Modders like Ken Pillonel put USB-C ports in AirPods cases, but Apple may not for the upcoming AirPods Pro 2 case. Photo: Ken Pillonel
Apple products are shifting from Cupertino’s proprietary Lightning connectors to USB-C, but the switch may not be in the cards for the second generation of AirPods Pro, expected to ship before the end of the year.
Why stick with a boring white cable that will inevitably fray when you can upgrade to braided? Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Apple doesn’t enjoy a great record when it comes to charging accessories. The company’s Lightning cables, in particular, seem overpriced and less than rugged.
So, if you want to power up your iPhone or iPad without being super-careful, it might be time for an upgrade. With a braided sheath to protect it, this Vibrance Connect Lightning cable might just last much longer than a stock Apple cord. You can get one today for just $39.99 in a range of eye-catching colors.
You can have your own 2.6-inch Ted Lasso. And Coach Beard, Rebecca Welton, too. They’re all in Mattel’s newly released Fisher-Price Little People Collector set for the hit Apple TV+ show.
There are six characters in the set, which is available now.
You really should not miss this deal on the M1 MacBook Air. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s M2 MacBook Air might be the newest kid on the block, but you can’t go wrong with the M1 Air as well. And with Best Buy taking a whopping $200 off on the 2020 MacBook Air, now is the perfect time to buy one.
This is the lowest price the M1 MacBook Air has dropped down to.
This pocket sensor lets you save colors from the real world on your iPhone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Color is an essential part of any visual project. When you find inspiration in the digital realm, it’s easy enough to find the hex code and save the shade. But what about in the real world? You can think of the Nix Mini Color Sensor V2 as your pocket color picker.
This tiny device can detect the exact hue of any object or material and send the result straight to your iOS device. It’s typically priced at $99, but you can get the sensor today for only $83.95.
The latest iOS 16 beta returns the iPhone’s battery percentage to the status bar. This is Apple finally walking back a controversial user interface change from 2017.
However, users of some iPhone models report that the new feature isn’t available on their device.
Get yours in one of many great color options. Photo: Rilee & Lo
Bored of your basic Apple Watch band? Dress it up with a stunning stainless steel stretch-link bracelet from Rilee & Lo. They look just as spectacular as other high-end bracelets but are much more convenient to get on and off — and they’re a lot more affordable than they look.
★★★★☆
Want to work from a coffeeshop? Your iPad and the Zagg Pro Keys with Trackpad might be just what you need. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPad is an outstanding tablet, but add the Zagg Pro Keys with Trackpad and it becomes a powerful notebook computer that’s ready for work or school. Plus, the keyboard case offers a welcome 6.6 feet of drop protection.
There are versions for several Apple tablets, so I wrapped my 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the Pro Keys and went to work using it. There’s a lot to like here.
The M1 Mac mini isn't pictured, but you can't miss the dual 34-inch displays, two iPads and an Echo Show 5. Photo: [email protected]
Some computer setups are so strikingly beautiful they look like art installations. That tends to happen more with multiple-display setups because the imagery on the screens really adds to the aesthetic impact.
Today’s featured M1 Mac mini setup makes a visual statement using six displays, including two ultra-wide monitors and two iPads, plus some clever backlighting.
With AnyGo, you can quickly and easily fake the GPS location of your iPhone. Image: iToolab
This GPS spoofing post is presented by iToolab.
A typical reason people want to “spoof,” or fake, a GPS location shown on a device is to play location-based augmented-reality games like Pokémon Go — without having to do all that walking.
And a highly effective, easy-to-use and affordable tool for changing and controlling your GPS location on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch — anywhere in the world, and for whatever reason — is iToolab AnyGo.
Enjoy more than 500,000 TV channels and movies with SelectTV.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Streaming services used to be an affordable alternative to traditional cable services. However, as more and more customers cut the cable, new streaming services appeared left and right. SelectTV brings order to the chaos by organizing more than 150 channels into a comprehensive digital media guide. Right now, you can subscribe for just $99 (Reg. $677), and you’ll also get a lifetime subscription to KeepSolid VPN Unlimited.
Mystery ports added the 2022 iPad Pro could be for a new version of MagSafe. Or maybe not. Photo: Apple
Apple will add two new ports to the 2022 iPad Pro, according to an unconfirmed report. However, it’s not known what these will be for as they do not conform to any connectors used by current Apple devices.
But there’s no mention of a second USB-C port in the upcoming tablet.
Apple has started working on the iPhone 14’s launch event. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly does not plan to hold an in-person iPhone 14 event this September. Instead, the company will once again announce the upcoming iPhones via a virtual event.
These MacBook Air benchmarks show what a screamer the M2 chip really is. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest benchmarks make Apple’s M2 chip sound better than we thought. In fact, the new MacBook Air that the processor powers might be the perfect laptop for almost everyone.
Also on The CultCast:
The iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on screen looks sweeeeet.
How does Apple keep pulling off earnings miracles?!?
What not to do when a creep steals your AirTag-equipped scooter.
Somebody built an Apple Store time machine.
And a truffle tangent to end all tangents.
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.
Start prepping for your first cybersecurity job with this study bundle. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Few industries have grown as quickly or found such an important niche as cybersecurity. With so many people working online and volumes of important information being traded daily, there’s practically always a demand for skilled cybersecurity workers. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you’ll need to prove to employers that you’ve mastered the NIST Framework, completed a CISSP exam or passed other cybersecurity benchmarks. The 2022 Ultimate Advanced CyberSecurity Professional Certification Bundle covers these topics and more for $69 (Reg. $1,475).
★★★☆☆
This week's episode of Loot is all about friends and making hard choices. Photo: Apple TV+
Loot, the Apple TV+ comedy about a woman with everything who learns from people who have nothing, has a play, a zoning board meeting and a summit to prepare for this week.
Howard and Nicholas must patch up their friendship. Sofia and Molly need to work out their differences of opinion and ambition. Molly comes face to face with the bad side of charity work. And in general, the characters needs to make some hard choices about the people they want in their lives.
Mentorist makes a game of applying condensed books' lessons to your life. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
You might know what books you want to read, but do you have the time? Between work and life, that reading list definitely isn’t getting any smaller, and who can blame you?
You could try reading summaries, but most of those are made to entice people to read the whole book instead of distilling the message. However, with Mentorist, you get an entire library of bestselling books to read, and all of them are broken down into functional summaries with guides for applying what you learned to your life.
For a limited time, you can purchase a lifetime Mentorist Pro subscription for $49 (regularly $490).
★★★☆☆
Will Sophie (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw) get to the bottom of what's up with her husband, Jamie (Oliver Jackson-Cohen)? Photo: Apple TV+
Surface, the new Apple TV+ mystery series about a woman who can’t remember her life or lies, keeps up the erotic intrigue this week. The show avoids all of its worst tendencies for a basically good fourth episode.
Amnesiac Sophie and her lover Thomas clandestinely chase leads as they try to solve the mystery of who almost killed her. Sophie’s husband, James, desperately runs around trying to hide his crimes, and Caroline gets pulled back into his orbit once again.
The investigation and the cover-up proceed apace. It’s just a matter of who’s smarter, more thorough and more careful.
Konami's Amazing Bomberman is a new take on a classic gaming franchise. Photo: Konami
There’s a fresh addition to the classic Bomberman series. Like its many predecessors, Konami’s Amazing Bomberman involves moving through various game levels while blowing things up, but is more musical than before with original songs.
The action title debuted Friday, August 5 in Apple Arcade. It’s playable on a wide range of Apple devices.
You can do so much more with summer light in your photos. Photo: Apple
With summer still blazing, Apple offered a useful Today at Apple Creative Projects video on Friday. It teaches you how to capture “Dramatic Summer Light” with your iPhone camera.
In the video, Apple Creative Pros Jahmyra and David bring in professional photographer Eddy Chen to explore great tips about snapping better shots and editing them to make the most of light.
★★★☆☆
Whether on Earth or on Mars, it's always something. Photo: Apple TV+
For All Mankind holds a few cliffhangers up its sleeve in season 3’s penultimate episode, but first it must deal with its soapy dilemmas.
Ellen and Larry are in the hot seat, Kelly Baldwin’s baby is coming along ahead of schedule, Aleida Rosales is all out of heroes, Karen and Dev might switch jobs — and Danny Stevens’ goose might be cooked!
A decent episode of the Apple TV+ alt-history sci-fi hit focuses on plot nitty-gritty and emotional turmoil, until it gives way to a typically frustrating final reveal.
Apple TV+’s second season of Physical draws to a merciful close this week. Though she’s finally gotten John Breem out of her bedroom, Sheila still has to deal with him. He’s still making Danny crazy — and he’s still the only man in town with power enough to satisfy Sheila’s needs.
Wouldn’t it be funny if she had to wind up trapped with him in a business agreement? Well, no, it wouldn’t, and it isn’t, but that’s where we’re headed.
Two fine leather watch bands are better than one. Photo: Olpr. leather goods co.
Anybody can walk around with one fine Italian leather Apple Watch band. But what about two? Now you can, with petite double Italian leather Apple Watch bands. They stylishly cut one band into two thinner straps on the same watch.
And it’s not like you have to pay a fortune or one, either. They’re just $75 in the Cult of Mac Store.