We have a deal on the LuxArmor Executive iPhone X case. It’s a slim case with the company’s anti-slip ArmorSecure coating for a good grip. You can get one through us for $26.99, and the deal listing also has options for iPhone 7/8 and iPhone 7/8 Plus.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
Apple's iPhone 8 (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition Commercial, Music by Sofi Tukker
Apple has a spot out to promote the new iPhone 8 (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition. It’s very…red, with a soundtrack by Sofi Tukker, “That’s It (I’m Crazy).” This isn’t the kind of commercial likely to get a lot of TV airtime, but it’s racking up views on YouTube (224,000 and counting, after just a few hours).
Azio Retro Classic BT Keyboard Mac Review: Steampunk Sensibilities and a Thunderous Click
Here’s Bryan Chaffin’s three word review of the Azio Retro Classic BT keyboard: Loud, Glorious, Backlit.
G-DROP Adventure Ready Submersible Bluetooth Speaker: $35
We have a deal for anyone looking for a submersible Bluetooth speaker. G-DROP floats on water and can sit in the snow, and it’s submersible for up to 30 minutes in up to 3 feet of water. It has a microphone for speaker phone calls, and it’s $35 through us.
Read, Listen to Tim Cook's Interview with Kara Swisher
Re/code posted an audio recording of Kara Swisher’s interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook, as well as a transcript. It was posted to YouTube for a couple of days until it was taken down, making both of these methods the only way you’re likely to be able to consume the video in its entirety. This is the uncut interview, too, and Re/code said it, “includes new material that didn’t air on TV, such as more on Apple’s education efforts, manufacturing, immigration and Cook’s advice to his younger self.”
Last Chance for the 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle: $14.99 - Includes BusyCal 3
It’s your last chance to get the The 2018 Mac Essentials Bundle, a collection of 10 Mac apps that includes BusyCal 3, a 2 year VPN subscription, RollercoasterTycoon 3 Platinum, uBar 4, Flip PDF for Mac, and more. That’s a solid collection of apps, all for $19.99, but now we have coupon code SAVEMAC that brings the price down to $14.99. This deal is ending soon.
Apple Hires an Amazon Tech Exec for Software VP Role
Jon McCormack previously worked at Google’s Advanced Technology & Products Group, but he was hired from his gig at Amazon, where he was Chief Technology Officer of the devices group.
Boom 3D Virtual Surround Audio for Mac: $7.99
We have a deal on Boom 3D, system-wide volume booster and equalizer software for your Mac designed to give you a 3D Surround Sound experience. The video below gives a quick look at the software’s interface. It’s $7.99 through us.
Apple Announces ProRes RAW Video Format, Adds Close Captioning to Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro X 10.4.1 adds two new features, a new Apple file format called ProRes RAW and support for closed captioning.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Launches April 25th with Dame Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon Voices
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is designed to allow players to create their own Hogwarts student and experience life at the wizarding school.
RoboForm Everywhere Password Manager 5-Year Subscription: $29
We have a deal today on RoboForm Everywhere, a password manager for Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS. It features password auditing, cloud backup, syncing across devices, support for 2FA, and more. A five year subscription is $29 through us.
Two New Apple Videos for Working on iPad, Sock Puppets and Cherries Not Included
The first one shows you how to use two at once, while the second shows how to annotate and markup screenshots.
Mark Zuckerberg vs. Tim Cook, Apple's New AI Chief, and Making HomeKit Great - ACM 456
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook have been trading public barbs on privacy, and Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet discuss the public tiff. They also discuss Apple’s hiring of Google’s former head of artificial intelligence and what it might mean for Siri (hint: good things!). They cap the show with a look at what it would take to make HomeKit the premier home automation platform.
Apple Pay Launches in Brazil
The announcement is aimed at businesses, in particular, as Apple works to add retailers that accept Apple Pay.
Hider 2 Hides and Encrypts Files on Your Mac
We have a deal on Hider 2 for Mac, a utility that lets you hide and encrypt files. You can hide and encrypt files and folders, create categories and tags, make notes, and everything is password protected. It’s $12.99 through us.
iTunes Launches 'Build Your Collection' Movie Promo Under $8
Apple launched a new movie promo on iTunes called Build Your Collection. It features hundreds of movies, all under US$8 and many at $4.99. Bullitt, Battle Royale, The Goonies, Empire Records, Risky Business, Beetlejuice, The Matrix, and newer movies like Black Swan, The Revenant, plus many more. They’re broken down into categories, including: Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Horror, and Romance. Unfortunately, the prices are only listed once you click through to an individual movie, but they’re all under $8 and I can’t wait to rewatch Bullitt.
Apple Hires Google's AI Chief, Tim Cook Touts His Commitment to Privacy
In a letter to employees, Tim Cook said that John Giannandrea shared Apple’s commitment to privacy and “our thoughtful approach” to machine learning.
PRE-ORDER: Lofree Four Seasons Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Our friends at Stack Commerce have put together an interesting deal for us. The Lofree Four Seasons retro mechanical wireless keyboard I wrote about in November was successfully funded on Indiegogo, having raised $182,000. Our deal today is to pre-order one of those keyboards for $99.99 for May delivery, when retail price will be $139. It’s backlit, uses mechanical keys, and features a Mac layout, but works with Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows.
Sandman Alarm Clock Has Big Numbers and 4 USB Ports
Check out the Sandman alarm clock. It boasts large numbers and four USB ports for charging your devices. One of those ports is a 2.1 amp charging port for devices that need more power. It’s $25.99 through us.
Bloomberg: Apple Plans to Move Macs to In-House CPUs as Early as 2020
The report is attributed to unnamed sources who said the project is codenamed Kalamata, which is both a city in Greece and an olive variant.
This 1981 Interview Shows How Steve Jobs at 26 Was Way Cooler than Me (and Probably You)
What struck Bryan Chaffin was that Steve Jobs, at the tender age of 26, had his &^#% together in ways most of us never do
QLYX Smart Magnetic Car Mount: $39.99
We have a deal on an interesting device called QLYX. Successfully funded on Indiegogo and Kickstarter, and now shipping, QLYX is a magnetic car mount that connects to an app through Bluetooth. That app will connect to various mapping services, Spotitfy, Pandora, and more. The video below offers a good look at it. QLYX is $39.99 through us.
Apple Releases macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 with Business Chat, eGPUs, Messages on iCloud, More
In addition to going hand in hand with iOS 11.3, which was released earlier in the day, the update features Business Chat, support for external GPUs (eGPUs), Messages on iCloud, and more.
Apple Music Update Makes It Possible to Play Music Video Playlists
It’s like MTV, without the reality crap.