Best use yet for an old MacBook 🤣

April 16, 2022

It's not exactly breaking news, but the week's most popular story on Cult of Mac shows a DIY MacBook trick we haven't seen before.

I'm not going to say any more about it -- just take a look at the video if you want some weekend fun.

Also this week:

Enjoy your weekend!

-- Lewis Wallace, managing editor

A clever DIY project found a brilliant way to reuse on old MacBook. At first glance, it just seems like an Apple notebook sitting on a desk. Open it up and ... We’re not going to ruin it for you. Just watch the video.

News and opinion

Unveiled at a special event way back in 2014, the first Apple Watch looked similar to the wearable we know and love today. But looks can be deceiving. What started out as an “intimate way to connect and communicate,” has become primarily a health and fitness device. It's an unusual pivot for Apple.

Apple reportedly has half a dozen Macs with the next-generation M2 processor in testing.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

Photographers from all over the world submitted epic miniatures taken with iPhone 13 Pro/Max for the Shot on iPhone Macro Challenge. Feast your eyes on these stunning macro shots!

iMovie has long been Apple's default tool for creating quick, gorgeous videos on your iPhone or iPad. With this week's update, Apple added a pair of new creative tools.

How-tos

You can have your phone read anything you have on-screen. This feature was designed for people who have trouble reading small text, but you will find it handy even if you don’t — in lots of situations. Here’s how to turn on Spoken Content.

Many people are unaware that AirPods support Activation Lock, which means they are locked to an Apple ID. This must be deactivated when selling or giving the devices away, or no one else can use them. Here’s how to do it.

Deals

When it comes to Apple Watch bands, some folks love their leather. Others go for braided nylon loops. Still others prefer silicone or carbon fiber. But for many, it’s always going to be metal. Stainless steel. It’s durable, cool to the touch, non-corrosive, comfortable and more affordable than gold, platinum or silver. In a word, it’s classic. And right now you can get 25% off all Rilee & Lo metal Apple Watch bands and stacking bracelets in the Cult of Mac Store.

Plus, more Easter sales in the Cult of Mac Store:

Your Mac is an amazing machine. But you’re probably not using it to its full potential. To really unleash all it has to offer, you need some awesome apps — and that’s exactly what you get in the Mac Madness App Bundle. Usually $74, it’s on sale for just $19.99.

Apple's excellent 24-inch M1 iMac is cheaper than ever on Amazon right now.

Plus, more hot deals on Apple gear:

Ever wanted to match the exact color of something you’ve seen in real life? Now you can with this futuristic device. Whether it’s the deep blue of a custom car’s paint job or the vibrant orange of a California poppy, the Nix Mini Color Sensor V2 can duplicate it.

Reviews

The new anthology series is a collection of vignettes shot and presented in roughly the same style. Each takes on a different facet of womanhood. And each contains some element of magical realism.

Plus, more Apple TV+ recaps:

Insert the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread into any wall socket and you can use HomeKit to control any plug-in appliance with your iPhone. It’s easy. Plus, this gadget (obviously) offers Thread mesh networking, the future of smart home tech.

Your Apple Watch can still be useful, even when you’re not wearing it. The HEDock holds it up at a useful angle while your Watch is charging.

Setups

Ever show off your painstakingly constructed computer setup only to have everybody race past the gear just to ogle what’s showing on the screen(s)? It’s kind of like that with this setup, the brainchild of a graphic designer.

This setup showcases a Mac mini, a pair of mounted monitors and some typical-looking input devices. But some key elements escape the camera's eye.

Anyone who buys a desktop Mac or wants a desktop feel using their MacBook is going to need a decent-sized external display. And wouldn’t it be grand if we all had $5,000 to spend on an Apple Pro Display XDR? Well, we don’t.