December 13, 1994: Apple strikes a deal with Bandai, Japan’s largest toymaker, to license Mac technology for the creation of a new videogame console called the Pippin.

The device, powered by a PowerPC 603 CPU and running a stripped-down, CD-ROM-based version of Mac OS, shows a struggling Apple is willing to take a chance on something new. Unfortunately, the Pipping becomes a total sales disaster.

Apple’s new over-the-ear headphones are kind of over the top. From the high-end design to the sky-high price tag, AirPods Max certainly made quite a splash this week.

They sold out almost immediately after Tuesday’s unveiling. And that weird AirPods Max case got mercilessly mocked online, as people compared it to a bra and a sleep mask, among other things.

It’s not all AirPods Max this week, though: Apple TV+ started streaming Wolfwalkers, which our reviewer called the “best animated film of the year.” Plus, Apple’s mysterious self-driving car project raced back into the rumor fast lane.

Read up in this week’s free edition of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now for your iOS device. Or use the links below to get to the stories on the web.

Whether you’re following along to a sweaty app-based workout, taking a long run, or just bumping jams to keep you motivated while working from home, everyone needs a great set of headphones.

For folks who like to move around without a wire getting in their way, these Powerbeats3 Wireless Earphones get the job done. They deliver premium audio quality — and you can get them at a steep discount right now.

If you’re an avid gamer (or are just trying to find the perfect gift for one), it can feel nearly impossible to sort through all the products and accessories that were released over the last few years. Not to mention, depending on what you choose, you could put a serious dent in your wallet. Thankfully, there’s the Ultimate Gaming Giveaway, a collection of the top-pick gaming devices, subscriptions and gear of the year — all potentially yours for anywhere between $10 and $50.

With Facebook facing a federal antitrust lawsuit, and a new administration headed for the White House, should Apple be worried about a  crackdown on big tech?

While the specifics might be far different for the two companies, D.C.’s apparent thirst for regulation should get Tim Cook sweating.

Disney has announced that its Disney+ streaming service will increase in price by a single, solitary dollar per month. That takes the monthly cost of the streaming service to $7.99 per month — or $79.99 per year if you buy an annual subscription.

Meanwhile, the price of the Disney Bundle, which also ties in Hulu and ESPN Plus, will add the same $1 to its price tag, bringing it to $13.99 per month. These price changes will kick into effect come March 26, 2021.

Wolfwalkers, the animated movie that arrives on Apple TV+ today, is the best animated film of 2020. A fiery mix of folklore and feminism, it’s one of the most astonishing works of visual art you’re likely to see this year.

It comes from the makers of gorgeous animated features The Secret of Kells and The Breadwinner — and it marks their strongest work to date.

Woot is offering cracking discounts on a whole bunch of new, open-box iPad and MacBook models today only. You can save up to 35% on 2019 and 2020 devices, including the newest iPad Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Stock is selling fast so enjoy this sale while you can!

Head off with a little girl as she wanders a Mediterranean island rescuing animals in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. She’s supposed to be on vacation, but she’s ready to start an environmental movement instead!

The game, which hit Apple Arcade on Friday, is from Ustwo Games, the creator of the classic Monument Valley.

The holidays can be a notoriously tense time of the year — why not give yourself the gift of self-care? These four incredible massagers are all on sale at savings of up to 81% off. Get one (or more!) and you can alleviate all the tension headaches, sore backs and aching necks that tend to pop up around this time of year.

They also offer a perfect way to introduce a new wellness routine for yourself — or somebody on your gift list — in the new year.

It’s way too early to have a sense of how many units Apple will sell of its newly announced AirPods Max headphones. But according to a rumor from Digitimes, two of the manufacturers involved with production are “not expecting much” from the “niche” product.

The report cites sources from Compaq Manufacturing and Unitech, two companies reportedly making printed circuit boards for the new headphones. Unsurprisingly, both firms declined to give official responses with their verdicts.

Remember how cool it was the first time you used Apple’s Cover Flow feature to flip through artwork for albums you bought on iTunes? More than a decade after Apple introduced that feature, Apple Music is rolling out a cool update: animated album covers.

Apple added the feature in the beta versions of iOS 14.3 and macOS 11.1. As you might expect, the animated covers are not available across the board on day one. So far, they’re just starting to appear for certain artists — with beta users starting to find them and share them online.

Apple has started building its own cellular modems for use in future devices. Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made the announcement to employees Thursday during a virtual town hall meeting.

The company currently relies on Qualcomm modems, after restoring its relationship with the company following a prolonged clash over patents and royalties. However, Apple has made no bones about its desire to bring this part of its manufacturing in-house. It even bought Intel’s modem business for $1 billion in 2019, the second-largest acquisition in Apple history.

Apple engineers used remote control robots and iPads equipped with custom augmented reality software to guide technicians in overseas factories, due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Usually Apple engineers make frequent visits to places like China, where Apple carries out manufacturing. However, this year’s coronavirus lockdown has made this impossible — leading to Apple having to make some tech-savvy adjustments.

Allan Hagen is a New York-based professional magician and amateur photographer with a serious setup. His favorite part of the setup is the big, stunning Antoccino Desk by RH Modern, which helps him concentrate.

“A big desk with a fairly minimalist setup really lends itself to focusing on the tasks at hand,” he said.

Julia Roberts is the latest star putting in an appearance on Apple TV+. She’ll reportedly take the lead in an adaptation of the mystery-thriller The Last Thing He Told Me.

Update November 12, 2021: Jennifer Garner has replaced Julia Roberts as the lead in this upcoming series.

Whether you’re cobbling together your own multiple-device remote work setup or just want to rest assured your iPhone 8 or beyond can wirelessly charge to full battery (even when you’re away from a power outlet), this Naztech 2-in-1 Charging Dock fits the bill. It offers the best of both worlds: a wireless power bank that ensures you’re always connected, and a charging dock you can perch anywhere you like.

Update: The wait for macOS Big Sur 11.1 is over. It and operating system updates for quite a few other Apple computers launched Monday.

Apple seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.1 Release Candidate to developers on Thursday. That’s good news for those who hold off upgrading their Mac to each new big new macOS release until after it gets its first major revision.

In addition, there are second release candidates for iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 available.

This iCloud access post is presented by Tenorshare. 

Tenorshare 4MeKey is a tool you can use on an iOS device to bypass iCloud activation lock without needing to key in an account password. The tool is useful when you have forgotten the password for the lock.

Jay Freeman, developer of the Cydia software store for the iPhone, filed a lawsuit accusing the Apple App Store of being a monopoly. His company asks a U.S. District Court to force Apple to let iPhone users get apps from rival software stores.

Apple Pencil makes an ideal holiday gift for any iPad owner. And for a limited time only, you can enjoy a rare $15 discount on the second-generation model. Order today to pay just $114.

Sometimes, when Apple passes a major financial milestone, I’ll have a pang of regret at not having invested all the money I could lay my hands on on Apple back in the mid-1990s.

But that’s far from the worst missed opportunity involving Apple investment. A new article for Fast Company tells the story of seven early investors who sold their AAPL holdings on the day of the company’s IPO in December 1980.

The “first impressions” reviews of the AirPods Max are out, and, well, they’re pretty darn good.

From the high-quality sound to the stainless steel and other luxury materials to the neat use of magnets to connect the ear pads, the consensus is that the AirPods Max are a premium product in (almost) every way.

As for that wallet-damaging $549 price tag? “Judging from materials execution alone, the AirPod Max feels like it should be more expensive if anything,” says TechCrunch‘s Matthew Panzarino. Check out some of the other initial thoughts below.

More than ever these days, people are looking for fresh content that captures their attention. And one of the best ways of capturing an audience’s attention is with compelling video content or photography. You can put more eyes on your brand, build out your portfolio or simply start a fun new hobby with any of these four discounted drones — you’ll soar the skies and get a whole new perspective (literally).

Apple has secured the rights to a new scripted anthology series about climate change called Extrapolations.

According to trade publication Variety, the series will reveal the “intimate, unanticipated stories of how the upcoming changes to our planet will affect love, faith, work and family on a personal and human scale.”

The series is created by Scott Z. Burns, a screenwriter, producer and director who wrote The Bourne Ultimatum and Contagion. He also produced the Academy Award-winning climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth.