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AirDrop fumble grounds flight for 90 minutes

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Hawaiian Airlines
Use AirDrop with caution on a plane.
Photo: Hawaiian Airlines

A teenage girl grounded an Hawaiian Airlines flight for 90 minutes by accidentally sending fake crime scene photos to other passengers over AirDrop.

Flight 23 was already taxiing the runway on Friday morning when passengers started reporting their concerns to the crew. The 15-year-old distributor was trying to send photos from her high school medical-biology class to her mother.

Apple Watch could get always-on display mode

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watchOS 4 is great and all, but what's coming in watchOS 5?
A new Apple Watch doesn’t have to break the bank.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is developing an always-on display mode for Apple Watch, a new patent application reveals.

The feature would give users the ability to see the time — and possibly other information — without having to raise their wrist every time. But Apple wants to make sure OLED burn-in doesn’t become a problem.

Apple is wrapping up its heart rate study on Apple Watch

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heart
Apple teamed up with Stanford Medicine researchers for the study.
Photo: Apple

A large-scale study into heart health among Apple Watch owners is coming to an end, with Apple informing some users who signed up that their contribution is now complete.

The study took the form of an app, previously open to all Apple Watch owners in the U.S., 22-years and older, with a Series 1 or above. Called Apple Heart Study, the initiative was a collaboration between Apple and Stanford Medicine. It launched in November 2017.

Fortnite gets new Getaway game mode and Grappler item

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Fortnite High Stakes event
Get ready to make your Getaway.
Photo: Epic Games

Another brand new game mode is making its way to Fortnite Battle Royale this week as part of the recently-announced High Stakes event.

Getaway gives teams the opportunity to fight for safes with prizes locked inside. It will be accompanied by special cosmetics, challenges, and the new Grappler item.

Take a sneak peek at all three right here.

Ring in Labor Day with massive discounts on awesome gear [Deals]

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We've rounded up some great Labor Day deals on iPhone microscopes, animation editors, and more.
We've rounded up some great Labor Day deals on iPhone microscopes, animation editors, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s Labor Day, which brings the time-honored tradition of doing nothing on Monday. This time around, you can sit around in your bathrobe checking out some of the best deals we’ve seen at the Cult of Mac Store. Ever wanted to get into digital animation? We’ve got you covered. Interested in microscopy? There’s a kit for that. The list of deals is only going to get longer, so read on for more details.

Apple’s proposed Oz flagship store is having a rough ride

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Oz new store
Apple's previous (now-abandoned) design.
Photo: Apple

Will Apple’s proposed flagship Apple Store in Melbourne, Australia’s Federation Square ever happen? Increasingly, the answer appears to be in doubt — although we hope that changes.

In the latest setback to the project, Melbourne City Council has kicked back Apple’s revised designs for the store. Having already changed it once to make it more in keeping with the area, Apple’s updated design is now being accused of causing a, “loss of definition to the square.”

Thieves hit another California Apple Store as crime wave continues

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Apple Store robbery
CCTV footage from a previous Apple Store robbery.
Photo: Mesa Police Department

The recent spate of Apple Store robberies in California is continuing, as thieves burgled an Apple Store in Burlingame on Sunday morning.

As with the other recent robberies, the incident took place when a group of people entered the store and started snatching items from the display tables. They then fled the scene in a waiting getaway vehicle.

Apple chipmaker employee charged with stealing secrets

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chips
There's big money in chipmaking.
Photo: Intel

An employee of Apple chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has been charged with stealing secrets from the company, and trying to take these to a new job in China.

It’s just the latest in a string of examples of attempted industrial espionage that highlights the dark side of the rush to win orders from companies like Apple.

Dramatic iPhone XS concept video makes us excited for Sept 12

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iphone XS
This year's iPhone refresh is going to be a big one.
Photo: 9to5Mac

We’re mere weeks from our screens being flooded with ads for the new 2018-era iPhone refresh, but some Apple fans clearly can’t wait that long.

Among them is South Korean Apple fan Lee Gunho, who has taken last week’s gold iPhone XS image and recreated the handsets in the form of a high quality dramatic concept video. Check it out below.

Brydge keyboard seeks to turn your iPad Pro into a MacBook [Review]

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Brydge 12.9 is almost a touchscreen MacBook
The Brydge 12.9 Series II does a better job of transforming an iPad Pro into a keyboard than any rival add-in keyboard.
Photo: Brydge

The whole purpose of clip-on iPad keyboards is to make this tablet function like a laptop. The Brydge series takes that idea and runs with it: it does everything possible to make the iPad into MacBook.

This company — also called Brydge — just released an improved version of its eponymous keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Don’t miss our hands-on review. 

Your really buggy iPhone 8 might need a new logic board

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iPhone SE 2 could cost $399 just like the first-gen iPhone SE
Don't pitch your iPhone 8 into a wall because it keeps crashing. It could have a manufacturing flaw that Apple will fix.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has found the logic board in some iPhone 8 units have serious a manufacturing problem. The company will repair these at no charge.

If your phone keeps restarting or locking up, this might well be the cause.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Everything we think we know about this year’s iPhones, and more!

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Cover
In this week's Cult of Mac Magazine: Apple is set to unleash its newest iPhones on the world in just a couple weeks and based on the rumors, these will be the most lust-worthy phones to ever come out of Cupertino.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine: Apple is set to unleash its newest iPhones on the world in just a couple weeks and based on the rumors, these will be the most lust-worthy phones to ever come out of Cupertino.

Not only will the 2018 iPhone lineup include the biggest iPhone display Apple’s ever made, it will also be more colorful and more expensive than ever. We’ve been keeping our pulse on all the rumors leading up to Apple’s big September 12 unveiling and have a pretty solid idea on what’s coming through the pipeline.

You’ll find that top story and much more. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Score an additional 15% off these digital deals this Labor Day weekend [Deals]

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Set your website apart with a .TECH suffix, available for 10 years at a massive discount.
Set your website apart with a .TECH suffix, available for 10 years at a massive discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Enjoy the fruits of your labor this weekend with sales. This specific sale isn’t limited to just physical goods like power banks, a Macbook Pro, or even a gimbal for your precious iPhone X. Check out these four digital deals and save an extra 15% off with the coupon code: LABORDAY15.

Apple’s autonomous test vehicle involved in first crash

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apple lexus
One of Apple's self-driving cars was involved in its first crash.
Photo: Bloomberg

Apple’s autonomous vehicle program sustained its first crash last week.

A Nissan Leaf rear-ended one of Apple’s autonomous test vehicles, according to a filing with California’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The DMV licenses autonomous car testing programs in the state.

Annoying iOS 12 update notification makes its musical debut

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iOS 12 false update popup
Grab the new iOS update now!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

For about 18 hours, iOS 12 beta testers were incessantly prompted to update to a new version of Apple’s upcoming software . Unfortunately, most found that no such update existed. The prompts, which appeared at every unlock of a users device sparked frustration, but also became fodder for musician and jingle creator Jonathan Mann.

Get a MacBook Air for as little as $399 [Deals]

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rerun MacBook Air
Can you handle a deal this hot? Save big on a refurb MacBook Air.
Photo: MyPhonesUnlimited

MyPhones Unlimited, the company behind our successful iPhone buyback program, is offering Cult of Mac readers $50 off refurbished MacBook Airs. These laptops come in the original box with the original Apple charger. Each refurbished laptop undergoes a thorough 30-point inspection and comes with a 60-day warranty with hassle-free returns.

These lightweight Mac laptops start at just $399 with the discount. Best Buy is currently offering the very same refurbished MacBook Air for $689, so these prices are a steal. So, if you’ve been waiting for a hot deal, this is it. Use coupon code “CULT” and grab a refurbished 11-inch MacBook Air before they sell out.

MagicScroll tablet phone rolls up to fit in your pocket

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The MagicScroll is a tablet with a display flexible enough to roll into a cylinder.
The MagicScroll is a tablet with a display flexible enough to roll into a cylinder.
Photo: Queen’s University Human Media Lab

Forget folding displays. A group of Canadian researchers created a working prototype of a rollable tablet. The MagicScroll is intended to show that computer screens don’t have to be flat.

The biggest challenge in mobile design today is somehow making larger and larger displays fit in a pants pocket. The MagicScroll accomplishes that by rolling up into a cylinder.

Save $75 on Apple Watch, $700 on Macs [Deals & Steals]

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Refurbished Apple Watch LTE units are available.
Pick up your new Apple Watch for $75 less.
Photo: Apple

Best Buy is celebrating Labor Day weekend with some stellar discounts on Apple’s latest devices. You can save $50 on HomePod, $75 on Apple Watch Series 3, and up to $700 on Macs. Today’s Deals & Steals roundup also includes offers on other Apple devices.

Plus, you can protect your home with an impressive smart security camera for under $75, and pick up a pair of smart bulbs that won’t break the bank.

The most popular Apple Watch probably isn’t the model you’d expect

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Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 1 continues to rule the roost.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The Apple Watch Series 3 is easily the best Apple Watch so far, but you wouldn’t know it from sales. Although Apple continues to lead the smartwatch industry, a massive 9 out of 10 Apple Watches sold are the older Apple Watch Series 1.

That’s markedly different from the smartphone industry, where Apple’s newest iPhone tends to be the world’s most popular (and certainly Apple’s most popular) handset. That’s even true when it’s a device like the iPhone X that are much pricier than older models.