Trust Dr. Boom when he says, “Driving a racing car round an exploding race track is a pretty hazardous thing to do.” Photo: Electric Square
Detonation Racing bills itself as “the most dangerous, least sensible racing series ever devised.” Gameplay involves skillfully maneuvering around a track, but also maybe throwing a nuclear submarine at your opponents.
This computer science bundle can turn you into a a six-figure programmer. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
When it comes to skills which are both in-demand and seriously lucrative, computer science ticks all the boxes. With businesses around the world going digital more than ever before, and web developers in the US earning an average of $73k, with top jobs taking home around $150k a year — computer science training is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.
Remember those heady days of WWDC 2021, when Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi performed a magical drag-and-drop demo of Universal Control that made the near-future world of macOS Monterey seem especially cool? Oh, yeah. It was just last month.
Anyway, Redditor kinky_unicorn certainly remembers it. They recreated Federighi’s workstation from the video, took a photo of it and posted it on Reddit, after all.
Bag yours before the sale ends. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Brydge just kicked off its big back to school sale, giving you the chance to save up to 50% on its brilliant iPad keyboards, MacBook docks, and more. Prices start at just $59.99, with many products now available at their lowest ever price. Take advantage before the discounts disappear.
TSMC makes Apple Silicon chips for Apple. Photo: Apple
Apple chipmaker TSMC, which makes both Apple’s A-series and Apple Silicon chips, says that its production lines have been hit by a gas leak. This has affected some of its chip production — including the advanced chip fab used for upcoming iPhones and Macs.
“To ensure that there will be no issues with production quality, TSMC is currently carrying out stringent follow-up operations,” TSMC said. It told Reuters that it doesn’t expect this to he a “significant impact” on operations.
Mark Ronson breaks down the elements of music on the hugely enjoyable new Apple TV+ docuseries. Photo: Apple TV+
In the latest docuseries from Apple TV+, the world’s most in-demand producer takes a step out from behind the boards to lead us on a meditative quest to better understand the elements of music and music production that inspire him. Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson serves as a master class in mixing, mastering, experimenting and breaking it down.
Woot’s latest sale offers bargain iPad refurbs from just $169.99 today only. 9.7-inch iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini units are available — all with deep discounts — but stock is limited. Bag yours before they’re all gone.
Remember the days before everyone was Zooming? Photo: Zoom/Cult of Mac
Many parts of the world are starting to open up again as the pandemic (hopefully) continues to subside. But video-conferencing apps, possibly the app category most associated with COVID-times, continue to ascend.
According to data from app analytics platform Sensor Tower, collective monthly active users of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet continued their surge in the first half of 2021. Usage was collectively 21x higher during the first half of 2019 than it was prior to the pandemic.
Apple employees are gearing up to return to the office. Photo: Duncan Sinfield
Apple is gearing up to bring more employees back to the office. And that means taking measures to safeguard staff against COVID-19.
According to The Verge reporter Zoe Schiffer, Apple is requesting that employees disclose their current vaccination status with the company in some locations.
“Apple is asking our team members in certain locations to share their current vaccination status,” Apple’s guidance notes. “You can confidentially share whether you’re fully vaccinated, have had a partial dose, are not vaccinated, or do not wish to share.”
You probably can’t guess one of the reasons why Apple wants people to stop leaking the specifications of upcoming iPhone models. Image: the Hacker 34/Cult of Mac
Apple hates it when people leak details about its upcoming devices. No surprise there. But an order to stop spreading rumors about unreleased iPhone models that the company reportedly sent to a Chinese citizen gives an unexpected reason.
iPad shipments last quarter are up about 50% from where they were two years ago. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
iPad sales kicked onto high gear in 2020 and haven’t slowed down since. In the April-through-June quarter of 2021,
Apple shipped around 15 million tablets, roughly 50% higher than shipments in the same period two years ago.
This ultra-thin 3-port wall charger is made for travel. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
With everything opening back up again, travel is once again being viewed as a viable leisure option — in fact, 44.6% of Americans currently feel that now is a good time to book a trip and go someplace new. If you’re planning to travel abroad, you know it’s essential to bring the right items with you when you visit a new country — and bringing the right charger is no exception. This VogDUO Triple-USB Travel Wall Charger helps take some of the guesswork out of what charger you need to bring with you: it features three ports with universal support for 100 to 240 volts (meaning you can quickly charge your devices in virtually any country).
Plugable's new USB-C charging hub keeps gadgets going and files transferred. Photo: Plugable
Nobody’s too happy when Apple decides to subtract ports from a new MacBook, but that’s what connectivity hubs are for. The newly launched Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C Charging Hub is no exception, adding seven USB-A ports to your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
Google Maps adds two widgets for iOS with more probably on the way. Photo: Google
The new version 5.74 of Google Maps for iOS adds two straightforward, useful and intuitive widgets for you to try with your iPhone. You can use them in the Today View or on the Home Screen.
Preorders for the Playdate game console open soon. Note the crank. Photo: Panic
MacOS and iOS app developer Panic initially said in May 2019 its kooky-cool Playdate handheld game console would come out in early 2020. Last week it said preorders would start July 29 and, hey, that’s today. Preorders have started.
The original announcement got a lot of looks because of the gadget’s interesting, retro design. It looks like a child’s toy — in a cool way — with a yellow casing and a black-and-white display. But it packs some tech.
macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1 and iPadOS 14.7.1 each take care of the same dangerous bug. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Three of Apple’s biggest products received security patches Monday — and another got its version on Thursday. You should probably install them as soon as possible.
The company started with macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1, and iPadOS 14.7.1 to fix a security hole reportedly used by at least one hacker already. That’s why they are “recommended for all users,” according to Apple.
Apple followed up Thursday by releasing watchOS 7.6.1 to patch the same bug on Apple Watch. It’s also recommended.
GarageBand now includes an expanded Sound Library with new Sound Packs from top artists and music producers. Graphic: Apple
Apple wants to help people get over the hump of learning art of music remixing with its free GarageBand application for iPad and iPhone. Two new Remix Sessions offer step-by-step video instruction in the app itself. Thy use hit songs from Grammy-winning artists Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga.
Musicians can also now create tracks with seven new Producer Packs full of beats, loops and instruments.
LumaFusion 3.0 adds video stabilization, external drive editing, an EQ and more. Photo: LumaFusion
A big update has come to popular iPad video editing app LumaFusion with version 3.0. It adds video stabilization, external drive editing, a graphic equalizer and more.
Coming soon(ish) to an iPhone near you. Photo: TSMC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the semiconductor company that builds the A-series and M-series chips for Apple, has received approval for its most advanced chip plant to date.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, the factory — located in Hsinchu, Taiwan — will be dedicated to building next-generation 2-nanometer chips. The iPhone 12, by comparison, features an A14 chip made using the 5nm process. The smaller the number of nanometers, the more transistors can be fitted onto a piece of silicon. That typically means more powerful chips.
KeepSolid VPN will Protect Your Online Activity & Browse Without Restriction for Life Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
How you use the internet decides how much of your information is easily available to people who would exploit it. There are little things you can do to prevent some of your information getting out: not using your full name when you can avoid it, using prepaid credit cards on subscription sites, not telling total strangers your social security number. These local-level fixes can protect some of your info, but if you want to use private or public internet without worrying about your information leaking, then you want a VPN. KeepSolid VPN Unlimited is on sale with a lifetime subscription of total security for just $27.99 for a limited time if you use the code ANNUAL30.
The HomePod mini likely had a lot to do with it. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
HomePod shipments in the United States increased 180% year-on-year in the last quarter, eclipsing the growth of smart speaker makers Amazon and Google during the period, market intelligence firm Omdia reports.
While Apple still lags behind the other two companies on shipments, it is looking more competitive than it has at any point in the history of the HomePod so far. That’s particularly impressive when considering that this was a rough three-month period for smart speakers in the US, whose growth is stalling.
Facebook released its latest earnings report Wednesday. Photo: Brett Jordan/Unsplash
Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature hasn’t been enough to stop Facebook from pulling in a massive $28 billion in ad revenue for the second quarter of 2021. That represents a 56% increase year-on-year. Facebook earned $10.4 billion in total profits for the quarter.
While Apple’s anti-tracking privacy measures weren’t explicitly designed to hurt Facebook, Facebook has been outspoken about the impacts they would have on its business. A recent Facebook-funded research paper called the iOS 14 feature an “anti-competitive strategy disguised as a privacy-protecting measure.”
Bag yours before they're all gone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Need a cheap iPhone that you can use as a backup or to keep in touch with the kids? Pick up a iPhone 6s or iPhone 7 refurb from Woot today from just $99.99 in this absolute steal of a deal that runs for one day only.
All units are “grade A” and in excellent condition, but stock is limited, so enjoy this offer while you can!
Both physical and NFT versions were up for sale. Photo: Steve Jobs Job Application
A job application filled out by 18-year-old Steve Jobs in 1973 has sold for $343,000 — and, based on its history, that may actually be a pretty good deal.
The rare paper document, possibly the only job application Apple’s late co-founder and CEO filled in in his life, has proven to be a pretty great investment over the years. This time, it was accompanied by an NFT sale for the same document, which pulled in around $23,000.