Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He's a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. Prior to Cult of Mac, he served as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody's News.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
Are you really ready for VR? Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Let’s talk about the virtual reality headset Apple supposedly will unleash next year. Will it happen? What will it do? And do we even want it to happen?
Also on The CultCast:
Maybe AirPower isn’t dead — and maybe something even more amazing is on the horizon.
Tesla Cyberwhistle FTW.
Our first round of Gear of the Year picks.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
We interrupt your Black Friday weekend shopping spree for this important bulletin: Cult of Mac’s buyback program is offering an extra $20 on every piece of Apple gear you sell to us. That’s on top of the already generous cash-back opportuni ties we offer every day of the year.
Head to our buyback page now and enter code BFCM to get that sweet extra cash — but do it fast. This special offer ends Monday night.
An iMac Pro with 2x the processing power of the M1 Max? Is Apple crazy?!? Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If you thought the M1 Max MacBook Pros were powerhouses, wait till you hear about the iMac Pro that might be coming down the pike. Apple reportedly wants to double up the world-beating chip to amp up the performance even more. Prepare to be amazed!
Also on The CultCast:
Black Friday deals on Apple gear and The Cult of Mac, 2nd Edition coffee table book.
AirPods are not for late-night snacking!
And new products we love in “Under Review.”
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
This is a great deal on a hard-to-find charging station. Act fast if you want one! Photo: Belkin
The only thing I don’t like about Belkin’s 3-in-1 MagSafe wireless charger is its name. And, until now, its availability and price.
Those last two problems just disappeared, however briefly, as the hard-to-find 15-watt MagSafe charger is back in stock on Belkin’s website — and with a sweet 25% Black Friday discount to boot! Just be sure to use the promo code when you check out.
The results will shock you! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Just how well does a new $3,500 M1 Max MacBook Pro perform against a $15,000 Mac Pro that’s only two years old? The results from the latest tests and benchmarks are simply insane.
Also on The CultCast:
Apple plans to make a totally autonomous car — with no steering wheel or pedals! And it might show up by 2025.
And our favorite TV shows in an all-new “What We’re Into” segment.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
The new MacBook Pro's MagSafe might just be too strong! Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Reports of MagSafe connectors being too strong on the new MacBook Pros leave us scratching our heads. Is MagSafe-gate for real? It’s always something when Apple releases a killer new product….
Also on The CultCast:
Tech companies seem in a frenzy to get new MacBook Pros in their employees’ hands.
Apple storms into the MDM game.
And an all new Under Review!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
If an M1 Max in a laptop can destroy a specced-out PC, what will the next iMac Pro be capable of? Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Just how well does an M1 Max-powered MacBook Pro perform against a monster PC built out of top-tier components? The results might blow your mind. Again. And what does that say about the rumored iMac Pro we’ll see next year?
Also on The CultCast:
Possible specs for next year’s iMac “Pro.”
Crash detection coming for drivers with iPhones/Apple Watches?
Our latest favorite TV shows and movies in an all-new What We’re Into!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
If you want a pair — or want to knock out some early holiday gift shopping — you might want to jump on this deal. Or one of Amazon’s other surprising discounts on the Apple gear you crave, like an Apple Pencil 2 for just $99.
M1 Pro and M1 Max chips make the new MacBook Pros truly nasty beasts. Imace: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first MacBook Pro benchmarks and reviews reveal just how beefy these astonishing beasts really are. Powered by Apple’s outrageous new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, these laptops blow away their predecessors — and basically blow our minds. Erfon is in awe!
Also on The CultCast:
MacBook Pros look very good for gaming, too.
Intel chief takes on an impossible mission.
Leander gives third-gen AirPods a listen (and he likes what he hears).
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in Apple’s Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
SharePlay makes Apple Fitness+ workouts more personal by letting you communicate with friends in real time. Photo: Apple
Apple Fitness+ added group workouts and meditation sessions Monday, letting users communicate in real time with up to 32 other people. The new capability taps FaceTime’s new SharePlay feature, which works on iOS devices now and comes to macOS Monterey later this fall.
“It’s a really fun way to connect with friends and family, even trade some words of encouragement or friendly smack talk, while also making progress toward closing their rings,” said Jay Blahnik, Apple’s vice president of fitness technologies, in a press release.
Apple's new chips sound truly astonishing. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Erfon can’t stop gushing about the new MacBook Pros! (What a shocker.) Plus, he reveals what it felt like to get Sherlocked during Apple’s “Unleashed” event this week. (Spoiler alert: CultCloth sales shot through the roof!) And none of us can stop raving about the astonishing power of Apple’s new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
Also on The CultCast:
Awesome new third-gen AirPods.
Underwhelming new HomePod mini colors.
And a surprising Siri-only Apple Music Voice Plan.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Are you ready for next week's Apple event? We can't wait! Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Finally! Here come the M1X Macs! We talk our predictions for Monday’s “Unleashed” Apple event!
Also on The CultCast:
A rumor says Apple is prepping a Nintendo Switch-like gaming console.
We reveal our favorite new(ish) shows on an all-new What We’re Into!
And in our weekly giveaway, we’ve got a five-piece iPhone 13 bundle from Smartish.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Soundcore Frames let you stream audio from your iPhone or other Bluetooth device. Photo: Anker Innovations
Soundcore Frames look like typical glasses, but they come with a stealth capability: They let you listen to music.
The new “audio eyewear” product packs tiny drivers into the glasses’ temples, so wearers can listen to audio streaming from a Bluetooth device. Plus, a smart design choice that rips a page from the Apple Watch playbook makes them fashionable. But don’t expect augmented reality or other “smart” features.
Cult of Mac got an early look (and listen) during an advance demo of Soundcore Frames.
A decade after Steve Jobs' death, we take stock of his legacy. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac, with photo by Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We reminisce about Steve Jobs and his lasting impact on Apple, a decade after his death. Plus, M1X MacBook Pros might be coming soon. And the Apple Watch Series 7 launch looks quite weird indeed.
Also on The CultCast:
Jony Ive pens a tribute to his friend, Steve Jobs.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
We're loving iPhone 13 Pro ... mostly. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After a week with the new iPhone 13 Pro, what features are knocking us out — and what’s registering a big “meh”? It’s time for some frank talk.
Also on The CultCast:
iOS 15 brings a blizzard of bugs.
The great Sierra blue iPhone 13 Pro debate.
iPhone 14 might get a top-to-bottom redesign.
Cult of Mac’s iPhone 13 giveaway ends soon!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Early iPhone 13 and iPad mini reviews leave us asking, "That all ya got, Apple?" Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The early reviews are in — let’s talk about the best and worst parts of iPhone 13, 13 Pro and the iPad mini. Plus: Apple is prepping yet another great feature coming soon to your HomePod — it ain’t dead yet, baby!
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the big winner in our flash poll. Photo: Apple
When it comes to the iPhone 13 lineup, it’s apparently time to go Pro or go home.
An overwhelming 80% of people who responded to Cult of Mac’s flash poll after Tuesday’s Apple event say they will buy either iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max on launch day.
We are psyched for the California Streaming event! Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, Apple Watch Series 7, AirPods 3 and … more? We’re talking hardware predictions for next Tuesday’s big California Streaming event.
Also on The CultCast this week:
Jon Prosser’s audacious iPhone 14 leak
Facebook’s new Ray-Ban smart glasses
More speed bumps for Apple’s car project
Erfon’s botfly nightmare! (There will be pus.)
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Is this really what the 2022 iPhone will look like? Image: Front Page Tech/RendersbyIan
Jon Prosser’s iPhone 14 leak is every Apple fan’s dream — and Tim Cook’s biggest nightmare.
The audacious revelation, dropped Wednesday morning via Prosser’s YouTube channel, Front Page Tech, showcased what next year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max might look like.
The exclusive iPhone 14 renders look so sweet that they might give pause to anyone contemplating buying an iPhone 13 later this month. That’s the nightmare part of this equation — and likely the part that makes Prosser nervous. Angry Apple executives might unleash all the company’s massive legal resources to stop him. And maybe even exact revenge.
What will iPhone 13's satellite communications feature actually do? Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: It sounds like iPhone 13 will come with a secret satellite trick that will give you signal anywhere on Earth! The feature might not prove as groundbreaking as it initially seemed, but it still sounds like a lifesaver.
Also on The CultCast:
Sorry, but Apple Watch Series 7 might be a much smaller update than we’ve been told.
A radical new South Korean law is forcing Apple to open up the App Store there — and other countries are sure to follow.
Sadly, it couldn’t last forever. It sounds like our beloved Tim Cook is eyeing his retirement from Apple. So who at Apple will take the reins next? We got it all figured out!
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.
Apple Music's classical offering will get a big boost from Primephonic. Photo: Samuel Sianipar/Unsplash
Apple Music’s purchase of classical music service Primephonic will give fans of the genre a richer experience, Cupertino said Monday.
Apple said it will work to incorporated the service’s features into a standalone classical app that will launch next year. The company promised high-quality audio, expert recommendations and playlists, exclusive audio content, “extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings” and other advanced features for classical fans.
The unlikely Apple TV+ hit comedy returns with more of the same. And that's a good thing. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Ted Lasso’s second season brings more of the aw-shucks charm and positivity that made the show the biggest hit on Apple TV+.
I didn’t find the show’s concept — a cornball U.S. football coach gets hired to lead a U.K. soccer squad — all that intriguing when the show debuted last year. But Ted Lasso’s relentless optimism won me over. And I’m not alone: The upbeat show definitely struck a chord with pandemic-weary viewers all over the world.
The show might be too sappy for Cult of Mac reviewer Scout Tafoya, who’s apparently not a sports fan. (He’s more of a Schmigadoon! kind of guy.) But even he grudgingly admits Ted Lasso is “handsomely produced and well-acted.”
And really, the show isn’t about sports … it’s about life, leadership and the transformative nature of teamwork.
Scout’s Ted Lasso season 2 review is the cover story of this week’s free edition of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now to read on your iOS device of choice. Even if you’re not into sports, or Apple TV+, you’ll find the mag’s stocked with plenty of Apple news, reviews and how-tos.
Apple Arcade delivers updated blasts from the past, but there's totally new stuff in the App Store this week as well. Image: Cult of Mac
Some classic iOS games got upgraded for their Apple Arcade debuts this week, but that’s just the start of this week’s roundup. A new iOS app gives you the chance to win prizes for not driving like a jerk. And a new Mac app lets you effortlessly declutter your presentations.
Plus, a couple of heavy-hitter apps got updates — one kind of serious from a privacy perspective, and one almost completely frivolous. Are you ready for your app upgrades?
The iPhone 12’s secret reverse wireless charging capability will work with Apple’s new MagSafe Battery Pack. That’s great and all, but Apple should let the iPhone charge other gear, too.
Think how cool it would be to top off your AirPods Pro simply by setting them atop your iPhone.
It’s a logical next step (and it might even be coming soon). Find out why we think Apple should go all in on iPhone reverse wireless charging in the cover story of this week’s free Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it in the app on your favorite iOS device, or get the links to the stories below.
Amp up your emoji game with Soundmojis in Facebook Messenger. Image: Facebook
Emoji just got a sonic boost in Facebook Messenger. The social network’s chat app added Soundmojis on Thursday, giving users the option of sending audio snippets with some key emoji.
At launch, you can send catchphrases from TV shows, bits of hit songs, and garden-variety stock sounds. If your conversation demands the world’s tiniest violin emoji, your chat partner can actually hear it!