For the love of Christ, someone stop these amateur artists.

Another botched restoration effort claimed an innocent religious relic. Like in the case of the failed Jesus fresco and Tintin St. George, an overzealous “artist” believed that she could restore a sculpture of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. 

Although the sculpture, which dates back to the 15th century, had been restored by a professional just fifteen years ago, a resident of Rañadorio, Spain convinced the local clergy to let her spruce up the holy family. Instead of polishing the carving and restoring it to its reverent gleam, María Luisa Menéndez painted it, the Guardian reports.  Read more…

More about Art, Failed, Culture, and Web Culture

Apple announced three new iPhones at its event on Wednesday. 

And with those expensive new iPhones — the iPhone XS Max tops out at $1,449 — you’ll surely want to protect those assets with a little insurance, no?

While not announced at the event, Apple also updated AppleCare+ — its warranty program for iPhones — to include a brand-new offering: AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. Just in time for the release of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, Apple will cover the theft or loss of your iPhone.

The thing is, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss isn’t cheap, and there are caveats.

More about Apple, Iphone, Applecare, Apple Event 2018, and Tech

While three new iPhones and a revamped Apple Watch took center stage at the Apple event Wednesday, several product announcements were conspicuously missing from the presentation.

Apple didn’t even quietly announce anything post-event about its wireless charging pad, dubbed AirPower, its wireless ear buds, AirPods, or its iPad tablet.

At the Apple iPhone event in Cupertino, California improved battery life was mentioned for its trio of iPhones, the XS, XS Max, and XR, but nothing about wirelessly charging those devices.  Read more…

More about Apple, Wireless Charging, Airpower, Apple Event 2018, and Tech

I still love my iPhone 6s. The device, hailed by some as the last great iPhone (and the last one with a headphone jack), has served me well for the last three years. It runs faster on iOS 12 — the beta version, at least — than it did on iOS 11. 

But at some point soon, I’m going to have to let this old workhorse go. The main issue is the battery: even with a fresh one installed, today’s energy-hungry apps and services can grind it down. Seems like half the time I carry it around, it’s hooked up to an external battery, like a miniature iron lung. I admit to being jealous of iPhone X owners who can breeze through a whole day on a single charge — and don’t always need to remember to take a battery pack with them when they leave the house. Read more…

More about Apple, Iphone, Iphone 6s, Iphone X, and Iphone Xs

With three new iPhones launching this year, choosing the right one might be harder than ever.

The iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR may look similar at first glance, but when you dig deeper you’ll find that the subtle differences actually add up to distinct experiences from each one.

The first thing most people care about is size. How big is the screen, and will the phone fit in your pocket?

This year, you’ll find that the new iPhones are actually quite large, with the biggest being the iPhone XS Max. It’s the largest iPhone ever made, so if you’re the type of person that loves typing and scrolling on a gigantic screen — this is probably the one for you. Read more…

More about Iphone, Iphone Xs, Iphone Xs Max, Apple Event 2018, and Tech

Apple’s new Watch Series 4 has a ton of health-centric functions — and it’s FDA approved. Read more…

More about Apple, Smartphones, Mashable Video, Apple Watch, and Health Fitness

It’s finally here. Apple announced the Watch Series 4 at its big event in California on Wednesday, and it’s just as great as we’d hoped.

Apple says it will start taking pre-orders for the GPS and cellular versions on Sept. 14, most likely around 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET. The Watch Series 4 will officially be available in stores on Sept. 21. 

An aluminum Series 4 40mm with GPS is $399 and the 44mm is $429. If you want cellular connectivity, you will add $100 to the price point. The higher end Gold Stainless Steel Series 4 is $699 and $749 for the 40mm and 44mm sizes, respectively. There is no ceramic or gold Apple Watch Edition version of the Series 4. Read more…

More about Apple, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series 4, Tech, and Consumer Tech

The indefensible job shaming of The Cosby Show mainstay Geoffrey Owens was undoubtedly going to bring the best out of the entertainment world.

After a bit of time deliberating on offers, Owens is taking up a role as Commander Adams on NCIS: New Orleans, according to Entertainment Weekly. 

The character of Adams is an old and valued friend of the show’s lead, Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride, providing “both medical and spiritual advice.”

“For Commander Adams, we needed someone with compassion, competence, and heart. That’s Geoffrey in a nutshell,” executive producer Christopher Silber told the publication.  Read more…

More about Entertainment, Tv, Television, Geoffrey Owens, and Entertainment

Logitech is flipping the design of the computer mouse on its side with its MX Vertical Advanced Ergonomic mouse.

The idea is to re-invent the mouse, at the same time making in forward-looking and more useful, I guess. It also happens to look like an enlarged garlic clove. Read more…

More about Reviews, Logitech, Computer Mouse, Mouse, and Logitech Accessories

There is a great narrative to be written, a first draft of the history of the Trump administration and the long national nightmare it is making us suffer through. Unfortunately, Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward isn’t it. 

Having slogged through Michael Wolff’s gossipy Fire and Fury and Omarosa Manigault-Newman’s self-serving but not very self-aware Unhinged, I had high hopes for Woodward’s book. The legendary Washington Post reporter has dished the goods on five presidents now, famously helping to bring down one. If anyone could bring us back to Earth and do the full Nixon number on Trump, many thought, it would be Woodward. Read more…

More about Trump, Bob Woodward, Entertainment, Books, and Politics