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Apple promises to donate to California fire relief efforts

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forest fire
Winds are making California's wildfires impossible to contain.
Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr CC

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed this morning that his company will donate to help relief efforts related to fires ravaging Northern and Southern California.

The town of Paradise, California, in NorCal was pretty much burned to the ground yesterday after the Camp Fire roared across Butte County, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. Fires are continuing to gain momentum, which could make the damage even more colossal than officials previously thought.

Amazon gets green light to sell more Apple products

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iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
You'll be able to scoop an iPhone from Amazon real soon.
Photo: Apple

Amazon shoppers are about to see a whole lot more Apple products on the retailer’s online storefront.

Apple and Amazon have reportedly inked a deal that allows Amazon to sell Apple’s newest iPhones and other products. The deal gives Apple a huge new sales channel but there’s one product Amazon doesn’t want to sell for Apple.

Paris Apple Store on Champs-Élysées will be très fabuleux

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The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
Photo: Apple

Paris’ new flagship Apple Store finally got an official opening day: the retail location on the iconic Champs-Élysées will open its doors next Sunday.

In addition to offering iPhones, Mac, and more to the public, this building will serve as Apple headquarters in France.

Blind surfer shows how iPhone’s VoiceOver feature is a game-changer

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Scott Leason
Blind veteran Scott Laeson paddling out to surf.
Photo: Apple

Apple gave fans a heartwarming glimpse at how the iPhone and Apple Watch have helped a blind veteran gain more independence on his path to becoming a competition-winning surfer.

In a new post on its website, Apple shared a story about longboard surfer Scott Leason. After his time serving as a signalman in the U.S. Navy, Leason lost both of his eyes to a robber’s bullet in 1993. Getting used to his new life without sight took getting used to, but when Leason got his first iPhone in 2012, it was a gamechanger.

Steve Jobs stood in the lunch line like a regular Joe

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Steve Jobs
Be careful in the cafeteria line. You never know when your boss is behind you.
Photo: Apple

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known to be incredibly demanding. But one retired Apple executive said when it came to standing in line in the company cafeteria, Jobs waited his turn like everyone else.

This would not be a surprising revelation about most people, but Jobs’ mercurial nature is the stuff of legend. The late Apple exec’s moods and commands have been the source material for books and movies. His character is even sung about on the opera stage.

Got a new iPad? It’s time to sell your old one

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The new iPad makes the old one seem huge and ugly.
Make back some of the money you just dropped on a new iPad Pro.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

Your hard-earned savings are probably looking a little beaten after the arrival of the amazing new iPad Pro lineup. But making back some of the cash you’ve just coughed up can be quicker and easier than you think.

Start by selling your old iPad to Cult of Mac. It’s fast and simple and we typically pay more than anyone else!

Apple Watch makes more holiday wish lists than iPad or MacBook

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new Apple customers
Is an Apple Watch on your wish list? You're not alone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

More people are hoping for an Apple Watch than an iPad or MacBook this holiday season, a sign of the growing popularity of this wearable.

That said, plenty of people want this company’s tablets and notebooks too. And a shiny new iPhone is the item Apple fans are wishing for the most . 

Mac mini teardown provides closer look at tiny internals

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2018 Mac mini teardown
Here's everything you'll find squeezed inside the 2018 Mac mini.
Photo: iFixit

The Mac mini might be Apple’s smallest and most affordable computer, but there’s a whole lot to technology packed into its tiny aluminum shell. iFixit’s latest teardown provides us with a closer look at the machine’s internals — and reveals our repair options.

Apple’s Face ID supplier has been acquired for $3.2 billion

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VCSEL
The company that made Face ID possible has been snapped up.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Finisar, supplier of the laser scanners used to enable Face ID in Apple’s latest iOS devices, has been acquired for a reported $3.2 billion.

II-VI Incorporated, a leading producer of optoelectronic systems, announced its purchase on Friday. It expects to close the deal, which is expected to generate $2.5 billion in annual revenue, in mid-2019 following regulatory approval.

Fortnite smashes its concurrent players record

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Fortnite
Fortnite isn't going anywhere soon.
Photo: Epic Games

If you thought Fortnite already reached its peak, think again.

Epic Games confirms that its hit Battle Royale game now boasts a staggering 8.3 million concurrent players worldwide. The number more than doubled since February, thanks in part to the game’s recent launch in South Korea.

Satechi’s new USB-C hub adds the ports iPad Pro needs most

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Satechi's iPad Pro USB-C hub packs four commonly used ports.
Get real work done on your iPad Pro.
Photo: Satechi

Satechi just unveiled a USB-C hub designed specifically for the new iPad Pro.  It sits flush with the side of the tablet and includes ports for video, headphones, and more.

It doesn’t go overboard with ports though, and the casing on this upcoming accessory is aluminum for extra durability. 

Hey Siri, find me a soulmate

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Siri Alexa in voice report
So selfless, that Siri.
Photo: Apple

Tinder co-founder Sean Rad says advances in artificial intelligence could give Siri an exciting new role — matchmaker.

Apple’s virtual assistant is good at simple asks, like serving up the time, the weather forecast or the score from last night’s Warriors game. But the internet is loaded with stories, from frustrating to funny, about Siri’s fails. Siri might get to know your team, but your type?

This iPad Pro unboxing will give you FOMO

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Boxes for iPad Pro Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard
The new iPad Pro, Smart Keyboard Folio, and 2nd Generation Apple Pencil are finally here!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

It’s finally here – Apple’s most drastic change to iPad since it was introduced in 2010. The brand new iPad Pro with slimmer bezels, a gesture-based UI, blazing fast processors, and a downright gorgeous design. It’s the first Apple product in a long time that I’m truly excited to get my hands on.

So that’s what I did.

Look inside Apple’s first store in Thailand

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Apple store bangkok
The outside of the new Bangkok store.
Photo: Apple

One of the most popular countries in South East Asia for American tourists is finally getting its first Apple store.

Apple is set to open the doors of its Bangkok store in Thailand on Saturday, offering Apple’s first-ever official sales channel in the country for the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and the Apple Watch Series 4. Ahead of the launch, Apple shared a few shots of the interior and it looks both simple and grand.

Colorful iMac G3 looks adorable as a toy robot

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Mac toy
iBot comes in tangerine and Bondi blue.
Photo: Philip Lee

Before the brushed aluminum and sharp angles of today’s desktop Mac, the iMac G3 was bulbous, plastic and colorful. Some would say cute.

Toy designer Philip Lee raises the cute factor on the beloved piece of personal computing history with two new Classicbots that come in tangerine and Bondi blue.

Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer adds HomeKit compatibility

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The Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer just got a little smarter thanks to HomeKit compatibility.
The Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer just got a little smarter.
Photo: Belkin

A software update adds native HomeKit compatibility to the Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer today.

The in-wall dimmer switch brings smart lighting capabilities via Apple’s Home app and/or the updated Wemo iOS app. As with other HomeKit devices, you can control the dimmer with your voice via Siri from an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod, Apple TV or Mac.

2018 MacBook Air teardown confirms repairs aren’t so painful

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2018 MacBook Air teardown
See what's inside the new MacBook Air.
Photo: iFixit

Even if you take good care of your new MacBook Air, there’s always a small chance something could go wrong. But it is a lot easier for Apple and its Authorized Service Providers to fix the new ultraportable than other Apple notebooks.

A new teardown reveals all the changes Apple has made to make swapping components simpler.

Aluminum keyboard is a perfect match for new iPad Pro

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Brydge for 2018 iPad Pro makes this tablet into a notebook.
Brydge for 2018 iPad Pro makes this tablet into a notebook.
Photo: Brydge

New aluminum iPad Pro keyboards from Brydge fully embrace the concept of turning the tablet into a laptop.

The company is teasing the clip-on keyboards with images that show off their beautiful all-aluminum casings and backlit keys.

Fall haul! Stay classic with Strapa’s luxury Italian leather Primus Apple Watch band

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Rugged, beautiful Italian leather expertly crafted into an exceptional watch band worthy of your Series 4.
Rugged and subtly glossy Italian leather expertly crafted into an exceptional watch band worthy of your Series 4.
Photo: Strapa

We’re back with another Strapa leather Apple Watch band unboxing video! We just can’t keep our hands off Strapa’s luxury bands.

This time around, we’re hands-on with the Primus, available in the Cult of Mac Watch store. True to its name, this strap is seriously a prime example of top-grade artisan craftsmanship and design.

Enter to win 6 stunning iPhone XR cases [Instagram giveaway]

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iphone XR cases
Cult of Mac's hand-picked XR cases protect and showcase Apple's gorgeous hardware and design.
Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac

We’re back with another iPhone case giveaway! Just as we promised, over the next several weeks we’ll be giving away dozens of top-notch cases for the 2018 iPhone lineup. This week we’re giving away six iPhone XR cases to a few lucky readers and followers via Instagram.

We’re handing out impressive cases from Spigen, Encased, Insipio and Nomad. All six cases fit the latest XR and together are worth a whopping $169.92.

Apple made 2018 MacBook Air battery replacements easier

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MacBook Air 2018
Battery replacements will be faster, more affordable, and environmentally-friendly.
Photo: Apple

Buyers of the new MacBook Air will be pleased to know that it’s much easier to perform a battery replacement.

Apple has glued its battery in place again, but according to a leaked internal document, it will provide authorized repairers with the tools required to remove it so that it can be easily swapped out when necessary.

Fresh betas of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS out today

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There are new iOS 12 beta versions for developers and the public, as the same is true for macOS Mojave.
This isn't even all the devices that will run the betas Apple released today.
Photo: Apple

Developers and the public just got their hands on the second betas of iOS 12.1.1 and tvOS12.1.1.  Not to be left out, macOS 10.12.2 beta is also available to everyone.

In addition, developers got their vey first gander at watchOS 5.1.2.