This artfully executed setup is supposedly in someone's home, not a design museum. Photo: diotav@Reddit
It’s only Monday, but Dutch videographer, designer and web production artist Dion Tavenier probably wins this week’s award for setup design. Cool, spare, architectural — get the Museum of Modern Setups on the phone!
If only there was such a museum. Or such an award.
The first release candidates for iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 are out. The same goes for watchOS 7.5 RC and tvOS 14.6 RC. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple seeded to developers the first release candidates for iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 on Monday. These are only small updates for these operating systems, and their timing may be controlled by the 2021 iPad Pro, which will reach customers on Friday.
Not to be left out, devs also got access to the initial release candidates for watchOS 7.5 and tvOS 14.6 on Monday.
Update:Shortly thereafter, Apple also seeded macOS Big Sur 11.4 RC to developers.
The first mini-LED MacBook models might not launch before 2022. Concept: Ian Zelbo
Apple may push back its first notebooks with beautiful mini-LED displays. Unconfirmed reports previously predicted 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook models with the new type of screen would arrive before the end of 2021, but a leak Monday indicates they won’t come until the following year.
At this point, it’s not clear if this means Apple won’t introduce new Mac notebooks until 2022, or if just the switch to mini-LED screens is on hold. Many are very much anticipating redesigned MacBooks powered with an Apple M2 chip.
Already invested in Tile? Get more for up to 20% less. Photo: Tile
Not interested in AirTag? Enjoy up to 20% off Tile trackers instead. The teeny-tiny Tile Mate can be yours for just $19.99 — $10 less than Apple’s tracker — while the wallet-friendly Tile Slim is down to $24.99.
That’s a sweet saving of $5 on both models. Or you can save $8.99 on a Tile Mate four-pack. Bag yours before the discounts disappear.
Higher-def music is coming soon to an Apple device near you. Photo: Apple
Apple Music is going lossless — at no extra cost to subscribers. Apple revealed the free upgrade Monday, a day ahead of its rumored launch. The company said Apple Music will bring lossless audio to more than 75 million tracks starting in June so listeners can hear songs “the way the artists created them in the studio.”
In addition, Apple Music will add Spatial Audio support for songs mixed in Dolby Atmos. That means customers who own AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and Beats headphones featuring an H1 or W1 chip — or using the built-in speakers in the newest iPhone, iPad and Mac — will be able to hear certain songs in the immersive format.
You can take this Apple Watch charger anywhere. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you’re an Apple Watch fan on the go, this wireless keychain charger is a must-have for your keyring. It offers a quick, powerful and portable charge for your Apple Watch to keep it going anytime, anywhere.
These apps are out of this world. Image: Cult of Mac
Space: the final frontier. And kinda sorta the theme of this week’s roundup of new and updated apps.
We’ve got an app that brings Star Trek, NASA and Tetris faces to Apple Watch. A free iOS game that will get arcade fans flashing back to Asteroids. And an audio app for women that blends erotica, meditation and ASMR for a trip deep into inner space.
I’m not sure how Godzilla and Kong fit into the space theme, but they crash onto the scene as well. (If only we had SpaceGodzilla.) Three … two … one …
Simply place Switchmate over your existing light switches for voice-controlled smart lighting. Photo: Switchmate
People say smart homes are the future, and it becomes more and more true each year. In 2019, an estimated 27% of the U.S. population owned a smart home device, but that’s only the beginning for this growing trend. According to research, U.S. smart home sales are projected to reach “more than $47 billion by 2024, which would be approximately three times as much as the revenues in 2017.”
Porting macOS to iPad just doesn't make sense. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Some people think porting the Mac’s operating system to the iPad makes sense. We don’t. Find out why that would be a horrible nightmare in Cult of Mac Magazine‘s cover story this week.
Also, don’t miss our Q&A with Ian Zelbo, the 17-year-old New Yorker who’s been blasting out eye-catching concept art based on the latest Apple leaks. The high schooler behind RendersbyIan tells what gear he uses and reveals some of his rendering secrets in our Setups post.
Then, of course, you’ll want to check out Zelbo’s colorful MacBook Air renders and the rest of the week’s juiciest Apple news, rumors, how-tos and reviews.
This smart Wi-Fi router will deliver the best performance for your fiber internet connection. Photo: Tenda
If there are certain spots in your house with spotty Wi-Fi, you’re not just imagining it. Connections sometimes works less efficiently or not at all in certain corners of any dwelling. Don’t let crummy tech ruin a great music streaming session, or an important workday, anymore.
Charge three Apple devices at once with a single cord. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Cable clutter is the worst. It makes it difficult to organize the gadgets you rely on the most. Plus, it can take a while to individually sort out which cord you need for the device that’s low on battery. Not to mention, it doesn’t really help with creating an organized and clean desk space, which can help you stay more productive for longer periods of time.
This 3-in-1 Apple Watch & Lightning Charger Cable is a cord that can do it all. With it, you can simultaneously charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch — without struggling to find the right cord for each.
The Qrono band for Apple Watch comes in four striking colors. Photo: Juuk
This week, Cult of Mac is giving away two fantastic metal Apple Watch bands from Juuk, a high-end watch strap company. We’re giving away two aluminum Qruno straps in cosmic grey.
If you are looking for a high-quality metal band to match the Apple Watch’s high-grade design, enter this giveaway.
A new head of design means Apple will offer plenty more headphones to follow these Beats PowerBeats. Photo: Apple
The reports of Beats’ death are (reportedly) greatly exaggerated. Rather than phasing out the brand, as had been rumored, Apple put Scott Croyle, the former head of product design at phone-maker HTC, in charge of crafting new Beats headphones, according to an unconfirmed report.
Aunt Lucretia (played by Ofelia Medina) and Enrique (Bruno Bicher) heat things up in this week's episode. Photo: Apple TV+
Thanks to a last-minute call to a new ally, things seem to be looking up for the Foxes in this week’s episode of The Mosquito Coast. Or have they left the frying pan and stepped into the fire?
Time will tell, but it seems likely that Allie Fox will find some way to slip out of the noose if that’s what waiting for him. Director Rupert Wyatt is back behind the camera for an exciting new episode of Apple TV+ drama.
Bag your Studio3 headphones before they're all gone! Photo: Apple
Bag the best Beats headphones money can buy at their lowest price to date. Woot is offering brand-new Studio3 units, with noise cancellation and real-time audio calibration, for just $189.99 for a limited time only. That’s a generous 46% off the usual selling price.
What would you add to this setup? Photo: jondajaba@Reddit
Redditor jondajaba recently finished putting together a computer setup and asked in a post for recommendations on what’s missing that he might add. Naturally, setup mavens far and wide who live and breathe this stuff replied with plenty of advice.
This bundle contains excellent language-learning software, a top-rated VPN and more. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Thanks to the rise of online education, learning new skills outside of the boundaries of traditional schooling is more accessible than ever. Whether you want to learn an entirely new trade or stay competitive sharpening your existing skills, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to learning new things online. In a time when we all stay home a lot more, digital education bundles are all the rage, and this one’s no different.
Get yours before the discounts disappear! Photo: Apple
Amazon is currently offering some hugely generous discounts — some of the biggest we’ve seen anywhere so far — on the 2020 iPad Pro. You can save up to $199.01 on many models, but only if you act fast.
Daisychain RapidX Modula units to build a custom wireless charging station. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Many homes and offices have a collection of iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods that need charging every night. Rather than a collection of these cluttered together, the RapidX Modula5 system offers wireless chargers that magnetically snap together and run off a single cable.
I used Modula5 in my multi-device home. Here’s why I like it.
Doing so would be a mistake so severe it would damage sales of both iPad and Mac. It would take years to clean up the mess.
No matter that Macs and iPads run on the same chip. macOS isn’t designed for a touchscreen. Apple would need to redesign the operating system to run on a tablet, and devs would need to alter third-party applications, too. And that would anger people using non-touchscreen laptops and desktops.
Plus, people happy with the iPad now wouldn’t like the change either.
Get immediate access to supported streaming apps. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iOS, iPadOS and tvOS give users the ability to link their TV provider for instant access to video apps included with their TV subscription. Here’s how to get set up on your iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
Order yours today from the Cult of Mac Store. Photo: Monowear
Monowear’s stellar Urban Canvas band for Apple Watch is now available in a bunch of awesome new color options. It’s just as sturdy and as stylish as before, but now easier to pair with your favorite outfits.
Take your pick to upgrade your on-the-go computing experience. Photo: Mobile Pixels
Some of the best things about the last year were the lessons we learned about flexibility — especially when it concerns working (and entertaining yourself) in different spaces. For workers who are on the go, and looking to connect anywhere with ease, modern technology has a lot to offer.
We rounded up the best portable monitors and tablets to take with you wherever. They’re perfect for drafting up emails, streaming your favorite content, taking video calls and more. And they’re all on sale!
This deal is good for today only — enjoy it while you can! Photo: Apple
Pick up a 2020 MacBook Pro refurb on Amazon today and save a whopping $379.01. The renewed units, which look and work as good as new, pack Intel Core i5 processors, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
A limited number of units are available and this deal is good for today only. Enjoy it while you can.
The M1 processor in the 24-inch iMac is faster than most Intel iMacs. But not all. Photo: Apple
The first benchmark scores for the upcoming 24-inch M1 iMac are out, and the all-in-one desktop is just as fast as the laptops and desktop released in 2020 running this processor. And no faster.
That makes the new model 24% quicker than the 21-inch iMac it’s replacing. But it’s slower than the 27-inch iMac introduced in 2020 with a top-tier Intel processor.