An M1 MacBook Pro and Studio Display enjoy the sunset by the coast north of Boston. Photo: [email protected]
Some older iMacs are being shown the door, giving way to newer Macs paired with Studio Displays. That’s the case with today’s featured computer setup. In it, an iMac gave way recently to a plenty-powerful M1 MacBook Pro paired with a brilliant Studio Display.
And the attractively spare setup, well placed in a beautiful coastal setting, is nearly all Apple — down to the input devices and audio gear.
Keysbuff's big Back to School Sale offers impressive discounts on Microsoft software and other products. Photo: Keysbuff.com
This post on discount Microsoft software is brought to you by Keysbuff.
In its big Back to School Sale, software activation keys provider Keysbuff.com lets you nab great deals on Microsoft products. As a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and save big on Windows 10 — and find major savings on lots of other Microsoft software, too.
Just be sure to use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com. That will save you an extra 25% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and other software.
★★★★☆
Time's running out for Jimmy Keene (played by Taron Egerton). Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ murder mystery Black Bird draws to a pulse-pounding close as jailhouse informer Jimmy Keene’s last-ditch efforts to stay alive are being threatened at every turn.
Serial killer Larry Hall is inches from confessing, Jimmy’s about to get shanked — and nobody’s coming to help either of them. Plus, Jimmy’s dad Big Jim is dying in a hurry outside prison walls.
The limited series saves its best mechanics for last as the clock runs out on all of our heroes. Black Bird concludes on a high note indeed.
Workers are already assembling iPhones in Indio. Photo: Carnegie Council
Foxconn will begin shipping the iPhone 14 from its assembly plant in India almost as soon as its Chinese plant starts shipping Apple’s next smartphone, according to an industry analyst. This is apparently a sign that Apple is decreasing its dependence on China.
And Foxconn is reportedly building up its assembly capacity in India.
Pair this hoverboard with your iPhone and go for a ride.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
We might still be a ways off from actual floating hoverboards, but that doesn’t mean you can’t zip around at ground level with a bit more style. Whether you’re coasting through campus or taking your dog for a rolling stroll, a self-balancing scooter like the Hover-1 Ranger is a fun way to go for a ride.
Especially when it only costs $129.99 (regularly $229).
★★☆☆☆
Skydance is going to need a lot of Luck to sell unimaginative movies with a problematic CEO. Image: Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s newest film is the streamer’s big flagship collaboration with Skydance Animation under the new leadership of disgraced former Pixar chief John Lasseter.
Can the film’s relative charms tip the scales in favor of a new endeavor, instead of back toward the hasty assembly of a company around a man who never really answered for his allegations? Unfortunately, Luck, which premieres Friday on Apple TV+, would have had to have a lot more going for it to get people talking about the movie on pure merit.
A firmware update for the Apple Studio Display is hopefully the end of the monitor's audio problems. Photo: Apple
A firmware update released Thursday fixes an audio problem that has afflicted the Apple Studio Display. Users of the pricey monitors have been complaining of choppy playback, audio that cuts out unexpectedly and playback speed issues.
The Powerstation Pro external battery is just one of several charging accessories from Mophie that just debuted on the Apple store. Photo: Zagg/Mophie
The Mophie Powerstation Pro boasts 20,000mAh of power, and dual USB-C ports to quickly deliver it to a MacBook or other computer at up to 45W. Apple likes the new power bank enough to launch it Thursday on its online store.
A lifetime subscription to this email marketing tool can save you tons of time and anguish. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Email marketing delivers some of the highest returns on investment, but it’s also hard to get right. If you’re trying to get more eyes on something you have to offer, you could spend a few years mastering email outreach. Or, if you want to save time and still get great results, you could try EmailWritr, a marketing tool designed for email outreach.
If the convenience isn’t enough, maybe this deal will sell you. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to EmailWritr’s premium plan for just $59 (regularly $3,480).
Soon, other MagSafe power banks besides Apple might be able to receive power from an iPhone, not just transmit it. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will add support for wirelessly charging accessories to the iPhone 14, according to a tipster. iPhones already have limited support for reverse wireless charging, but the capability is supposedly being expanded.
This would make a range of third-party MagSafe accessories more useful.
The fourth-generation iPod Classic is iconic because it introduced the Click Wheel. Photo: Grid Studio
Grid Studio disassembles well-loved gadgets and presents their rearranged innards as framed wall art. And its nostalgic collection for Apple fans just got two new entries.
The collection now includes a fourth-generation iPod Classic and a first-generation iPad mini for your aesthetic consideration.
Grab a forever license to Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows for the lowest price yet! Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Exclusive to Cult of Mac readers, we have a massive price drop on Microsoft Office for just $39.99 until 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight.
Cult of Mac has an exclusive on this deal. No one else is offering MS Office for this low. Office is normally priced at $349, but we have it for less than a few gallons of gas. Act fast, though, because the Cult of Mac MS Office sale ends in a few hours.
★★★★☆
Those bits on the end press in and out, as if moved by waves of bass. But they only seemed to move when actually pushed. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is a powerful, portable outdoor speaker you might want to nab before summer’s over. The boombox-style Bluetooth speaker brings the brawn — 80 watts of power — along with a bit more heft than some competitors.
When you factor in the excellent sound quality, some sporty features and the relatively low price of $179.99, it’s a worthy choice for outdoor use. Some folks might even use it indoors, but many never would because of its black plastic design. It might look at home in a college dorm, but probably not in most living rooms.
A side-by-side comparison with iPad 9 (right) shows the upcoming iPad 10 (left) will be wider. Photo: Mysmartprice/Cult of Mac
The 10.2-inch iPad expected in fall 2022 supposedly will get a facelift. Leaked CAD drawing indicate the upcoming tablet will have a larger screen and the flat edges Apple includes in its other tablets.
But the low-cost iPad 10 reportedly will remain the last iPadOS device with a Home button after the redesign. The audio jack could be out, though.
Randomly rebooting iPhones won't be a headache anymore for Apple technicians. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple has a new tool to determine if your iPhone is restarting unexpectedly. It can be challenging for Apple repair technicians to determine if your device is rebooting randomly.
The company aims to fix this problem with its new diagnostic tool.
Lock your door from your iPhone with the Bosma Aegis. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Do you ever arrive at work and have that little panicky moment where you’re unsure if you locked the door? Do you go back? Call a neighbor? Hope your autopilot self was responsible today?
Why not just pull out your phone and check to be sure? With the Bosma Aegis, you can control your deadbolt with an app, but that’s not all you can do. For a limited time, the Bosma Aegis Smart Door Lock is only $79.99 (regularly $119) with code SMARTLOCK. If you’re interested, act fast though — this sale only lasts through August 2022.
Light up your home and garden with this 12-pack of remote-operated LEDs.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Flowers aren’t the only way to add a pop of color to your garden. Whether you want a rainbow road or just some colorful flavor throughout your greenery, this 12-pack of decorative LED lights could be the next beautiful addition to your outdoor aesthetic.
Wemo’s latest dimmer switch uses HomeKit over Thread for fast, reliable connections. Photo: Belkin/Wemo
Dimming your lights is just the most obvious feature of the newly announced Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread. It uses mesh networking to provide fast, reliable connections to your HomeKit home-automation system so you can control the switch from anywhere – across the room or across the country.
Plus, the wall dimmer switch doesn’t require a neutral wire so it can be installed in older homes as easily as new ones.
Microsoft Teams is getting native support for M1 and M2 Macs ... pretty soon. Photo: Microsoft
Apple first said it would transition from Intel chips to Apple silicon more than 2 years ago. Then Cupertino launched the first M1 Mac in November 2020. And, finally, today Microsoft said its Teams app will now run natively on M1 and M2 Macs.
So it’s about time.
But don’t get greedy and expect the upgrade immediately. The Redmond tech giant said the rollout to users will be incremental.
iPad users could be waiting longer than expected for iPadOS 16. Image: Apple
iPadOS 16 reportedly won’t be introduced in September, as expected. Instead, the next major iPad upgrade has supposedly been pushed back by a month.
The upcoming version is packed with new features, including giving iPads with an M-series processor support for floating app windows on the tablet screen and on external displays
The owner tried to set this whole thing up to roll into another room. Photo: cjeffe10
Some computer setups will make you green with envy, considering their gear’s quantity as well as quality. Take today’s featured setup, a delight for both gamers and podcasters.
It sports not just a new M1 MacBook, but also a powerful custom gaming PC. It boasts not just a solid 27-inch full HD display, but a monster 49-inch super-ultra-wide screen. And it relies on not just a good webcam, but a premium mirrorless digital camera.
And the list goes on, extending to audio and even a new mechanical keyboard. Read on.
★★★★☆
The Troubadour Pioneer won't look out of place at the gym or in the office. Photo: Troubadour Goods
It might be time to get a new backpack. The British company Troubadour Goods makes just just what you need. It recently released four of its sustainable bags in a limited-edition color, a dark khaki.
They sent me the Troubadour Pioneer Backpack to try out. And it’s a stunner, fit for taking to work or outdoor hikes and trips to the gym in between.
The OWC Envoy Pro FX portable SSD is designed for the urban jungle or a chaotic movie set. Photo: OWC
The OWC Envoy Pro FX is a very rugged external SSD that previously topped out at 2TB, but is now available with 4TB of storage capacity.
The solid state drive is dustproof, drop-proof, and waterproof. It’s compatible with Mac, iPad, and many other devices. Plus, it supports Thunderbolt as well as USB connections.
Analysts expect consumers to keep buying Apple products, no matter what the global economy does. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Although economists can’t agree whether a global recession is on the way, it’s definitely a possibility. But Apple execs don’t seem to have a lot to worry about – market analysts remain generally upbeat about the company.
Here are comments from a range of experts that are sure to warm Apple CEO Tim Cook’s heart.