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Reviews - page 50

A superstar opens up in Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry [Apple TV+ review]

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Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry
She's young, she's human, get used to it.
Photo: Apple TV+

With Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, the young pop star gets a showcase and a bio-doc, which means she’s gotten so hugely popular that people demanded to know more about her.

The good news is, Eilish is a humble and interesting subject. The bad news: Being a depressed teenager with high-tension demands placed upon you isn’t the easiest thing in the world.

OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip unites iPhone with Xbox controller [Review]

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OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip review
Securely mount your iPhone on an Xbox controller with the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Playing fast-moving games on a touchscreen is often frustrating. And while iOS supports external game controllers, combining one with an iPhone can be cumbersome. But not with the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip. It attaches an iPhone to an Xbox controller in a surprisingly usable setup.

I did some gaming with the phone mount to see how it stands up to real-world use. Spoiler: it performed far better than the many cheap alternatives.

Dueling tea parties and a looming civil war enliven Dickinson [Apple TV+ review]

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Dickinson review: Civil war is brewing in season 2.
A civil war is brewing.
Photo: Apple TV+

On this week’s episode of Apple TV+’s millennial melodrama Dickinson, Austin’s drowning, Emily’s flailing, Mrs. Dickinson’s catering two tea parties, and John Brown’s raiding Harper’s Ferry. And that’s just in the first few minutes.

The future hangs in the balance. And with only two episodes left in the show’s second season, every action and word counts. The show only wastes some of them.

Losing Alice gets kinky as the end draws near [Apple TV+ review]

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Alice, played by Ayelet Zurer, finally gains the upper hand this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

Losing Alice starts to wind down its look at the perverse triangle formed by a screenwriter, a director and their star in the Apple TV+ psychothriller’s penultimate episode.

The time has come for Alice to direct David and Sophie in their big, erotic close-up. Can they find the chemistry needed to sell it before the wheels come off the machine and Sophie is found out?

CoverBuddy protects iPad Pro, plays nice with Magic Keyboard [Review]

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SwitchEasy CoverBuddy review
SwitchEasy CoverBuddy adds extra protection for iPads that are used with Apple’s clip-on keyboards.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard for iPad are amazing but they prevent putting the tablet into most cases, so it has to be “naked” when not clipped to the keyboard. That’s no problem for the SwitchEasy CoverBuddy, a protective case that Apple’s clip-on keyboards can work right through.

Prop up your MacBook for easier typing with the ParcSlope [Review]

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Twelve South ParcSlope review
Twelve South ParcSlope securely supports an Apple laptop or tablet.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Tilting up the base of your MacBook makes it easier to type. And it elevates the screen to be nearer eye level. The Twelve South ParcSlope is a simple, sturdy laptop stand that offers both benefits. And you can use it with your iPad, too.

I used the ParcSlope for several days to see how well it performed in real-world use. Read on to see what I found out.

Emily becomes invisible in this week’s Dickinson [Apple TV+ review]

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Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) gets published ... and disappears!
Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) gets published ... and promptly disappears!
Photo: Apple TV+

Emily Dickinson is finally a published author, but will that stitch the tear in her heart or repair the fraying nerves of everyone in her orbit? Anyone who knows the story of the 19th-century poet knows the answer to that, but we’re not watching Apple TV+’s revisionist history for its accuracy, are we?

Losing Alice crawls toward a predictable conclusion [Apple TV+ review]

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Ayelet Zurer in Losing Alice
Ayelet Zurer plays Alice, and the audience is losing its patience.
Photo: Apple TV+

On this week’s episode of Losing Alice, the Apple TV+ limited series about a director matching wits with a hot young screenwriter, the titular filmmaker has a potential murderer on her hands. With her movie due to shoot any second, can Alice do the right thing and keep her job?

The bodies are piling up, and Alice is losing control of her star, her marriage, her movie and her life, just as the title implies. If only it were more exciting to watch.

That big film shoot grows perilously near in Losing Alice [Apple TV+ review]

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Writer Sophie, played by Lihi Kornowski, is ready to take whatever she can in Apple TV+ thriller
Writer Sophie is ready to take whatever she can in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

On this week’s episode of Apple TV+’s behind-the-scenes filmmaking drama Losing Alice, rehearsals have begun, locations are found, and parts are cast. Now all that remains is for the relationship between writer, director and star not to devolve into shrieking sexual hysterics.

Easier said than done.

The Snoopy Show will charm children and de-stress adults [Apple TV+ review]

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Snoopy and Woodstock return forThe Snoopy Show
Snoopy and Woodstock return for more low-key laughs in The Snoopy Show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Everyone’s favorite beagle flies back into action for a new series of misadventures on Apple TV+. Charles Schulz’s beloved gang of misfits are here to provide support on The Snoopy Show, based on the Peanuts comics.

The new animated series premieres Friday, bringing some stress-busting, family-friendly entertainment to Apple’s streaming service.

This super-slim iPhone MagSafe wallet is also a nifty stand [Review]

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Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for iPhone 12 Series review
The Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for iPhone 12 Series is svelte even holding an Apple Card and a drivers license.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Accessories that take on more than one task are the best. Like Moft’s clip-on iPhone wallet that’s also a stand. It can hold three cards, but is very slender. And it uses magnets to cling tightly to the handset.

I tested the Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for weeks, so I can share what it’s really like in daily use.

Tiny iPhone and iPad charger will surprise you with its power [Review]

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Aukey Minima 18W PD Charger
Aukey’s 18W USB-C power adapter has definite advantages over Apple’s offerings.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Aukey makes a USB-C charger that’s about as small at the standard 5 watt iPhone charger but provides far more power. The Minima 18W PD Charger can quickly juice up an Apple phone or tablet, as well as other devices. With it, that old 5W charger can go in a drawer where it belongs.

It’s a low-cost option, plus I tested the product with an iPhone and an iPad so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

For Dickinson, a night at the opera elicits a ‘bravissimi’ [Apple TV+ review]

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Dickison
Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) learns a lesson in immortality in this week's episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Dickinson, Emily veers nearer to romantic destruction as the whole cast decamps to the Boston opera house to see a show. The episode makes time for everyone in the cast to take a solo. And the show finds its strengths renewed in simply detailing Emily’s emotional inner life.

Losing Alice takes a delightfully mean-spirited turn [Apple TV+ review]

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Lihi Kornowski plays a meta-femme fatale in Losing Alice.
Lihi Kornowski plays a meta-femme fatale in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Losing Alice, the new Apple TV+ limited series about a disastrous relationship between a cunning young screenwriter and a desperate director, the show moves into the psychodramatic territory it’s been threatening to enter.

In “The Obsession,” an audition goes haywire, Sophie the screenwriter bares her teeth and Alice the director doesn’t notice anything — which will cost her dearly.

Combine iPhone MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers into one attractive tray [Review]

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Elago Charging Tray Duo for MagSafe review
Reduce clutter with the Elago Charging Tray Duo, which holds Apple MagSafe iPhone and Apple Watch chargers.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Elago Charging Tray Duo adds color to your MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers. And brings them together into a single unit for your office or bedside.

I added this accessory to my home. Here’s how well it works in real life use.

EasyPencil Plus is like Apple Pencil lite [Review]

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SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: Inexpensive iPad stylus
This isn’t an Apple Pencil, though the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus looks much like Apple’s iPad stylus.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus is an iPad stylus that does most of what Apple Pencil does for a lot less money. It even magnetically clings to the iPad Pro, and works with a broad variety of Apple tablets.

I used the stylus for taking notes, sketching and photo editing. Here’s how it stood up to my everyday life.

Palmer is here for your tears. Better just hand them over. [Apple TV+ review]

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Justin Timberlake and Ryder Allen in Palmer
Justin Timberlake is a star, but Ryder Allen steals the show in Palmer.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ makes an awards bid with the well-meaning Palmer, a drama of recovery, change and tolerance. It might not set the world on fire, but the film proves uniquely difficult to resist.

Justin Timberlake is in fine form as a hardened convict who grows soft and open to love thanks to the charms of a little boy. His accent might not last the whole movie, but his commitment to the part is nevertheless most endearing.

Handy Monochest keeps Apple Watch and spare bands safe and secure while traveling [Review]

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Monowear Monochest for Apple Watch
The ideal Apple Watch accessory for frequent travelers.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you plan to go traveling with your Apple Watch as soon as it’s safe to do so, you’ll want to take with you the handy Monowear Monochest. This book-like accessory securely carries your spare bands, and doubles as a stand that keeps your Apple Watch protected while it’s charging.

The Monochest is compatible with all generations of Apple Watch, and we think it’s a must-have for frequent travelers. What’s more, you can get yours today at 20% off the usual price.

Dickinson weighs the real world and fantasy in enervating party episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Finn Jones & Hailee Steinfeld in Dickinson
Finn Jones and Hailee Steinfeld talk about the future in this week's featherweight episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dickinson rocks the party this week on Apple TV+ as Sue hosts a salon and Emily tries to boost her confidence long enough to be proud of herself in public.

The show’s tightrope walk of purposeful frivolity keeps butting up against its desire to say and do things of real substance. It’s the rare show that can pull off such a feat. And so far, Dickinson seems too interested in strained wordplay to quite get there.

Losing Alice starts with a bang, then goes quiet [Apple TV+ review]

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Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (played by Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

New Apple TV+ miniseries Losing Alice takes a deep dive into the psychology of two sexually charged rivals. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into with this eight-episode psychological thriller, which premieres Friday on the streaming service.

Losing Alice offers a cautionary tale about the perils of collaboration — and about riding the wave of TV production to series length.

Smart Satechi stand floats your iPad over your keyboard [Review]

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Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for iPad review
The Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand securely holds a variety of tablets, in portrait or landscape orientations.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The redesigned Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand transforms your iPad into a desktop computer. And it looks great doing so, holding the tablet so it seems to float over your keyboard.

I added the accessory to my office. Here’s how it works in real life.

Everybody’s stuck, blocked and frustrated in Dickinson’s latest episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Anna Baryshnikov (left) and Hailee Steinfeld play two very different Dickinsons in Apple TV+ show
Anna Baryshnikov (left) and Hailee Steinfeld play two very different Dickinsons.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dickinson ambles closer to the edge of its hero’s fame and madness in this season’s fourth episode, which serves as a meditation on creative blockage.

Though oft charming and frequently beautiful, the postmodern Apple TV+ show about the 19th-century poet still suffers from an irreconcilable identity crisis. This week’s episode, released Friday, takes no steps to resolve the situation.