The big and rugged Apple Watch Ultra is a very different beast than the “normal” Apple smartwatches that came before it. With so many new features, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it.
But over the past couple of weeks, I have discovered nine fascinating factoids that most reviewers haven’t picked up on yet. So to celebrate Ultra’s launch day, I’m sharing them with you now.
If you’ve got a new iPhone 14 or an Apple Watch Ultra, it’s time to get tough about protecting them.
Good thing Nomad rolled out its special-edition Ultra Orange iPhone 14 case and Apple Watch Ultra band just for the occasion, now available for preorder at a discount.
And they’re not kidding about “ultra orange.” They’re vividly colored accessories.
★★★★☆
Twisted Apple TV+ comedy Bad Sisters recovers from a few nasty falls this week. The series, which centers on Irish sisters determined to put their brother-in-law on ice, circles the wagons and waits for bad news as insurance inspectors get closer to the truth.
In a typically great episode from the show’s marvelous artistic team and cast, John Paul survives another murder attempt in the past, and Becka makes a shocking discovery.
If you’re at all into audio equipment, you’ve probably heard of a digital-to-analog converter, or DAC. You might think it’s a fancy thing for rich audiophiles. But, actually, even you already have a few DACs if you have gadgets that make sound, like a computer, tablet and smartphone.
But not every DAC is created equal. Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup illustrates the point by going to the trouble of adding a standalone DAC in between a laptop and a pair of excellent powered speakers.
This post on discount Microsoft software is presented by SCDKey.com.
The Autumn Sale at software activation keys provider SCDKey.com offers fantastic deals on crucial Microsoft software. Better yet, as a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get an even better deal on Windows 10. Plus, you can score big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software.
To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at SDKey.com. That will take an extra 25% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.
The National Football League brokered a multiyear deal with Apple to bring the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show to one of the world’s biggest stages, the league said Friday.
The new halftime show debuts at Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, February 12, 2023. But most details about it have yet to take the field.
Carrying a separate Apple Watch charger proves annoying when you travel. Save space in your bag or on your nightstand with this three-in-one Apple Watch, AirPods and iPhone charging cable. It comes with two Lightning tips and one Apple Watch charging puck.
Connect it to a power source, and it can charge an Apple Watch, an iPhone and AirPods all at once. And it’s not just convenient. It’s colorful and inexpensive! Get one in gray, blue, white or red for $16.99 each.
★★★★☆
New Apple TV+ documentary Sidney tells the story of the great actor and activist Sidney Poitier. Filmed just before his death in January 2022, the film delivers a gripping, first-person chronicle of a man discovering himself, finding his talent, and divining the character of the country he called home.
Irreplaceable guests like Greg Tate, Spike Lee and Harry Belafonte join Poitier to recount his life and times in the excellent Sidney, from director Reginald Hudlin and producer Oprah Winfrey.
Want to add a high-paying skill to your resume? Learning to code is one of the best options for landing a lucrative job. And you can master those skills from home, at your own pace, with the 2023 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle.
The 14-part collection is currently on sale for just $39.99 (regularly $2,786).
Apple introduced iOS 16.0.2 on Thursday. The update takes care of problems that have made headlines, and irritated iPhone users, since the original debuted in early September.
The new version is available to be downloaded and installed now.
Simple. Elegant. These are the best words to describe the Speidel Royal English Leather Apple Watch Band. Supple black leather matches the style of Apple’s wearable, while adding a luxurious feel.
And it’s surprisingly affordable, given the quality of this band.
Yale, long known for its old-school locks, updated its Assure smart lock series Thursday. In addition to being 30% smaller than the original Assure smart locks, the new Assure Lock 2 models work with HomeKit and Siri voice control.
Reviews of Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) are rolling in. The overwhelming consensus? The design is only slightly changed from the first-generation buds, but almost everything else is improved, with a few minor caveats.
They’re better than the original where it counts most: Higher sound quality, stronger ANC, more controls, longer battery life and an improved wireless charging case.
In short, given that the wildly popular AirPods Pro launched way back in 2019, it’s time for an upgrade for most people.
There’s no better time than fall and winter to cozy up indoors with a great new game … or three. For Xbox gamers, the ultimate way to do that is with Xbox Live Gold. For a limited time, you can purchase three months of Xbox Live Gold for only $19.99 (regularly $24.99)
★★★★☆
Is it worth buying a full-size camera these days? The reasons to do so grow smaller and smaller as smartphone cameras get better and better. It’s getting to the point where you have to spend a thousand dollars or more for a full-frame camera to take noticeably better pictures than your iPhone.
Even then, a dedicated camera still won’t automatically sync your pictures to iCloud and might not tag your pictures with location data. And then you have to buy lenses — and full-size camera lenses are expensive.
What if, instead of buying a different camera, you could add lenses and accessories for your iPhone that fill in the missing gaps? You could get the same versatility with the same convenience.
When discussing Apple products, the focus typically tends to be on the future. Talk of upcoming Apple products can be particularly engaging, but the company’s past innovations still warrant appreciation — and many are still quite useful.
That’s especially the case if you’re looking to join the Apple ecosystem on a budget. During our Refurbished Event, you can purchase a 13.3-inch MacBook Air from 2015 for only $250.
★★★★☆
The Leather Apple AirTag Cat Collar from Nine Twenty Eight gives you some peace of mind that you’ll be able to find your pet if she ever sneaks outside your home. And it’s well-made and looks good, whatever color you choose.
I tried the tracking collar on my own fuzzy friend. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.
The term “money pit” usually refers to an old house that needs a lot of expensive work that never seems to end. But it could actually refer to a computer setup, too. After all, it’s never really finished and the next round of irresistible gear is always about to come out.
Today’s featured Mac Studio setup is a good example. After years of saving and planning, a setup centered on a struggling 2015 iMac metastasized, at great cost, into a Mac Studio powerhouse with dual Studio Displays.
The first reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra praise the rugged smartwatch’s large display, its new Action button and its longer battery life. But a debate brews about whether the wearable is too big — there seems to be no agreement on this.
Anyone considering whether Apple’s sports-oriented smartwatch is right for them should read on. As the reviewers point out, this isn’t just for fans of outdoor adventure.
Anything that makes the internet more efficient is a good thing. Effective SEO, for instance, makes your website easier for your audience to find. WordLift equips you with up-to-date SEO that taps into the intent of the search, not just the keywords the searcher uses.
Ready to boost your site’s SEO? You can purchase lifetime access to WordLift for just $49 (regularly $1,000) for a limited time.
You can get many accessories for your iPhone — cases, stands, chargers, storage gadgets … the list goes on. But hauling all those extra pieces in your everyday carry kit is counterintuitive. Your phone is a mobile device, after all.
That’s why we’re highlighting what might be a better option. The WonderCube Pro is an all-in-one portable keyring, and it’s on sale for $35.95 (regularly $70) with code WONDER4.
Always-On display is a key new feature of the iPhone 14 Pro series. To ensure the feature does not consume a lot of battery power, Apple even added a dedicated co-processor to the A16 Bionic chip that powers the smartphone.
The Always-On display comes enabled by default on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which many users might find annoying. It apparently looks a bit too bright for some folks. It makes your iPhone battery drain more quickly. And some folks just don’t like the new functionality because it makes them think they’ve got a new notification, even when they don’t.
If you find yourself in the same boat, here’s how you can disable Always-On display on your new iPhone 14 Pro.
There are plenty of fancy Apple Watch bands out there, but how about one with more than 800 brilliant crystals on an ornate link band? That would be the Goldenerre Crystal Pavé Apple Watch Band. Its elegance will not be denied, and neither will yours when you wear it.
So go ahead. Get your glam on in the Cult of Mac Store.
This week we teamed up with Zagg to offer five lucky winners the chance to take home products from InvisibleShield, Gear4 and mophie. Zagg and its affiliated brands offer top-notch accessories for iPhones and other gear, including new cases and screen protectors designed just for iPhone 14.
The best part of this week’s giveaway: If you win, you get to pick which products you want.
★★★★☆
Whether or not you took the plunge and upgraded to a new Apple Watch Series 8 or SE, you can partake of something more affordable if you own any model of the wearable — Apple’s new lower-end Apple Watch bands. I picked up the new Apple Midnight Sport Loop for my Apple Watch Series 6.
I like the new band. But I found it interesting to compare it to third-party versions of similar quality that go for a lot less money.