Top stories - page 63

When it comes to cyberdefense, it pays to diversify. Hackers don’t rely on just one way to infiltrate their targets, so you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket either. That’s why a lot of people are switching to decentralized private networks (DPNs) over traditional VPNs, since they don’t have a central group of servers to target.

Using a DPN is a novel approach to internet security that offers a lot of benefits, and Deeper Connect Pico is a great way to get started. It boasts incredible tech to secure your online data and activity. Typically $249, you can grab this powerful cybersecurity device for only $149.

Apple TV+ international espionage thriller Liaison recovers from a few body blows this week, in an episode appropriately entitled “Carnage.”

Mark Bolton is dead and Alison might be next, but she won’t roll over for anyone, even with boyfriend and mercenary Gabriel trying to get her to see sense. Sabine wants out, Didier’s in the hot seat, Dumas is getting nervous, and London is still in danger. Liaisons pleasures are major even if it does feel deliberately minor in a lot of important ways.

The search for a mayoral hopeful’s killer takes center stage on this week’s Truth Be Told, the Apple TV+ crime series told through the lens of podcaster Poppy.

Eva’s on the hunt for a killer, but is it a smokescreen for her own guilt? Poppy can’t decide. Markus is still acting out, and it’s getting in the way of his parenting. Plus, Poppy has some secrets of her own to spill. And fate has one last curveball to throw this crew before the season’s final inning.

While the cameras on our iPhones and how we take photos are constantly improving, we can always use a hand to clean them up after the fact. For those of us that aren’t professional photographers, or particularly adept at photo editing, user-friendly and innovative photo editing software can make this daunting task a whole lot easier.

Luminar Neo uses the power of artificial intelligence to edit, refine and stylize photos. And now, you can grab a lifetime license to it, bundled with other impressive photo editing add-ons, for only $79 (regularly $400) — but the savings don’t stop there. Cult of Mac readers can save an extra 10% by adding exclusive coupon code TAKE10NOW.

Transforming everyday pictures into truly beautiful photographs can become a reality with this AI-driven software.

It’s all about splitting and coming back this week on Dear Edward, the Apple TV+ series about the tangled web of grief in the wake of a plane crash.

In the episode, entitled “Paper Covers Rock,” Edward acts out at school and is rewarded with a crisis or two he wasn’t aware were coming his way. Plus, Linda goes into labor, Lacey is clueless, Dee Dee doesn’t want group to end, Adriana and Kojo don’t want their time together to end, and Steve and Amanda don’t want their affair to end.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, your Apple TV+ reviewer is anxious for this dreadful series to end. (The good news is, the end is nigh.)

Shrinking is all about reconciliation this week. The Apple TV+ show about the social circle of a manic pixie dream therapist sees Jimmy Laird trying to mend the rift between his hero, Paul, and his family.

Meanwhile, as Brian prepares for his wedding, he meets with nothing but disappointments and potential catastrophes. Gaby is caught between her rock and a hard place. And Alice makes a fateful mistake.

Everything comes out in the end in “Moving Forward,” this week’s whatever installment of the hit show that could have been an email.

Hello Tomorrow!, the Apple TV+ show about a salesman running out of ways to talk himself out of damnation, flies into a panic this week. Jack’s celebrity spokesman goes missing, and if he’s found by the wrong people, it could blow his entire operation.

At the same time, Shirley’s starting to wonder about Jack’s lies, and Joey has just stopped believing him entirely. And when Herb gets a brief moment to shine, he blows it immediately. The episode, entitled “Another Day, Another Apocalypse,” delivers another great half-hour of the show with the most verve and wit of anything on the Apple TV+ lineup.

We know what you’re thinking: a “Pro” desk mat? Well, yes, actually. The Function101 Desk Mat Pro is rather capable. Not only does it help protect your desk, it’s a serious tool for often-neglected cable management in and around the computer setup.

And the professional-level desk mat is now available in the Cult of Mac Store for $39.95. Other desk mats just aren’t qualified.

We enjoy a lot of variety in our computer setups coverage, from the ultra-minimalist to the mega-maximalist. Today’s featured rig sports two pumped-up Mac Studios, two old Mac Pro “trash cans,” a gaming PC, dual displays and a tremendous array of audio gear.

It falls in the latter category, obviously (“mega”). The lengthy gear list below doesn’t even cover everything in the powerhouse workstation, but it covers all the key elements.

Astonishingly overwritten and mega-ambitious sci-fi parable Extrapolations, which premiered today on Apple TV+, has a cast of thousands and more than a few things on its mind. None of what show creator Scott Z. Burns (who wrote Contagion and The Bourne Ultimatum) is saying in this show about the impact of climate change can be argued with. But the messages aren’t easily swallowed, either.

Rather than leave room for viewers to draw their own conclusions, Extrapolations sits you down and yells at you for 10 hours of dreary cli-fi drama. It’s certainly distinctive — but that’s not always a good thing.

Are you tired of constantly untangling and organizing charging cables on your desk? Do you find yourself searching for lost cables, right when you need to charge your devices?

It can be frustrating to deal with messy charging cables, especially when you’re in a rush. This top-rated, three-in-one wireless charger is the way to tidy up your desk and enjoy a blissfully clutter-free charging experience. Even better, it’s now on sale in a two-pack for only $92.99 (regularly $144). Double up so you can have one at both home and office, or gift the extra one to a friend.

Servant, the stellar Apple TV+ show about a supernatural nanny and the Philadelphia family that plays unwitting and unwilling host to her journey, comes to its fiery finale this week.

Leanne must decide who she’s going to serve, and Dorothy decides what her family and life will be from now on. The episode, entitled “Fallen,” serves up a mostly perfect ending to a mostly perfect show.

Thanks to new cloud computing platforms, our options for tapping into games have never been more diverse. This Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-Month Subscription puts a huge range of games on your Apple gear — with no dual-boot required.

Two lucky winners have a chance to win a not-so-ordinary selfie stick from SwitchEasy in this week’s giveaway.

This clever selfie stick can take a good selfie, extending 4x from the original length. But it also can be transformed into a tripod for video meetings or elaborate shots. Taking a beautiful scenery photo at a distance is no problem, either, as the gadget works as a Bluetooth camera remote, too.

The multifunctional EasySelfie Stick retails for $44.99, but is currently on sale in the Cult of Mac Store for just $35.99. (Update: Our sale has ended.)

Belkin’s smart-home accessories brand, Wemo, is “backing away from Matter and dimming our dreams of a smart home utopia.” That’s according to a report published Wednesday.

At a time when companies are rushing to ready products for the new smart-home networking standard, which is meant to let different brands work together, Wemo’s hesitation is a surprise.

Its products work only with HomeKit. Now it looks like that won’t change anytime soon.

It’s surprising when you hear there is a “smart” version of a seemingly effective everyday tool like Q-tips. However, the truth is, the common cotton swab is limited in terms of what it can show you (and how well it can clear out your ear canals).

To step up your self-care game, you can take advantage of this deal on a Smart Ear Visual Cleaner (with a nice storage box) for just $34.95.

Apple products are known for delivering high performance and carrying a premium price tag. If you are on a tight budget, should you consider buying a refurbished Apple product instead?

Apple’s Certified Refurbished store offers a great way to get a like-new product while letting you save hundreds of dollars on your purchase. Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s refurbished gear.

Amazon bargain website Woot! is back with an another Apple sale. You can get up to a stunning 86% off many of the company’s popular accessories.

You can bag bargains on Apple iPhone cases and sleeves, AirTag leather loops and keychains, a MagSafe charger, adapters, cables and more — 25 items in all.

Season three of Ted Lasso arrived today — but you might need a refresher on where the most critically acclaimed show on Apple TV+ left off. Here’s a quick summary of the first two seasons.

I recorded two conversations with aspiring film critic and personal friend, Russell Davis, discussing the plot points and themes of seasons one and two. You can watch these videos below to catch yourself up for today’s premiere.

You might have an iPad or maybe an older iPhone. Want them to work seamlessly with MagSafe stands, chargers and such? That’s no problem with the MagEasy Hoop MagSafe Adhesive Ring. You can stick it to practically anything, making that thing magnetic.

And you can get it right now in the Cult of Mac Store for just $15.

In our never-ending search for interesting computer setups, we love stumbling upon good do-it-yourself (“DIY”) hacks. Today’s featured setup mounts an M1 MacBook Air on the wall in a most-unusual way. It involves a pegboard, a strap and a tablet stand designed for use in the kitchen.

In addition, the setup features a rarely seen mechanical keyboard worth checking out.

In case it wasn’t already obvious, the gig economy is growing by leaps and bounds. Helped along by new technology and the new demands of a global health crisis, more employees than ever have taken the initiative and found work on their own terms.

Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, but it can also be the mother of innovation. And if your side gig or startup business involves online selling, there’s an exciting new tool to help you do just that: Gigrove.

Three years after Ted Lasso became a runaway smash for Apple TV+, the show returns Wednesday with a fresh blast of unrelenting optimism.

The fish-out-of-water story of an upbeat U.S. football coach leading a team of U.K. footballers somehow became one of the most-watched things in the streaming sphere, fueled by pandemic viewers looking for something — anything — with a positive message. Now, as Ted Lasso season three arrives, there’s a lot of hype to live up to (and a lot of dross that needs papering over).

Can the show’s likely last season cement Ted’s place in TV history? Maybe … but star Jason Sudeikis’ aw-shucks act seems in danger of wearing thin. After all, the new Ted is an awful lot like the old Ted.

Artificial intelligence is changing the world in all sorts of ways, not the least of which is taking rote tasks off our to-do lists. With a Voicetapp lifetime subscription, an AI can transcribe all your meetings and voicemails so you can get on with your real work.

Let’s face it, the band you got with your Apple Watch is hardly going to turn heads. But turning your smartwatch into a fabulous fashion piece can be easy and affordable. Made from premium stainless steel, Goldenerre’s gorgeous bracelets quickly take any Apple Watch from drab to fab

And they can be accompanied by matching bangles that are just as pretty. Get yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.