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.
As far as we know, it doesn't run around on its fingertips. But it does charge your Apple Watch. Photo: Design_factory@Ultimaker
Got access to a 3D printer? You can make your own Apple Watch charging stand in the form of “Thing,” the disembodied hand from the Netflix series Wednesday and its Addams Family predecessors, all the way back to the original magazine cartoons.
It might scare some people, but ghoulish types are going to want to make his thing pronto.
SwitchEasy's Origami Protective Case really shines as an iPad stand. Photo: SwitchEasy
If you’ve got one of Apple’s wonderful iPads, you need a case to keep it safe. And the cool thing about iPad cases and folios is that they often serve as both protective cases as well as stands. Some even store your Apple Pencil.
And right now you can take 20% off every SwitchEasy iPad case in the Cult of Mac Store. That gives you a choice of 12 different products and a savings of up to $10 each. The sale goes through Thursday, March 2.
In a possible groundbreaking new product, Apple Watch could monitor blood glucose with the help of device strapped to the bicep. Photo: Apple
Apple Watch is well-known as a health tracker, but a new report said a secret project dating back to Steve Jobs’ era — to use the wearable to monitor glucose without pricking the skin to get blood — has made headway recently. And that has major implications.
The secret effort, known as E5, could involve a device that straps to the bicep and works with the watch. If it comes to market, it could disrupt industries and help millions of diabetics.
Apple TV+ said you can ask this guy questions on Thursday. No, seriously. Photo: Apple TV+
Jon Stewart, longtime host of The Daily Show and current host of The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+ — and to many folks a sort of comedic conscience of the nation — will take your calls on Thursday, February 23.
That’s the same day the streaming service said six new episodes of Stewart’s show would air weekly starting Friday, March 3.
Meanwhile, he’s doing a livestream on the The Problem‘s YouTube channel at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. “He’ll be taking your calls,” the show tweeted.
The little Bose speaker on the stand to the left of the display is, apparently, a keeper. But it's hard to come by. Photo: Federico_Rosellini@Reddit.com
The main gear in a computer setup might be perfectly impressive, like the Mac Studio desktop machine in today’s featured setup. But that’s not what everyone looking at the workstation notices and talks about on social media.
Instead, the coveted items in this particular setup are a Bose speaker system folks are having a hard time finding, plus a Belkin Continuity Camera mount that helps you use an iPhone as a webcam.
Dashlane's best-in-class tools ensure the security of more than 15 million people and 20,000 organizations. Photo: Dashlane
These days, with data breaches on the rise, even companies whose job is to keep you secure online are suffering data disasters. But not security-first password manager Dashlane. It has never been breached. Not every password management company can say that.
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You can stay safe wherever you go online with 24/7 password protection from Dashlane. This secure password manager works on Mac, iOS and iPadOS, as well as in Safari, Chrome and Firefox web browsers. (It also works on Windows and Android.)
Read more about Dashlane’s benefits and plans below, and find out how you can take advantage of a special 50% discount for Cult of Mac readers.
The Sonos Era 300 is the larger and better-equipped of the two new smart speakers. Photo: Sonos
A new leak indicates Sonos will release its new Sonos Era 100 and 300 smart speakers in March with a slew of features that challenge Apple’s recently relaunched HomePod.
Of the two new Sonos speakers, the pricier Era 300 features a version of spatial audio. Both support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB-C line-in for versatile connectivity. The Era 100 is likely to replace the much-liked Sonos One, launched in 2017.
You can adjust the stand's height to bring your MacBook's screen to eye level and align it with your main external monitor. Photo: Twelve South
Accessories maker Twelve South introduced a successor to its original HiRise stand for MacBook released about a decade ago — the new HiRise Pro for MacBook. You can watch the video below.
You can adjust its height for almost any use, it matches Apple’s Pro accessories in color and finish, and it features a spot in the base where you can insert a MagSafe charger to juice up your iPhone and other gadgets.
Three bright new colors of Beats Fit Pro earbuds are coming Thursday. Photo: Beats
When Apple subsidiary Beats launched Beats Fit Pro in 2021, the earbuds were noted for high-level features a la AirPods Pro. But unlike AirPods Pro — or any AirPods, which are steadfastly white and only white — Beats came in a choice of four colors.
Beats has added more colors since, including a brand new choice of three hues available Thursday — coral pink, tidal blue and volt yellow.
Apple Watch is already helping researchers study heart health in various ways. Photo: Apple
Apple highlighted Apple Watch’s potential as a heart-health monitor on Tuesday, referring to its increasing usefulness to health researchers and medical personnel.
In addition to the ResearchKit and CareKit programs rolled out in 2015, Apple said it launched its Investigator Support Program. In it, health researchers get Apple Watches to study the heart.
★★★★☆
SwitchEasy's MagEasy Flipmount is a sturdy stand for iPads, iPhones and other devices. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
A computer setup benefits from stands, which raise up your devices for hands-free use while easing problems like neck strain. That’s a big selling point of the SwitchEasy MagEasy Flipmount Magnetic Hoop Stand. It’s not a charger, but it mounts MagSafe iPhones nicely, and it includes a hoop that magnetizes any other device, like an iPad.
SwitchEasy sent me one to check out. You can read my thoughts below.
The scratch-and-dent sale’s selection includes iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7, plus a slew of older models. If you want one, you’d better hurry, though. The sale ends at 10 p.m. PST Monday.
You don't see a printer right in the setup all that often. People took notice. Photo: Consistent_Order5375@Reddit.com
We come across setups with printers from time to time, though they’re usually off to the side and perhaps only occasionally used. But today’s featured setup with a MacBook Air, a 2016 12-inch MacBook and a 20-inch Cinema Display keeps the printer right in the main mix.
This took some commenters by surprise. They noted why they never print anymore and grilled the user about his age, which turned out to be a lot lower number than expected.
During Luminar Neo's birthday celebration, you can get a two-for-one deal on the highly functional photo editing app. Photo: Skylum
Are you a photographer? If so, you should know about Luminar Neo, the full-featured photo editing app from Skylum that’s celebrating its first birthday.
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The team behind it, based in war-torn Ukraine, has relentlessly improved the award-winning software over the past year. With a multitude of new features — including several AI-powered tools that make photo editing magically creative — Luminar Neo offers serious photographers total control over their images.
Skylum is marking Luminar Neo’s one-year anniversary with a fantastic opportunity for savings. Read on for more on the app’s new features and the “1+1” deal on offer.
Another oddly shaped LG DualUp monitor finds a home in a Mac setup. Photo: StijnVDS@Reddit.com
When the eccentric LG DualUp display came out, its nearly square, 16:18 aspect ratio raised eyebrows. But the monitor is kind of like two displays in one, so it’s making inroads into computer setups like today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation.
The user wanted a Studio Display, but he finds the DualUp an economical alternative and then some.
If you're an Apple TV+ subscriber and a T-Mobile customer, this deal saves you $79 ($99 for people not already signed up for Apple TV+). Photo: Apple
Cellular carrier T-Mobile said Tuesday it’s offering MLS Season Pass for free to every customer this soccer season. The pass is available by subscription via the Apple TV app on millions of devices, with many matches available on Apple TV+.
So if you’re a T-Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile customer, MLS Season Pass — the only way to watch all of the league’s live soccer matches this season — comes free when you sign up for it. See details below.
★★★★☆
The headphones' folding design helps them fit nicely in the high-quality carrying case. Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Edifier has produced quality speakers, headphones and earbuds at affordable prices for more than 25 years. And once again I’m impressed with the value it offers, this time regarding the recently released, high-end Edifier WH950NB Wireless Noise Cancellation Over-Ear Headphones.
You can find fancier, better-sounding cans for considerably more money. But at $180, this set punches well above its weight, competing with $250 to $350 contenders.
Edifier sent me a pair to try out. I’ll get into the pluses and minuses below.
With a USB-C connector in addition to a Lightning connector, the controller easily works with both iPads and iPhones. Photo: RiotPwr
Saying Wednesday that it created a “future-proof cloud gaming controller,” RiotPwr released a new iOS gaming controller with both Lightning and USB-C connectors.
“The RiotPWR RP1950 controller [is] the solution for the USB-C cloud gaming crisis for iOS users,” the company added.
Three Macs and a KVM switch with a big external monitor can be the perfect solution. Photo: gregcoit@Reddit.com
Today’s featured computer setup employs three separate Macs — MacBook Pro, M1 MacBook Air and M1 Mac mini — connecting two of them to a big external monitor using a KVM docking station.
KVM switches are handy when you don’t want to switch cables from different computers using the same monitor and input devices. But there’s another reason the user, Greg Coit, chose the method.
The monitor's launch comes in April and its HomeKit and Matter compatibility are expected via a pending Dirigera hub update. Photo: Ikea
Ikea unveiled its new indoor air-quality monitor Tuesday. With a name that sounds like a Swedish jet fighter — Vindstryka — it’s designed to help you combat pollutants in your home or office. And it will be HomeKit- and Matter-compatible through the Ikea Dirigera hub after the company updates it.
The Swedish home furnishings giant set an April launch date for the monitor but hasn’t added a price tag yet.
The Function 101 BentoStack organizer is a bento box for your Apple accessories. Photo: Function 101
“Love planted a rose, and the world turned sweet,” goes an old Valentine’s Day saying. And what’s sweeter than saving a few bucks? (Not that your sweetheart has to know about that part when you give them a gift).
The Cult of Mac Store’s Valentine’s Day Sweet Savings sale goes through 11:59 p.m. PST on February 14. You can get 20% off an array of Apple accessories, including organizers, cable blocks and more from Function 101 and stylish stretch-link stainless steel Apple Watch bands and stacking bracelets from Rilee & Lo.
And you can score even bigger savings on iPhone cases and more from other brands.
You can get various versions of the 24-inch iMac, among other gear. Photo: Apple
Amazon-owned discount site Woot! is offering a slew of deals on iMacs, MacBooks and iPads through Thursday.
Some M1 laptops are already sold out, but a lot of gear remains, so jump on this if you’re in the market for Apple hardware. It’s the sort of sale that may make people wish they’d waited to buy instead of going all-in at launch.
Alogic's Matrix series consists of five wireless chargers that you can purchase separately or together. Photo: Alogic
In these busy times, when your crucial gadgets run out of power — your iPhone or Apple Watch, for example — it can really ruin your plans. That’s why Alogic built what it said is the world’s first modular wireless charging ecosystem to keep you powered up.
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It’s called The Matrix, and it’s designed to serve all your charging needs at all times, everywhere.
Each case comes with a clip and a lanyard. Photo: Mujjo
Tech accessories brand Mujjo unveiled its Echelon AirPods Pro Case Monday. It’s a luxurious new leather case for 1st and 2nd generation AirPods Pro, the company said.
Are two ports better than one? Photo: @Hyphaistos3672
Cult of Mac has reported on how Apple will replace iPhone’s Lightning connector with USB-C soon enough — but what if Cupertino decided to go with both ports on future iPhones, like the 15 series?
One engineer appeared to explore the option, modding an iPhone 12 mini by adding a fully functional USB-C port next to the existing Lightning port.