Apple’s professional-grade Mac Studio desktop has been updated with either an Apple M2 Max or M2 Ultra processor. The new chips give a welcome increase in performance, and the top-tier model now supports 8K monitors.
Read on to discover what the first reviewers have to say about the powerfully upgraded Mac.
Baseus rolled out its new thin-and-compact battery pack Friday, the Baseus Blade HD Series 100W Power Bank. It provides 100 watts of power delivery from its 20,000mAh battery to keep MacBook, other laptops and various gadgets going. If you’re using this to keep your Mac running, you may also want to check out how to power off Mac for optimal battery management.
In the battle over who offers the best 5K display, Apple doesn’t always win, even with Mac users. And it’s usually because of price.
Today’s featured Mac Studio setup relies on a 40-inch LG 5K2K curved ultra-wide monitor — picked over a pair of Studio Displays that would cost twice as much — and the user more-or-less said they they couldn’t be happier.
Reviewers have plenty of praise for the first 15-inch MacBook Air, with comments like it “does its job very, very well” (The Verge) and it’s “more than good enough” (CNET).
Shockingly, this killer consumer laptop starts at just $1,299 (and is already available at a $50 discount from some retailers). Read on for a summary of comments about Apple’s largest consumer-oriented notebook yet.
★★★★☆
Apple’s AirPods charging cases are sleek, protective — and relentlessly white. So if you’d like to add a layer of extra protection along with a better grip and a choice of colors, Totallee offers new cases for AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods 3.
The company sent me its new case for AirPods Pro 2. The simple accessory gets the job done, as advertised.
Whether you want to protect your own business or specialize in an area of IT, which is increasingly in demand for a variety of industries, training in cybersecurity is key. InfoSec4TC Cyber Security Training is one of the highest rated online schools for cybersecurity, and right now, you can grab lifetime access to a platinum membership on sale for just $69.99 — that’s more than $200 off the regular price of $280.
If dad needs a reliable cloud service, we have a Father’s Day deal for 1TB of lifetime cloud storage on Koofr for $119.97. This limited-time offer only runs through June 11th.
A headphone upgrade is a welcome gift for Father’s Day. The JBL Live Free NC+ true wireless in-ear noise-canceling Bluetooth earbuds are ideal for an immersive experience — and right now you can grab them with more than half off during our Father’s Day Sale.
Usually $149, they’re on sale now for just $59.97 — the best price you’ll find for them on the web.
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we look at the Platonic, the surprisingly good comedy from stoner whisperer Seth Rogen, luminous star Rose Byrne and husband and wife writers/directors Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller.
In the show, which premiered last month on Apple TV+, Byrne and Rogen star as friends who become awkward appendages of each other’s already messy lives. Here’s why you should take a chance on Platonic.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first impressions of Apple’s just-unveiled Vision Pro headset leave us mind = blown. Still, no matter how vivid the VR is … or how flawless the visionOS user interface is … or how “natural” the headset looks to be … can anything justify its $3,499 price tag?
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!)
If your dad loves Apple gadgets, we’ve found the ultimate accessory for him — just in time for Father’s Day. The ChargeUp 6-in-1 wireless charging station with Apple Watch charger will it keep all his gear charged and tidy. And right now, this great charging station is discounted for our Father’s Day Sale to just $49.97.
That’s more than half off the regular price of $99. Be quick to grab it, as the special low price will only last through to 11:59 p.m. on June 11.
Despite dumping massive engineering resources into its brand-new visionOS platform for the Vision Pro headset, Apple is bringing loads of new features to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and even tvOS this year. Headlining features include NameDrop, StandBy, Journal, Live Stickers, pet tagging in Photos and blurring unsolicited nude pictures.
However, Apple didn’t have time during its jam-packed WWDC23 keynote this week to cover all the new features. Now that iOS 17 is out, here are some of the hidden gems people have discovered in Apple’s latest operating systems.
★★★★☆
Silo, the hit Apple TV+ series about people dwelling in a titanic subterranean structure years after an apocalyptic event turned Earth’s air toxic, begins its final act this week.
Juliette discovers a horrible clue hidden in the memory of someone who can’t access it. And a risky mission will put her in close proximity to the one person she doesn’t want to see, but it’s now or never time in the silo.
The episode, entitled “The Flamekeepers,” is a very well-handled lynchpin episode of Silo.
If your dad has always wanted to take up photography or finally learn what a tweet is, then he might enjoy enrolling in some professional courses. Upskillist is a learning platform that gives users more than 80 courses for personal and professional development in one convenient hub.
Your Pops can pop into courses on video production, social media, digital marketing, technical drawing and much more. Normally, a lifetime membership to Upskillist would cost $400, but it’s been marked down to $79.97 for Father’s Day. That sale ends June 11 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
★★★☆☆
Apple TV+ drama City on Fire drops a bomb this week.
Charlie and Keith meet up under less-than-ideal circumstances, while Sam fights for her life. Nicky and Sol have one last missive for the city of New York — and the fat cat who set them up. And William has one more act left in his life as an amateur detective — and a family to reunite.
This week’s episode, entitled “The Demon Brother,” is full of engaging, but deeply ridiculous, stuff.
★★☆☆☆
New Apple TV+ thriller The Crowded Room delves into a crime committed in New York at the end of the 1970s. Spider-Man star Tom Holland plays a troubled teen whose life in a halfway house leads to murder.
The miniseries stumbles a fair bit, but when it gets the steps right it proves quite compelling. Its depiction of lowlife decadence and debauchery almost hits the mark, but Holland can’t quite live up to the task of carrying all 10 episodes.
Aqara released its first deadbolt smart lock Friday, the Smart Lock U100. It’s fully compatible with Apple’s HomeKit and you can open it with Home Key, fingerprints, passwords or — get this — a physical key.
Snark aside (a physical if often provided with smart locks for power outages), the stout new lock integrates with the Matter home automation standard and could become a vital part of HomeKit users’ smart-home arsenals.
This year, WWDC delivered an avalanche of new hardware as well as the usual major planned software releases — and the latter is already showing up in computer setups while the hardware hasn’t shipped yet.
Today’s featured setup may be all about its MacBook Pro, iPad and fine external monitor, but you can’t miss the brand-new, unreleased functionality showing up on another screen on display in the photograph.
Known for laptop cases and other accessories, Targus recently unveiled its new Cypress Hero Backpack with Find My Locator.
So if it goes missing, you can find the eco-friendly pack and any gear in it using your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Everyone has paper documents they need to keep. But if your dad’s office is getting out of hand, the iScanner iOS app can turn his iPhone into a quick and easy scanning tool that can help him clear the clutter.
At WWDC23, Apple said it’s adding a slew of new health features in iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10 that will help you take care of yourself physically and emotionally.
And while new mental health and vision features are coming across platforms, the more-general Health app finally arrives on iPad, as well.
For this week’s giveaway, we teamed up with Device Therapy, which makes a clever disguise to keep an eye on your bicycle. Three lucky winners will receive an awesome Bike Reflector Mount that can help foil thieves who want to steal your two-wheeler.
The AirTag bike mount’s reflective surface is made from genuine 3M diamond-grade reflective material. The durable mounts are made from plant-sourced bioplastic, 3D-printed in-house by the product’s creator.
Private Browsing mode in Apple Safari will soon get even more secure. It’ll be locked against someone else accessing it, and incorporate new tools to prevent websites from tracking users.
The additional privacy features are coming in iOS 17, macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17, all of which were unveiled at WWDC23 this week.
If your dad likes to read, you probably purchased him a book as a Father’s Day gift at least once over the years. With that holiday here again, you can help him discover hundreds of books at a surprisingly low price.
During our Father’s Day Sale, a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium costs just $69.99 (regularly $300), with no coupon required. That’s nearly 80% savings on an app that’s primed to provide many years of entertainment and enlightenment for your old man. This deal only lasts until June 11, though, so act fast.
Apple’s redesigned 13-inch MacBook Air from 2022 remains among the best portable laptops you can buy. The 15-inch MacBook Air packs the same benefits in a slightly bigger form factor.
So, which MacBook Air model is right for you — 13-inch or 15-inch? Read our comparison to find out.