Confessions of an AirPods virgin

November 06, 2021

If you've been using AirPods for a while, it's easy to forget just how magical Apple's wireless earbuds are. They fit right into the Apple ecosystem -- and the more Apple gear you use, the more magical they seem.

Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy found all this out recently when he ditched his non-Apple earbuds for the new third-gen AirPods. His review made me remember what it's like to be an "AirPods virgin."

I think you'll like it!

-- Lewis Wallace, managing editor

P.S. It's been a bit of a slow week for Apple news, but not for Apple TV+. As the service celebrated its second birthday, it launched several promising new series -- including one that might be the new Squid Game -- and even premiered a sci-fi movie starring Tom Hanks. You can read reviews of Finch, South Korean tour de force Dr. Brain and all the other new and returning shows below.

News and opinion

What I’m about to write is so shocking you might want to sit down: AirPods 3 are the first Apple wireless headphones I’ve ever owned.

Two years on, it’s time to look back on the highs and lows. It’s been a wild ride filled with some risky but rewarding gambles and a bunch of safe (and ultimately disappointing) bets.

Plus, more on the Apple TV+ anniversary:

Japanese game Emora Kart, launched in 1994, is the closest Macintosh gamers ever got to Super Mario Kart. And you can play it now!

This iPhone 4 prototype is an infamous bit of Apple history. Watch a just-released video to find out how the test device differed from the smartphone Apple actually shipped.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Just how well does an M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro perform against a PC built from top-tier components? The results might blow your mind. And what does that say about the rumored iMac Pro we’ll see next year?

Apple reportedly won‘t be able get chips made with a cutting-edge 3nm process next year, so it might switch to 4nm. The change would result in an iPhone that’s not as much of an improvement over the current one as expected.

It’s not the first time the Apple co-founder lamented the rather insignificant differences between iPhone generations.

How-tos

The iPhone Upgrade Program is supposed to make your annual upgrade easy. But the iPhone 13 launch in October was a huge hassle for many in the program because a glitch meant they couldn’t use their Apple Cards. Until the bug was fixed, the only option was switching to another card. Here's how to switch back.

Deals

It pays to know your way around a Mac. Whether you want to keep your home or office machines humming, or become a fully qualified tech professional with a lucrative new career, the Apple Certified Support Professional macOS 11 Course can teach you everything you need to know.

SwitchEasy just kicked off another massive flash sale, offering up to 40% off all its cases and accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch and more.

If you want to keep tabs on your credit cards and cash with one of Apple’s new wireless trackers, consider the Snapback Slim Air — a slender leather wallet with a pocket on the side for an AirTag.

Usually, if you only have one charger for all your devices, you’re going to be dealing with a lot of low batteries. Now you can have one charger for everything.

Big-screen glory is more accessible than ever with a Prima 1080p HD Pocket Projector. This pocket-size projector is slim, lightweight and affordable.

Reviews

Hooking up with maverick South Korean director Kim Jee-Woon for new series Dr. Brain looks like one of Apple TV+’s smartest, and most mind-blowing, decisions. The energetically unhinged show centers on a scientist who devises a way to talk to the dead.

Plus, more Apple TV+ series recaps and reviews:

AirPods might be the best wireless buds you can pair with Apple devices, but they’re also expensive. Plenty of more other options deliver stellar sound and reliable connectivity at a lower price.

It might look like a fake movie invented for a throwaway joke on 30 Rock. But Finch, the new Apple TV+ movie in which Tom Hanks, a dog and a robot band together to survive the apocalypse, is very real.

Give your Apple Watch a brightly colored makeover with this tasty new SwitchEasy band made from a soft, braided nylon that’s just as comfortable as it is attractive.

The Zens Magnetic + Watch Wireless Charger stand is designed to be your go-to device for juicing up multiple pieces of Apple gear. And this MagSafe-compatible charger does it in style.

Setups

In a knock-down, drag-out fight between an Apple Magic Keyboard and one of its most popular alternatives, the Logitech MX Keys wireless keyboard, which would win?

If you get one of Apple’s latest MacBook Pros, do you still face the external display limitations seen in last year's M1 MacBooks? Time for the dreaded "pixel math."

From time to time, as you work on making your computer setup all it can be, you order new equipment. And maybe it takes a long time to arrive. Here's how to get by without that backordered display.