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Mac mini rig elevates cable management to art form [Setups]

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desk cable management
There's a reason this desk and setup look so clean and tidy. And that reason is hidden under the desk.
Photo: [email protected]

The best desk cable management seems like magic because it makes things disappear. Today’s M4 Mac mini setup with dual 4K displays shows that off beautifully, hiding most of the workstation’s gear underneath an elegant desk.

“That cable management is art,” said one appreciative commenter.

In this case, the user made the cable-management parts using a 3D printer. But you can achieve the same effect using a few inexpensive products that aren’t difficult to install.

Apple TV+ greenlights The Studio season 2 and brings back more comedies

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The Studio
Apple didn’t wait until the end of “The Studio” season one to commit to season two.
Photo: Apple TV+

Seth Rogen’s hit Hollywood comedy The Studio will return to Apple TV+ for season 2. After the success of the freshman season, Apple TV+ committed Tuesday to making more episodes about the hapless executives of Continental Studios.

Beyond that, it’s a good week for fans of Apple TV+ comedies. The streaming service also announced that the fourth season of Acapulco premieres in July, and the fifth season of Trying is going into production.

Write like Steve Jobs: What Apple’s co-founder taught me about storytelling

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Photo of Apple II and Mac computers sitting in a store window, with a photo of Steve Jobs
Great computers aren't the only thing Steve Jobs left us with.
Photo: Derek Xing/Pexels

By Alison Thobe

I remember the moment when I realized that storytelling wasn’t just a tool — it was the core way people communicate with the world. It’s how we connect, inspire and change it for the better.

It was a day when I sat at my Apple laptop, browsing through the essay writing service in search of inspiration and writing ideas for my new piece. A spark ignited me: What if I learned to write the way Apple co-founder Steve Jobs did to communicate his messages and inspire his audience?

This question has guided my writing journey ever since.

Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds boost noise canceling, immersive sound

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Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds
The updated earbuds comes in four colors.
Photo: Soundcore

Newly updated Soundcore Liberty 5 noise-canceling wireless earbuds pack enhanced voice reduction, more-adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and improved Dolby immersive audio, the Anker Innovations brand said Wednesday.

And did we mention the price dropped by $20 since Liberty 4? So now they’re even less expensive than Apple’s various AirPods Pro 2, at $129.

VPN deal: Browse like a ghost, stream like a god for just $10 per year

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Woman looking at computer with iProVPN installed.
With iProVPN, you can enjoy your favorite content and have peace of mind knowing your information is secure.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One minute you’re looking at a pair of cowboy boots on the web; the next, you’re getting Instagram ads for that exact same brand. You’re not paranoid. And with a virtual private network like iProVPN, you could be browsing a lot more privately.

A VPN gives you a simple way to get all-around protection on your devices to keep your sensitive data safe. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, consider grabbing this three-year iProVPN subscription for just $29.99, down from $324. Since you can use it on up to 10 devices simultaneously, you could pay just $1 per device per year.

Refurbished iPhone 15 series lands in the U.S. with big discounts

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iPhone 15 Pro Max
Buy refurbished iPhone 15 from Apple to save up to 15%.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

You can now buy a refurbished iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro directly from Apple with big discounts. Depending on the model, you can save as much as 15%.

Apple began selling refurbished iPhone 15 models in Europe earlier this year. It is now expanding their availability to the U.S. and Canada.

iOS 18.5 will bring satellite connectivity to iPhone 13 series

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iOS 18.5
iOS 18.5 is probably a week away, with good news for iPhone 13 users.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple sent the iOS 18.5 release candidate out for testing Tuesday and revealed that the update will enable the iPhone 13 series to access carrier-provided satellite features. The new software also will bring other changes and bug fixes for models going back to the iPhone XR.

The release candidates for macOS Sequoia 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, watchOS 11.5, tvOS 18.5 and visionOS 2.5 also went out at the same time.

Backbone Pro makes the best iPhone game controller way, way better [Review] ★★★★★

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Backbone Pro★★★★★
There’s no better way to improve mobile gaming than with Backbone Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Backbone Pro game controller that launched Tuesday wraps around your iPhone and connects via USB-C, but it can also connect to your Mac or iPad via cable or Bluetooth. Plus, it adds remappable rear buttons to the standard mix of sticks, triggers, D-pad and more.

Backbone already makes the best iPhone game controller, and my hands-on experience with this new premium version found that it takes mobile gaming to a whole new level.

Nab Powerbeats Pro 2 sports earbuds for $50 off

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Powerbeats Pro 2 deal
The ear hooks keep them secure no matter how hard you push your workout.
Photo: Beats

The sleek new Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds designed to stay on during workouts of any intensity only came out in February 2025. But you can already get a 20% discount. That brings down the list price from $249.99 to $199.99, a savings of $50. And that applies to all four color choices!

So maybe you buy these and that becomes your motivation to get back to the gym. Everybody wins.

Today in Apple history: First colorful iMac destroys the ‘beige box’ status quo

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iMac design: The iMac G3 was a bit fatter than model than today's models. The iMac code name was
The iMac G3 looked different from any other computer.
Photo: Apple

May 6: Today in Apple history: iMac G3 arrives to save Apple May 6, 1998: Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the original iMac, a brightly colored, translucent computer that will help save the company. Coming just 10 months after Jobs’ new management team takes over, the iMac G3 loudly announces that the days of Apple quietly fading into the background are over.

The colorful computer marks the start of a very successful run for Cupertino.

Don’t miss this 4-pack of super-strong USB-C cables for $39.99

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Product shot of Statik TsumoCharge durable USB-C charging cable
Get four of these rugged USB-C cables for one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Statik’s TsumoCharge is a durable USB-C cable that’s built to stand up to rough use. Unlike other cables, it won’t fray, get tangled beyond recognition or suddenly stop working for no reason. And right now, this tough 100W silicone charging cable costs just $39.99 for a four-pack (regularly $59.99).

What makes these durable USB-C cables different? Let’s break it down.

Grab early-bird deal on great new Tune Pro headphones

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EarFun Tune Pro headhones
You can get an early-bird deal on EarFun Tune Pro headphones through May 19.
Photo: EarFun

EarFun looks set to make some waves in the premium headphones market with its new Tune Pro cans. They could make devotees of AirPods Max and other fancy headphones sit up and take notice. The wireless noise-canceling Tune Pro headphones, scheduled for official release May 20, launch Tuesday with an early-bird deal bringing the already-low list price of $70 down to a stunning $49 for a limited time.

My review of these new headphones is coming soon. I’m already testing them. And I’ll just say this for now: Getting these great cans for under $50 seems like a miracle deal.

Schedule an email to send in the future in Apple Mail

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Never Forget to Send It
Let your computer handle sending emails. It’s what they’re good at.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can save time — and make sure your messages always go out when they’re supposed to — when you schedule email from the Apple Mail app. You can set your mail to deliver at any date or time in the future, whether it’s next Monday at 9 a.m. sharp, in two weeks’ time or even years from now.

If you work with someone in a different time zone, you can schedule messages to arrive just when they start their workday, which is especially helpful if the allotted time is in the middle of the night for you. You can schedule a series of reminders for that one irritatingly forgetful client of yours. Or, if you work remotely, you can try (and risk) prewriting messages to your boss to maintain the illusion of regular work. You can even schedule emails to remind you of an important anniversary, years down the line.

It’s easy to set up. Keep reading or watch our short video.

Here’s how Epic plans to relist Fortnite on the App Store despite its ban

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Fortnite iOS 14
Epic Games will use its EU account to list Fortnite on the US App Store.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple banned Epic Games’ developer account in 2020. Yet, the latter’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, confirmed last week that Fortnite will return to the U.S. App Store after a judge blasted Apple for not complying with the court’s order.

Wondering how? Sweeney revealed the secret, saying Epic Games will use their EU account.

Go from song idea to full track in seconds with this AI music generator

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A person with headphones listening to music to illustrate Supermusic, an AI music generator that can turn ideas into albums.
Make music in moments with this AI music generator.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Supermusic AI app gives you two ways to make music. If you have a basic idea for a song, you can describe it to the AI music generator. Then just answer a few questions about the type of track you want to create, and Supermusic will craft an original song for you.

If you already have complete lyrics, even better. You can feed them into Supermusic AI to create a song around them. Keep in mind that this isn’t just a little tune. Supermusic AI generates lifelike vocals singing the lyrics you give it. Whichever way you create your songs, it only takes a moment before you can listen and share. And you can get a lifetime to Supermusic’s AI music-generating magic for just $39.97.

How to use Surfshark’s free, privacy-protecting DNS server

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Free DNS servers from Surfshark
Switch to a free DNS server to protect your privacy.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

You use Domain Name System (DNS) servers many times every day, even if you don’t know what they are. You can’t avoid it, and whichever one you use can track where you go on the internet. That’s why you might consider switching to the free DNS servers Surfshark just launched that promise not to track you.

Here’s how to set your iPhone, iPad and Mac to use the Surfshark DNS server. It’s free!

Trio of small screens extend Studio Display in MacBook rig [Setups]

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portable monitor
In addition to a Studio Display, a whole lot of small screens are mounted on stands in this MacBook Pro setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Careful mounting of devices is a hallmark of light and clean computer setups because it lifts most of the gear up off the desk, making room for other gear or simply creating clean, open space. In today’s setup, the MacBook Pro sitting open on a stand is just one of three small screens, including a portable monitor, that nicely complement and expand the Studio Display.

Today in Apple history: iTunes hits 1 million downloads in first week

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iPod silhouette ad, part of the marketing campaign that boosted iTunes Music Store sales
iTunes becomes an instant hit.
Photo: Apple

May 5: Today in Apple history: iTunes Music Store hits 1 million downloads in first week May 5, 2003: Just a week after launching the iTunes Music Store, Apple reaches an incredible milestone with more than 1 million songs sold.

Particularly notable is the fact that more than half the songs purchased are albums. This quickly dispels fears that selling tracks individually will kill the record industry’s dominant format. In addition, more than half of the 200,000 songs initially available on iTunes get downloaded at least once.

“In less than one week we’ve broken every record and become the largest online music company in the world,” says Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a press release. “Apple has created the first complete solution for the digital music age — you can purchase your favorite music online at the iTunes Music Store, mix your favorite tracks into playlists with iTunes, and take your entire music collection with you everywhere with the super-slim new iPods.”

It’s a roaring success for Apple’s newest venture!

Wireless video transmitter lets you dump the HDMI cable

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Nyrius Orion Prime Wireless USB-C to HDMI Video Transmitter & Receiver
Replace that bulky HDMI cable with this wireless video transmitter and receiver.
Photo: Nyrius

With the Nyrius Orion Prime Wireless USB-C to HDMI Video Transmitter & Receiver, you don’t need a cable to connect your MacBook, iPad or iPhone to your TV. It can send video up to 150 feet, offers HD resolution, and doesn’t require a Wi-Fi network.

The product launched on Monday.

Apple shows off colorful new Pride Collection watch band, faces and wallpapers

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Apple 2025 Pride Collection
Check out the Apple's latest Pride Collection wallpapers for devices.
Photo: Apple

Apple showed off its 2025 Pride Collection Monday ahead of Pride Month, featuring a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band alongside matching watch faces and wallpapers for iPhone and iPad. The collection celebrates the “strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities around the world” with vibrant, rainbow-themed designs.

Rapper will.i.am tunes LG’s new xboom Bluetooth speaker lineup

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LG xboom by will.i.am
The new lineup includes three Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless earbuds.
Photo: LG

In a move that could interest Apple users looking to expand their audio options, LG Electronics unveiled its new “xboom by will.i.am” lineup of Bluetooth speakers and earbuds recently. When a big electronics maker puts out four new products at once — complete with celebrity sound engineer in the mix — it tends to grab out attention.

My iPhone 17 Air wish list: 5 features Apple shouldn’t skip

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iPhone 17 Air render
Slim isn’t enough for the iPhone 17 Air.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple seems set to give the iPhone lineup its biggest refresh in years with a new, slender model. Possibly called the iPhone 17 Air, the rumored model reportedly will focus on slimness, like other “Air” devices in Apple’s lineup.

In my opinion, a thinner body alone won’t be enough to make it a hit. If Apple truly wants the iPhone 17 Air to stand out, it needs more than just sleek looks. Here’s what I hope to see.

Apple to launch larger iPhone 18 Air and foldable sequel in 2027

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A folding iPhone might look something like this concept.
Apple may follow a yearly release cycle for its foldable iPhone.
AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple supposedly will switch to a two-pronged iPhone release strategy due to intense competition, especially in China. The move will give more media attention to newer models, like the upcoming iPhone Air and foldable iPhone.

In a note Monday, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted Apple will launch its second-gen foldable and the “iPhone 19 Slim” with a bigger display in H2 2027.

Today in Apple history: Apple embraces over-the-air iOS updates

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ios 5
Over-the-air iOS updates took iTunes out of the equation (and leveled the playing field with Android).
Photo: Apple

May 4: Today in Apple history: Apple embraces over-the-air iOS updates May 4, 2011: Reports circulate that Apple is negotiating with carriers to bring over-the-air updates to iOS, beginning with iOS 5.

Such a move would free iPhone owners from using iTunes to get updates for their devices. That means no more plugging an iPhone into a computer via USB to download the latest version of iOS.