★★★★☆
The Troubadour Pioneer won't look out of place at the gym or in the office. Photo: Troubadour Goods
It might be time to get a new backpack. The British company Troubadour Goods makes just just what you need. It recently released four of its sustainable bags in a limited-edition color, a dark khaki.
They sent me the Troubadour Pioneer Backpack to try out. And it’s a stunner, fit for taking to work or outdoor hikes and trips to the gym in between.
The OWC Envoy Pro FX portable SSD is designed for the urban jungle or a chaotic movie set. Photo: OWC
The OWC Envoy Pro FX is a very rugged external SSD that previously topped out at 2TB, but is now available with 4TB of storage capacity.
The solid state drive is dustproof, drop-proof, and waterproof. It’s compatible with Mac, iPad, and many other devices. Plus, it supports Thunderbolt as well as USB connections.
Analysts expect consumers to keep buying Apple products, no matter what the global economy does. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Although economists can’t agree whether a global recession is on the way, it’s definitely a possibility. But Apple execs don’t seem to have a lot to worry about – market analysts remain generally upbeat about the company.
Here are comments from a range of experts that are sure to warm Apple CEO Tim Cook’s heart.
Don't use an AirTag to go vigilante. You're not Batman. Photo: York Regional Police
A New York City man had his scooter stolen. But he’d put one of Apple’s AirTag item trackers on the bike, so he was able to track down the thieves … who beat the $%#@ out of him.
Stephen Herbert said he feels lucky he got out of the unfortunate encounter alive.
This travel radio even comes with a swank leather cover. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Your smartphone isn’t the only way to stay connected to the world of music, sports and news. Even before TVs, people had a fun, portable, convenient way of staying tuned in their interests: radio.
It turns out that video didn’t completely kill the radio star, because the medium is making a comeback. And you can tune into a world of music and more with the Eton Elite Traveler. This compact radio is an Amazon’s Choice product, but we’ve got a better price at $49.99!
The Apple M2 chip gives the 2022 MacBook Air a crazy fast web browser. Photo: Apple
The new M2 MacBook Air got an amazing score on the Speedometer 2.0 benchmarking app. Apple’s latest notebook solidly beat other Macs in this test of web browser speed.
The performance boost comes from the new Apple M2 processor – the MacBook Pro with the same chip scores equally well.
Stop repeating Netflix documentaries and get this lifetime of CuriosityStream, limited time deal. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
How’s that Netflix documentary list looking lately? Still pretty sparse? You could watch the Bob Ross documentary again, or you could check out a streaming service that lives and breathes documentaries.
Curiosity Stream offers thousands of incredible documentaries, educational television and more, all in one location. That means no more bouncing between streaming services as you burn through the paltry selection. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime Curiosity Stream HD Plan for only $179 (regularly $250).
With the addition of Hawaii, now you can get turn-by-turn biking directions in all 50 states. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
If you ride a bike, now you can now get turn-by-turn navigation from Apple Maps in all 50 states. That’s because cycling directions recently arrived in Hawaii.
If you get rolling now, there’s just time to bike through the whole country in … never. Not gonna happen.
But it’s nice to know directions are available all over if you ever need them.
Nomad's Gold Base One Max looks so money. Photo: Nomad
Nomad’s refined and costly Base One and Base One Max MagSafe chargers are widely considered to be of excellent quality, even “high-end” status. But now you can feel even more like a king — maybe King Midas — by snagging one with a rich golden hue.
That’s right, Nomad just rolled out golden gear for you, the Gold Base One and Base One Max.
Apple Watch Series 7 is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon. Photo: Apple
Amazon has an irresistible deal on the Apple Watch Series 7 that you should not miss. The 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 is down to $279.99 from $399—down to its lowest-ever price.
★★★★☆
The new Anker 747 GanPrime Charger pumps 150W of power through four ports for your devices. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
It’s not easy to get super-excited about chargers. But the current wave of ever-smaller and ever-more-potent gallium nitride (GaN) chargers gets the heart pumping a little faster than that or your average sleeping person, at least.
And if anyone’s keeping us awake and watchful regarding the charger market, it’s Anker.
The company recently held a special event to release six chargers in its new GaNPrime line. The first to arrive in my hands is the Anker 747 GaNPrime Charger, which pumps out 150W of power through four ports. But it’s just small enough to toss in your computer bag or knapsack without a second thought.
The new Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller is more durable than before. Photo: Eve Systems
Eve Systems rolled out a redesigned version of it Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller for HomeKit Tuesday that should help you keep your lawn or garden green.
The gadget sports a new look and improved mechanics for better durability, the company said.
Apple corporate employees will see a lot fewer masks at Apple Park. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly told its corporate employees the company’s face mask requirement is at its end. There are exceptions, though.
In March, the company removed the requirement for workers who had been vaccinated for COVID-19. After Monday’s policy change, it’s mostly come to an end for all employees.
Get cloud storage that syncs with Google Drive (and more!) while it's 94% off. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
You should think of your iPhone‘s or Mac’s built-in storage as if you’re moving into a new apartment. That first day, it looks totally roomy. But once you move all your stuff in, aka your everyday apps are installed, it’s remarkable how small it gets.
So, if you’re tired of getting that “storage almost full” notification on your iPhone or MacBook, it might be time to supplement it with cloud storage. Luckily, Koofr is offering 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscriptions for only $139.99 (regularly $2,700).
Plugable's tiny voltage and amperage meter can help you find out why a MacBook or iPad isn't getting power. Photo: Plugable
Anyone who’s ever said to themselves “Is this $%&@ thing even charging?” might be interested in the new version of Plugable’s voltage and amperage meter.
Plug the USBC-VAMeter3 into your device then plug the charging cable into the meter and you’ll see how much power is flowing and in which direction.
A new version USBC-VAMeter3 launched Tuesday for under $30. It can handle more power, which makes it more useful and less likely to be accidentally damaged.
Apple's $1,599 Studio Display is marred with issues. Photo: Apple
After months of complaints from Studio Display owners, Apple finally offered a temporary fix for problems with the pricey monitor’s speakers and microphone. The frustrating glitches include choppy playback, audio that cuts out unexpectedly and playback speed issues.
The company provided a temporary solution in an internal memo while it scrambles to come up with a software fix.
A "how to" makes the process of setting up Time Machine to backup your Mac less intimidating. Image: Apple
Your Mac can automatically make copies of your files with Time Machine, software built into macOS. A new video walks anyone unfamiliar with the feature through the setup process.
Using Time Machine is highly recommended. Macs don’t fail often, but when they do it can be a disaster for the user if they don’t have backups of their important files.
The limited series features a compelling performance by the late, great Ray Liotta. Photo: Apple TV+
Black Bird is the latest hit for Apple TV+. The prison drama has been one of the top 10 most watched streaming shows for three weeks straight now, according to a company that tracks viewership.
The series is not only popular, it’s getting rave reviews from critics.
Grab an Apple Watch charger that's a match for it in every way, including portability.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Why spoil your Apple Watch experience with tangly cords? If you want to charge your Apple Watch on the go, don’t cart around a cable. Get this USB-C Portable Apple Watch Charger instead — especially because it only costs $16.99 right now (regularly $29).
A second special edition since Apple discontinued the Beats Pill+ speaker looks to be imminent. Photo: Apple/Beats
Apple killed the Beats Pill+ portable speaker in January, and yet it lives on. In March it saw a special-edition release through a partnernship with Stüssy. And now it rises from the dead once again.
This time, a collaboration with Devin Book and Book Projects will result in a customized Beats Pill+ exterior design that takes its cues from the Sonoran Desert.
You can get 35% off this supple Italian leather band in teal (pictured), red, yellow or orange. Photo: Olpr. leather goods co
There are few things more classic than a watch band made of supple Italian leather. And the Cult of Mac Store has a great one on sale right now for your Apple Watch, at 35% off (that’s a savings of $26).
The Italian Leather Band by Olpr is not only a classic leather band, it’s also colorful. You can get it in red, teal, yellow and orange.
Thinking of switching from an Android phone to an iPhone? It's easy. Photo: Apple
Apple aimed a new video Monday at Android users who might want to switch to iPhone. The video answers the most common questions switchers ask, from transferring contacts to trading in handsets and much more — all in about 4 minutes.
Apple TV 4K drops to a new low price of $119.99. Photo: Apple
Apple TV 4K is down to its lowest price yet, making it a lot more affordable and the perfect time to snag one up. Apple’s streaming box retails for $179, but you can get it for $119.99 after a massive 33% discount.
This deal is better than the previous deals we have seen so far. So, if you have been eyeing the Apple TV for a while, now is the time to pull the trigger.
Look how the wall panels interact with the desktop wallpaper. Photo: [email protected]
Many computer setups complete their dazzling looks with great lighting, like RGB light strips or light bars hidden behind monitors or under desks. And while lighting goes a long way towards setting moods and helping you see things, it’s not the whole story.
Another element that can make the most of lighting would be 3D wall panels. Full of raised surfaces, they catch the light and make a wall or other space come alive. Today’s featured setup uses 3D wall panels beautifully.
★★★★★
You can never have too many high-speed data ports, and the HyperDrive Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub adds three more to your Mac or iPad Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Thunderbolt hubs add super-fast ports to your Mac, speeding up your workflow. But these hubs also require a really bulky power adapter … usually. The just-announced Sanho HyperDrive Thunderbolt 4 Power Hub is the exception. It’s small enough to travel with.
I tested the Thunderbolt hub in my home office for a couple of weeks to see how it stands up to real-world use.