David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
The premium charger is perfect for your nightstand, with an iPhone in Standby Mode like a classic alarm clock. Photo: Twelve South
With the iPhone 15 series and new Apple Watches now out, the accessories floodgates are open. One of the first products through is an updated Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand. And it’s made for MagSafe and ideal for iOS 17’s Standby Mode.
So you can turn your iPhone into a classic bedside alarm clock or smart display with various widgets. And you can charge it alongside Apple Watch and AirPods.
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This unusual GaN charger juices up MagSafe iPhones via the tilting platform and other devices via USB-C and USB-A ports (up to 100W). Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Need a compact and potent MagSafe charging station to replace a slow 3-in-1? Coming out just after iPhone 15’s release, Ugreen’s unusual new Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station could fit the bill, charging up to four devices at once.
Rolled out Thursday, the speedy charger takes up a small space by putting a MagSafe platform for iPhone that tilts up on top and USB-C and USB-A ports in the squat body. The company sent me one to try.
You can see in the photograph how the MagSafe charging pad for iPhone can sit flush or tilt up. Photo: Ugreen
The new Ugreen Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station, rolled out Thursday, combines MagSafe charging for iPhone with GaN USB-C charging for other devices in a compact form factor, the company said.
I’ll have an in-depth review of the new charger, which Ugreen said is ideal for home and on-the-go use with the new iPhone 15 and other MagSafe iPhones, on Friday.
This cooking show comes with some broiling-hot commentary. Photo: Apple
Frustrated young scientist Brie Larson explores her love of cooking — it’s chemistry, after all — and her distaste for the patriarchy in the second trailer for upcoming limited series Lessons in Chemistry. Apple TV+ set it on the table for hungry viewers Thursday.
Larson plays a young scientist in the 1950s who is wrongly terminated from a lab job before becoming host of a cooking show where women’s rights serve as a crucial ingredient. You can have a bigger bite when the series debuts October 13.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in the epic historical tale. Photo: Apple
Apple TV+ dropped the final trailer and some fine move-poster images Wednesday for Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone. And if the powerful video, below, doesn’t make you want to see the film, nothing will.
The streaming service often calls upcoming movies and shows “highly anticipated,” and it’s no exaggeration in this case. The epic historical drama premieres October 20 in theaters, including IMAX screens, and afterward on Apple TV+.
The best way to stop spam robocalls is to stop data brokers from collecting and selling your data. Image: Surfshark
Spam calls to your iPhone are an annoying distraction and — as many folks would say — a violation of your privacy. But you don’t have to live with them if you use Incogni.
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In fact, the Incogni personal data removal service does more than just cut down on spam call volume. It also helps defend against the scams and identity theft that can ensue when rogues find or buy your data online.
Sounds like the makings of a good story, like every podcast should be. Photo: Apple
The new Apple Originals podcast Magnificent Jerk tells the unbelievable story of an eccentric uncle who plays at acting and screenwriting but turns out to be a Chinese gang leader whose life ends up on screen in a low-budget action flick starring Rob Lowe in a fake mustache, according to a new trailer dropped Wednesday.
Former Washington Post journalist Maya Lin Sugarman — the guy’s niece — hosts the podcast. It debuts September 18.
Plenty of shots in the video star iPhone 15 Pro as much as they do Rodrigo. Photo: Apple/YouTube
At this point, considering the cinematic chops of iPhone cameras — especially in the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max — we expect to see full-length feature films. But we’ll take another “Shot on iPhone” pop music video like the one Apple’s pushing for Olivia Rodrigo’s song “get him back!”
The sassy music video, shot entirely on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, dropped Tuesday along with the arrival of the new iPhone 15 lineup.
Even when facing off with a skeptical Mother Nature, Tim Cook never backs down! Photo: Apple
Tim Cook and a surprisingly stone-cold Mother Nature had a staring contest at Apple Park during the Wonderlust event Tuesday. And in Apple’s telling, Tim Cook won.
He played himself in the keynote segment while Octavia Spencer, star of the canceled Truth Be Told on Apple TV+, played a feisty Mother Nature taking executives to task on environmental-initiative progress.
But in the end she chilled out, because Apple had some progress to show, including its first carbon-neutral products.
The iPhone 15 Pro models feature a strong and lightweight new titanium design. Photo: Apple
The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max handsets feature a lightweight titanium design with contoured edges, a new Action button, powerful camera upgrades and the A17 Pro chip to jack up mobile gaming, Apple said at its Wonderlust event Tuesday. And surprisingly, only the Pro Max’s price went up.
“This is the most pro lineup we have ever created, with a state-of-the-art titanium design, the best iPhone camera system yet that enables game-changing new workflows, and the A17 Pro chip, which ushers in a new chapter of performance and games never before seen on iPhone,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release about the new models. To know more, read why the iPhone 15 might be Apple’s cheapest since 2007.
EpicBoom promises immersive sound wherever you bring it. Photo: Ultimate Ears
The new oval-shaped EpicBoom Bluetooth speaker joined Ultimate Ears’ lineup Monday, promising loud, bass-driven, 360-degree portable sound, the Logitech subsidiary said.
You can preorder the $349 boomer now for September 15 shipping.
These new cans try to restore some of the warmth and realism that digital compression takes away. Photo: Morpho MFG
This post’s headline sounds like a joke, invoking technology used in antique radios, TVs and amplifiers, but the wireless headphones behind it seem entirely serious.
“écoute: the world’s only vacuum tube headphones, designed to compensate for the deficiencies of digital listening,” say the Indiegogo and Kickstarter funding-campaign pages. The French word “écoute” translates to “listen” in English.
The new EP800 system can easily power your home in an outage. Photo: Bluetti
Not long after the successful debut of its EP900 system, Bluetti is set to electrify the energy-storage sector again with its powerful new EP800 energy storage system launching September 15.
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Read on to find out what sets the new system apart — and how to use it to back up your home’s power supply. What’s more, you can even try it for free.
Basic Apple Guy's richly designed Wonderlust Apple Event Bingo card covers most likely announcements. Photo: Basic Apple Guy
If Apple’s holding a major event, then it’s a good bet someone’s preparing bingo cards for it. Ahead of Tuesday’s Wonderlust event, we found a few options for you to play along while Cupertino’s rumored announcements unfold.
Where's the Mac Studio to go with those Studio Displays? Under the desk. Photo: MrBone66@Reddit.com
On Friday we mentioned dual-Studio Display setups seem relatively rare, but now we can hardly glance at social media without seeing one, or even several.
Today’s featured Mac Studio setup fits the bill with two Studio Display perched on 3D-printed stands. You can’t see the computer in the photo above. That’s because it’s mounted under the standing desk.
UPDF is now enhanced with artificial intelligence. Photo: UPDF
Who doesn’t love working with PDFs? The obvious answer is everyone. PDFs can be a pain. But these days, PDF editing tools are getting smarter and easier to deal with. For instance, Superace Software’s UPDF, an easy-to-use PDF editor that’s now enhanced by artificial intelligence.
UPDF‘s AI boost makes it easy to summarize, translate and explain the contents of PDFs. It can also boost your writing capabilities, greatly speeding up the task of creating PDFs.
One Studio Display in landscape orientation and one in portrait -- what could be more picture-perfect? Photo: strangeweather415@Reddit.com
Cult of Mac‘s coverage of user computer setups shows lots and lots of people love Studio Displays. And tons of folks love dual-display setups. But two Studio Displays in a setup? You’d think we’d see more of those.
And today’s featured setup not only boasts dual Studio Displays, it sports two Macs — an M2 Mac mini and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro — in addition to a split mechanical keyboard and some 3D-printed parts.
Deals in Bluetti's Power Week Sale can keep your home going in an outage or help you live comfortably off the grid. Photo: Bluetti
We rely heavily on a steady supply of electricity for almost everything we do these days, from cooking to computing. So power interruptions can range from inconvenient to downright dangerous. With Bluetti’s Power Week Sale through September 18, you can transform the way you deal with power outages and even gain the ability to live off the grid.
The new Apps by Apple webpage gives you an overview and access to Apple's first-party apps. Photo: Apple
Apple quietly added a helpful new “Apps by Apple” section to its website last week. Cupertino’s new guide breaks down the world of great Apple apps into helpful sections all in one place.
Some people wonder if it’s part of Apple’s response to the European Union’s moves to force sideloading of apps on iPhones.
LimeWire rebranded as an AI-powered content-sharing platform and community. Check out the merch store. Photo: LimeWire
LimeWire, the popular file-sharing software that launched in 2000, recently rebranded itself as an AI-powered content-publishing and community platform.
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With the launch of LimeWire AI Studio, the company aims to give content creators ownership through the power of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies.
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Ugreen's 10000mAh power bank is a wireless charger and stand for iPhone and can also charge other devices by wire. Photo: Ugreen
When your iPhone dies while you’re out an about it can be a real drag. That’s why it pays to make a power bank part of your everyday carry — like the recently released Ugreen 10000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank.
You can use it as a wireless magnetic charger for iPhone or AirPods and power up two other devices via USB-C and USB-A ports at the same time.
Stick this thing in your computer setup and you probably won't need another device charger or power strip. Photo: Baseus
The new Baseus PowerCombo Tower Series Power Strip 35W, featuring an LED display and festooned with AC outlets and USB ports, is a great charging station for the desktop, the company said Wednesday.
Baseus called it “the world-first charging station with LED display.”