The transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon changed every Mac for the better … almost. But there are a few niches in the lineup that have yet to be filled.
While Apple’s computers are best-in-class, there are a few categories the company does not currently compete in. These are the top seven Macs that Apple doesn’t make.
Upgraded to macOS Sonoma? You probably noticed by now that clicking on your Mac’s desktop automatically hides all open windows, with the focus moving to your widgets and desktop shortcuts.
This is the new “Click wallpaper to reveal desktop” feature in the new Mac operating system. If you find this functionality annoying, here’s how to turn it off. That way, you can safely click your Mac’s desktop again.
You can now pick up 2023 Mac Studio models from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store. This is a great way to get a new-like Mac Studio with up to 15% discount.
Apple unveiled the 2023 Mac Studio in June, so the machines have quickly hit its refurbished store.
How can you best save your MacBook battery life for many years of use? Your laptop’s battery is the most likely component to wear out, and one of the biggest problems is keeping it plugged in all the time. Apple offers some built-in controls, but they’re pretty basic and inflexible. Energiza Pro, on the other hand, gives you far more options, extending your MacBook’s battery life for years to come.
It’s the smart battery manager you need to keep your MacBook alive for longer.
The next major macOS release is here. Dubbed macOS Sonoma, the update packs several usability changes that will help further boost your productivity.
“macOS Sonoma is now available as a free software update, bringing a rich set of new features to the Mac that make work and play even more powerful,” Apple said in a press release Tuesday. “With macOS Sonoma, desktop widgets unlock a new way to personalize the Mac and get more done, while stunning new screen savers, big updates to video conferencing and Safari, along with optimized gaming make the Mac experience better than ever.”
Apple typically drops major new macOS builds in October. But this time, it is releasing macOS Sonoma in September, possibly because it is a relatively minor update.
Now you can listen to more than 100 new podcasts from various apps and services in Apple Podcasts, the company said Tuesday.
“Subscribers to Apple Music, Apple News+ and participating apps like Calm and Lingokids can connect their subscriptions to access new shows and more,” Apple noted.
You can get Apple’s most powerful MacBook Pro with M2 Max chip for up to $250 off. Amazon has discounted the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max to $3,249 from $3,499.
If the 16-inch model is too big, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same Max chip is available for $200 less.
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macOS Sonoma is ready for its public release. The new Mac operating system will drop on Tuesday, just over a week after iOS 17, watchOS 10 and iPadOS 17 launched.
If you can’t wait to try out the next major macOS build, you might want to know its exact release time on September 26 so you can update your Mac as soon as possible. If that’s the case, find the exact macOS Sonoma release time in your area below.
September 20, 1989: Apple releases the Macintosh Portable, the first battery-powered Mac you could take on the road.
At a time when Tim Burton’s Batman is flying high in theaters, and Madonna is shocking audiences at the MTV Video Music Awards, this ahead-of-its-time product lays the groundwork for Apple’s looming laptop revolution.
Mac users are very satisfied with their computer. Even more so than last year, according to a survey of users of all types of desktops, laptops and tablets.
Apple computers beat Windows PCs from most rivals in user satisfaction. In fact, there’s only one company that can rival Apple.
Whether you’re a remote worker, student or seasoned professional who travels to and fro constantly, you need a laptop that can come with. This refurbished Intel MacBook Air is totally portable — and priced to move!
With this deal, you can score this refurbished MacBook Air for only $369.99. How’s it so affordable, you ask? For starters, it’s a model that came out before Apple silicon was a thing. Plus, it’s a refurb … but don’t sweat it. It comes with a Grade B rating, meaning it might have light scratches or scuffs on the exterior, but performance won’t be impacted.
The entire iPhone 15 lineup goes up for preorder from Apple’s online store tomorrow morning. They might be pricey — in fact, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most expensive iPhone yet — but there’s an easy way you can earn some quick cash to help you pay for them.
Sell your old Apple devices to Cult of Mac!
Our buyback program makes it incredibly easy to turn your old iPhone, Apple Watch and other gear into real cash. And we typically pay more than any other service. What’s more, you can get a quote now and hold onto your device until your upgrade arrives.
Find out how much you could save on your next upgrade today.
How would you like to score a 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air for $899, a couple hundred bucks off the regular price?
More than 4,600 people on Best Buy’s website give the slender laptop a rating of 4.9 out of 5.0. And now it’s on sale.
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The 15-inch MacBook Air only just launched in June, and shoppers can already pick up a refurbished unit from Apple itself. Buying refurbs from Apple is a popular way to save on used computers that can be relied on.
The newest macOS notebook is lightweight, boasts a long battery life and comes with a speedy M2 processor. Even better, a refurb is about 15% off the regular cost.
September 10, 1984: Apple ships the Macintosh 512K, the first upgrade to the first-gen Macintosh 128K.
Coming less than eight months after the original Macintosh, the 512K Mac makes no sweeping changes to the computer’s form factor. Instead, the big upgrade is quadrupling the RAM. This leads Apple fans to refer to the computer as the “Fat Mac.”
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re putting our million-dollar reputations on the line with predictions for Apple’s upcoming “Wonderlust” event. Who will come out on top when the truth is revealed on September 12? (See Griffin’s scorecard for our picks.)
Also on The CultCast:
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.
Apple is reportedly working on a MacBook with a price low enough to compete with Chromebooks in the education market.
If true, then the company may well be intending to follow the same strategy for macOS notebooks that it does for the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE.
August 30, 1990: A 112-page confidential Apple memo lays out what the company must do to make the Macintosh division a marketplace contender.
The internal memo comes from Dan Eilers, Apple’s vice president of strategy and corporate development. He boldly says Apple must consider four strategies: licensing Mac OS, licensing both the Mac’s operating system and hardware, creating a spinoff brand for the Macintosh, or starting a totally new company to combat the growing threat of Microsoft’s Windows.
Whether you want a personal machine on the go or need a backup for when your Mac is in the shop, a MacBook Air is an ideal choice. This refurbished MacBook Air gives you plenty of space and power for most tasks, and it’s on sale for just $255.97.
Here’s a better way to copy text out of a PDF on a Mac using Live Text.
Although the Mac offers fantastic support for opening and editing PDFs in the built-in Preview app, the simple act of copying and pasting text from a PDF can still be a nightmare. For instance, selecting text on a two- or three-column document often selects across the whole width of the page, which is totally useless.
Taking a quick screenshot and using Live Text often yields better results — and it works with old document scans as well as PDFs. Here’s how it’s done.
Adobe wants to help students accustomed to old-fashioned paper textbooks get over the transition to PDF textbooks. The company points out that its free reader for the digital format does a lot more than display text and images, and many of these features are ideal for students.
The software developer highlighted five of the benefits of the free Mac application for those going to class with a PDF textbook.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re hearing all kinds of rumors about the USB-C cable(s) that will come with iPhone 15 models. Will they be colorful? Braided? Fast? Slow? We’ve got some leaks and some informed speculation — and probably just enough cable to hang ourselves with.
Erfon’s out this week, but we’ve got a special guest you won’t want to miss!
Also on The CultCast:
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.
What’s the best monitor for your Mac? Desktop displays aren’t just for desktop computers anymore — 77% of you are buying MacBooks, but you probably want a nice setup when you’re at home. And if you do have a Mac mini or Mac Studio, you want to make sure you’re picking the right display.
Apple introduced its own Studio Display last year, which has been well-received and is reasonably priced (at least compared to Apple’s other offering). But what does the broader market for midrange displays look like?
Here’s a display buying guide to help you find an appropriate monitor to go with your Mac.
August 25, 1995: Apple releases the PowerBook 5300, the Mac laptop that will save the world from alien invaders in the 1996 blockbuster movie Independence Day.
The computer will make many more big-screen appearances, too. See some of the laptop’s most high-profile Hollywood cameos below.
At Cult of Mac we love vintage Apple gear, of course. But to avoid confusion with what Apple means when it says “vintage,” perhaps we should say “retro” or even “antique.” You know, the old stuff people like to collect and put in computer museums.
Today’s featured setup sports both old and new. An M1 MacBook Air is the main computer, but it’s used as a desktop machine, sans built-in monitor. And right next to it are a working Macintosh SE/30 and an iMac G3.
