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Apple to finally step up its AI game by opening Siri up to devs

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri won't be restricted anymore.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We’re all stoked for our first previews of iOS 10 and macOS from WWDC, but according to sources familiar with Apple’s plans, it’s going to be Siri that steals the show.

The virtual assistant is expected to make the leap to the Mac for the first time, and could also open up to third-party apps and services — allowing users to check in for flights, book Uber rides, and do more using only their voice.

Everything to expect from Apple’s jam-packed WWDC 2016 keynote

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WWDC's opening keynote will be at San Francisco's cavernous Bill Graham Auditorium.
WWDC's opening keynote will be at San Francisco's cavernous Bill Graham Auditorium.
Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s keynote to kick off this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference is going to be huge. So huge, in fact, that Apple already revealed some stuff early because Tim Cook and his Cupertino cronies won’t have time to cover everything during the jam-packed, two-hour event.

While WWDC might seem like a bit of a snoozefest for Apple fans who don’t know anything about Xcode and Swift, the 2016 edition of the annual developer conference should bring lots of new stuff even normals can get hyped about. The WWDC keynote will give us a peek inside the ever-evolving Apple ecosystem — and thus our clearest picture of the future of all Apple products.

This year, all of Apple’s platforms are set to get major updates, as are some of the company’s most popular services, like Siri and Apple Music. Here’s what to watch for during Apple’s keynote, which will kick off WWDC 2016 next Monday morning in San Francisco.

Slack voice calls give you another reason to ditch Skype

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Cult of Mac runs on Slack. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
You can now make calls on Slack.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The popular messaging platform Slack is ready to go from text-only to providing voice calls for teams that use the service to communicate.

Starting today, paying teams using the iOS, Mac and Chrome apps will be able to make group calls, giving you one less reason to keep Skype installed on your Mac.

Retro Apple fan makes 3D miniatures of classic Macs

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Charles Mangin likes them Apples, especially when he can recreate a 3D printed miniature version of his favorite computers.
Charles Mangin likes them Apples, especially when he can recreate a 3D printed miniature version of his favorite computers.
Photo: Charles Mangin

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugApple’s business model is based on the future, but sometimes a fan pines for the machine they had as a kid.

Self-taught hardware hacker and 3D printer artist Charles Mangin happily tries to satisfy those vintage tech longings by recreating pieces of Apple’s past in miniature. He even brings the screens to life — sort of.

Google can now locate your lost iOS devices

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Screen Shot 2016-06-02 at 16.34.39
Thanks, Google!
Photo: Google

So you forgot to activate Find My iPhone when setting up your new iOS device, and now you’ve lost it. Fear not, because thanks to Google, you have a backup service.

Simply type “I lost my phone” into Google Search and you’ll be able to locate all the devices connected to your account.

Apple kicks off back to school promo with big savings on Beats

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Screen Shot 2016-06-02 at 15.07.25
Go back to school with free Beats.
Photo: Apple

Apple today kicked off its latest back to school promotion, offering students big savings on wireless Beats headphones when they purchase a new Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

Eligible customers are also entitled to education pricing, which reduces the cost of their new device.

Apple will host its WWDC 2016 keynote on June 13

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macbook-pro-wwdc-2016
Apple's WWDC keynote is confirmed!
Photo: Apple

Apple has begun inviting members of the press to its WWDC 2016 keynote on June 13.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT in the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco, and it should deliver our first sneak peeks at iOS 10 and Apple’s next major upgrades for watchOS, tvOS, and OS X.

Is it time for Apple to ditch the MacBook Air? [Friday Night Fights]

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fnf
Isn't the MacBook Air too good to go?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple could be about to kill its most popular notebook. According to reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is planning to ditch the MacBook Air and add a 13-inch MacBook to its lineup as a replacement.

FNF-bugThe original ultraportable is starting to look a little long in the tooth. Having gone without an update for over a year, it is Apple’s only laptop without a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad, and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

But is it really time to let it go, or does it just need a refresh? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether the MacBook Air has a place in Apple’s future.

Apple rehires cryptography expert to tighten security 

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Apple is ready to tighten security.
Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac

Renowned practical cryptography expert Jon Callas is returning to Apple to help the iPhone-maker stay ahead of hackers and the FBI in its on going battle with security. 

Callas co-founded well known secure communications companies such as Silent Circle, Blackphone, and PGP Corp. This will be his third stint at Apple where he is expected to ramp up security features across Apple’s wide ranging product line up.

OS X and tvOS get new beta updates ahead of WWDC

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el-capitan-beta
New El Capitan beta is here.
Photo: Apple

Apple is busting out a fresh batch of beta updates for developers today ahead of next month’s big WWDC announcements.

A new beta for OS X El Capitan had been seeded to developers along with an update for tvOS and iOS 9.3.3 that was released earlier this morning.

iPhone camera lenses to DIY repair kits: the week’s best deals at Cult of Mac [Deals]

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iFixit's kit of specialty screw bits will help you save yourself a hassle and some cash.
iFixit's kit of specialty screw bits will help you save yourself a hassle and some cash.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

After another red letter week at the Cult of Mac Deals Store means we’ve got some select cuts to share this week. There’s something here for everybody — save yourself some cash and a trip to the Genius Bar with a custom set of tools for fixing your electronics. Instantly enhance your iPhone’s pictures with a set of detachable lenses. Get an anonymous second phone number or 10 top tier apps for your iPhone and Mac.

Take a look:

Want to sell your iPhone? Better do it soon

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It's a great time to convert your Apple gear into cash.
It's a great time to convert your Apple gear into cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Although WWDC is mostly software focused, it’s also significant reminder that Apple is always moving forward with new devices and other big announcements on the horizon.

Unfortunately for us Apple addicts that means you have to be prepared to shell cash when Apple busts out a surprise ‘One more thing…’ announcement, but it turns out Apple devices are a really good way to recoup some of those costs.

You must choose your apps, but choose wisely. [Deals]

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Choose 10 from dozens of  top-tier productivity-enhancing apps for one low price.
Choose 10 from dozens of top-tier productivity-enhancing apps for one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s only so much space on your computer and mobile, but an endless ocean of apps you could fill it with. With so much to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve narrowed down the best of productivity apps into this bundle of 34 top-tier apps for iOS and Mac. Pick the 10 apps you want, and pay $21.99 for the whole shebang.

BitTorrent to stream live content to Apple TV, iOS and Mac

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BitTorrent Live wants to make streaming even greater.
Photo: BitTorrent

In an effort to shake off its shady image, BitTorrent is launching a new streaming service that will bring a number of live channels to Apple TV, iOS, and Mac.

The service is called BitTorrent Live, and it will initially offer news, sport, music, and more.

iTunes 12.4 brings design tweaks to Apple’s most hated app

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apple-music-itunes
iTunes finally got some design changes.
Photo: Apple

Using iTunes just got slightly less crappy.

Apple has pushed out iTunes 12.4 to the public bringing some minor design tweaks that makes Apple’s most contorted and bloated app ever a little bit easier to navigate.

Oh, and it might not destroy your music library anymore either.

Apple remains No. 1 PC maker, despite falling sales

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Sell your MacBook to us, even if it's busted.
Apple reigns as the top PC maker, but it's a crumbling market.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has once again been named the No. 1 seller of PCs, based on shipments of just over 14 million units in the first three months of 2016.

The study comes courtesy of independent analysts Canalys, which claim that worldwide PC shipments — which it defines as being desktops, notebooks, two-in-ones and tablets — totaled 101 million units this quarter. That means that, broadly speaking, seven out of every 50 PCs sold bore the Apple brand.