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Price drop: This app can identify more than 33,000 plant species

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This $20 app can identify over 14,000 plant species.
Identify and care for plants with this app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Love spending time outdoors or nurturing greenery? Consider Plantum, an AI-powered plant identifier that’s like a flora encyclopedia you can carry around in your pocket. This iOS plant identification app can identify more than 33,000 plant species and offer tips on plant care.

It comes in handy whether you’re walking through the great outdoors or managing your garden. And for a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for just $14.97 with code GROW5 (regularly $59.99).

Apple fans really want a red iPhone 17 for World AIDS Day

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AI image of a red iPhone 17 Pro
A red iPhone 17 Pro might look like this.
AI image: Grok

Plenty of Apple fans miss red iPhones, if responses to an X.com post Monday from Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak is anything to go by.

He talked about the company’s donations on World AIDS Day through customer purchases. Joswiak didn’t even mention hardware, but the commenters sure did. 

Master AirDrop: Your ultimate guide to seamless file sharing on iPhone, iPad and Mac

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How to AirDrop: Drop It My Way
AirDrop is right up there with iMessage as a great Apple-exclusive feature. Learn how to use it.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If you want to know the fastest and easiest way to send someone photos, videos, files and so, so much more, you should know how to AirDrop. There’s no need to send an iMessage — Apple’s slick AirDrop feature will immediately send and open the content on someone else’s iPhone (or other Apple device). There’s no middle step.

AirDrop works iPhone-to-iPhone, iPhone-to-Mac, iPhone-to-iPad, Vision Pro-to-Mac — any combination and permutation of two Apple devices. And, if your friend has a Google Pixel 10, you can AirDrop with them, too!

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about how to take advantage of AirDrop.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday AirPods deals 2025 — lowest prices ever unlocked!

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Best Black Friday AirPods deals 2025 -- lowest prices ever unlocked!
Every AirPods model is currently marked down ahead of Black Friday.
Image: Cult of Mac

These excellent Cyber Monday deals on all AirPods models make Apple’s lineup of trend-setting headphones more affordable than ever.

Whether you want Apple’s entry-level earbuds (AirPods 4, with or without active noise cancellation), the amazingly versatile AirPods Pro 3 or the luxurious over-ear AirPods Max headphones, you can be sure that the latest models will work like a charm with all your Apple devices.

They’re even better when you can snag them at a discount — and most of these Black Friday deals drop AirPods to their lowest prices yet!

Today in Apple history: Too little, too late for Apple III

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Apple relaunched the ill-fated Apple III, hoping to fix the computer's big problems.
Apple relaunched its ill-fated Apple III, hoping to address some serious problems with the original model.
Photo: Alker33/YouTube

December 1: Today in Apple history: Apple III relaunch December 1, 1981: After the disastrous rollout of the “next-gen” Apple III in 1980, Apple releases a revised edition of the computer that corrects most of its glaring hardware faults.

Unfortunately, the damage has already been done. Apple experiences its first “flop” product with the Apple II’s doomed successor.

Cyber Monday deal drops iPad mini to record-low price

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Cyber Monday 2025 iPad mini deal
The latest iPad mini 7 with A17 Pro has never been more affordable. Never.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini 7 is a standout in this year’s Cyber Monday sales, with the steepest price cut the compact tablet has ever seen. You can get the powerful yet ultra-portable iPad at an amazing 30% off, dropping the cost way, way down to $349.

Whether you want a travel-friendly device, a sleek tablet for reading and note-taking, or a capable companion for school or work, this iPad mini Cyber Monday deal is one of the most compelling tablet bargains of 2025.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday MacBook deals 2025 are selling fast

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Stylized photo of a MacBook Air on a yellow background to illustrate MacBook Black Friday deals 2025
There's no better time to buy a new laptop.
Image: Cult of Mac

This Cyber Monday, you can find stellar discounts on a new MacBook. With Intel Macs aging out, there’s no better time to upgrade to the latest models that run on far-superior Apple silicon processors.

Whether you’re looking at the base MacBook Air or a specced-out MacBook Pro, you can rack up hundreds of dollars in savings by upgrading this week. 

Take a look at these Cyber Monday deals on MacBooks and get ready to make your next big move. 

Cyber Monday 2025: Score record-low prices on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks and more

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Images of Apple products on sale for Cyber Monday 2025
Some Cyber Monday Apple deals are even better than the Black Friday sales.
Image: Cult of Mac

Our guide to the best Cyber Monday 2025 deals on Apple products and accessories showcases some prices that are even lower than Black Friday’s blowout sales. We’ll update this post throughout the day, but the clock is ticking. These Cyber Monday deals should end at midnight!

Our favorite earbuds — AirPods Pro 3 — remain at an all-time low price. The iPad mini just hit a new low of $349. And somehow, an amazing deal on the latest M4 MacBook Air got even more amazing as Cyber Monday approaches.

Find our absolute favorite Apple Cyber Monday picks, and our other favorite deals sorted by product category, below.

Cyber Monday alert: Deals slash prices on portable SSDs from Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston

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Portable SSD Black Friday deals
Upgrade your MacBook storage with a deal on a portable SSD this Cyber Monday.
Image: Google Gemini

Cyber Monday has arrived, and with it come amazing deals on portable SSDs. If you’ve been constantly running out of space on your laptop, desktop or tablet, this is your moment.

There are deals from top brands: Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston that shouldn’t be missed.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday 2025 iPad deals — iPad 11, M3 iPad Air, M5 iPad Pro

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Best Black Friday iPad deals 2025 — mega price drop alert!
Save an amazing 25% on a new Apple tablet. Do not miss these Cyber Monday iPad sales.
Image: Cult of Mac

Cyber Monday is officially here, and for iPad fans, the deals are looking good. Lots of iPads are on sale for their lowest-ever prices. Whether you’re hunting for a dependable workhorse, a powerful all-rounder, or a pro-level device, the iPad deals hitting the market shouldn’t be ignored.

The budget-friendly iPad is now 21% off, making it a steal for students, casual users, or families. Meanwhile, the sleek M3 iPad Air is discounted by an amazing 25%, bringing high-performance efficiency at an even more tempting price. And for creative pros, the brand-new M5 iPad Pro is also seeing an early discount — a rare opportunity to grab cutting-edge power and graphics capabilities without paying full retail.

Price drop: Save even more on a lifetime of Babbel language learning

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This is your last chance to grab a lifetime of award-winning language learning with this Babbel language app deal.
Grab lifetime access to the world’s most popular language learning app for less than $130 for a limited time.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you want to get the most out of your travels, spruce up your resume or simply expand your skills, learning a new language is an excellent way to level up. One of the easiest methods for doing that — and for fitting learning seamlessly into your schedule — is with a convenient language app such as Babbel. And you can get it for less with this limited-time Babbel language app deal.

For a limited time, you can secure lifetime access to Babbel for just $129.99 (regularly $299) with code LEARN from Cult of Mac Deals.

Still live: Best Black Friday 2025 Apple deals on MacBook, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch and more [Updated]

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Images of Apple products on sale during Black Friday week 2025
Apple products and accessories are heavily discounted during Black Friday week.
Image: Cult of Mac

We put together the ultimate guide to the best Black Friday 2025 deals on Apple gear — and all the accessories you could want. We’ll be updating this post throughout the week as deals come and go. 

Our favorite earbuds — AirPods Pro 3 — remain at an all-time low price. And somehow, an amazing deal on the latest M4 MacBook Air got even more amazing as Cyber Monday approaches.

Find our absolute top five picks, and our other favorite deals sorted by product category, below. 

Today in Apple history: Fans queue up as Apple opens Tokyo store, its first outside US

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Apple's store in Tokyo's swanky Ginza shopping district.
Apple's first non-U.S. Apple Store was located in Tokyo.
Photo: Héctor García/Kirai CC

November 30: Today in Apple history: Apple opens first store outside U.S. in Tokyo's trendy Ginza shopping district November 30, 2003: Apple expands its retail chain outside the United States for the first time, opening Apple Store Ginza in Tokyo’s trendy shopping district.

On opening day, thousands of Apple fans — possibly the biggest queue in Apple history — line up around the block in the rain to gain early access to the store, which offers five full floors of Apple product goodness.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs does not show up for the opening of the 73rd Apple Store. However, shoppers hear a welcoming speech from Eiko Harada, president of Apple Japan.

macOS Finder needs a name that reflects what it actually does

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macOS Finder needs a name that reflects what it actually does
The days when it made sense for the Mac's file manager to be called "Finder" are long gone.
Image: Cult of Mac

iPhone has the Files app. Windows has File Explorer. macOS has … Finder? The Mac’s file manager got that odd name decades ago, and it made sense back then. Today, it’s an anachronism. It’s time to rename the macOS Finder to something less silly.

I’m not suggesting Apple remove the Mac’s file manager. There is a far better name for it, though.

Price drop: Turn your iPhone into a guitar teacher and get ready to shred

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Photo of acoustic guitars used to illustrate a post about online guitar lessons.
Learn how to play guitar with this 14-course bundle that costs just $39.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Look at your iPhone. Now look at that acoustic guitar that’s been sitting in your room for half a decade — dusty, untouched and sad. It’s time you strummed the strings as much as you text, and these online guitar lessons can help.

You don’t have to be a fan of school. In fact, it’s best if you aren’t — these video lessons are designed to be taken at your own pace, with lifetime access priced at just $24.97 for 14 courses.

With the world losing guitar heroes like Eddie Van Halen and Ace Frehley, it’s time for new players to step up!

Today in Apple history: Pixar IPO makes Steve Jobs a billionaire

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Steve_Jobs_2007
The Pixar IPO is a key part of Steve Jobs' professional turnaround.
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

November 29: Today in Apple history: Pixar makes Steve Jobs a billionaire November 29, 1995: Capitalizing on the success of Toy Story, Pixar floats 6.9 million shares on the stock market. The Pixar IPO makes Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who owns upward of 80% of the animation studio, a billionaire.

After the windfall, one of the first people Jobs calls is his friend, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who’s already a member of the billionaire’s club.

“Hello, Larry?” Jobs tells his friend on the phone. “I made it.”

Digitize all your old film and slides with this Kodak scanner

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Product shot of a person using a Kodak Slide N Scan slide film scanner
This affordable Kodak scanner can preserve your old negatives and slides so you can enjoy them.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Memories fade, and so does film. Whether it’s old negatives or a box of dusty slides, your memories are safer in a digital format. The Kodak Slide N Scan digital slide and film scanner transforms old film negatives and slides into digital images you can save, share and enjoy — forever.

Normally, this classic media scanner would cost $189.99. But you can grab one for just $164.97 for a limited time.

Apple’s going on a serious bug hunt [The CultCast]

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The CultCast logo, with a comic version of an iPhone hunting a bug in iOS 27
Apple's about to drop the hammer on bloat and glitches.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple reportedly plans to focus on squashing bugs in iOS 27 and the rest of next year’s new operating systems. Sounds like Snow Leopard redux … and we couldn’t be happier. New features be damned!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Android devices get a delicious dose of AirDrop.
  • As usual, Apple’s Black Friday deals don’t knock us out. But plenty of other big discounts do. We discuss some of the best sales we’ve seen.
  • Griffin shows how you can give your Mac a makeover in macOS Tahoe. The new customization options look rad — and functional!
  • And finally, Griffin reviews the ViewSonic VP2788-5K, a Mac-ready, 27-inch 5K monitor with great features (and a regrettable name).

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 live stream, embedded below.

Live now: Save on must-have gear with these Cyber Monday deals on iPhone accessories

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Photo of hand hodling iPhone 17 Pro with a Baseus Picogo Qi2 10K Portable Charger to illustrate guide to best iPhone accessories deals for Black Friday 2025
At these prices, these hot iPhone accessories must be flying off the shelves!
Image: Cult of Mac

Missed out on great Black Friday deals on useful iPhone accessories? Worry not! Cyber Monday gives you another chance to score them at genuinely tempting prices.

Whether you want a MagSafe power bank, a multi-port GaN charger or a set of AirTags, you can pick them up at big discounts and upgrade your setup without spending much. With so many deals live already, it’s the perfect chance to stock up on some useful iPhone accessories for daily use.

Today in Apple history: QuickTime 5 takes the world by storm

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QuickTime 5 was being downloaded 1 million times every three days.
QuickTime 5 was being downloaded 1 million times every three days.
Photo: Apple

Nov. 28: Today in Apple history: QuickTime 5 downloads fuel web video revolution November 28, 2001: People download QuickTime 5 for Mac and PC a million times every three days, Apple says, putting the multimedia software on track to exceed 100 million downloads in its first year of distribution. The announcement comes as websites adopt the MPEG-4 format, and online video begins to take off in a big way.

In particular, Apple’s movie trailer website proves a massive success. Millions of people download previews of upcoming blockbusters like Spider-Man and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Online trailer releases for films like The Lord of the Rings become buzz-worthy events.

In a pre-YouTube world, Apple has everything to gain!

Restore your sanity by blocking jerks from calling, texting and emailing

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Block A Number on iPhone
Here are all the details on how to block a number on iPhone.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Spam calls and text messages seem absolutely relentless these days — you’ll want to know how to block a number on your iPhone to keep your sanity. Luckily, it’s easy. There are a variety of ways you can stop unwanted calls. You can block an incoming phone call or text message. And you can send unknown callers directly to Live Voicemail.

If you’re blocking a person in your contacts list, it doesn’t matter which app you block them from — Messages, Phone, Contacts, Mail, Settings — they will be blocked everywhere.

Here’s how to block calls from unknown numbers on iPhone and keep spammers at bay.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday 2025 Apple Watch deals — Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3 and more extreme price drops

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Chromo color processed (light blue on pink background) of Apple Watch Series 11 to illustrate post on Black Friday week 2025 deals
Every model of Apple Watch is on sale for Black Friday week, but some are better deals than others.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Cyber Monday 2025 deals are live, featuring significant price drops on entry-level models and premium variations.

The best deal so far is the newest Apple Watch Series 11, which has dropped to its lowest price to date — just $339 (regularly $399). Another great buy is the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3, on sale from just $199 (save $50 or 20% off). This is a superb starter watch and perfect for kids (and you can use it to track the little darlings). And even the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale (although not by much).

Plus, if you want to save even more, you might be able to grab a previous year’s model before the clearance sales in effect decimate the inventory forever.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday 2025 Apple accessories deals — docks, SSDs, power banks, Apple Pencil and more

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Composite image showing several products (mouse, SSD, power bank, etc.) included in roundup of best Apple accessories Black Friday deals 2025
These powerhouse accessories make any Apple setup stronger.
Image: Cult of Mac

Cyber Monday isn’t just a great time to upgrade to an Apple silicon MacBook or snag an outstanding deal on an iPad. It’s also one of the best times to grab accessories for your Apple devices at deep discounts.

Check out the best deals on Apple accessories for Cyber Monday 2025.

Control this beastly air purifier and humidifier with iPhone or Apple Watch [Review] ★★★★☆

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Turonic PH950 Air Purifier and Humidifier review★★★★☆
I finally got serious about indoor air quality and climate control.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Have you noticed clean, comfortable air is getting harder to find? Among the reasons I finally left California after many years were the increasingly common and unhealthy “smoke seasons” caused by western wildfires. So I moved back east only to discover Canadian wildfires wafting choking drafts into New England, as well as my old nemesis — humidity. So I finally got myself a serious appliance to deal with indoor air quality. This Turonic PH950 Air Purifier and Humidifier review finds it quite the beast for the tasks, with just a few caveats (no HomeKit!?). But control via app for iOS and watchOS makes it especially convenient.