This week’s Awesome Apps include a great way to keep your Mac in tip-top shape, a desktop-style web browser for mobile, and an app for correcting your posture using your AirPods.
I’ve spent most of my working life slumped in an office chair. Don’t get me wrong: I move around quite a lot. I start upright, and by the end of the day, I’m almost horizontal.
We all know this is very bad, but luckily help is at hand … from my AirPods!
★★★★☆
The Kingston XS1000 External SSD is about the size of pack of gum but holds up to 2 terabytes of data. And it can transfer files at high speed, too.
I put the petite but powerful and affordable solid state drive to the test and came away impressed.
★★★★☆
Apple Watch Series 9 is the biggest year-over-year leap in recent years. It has not one, not two, but a whopping four new features, most powered by its updated chip. Apps load faster, voice dictation is near instant and the display gets both brighter in the sun and dimmer in darkness.
A couple of the best features I haven’t been able to test — double tap promises to make tapping the screen with your nose obsolete; improved connectivity with your phone will make it easier to find, if paired with a new iPhone. And with this release, Apple dips their toe into more sustainable manufacturing practices.
The Apple Watch Series 9 a good product. In the end, with big releases like this so few and far between, I can’t help but wonder if it’s close to reaching its potential.
★★★★☆
Clip the Turtle Beach Atom Controller for iOS on either side of an iPhone to add the physical buttons and sticks that make high-end gaming much more fun. It mimics the brilliant design of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with the controls set on either side of the display.
It’s ready for Apple Arcade games and cloud-gaming services, too. And don’t forget the console games Apple has promised to port to the iPhone 15 Pro.
I spent hours testing the controller (it’s a hard job I have) and I really like it. Here’s why.
One piece of software I consider indispensable for keeping my Mac running clean, quick and clear is CleanMyMac X by MacPaw.
CleanMyMac X packs more than 30 tools for keeping your Mac in tip-top condition, but is especially useful for clearing disc space, freeing up RAM, and deleting malware and adware. The latest version has a new, unlimited seven-day free trial, and Cult of Mac readers can get an exclusive 10% discount.
Those who were jealous of the Dynamic Island and 48MP camera in the iPhone 14 Pro can relax — the just-launched iPhone 15 and 15 Plus include the best features of last year’s Pro models. This makes them significant upgrades for anyone with an older handset … even one from 2022.
And dumping the old Lightning port in favor of USB-C is icing on the cake.
If you love movies, TV, music, beer or international travel, the apps in this week’s Awesome Apps roundup will knock your socks off. If you happen to love all those things … well, first off, congratulations on being a person of many and varied interests.
Secondly, you’d better get downloading so you don’t spend another precious moment without these apps.
One of the best things about iPhone 15 is arguably its USB-C port, which makes connectivity a whole lot simpler. It means you can finally charge your iPhone with the same cables and chargers you might use for other devices, like iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Nintendo Switch and lots more.
If you don’t own any of those and you need to stock up on USB-C accessories, fear not. We rounded up the best USB-C cables and chargers you can buy right now for iPhone 15.
If you’re getting a new iPhone, the very first thing you should do right out of the box is slap a screen protector on it. Even though Apple calls the iPhone 15 lineup’s Ceramic Shield glass screens the toughest ever, they can and will shatter when dropped.
Plus, no matter how much you baby your new smartphone, it’s going to rub up against dirt and debris in your pocket or while rolling around in your bag. That can lead to unsightly scratches.
Keep your iPhone 15‘s screen in superb shape with a quality screen protector. Here are the best options you can buy right now.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 reviews are out, and they’re positive. Modest upgrades like a brighter display, double-tap gesturing and a faster processor might not make current Ultra owners shell out for the new one, but it’s highly recommended to anyone else who wants the best rugged smartwatch. For more details on the Ultra’s features, click here to explore.
Early reviews of Apple Watch Series 9 praise its new processor that gives the wearable a nifty Double Tap gesture and improves Siri, too. The brighter display also draws kudos from reviewers.
The 2023 version can be preordered now, and starts reaching customers on Friday.
Got an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro on preorder? It’s time to start thinking about protection. No matter how badly you want to show off your handset’s pretty paint job or its tough titanium chassis, you’re going to regret not covering it up if you drop it onto a hard surface and break it within a week. But don’t worry — there are already a bunch of excellent case options to choose from.
Whether you want a sleek fit that complements iPhone 15’s slim design, extreme impact-resistance for the most damaging drops, or luxurious leather that only gets better with age, there’s an iPhone 15 case right up your alley.
We rounded up the best options you can buy right now, with prices starting from a mere $14.99.
High demand for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is well-deserved, according to the first reviews, thanks to the new models’ lightweight titanium frames, immersive screens, beefed-up cameras and numerous incremental improvements,
Several reviewers noted how smartphone changes are always incremental nowadays. But the upgrades to the iPhone 15 Pro models seem like some of Apple’s best in years.
★★★★☆
If you like cute, Ugreen’s got you covered. Its new Ugreen Nexode RG fast chargers are adorable little “robots” that can charge iPhones, iPads and more. “RG” stands for “Robot GaN,” meaning they’re gallium nitride (GaN) chargers.
And they really only look like robots. They’re not going to walk your dog or rise up and destroy humanity or anything. Probably.
The company sent me a trio of the little cuties to check out. You could get several for different electrical outlets, and when they’re not plugged in, they could stand guard over your computer setup.
Initial reviews of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus praise the addition of the Dynamic Island and 48MP camera, saying they make the new handsets feel like a significant upgrade for users of older models. They also applaud the switch to USB-C and the new ultra-wideband chip.
The two iOS 17 devices reach store shelves this Friday.
★★★★★
Apple TV+’s epic science fiction series Foundation concludes its second season this week and it goes out on a remarkable high note.
Who knows what the future holds for the Second Foundation? But I’ve greatly enjoyed this season. The hours I’ve spent getting sucked into this excellent sci-fi show were well worth the investment.
★★★★☆
Need a compact and potent MagSafe charging station to replace a slow 3-in-1? Coming out just after iPhone 15’s release, Ugreen’s unusual new Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station could fit the bill, charging up to four devices at once.
Rolled out Thursday, the speedy charger takes up a small space by putting a MagSafe platform for iPhone that tilts up on top and USB-C and USB-A ports in the squat body. The company sent me one to try.
★☆☆☆☆
Apple TV+’s flagship drama The Morning Show returns today for another season of broadcast news back-stabbing after a truly disastrous second season. The show adds a new character — a tech exec played by Mad Men star Jon Hamm — to the toxic mix this time around.
But can the showrunners right The Morning Show’s course? And, perhaps more importantly, does it matter? The show, about a news network and its star executives and anchors, finds itself dealing with contemporary politics a day late and a dollar short.
★★★★★
Apple TV+ science fiction show Foundation reaches the penultimate episode of a very fine second season this week
Brother Day demands answers from the people of Terminus, who disappoint him with their conviction. Gaal and Salvor plot a daring escape from the Mentalics. And a great big dogfight in space precedes the showstopping image of the season.
★★★☆☆
When your iPhone dies while you’re out an about it can be a real drag. That’s why it pays to make a power bank part of your everyday carry — like the recently released Ugreen 10000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank.
You can use it as a wireless magnetic charger for iPhone or AirPods and power up two other devices via USB-C and USB-A ports at the same time.
★★★★☆
As the world increasingly turns to USB-C connectivity — looking at you, imminent iPhone 15 — Ugreen is there. Its powerful new Nexode 300-watt GaN fast-charger, launched Tuesday, powers up five devices at once — four via USB-C and one via USB-A.
Ugreen calls it “the world’s first 5-Port 300W GaN desktop charger,” and the company sent me the beast to check out. You’ll want to keep this hefty brick in one place, not carry it around with you.
★★★★☆
Salvor and Gaal are in trouble this week as incredible Apple TV+ space opera Foundation heads into the home stretch of its great second season.
With the Mentalics moving on our two heroines, it seems that everyone has their fair share of trouble in the episode, entitled “The Last Empress.” Cleric and Constant find themselves at the business end of a Trantor firing squad. Dusk and Dawn see themselves fading into obsolescence. And Sareth’s running out of time to make her move.
★★★★☆
The Zagg Pro Keyboard 12 is a slim, lightweight desktop keyboard that uses Bluetooth so no data cable is required. And it also charges wirelessly so it never needs a cable of any kind.
The accessory can be paired with multiple devices, and switch easily between them.
I tested the membrane keyboard in my home office for several weeks. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.
If you’ve shelled out hundreds or thousands of dollars on a new computer, you’ll want the best monitor for your Mac to go along with it. There are many different kinds to choose from.
Macs and MacBooks play nicely with Retina displays, which have twice the pixel density and four times the resolution. But they can also be quite pricey — while there are new third-party options that are half the price of Apple’s, the cheapest is still around $800. You can choose from standard 27-inch displays, ultrawide panels with acres of screen space, or even small monitors ideal for a crowded dorm room desk.
Here’s a display buying guide to help you find an appropriate monitor to go with your Mac.