| Cult of Mac

Protect iPhone 15’s screen with tough new UltraGlass 2

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iPhone 15 models have tough screens, but you can never be too careful.
iPhone 15 models have tough screens, but you can never be too careful.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin’s new ScreenForce UltraGlass 2 Treated Screen Protectors for iPhone 15 models are made of its strongest and most durable glass yet, the company said Thursday.

You can pick up the protectors at either Belkin.com or Apple.com. And when they arrive by the end of the month in Apple Store locations, you can take advantage of a free precision fitting service.

Try the cheap way to get an Apple display [Setups]

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You won't believe how little the user paid for those monitors.
You won't believe how little the user paid for those monitors.
Photo: Thousand_Hands_4032@Reddit.com

The No. 1 complaint about Apple displays? They’re too expensive. People love them, but not everyone will pony up the cash to grab a $1,600 Studio Display or, heaven help us, a $5,000 Studio Display XDR.

Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup provides a much-cheaper alternative that might work for some people. It uses a pair of old-but-beautiful Cinema Displays that cost a grand total of $74.

Belkin goes cutting edge with some of the first Qi2 wireless chargers

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Belkin BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand
The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand works equally well for iPhone and Android.
Photo: Belkin

Qi2 is the future of wireless chargers and Belkin is already on board. On Thursday, it took the wraps off a pair of accessories that use the emerging standard.

Qi2 was created to bring the advantages of iPhone’s MagSafe to Android. Wireless chargers from Belkin and other companies that support the standard will work equally well for Apple and Samsung, etc. handsets, as long as they support Qi2.

Is Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad too heavy? [Setups]

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A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
Photo: PlaZma64@Reddit.com

We look at a lot of computer setups on social media, but sometimes what drives conversation among commenters surprises us. With today’s Mac Studio rig with an odd couple of mismatched displays, the main debate concerned … keyboards for iPad.

Specifically, when an iPad is so wonderfully light, what keyboard case doesn’t weight it down too much?

Belkin makes the USB-C hub we’ve been waiting for [Review] ★★★★

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Belkin makes the USB-C hub we’ve been waiting for [Review]★★★★
Belkin’s affordable USB-C hub offers four high-speed ports and can charge your devices, too.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Belkin Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub seems like a simple product, but it’s something we’ve had to wait years to finally get. It’s a simple, inexpensive hub that turns one USB-C port into four that can provide high-speed data transfers while also powering a MacBook or iPad.

I put the device to the test in my home office. I lives up to just about all my expectations. Here’s why.

2 key items complete killer workstation [Setups]

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With a good iPad stand and a DAC/amp added for audio, this setup is finally done. For now.
With a good iPad stand and a DAC/amp added for audio, this setup is finally done. For now.
Photo: drhippopotato@Reddit.com

Part of the fun of covering computer setups for Cult of Mac is seeing how a setup is never “done.” Blood, sweat, tears and time may go into it, but it will always need something — whether that’s missing functionality, better decoration or the next generation of a key device.

Today’s featured M2 MacBook Air setup is a good example. Since we featured an earlier version of it just weeks ago, the user made important changes. He added two components to maximize crucial iPad functionality and pump up audio.

Latest Belkin power bank can fast-charge Apple Watch

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K in use
Quickly power up your Apple Watch and iPhone with Belkin's new portable battery.
Photo: Belkin

A new power bank from Belkin includes a built-in wireless charger that can juice up the latest Apple Watch models in the minimum amount of time. The battery also can simultaneously replenish an iPhone through its USB-C port.

The BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K launched Thursday.

Photographer’s sluggish Intel MacBook Air needs Apple silicon relief [Setups]

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Gabriel's computer setup packs a large array of gear.
Gabriel's computer setup looks relatively tidy, but it packs a large array of gear.
Photo: Gabriel B.

Gabriel B., a 13-year-old student and photographer in Baton Rouge, La., sent pics and commentary showcasing and describing his well-equipped MacBook Air-and-dual-display setup to Cult of Mac this week.

He noted his Intel MacBook powers an “army of peripherals,” but it’s not quite up to the work he asks of it. And how has he already filled 3TB of digital storage space, anyway? Well, that’s what heavy photo and video editing will do.

Trim M2 MacBook Air rig packs stellar audio [Setups]

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At a glance, you might not think this setup has 18 items in it not including the furniture.
At a glance, you might not think this setup has 18 items in it not including the furniture.
Photo: drhippopotato@Reddit.com

We’ve seen more M2 MacBook Pro laptops lately in Setups than M2 MacBook Air machines, but today’s featured setup bucks the trend. Its M2 MacBook Air drives a 34-inch LG 4K IPS display.

But it’s the setup’s audio gear that may grab your attention. AirPods Pro (2nd gen) make the cut, as do two other sets of premium earphones, outstanding speakers and one of Sony’s super-high-end Walkman MP3 players.