Apple TV+'s 'Swan Song' is scintillating sci-fi

December 17, 2021

Forget the Oscar-winning cast. Never mind the gorgeous cinematography and jaw-dropping locations. It's worth watching Swan Song just for the incredible world-building.

Debuting on Apple TV+ this week, Swan Song paints perhaps the best vision I've seen of technology in the near future.

There are self-driving cars that are summoned on demand -- and hence empty streets: There are no cars parked on the movie's residential thoroughfares.

Cellphones have been replaced by miniature earbuds and contact lenses that project video calls and computer desktops in AR. They actually look fun and functional.

And we meet cute coffee robots that remember regular commuters' favorite drinks on a train. (That part's a bit creepy.)

It's easy to imagine Apple itself coming up with stuff like this in the next few years -- although there's no branding of any kind on any on Swan Song's futuristic devices (a big miss there, Tim Cook!)

And the movie itself? It's cerebral and there's no action. It's weepy, with a melancholy tone. It's right up my alley!

I enjoyed it, mostly because of a great performance from Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali.

And yes, I had to pretend there was something in my eye at the end.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

Swan Song, which premieres Friday on Apple TV+, is a number of things: an inspirational disease drama, a sleek sci-fi parable, a clone movie, and the feature debut of an Academy Award-winning short film director, Benjamin Cleary. Arriving so soon after Tom Hanks’ ho-hum Finch, viewers could be forgiven for preparing for the worst. Thankfully, there’s no need.

AirPods make great gifts ... especially when they’re nearly half off. You can get AirPods 2 for less than $90 right now. That’s as low as they’ve ever been. And there are deals on every type of Apple’s signature earbuds, all offering significant savings.

An official list of what’s coming in the new version hasn’t yet been revealed by the Mac-maker, but tests with beta 1 have turned up a few changes. The much-anticipated Universal Control isn’t one of them, though.

Speidel makes all sorts of watch bands and straps — including a wide range of bands for Apple Watch. Little did we know there’s one made for medical workers, as in doctors and nurses. It’s the Speidel Matching Scrub Band for Apple Watch, and it’s on sale in the Cult of Mac Store for just $6.

Disney and Pixar characters drop their sweet facades and go for one another’s throats in Disney Melee Mania, a multiplayer action game that debuted Friday on Apple Arcade. Ever wondered what would happen if Elsa and Moana took on Buzz Lightyear and Wreck-It Ralph? Now you can find out.

Each one is capable of charging mobile devices, powering lights and more during a power outage, or even jump-starting a car if necessary.

If you look up “11.11” in the Slang Dictionary, it says, “If it’s 11:11, make a wish! Some people believe 11:11 is a magic number or lucky time of day, good for making a wish ... or reaching cosmic enlightenment.” Well, if something’s enlightened, or at least en-whitened, it’s today’s Mac mini-based setup.

Tweet o' the day

One more thing ...

"We at Apple had forgotten who we were. One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are." -- Steve Jobs

Reply

or to participate.