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First public betas for iOS 16, macOS Ventura arrive

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First public betas for iOS 16, macOS Ventura arrive
Just can't wait to try the new iOS 16 Lock screen or Stage Manger in macOS Ventura? Now is your chance.
Photo: Apple

Anyone who wants to can now install a beta of iOS 16, macOS Ventura, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9 or tvOS 16. Until now, these have been reserved for developers.

Those who are interested should take care: these are still fairly early betas. They have bugs and are not recommended for devices that will be used daily.

Apple TV 4K hits lowest price ever

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The current Siri Remote was an improvement on its predecessor.
Apple TV 4K at 32GB and 64GB are both at best-ever prices right now.
Photo: Apple

Amazon Prime Day runs officially on Tuesday and Wednesday, but many deals, including bargains on Apple gear, tend to creep in early.

Earlier today it was Apple Watch 7 hitting a new low price, and now it’s Apple TV 4K — now at its lowest price ever on Amazon.

Production woes result in severe drop in Mac shipments

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Apple Final Cut Pro updated for latest M1 processors
Shipments fell far short of demand for the Mac Studio this spring.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s struggle to get computers assembled in China during COVID lockdowns this spring had the expected result: Mac shipments dropped 22.5% in the spring quarter of 2022, according to a market-research firm.

At least company execs can take solace from the fact that this is not a demand problem. Consumers want to buy Macs but Apple can’t supply them.

New Jya Fjord purifier for HomeKit lets you clear the air with Nordic flair

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The new Jya Fjord and Fjord Pro air purifiers support HomeKit.
The new Jya Fjord and Fjord Pro air purifiers support HomeKit.
Photo: Jya

If you’re looking for a HomeKit-enabled air purifier that can handle large rooms, you have a new option: SmartMi launched its new brand Jya and its Fjord air purifier.

It joins SmartMi’s two existing HomeKit air purifiers, but it features more of a “Nordic” aesthetic and is designed for larger rooms, the company said.

New Studio Display gives LG 4K monitor the boot [Setups]

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Another satisfied customer: New Studio Display pairs with an M1 MacBook Air and a homemade keyboard.
Another satisfied customer: New Studio Display pairs with an M1 MacBook Air (not shown) and a homemade keyboard.
Photo: Asleep_Painting6103

Another week, another bunch of new Studio Displays shipped. They’re cropping up in Setups far and wide as replacements for until-recently-good-enough 4K monitors by the likes of LG and Dell.

Today’s featured M1 MacBook Air setup runs a new Studio Display in place of a 4K LG screen. And for input devices, the user opts for a Magic Trackpad over a mouse, using it with a pretty nifty homemade mechanical keyboard.

M2 MacBook Air benchmarks show it’s plenty fast

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WWDC22: The new M2 MacBook Air gets a MagSafe charger.
The M2 MacBook was unveiled in June at WWDC22.
Photo: Apple

The first benchmark scores for the upcoming MacBook Air with an Apple M2 processor confirm that the device offers a considerable speed boost over the M1-powered version.

However, performance comes in well behind MacBook Pros with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

Take stunning selfies without touching your iPhone using this little drone

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This drone is great for pictures.
During Deal Days, you can get a drone that snaps selfies of you as it flies.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There are only so many ways you can hold your iPhone and smile. If your selfie game is starting to feel dull, there might be a fly-by solution that can capture candid photos from angles your elbows couldn’t dream of.

The Air Neo Selfie Camera Drone can snap pictures of you automatically while it zooms around. And during Deal Days, it’s on sale for only $129.99 (regularly $159) — no coupon code required.

Why Twitterrific is the best Twitter client for iOS and iPadOS [Awesome Apps]

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Sleek design, power features, no promoted tweets ... what more could you want?
Sleek design, power features, no promoted tweets ... what more could you want?
Image: Joe White/Cult of Mac

Twitter might be going through a turbulent time, but for many of us in the tech community, it remains our de facto town square — a place where we can meet to share our views, opinions and hopes.

Like most of us here at Cult of Mac, I’ve been using Twitter for years. And although I’ve switched between clients more than a handful of times, my favorite Twitter app is Twitterrific.

In fact, I’d even say that Twitterrific is the best Twitter client for iPhone and iPad. Stick around to find out why.

Apple’s cheaper AR/MR headset might arrive in 2025

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Apple VR/AR headset takes big step toward production
Wait until 2025 if you want don't want to spend a bomb on Apple's AR headset.
Concept: Martin Hajek/Computer Bild

Apple’s second-generation AR/MR headset could debut in 2025 with a more affordable price tag than the original. The company seemingly plans to launch two different variants of the headset to target consumers with different budgets.

Apple’s first-generation mixed reality headset is currently expected to launch in the first half of 2023.

Get Sam’s Club Plus for extra savings on tech, travel and more

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You're not seeing double — this Sam's Club Plus membership just gives you a second card for the house.
Sam's Club always offers great deals, but you can save even more with a Plus membership.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you’re planning your next vacation, is Sam’s Club the first place you think to look for deals on hotels? What about when you need to get your eyes checked, or need to fill a prescription?

If not, maybe it’s time to revisit how you think of Sam’s. During our Deal Days Sale, you can get a Sam’s Club Plus Membership for 50% off at only $50. And you might be surprised by how much you can save with an enhanced membership to the popular warehouse club.

Bluetti Prime Day offers great deals on power products

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Amazon Prime Day features big deals on Bluetti power products this year.
Amazon Prime Day features big deals on Bluetti power products this year.
Photo: Bluetti

This post is brought to you by Bluetti.

If you’re wondering when Amazon Prime Day is this year, heads up — it’s Tuesday and Wednesday of this week! So you can look forward to price cuts from national brands and small businesses across virtually every category.

Taking a cue from the retail giant, power products maker Bluetti is calling its big annual shopping event “Bluetti Prime Day” on those same dates, July 12 and 13.

You can find the best deals at www.bluettipower.com on solar power stations, solar panels, various accessories and more. We link to the best deals below.

My, what a big screen your ‘rugged’ Apple Watch has [The CultCast]

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The CultCast: What, exactly, will the rumored rugged Apple Watch look like?
What, exactly, will the rumored rugged Apple Watch look like?
Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: This could be the year Apple Watch goes large … and rugged … and maybe long. Like, long enough to track the kind of intense, multi-hour workouts that “extreme sports athletes” engage in.

So the question is, what will this beefier (and pricier) Apple Watch look like? We can’t help letting our imaginations run a little wild.

Also on The CultCast:

  • iOS 16 features that will keep us all waiting.
  • Apple’s new Lockdown Mode sounds super-serious.
  • The White House honors Steve Jobs with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • The dreaded pukerang!

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 livestream, embedded below.

Our sponsor: Squarespace

Special thanks to this week’s sponsor, Squarespace. Get all the tools you need to set up your very own website and commence selling anything online. Start your free website trial today at squarespace.com/cultcast (no credit card required). Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code cultcast at checkout.

Don’t miss this PlayStation Plus deal — only $55 for a full year

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Amazon can't top this deal for a year of PS Plus for only $55.
A year of PlayStation Plus Essential only costs $55 during Deal Days.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A 12-month subscription to PlayStation Plus Essential gets you access to an ever-growing collection of games, plus other perks you’ll love. And during our Deal Days Sale, you can get it for only $55 — no coupon code needed.

But if you want in on this hot gaming deal, you’d better move fast. The sale ends July 14!

For All Mankind finally makes it to Mars, and it’s depressing [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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For All Mankind recap: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner in the race to Mars.★★☆☆☆
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner in the race to Mars.
Photo: Apple TV+

In “Seven Minutes of Terror,” Apple TV+ alt-history space race show For All Mankind returns this week to where it left off last season, with America and Russia once more holding hands begrudgingly to fix some space problems.

Ed and Karen have the same trouble with authority. Danny’s cracking up. Margo’s head is in a noose. Kelly’s got a crush. And Sojourner 1 suffers from a serious a problem.

Behind the scenes, WALL-E helmer Andrew Stanton directs this week. His brand of post-classical Hollywood craftsmanship is much appreciated, if also a sad sign of where we are as a country.

Golf every day on your Apple TV with a SwingLogic simulator

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The only thing missing is a golf cart with this home golf simulator.
Hit the green without forking over much green. This golf sim is on sale for a limited time.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Golf, as much as you might love it, proves a bit time-consuming. Even if it’s your favorite way to spend a day, you probably don’t always have time to head out to the course to play a full 18 holes.

But your favorite hobby doesn’t need to include lengthy drive time — just a big screen and a little one. During our Deal Days Sale, you can get the SwingLogic SLX MicroSim home golf simulator for just $169.99 (regularly $249) no coupon code needed. Deal ends July 14, 2022.

New magnetic sleeve is a perfect fit for M2 MacBook Air

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Get the optional strap and the sleeve becomes a shoulder bag.
Get the optional strap and the sleeve becomes a shoulder bag.
Photo: WaterField Designs

Got a new 13-inch M2 MacBook Air in need of some stylish protection? WaterField Designs just unveiled its new Magnetic Laptop Sleeve. It’s custom-fitted to that ultralight laptop.

The sleeve, made of waxed canvas in four color choices, offers serious protection, too.

And if you preorder one soon enough, you can get special early-bird gift. See below.

Apple keeps up with rush of M2 MacBook Air preorders

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Apple keeps up with rush of M2 MacBook Air preorders
You'll probably have to wait for the M2 MacBook Air, but not more than a couple weeks.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Preorders for the svelte new M2 MacBook Air began early Friday morning and Apple is mostly keeping up with demand. There’s even one standard configuration still available for delivery on the July 15 launch day. The base model can be delivered a few days after that.

Build up the specs and the wait time can stretch out to August. But no farther than that.

New iPhone 14 case leak supports rumor of ‘Plus’ model

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This lineup of purported iPhone 14 cases shows a
This lineup of purported iPhone 14 cases shows a "Plus" non-Pro model.
Photo: DuanRui@Twitter

A photograph said to show leaked iPhone 14 cases supports the widespread idea that the series will feature four models and bigger camera bumps. And it appears to show a case for a large, non-Pro handset that may be called “iPhone 14 Plus.”

If this holds up at launch in a couple of months, the two smaller models will be iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro and the two bigger models will be iPhone 14 Plus (or Max) and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Loot needs a spark to elevate it beyond the common sitcom [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Loot recap: Someone needs a spa day!★★★☆☆
Someone needs a spa day!
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ comedy Loot takes a spa day today as Molly tries to relive her old lifestyle without her old life, and the rest of the office bonds over shared drinks and massages. Arthur and Molly think about each other more than friends do, but everywhere she goes reminds her of the life she lost to a younger model.

The show continues to make good inroads on character dynamics. However, Loot needs a little electricity in the writing to keep it from feeling like just another sitcom.

Apple Arcade collection of classic games adds something for everyone

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Visit alien worlds in 'Samorost 3+'
The "wonderfully weird" Samorost 3+ is the latest App Store Great to join Apple Arcade.
Screenshot: Amanita Design

Apple Arcade offers many original games, but the collection also includes quite a few App Store Greats: classic titles that have joined Apple’s gaming service. Recent additions include Samorost 3+, My Bowling 3D+, Jigsaw Puzzle+ and Pro Darts 2022+.

They join dozen of other classic games that players used to have to pay to play individually but are now all available with a single Apple Arcade subscription.

Tiny apartment benefits from beautifully backlit Studio Display [Setups]

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This cozy corner benefits from Philips Hue Play light bars behind the Studio Display.
This cozy corner benefits from Philips Hue Play light bars behind the Studio Display.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured M1 Pro MacBook workstation has a new Studio Display with bias lighting, illuminating the wall behind the display. It comes from three strategically placed Philips Hue Play bars that really make that corner of the small apartment “pop.”

Apple TV+ nabs record 53 Hollywood Critics Association Awards nominations

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Apple TV+ will clean up at this year's Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
Apple TV+ will clean up at this year's Hollywood Critics Association Awards.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ garnered a record 53 nominations for 16 shows across a range of genres — comedy, drama, documentary, anthology series, variety-sketch series — for the upcoming Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

Psychological thriller Severance and comedy Ted Lasso led the way with a dozen nominations apiece.

July Flash Sale: Buy lifetime genuine Windows 10 for $13 and save up to 90%!

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For great deals on software, head over to Keysbuff.com.
For great deals on software, head over to Keysbuff.com and use promo code "COM."
Photo: Keysbuff

This post on discount Microsoft software is brought to you by Keysbuff.

In a July Flash Sale, software activation keys provider Keysbuff.com offers great deals on Microsoft products. Cult of Mac readers can hit the links below and save big on Windows 10 — and uncover significant savings on lots of other Microsoft software, too.

If bargains like that sound good, just 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.