Top stories - page 109

If you’ve got the drive, you can pick up a new hobby, get primed to embark on a different career or simply learn something for the heck of it with StackSkills Unlimited. With more than 1,000 courses ranging from graphic design to guitar, there’s plenty of room to follow a new passion with this excellent online learning platform.

Frankly, there may never be a wrong time to learn something new. But the right time is during our Back to Education event. During this sale, you can get lifetime access to StackSkills Unlimited for only $69 (regularly $99). No coupon is needed, but the event ends August 24.

Hurricane Katrina has come and gone and there are 45 unexplained deaths in a hospital in New Orleans. That’s the hook for new Apple TV+ limited series Five Days at Memorial. The titular hospital is a crowbar used to examine the carelessness of U.S. disaster-relief infrastructure, health care and our attitudes toward one another.

This all actually happened. And show creators John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) and Carlton Cuse (Lost) mean to take us uncomfortably close to the truth of what happens when Americans are faced with unprecedented situations … because we are running out of those.

Snoring is no fun for anyone. Obviously, the loud sounds of snoring can prove painful for anybody within earshot. But even if you’re the one sawing logs in your sleep, snoring can take a toll, depriving you of the healthy sleep your body needs.

However, just because you can’t stop yourself from snoring doesn’t mean you’re powerless. It just means you might benefit from an anti-snoring device like the Snore Circle. This gadget stimulates the muscles under the wearer’s chin to help stop snoring, and it’s on sale for $79.99 (regularly $119).

Wouldn’t you pay that much for a solid night’s sleep?

Accessories-maker Grovemade recently added small and medium sizes to its lineup of desk shelves, which are wooden stands or risers for monitors and laptops that help you organize and store other items.

We see the Portland, Oregon-based company’s desk shelves from time to time in people’s workstations in Setups feature articles.

August 11, 1950: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is born. While Steve Jobs may be the most admired Apple figure, Woz might be the most well-loved by fans.

In addition to his most famous creation, the Apple II, Wozniak is also responsible for imbuing Apple’s products with his fun-loving personality.

Happy birthday, Woz!

Apple aficionado Basic Apple Guy ran a “bracket” polling competition — think March Madness basketball, but without any perspiration — to determine the greatest macOS wallpaper ever. And users have spoken, according to a tweet pointing to final results Wednesday.

In a field of 18 competitors, macOS Catalina wallpaper emerged the champion (pictured above).

The state of the economy is pretty scary these days, but landing a high-paying job could tamp down your darkest fears about inflation. However, you’ll need to survive the interview process first, which is pretty terrifying in itself.

During our Back to Education event, you can learn how to nail your job interviews convincingly, thanks to a discount on Huru. This iOS app puts valuable interview-prep tools in the palm of your hand. And you can purchase a lifetime subscription to Huru for just $69 (regularly $1,393) through August 24.

When you purchase Huru during this event, 50 cents will be donated to a school or charity you vote on. You’ll receive an email after your purchase to select the organization you want to support. (We’ll announce the recipient when the event ends.)

In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court, and Facebook turning over a teenager’s private chats about her abortion to police, protecting your data is more urgent than ever.

Your iPhone and Apple Watch, and third-party apps you use on them, efficiently capture data that could be used against you at a later date by law enforcement. We’re talking things like location data, ovulation records, text messages and your web-browsing history.

Keeping all your data private after Roe v. Wade to avoid prosecution could prove highly important. Luckily, Apple gives you powerful controls over how and where your data is stored. You just might need to adjust certain settings for maximum privacy.

Read on to dive deep into data security recommendations for iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.

If you’re tired of your mouse, a Magic Trackpad could be the perfect new input device for your Mac or iPad. And during our Back to Education sale, you can get Apple’s wireless trackpad for just $117.99 (regularly $129) — no coupon code needed.

Plus, your purchase will trigger a contribution to an educational charity!

Anker has been on a roll lately with new chargers, and it kept going Wednesday with the release of its PowerCore 24K, aka the Anker 737 Power Bank.

The gadget packs a 24,000mAh battery, three ports for charging devices (up to and including your MacBook) plus a handy digital display that shows you what the device is doing.

The just-announced Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 offer the clearest evidence yet that Apple is correct to hold off on releasing a folding iPhone. Flexible screens still come with too many problems to be acceptable in an iPhone.

Of course, that didn’t stop Samsung from releasing handsets with these drawbacks.

Venerable audio brand Sennheiser rolled out its new Momentum 4 wireless over-ear headphones Tuesday. The successor to the much-liked Momentum 3 aims for the same high-end sound and comfort along with a more modern look.

The cans, which will compete with the likes of Sony’s top headphones and AirPods Max, also claim an impressive battery life of up to 60 hours.

People swear by their iPads. And when they get one, they have many choices of cool accessories that help expand what it can do and how they use it.

SwitchEasy is a major accessory-maker for iPads, and for a limited time, you can get 20% off the company’s goods in the Cult of Mac Store.

But if you want to score a deal, you need to do it today. Our sale on SwitchEasy iPad gear ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on August 10, 2022.

We’ve seen a few computer setups lately where the owner switches from one or more large monitors to something smaller. But they don’t necessarily see losing the screen real estate as a “downgrade.”

That’s the case with today’s featured M1 Pro MacBook-centered setup. It went from a 34-inch ultra-wide 4K monitor to a new 27-inch Studio Display.

Essentially it boils down to “size isn’t everything.” When it comes to displays, there’s actually a lot more to the picture.

If your iPhone or iPad locks up, iOS 16/iPadOS 16 will let get out of the jam by rebooting the device with a simple Siri command. It’s the easiest method I’ve found to get the handset or tablet going again when there’s a problem with the touchscreen, or the device is just misbehaving.

Here’s all you have to do.

School supplies aren’t limited to a nice binder, a new backpack and some rad pens. These days, your Apple gear is front and center in the educational experience. For example, you can use your iPhone to join or view video lectures, your AirPods let you listen to recorded lessons, and your Apple Watch is a great place to keep your Pomodoro timer.

Once school starts, those batteries will drain pretty fast. Luckily, during our Back to Education Sale, you can get a 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger for just $43.99 (regularly $59). Plus, a portion of each sale goes to a great cause!

No coupon code is needed, but this sale only runs through August 24.

The internet has come a long way. For example, you can play online games with massive, thriving communities. Meanwhile, your browsing habits probably produce targeted ads on your sidebar and email.

Luckily, you can take the best and get rid of the worst. Unlock online gaming and lock down your browsing with this bundle, which pairs 12 months of PlayStation Plus Essential with a lifetime subscription to VPN Unlimited, all for only $69.99 (regularly $259).

You probably spend a fair chunk of change on your Apple Watch and you should take care to protect it — especially if you’re the sort of person who does a number on watches.

If you really want to safeguard it, you could get a rugged case and band combo like the one Elago makes.

You can find the Elago Armor Case Apple Watch Band in the Cult of Mac Store for just $15.

Apple products are shifting from Cupertino’s proprietary Lightning connectors to USB-C, but the switch may not be in the cards for the second generation of AirPods Pro, expected to ship before the end of the year.

Or so said a prominent analyst Tuesday, anyway.

Apple doesn’t enjoy a great record when it comes to charging accessories. The company’s Lightning cables, in particular, seem overpriced and less than rugged.

So, if you want to power up your iPhone or iPad without being super-careful, it might be time for an upgrade. With a braided sheath to protect it, this Vibrance Connect Lightning cable might just last much longer than a stock Apple cord. You can get one today for just $39.99 in a range of eye-catching colors.

Color is an essential part of any visual project. When you find inspiration in the digital realm, it’s easy enough to find the hex code and save the shade. But what about in the real world? You can think of the Nix Mini Color Sensor V2 as your pocket color picker.

This tiny device can detect the exact hue of any object or material and send the result straight to your iOS device. It’s typically priced at $99, but you can get the sensor today for only $83.95.

The latest iOS 16 beta returns the iPhone’s battery percentage to the status bar. This is Apple finally walking back a controversial user interface change from 2017.

However, users of some iPhone models report that the new feature isn’t available on their device.

With a new week come new discounts on Apple products — especially at this time of year, with new product releases from Cupertino around the corner.

Today Amazon is chopping $50 off of iPad Pro Magic Keyboards and $30 off Apple Pencil 2 (which is a return to an all-time low price).

Bored of your basic Apple Watch band? Dress it up with a stunning stainless steel stretch-link bracelet from Rilee & Lo. They look just as spectacular as other high-end bracelets but are much more convenient to get on and off — and they’re a lot more affordable than they look.

Some computer setups are so strikingly beautiful they look like art installations. That tends to happen more with multiple-display setups because the imagery on the screens really adds to the aesthetic impact.

Today’s featured M1 Mac mini setup makes a visual statement using six displays, including two ultra-wide monitors and two iPads, plus some clever backlighting.