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I had a fantastic bike ride earlier this week, but felt a bit sore the next day.
Wondering if I should ride again or rest up, I went looking for the new “Readiness” feature in Apple Health (I’m running the iOS 27.2 beta).
Readiness is supposed to check my vitals using my Apple Watch and tell me if I’m ready for another high-intensity workout, or should lie on the couch gorging chips instead.
Unable to find the feature in Health or the standalone app on my Apple Watch (it’s both), I suddenly remembered: It’s an exclusive feature of the new Series 12 and Ultra 4 models.
I’d love to upgrade my Ultra 2, but I just dropped $1,600 on a M6 Mac mini to replace my aging and borderline unusable M1 iMac.
Next week, I’ll likely be splashing another $2,000 or more on the iPhone Duo.
And then there’s the new smart home hub, which as a professional Apple watcher, I’m obliged to purchase also. The hub will likely start at a relatively-affordable $350, but there’s the prospect of having to update my HomePods and Apple TV too (for purely professional reasons ofc).
Now, I know you’re probably thinking: ‘Why doesn’t Apple send him this stuff for free?’
The answer is: Apple doesn’t send out free units to anyone, ever (except possibly celebrities, but I’m not sure it does that either). Plus, professional journalist ethics demand that I don’t accept freebies, especially from companies I cover.
And now what’s this? A brand new touchscreen Mac on the horizon, one that represents perhaps the biggest change to the platform ever? Oh My Lord, how many kidneys do I need, really?
And that’s not all. There’s a clutch of Macs coming, and an iPad too! Here what’s rumored about Apple's upcoming October bonanza.
Also in today’s newsletter:
Looks like new Macs will be riding to the rescue just in time.
Mysterious “System Data” can eat up your iPhone storage — sometimes massively. Here’s how to check, and some tips for clearing it.
You may not have never heard of it, but The Trade Desk is a big name in the ad world. The latest version of Safari appears to be erroneously blocking its ads, prompting concerns about Apple’s influence over digital advertising.
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: This looks like a great product for selfie fans: A stick-on screen that allows you to use your iPhone’s main cameras. It’s 16% off. #affiliate
I had to edit a PDF the other day and cheapskate that I am, I went looking for a free editor. My God, what a scammy cesspit the world of free PDF editors is. I should have bitten the bullet and scored this deal instead on PDF Expert, a genuinely great editor — but see above.
Plus, we ponder if Apple is starting to make too many products. Chip in yourself — take the poll below.
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team
Apple and LG in bed together again: Cult of Mac Podcast #36
Cult of Mac’s buyback program
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One more thing ...
If anybody's going to make our products obsolete, I want it to be us.
Today’s poll
Is Apple starting to make too many products?
Results from yesterday’s poll: What clues are buried in Apple's "Welcome home" teaser?
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