Mitchel Broussard

Mitchel is a Contributing Editor at MacRumors. Southern Louisiana-born, he lives off of bad TV, good books, and great video games. Despite a few close calls, he has yet to forget the face of his father.



Engineer Builds Glitter Bomb Trap for Package Thieves Out of HomePod Box

Tuesday December 18, 2018 5:14 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Package thievery has only increased in recent years as more people shop online for large-scale gifts. Unfortunately, sometimes there's not much you can do about it if you don't have an outside camera and alarm system watching your home, and sometimes even that isn't enough. Apple engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober decided to go the extra mile recently to stop rampant package thieving at his house, building a complex glitter bomb and stink bomb trap hidden in the box of Apple's HomePod. In a new video, Rober explains a bit of the early development of the trap, which took six months, multiple design iterations, and help from his friend Sean Hodgins to help build the smaller pieces of electronics inside the so-called "revenge package." Hodgins posted an in-depth video about building the glitter bomb as well, which you can check out here. The brain of the trap is a custom printed circuit board with an accelerometer, which checks to see if it's left a set geofenced area of Rober's house when it's been moved. If it has, four included Android smartphones wake up and start recording using their wide-angle lenses, allowing Rober to capture every angle of the package thief's reaction when the top of the HomePod box is removed. Someone stole a package from me. Police wouldn’t do anything about it so I spent the last 6 months engineering up some vigilante justice. Revenge is a dish best served fabulously. Vid link- https://t.co/9OjD6ETdbZ pic.twitter.com/u4o0doWglr— Mark Rober (@MarkRober) December 18, 2018 To top it all off, Rober included a mechanism that sprays
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Review: Braxley Bands Are Comfortable and Easy-to-Wear Elastic Apple Watch Accessories

Monday December 17, 2018 12:00 pm PST by Mitchel Broussard
Third-party Apple Watch bands have been around since Apple debuted the original Apple Watch back in 2015, typically offering customers a low-priced alternative to styling their watch, as opposed to Apple's bands, which start at $50. From left to right: Rosé, Orchid, High Tide, and Denim Braxley Bands A new option for shoppers is now offered by an Austin, Texas-based company called Braxley Bands, which sells $30 Apple Watch bands with a unique twist: they're unibody bands that are fully elastic and stretch over your hand to lay on your wrist. Installation Like all other Apple Watch bands, Braxley Bands snap onto the Apple Watch case by sliding the lugs into the cutouts at the top and bottom of the Apple Watch. There is a logo on each band, but they face inward when wearing your Apple Watch, so they won't be visible. The Braxley Bands didn't fit in my Apple Watch Series 2 quite as snug as the bands made by Apple itself (like my Sport Loop and Classic Buckle), so there was a bit of a wiggle when I would check each side of the band. This wasn't so bad that I worried the Braxley Bands would disconnect, however, and is a reality of some third-party Apple Watch bands. Once installed, Braxley Bands have one of the simplest processes to place on your wrist: you stretch the band until it's big enough to go over your hand, and slide it up onto your wrist. Some of the company's materials make this more difficult initially, including the Denim and Rosé options I received, leading to a bit of a struggle to stretch the material over the larger part of your hand before
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Deals: Amazon Discounts 11-Inch iPad Pro, Anker Debuts Last-Minute Holiday Sales, and More

Monday December 17, 2018 10:34 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Amazon this week has discounted the all-new 11-inch iPad Pro by as much as $70 for select configurations. Both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular models are available in the sale, with the lowest priced iPad starting at $759.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $799.00. These are currently the lowest prices available online for the configurations listed below, although they are being matched at MacMall and B&H Photo in a few instances. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Wi-Fi, 64GB, Space Gray - $759.00, down from $799.00 Wi-Fi, 64GB, Silver - $769.99, down from $799.99 Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB, Space Gray - $899.00, down from $949.00 (matched at MacMall) Wi-Fi, 256GB, Silver - $899.99, down from $949.99 Wi-Fi, 256GB, Space Gray - $899.99, down from $949.99 (matched at B&H) Wi-Fi, 1TB, Silver - $1,479.99, down from $1,549.99 Wi-Fi, 1TB, Space Gray - $1,479.99, down from $1,549.99 Also on Amazon, Anker has a new crop of promo codes available for shoppers this week, aimed at anyone looking for a few last-minute holiday shopping ideas. Amazon Prime members have until Saturday, December 22 to order items with free two-day shipping in time for Christmas, which would put items to arrive on Christmas Eve. PowerLine+ II USB-C to A (3ft, red/black) - $9.69 with code CABLE8462, down from $12.99 (exp. 12/31) PowerLine+ II USB-C to A (6ft, red/black) - $11.19 with code CABLE8463, down from $14.99 (exp. 12/31) Soundcore - $20.99 with
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'Calm' Became Top Meditation App After Apple's 2017 App of the Year Award, 'A Touchy Subject' at Rival Headspace

Monday December 17, 2018 8:51 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
One year ago, Apple awarded the meditation app "Calm" as the iPhone app of the year, and since then the company has dethroned the previous #1 meditation app on the iOS App Store, "Headspace." In a new report by The Wall Street Journal out today, the two companies talk about how they are in a "mindful competition" with one another, and about the merits of Apple's best of the year awards system. Calm (left) and Headspace (right) Headspace predates Calm (founded in 2010 and 2012, respectively), and dominated the iOS App Store's meditation space throughout its life, until 2018. According to Calm chief product and growth officer Dun Wang, "Since winning App of the Year, we seem to have a much higher growth rate than they do, and we'll surpass them from now on." Since December 2017, Calm has topped the meditation category in both downloads and mobile revenue, earning $50.7 million in revenue through October 2018, compared to $34.3 million for Headspace, according to Sensor Tower data. One Headspace spokeswoman pointed out that Sensor Tower's data didn't account for subscriptions paid for through its website and corporate partnerships. Both Calm and Headspace cost $12.99/month, but differ when you upgrade to a yearly subscription: Calm is priced at $69.99/year and Headspace is priced at $94.99/year. Apple's award is said to be "a touchy subject" at Headspace. “I think people are blowing App-of-the-Year way out of proportion,” says Ben Spero, a managing director at Spectrum Equity, a Headspace investor. “It’s good P.R., but it’s not determinative. It’s not
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Apple Hires Former Tesla and Microsoft HoloLens Designer Andrew Kim

Monday December 17, 2018 7:04 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Senior Tesla designer Andrew Kim has left his role at the automotive company to join Apple (via The Verge). Kim is the the latest in a long line of Tesla employees who have left the company for Apple, including Tesla lead engineer Doug Field's return to Apple this past August. Kim's work history includes user interface design at Microsoft, contributions to HoloLens and Xbox One S, and designs for Tesla's Model 3, S, X, and Y. His LinkedIn profile confirms his move to Apple this month, but doesn't specify what he'll be doing at the company outside of being a "Designer." Due to his history, it could be work on Apple's rumored AR glasses, Project Titan, or something else entirely. Project Titan is Apple's long-rumored vehicle project, which is believed to have originated in 2014 and could see a consumer Apple Car available between 2023 and 2025, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. This estimate came from a report in August, but previous rumors suggested that focus on Project Titan has shifted to autonomous driving software for cars instead of a vehicle specifically designed by Apple. Kuo's report and news about Apple's hiring of Tesla employees -- now including Kim -- have reignited the speculation that Apple could again be planning to build its own vehicle. If accurate, the future Apple Car would have Apple's autonomous driving software built inside of a car designed by the Cupertino
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Shazam App is Now Ad-Free Following Apple Acquisition

Monday December 17, 2018 5:57 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Two and a half months after Apple announced the completion of its Shazam acquisition, the music recognition iOS app is now completely ad-free [Direct Link]. Previously, Shazam would present users with various border advertisements throughout the app, similar to most other ad-supported iOS apps, but as long as you are on version 12.5.1 you will no longer see any ads in Shazam. The app still opens on the main "tap to Shazam" screen, where you can discover a song by allowing Shazam to listen to it. To the left of the main screen is the "My Shazam" area, where the app keeps a list of all the songs you have Shazamed recently. To the right of the main screen is Shazam's "Discover" tab with artist, song, and playlist recommendations, user posts, friend Shazams, and more. Shazam finally going ad-free comes one year after Apple first announced its plans to acquire Shazam back in December 2017. At the time, Apple said, "Apple Music and Shazam are a natural fit," and that the two companies "have exciting plans in store." In September 2018, Apple completed the acquisition and said that the Shazam app would become ad-free soon. In October 2018, Shazam began informing its users about the Apple acquisition and aligning its data privacy policies with those of Apple. Shazam has been built into Siri since iOS 8 and there are connections with Apple Music in the Shazam app, and Apple is expected to further integrate the music recognition service with its products down the
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Apple Inks Deal With DHX Media to Produce and Release All-New 'Peanuts' Content

Friday December 14, 2018 10:20 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
In one of the bigger deals for Apple's upcoming streaming TV service, Variety reports today that the Cupertino company has made a deal with DHX Media to produce all-new "Peanuts" content that will be exclusive to Apple. Image via Variety/Peanuts Worldwide LLC Under the deal, DHX and its subsidiary Peanuts Worldwide will develop and produce the original series, specials, and shorts, while Apple will release it on its streaming service. One such project will be a Peanuts short featuring astronaut Snoopy that will be themed around STEM education, which Apple has long supported. It's unclear what else will be coming to Apple's service from the Peanuts characters, and the report makes no mention of Apple gaining the rights to existing Peanuts content. The franchise dates back to 1950, when Charles M. Schulz created the Peanuts comic strip, which has now grown into a larger media franchise of TV specials, feature films, short films, merchandise, and more. News of content acquired by Apple for its streaming service has been increasing lately, and in the past few weeks we've heard about new cast members for shows from M. Night Shyamalan, a new series starring Jennifer Garner, and Apple's interest in a violent drama show starring Richard Gere. Previous rumors suggested Apple's TV service would launch around March 2019, but now Variety reports that the debut will be sometime in the second half of
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Deals: Best Buy Weekend Sale, Exclusive Elevation Dock Discount, and More

Friday December 14, 2018 8:15 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Best Buy today kicked off a new three-day sale that will last all weekend and end on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. CT. The sale is full of great last-minute gift ideas for the holidays, and Best Buy still promises free shipping on everything all season. Orders for most items placed before 10:30 a.m. CT on December 20 will arrive before Christmas Eve. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. The first items in the sale are last year's iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus, with savings of up to $150 for qualified activation for Verizon or Sprint customers. Savings are deducted off the full price of the iPhone and reflected in reduced monthly payments over the life of the device, including as low as $18.75/month for 24 months (and $150 down payment) for an iPhone X on Sprint. Best Buy also has four models of the mid 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar discounted by up to $200, but these prices are beaten by B&H Photo. We've collected each model on sale at Best Buy, along with B&H Photo's discount price, in the list below. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD, Space Gray - $1,699.99, down from $1,799.99 ($1,599.00 at B&H) 8GB Memory, 256GB SSD, Silver - $1,699.99, down from $1,799.99 ($1,599.00 at B&H) 8GB Memory, 512GB SSD, Space Gray - $1,899.99, down from $1,999.99 ($1,799.00 at B&H) 8GB Memory, 512GB SSD, Silver - $1,899.99, down from $1,999.99 ($1,799.00 at B&H) 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD,
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'123456' and 'Password' Remain Worst Passwords of the Year for Fifth Consecutive Year

Friday December 14, 2018 6:39 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
SplashData published its annual list of the worst passwords of the year this week, sourced from more than five million passwords leaked on the internet this year. Like previous years, 2018 saw numerous high-profile data leaks, but many people have continued to use easily guessable passwords for their online accounts. The new password autofill feature in iOS 12 For the fifth consecutive year, "123456" and "password" are the top two most popular passwords online. New entries on the list include "111111", "sunshine", "princess", "666666", "654321", and "donald" at number 23. SplashData CEO Morgan Slain discussed the list: "Hackers have great success using celebrity names, terms from pop culture and sports, and simple keyboard patterns to break into accounts online because they know so many people are using those easy-to-remember combinations." The top 10 most popular passwords of 2018: 1) 123456 2) password 3) 123456789 4) 12345678 5) 12345 6) 111111 7) 1234567 8) sunshine 9) qwerty 10) iloveyou Higher up the list, popular passwords include people's names like "daniel", "hannah", and "thomas"; pop culture references like "solo", "tigger", and "lakers"; random items like "cookie" and "banana"; birth years like "1990" and "1991"; and simple phrases like "whatever" and "test". As Slain explained, using super-simple phrases like these for any account online is a bad idea because it's so easy to guess what they are. “Our hope by publishing this list each year is to convince people to take steps to protect themselves online,” says Slain. “It’s a real
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Apple Music Gets Unofficial Web Player With Full Library, 'For You' Recommendations, and More

Thursday December 13, 2018 8:06 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Apple still doesn't offer a full online web player for Apple Music, but this week software engineer Naveed Golafshani shared a new project on Reddit, allowing Apple Music subscribers to get access to their full library and other Apple Music features on the web. The web player can be found at playapplemusic.com, and to see your Apple Music library you can click "log in" in the bottom left corner of the screen. The player then provides an Apple authentication pop-up, where you'll have to log into your Apple ID and let the web player access Apple Music, media library, and listening activity for your account. Afterwards, you'll be able to see normal Apple Music tabs like Search, Browse, For You, and Library. In Library, you can access your Recently Added items, Artists, Albums, Songs, and Playlists. To play a song, simply click on it and the player will update at the bottom with an image of the album, playback controls, and track scrubber. At the bottom right corner are settings for the bitrate, up next, and volume. If you hover over a song, you can also click on the ellipsis icon to select it to play next or play later in your up next queue. On macOS and Safari, keyboard controls for play/pause will also directly control the web player. There are a few limitations to the web player, like not being able to specifically customize the order of up next, the Browse tab is pared down, and Radio options don't exist, but otherwise the site is a solid and well-built realization of Apple Music. Additionally, the web player will load with an optimized layout for mobile
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Philips Hue Bulbs Can Now Remain Off Following a Power Outage

Thursday December 13, 2018 5:37 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Signify updated the Philips Hue iOS app to version 3.11.0 this week, introducing the ability for users to select a customized bulb status after a power outage (via Reddit). Previously for Philips Hue owners, when the power would go out and then come back on, all of their connected Hue bulbs and fixtures would immediately turn back on, even if they were off before the power outage. Now, thanks to the "Power-on behavior" setting, users can go into each Hue bulb and choose from a default light (warm white, full brightness) or a power loss recovery mode that allows the bulb to return to the last used color and brightness following a loss of power. With this setting, if your bulbs were off while you were sleeping during a power outage, they'll revert to that off state when the power returns, meaning you won't be disturbed during sleep with bright lights coming back on. On Reddit, confirmed by our own testing, users noted that some Hue bulbs display a "not supported" message under the new power-on behavior setting. This appears to be an issue affecting certain types of Hue bulbs, including Hue White Ambiance lights, but the new update appears to be rolling out in stages, so wider support for the full Philips Hue lineup is expected soon. At this time, there is also no toggle to choose one power-on behavior for all of your Hue lights at once, so you'll have to go into each individual light to pick a setting. Signify also warns users that the Philips Hue color lamps of early generations might still give a flash of white light before returning to the selected setting,
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Review: Ubiquiti Labs' AmpliFi Routers Have Fast Setups, Gorgeous Designs, and Rock Solid Mesh Wi-Fi Coverage

Wednesday December 12, 2018 1:36 pm PST by Mitchel Broussard
Ubiquiti Networks' consumer technology brand, Ubiquiti Labs, began making a name for itself in late 2016 with the launch of the AmpliFi HD Wi-Fi Mesh Router. Similar to other mesh systems, the AmpliFi HD comes with a centralized router and two "MeshPoints" that provide blanket Wi-Fi coverage throughout a home, but Ubiquiti Labs' device is unique thanks to its circular, full-color touchscreen on the main unit. Ubiquiti Labs began expanding its product lineup this fall, in October announcing the AmpliFi Instant and in November revealing the AmpliFi Gamer's Edition. The former router is a pared down version of the AmpliFi HD with a smaller size and miniaturized capacitive grayscale touchscreen, while the latter option is essentially the AmpliFi HD with low latency support, WAN quality-of-service features, and other additions aimed at users who play a lot of online games. Each router features 802.11ac with self-configuring, dual-band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz Wi-Fi radios. Over the past few months, I've been relying solely on Ubiquiti Labs' trio of mesh routers for all of my internet needs, with the majority of my time spent using the AmpliFi Instant and AmpliFi HD routers. In my time with the routers I've yet to find any real flaws or noticeable drawbacks to using AmpliFi, and as someone who has been researching mesh networks for years but was too inundated with various options to make a decision, I can say that the AmpliFi routers are a great option for anyone looking to transition away from a single router system and into mesh.
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B&H Photo Holiday Sale: Save on iMac, HomePod, iPad, Mac mini, and More

Wednesday December 12, 2018 11:46 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
B&H Photo has kicked off a new holiday sale on numerous Apple devices, including iMacs, iPads, HomePod, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and more. Many of the sales represent the lowest-ever prices for these models, so be sure to visit B&H Photo and check out the sale before it ends. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. 2017 iMac For iMac, B&H Photo is offering the current low prices available online for a few models, coming up to $200 below current prices at Adorama and Best Buy. 21.5-inch, 2.3 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $999.00, down from $1,099.00 21.5-inch Retina, 3.0 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB - $1,149.00, down from $1,299.00 21.5-inch Retina, 3.4 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion HD - $1,329.00, down from $1,499.00 27-inch Retina, 3.4 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion HD - $1,599.00, down from $1,799.00 27-inch Retina, 3.5 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion HD - $1,779.00, down from $1,999.00 2017 12.9-inch iPad Pro Continuing its Cyber Week and Green Monday sales, B&H Photo still has a few 2017 models of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro at all-time-low prices. Wi-Fi + Cellular 64 GB, Gold - $649.00, down from $929.00 64 GB, Silver - $649.00, down from $929.00 64 GB, Space Gray - $649.00, down from $929.00 256 GB, Gold - $749.00, down from 1,079.99 256 GB, Silver - $749.00, down from 1,079.99 256 GB, Space Gray - $749.00, down from 1,079.99 512 GB, Gold - $999.00, down from $1,279.99 512 GB, Silver - $999.00, down from $1,279.99 512 GB, Space Gray -
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Things 3 Updated With Support for Dark Mode on iPhone and iPad

Wednesday December 12, 2018 8:11 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Popular to-do list iOS app Things today has been updated to version 3.8, which introduces full support for a new Dark Mode. Specifically, users will be able to chose between three appearances for Things 3 on iPhone and iPad: Light, Dark, and Black. These appearances can be set manually in settings, or users can choose to automatically switch between them based on the brightness of their iOS display. Things 3.7 for macOS gained support for Dark Mode this past September. Things allows users to organize their goals with task management features that include daily breakdowns of incoming tasks to finish, as well as projects like getting ready for a vacation. Things 3 integrates with Apple's Calendar, Siri, Reminders, and the Today Widget, and supports Handoff, Notifications, and Apple Watch. Things 3 can be downloaded from the iOS App Store for $9.99 [Direct Link].
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Giphy Updates With 'Sticker Maker' Feature for iPhone X Owners, Expands Keyboard Extension Support

Tuesday December 11, 2018 8:18 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Giphy today announced an update for its iOS app, bringing its GIF-sharing keyboard extension to any app that supports multimedia, including Mail, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, and more. The update also introduces a "Sticker Maker" feature exclusive to iPhone X, XS, XS Max, and XR devices that have Apple's TrueDepth Camera system (via Engadget). Sticker Maker allows iPhone X owners to turn selfies into custom animated GIF stickers, which you can then share in Apple iMessage and any other texting app. In the Giphy app this feature can be found in the "Plus" symbol tab, tap "Sticker", and then you can take your photo. The image has to be uploaded to a Giphy account so you can use it across Giphy's connected apps and keyboard extension. Giphy's own GIF features have powered other apps before, including GIF sticker search in Instagram. The company's keyboard extension also works with Apple iMessage, similar to apps like GIF Keyboard. Although Apple's iMessage App Store introduced app-based alternatives, many keyboard extensions like these have remained popular over the
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Investigation Into Supermicro's Server Motherboards Finds No Malicious Spy Hardware

Tuesday December 11, 2018 6:19 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
In October, a report by Bloomberg claimed that spies working for the Chinese government had inserted microchips on Supermicro server motherboards to spy on customers, which Bloomberg reported as affecting Apple and nearly 30 companies in total. Today, the outside investigations firm hired by Supermicro reported its findings, confirming that there is no evidence of any malicious hardware in current or old Supermicro server motherboards, including those used by Apple for iCloud (via Reuters). Supermicro denied the allegations made in the Bloomberg report when it came out, and in today's letter to its customers said it was not surprised by the new findings. The investigation was performed by global firm Nardello & Co., which tested samples of motherboards in current production, as well as versions that were specifically sold to Apple and Amazon since both of those companies were mentioned directly by Bloomberg. Nardello & Co. also examined software and design files, and didn't find any unauthorized components or signals being sent out from Supermicro. Customers interested will be able to ask for more details about the investigation, and Supermicro as of now is still reviewing its legal options following the investigation. The day that "The Big Hack" article came out, Apple quickly released a statement, denying all claims made about the microchips spying on customers. "On this we can be very clear: Apple has never found malicious chips, "hardware manipulations" or vulnerabilities purposely planted in any server," Apple said in its statement. Eventually both Apple
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Google Accelerating Closure of Google+ Due to API Bug, Will Now End in April 2019

Monday December 10, 2018 10:42 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Google today announced that it is expediting the closure of its Google+ social platform, which was previously set to end in August 2019 and will now be shut down in April 2019. The company explained that it's doing this because of a discovery that 52.5 million users were impacted by a software update in November that contained a bug affecting Google+ API. The bug appears to be connected to a certain Google+ API that let apps view information that users added to their profile, even if the user had set this data as private. This included their name, email address, occupation, age, and more, but not financial data, passwords, or national identification numbers. While Google discovered and addressed the bug within a week, and promises no third party compromised its systems, it has decided to hasten the closure of the consumer version of Google+ and all Google+ APIs. Ahead of the April 2019 sunsetting of the platform, the network's APIs will be shut down within 90 days from today. Google explained what it knows about the bug: - We have confirmed that the bug impacted approximately 52.5 million users in connection with a Google+ API. - With respect to this API, apps that requested permission to view profile information that a user had added to their Google+ profile—like their name, email address, occupation, age (full list here)—were granted permission to view profile information about that user even when set to not-public. - In addition, apps with access to a user's Google+ profile data also had access to the profile data that had been shared with the
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Green Monday Deals: Get Black Friday Prices on HomePod, iPad, Beats Headphones, and More Today Only

Monday December 10, 2018 8:02 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Today is Green Monday, an online shopping event that is similar to Cyber Monday, allowing customers another chance to buy gifts for the holidays at Black Friday prices and get their items shipped before Christmas. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Most major retailers are running Green Monday deals today, and we've rounded up some of the best and most notable deals in this article. These include HomePod for $250 at Target, an iPad mini 4 for $250 at Best Buy, all-new Anker discount codes on Amazon, and more. Target Target today has brought back one of the best Black Friday discounts, offering shoppers the chance to get Apple's HomePod for just $249.99, down from $349.99. This is the same price that Best Buy had on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and another great opportunity to buy Apple's smart speaker at its all-time-low price. Target also has the 9.7-inch iPad from early 2018 (32GB, Wi-Fi only) for $249.99, down from $329.99. Amazon matches this price in Gold and Space Gray color options, and as of today these are the lowest-ever prices for this version of the iPad and the best available online. Amazon Otherwise on Amazon, there are the usual collection of Gold Box deals with some notable inclusions for Green Monday. You can save on a variety of networking products, with the Netgear Orbi Wall Plug Mesh Wi-Fi System for $199.99, down from $299.99. Another Gold Box offers savings on wireless charging
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Elago's New 'W5 Stand' Turns Your Apple Watch Into an Original Nintendo Game Boy

Friday December 7, 2018 8:56 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Last year, accessory company Elago launched the W3 Charging Stand for Apple Watch, which turned Apple's modern wearable into a classic Macintosh. This week, Elago announced the latest iteration of its classic stand lineup, this one called the Elago W5 Stand, modeled after the original Nintendo Game Boy. The stand works with all Apple Watch models, is compatible with Nightstand Mode, and includes a cutout to place your inductive puck charger (not included) into the stand. The stand is made from scratch-free silicone, which the company says protects the watch while it's in the stand and prevents it from moving around. The W5 Stand comes in four colors according to an image on Elago's website: Red, Indigo, Black, and Light Grey. As of writing, only Black and Light Grey are available to purchase on Elago.com and Amazon. The stand is cheaper on Amazon, running for $14.99. Besides the W3 Stand for Apple Watch, Elago has also released the M4 Stand for iPhone, which turned an iPhone 7, 6s, or 6 into a classic
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Apple Hunting for Next 'Breaking Bad', Interested in Violent Drama Starring Richard Gere

Thursday December 6, 2018 11:45 am PST by Mitchel Broussard
Apple is reportedly in negotiations to purchase the rights to Israeli drama series "Nevelot" (or, "Bastards"), which is described as a violent and mature drama series (via CNBC). Richard Gere could star in the adaptation, which is being written and created by "Homeland" creator Howard Gordon and "Law and Order: SVU" showrunner Warren Leight. Image via Variety / Rex Features Apple is said to be in a bidding war with Showtime, FX, and Amazon for the show, which revolves around two military veterans who go on a killing spree targeting young people, "because they believe today's kids don’t understand the sacrifices of their generation." Gordon and Leight would reformat the show for the American market, and potentially change the title. Right now, all sides are said to still be in talks, and nothing is finalized. If certain agreements can't be reached -- like the budget -- then it has a risk of falling through. Apple's interest in such a mature-themed series comes in stark opposition to previous reports we've heard about its upcoming string of TV shows. Most notably, in a September report The Wall Street Journal claimed that Apple would be unlikely to produce original content that contains gratiuitous sex, violence, profanity, or risqué storylines in an effort to avoid tainting its wider brand image. Unless the entire concept of "Bastards" is changed, it appears like the show would include most, if not all, of those adult pieces of content. CNBC's report today suggests that Apple is on the hunt for its own "Breaking Bad", a show with a Mature Audiences rating that
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