Mix and match these Mac and iOS apps to make the most of the coming year. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The new year has begun, so it’s time to really get working on those resolutions. Whether you resolved to lose weight, pick up a new hobby, start a side hustle or just get organized, there’s an app that can help you do it.
A "monstrous" chip might power the next Mac Pro. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Leaks, rumors and government filings give us an even clearer look at what Apple’s product pipeline looks like for 2022. We’re expecting big changes to the pro Mac lineups this year — including a hybrid Apple “Frankenchip” based on the M1 series.
Also on The CultCast:
Bye-bye, 13-inch MacBook Pro!
See you soon, new iPhone SE and iPad!
We’ll miss you, Apple discount “loophole” for teachers and students! (Post-show update: It’s back.)
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.
The Fraggles are back for new adventures. Photo: Apple TV+
Thanks to its partnership with The Jim Henson Company, the creative force behind The Muppets and Sesame Street, Apple TV+ has finally given the people what they want: more Fraggles.
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, a faithful and fun reboot of the cult hit puppet show from the ’80s, arrives Friday on Apple TV+ with its verve and good vibes intact.
While the Fraggles never quite rose to the popularity of the Sesame Street gang or Kermit and his friends, they did inspire some passionate fans. It’s a joy to be back at Fraggle Rock, even with the few concessions made to appease a more modern audience.
Home school teachers can once again get Apple education discounts. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The U.S. Apple Store for Education reversed a recent change Friday, dropping the requirement that shoppers prove they are a university student or teacher before they can get products at a discount. This surely comes as a relief for home-school teachers. But it’s also good news for anyone willing to fib to get a discount.
It’s not clear if this is a temporary rollback or a permanent change, though.
When you damage your gear, Akko arranges repairs for you. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Your phone is one of the only things that can fall off a couch and ruin your whole month. Cracked screens from drops, water damage from spilled drinks, whatever the cause … your phone eventually will suffer damage. An Akko Electronics Protection Plan shields you from the inconvenience of losing your phone by arranging and paying for repairs when it breaks. And right now you can get it for just $142 (regularly $168).
Central Park returns with eight all-new episodes on March 4. Photo: Apple TV+
The interrupted second season of Central Park will resume on March 4. The Apple TV+ musical comedy has eight more episodes with the madcap adventures of the Tillerman family.
The series has garnered multiple Emmy nominations, and the first half of the second season has a amazing 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Who doesn't love Peanuts? Now you can show it with your iPhone case and more. Photo: Casetify
Toward the end of January, Casetify plans to launch an expansive Peanuts-themed iPhone accessories collection. That’ll give fans of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Linus and the rest of the gang the chance to snap up special iPhone cases, MagSafe wallets and more.
Season 3 gives us a deeper look at a disturbing day in the life of nanny Leanne. Photo: Apple TV+
Servant, the bleakest and most thrillingly deranged show on Apple TV+, returns for a third season Friday. The Turner family and their mystic nightmare nanny have finally turned some corners from which they cannot return. Now it’s time to see what the writers have planned for this gang of thieves, liars and sinners.
Director/producer M. Night Shyamalan and writer Tomy Basgallop’s brainchild turns three today — and I couldn’t be happier to attend the party.
Those little platforms for Apple Watch and AirPods pop in and out. Photo: Intelli
In a world awash with multi-device charging stations that juice your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time, it’s refreshing to see an unfamiliar design once in a while. Intelli provided one recently when it launched its new StepUp Magnetic Wireless Charging Station.
With its tidy little pop-out charging platforms, the MagSafe-compatible StepUp can be a sleek charger just for your iPhone or transform into a 3-in-1 for your trio of devices. But even fully deployed, the design is compact.
Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis isn’t like any sport you’ve played before. Photo: Viacom/Apple
Danny Phantom heads to the tennis court with SpongeBob. Or Garfield faces down Invader Zim. It’s not animation day at Wimbledon — it’s Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis. The stars of animated shows past and present compete in a very unusual version of the sport.
In terms of proper ergonomics, the "before" photo set off some alarm bells. Photo: [email protected]
If your computer setup had three screens, including a MacBook Pro, an iPad and a 32-inch external monitor, would you make the iPad the center screen? Would you put your screened devices on stands, or leave them at or near table level? Today’s setup saw a transition that might actually save its owner from years of physical therapy.
“This is what neck pain would look like if it were a setup,” someone said about the “before” photo, above.
Keysbuff offers great deals on Microsoft software activation keys.
Image: Keysbuff
This software activation key sale post is presented by Keysbuff.
Cult of Mac readers can kick off 2022 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 New Year Software Sale. Just use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com to get an extra 30% 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.
The InnoView Portable Monitor is ideal for work, school, gaming or video. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The InnoView 15.6-inch Portable Monitor might be everything you’re looking for in a second screen for your MacBook. First off, it’s beautiful. And it’s very slim and lightweight. Plus it works with a wide variety of devices: Mac, iPad, even iPhone with the right adapter.
I used InnoView’s on-the-go display for both work and entertainment. Here’s all the many ways it impressed me. And its one flaw.
Now just $153.11 — down from $199.99 — for a limited time. Photo: Apple
Beats Fit Pro headphones, which made their debut last November, pack spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, the Apple H1 chip for quick and easy pairing, and active noise cancellation. Get yours at their lowest price to date.
The black models are currently available from Amazon for just $153.11 for a limited time. That’s $46.88 off the usual price.
Also works with Linux and Chrome OS. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
iOS and iPadOS 15 let you enjoy FaceTime calls with Android and Windows users for the first time. But to get a call started, you — or someone else with an Apple device — first need to send out an invite.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to do that on iPhone and iPad.
Grab the biggest Mac bundle of the year at a killer price. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Your Mac is an amazing piece of technology … but are you getting the most out of it? One simple way to boost your productivity is with The Complete Limited Edition Mac Bundle.
It’s a curated selection of 12 highly reviewed apps that offer the very best in productivity, video, security and more.
Sold separately, everything in this bumper bundle would usually cost $1,040. But right now, not only is it on sale for $29.99, but for a limited time, you can save an extra 40% off the sale price when you enter the code MACBUNDLE40 at checkout. That drives the price down to just $17.99.
Just like Apple's, but less than half the price. Photo: Laut
Give your Apple Watch a suave and sophisticated makeover with this stunning Steel Loop band from Laut. It’s made entirely from high-grade stainless steel and available in a number of cracking color options.
It’s also wonderfully affordable at under $34 after a 15% discount.
Apple this week dropped a pair of new ads for iPhone 13, highlighting its newest handset’s brilliant battery life and durability.
One of the one-minute clips shows iPhone 13 being used to film a boy during a day-long bike ride. The other shows the device being used as a toy, hammer, baseball bat and more by an energetic toddler.
The watchOS 8.4 release candidate that rolled out to beta testers on Thursday eliminates an Apple Watch charging bug that first surfaced around a month ago.
The issue, which mostly affected Apple Watch Series 7, prevented devices from charging when using third-party accessories from a wide range of brands. But with the latest watchOS 8.4 update installed, everything is back to normal.
You read that right, Godzilla, the King of the Monsters himself, is getting a series on Apple TV+. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures
Apple TV+ is making a series set in Legendary’s MonsterVerse that includes movies like Godzilla vs. Kong. The show will be live action, and continue the story of humanity’s battle to survive in a world populated with city-crushing behemoths.
If you want an educational discount on a MacBook, better be prepared to prove you are a university student. Photo: Antoni Shkraba/Pexels
The U.S. Apple Store for Education now requires shoppers to prove they are a university student or teacher before they can get products at a discount. Before now, it essentially operated on the honor system, which was a giant loophole.
After the change, shoppers can’t even see the discounted prices without getting verified first.
Pick up the pace (and stop pulling out your hair) with these top-rated productivity apps. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With a new year comes new possibilities and the chance to achieve an exciting new set of goals. Whether yours are personal or professional, we could all use a way to maximize the time we have — and productivity apps are the best way to do that.
It’s time to get more done, in less time — and enjoy more free time as a result.
The macOS 12.2 release candidate means a full release is almost here. Photo: Cult of Mac
The macOS Monterey 12.2 release candidate went to developers on Thursday. This makes a full launch only a few days away.
Apple has yet to give an official list of changes in the upcoming version, but beta testers indicate it will offer smoother scrolling on MacBooks with ProMotion displays and a rewritten Apple Music app.