Apple TV+'s new prestige show, the sci-fi epic Foundation, was supposed to premiere today, but the first two episodes are already available.

If you're not headed to the pub tonight, I highly recommend streaming them. The show has a stellar cast -- the always great Jared Harris and Lee Pace (as the baddie) are standouts -- as well as superb special effects and great set- and costume-design.

It's a bit slow in parts, a little confusing in others, but it already has me hooked.

In fact, episode two's cliffhanger has me chomping at the bit to see what happens next, but it won't be available for another week! WTF Apple!

Also don't miss today's Setups post below, which explores why some people use both a mouse -- and a trackpad!

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

'Foundation' sets the stage for a sweeping sci-fi epic [Apple TV+ review] — www.cultofmac.com

Apple TV+’s big, expensive sci-fi gamble is finally ready to cash in its bets. After years of production, Foundation — a series based on the work of Isaac Asimov and shepherded by the man who helped turn American culture into a superhero factory — is now streaming. This very impressive sci-fi show will now have to compete in the attention economy. Can it live up to the hype?

Apple fans worldwide get their hands on iPhone 13 and new iPad models — www.cultofmac.com

iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad mini and the ninth-generation iPad hit the Apple Store on Friday morning. Cupertino showed off photos of customers getting their hands on its newest devices in Beijing to celebrate the occasion.

iPadOS 15 review: Nice improvements, but where’s the ambition? — www.cultofmac.com

Apple somehow created the world’s greatest and most disappointing tablet operating system. iPadOS is by far the best you’ll find for larger touchscreens, and yet, it leaves us wanting so much more.

Apple Watch 7 packs new ‘communications transmitter’ for data transfer — www.cultofmac.com

Regulatory documents reveal a 60.5GHz module that works with a “Wireless Serial Dock” that could enable faster transfer speeds.

Protect your iPhone 13 in style with new Mujjo leather cases — www.cultofmac.com

Accessories-maker Mujjo greets the arrival of iPhone 13 series handsets with some classy new offerings, now available in the Cult of Mac Store. Behold the Mujjo Full Leather Case and the Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 13 Series.

Moment rolls out 3 new MagSafe-compatible iPhone 13 cases — www.cultofmac.com

The three new case styles are all MagSafe-compatible to go with the magnetic technology in Apple's new handsets.

Satechi’s new chargers keep your gadgets humming on the go — www.cultofmac.com

Three new offerings now join Satechi’s formidable charger lineup for iPhone 12 and 13 series handsets and other portable devices: a MagSafe-compatible car mount charger, a high-output car charger and a USB-C PD wall charger.

'Lego Star Wars Battles' explodes onto Apple Arcade — www.cultofmac.com

The newest addition to the subscription gaming service really puts the “war” in Star Wars. Look for a mix of one-on-one, real-time combat and tower defense with classic Star Wars characters.

Super-clean rig relies on Magic Trackpad and mouse combo [Setups] — www.cultofmac.com

When you travel the online highways and byways in search of cool computer setups, you start to notice certain patterns. One is that lots of people seem to love Apple’s Magic Trackpad. Another is that plenty of folks hate the Magic Mouse. And a third seems to see a growing number of people absolutely love using a Magic Trackpad + mouse combo — which some onlookers find mystifying.

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One more thing ...

"I've always thought it would be really wonderful to have a little box, a sort of slate that you could carry along with you." -- Steve Jobs in 1984