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Developer makes mobile apps with blazing-fast M1 MacBook Pro [Setups]

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All those smartphones are for testing apps using different OS versions and screen sizes.
All those smartphones are for testing apps using different OS versions and screen sizes.
Photo: [email protected]

It’s always nice to hear from professionals relying on Apple gear and finding it meets or even exceeds their expectations. That’s a good indicator that Cupertino is going in the right direction.

Today’s featured computer setup shows that enthusiasm. A mobile app developer offers high praise for his M1 MacBook Pro. And his stacked displays and raft of AV gear aren’t bad, either. Let’s take a look.

Save hundreds of dollars on cybersecurity training with this top-rated membership

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Save hundreds of dollars on cybersecurity training with this top-rated membership.
Become a cybersecurity expert in 2023 with this top-rated training, less than $55 today for life.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As more and more organizations of every kind move online, one of the most valuable and in-demand skills you can have is cybersecurity expertise. A great way to learn the latest is with the Infosec4TC Platinum Membership for Cybersecurity Training.

And through January 9, you can grab lifetime access for just $54.99 — that’s a staggering $950 off the regular price of $999.

The Mosquito Coast leaves a trail of bodies in explosive season two finale [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Melissa George and Justin Theroux in ★★★★☆
Will we get another season of The Mosquito Coast?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ thriller The Mosquito Coast kisses its second season — and a number of its characters — goodbye in this week’s show. The season two finale skids into a violent confrontation that leaves many dead, but answers a lot of important questions in the process.

The Fox family — Dina, Charlie, Margot and Allie — is still on the run. And they all know they want different things out of life. Can they work it out in time to escape the repercussions of the sundry terrorist events that have been escalating all season? This frankly shocking episode of The Mosquito Coast looks at all that and more.

Eliminate spam calls and texts with this discounted subscription

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This discounted subscription is your key to cutting down spam calls and texts.
Regain control of your iPhone with this low-cost, spam-killing subscription.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With scammers increasingly desperate to take advantage of people, random calls and texts have become a primary tool for fraudsters. Robocalls are an unfortunate trend you’ve likely experienced in your own life. And they can quickly get out of control, exposing phone owners of all ages to vulnerable situations.

As we ring in 2023, we’ve got a limited-time offer on a subscription to RoboKiller spam call and text blocker. It’s a proven solution to a modern problem. A three-year subscription to RoboKiller typically costs $119, but is available for just $49.99 during this New Year’s special.

Mac Pro and M2 Mac mini pegged for launch at huge Apple event in March

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A closeup shot of the current Mac Pro:
A Mac Pro with Apple silicon could at last arrive for professionals at a March event.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The long-awaited Mac Pro desktop will finally debut at a big March event, according to a tipster. As will a Mac mini powered by Apple’s M2 chip.

Plus, Apple is apparently getting ready to knock people’s socks off, as three MacBooks are also supposedly on the agenda for the event — including a 15-inch MacBook Air.

Aqara previews video doorbell and other new HomeKit gadgets

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With AI onboard, the new Aqara G4 Video Doorbell can recognize people.
With AI onboard, the new Aqara G4 Video Doorbell can recognize people.
Photo: Aqara

Smart-home specialist Aqara said Thursday it will expand its product line in the coming months with a new video doorbell, LED light strips, a sensor with artificial intelligence and a smart door lock that works with Home Key. All of the new devices will work with HomeKit and other smart-home systems.

Rather than showcasing new products at CES 2023 in Las Vegas, however, the company put out a video showing off the four items below as if it were at the show.

Drop’s affordable new desktop speakers claim audiophile sound

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Drop's new desktop speakers are designed to sound great from just 2 or 3 feet away.
Drop's new desktop speakers are designed to sound great from just 2 or 3 feet away.
Photo: Drop

Drop, known for mechanical keyboards as well as headphones and other audiophile gear, unveiled its first set of desktop speakers Wednesday at CES 2023. The small Drop BMR1 Nearfield Monitors promise big, clear sound in a small footprint for just $129.

If you noticed that’s not an audiophile price tag, you’re right. So if you want more sound than your computer provides, you can preorder the new monitors on January 31.

This app identifies thousands of plants with ease (and gives you tips to help them thrive)

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This app allows you to identify thousands of plans with ease.
Grow your garden smarter with savings on the NatureID app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Are you sick of your terrible reputation as a plant assassin? Are you tired of pining over that one co-worker’s amazingly lush Zoom background? If you want to get back in touch with nature this year or improve your gardening skills, here’s a great deal on NatureID, an iPhone app that serves up crucial information about plant care.

Normally priced at $59, this popular app helps users quickly identify thousands of plants and access important information. During our Same You, New Hobby special, we’re celebrating fresh endeavors with major savings. And we’re dropping the cost of a NatureID Premium Plan to just $14.99 — the best price you’ll find online.

Break through the international language barrier with these award-winning translation earbuds

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Travel the world in 2023 and understand other languages with more than half off these award-winning translation earbuds.
Get more than half off these award-winning earbuds, which translate languages on the fly.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Imagine being able to see the world and speak the local language, wherever you are. It may sound like a superpower, but actually, all you need are a pair of cutting-edge translation headphones. These Mymanu Clik S earbuds come with built-in language translation, and though they are usually $220, you can grab them for just $99 through January 9.

Having these Bluetooth headphones completely changes how you travel, enhancing your experience like never before, thanks to the Clik S allowing you to communicate with more than 2 billion people.

Withings’ new toilet-based scanner tells you about your pee on iPhone

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Flushing cleans the device, by the way.
Flushing cleans the device, by the way.
Photo: Withings

Calling it the “first hands-free connected home urine lab,” Withings raised the lid Wednesday on U-Scan at CES 2023.

You stick the device — which, frankly, looks a bit like a urinal cake — in the toilet. Then you get urine-scan results for many health factors via Withings’ app on your iPhone.

You can control JBL’s new ANC earbuds with their touchscreen case

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If you bring the charging case with you, you can control the buds without having to use the app on your smartphone.
If you bring the charging case with you, you can control the buds without having to use the app on your smartphone.
Photo: JBL

JBL revealed several new wireless earbud models Wednesday, including the new flagship Tour Pro 2 with a touchscreen for additional control via the “smart case.”

“The world’s first smart charging case,” as the company called it, features a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen that lets you control music, noise cancellation, calls and notifications. That gets you out of turning to an app on your smartphone — as long as you keep the case at hand.

M1 MacBook Pro conducts ‘ultra-minimalist’ home audio ensemble [Setups]

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Does this computer setup look
Does this computer setup look "ultra-minimalist" to you?
Photo: [email protected]

Some computer setups are simply music to our ears — almost literally, in some cases. Today’s featured setup sees (and hears) an M1 MacBook Pro playing frontman to a band that includes a few pieces of key audio hardware and software as well as dual curved ultra-wide external displays.

And whether or not it’s “ultra-minimalist,” as stated by the user — it’s not, by almost any definition of computing minimalism — it appears relatively spare and effective.

New BenQ display offers powerful blue-light protection

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BenQ will showcase a new display it calls the market leader for blue-light protection.
BenQ will showcase a new display it calls the market leader for blue-light protection.
Photo: BenQ

BenQ and Eyesafe said Tuesday they’ll showcase a new display with “the world’s most advanced blue light technology” at CES 2023.

The companies said the new BenQ Eyesafe DTX monitor features a Radiance Protection Factor (RPF) of 70, the highest protection against blue light on the market. And it doesn’t compromise display performance.

Raise your MacBook to its proper level with this nifty foldable stand [Review] ★★★★

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Lululook Foldable Laptop Stand review★★★★
Lululook Foldable Laptop Stand could be the MacBook stand you've been looking for.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The new Lululook Foldable Laptop Stand props up your MacBook at a range of angles, and can also lift the computer to a variety of heights. As a bonus, it also rotates so the notebook can be easily spun around.

I tested Lululook’s latest stand in my home office, and it’s an outstanding addition to a MacBook-centered setup.

Dark Sky is gone, but you can re-create its weather magic

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Get The Best Weather App Back
Ceci n'est pas une Dark Sky.
Image: jerry van mouseling/Wikimedia Commons and D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

After Apple killed Dark Sky on January 1, many fans found themselves lamenting the loss of the groundbreaking weather app that offered hyperlocal forecasts. Luckily, you can re-create Dark Sky’s main features using a competing app called Carrot Weather. Alternatively, you can quickly tweak Apple’s built-in Weather app so it acts more like Dark Sky.

Let me show you how to enjoy Dark Sky’s beautiful user interface, and its uncannily accurate weather alerts, using other weather apps.

Enjoy a major discount on this cutting-edge documentary streaming service

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Enjoy a major discount on this cutting-edge documentary streaming service.
Children will love the blend of education and entertainment on this streaming app, while parents will love the price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Even with a growing list of streaming services to explore, things can get stale in a hurry, leaving adults and kids alike with unfulfilling experiences or rewatches. If you’re searching for some fresh perspective, try 42% savings on a lifetime subscription to a streaming service for the most curious among us.

Normally priced at $250, you can get unlimited access to Curiosity Stream’s massive library of documentaries for only $144.99 — the best price on the web — through January 9.

Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard

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Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard
Qi2 is MagSafe for iPhone and Android.
Photo: WPC/Cult of Mac

MagSafe is headed for non-Apple handsets. The Wireless Power Consortium is making Apple’s innovative wireless charging system for iPhone into an industry standard dubbed “Qi2.”

The first Qi2 devices are expected to hit the market by the end of 2023.

Find money-making properties in minutes with this $29 service that real estate pros love

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Same you, new city! Find money-making properties in minutes with this service loved by realtors, less than $30 today.
Start your Airbnb empire in 2023 by identifying prime investment properties with Mashvisor.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Have you wanted to invest in real estate or move to a new city, but found it all just too time-consuming or complicated to start? Make 2023 the year you finally do it with the super-smart Mashvisor property finder app.

Usually $1,499, right now you can grab a lifetime subscription to the service on sale for just $29. This wild price drop will only last through January 9, so grab it while you can.

Nab the best deals on iPhone 11, 12 and 13 cases in this flash sale

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Find a new case for your (moderately) old iPhone in the SwitchEasy Flash Sale.
Find a new case for your (moderately) old iPhone in the SwitchEasy Flash Sale.

If you’re among the millions of people who didn’t upgrade to iPhone 14, here’s your reward. If you have an iPhone 11, 12 or 13 series handset, you can now get 40% off all SwitchEasy cases for those lineups in the Cult of Mac Store.

So, if your iPhone 11, 12 or 13 case is getting old and worn — or if you just want a fresh look — don’t miss the SwitchEasy Flash Sale. We’ve extended this end-of-season sale for a limited time. Dress up your old iPhone for the new year!

Apple headset uses waist-mounted battery pack — new details emerge

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A virtual reality headset (not Apple's).
New details emerge about Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset and how it will differ from competitors.
Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash License

After testing a version of Apple’s upcoming AR/VR headset with an internal battery, the company’s engineers have resorted to using a separate battery pack connected by a wire, according to a new report about the secret project.

Other technical details emerged Tuesday about the long-rumored headset as well. The cutting-edge device reportedly delivers a surprisingly short two-hour battery life. And it reportedly comes with an H2 chip to pair with AirPods Pro, a dual-chip architecture that supports more than a dozen built-in cameras, and an adjustable dial to turn VR on and off.

Get organized with advanced new features in Notes and Reminders

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Organize Your Notes and Reminders graphic
Sort out your digital library of tasks and notes.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

I have a bunch of pro tips to help you organize the Notes and Reminders piling up in your iPhone. Apple has added tons of powerful new features over time, making them comprehensive tools for all the goings-on in your life. 

With tagging, you can quickly filter and search through a big folder of notes or a long to-do list. You can easily put together a bunch of filters by date, location and tag to create a smart list of everything that needs your attention in Reminders. You can even set up template Reminders lists that you can copy at any time.

Let me show you how to set it all up.

Get bite-size audio versions of nonfiction bestsellers with this top-rated app

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Same you, new focus: Get bite-sized audio versions of top non-fiction bestsellers with this top-rated app, less than $60 for life right now.
Grow on the go in 2023 with $200 off a Headway membership today.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Reading books, especially nonfiction, is one of the best ways to learn and grow. But most of us don’t have the time to leaf through every bestseller, but the Headway mobile app makes it possible by condensing well-known nonfiction titles into bite-size 15-minute summaries to listen to, watch or read on the go.

During the Same You, New Focus promotion, you can sign up for a lifetime of Headway Premium for $59. Grow on the go in 2023 with $200 off a Headway membership today

Learn how to invest in stocks wisely in 2023 with this top-rated tool

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Learn how to invest in stocks wisely in 2023 with this top-rated tool, less than $95 now.
Save hundreds of dollars on this stock-investing tool loved by traders.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The start of a new year is the perfect time to get your finances in order, and investing in stocks is one of the best ways to grow your money — if you know the ropes. You can learn exactly that with the easy-to-use Tykr stock screener tool. Usually $900, right now you can grab a lifetime subscription to the top-rated Pro Plan on sale for just a fraction of the price, at $119.99.

To grab it at this ultra-low price drop, you’ll have to move quickly. This offer only runs through January 9 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Then, you’ll have the Pro subscription at your fingertips forever.

New year brings ‘great display for a Mac’ to M2 MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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Under-desk lighting helps make it a pleasant workspace even with no windows.
Under-desk lighting helps make it a pleasant workspace even with no windows.
Photo: [email protected]

There’s nothing like starting over in a brand new year. One of the best ways to do it is to freshen things up in the place where you spend so much of your waking life — your workspace. But rather than just rewarding yourself with a thrilling new mouse pad, why not roll out a whole new computer setup?

That’s the case with today’s featured M2 MacBook Pro setup. The brawny laptop drives a spacious “4K+” display with the help of some choice input devices. And it all basks in the glow of simple but highly effective lighting.

Here’s proof that a MacBook with built-in 5G is way overdue

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MacBook with built-in 5G is way overdue
There's no reason for Apple to drag its heels on a 5G MacBook
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If you want a MacBook with 5G cellular wireless built into it, new data suggests you’re not alone. A surprising number of iPads are sold with integrated cellular connectivity. More than half, in fact.

Like tablets, today’s slim and lightweight MacBooks are ready to go anywhere. There’s no reason to force them to depend on Wi-Fi or an iPhone hotspot.