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Best Safari extension ever created

Best Safari extension ever created

Block YouTube ads and more with Vinegar.

Leander Kahney
November 16, 2023

My old car has been making horrible noises recently whenever I try to put it in reverse.

I searched the web for a solution, but most of the results were vague and inconclusive. Google mostly returned forum posts where every armchair mechanic had a different, and often incorrect, diagnosis.

Luckily, YouTube came to the rescue!

Not only did the top videos help me correctly diagnose the problem, they also showed me how to fix it. Half an hour later, I emerged from under the car with the problem solved — and it cost me just a few dabs of grease. I was mighty pleased with myself.

But one thing about YouTube drove me crazy: the irritating and intrusive ads.

Now, as someone who runs a small media business that relies heavily on ads, it’s kinda rich for me to complain about them. But YouTube often seems excessive: There are too many ads, and you often can’t skip them. They ruin the ASMR videos I’m addicted to.

Luckily, there’s a solution: a Safari extension that some people say is the best browser extension ever created.

Check out Vinegar — but please disable it when you watch Cult of Mac videos!

Also in today’s newsletter:

In a surprising turnabout, Apple says it will support the RCS texting standard — but it may not be the end of the dreaded green text bubbles for Android users.
There’s new firmware available for Apple Pencil. Here’s how to get it.
I’ve heard good things about this wacky record player. Shame I got rid of all my vinyl years ago. (Actually, a friend stole my record collection, but that’s another story.)
The Apple Music Classical app is now available for iPad and its bigger screen. Da da da dum! (Guess the symphony!)

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Block all YouTube ads with the best Safari extension ever [Awesome Apps]

Vinegar is the best Safari extension that YouTube fans can download. It blocks all YouTube ads and restores many iOS-native features like playing videos in the background, picture-in-picture and more.

Shocker: Apple commits to RCS for better texting with Android users

In what is apparently an enormous change of direction, Apple reportedly plans to add Rich Communication Services to the iPhone Messages app.

iPhone 15 handily beats iPhone 14 in 5G download speed tests

It's no big surprise given the newer models' modem chip upgrade, but it's always reassuring when the new gear performs as advertised.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Wireless record player makes vinyl fun again

Save on a device that will revolutionize your vinyl experience. Grab the RokBlok 2.0 wireless portable record player for just $79.97.

Apple Store will hand out $200 gift cards during Black Friday sale

With Black Friday just over a week away, Apple unveils its Black Friday deals. The company will bundle gift cards of up to $200 with some products.

Note Apple’s holiday shipping deadlines so your gifts get there on time

Worried your thoughtful (and probably expensive) Apple gift won't arrive by Christmas? Just follow Cupertino's shipping guidelines.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

This kid-friendly 3D printer cranks out tons of toys

Score pre-Black Friday savings on the easy-to-use Toybox 3D Printer Deluxe Bundle with eight printer food colors.

Apple Music Classical expands to iPad

The Apple Music Classical app that launched for iPhone in spring 2023 gets an update for the larger screens of iPads.

How to get the latest USB-C Apple Pencil firmware update

There's new firmware for the recently released version of the stylus with a USB-C port. Here's how to get it.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs secures Macintosh name

On November 16, 1982, Steve Jobs wrote to the head of McIntosh Labs, requesting to use its trademarked name for Apple's new computer.

Tweetz o’ the day

I spotted a 2015 MacBook Pro. The owner was doing some Remote SQL work and coding. Just a reminder that your old MacBooks are more than just fine for 90% of you! 👍🏽 These things are bullet proof from my own experience!
— Andres Vidoza (@andres_vidoza)
8:50 AM • Nov 15, 2023

Honestly insane that I have this much memory on my laptop. My first MacBook Air had 128GB of storage.
— GregsGadgets (@GregoryMcFadden)
1:50 PM • Nov 15, 2023

TIL I learned about Apple Archives. They're like a .zip archive, but they compress about 20x faster. Holy balls.
— Computer Clan (@thecomputerclan)
6:27 AM • Nov 15, 2023

Four 4K #Wallpapers for your devices.
Inspired by the New MacBook Pro Black wallpaper and Apple Park.
Made in Blender on M3 Max
— Dmitry Novikov (@novikoff)
12:10 PM • Nov 15, 2023

One more thing ...

❝

The older I get, the more I see how much motivations matter. The Zune was crappy because the people at Microsoft don’t really love music or art the way we do. We won because we personally love music.

— Steve Jobs, 2008.

Today’s poll

Should Apple end the green bubbles of shame?

Results from yesterday’s poll: Does this newsletter contain too many posts?

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