I grew up in the U.K., at a time when all phone calls were metered.
That meant all calls were kept to the bare minimum. If my brothers or I were on the phone longer than a few seconds, Mom would start yelling at us to hang up.
In fact, we developed family ring codes so we didn’t even need to pick up the phone in the first place. Three rings, for example, meant we’d arrived safely at our destination.
This extreme telephonic frugality has been so effectively drummed into me, I have a lifelong aversion to yakking on the phone. (My American wife, on the other hand, faced no such restrictions. And now, she will happily chat for hours.)
I’m delighted that Apple added a fantastic new feature to iOS 26 that’s tailor-made for phone-phobes like me.
Call Screening, combined with Live Voicemail and Silence Unknown Callers, almost ensures I never have to talk on the phone ever again.
Finally, iPhone call screening has gotten good — here’s how to tweak it to your liking.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Belkin had a super-clever idea for a unique iPhone power pack — turn it into a DLSR-style grip. The Belkin Stage PowerGrip just went on sale.
Thanks to aramid fiber, Thinborne’s impossibly thin iPhone cases feel more like a skin than a case.
This PC-loving student got a great deal on a MacBook Air — and now he’s upgrading everything to Apple devices. It’s a great example of Apple’s “halo effect” in action.
Thanks to both USB-C and USB-A connectors, this super-fast thumb drive is surprisingly versatile. See our hands-on review.
Shockingly, some of the biggest discounts on Apple gear from Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days remain in full effect. Some prices even inched downward! Shop these zombie Apple deals before they disappear.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from Thinborne
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
Cult of Mac’s buyback program
A message from Belay
Your time is too expensive to waste.
Most leaders lose 15 hours a week to the wrong tasks. The Delegation Guide and Worksheet helps you take them back. BELAY makes it possible with remote staffing solutions — U.S.-based, flexible, and personally matched to fit your business.
Tweets of the day
One of the best features in macOS Tahoe: Live Activities in the Menu Bar. ⚾️
— #Basic Apple Guy (#@BasicAppleGuy)
1:23 AM • Oct 9, 2025
Pixel 10 Pro lasts less than iPhone Air .. but nobody’s taking about it
Apple’s real life results >>> Android’s numbers
— #Apple Design (#@TheAppleDesign)
12:34 AM • Oct 9, 2025
I redesigned Apple's website with Liquid Glass!
— #ldt (#@madeby_ldt)
6:49 PM • Oct 7, 2025
Wallpaper of the day
Paper-flowers 🌼 4k wallpaper
— #Universal arts & Wallpapers (#@Universal4karts)
8:57 AM • Oct 4, 2025
One more thing ...
I still think Apple has a future. There are some awfully good people there and there's a tremendous brand loyalty to that company. I think the way out is not to slash and burn, it's to innovate. That's how Apple got its glory and I think that's how Apple could return to it.
Today’s poll
Do you like yakking on the phone?
Results from yesterday’s poll: What kind of headphones or earbuds do you use?
Best reader comments
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