If you’re at all into audio equipment, you’ve probably heard of a digital-to-analog converter, or DAC. You might think it’s a fancy thing for rich audiophiles. But, actually, even you already have a few DACs if you have gadgets that make sound, like a computer, tablet and smartphone.

But not every DAC is created equal. Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup illustrates the point by going to the trouble of adding a standalone DAC in between a laptop and a pair of excellent powered speakers.

AirFly 2 from Twelve South can wirelessly connect your AirPods to any audio jack, like its predecessor. But the new version has a longer battery life, adds new volume controls and more. And it even costs less.

It joins other AirFly versions that offer additional capabilities.

The Moft Flash Wallet & Stand magnetically clings to your iPhone, giving you a place to hold your ID while also acting as a kickstand whereever you need one.

I’ve used the wallet/stand for several weeks. Here’s how it stands up in everyday life.

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

The Autumn Sale at software activation keys provider SCDKey.com offers fantastic deals on crucial Microsoft software. Better yet, as a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get an even better deal on Windows 10. Plus, you can score big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software.

To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at SDKey.com. That will take an extra 25% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

The National Football League brokered a multiyear deal with Apple to bring the Apple Music ​Super Bowl Halftime Show to one of the world’s biggest stages, the league said Friday.

The new halftime show debuts at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, February 12, 2023. But most details about it have yet to take the field.

Carrying a separate Apple Watch charger proves annoying when you travel. Save space in your bag or on your nightstand with this three-in-one Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone charging cable. It comes with two Lightning tips and one Apple Watch charging puck.

Connect it to a power source, and it can charge an Apple Watch, an iPhone and AirPods all at once. And it’s not just convenient. It’s colorful and inexpensive! Get one in gray, blue, white or red for $16.99 each.

New Apple TV+ documentary Sidney tells the story of the great actor and activist Sidney Poitier. Filmed just before his death in January 2022, the film delivers a gripping, first-person chronicle of a man discovering himself, finding his talent, and divining the character of the country he called home.

Irreplaceable guests like Greg Tate, Spike Lee and Harry Belafonte join Poitier to recount his life and times in the excellent Sidney, from director Reginald Hudlin and producer Oprah Winfrey.

The Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 are now on sale in more than 30 markets globally. The Ultra is the largest Apple Watch yet, while the new AirPods offer better sound and stronger noise cancellation than the originals.

Apple announced these products at its Far Out event on September 7, and started accepting preorders for the second-gen AirPods Pro immediately afterward. The Apple Watch Ultra went up for preorder alongside the new iPhones later that week. Now customers are receiving them, and the products are in stores.

Want to add a high-paying skill to your resume? Learning to code is one of the best options for landing a lucrative job. And you can master those skills from home, at your own pace, with the 2023 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle.

The 14-part collection is currently on sale for just $39.99 (regularly $2,786).

Apple introduced iOS 16.0.2 on Thursday. The update takes care of problems that have made headlines, and irritated iPhone users, since the original debuted in early September.

The new version is available to be downloaded and installed now.

The Satechi USB-4 Multiport Adapter with 2.5G Ethernet brings a significant speed boost over typical 1Gbps networking connections.

And that’s just the start. The USB-C hub has a range of other ports, including HDMI, USB-A and more.

Simple. Elegant. These are the best words to describe the Speidel Royal English Leather Apple Watch Band. Supple black leather matches the style of Apple’s wearable, while adding a luxurious feel.

And it’s surprisingly affordable, given the quality of this band.

When the Apple Watch Ultra launches September 23 there’ll be a software update waiting for it. Apple on Thursday released watchOS 9.0.1 specifically to fix bugs in the new wearable.

Other Apple Watch models are expected to get their own update in the near future.

Yale, long known for its old-school locks, updated its Assure smart lock series Thursday. In addition to being 30% smaller than the original Assure smart locks, the new Assure Lock 2 models work with HomeKit and Siri voice control.

You can get Apple’s 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro with a staggering $399.01 discount. The deal brings the price of the machine down to $2,099.99.

This is among the lowest prices ever for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Note that the listing only shows a discount of $300, with the additional $99.01 off automatically applied at checkout.

Reviews of Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) are rolling in. The overwhelming consensus? The design is only slightly changed from the first-generation buds, but almost everything else is improved, with a few minor caveats.

They’re better than the original where it counts most: Higher sound quality, stronger ANC, more controls, longer battery life and an improved wireless charging case.

In short, given that the wildly popular AirPods Pro launched way back in 2019, it’s time for an upgrade for most people.

Vinyl is alive and well, and the Victrola Stream Carbon is a high-end turntable designed for homes with Sonos speakers. The record player wirelessly connects, and is controllable through the Sonos app.

Carbon is the first in multiple new products coming in the Stream turntable line.

The new Courant Mag:2 stands out from the crowd of iPhone charging stands with an elegant, sweeping design. Place the handset on the elevated charging disk and it is ready for video calls while the battery is being replenished.

And a separate charging mat powers up an AirPods charging case.

There’s no better time than fall and winter to cozy up indoors with a great new game … or three. For Xbox gamers, the ultimate way to do that is with Xbox Live Gold. For a limited time, you can purchase three months of Xbox Live Gold for only $19.99 (regularly $24.99)

J.P. Morgan analysts believe Apple could move 25% of iPhone production to India by 2025. The Cupertino giant has already moved a part of iPhone, iPad, and MacBook production outside China in recent years.

Apple is diversifying its supply chain and wants to reduce its reliance on China as a production hub.

Is it worth buying a full-size camera these days? The reasons to do so grow smaller and smaller as smartphone cameras get better and better. It’s getting to the point where you have to spend a thousand dollars or more for a full-frame camera to take noticeably better pictures than your iPhone.

Even then, a dedicated camera still won’t automatically sync your pictures to iCloud and might not tag your pictures with location data. And then you have to buy lenses — and full-size camera lenses are expensive.

What if, instead of buying a different camera, you could add lenses and accessories for your iPhone that fill in the missing gaps? You could get the same versatility with the same convenience.

When discussing Apple products, the focus typically tends to be on the future. Talk of upcoming Apple products can be particularly engaging, but the company’s past innovations still warrant appreciation — and many are still quite useful.

That’s especially the case if you’re looking to join the Apple ecosystem on a budget. During our Refurbished Event, you can purchase a 13.3-inch MacBook Air from 2015 for only $250.

The Leather Apple AirTag Cat Collar from Nine Twenty Eight gives you some peace of mind that you’ll be able to find your pet if she ever sneaks outside your home. And it’s well-made and looks good, whatever color you choose.

I tried the tracking collar on my own fuzzy friend. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.

Ted Lasso‘s AFC Richmond will be fully integrated into Electronic Arts’ FIFA 23 when it kicks off later in September. Lasso, Coach Beard and the biggest stars of the hit Apple TV+ show have all been digitized.

Mac, iPad and iPhone users will be able to play the upcoming sports title though Google Stadia cloud-gaming service.

Fancy buying AirPods Max but finding them too expensive? Amazon’s latest deal knocks $120 off Apple’s premium noise-canceling headphones.

After the discount, you can get AirPods Max for just $429 instead of paying the list price of $549.