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Ray Liotta delivers the goods in this week’s gripping episode of Black Bird [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Black Bird recap: Veteran actor Ray Liotta, left, turns in a compelling performance in this week's episode.★★★
Veteran actor Ray Liotta, left, turns in a compelling performance in this week's episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+’s newest limited series Black Bird hits its stride in a strong third installment.

Prison guards and inmates hound undercover informer Jimmy Keene as he tries to get close to suspected serial killer Larry Hall. McCauley and Miller search for harder evidence as time slips away from them. And outside prison walls, Big Jim is in a bind that affects little Jim.

Black Bird still has a little ways to go to be truly great, but so far this is a promising look at guys at the end of their ropes looking for a way out of very bad circumstances that they brought on themselves.

Create mobile web pages in a flash with this easy-to-use software

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Create concise advertising materials without ever leaving your iPhone using this app.
Build and manage targeted microsites with no web design experience necessary.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Why spend dozens of hours or thousands of dollars building mobile websites to showcase your brand? Linkcard lets you quickly design one-page micro websites that are optimized for mobile and easy to share.

And for a limited time, a lifetime Linkcard Professional Plan is on sale for just $49.99 (regularly $478).

Humane’s upcoming iPhone-killer looks to be a projection device

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Humane's teaser video has a strong
Humane's teaser video has a strong "1984" vibe.
Photo: Humane

It looks like Humane’s upcoming iPhone-killer will be a laser-projection system after all, based on a cryptic teaser video that dropped Friday.

Humane is a San Francisco startup staffed with a glittering roster of ex-Apple talent, many of whom were instrumental in developing the original iPhone.

The company hasn’t yet announced its first product, but patents hint Humane is working on a smart, screenless device that projects information onto the environment around the user.

Physical needs to get a grip on its sexuality [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Physical recap: Things were looking up for a minute there.★★☆☆☆
Things were really looking up for a minute there.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Physical, Apple TV+’s death trip in spandex pumps the brakes to reconsider its priorities.

Aerobics star Sheila breaks her contract, reconnecting with Danny and Greta as she plots her next big move. But she remains selfish at heart, so nothing goes quite the way any of them had planned. Meanwhile, John and Maria plot one last attempt at salvation.

This week’s episode, titled “Don’t Try This at Home,” delivers some of the highest highs of the season, but still manages to blow a commanding lead in the home stretch.

Stop dropping your iPhone 13 with this lanyard case [Review]

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SwitchEasy Odyssey 3-in-1 Lanyard Shockproof Case review
This SwitchEasy Odyssey lanyard case helps keeps you from dropping your iPhone. And it protects your handset if it somehow goes tumbling to the ground.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

The SwitchEasy Odyssey 3-in-1 Lanyard Shockproof Case protects an iPhone 13 in two ways. A removable strap helps you keep hold of the device, and the case is designed to absorb the shock if you drop your handset anyway.

I put my own iPhone in this hard case to see how it stood up to real-world use. Here’s why there’s a lot to like about it.

Why you should avoid the base model M2 MacBook Air

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Why you should avoid the base model M2 MacBook Air
The base model M2 MacBook Air is reportedly slower than

Those in the market for a M2 MacBook Air should be aware that the base model with 256GB of storage reportedly will have slower performance when moving large files and when multitasking than versions of the new laptop with more storage capacity.

Apple says real world performance isn’t affected, but benchmarks show the base model is slower even than its M1 predecessor for some tasks.

Cable management doesn’t have to be a horrible chore [Setups]

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"Cables? What cables?" asked one commenter.
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes you see a pristine computer setup flaunted on social media and you think, how is that even real? Is it staged? Is it a render? At the very least, it looks like they left out all the cables for the photograph. But that’s not necessarily the case.

A lot of us live with messy setups, in part due to cable clutter. But neatening things up doesn’t have to be next-to impossible, as today’s featured Mac mini setup demonstrates.

If Loot gets any nicer, it’s going to go full Ted Lasso [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

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Loot recap: A gala turns into a team-building affair this week.★★☆☆
A gala turns into a team-building affair this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Loot crew dons black tie and tails for a humanitarian gala this week. Billionaire divorcee Molly is being honored, hit on and insulted all at once. Arthur is starstruck. Howard is in crisis. And Nicholas is just happy to be in a tuxedo surrounded by rich people again.

The Apple TV+ comedy swings hard for big moments of personal empowerment through kindness and self-respect. That’s all well and good, but I came to this show for something a little more caustic.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs’ Apple turnaround continues

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Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
This is when we should have invested every cent in Apple stock.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

July 15: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs' Apple turnaround continues with third profitable quarter July 15, 1998: Apple reports its third profitable quarter after the return of Steve Jobs, continuing the company’s remarkable turnaround.

Cupertino earns $101 million for the quarter, largely thanks to the success of the Power Mac G3. In the same quarter a year earlier, Apple lost $56 million. This marks the first time in three years that the company managed three straight profitable quarters.

Pay just $15 for Windows 10 Pro lifetime license, or $28 for Office, in July Shopping Sale

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For great deals on software, head over to Keysbuff.com.
For great deals on software, head over to Keysbuff.com.
Photo: Keysbuff

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

The July Shopping Sale at software activation keys provider Keysbuff.com lets you score 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.

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.

Apple Music Sessions capture exclusive live performances

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Tenille Townes – Apple Music Sessions capture exclusive live performances
Tenille Townes performed at Apple Music’s state-of-the-art studios in Nashville.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple Music Sessions are newly recorded live tracks and videos available only on Apple’s streaming music service. The recordings will be from current stars and emerging artists.

Sessions are starting off in Nashville with Carrie Underwood, Tenille Townes and others, but Apple promises to expand to other music genres soon.

M1 Max MacBook Pro drops to its lowest-ever price

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Some MacBook Pro wait times already stretch nearly to Christmas
Get your hands on the M1 Max MacBook Pro with a massive $250 discount.
Photo: Apple

Missed out on buying the 16-inch MacBook Pro for Prime Day? Worry not, as Amazon is still offering a whopping $250 off on the lineup.

The deal drops the price of the entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro to just $2,249 — down from $2,499. A similar discount is also available on the more powerful M1 Max model, dropping its price to a new low.

Write prose like the pros with this powerful writing app

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Try out this Mac and iOS compatible writing app to find the word on the tip of your tongue.
This might be the right type of writing app for you, and it works on Mac and iOS.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you need to get some writing done, your MacBook screen can suddenly seem full of fascinating distractions. Even looking up a word can leave you 10 links deep down an internet rabbit hole you never planned on diving into.

Using a dedicated writing app like MasterWriter can help keep you on task. And its robust reference tools make it fast and easy to find the perfect words and phrases to express your thoughts.

For a limited time, MasterWriter’s two-year Creative Writer plan is on sale for $99 (regularly $149).

Americans and Russians spar on Mars, this week on For All Mankind [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

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For All Mankind recap: Looks like we made it to Mars.★★☆☆
Looks like we made it.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+’s For All Mankind finally made it to Mars! Still, it’s pretty much business as usual this week, what with Americans and Russians bickering and making back-alley deals, and men being boorish and short-tempered and proud of nothing.

On Earth, U.S. President Ellen Wilson must deal with gays in the military right on schedule. And on Mars, Danny’s going nuts, Ed and his adopted daughter Kelly meet, and the Russians find water — and vodka!

A perfectly OK episode of the alt-history space show is made all the more frustrating by its flashes of greatness.

M2 MacBook Air now available for in-store pickup

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Apple keeps up with rush of M2 MacBook Air preorders
Time to pick up your M2 MacBook Air from your nearest Apple Store.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new M2 MacBook Air is now arriving for preorder customers in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. It will also be available for in-store pickup starting today in most major markets of the world.

Apple’s svelte M2 MacBook Air has received rave reviews for its excellent performance and long battery life.

Take your setup to the next level with custom lighting

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Give your room the hue-man touch with these gorgeous LED corner lamps.
These minimalist floor lamps pack maximalist color, and it's your last chance to get them at special Deal Days pricing.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The right lamp can help you see your home in a new light. Whether you’re trying to match a specific aesthetic to make your setup shine or want your home to feel like an extension of you, you can customize your lighting with one addition: The Lamp Depot Minimalist LED Corner Floor Lamp.

It lets light your home with more than 16 million color options. And it’s discounted to $59.99 during our Deal Days sale, which ends today.

Go to the dark side with special-edition Nanoleaf Shapes smart lights

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See the special-edition all-black Shapes turned off, at left, and turned on, at right.
See the special-edition all-black Shapes turned off, at left, and turned on, at right.
Photo: Nanoleaf

Celebrating its “10-year Nanoversary,” Nanoleaf put out a special edition of its Shapes smart-lighting panels. It’s a new all -black color option: Ultra Black Shapes Triangles.

Like the other colors, the new set works with HomeKit as part of your smart-home lighting.

iPhone 14 is on track for early fall launch

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New renders show iPhone 14 in all its purported purple glory
iPhone 14 is moving ahead
Concept: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo

The iPhone 14 is reportedly already in the test production phase. That puts Apple’s next-gen smartphone on schedule to launch in September, as expected.

But, in a separate report, an industry analyst warns that one version of the 2022 iPhone may be in short supply when it launches.

Apple TV+ taps Clintons for docuseries about Gutsy women

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In new Apple TV+ docuseries Gutsy, Chelsea and Hillary Clinton will interview women that inspire them.
New docuseries Gutsy puts Chelsea and Hillary Clinton in the driver's seat.
Photo: Apple TV+

In new Apple TV+ documentary series Gutsy, Hillary Rodham Clinton and her daughter Chelsea Clinton will interview women the pair find inspirational.

The eight-part docuseries, based on the Clintons’ bestseller The Book of Gutsy Women, will premiere September 9, Apple said Thursday in a press release.

Bring your 2010 Mac back to life with Chrome OS Flex

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Chrome OS Flex turns 2009 MacBook into a useful computer again
Transform your old Mac into a Chromebook with Chrome OS Flex
Photo: Google

Google’s Chrome OS Flex is now ready to revive Macs that are too elderly to run the latest macOS version. That includes models as far back as 2010. It turns the Mac into a Chromebook, but at least it’s an up-to-date one.

The free OS is targeted at businesses and schools, but it might become a way for individuals to bring some new life to their obsolete Macs.

OWC’s Mac mini-size Thunderbolt hub also adds terabytes of storage [Review] ★★★★★

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OWC MiniStack STX★★★★★
The OWC MiniStack STX is designed to stack with a Mac mini and add ports and storage capacity.
Photo: OWC

The OWC MiniStack STX is just the right size to stack with a Mac mini. The hub adds three Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports that can be hooked to high-resolution displays and external drives.

It also includes bays for SATA and/or NVMe M.2 drives. That’s space for up to 18TB of storage. Install your own drives or buy them from OWC.

I put the powerful accessory for Mac or iPad to the test over several weeks of daily use.

M2 MacBook Air review roundup: The fast and the beauteous

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M2 MacBook Air review roundup: The fast and the beauteous
The first reviews of the M2 MacBook Air are very positive.
Photo: Apple

The first reviews of the M2 MacBook Air praise its slimmer design and speedy M2 processor. “Apple’s near-perfect Mac,” says Engadget.

Sometimes reviews are a mix of positives and negatives. Not this time – reviewers found very little to criticize in Apple’s newest notebook.

Don’t miss this slashed price on a stylish, high-carbon chef’s knife

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It's your last chance for a chef's knife that's a cut above for sheared off prices.
Act now to save big on this stunning chef's knife.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re a wizard in the kitchen or a novice at the countertop, one tool you should definitely own is a quality chef’s knife. If you’re in the market for a razor-sharp blade that will keep its edge and become a statement piece for your kitchen, check out the Kiru Knife Kitchen Master 8-inch Chef Knife.

This is your last chance to purchase this high-carbon steel blade at a Deal Days price. It’s only $69.99, but this deal ends Thursday.

With Jony Ive gone, Apple’s design team deserves more glory

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Apple's Industrial Design team at the Apple Watch unveiling.
Apple's Industrial Design team at the Apple Watch unveiling.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Now that Jony Ive and Apple have finally severed ties completely, it’s time for Cupertino’s current Industrial Design team to get the recognition it deserves.

Ive’s old Industrial Design team at Apple has been doing stellar work in his absence, but without getting the full credit. As long as Ive was still an Apple consultant, the credit was muddied: Was this Ive’s work or someone else’s?

It’s your last chance for Deal Days prices on hidden camera detectors

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Uncover the truth with this 2-pack of hidden camera detectors.
Final call for a two-pack of Scout Hidden Camera Detectors at Deal Days pricing.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Hidden cameras are frighteningly common in travel lodgings like Airbnb or hotels, but sometimes you can’t tell if you’re being watched. That’s where the Scout Hidden Camera Detector comes in.

This point-and-shoot hidden camera detector can tell you if that mantle teddy bear is hiding something nefarious inside. For a limited time, you can get one Scout Hidden Camera Detector for $49.99. Or you could use your last chance to purchase a two-pack for the Deal Days price of $99.99.