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- Is 'Surface' more than skin deep?
Is 'Surface' more than skin deep?
New Apple TV+ show Surface might be all eye candy, but I'm going to dive in this weekend -- despite our reviewer's less-than-promising recap of the first couple episodes.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw -- who you might know from another Apple TV+ offering, The Morning Show -- stars in the mystery series, which premiered Friday. She plays a woman suffering from amnesia after an apparent suicide attempt. But naturally, nothing is as it seems.
The Surface trailer looks stylish and slick, with plenty of intriguing twists and turns. Plus, the show is set in San Francisco, where Cult of Mac is based. If nothing else, it will be fun to see some glamour shots of the city I call home. (I'm sure the cinematographers carefully avoided the poo.)
Have a great weekend!
— Lewis Wallace, managing editor
'Surface' premiere recap
Glossy mystery series Surface gets off to a bumpy, soapy start this week on Apple TV+. Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Sophie, a woman who lost her memory after what could have been an accident or a suicide attempt. Like Truth Be Told, another Apple TV+ series from producer Reese Witherspoon, this one is a prestige look at a woman undergoing a lot of changes in her life as the result of crime … or is it?
News and opinion
Apple earnings calls can offer fascinating glimpses behind the scenes at the iPhone-maker. Most of the time, though, they are dull as toast. That’s true even for the June quarter, when Apple managed to snatch financial success from the jaws of supply constraints. But we endured the tedium of the call so you don’t have to.
If you missed some of the biggest Apple Store openings ever, don’t worry. Now there’s an app that lets you go back in time for them.
This year should bring the first major overhaul of the wearable since the Apple Watch Series 4 debut in 2018.
Plus, more Apple rumors:
As Apple works toward releasing an electric vehicle before the end of this decade, the addition of Luigi Taraborrelli, who worked for the fabled Italian automaker for 20 years, could accelerate the project.
The six new compact, efficient GaNPrime chargers range in power output from 150W down to 65W and cover a lot of possible uses.
Plus, more gadget news:
How-tos
If you have trouble sleeping, the Apple Watch might help you get to the bottom of what’s going on. A new feature coming in watchOS 9 can track what sleep stage you’re in. That means you can see if you’re not getting enough deep sleep or REM sleep, or if you’re waking up too often in the middle of the night.
Lockdown Mode is a new option coming in iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura that limits system features for maximum security. Here's how it works.
Deals
If you’re packing a charger for the road, you probably don’t want it to take up too much space, much less carry more than one for your iPhone and Apple Watch. That’s where this Two-in-One Folding Wireless Magnetic Charger comes in handy. This iPhone, Apple Watch and Qi-compatible charger can power two devices at once, and folds up small for easy transport.
Plus, more gadget deals:
Hosting services aren’t always expensive, but they usually demand a monthly payment to maintain your site’s digital real estate. iBrave works a little differently, though: It’s selling lifetime subscriptions for just $99.99 (regularly $2,997).
Have you ever been annoyed when someone sends you a PDF instead of a file you can edit? PDFs continue to be one of the most popular file types in the world, so why is it such a pain when you actually need to use one? Hint: It's not a problem if you own the right app.
Autowriterpro can help you produce original, custom content in a fraction of the time it would take you to write it yourself. And for a limited time, a lifetime subscription is on sale for only $39.99 (regularly $469).
Reviews and recommendations
Apple TV+ family comedy Trying goes camping this week, and Nikki and Jason discover their strengths and weaknesses as parents by listening to things their kids need. But a gaffe makes this show unbearable for Cult of Mac's reviewer.
Plus, more Apple TV+ recaps:
The Apple Leather Wallet with MagSafe magnetically clings to an iPhone. And it has a useful trick: The phone shows the user the location the wallet was last detached, so it’s easier to find if it gets lost.
Juuk makes Vitero steel and aluminum Apple Watch bands in Hong Kong, providing them to several high-end Swiss watch brands. But you can get 'em straight from the Cult of Mac Store.
Plus, more Apple Watch band options:
Setups
Universal Control lets the owner of this sweet setup work across the screens of two very different Apple devices. The only problem seems to be that silver Magic Trackpad sticking out like a sore thumb amidst darker surroundings.
Not everyone has a huge desk with ample room for their computer setup and loads of associated gear. But with a few smart moves, anyone can make the most of a small desk in a cramped space.
People love posting impressive photographs and descriptions of their computer setups online. And other people love either drooling over them or mercilessly criticizing them. But no matter what technology appears, pets can steal the show.