Roku is best-known for its streaming media devices. But it’s branching out with a whole-home strategy that will see a range of smart-home gadgets, including security cameras, lights and plugs, go on sale next week at Walmart, the company said.

But a report indicates the company isn’t saying yet whether its new gadgets will work with the new Matter smart-home connectivity standard supported by Apple and other companies. It’s designed to let devices from different makers work together on systems like Apple’s HomeKit and others.

Roku’s lack of clarity is a bit odd, given that it’s among the companies supporting Matter, and that might give some would-be purchasers pause.

Bad Sisters, the Apple TV+ black comedy about the murder of a bad man and the five women who stood to gain from it, draws its delicious first season to a close this week.

John Paul’s dead. Matthew’s closer than ever to finding the killer, but red herrings abound. John Paul’s widow Grace tells a tale to her sisters. The magnificent show comes to a gripping close in typically brilliant fashion.

Once in a while a computer setup comes along that shows off its owner’s invention. Sometimes it’s something perfectly utilitarian and sometimes it’s something weird and wonderful (examples below).

In today’s featured MacBook Pro and Intel NUC PC setup, we find a nifty folding MagSafe charging stand just about to go on the market.

This post on discount Microsoft software is presented by CdkeySales.com.

If you want scary-good deals on Microsoft software, head to the big Halloween Sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. As a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get an even better deal on Windows 10 that gets you a free upgrade to Windows 11. And you can score big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software, as well.

To maximize your savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will take an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

Apple’s much-rumored AR/VR header won’t use Face ID or Touch ID. Instead, the mixed-reality device will reportedly scan the iris of the wearer’s eye to identify them.

Perhaps the feature will be called Eye ID.

You can have the most interesting Instagram post in the world, but the caption is still limited to the same fonts everyone else uses, and they don’t always communicate “fun.” If you want to add some excitement to the text on your social media profiles, messages and even your iOS device’s Home Screen, then you may want to try Fonts Art. A premium lifetime subscription to this awesome iOS app lets you add some new aesthetic flavor to your texts, and it’s on sale for $39.99. 

In new Apple TV+ limited series Shantaram, Charlie Hunnam headlines as a man on the run from Australian authorities who starts over in Bombay — only to fall into still more trouble.

The ambitious drama, based on the best-selling book by Gregory David Roberts (which in turn was partly based on the author’s own experiences), charts a man’s new life in a hotbed of sin and all-but-sanctioned crime. Along the way, he discovers himself at long last in the least likely of settings.

A Brazilian court fined Apple a second time for not bundling chargers with the iPhones it sells in the country. The court imposed a fine of 100 million reals ($19 million).

The Brazilian association of borrowers, consumers and taxpayers filed the lawsuit in the Sao Paulo state court.

Louis Armstrong is one of the most important jazz musicians ever, as both a trumpet player and a singer. Apple TV+ promises to introduce a definitive documentary of his life based on never-before-heard home recordings and personal conversations.

Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues premieres worldwide at the end of October.

The price of Netflix dropped like a rock for those willing to watch commercials. The streaming service announced Thursday that its new ad-supported subscription plan is only $6.99 a month – 30% to 55% below the current cost.

The new option will debut in November 2022. It’ll then be a cheaper option for enjoying a large library of shows and movies on a Mac, iPad or Apple TV.

Note: The $36 price goes up after 11:59 p.m. PST on October 13.

Whether you work or study on your Mac, Microsoft Office and its suite of apps, including Word, PowerPoint and Teams, is essential. Usually $349, you can set yourself up for life with the entire MS Office suite during our Deal Days event for $35.99. That’s an all-time low price for Microsoft Office.

Why is it so cheap? Our Deal Days sale is our version of Prime Day, which means it’s your chance to grab incredible deals on our most popular products. You’ll have to be quick, though, as these limited-time deals will only be around through October 12. You can check out the rest of the deals here.

The third-generation of Eve Light Switch adds support for Thread and will be updated with Matter, keeping it on the cutting edge of smarthome tech. The smartswitch continues to support Apple HomeKit.

It can be used as either a single-pole or 3-way switch.

The money Apple Card users get as a cash-back reward can go automatically into a savings account from Goldman Sachs, the same bank that backs the credit card.

The money saved will earn interest over time.

You may not consider the humble desk mat a necessity in your computer setup. But what if you could charge your smartphone and earbuds charging case just by placing them on your desk? You can with the new Alti Wireless Charging Desk Mat. Accessories maker Journey unveiled it Thursday.

“This charging mat is our all-in-one solution to keeping your desk clutter-free while simultaneously charging your devices. We promise that it will soon become your favorite desk companion,” the company said.

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In the fast-growing world of increasingly compact-yet-powerful gallium nitride (GaN) chargers, Ugreen is a player. The company has expanded its line of multiport chargers and recently sent me its Nexode 140W model to try out.

I found it potent, reasonably compact and a fine purchase for most people who need to charge laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices — especially if they can get it at the discount below, which makes it an exceptional value.

Microsoft and Apple are cooperating to enable the Windows 11 Photos app to access photos and videos from iCloud. In addition, the Apple Music and the Apple TV applications are also coming to Windows.

The Apple vs. Microsoft war is truly over.

You’ve probably used Microsoft Office before. More than a billion people have. However, using it and having lifetime access are two very different things. With a lifetime license to Office, you can rely on this software suite to manage things like your home budget (without a subscription cost eating into it).

For a limited time, we’ve got two-packs of lifetime licenses for Microsoft Office Home and Business for Mac 2021 and Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $69.99 each.

Apple announced a plethora of iOS 16 features at WWDC22. But not all of them made their way into the first public release of the OS in September. Some of them will arrive later this year or even in early 2023.

Check out this list of iOS 16 features that we are still waiting for.

Seven months after its launch, Apple has started selling refurbished Studio Display units through its Certified Refurbished Store in the U.S. The company announced the standalone monitor in March this year.

Apple’s Refurbished Store provides a great way to save money on Apple products. Prices for refurbished units are usually around 10-15 percent lower than MSRP.

If you spend a few hundred bucks or more on an Apple Watch, you may want to protect it. People put their iPhones in cases all the time, so why not Apple’s wearable?

Good thing SwitchEasy makes a pair of aluminum cases that are protective yet subtle, saving your smartwatch from bumps, scrapes and drops.

And through October 13, you can get 20% off the cases in the Cult of Mac Store.

The new Moft Snap Float Folio raises the bar on iPad cases that also function as stands. Literally. It can be folded to lift the the iPad screen up to 3.6 inches.

If that’s not enough, the case/strand also folds into five other configurations to allow the iPad to be used in different ways.

Design matters, and that doesn’t just apply to the phones you buy or the apps you depend on. The hand tools you regularly use can make or break your experience, and practically nothing exemplifies this more than your kitchen knives. A sharp knife may be intimidating, but it’s ultimately safer in the kitchen.

So if you’ve been looking for exceptional blades to round out your arsenal, consider these Seido knife sets. They bring great design into the kitchen. They feature forged high-carbon stainless steel blades with 15-degree cutting angles, which should hold a sharper edge longer than traditional stainless steel knives.

German airline Lufthansa is not banning Apple’s AirTags and similar tracking tags from checked luggage, the company said Wednesday.

“The German Aviation Authorities (Luftfahrtbundesamt) confirmed today, that they share our risk assessment, that tracking devices with very low battery and transmission power in checked luggage do not pose a safety risk,” a Lufthansa representative told Cult of Mac in an email Wednesday. “With that, these devices are allowed on Lufthansa flights.”

Although Apple TV+ is one of the few streaming services without commercials, the company is reportedly talking to media agencies about adding adverts to its shows.

If true, Apple is likely considering a cheaper ad-supported tier for TV+, not forcing all subscribers to watch commercials.

How many times have you watched the many-and-varied film-and-TV versions of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol? You know, Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, bad dreams, redemption. Well, if you haven’t heard, the story has once again clawed its way out of the grave.

Apple TV+ dropped a teaser trailer Wednesday for its new version, the comedy-musical Spirited set for release in theaters November 11 and on the streaming service November 18.

This time it looks like a contemporary take, with Ghost of Christmas Present Will Ferrell trying to drag corporate-executive-looking Ryan Reynolds into a vision that includes big dance numbers.