Why Stage Manager is actually brilliant

November 12, 2022

To listen to some, Stage Manager is the biggest disaster since, well, Elon Must took over Twitter.

The new windowing system for iPad has tons of haters online, who say the system is confusing, buggy and misguided.

But Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy, who has used an iPad Pro as his main machine for several years, begs to differ.

Ed's been using Stage Manager in beta for months and thinks its actually quite brilliant.

It's a whole new way to approach multitasking, Ed says, and if Apple irons out a few kinks, it could be an even better windowing system than the Mac.

"As I see it, Stage Manager is a multitasking system better suited for average users than the macOS one," Ed writes.

Has Ed gone completely mad? Or is he onto something?

Read our top post and decide for yourself. Personally, I think he makes a compelling case.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

News and opinion

The Stage Manager multitasking system is Apple's answer to requests for floating app windows on iPad. It's drawn a lot of unearned criticism. Here’s why there’s a lot to like in Stage Manager.

Apple pushed out firmware update 5B58 for AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Here's how to make sure you've got it.

Here is a look at all the new features and changes in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 beta 2, including the new Freeform app and Siri enhancements.

Those dreaming of a folding iPhone can look enviously at group of clever hackers in China who made one just to prove it could be done.

Apple has started selling the first 15W MagSafe car charger, made by Belkin. It offers double the power of Qi-compatible chargers.

Apple is investing $450 million into satellite infrastructure to insure its Emergency SOS via satellite service for the iPhone 14 series launches in November.

Battery life is an important consideration in any handset, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max solidly outlasts two Android flagship devices in a real-world battery test.

How-tos

Physical Dvorak keyboards have been available for computers forever, but finally, you can get it on your iPhone and iPad.

Every site that publishes content probably has an RSS feed. You can follow your favorite news, blogs and webcomics without Twitter.

Mastodon is a Twitter clone that a lot of people you may know are moving to. There are a few things you need to consider when signing up.

Deals

Hushed is a private phone line service that can give your iPhone a second phone number without costly contracts. Right now, you can purchase a lifetime subscription for just $24.99, down from $150.

Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip and 1TB storage is down to $1,999 on Amazon. That's a massive $500 off its $2,499 retail price.

Enter promo code CULT at CDKeylord.com. That will take an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

These wireless earbuds can do live translations of over 37 languages and are on sale for $157 or 28% off.

Reviews

The inCharge X from Rolling Square is just what you need. It’s tiny enough for you to take it everywhere, but adaptable enough to enable almost any type of Apple device to get power from almost any charger.

With the FIFA World Cup a week away, the latest version of the Sega's hugely popular sports management game Football Manager 2023 launched for a range of Apple devices.

Setups

This Mac Studio computer setup belongs to a Linux-loving software programmer who used to be strongly anti-Apple, according to her husband.

Wherever you see wood in the photograph, know that it’s 3 inches thick. That’s one way to reduce monitor wobbling.

Las Vegas-based graphic designer, video editor and photographer Allen Williams recently made the move from an older iMac to a brand new Mac Studio and Studio Display combo.

Apple TV+ reviews and recommendations

Depressive drama Causeway, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as a recovering Afghanistan war veteran trapped in her hometown, marks the latest collaboration between indie film company A24 and Apple TV+. Lawrence, dipping her toe back into being a movie star following last year’s Don’t Look Up, returns to her roots in the film, which premieres Friday.

There’s a cholera outbreak this week on Apple TV+ epic Shantaram, and impostor doctor Lin Ford finds himself in the thick of it. If he saves lives, he’ll become a hero. If he doesn’t, he’ll be a pariah.

Candy-colored Apple TV+ comedy Acapulco takes stock of its situation on an eventful trip to the city this week.

Mythic Quest — the Apple TV+ sitcom about the world’s most popular role-playing video game company and the kooks who staff it — returns today for a third season of behind-the-scenes insanity and power plays.

This week on Apple TV+ thriller The Mosquito Coast, the Fox family’s boat suffers some serious damage but the show itself refuses to run aground.