Apple's big October

Before he took over, Apple CEO Ternus said the company has an “incredible” product pipeline — and it looks like October will bring a whole bunch of new gear designed to surprise and delight us.

From the long-rumored smart home hub to the first touchscreen MacBook, here’s what to expect this month from Cupertino’s mad geniuses.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

We talked about how Ternus is shaking things up at Apple, and what the home hub might be good for, on this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast.
A big, ugly screen crease has bedeviled folding smartphones for years. Apple came up with a workaround.
At long last, Apple added an EQ to AirPods — here’s where to find it and how to use it.
Whatever you do, don’t fall for this.
And finally, Cult of Mac Deals added some great new stuff this week, including a VPN with AI threat protection, a credit card-size crypto wallet and a great way to snag cheap airfares.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

Feature story

8 hot products to expect from Apple in October

Apple could have a busy October, with a touchscreen MacBook and more Macs, a smart home hub, a revamped iPad mini and more on the way.

John Ternus is on a tear at Apple! [Cult of Mac podcast 35]

On this week’s show: New CEO John Ternus reportedly wants to make Apple lean and agile and push out new products faster.

A message from Roku

How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads

The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.

Learn more

News

John Ternus plans to accelerate Apple product launches

John Ternus reportedly wants to speed up product development and launch more devices more often, with a leaner organization.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

The iPhone Duo’s display has a trick for aging gracefully

The cover layer of the iPhone Duo display can be replaced if creases start to show. Replacements will be very affordable under AppleCare+.

Apple Creator Studio gets a big batch of new features

Explore fresh updates to Apple Creator Studio, featuring new tools for Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro and the company's productivity apps.

Plus, more Apple software news:

AirPods 5 are less impossible to fix

AirPods 5 finally break Apple’s streak of unrepairable earbuds, but their charging case remains a teardown nightmare.

Fake Zoom installer tricks Mac users into bypassing Gatekeeper

A fake Zoom installer walks Mac users around Gatekeeper, then phishes their admin password to launch a backdoor. How to keep your Mac safe.

Some iPhone 18 Pro owners complain about discolored devices

iPhone 18 Pro color problems sound familiar, with some buyers reporting discoloration similar to the situation with certain iPhone 17 Pros.

Apple wants to stop you from blindly trusting AI agents

Apple promises stricter Full Disk Access controls as AI agents gain access to Mac users’ sensitive files, messages and browsing history.

How-tos

How to use the new custom equalizer in your AirPods

Apple finally added a built-in equalizer to compatible AirPods. Here’s how to adjust the earbuds to sound the way you want.

How to remove your personal information from the internet

Data breaches are exploding, but you can reclaim your privacy with a mix of manual steps and some automated tools.

3 fastest ways to clear disk space on your Mac

Learn how to clear disk space on your Mac with these simple tips and tools to manage your storage effectively.

A message from Wispr Flow

Stop typing AI prompts. Start talking.

You think 4x faster than you type. So why are you typing prompts? Wispr Flow turns your voice into ready-to-paste text inside any AI tool. Speak naturally, tangents and all, and Flow cleans it up. Available on Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android.

Try Wispr Flow Free

Deals

VPNs aren't enough anymore. GhostShield adds real-time AI threat protection.

GhostShield VPN Premium includes an AI Threat Analyzer, ChaCha20 encryption, unlimited bandwidth and support for 10 simultaneous devices.

Plus, more software from Cult of Mac Deals:

Stop overpaying for airfare: Get a lifetime Matt's Flights subscription for just $39.99

Discount airfare finder Matt's Flights searches 24/7 for cheap flights. When price drops or mistake fares pop up, the service alerts you.

Your crypto wallet should fit in your wallet — this 3-pack costs just $55.92

The Tangem Wallet stores crypto offline in a credit-card-size form factor and works with a simple NFC tap. A three-pack costs just $55.92.

Find your next rental property with Mashvisor, just $99.99 for life

Mashvisor helps you research U.S. rental markets, find investment properties and set Airbnb rates with AI-powered tools.

Reviews

BenQ's new pro display puts color first, with a few compromises [Review]

The BenQ PD2732U pairs an excellent color-calibrated 4K panel with extensive Mac-friendly connectivity, but two things hold it back.

Razer's tiny new iPhone game controller packs a big advantage [Review]

The Razer Prio turns an iPhone into a fun, portable gaming machine without adding much bulk. We go hands-on.