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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are you willing to spend more for iPhone 14? Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iPhone 14 could cost $100 more than iPhone 13 due to an increase in component costs across Apple’s supply chain, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
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.
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.
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.
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!
★★☆☆☆
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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+ 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.
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.