Talk to your Mac

Voice recognition has come a long way from the bad old days of the 1990s, when you needed expensive software and high-end hardware for a computer to understand one … stinking … word … at … a … time.

These days, your iPhone and Mac do an adequate job with their built-in dictation software. But if you really want to boost your productivity, you need to try Wispr Flow. I’ve been using it on my Mac for a while, and it’s far superior to Apple’s built-in tools.

Cult of Mac writer Rajesh Pandey just discovered how great this AI-powered dictation software is — read his review to see why you should give Wispr Flow a whirl. You’ve got nothing to lose, because it’s free for up to 2,000 words per week on Mac or Windows PCs.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

Apple launched the upgraded AirTag this week. And, while it might not look like much has changed, the new tracking tag is better in every way. Read our hands-on review of AirTag 2.
We went deep discussing the new AirTag on this week’s episode of the new Cult of Mac podcast. Watch, listen and/or subscribe!
Got a bunch of MP3s that aren’t part of Apple Music’s streaming library? It’s easy to add them (and sync them across your Apple devices).
Apple’s earnings call this week was legit amazing. The company posted all-time high revenues — the numbers are astonishing!
I just checked, and the best-ever price for AirPods Pro 3 remains in effect. Plus, Cult of Mac Deals slashed prices on Microsoft Word for Mac, a clever app that frees up space on your iPhone or iPad, a Mac app that lets you download videos from YouTube and major streamers, and an AI-powered personal finance app that does much more than track expenses.

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

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Feature story

I thought voice typing on Mac was broken — until I tried Wispr Flow [Awesome Apps]

With AI-powered dictation, smart commands and instant activation, the Wispr Flow voice-to-text app has transformed how I write on my Mac.

How-tos

How to upload your own music to Apple Music

If there’s a live concert recording or indie song you want in your library, you can upload custom music to Apple Music really easily.

How to use your iPhone's Live Captions to see subtitles for absolutely anything

Live Captions on the iPhone generates subtitles of media playing on your iPhone — and real-world conversations picked up by its microphone.

Apple Watch Activity rings: What they mean and how to tweak them

You can customize Apple Watch's Activity rings by day of the week — and take a break when you need one without losing your streak.

I figured out the best use for the iPhone's Action button [Pro Tip]

Here's the perfect set of controls to assign to your iPhone's Action button. I made a shortcut that combines the two controls in one.

News

AirTag 2 launches with longer range and louder speaker

Multiple improvements in the upgraded AirTag 2 mean it can locate your belongings with greater precision and ease.

Plus, more on the new AirTag:

Apple Watch hypertension alerts: How reliable are they?

It's great that recent Apple Watch models added hypertension alerts. Just know what the notifications really mean.

Apple by the numbers: Key stats reveal the company's astonishing scale

The numbers Apple put up during the 2026 holiday quarter will blow your mind.

Plus, more Apple business news:

New Black Unity Apple Watch band celebrates connection and community

Recognizing Black History Month, the latest Black Unity Apple Watch band celebrates themes of connection and community bonds.

Apple almost rebuilt Siri around Claude

Apple reportedly planned to upgrade Siri using Anthropic’s AI, before walking away from the deal over cost concerns.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

All the new features of Keynote, Pages and Numbers -- and how to get them

The latest updates to iWork apps Keynote, Pages and Numbers include free and paid features, but getting them is not as simple as updating.

This guy fed years of Apple Watch health data to ChatGPT -- with disastrous results

A tech columnist finds the Apple Health ChatGPT integration raises major red flags after feeding the AI bot a decade of Apple Watch data.

Deals

When your iPhone says 'storage full,' do this instead of deleting

MacPaw's CleanMy®Phone frees up storage space on your iPhone by scanning for duplicate photos, massive videos, screenshots and more.

Plus, more software from Cult of Mac Deals:

Tired of monthly bills? This 1TB lifetime cloud storage deal ends them.

Koofr lifetime cloud storage plan gives you 1TB of space, accessible from any device. Pay just $129.99 for the cheapest cloud storage around.

Snag a 13-inch M4 iPad Pro for $399 off with a near-mint deal you can't miss

This refurbished 13-inch M4 Apple iPad Pro costs just $899.99 while inventory lasts. It packs plenty of power and gorgeous hardware.

Plus, more hardware deals:

Get lifetime access to 1,000-plus career-building courses for just $19.97

Get lifetime access to StackSkills Unlimited for just $19.97. You can learn coding, marketing, music, investing and more.

Reviews

Why Apple's AirTag 2 is way better than the original [Review]

Apple improves its clever little tracking tag in multiple ways. Read our hands-on AirTag 2 review to see the highlights.