Apple TV+’s murder mystery/comedy The Afterparty soldiers on this week, investigating drunken party girl (and former valedictorian) Chelsea.

The genre-hopping show, which made a fitful start with last week’s first three mirthless episodes, has no better luck with this week’s half-hearted, half-remembered crime story than it did as a poorly thought-out musical or rom-com.

At this point, it’s a genuine question whether the writers and producers knew what they were doing when The Afterparty snagged a full-season order. Not even the ordinarily reliable Tiffany Haddish seems to be having any fun in this blinkered affair.

Anyone with a curious cat knows the desktop can be one of their favorite spots. Sometimes it’s like they’re trying to ensure you can’t work, as they sit or stretch out right on top of the keyboard or in front of the screen. And that’s just when you’re sitting there. Who knows what they do when you’re away. Other than dreaming up other ways to hasten your unemployment.

Lucky for you, today’s featured computer setup shows a simple method for protecting peripherals like input devices — keyboard, mouse, perhaps a trackpad — from pushy pets. And if you’ve got canines, take heart. It also works for dog slobber.

Don’t you just hate it when you buy a screen protector that doesn’t cover your iPhone’s entire screen? That’s not a problem with these tough tempered glass protectors from Limited77, which keep your iPhone 13 looking sharp.

Get yours today to save 20% — and enjoy the same discount on all other Limited77 accessories for iPhone and Apple Watch in the Cult of Mac Store.

Apple users do the darnedest things with old gear. Recently a guy stuck a USB-C port in an iPhone X and got $86,000 for it on eBay. We profiled a Romanian developer who designs games for souped-up vintage Macs. Then there was the guy who merged an M1 Mac mini with an iMac G4.

And now we find a clever TikTok user crafting a retro-cool iPad case with an Apple Watch charger out of a classic iBook G3 laptop.

This software activation key sale post is presented by Keysbuff.

Cult of Mac readers can ride into February with some of the best tech deals of the year from software activation keys provider Keysbuff. You can save up to 91% off the full price on Windows 10 and get great savings on many other Microsoft software titles in the Keysbuff February Software Sale.

Just use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com to get an extra 25% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and others in the list below. You can purchase many products with lifetime licenses.

Apple on Thursday confirmed it will charge developers in the Netherlands a 27% cut of sales revenue when they use third-party payment systems. And, just as expected, that has not gone down well with developers.

Steve Troughton-Smith, creator of apps like Broadcasts and Pastel for iOS, called the move “absolutely vile” and said Apple executives “should be ashamed.” Here’s what others are saying.

Apple TV+ dips its toe into the well of Israeli TV production again for Suspicion. The show, which stars Uma Thurman and premieres Friday, is a no-nonsense, globetrotting thriller with plenty of real-world resonance.

Suspicion is based on False Flag, created by Maria Feldman and Amit Cohen, a binge-worthy series that centered on the murder of Hamas chief Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. But if the reception that other Apple TV+ geopolitical thrillers got is any indication, Suspicion faces an uphill climb to become a hit.

If you’re not going wireless for charging your Apple gear, you may as well get a single cable that you can use for all your devices. The 4-in-1 Multi-Port & Apple Watch charging cable comes with four different connectors, so you can charge all your devices at once or switch between them seamlessly.

And now, it’s on sale for only $17.99 (regularly $34).

Activision Blizzard confirmed on Thursday that it plans to bring Warcraft to mobile devices this year. The game has been in “advanced development” since last summer, but this is the first time Blizzard has offered a release date.

It’s not yet clear what the Warcraft experience will look like on smartphones. Fans will no doubt be hoping to get a taste of the original MMORPG formula on-the-go, but some rumors have hinted that it could be very different.

Apple on Thursday published new details on how it plans to handle third-party payments for dating apps in the Netherlands. The document confirms that Apple will continue to take a cut of all net revenues at a “reduced” rate of 27%.

It also states that developers must provide Cupertino with a report of all transactions each month so that they can be invoiced for the commission. Apple says it has the right to carry out audits to ensure accurate reporting.

A new Apple TV+ trailer for the Apple Original documentary series Lincoln’s Dilemma shows Honest Abe in a new light, as historians reflect upon what he was really about and how the changing country challenged the president who never asked to be “The Great Emancipator.”

The four-part series hits Apple TV+ all at once, not one episode at a time, on February 18.

The more you use your Apple devices and the bigger and better their capabilities, the more you will need charging accessories you can rely on. It’s the secret to never being caught with a flat battery, always being able to get the most out of your iPhone, and generally being prepared for anything.

Bacteria is everywhere. Health experts say a lot of it is actually beneficial rather than harmful, but it can still give you the “icks.” If you’re a person who wipes down gadgets a lot because you know your hands and fingers are basically Petri dishes gone wild, Targus rolled out a new active stylus for iPad on Thursday that might suit you.

It’s the new Targus Antimicrobial Active Stylus for iPad, designed to remain 99.9% free of bacterial growth for the life of the product.

Demand for some iPad models outstrips supply. And the result is customers waiting a month or more to receive their tablet. Buyers in some countries who place an order now will be waiting until March to receive it.

The problem is a shortage of the secondary processors used in the mobile computers. Apple just can’t get as many as it needs.

Philips Hue unleashed a dozen new lighting scenes in the Hue app on Monday. So now you can dress up your HomeKit-connected lighting with delightful colorations like Amber Bloom, Painted Sky, Orange Fields and Blue Planet — among many others.

The release comes soon after the company put out a trio of cool vintage-vibe lights for outdoor use.

Why cough up $99 on Apple’s Milanese Loop for Apple Watch when outstanding third-party alternatives are available at a fraction of the cost. SwitchEasy’s stunning Steel Mesh is just as pretty and incredibly solid.

What’s more, it’s now available for under $28 after a 20% discount. Bag yours from the Cult of Mac Store today before the sale ends.

Creeps have taken to selling “silent AirTags” with disabled speakers that other creeps can use for more effective stalking. One such device was selling for $77.50 on Etsy before the “star seller” had a change of heart and removed it.

Apple designed AirTag to emit a sound after it has been away from its paired device for a certain period of time, which can help alert those around it of its presence. Without a speaker, AirTag is much more difficult to detect.

If you want a monitor for your Mac, let me suggest the 27-inch Innocn one that just launched. It has a 4K resolution, offers 1.07B+ colors and high contrast. The screen is suited for Photoshop, gaming, or watching TV and film.

I tested the + 27-inch 4K Computer Monitor 27C1U in my home office, and it’s some serious eye candy. Here’s why I think you’ll agree.

Got a wicked idea for a game you’d like to create? All you need to turn your dream game into reality is the tools to make it happen. The Complete AppGameKit Unlimited Bundle allows you to do exactly that, with no coding skills necessary. And it’s on sale for just $49.99 — a full 80% off the regular price of $254.

This bumper bundle includes all the software, assets and guides you need to develop both mobile and virtual reality games. With 11 different products included, that means this special price drop works out to less than $5 a product.

Pick up Apple’s newest AirPods Pro with a MagSafe Case at one of their lowest prices yet. Woot is offering brand-new units for just $179.99, saving you $69.01.

This deal is good for today only and will end early if all stock sells out. Bag yours before it’s too late!

A federal judge this week dismissed a class-action lawsuit that accuses Apple of misleading iPhone customers about its water resistance.

Plaintiffs claimed that iPhone advertising that showed the device exposed to water was “false and misleading,” and allowed Apple to charge higher prices. However, they failed to prove their iPhones were actually damaged by water.

Apple issued a letter to U.S. lawmakers Wednesday urging them not to allow the distribution of iPhone and iPad apps outside the App Store. It insists doing so “would allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet Thursday to consider the Open App Markets Act, a bill that hopes to prohibit companies like Apple from blocking sideloading and alternative app marketplaces.

Facebook parent company Meta has warned investors that it will lose around $10 billion in 2022 as a result of Apple’s bolstered privacy protections.

The company has been whinging about the improvements, which include App Tracking Transparency, since they were introduced in iOS 14. Its shares dipped more than 20% on Wednesday after it reported its latest disappointing earnings.

If you have a new M1 Apple computer, you are going to want to enter our latest giveaway. Cult of Mac is giving away two USB-C Multiport MX Adapters from Satechi. This adapter allows you to experience the full potential of your M1 Mac with multitudes of data ports using just a single USB-C port.

The USB-C Multiport MX Adapter supports dual-display output on two external monitors for a top-of-the-line desk setup. If you want options for your M1 Mac, be sure to enter this giveaway.

Apple TV+ will present an adaptation of the bestselling novel Dear Edward about a boy who was the sole survivor of a tragic plane crash.

The series is being written and will be showrun by Jason Katims, who created the classic series Parenthood and produced Friday Night Lights.