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New Soundcore sport ANC earbuds: Good fit for fit people [Review] ★★★★☆

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It's not difficult to get used to those rotating ear hooks.★★★★☆
It's not difficult to get used to those rotating ear hooks.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Ever have an earbud fall out of your sweaty ear at the gym? I lost a somewhat pricey product that way once. And if you lose one of them, you’re probably not going to use the other one, even if it’s designed for occasional solo use.

The new Soundcore Sport X10 True-Wireless Earbuds, released Tuesday, aim to put an end to wayward earbuds.

Anker sent me a pair of the earbuds to try, along with instructions for using the Soundcore app for them in beta. Below, I’ll get into why I found the new product to be an excellent value at $79.99.

Add a trio of hi-res monitors to your Mac with Plugable’s new desktop dock

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Add three hi-res monitors to your Mac with Plugable's new desktop dock
You can add three screens to your Mac (even M1 and M2 ones) with the Plugable UD-ULTC4K.
Photo: Plugable

While the Plugable UD-ULTC4K doesn’t have a very exciting name, the USB-C hub does boast a whopping 13 ports. It can add up to three high-res external displays to a Mac, plus USB-A accessories, Ethernet and more.

It’s an improved version of a popular model that first launched back in 2017.

Philips Hue expands smart-lighting lineup for HomeKit

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The new track-lighting system opens up many customization options.
The new track-lighting system opens up many customization options.
Photo: Philips Hue

Signify said Tuesday it plans to expand its Philips Hue smart lighting range with the addition of track lighting, a new dimmer and scene-selection switch, and its first portable indoor-outdoor rechargeable lamp, among other items.

Philips Hue products support HomeKit via the Hue Bridge. The new options will launch during the summer, the company said.

Triple-threat charging station folds flat for travel

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This 3-in-1 wireless charger powers up all Apple devices.
This compact charger can handle iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Why settle for a boring charging stand that is so big it becomes a permanent fixture on your desk or nightstand? This fast, space-saving charging station looks like something out Tron. It juices up three Apple devices at once, and folds flat so you can take it on the road easily.

The Charge & Fold 3-in-1 Docking Station will charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously. And while similar multi-device chargers can cost a fortune, this one’s on sale for just $35.99 (regularly $119).

Apple’s Automatic Verification will help us escape from annoying CAPTCHAs

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Apple Automatic Verification will help save us from CAPTCHA hassles
Apple users may be freed from CAPTCHA.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple developed Automatic Verification to let iPhone, Mac and iPad users bypass those irritating CAPTCHA image tests that websites use to confirm that someone is a human and not a bot.

Cloudflare and Fastly, big cloud computing companies that power tons of websites, are already on board to adopt the new system.

Turn your iPhone into a color-matching machine with this impressive sensor

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This color sensor is a hue-ge help for painters.
Match any real-world color in an instant with this tiny sensor.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your walls might not be the color they used to be. Even if you know the exact color and brand of paint, natural fading can make it hard to paint over the daily dings a home tends to endure.

Instead of searching for a color you remember, find the actual color of your walls (and pretty much anything else) with the Nix Mini. It’s a portable color sensor that quickly scans virtually any surface and tells you exactly what color it is, complete with paint suggestions.

For a limited time, this little gadget is on sale for $83.95 (regularly $99).

Apple TV+ sci-fi drama For All Mankind rockets to popularity

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‘For All Mankind’ season 3 rockets to Mars this June on Apple TV+
'For All Mankind' is one of the most popular shows on streaming.
Photo: Apple TV+

For All Mankind is one of the most popular shows available on streaming, according to a ratings tracker. Season three of the alternate-history sci-fi series premiered on Apple TV+ in early June, and it’s been a Top 10 show both weeks since then.

Critics praise the series, too, so it’s doubly a success for Apple’s streaming service.

Last chance: Buy one, get one free on all Laut Apple accessories

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Laut's iPad Pro folio is a handsome case and stand.
Laut's iPad Pro folio is a handsome case and stand.
Photo: Laut

Father’s Day sales are drawing to a close, but one of the Cult of Mac Store’s promotions extends to the end of Monday. There’s still time to enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free offer from Laut on all of its Apple accessories. They have many kinds of cases, stands for iPads and MacBooks, Apple Watch bands and more, including plenty of fun stuff.

So Laut’s buy-one-get-one-free promotion on 79 Apple accessories in the Cult of Mac Store runs through the end of Monday. There’s just several hours to go, so shop away!

You can see some prime choices below.

Apple’s clever Escape From the Office ad hits YouTube top 10

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Apple’s clever 'Escape from the Office' ad hits YouTube top 10
Escape from the Office is more than an ad for Apple products. It's fun and aspirational.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple successfully created an extended video advertisement that people want to watch. Escape From the Office made it on YouTube’s own most most popular global ads of the past year.

It’s about a group who sets out to create a small business after ditching corporate life. They use Apple products, of course, but that’s not truly the focus.

Get busy with 4 great apps on World Productivity Day

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Setapp has great productivity apps for macOS and iOS.
Setapp has great productivity apps for macOS and iOS.
Photo: [email protected]

A subscription service might not sound like a great way to get your apps, but don’t sell it short. Many folks find subscribing to Setapp is an easy and worthwhile way to get more than 200 apps that help with a variety of tasks — and that someone else has already curated.

After all, the main alternative is diving into the vast app ocean of the App Store. Good luck finding just what you need in there before you drown.

In honor of World Productivity Day — that’s right, at least try to look busy on June 20 — we take a look at some of Setapp’s great tools.

Epic OLED smart TV and pro audio gear distract from wrong-color keyboard [Setups]

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Would you have gone with a darker-colored keyboard? Which one?
Would you have gone with a darker-colored keyboard? Which one?
Photo: [email protected]

Will you rue the day you choose the wrong color peripherals? Will you ask strangers on social media to help you fix the problem? The owner of today’s striking M1 MacBook Air-based computer setup did just that.

But if you ask us, they could just take solace in the setup’s strengths. Those include an epic OLED smart TV and some top-shelf, professional-level audio gear, plus a cool Edison desk lamp.

But we’ll share some good advice we saw about the keyboard issue. Read more below.

Try these 6 great utility and productivity apps for Mac

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Many apps can make using your MacBook or iMac even easier, as well as more productive.
Many apps can make using your MacBook or iMac even easier, as well as more productive.
Photo: Apple

Want more out of your Mac? These six suggestions for solid software are presented by our friends at SaaSGenius.

Though many of us associate the wide world of apps with our iPhones and iPads, they’re crucial for making the most of your MacBook or iMac, too. The best Mac apps can help you expand on your Mac’s capabilities in fun and interesting ways.

Macs are famously easy to use, but great apps make them even easier. And the right apps can jack up your productivity, too. Sometimes the only trouble is finding the best ones.

The list below covers some of our favorite apps to install on a new Mac. Some are free in the App Store (available in your Mac’s Dock or under the Apple menu at top left of your screen). Others you can download from developers’ websites.

Charge your Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone with this 3-in-1 cable

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Give this 3-in-1 Apple charger a tri.
Three heads are better than one with this Apple Watch charging cable.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re on the move, you likely don’t want to carry a different charger for every device. If you want to spare some outlet space and cut down on cords you’re carrying, try out this 3-in-1 Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone charging cable.

It comes with two Lightning tips and a magnetic puck for charging your Apple Watch. Connect it to a high-quality power source (like this 65W GaN charger from Ugreen), and you can juice up three devices at once.

Sound convenient? Now’s the time to pick up one or two of these hassle-busting cables. They are on sale now for just $24.99 (regularly $34).

Apple store workers vote to unionize

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Apple Store workers in Maryland vote to unionize
Apple store employees in Towson, Maryland, voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Photo: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Employees at an Apple store in Maryland have made it the first of any of the Mac-maker’s retail locations to vote in favor of joining a union. Several other such stores are preparing to hold their own votes. Meanwhile, Apple is trying to discourage any efforts by its employees to unionize.

It’s not clear how all this will affect users of Apple devices.

Why you shouldn’t buy an Apple Watch Series 3

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Apple Watch Music
Apple Watch Series 3 was a great smartwatch in its day. But that day was in 2017.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 3 is still in Apple’s product lineup but you should avoid it. It’s so near the end of its product life that it’s not a good value even at $199.

There’s another Apple wearable that costs just a bit more and isn’t about to ride off into the sunset.

Apple finds success with AirTag item tracker

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A New York Times reporter found that AirTag tracking and privacy alerts can work better than other trackers.
AirTag is off to a strong start, and sales are growing.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s launch into item trackers has been a success, according to an analyst. The company has sold millions of AirTags, and the number is expected to grow 75% this year.

Still, the Bluetooth tracker has generated controversy since it came on the market in 2021.

Learning digital photography is a snap with this course

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Improve your digital photography with this training bundle.
Master digital photography with this bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Unless you’re taking nature photos, digital photography is no walk in the park. There’s a lot to learn about this complex art. And the picture-perfect way to master it is with a well-structured course led by a real expert.

This 17-hour Digital Photography Insiders Course takes you through the key concepts and skills new digital photographers need to master to produce amazing pictures in a snap. And this digital photography training course is on sale for $60 (regularly $299) for a limited time.

Benchmarks make Apple’s M2 chip sound even better than we thought [The CultCast]

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The CultCast 549: Time to walk back that M2 skepticism just a smidge.
Time to walk back that M2 skepticism just a smidge.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Erfon’s warming up to Apple’s new M2 chip. New benchmarks make it sound even more capable than we thought.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Brace yourself for better narcissism: iPhone 14’s selfie cam is getting a major upgrade.
  • It sounds like Apple is planning a wild array of new MacBooks and iPads, in some very interesting sizes.
  • Apple TV shoots and scores! Major League Soccer is coming to the Apple TV app.

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: CultCloth

Get the only cleaning cloth you need: CultCloth!

Father’s Day Sale: Get 20% off and other deals on Apple accessories

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SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand with devices
Wireless charging is easier than plugging in a bunch of cables every day.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

Father’s Day is the time to show your appreciation for dear old dad — or hip young dad, as the case may be. Maybe he’d appreciate accessories for his beloved Apple products. The Father’s Day Sale in the Cult of Mac Store features a great selection of deals!

For starters, Laut is offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on its wide array of accessories, including iPhone and AirTag cases, Apple Watch bands, laptop stands and much more.

See below for many more discounts on great gifts. You can get 20% off a huge number of items.

Win a 65W GaN mini charger that packs a punch [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Lululook 65W USB-C GaN Charger: With three ports, this is a great charger for anyone using multiple devices at once.
With three ports and plenty of power, this is a great charger for anyone using multiple devices at once.
Photo: Lululook

The Cult of Mac giveaway prize this week is a perfect fit for anyone who needs a powerful yet compact charger. We teamed up with Lululook to give five lucky winners a chance to get their hands on a three-port, 65W gallium nitride charger.

This thing can charge everything, from your iPhone mini to your MacBook Pro.