k G3 4K USB-C Display, “coming soon” at an unspecified price, should appeal to creators and product developers, the company said.

That’s because it will offer strong color accuracy and high contrast in addition to the speed and versatility of Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.

4 hot Labor Day deals for remote workers

By

Level up your remote work software with these 4 Labor Day Deals.
Bundle two or more deals together and you can save even more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Practical benefits — and fun rewards — could flow from these four deals on lifetime web hosting platforms, Microsoft Office 365 master courses and a subscription that could give you incredible discounts on flights worldwide.

Massive Truecaller for iPhone update promises significantly better spam call detection

By

Truecaller for iPhone
Truecaller for iPhone can now identify spam callers up to 10x more reliably.
Photo: Truecaller

Truecaller is rolling out a new update for its iPhone app that has been completely reworked from the ground up. The company now promises 10x better identification of spam calls.

Truecaller has never worked as reliably on iPhones as it does on Android. The company aims to finally solve this issue for good with its latest app update.

iPhone 14 Pro ultra-wide camera might surprise with its low-light performance

By

Why the iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 12
iPhone 14 Pro could be a beast in the camera department.
Concept render: souta

Apple could use a bigger ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models. Apart from a significant jump in component cost, the bigger sensor should help improve low-light image quality.

The company is already rumored to use a larger 48MP primary camera on the Pro iPhones this year.

T-Mobile adds free Apple TV+ to its unlimited 5G plan

By

T-Mobile Magenta Max is all the 5G you can eat.
Magenta Max offers unlimited 5G, and Apple TV+ too.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

T-Mobile is including Apple TV+ for free in its Magenta Max unlimited wireless data plan. Subscribers will have access to Apple’s streaming service along with the carrier’s 5G network without data caps.

Magenta Max already includes other streaming services, including Netflix.

Maximize your marketing messaging this AI-powered text-to-speech tool for only $30

By

Convert written content into spoken words in various languages and dialects with this discounted app.
Create increasingly effective marketing videos with unlimited text-to-speech options.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you aim to establish and expand upon a brand or business, solid concepts or ideas can only carry you so far. Marketing tools can help create a clear and professional vision that maximizes your message. And a text-to-speech tool like Speechnow could serve as a valuable resource to empower those efforts.

This service allows you to create voice recordings or audio versions of content for YouTube, Facebook and other popular platforms in a few simple steps. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to the Speechnow Professional Plan for only $29.99 (regularly $3,299).

Apple TV+ plans 4 new kids series this fall plus more Peanuts classics

By

New animated series
New animated series Sago Mini Friends debuts September 16 on Apple TV+.
Image: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ listed its fall slate of kids and family fare Monday. It includes new animated series Sago Mini Friends, Slumberkins and Interrupting Chicken, plus live-action series Circuit Breakers.

And in addition to those, kids and their families can enjoy returning favorites plus a new lineup of classic Peanuts specials.

iPhone 13 might offer emergency satellite communication, too

By

iPhone 13 might offer emergency satellite communication, too
It won't be just the iPhone 14 communicating with satellites.
Photo: Cult of Mac

It might not be necessary to trade in an iPhone 13 for the iPhone 14 to get the upcoming model’s satellite communication capabilities. Apple’s 2021 handset reportedly already has this feature – it’s just not activated.

It’s possible Apple will announce at a September 7 event that both the iPhone 13 and 14 will be able to send emergency texts via satellite.

Mountain biker paralyzed in crash said Apple Watch saved his life

By

Paralyzed in the crash, Ryan McConnaughey said he'd be dead if not for the Apple Watch.
Paralyzed in the crash, Ryan McConnaughey said he'd be dead if not for the Apple Watch.
Photo: KGTV News San Diego

Mountain biker Ryan McConnaughey took his usual daily ride near San Diego only to find himself going over the handlebars in a steep section. He slammed into the ground, head-first, helmet on.

Sprawled on his back, he soon found he couldn’t move from the neck down. “I knew for sure that I needed to get medical attention as quickly as possible. My brain kind of kicked into survival mode,” he said.

With his iPhone in his backpack, he began talking to his Apple Watch.

iPhone stuck on the Apple logo? Fix it with Dr.Fone.

By

Is you iPhone stuck in a boot-loop? Dr. Fone can help.
Is your iPhone stuck in a boot loop? Dr.Fone can help.
Photo: Wondershare

This iOS system repair post is presented by Wondershare, maker of Dr.Fone.

Apple devices like iPhones have great reputations for reliability, but nothing’s perfect. And if you find your iPhone stuck on the Apple logo while booting up — often called a “boot loop” — what to do about it can be a real head-scratcher.

Fortunately, there is software designed to help fix that and other problems. One such option is Dr.Fone from Wondershare.

Netflix advert-supported plan could cost just $7

By

Commercials are coming to Netflix
You'll soon be able to get Netflix at a lower cost by watching commercials.
Photo: Netflix/Cult of Mac

The price of Netflix is going way down … if you’re willing to watch commercials. When the streaming service revealed that it’s prepping an advertising-supported option for subscribers, it didn’t reveal how much it will cost. The price has now leaked out, and it might be 30% to 55% below the current cost.

The new option could debut before the end of 2022.

This sick rig sports 9 Macs and 3 Apple displays [Setups]

By

Can you picture needing 9 Macs, including 3 top-shelf machines?
Can you picture needing 9 Macs, including 3 top-shelf machines?
Photo: [email protected]

Occasionally a computer setup displayed on social media makes you swoon. Usually it’s a combination of amazing gear, artful arrangement and exceptional photography, like something staged by a pro. But sometimes it’s just a sick amount of awesome Apple computers and displays.

Today’s featured setup, run by a consultant who “works for several companies,” relies on four high-spec Macs, five very-nice-but-not-exceptional Macs and three Apple Displays, including a Pro Display XDR — which goes for $5,000 or more by itself.

Does your wallet hurt yet? We just took ours to the ER.

Violent extortion threat pauses Apple TV+ series with Natalie Portman in Baltimore

By

The shooting threat halted filming in downtown Baltimore.
The shooting threat halted filming in downtown Baltimore.
Photo: Pexels/Abdullah Almutairi

Shooting on the set of Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake paused Friday afternoon in downtown Baltimore to consider another type of shooting. According to reports, locals threatened that if production didn’t stop, they’d return with guns blazing. Unless producers paid them $50,000.

Taping on the limited crime drama series starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram shut down. But producers refused to pay. They opted to move locations instead.