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Siri Shortcuts make their way into popular apps

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Shortcuts app from iOS 12
The Shortcuts app lets you create your own voice commands, but increasing numbers of third-party apps have Siri Shortcuts built in.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A highlight of iOS 12 is Siri shortcuts, a way to activate frequently-used tasks with voice commands. Software developers can do this too, and today Apple highlighted some popular applications that have embraced Siri.

Increasing numbers of apps have Shortcuts built in, giving users access to special functions with the voice commands of their choice.

iPhone X miraculously survives 8 hours in the ocean

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Don't be a afraid of the water ip68
Your iPhone can survive getting wet, but don't drop overboard.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple worked hard in recent years to make a waterproof iPhone . The latest models can survive being submerged in up to 6.5 feet of water for half an hour. And last year’s handsets are almost as water resistant. 

One iPhone X user has cause to be grateful. 

Square Terminal could increase Apple Pay availability

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Square Terminal could help more businesses accept Apple Pay.
Square Terminal could help more businesses accept Apple Pay.
Photo: Square

Square got its start by letting businesses take credit cards with just an iPhone or Android, and the company now offers multiple payment methods. Today it launched Square Terminal which accepts credit cards and Apple Pay, and can even print  receipts.

This could help spread the availability of Apple Pay, as this new point-of-sale card reader is intended to replace older, simpler ones that can’t accept the iPhone’s payment system.

Android’s new speed king still can’t keep up with iPhone

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ASUS ROG Phone
The new Asus ROG Phone doesn't even come close.
Photo: Asus

Not even the fastest Android handset comes close to matching the performance of the iPhone.

The new Asus ROG Phone performs better than every other Android in early benchmark tests. It also scores higher than the latest iPad Pro lineup. When it comes to iPhone XS and XS Max, though, the gaming handset is way behind.

Apple logo goes into redesign overload ahead of October event

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Apple logo
Just a sampling of some of the different Apple logos.
Photo: Apple

Apple finally made its October keynote official this morning with one of the most unique event invites we’ve ever seen. Instead of just using one standard design, Apple sent nearly every journalist an invite with an Apple logo that was unlike the one sent to others.

We’ve tracked down over 20 variations of the Apple logo on the invites and compiled them below. You can also go to Apple’s updated event website and every time you refresh the page a different Apple logo will show up.

Transfer data between iPhone and Mac without iTunes: Get free MacX MediaTrans

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Get MacX MediaTrans for free and forget about iTunes for transferring data between iPhone and Mac.
Get MacX MediaTrans for free and forget about iTunes.
Image: Digiarty Software

This post is presented by Digiarty Software.

Managing data on iPhone means navigating iTunes on your Mac. For upgrading, syncing or backing up photos, videos and music, its broad controls can leave even the tech-savvy among us feeling clumsy. For more fine-grained control of your iOS data, you’ll want another tool.

YouTubers gush about iPhone XR ahead of launch

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iPhone XR
The iPhone XR is going to be a hit.
Photo: Apple

The first wave of iPhone XR reviews are in and based on the early impressions, Apple may have a big hit on its hands.

iPhone XR preorders open up at midnight tonight and Apple’s making a big push to get people to upgrade to its cheapest new handset. Instead of just going with traditional news outlets, Apple also gave early iPhone XR units to popular YouTubers, probably in an effort to reach a younger audience.

So far, everyone’s raving about the iPhone XR, even if it is lacking a few features.

The Drafts for Mac beta is finally here

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With Drafts for Mac, you'll never have to do this again.
With Drafts for Mac, you'll never have to do this again.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Drafts, the most useful app on iOS, is finally available for the Mac — in beta form at least. The beta can be downloaded right now, but you can only use it if you are already a Drafts Pro subscription. The Mac version of this text-wrangling masterpiece is already super-useful, and will sync perfectly with your existing iPhone and iPad versions.

How to preorder your iPhone XR the right way

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iPhone XR portrait mode
Thinking the iPhone XR would have been worth the wait?
Photo: Apple

Preorders for the iPhone XR start tomorrow at 12:01 a.m. Pacific. If you want to be sure of getting a new handset — in the color you really want — on day one, you probably need to be quick with your preorder. If not, you could be faced with waiting for Apple to fill the backlog of orders before you finally get a new iPhone sometime near Christmas.

Luckily, we have a guide that will help you preorder your iPhone XR the right way when on October 19.

Apple sets ‘More in the Making’ event for Oct. 30

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The new iPads and Macs that have been in so many rumors will apparently be unveiled in less than two weeks.
The new iPads and Macs that have been in so many rumors will apparently be unveiled in less than two weeks.
Photo: Apple

The next big Apple event everyone has been expecting just became official. Looks like new tablets, laptops and desktops could be unveiled October 30.

What makes this unusual is it won’t be at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, but at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Gorgeous custom iPhone XS adds mechanical watch to back of phone

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Caviar iphone
Caviar's Grand Complications Skelton iPhones aren't cheap.
Photo: Caviar

Not satisfied with the iPhone XS Max being a mere smartphone, crazy Russian iPhone modders have gone and added a gorgeous mechanical watch onto Apple’s latest masterpiece.

The Grand Complications collection comes in three options: pink gold, titanium and black and gold, giving owners one of the most unique iPhones in the world. Caviar says the collection was inspired by the idea innovation of the future and their connection to classical traditions of the past.

How to buy iPhone XR on iPhone Upgrade Program if you own iPhone X

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iphone xs upgrade
An iPhone with mmWave 5G could be more than a year away.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone Upgrade Program is Apple’s equivalent of a carrier’s monthly contract. You can upgrade your iPhone every year, and pay a monthly fee instead of buying the handset outright. Usually, the upgrade path is simple — there’s a new iPhone every year, and you can upgrade every year. But the iPhone X came out on November 3, 2017, so iPhone Upgrade Program participants still have at least a couple of weeks left to run on their contracts.

So how do you get the colorful iPhone XR you’re craving on launch day?

iPhone XS sales take average selling price to record heights

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iPhone XS and XS Max
Have you bought yours yet?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max sales have started off so strongly that they’ve helped Apple’s average selling price reach record heights, new data suggests.

The latest flagships accounted for 16 percent of all Apple handsets sold in the U.S. last quarter, despite being on sale for just ten days of it. Last year’s iPhone X continues to sell well despite being outdated now, while iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were the most popular options.

Alleged hacker tried to sell details of 319 million iCloud users for bitcoin

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
21-year-old Kerem Albayrak allegedly tried to hold up Apple for cyber-cash.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

An alleged hacker who reportedly threatened to sell the personal details of 319 million iCloud users is having his day in court. 21-year-old IT analyst Kerem Albayrak supposedly filmed himself accessing people’s accounts and posted footage showing this online.

He then asked Apple to pay him $174,000 worth of Bitcoin and $1,100 in iTunes vouchers to avoid doing anything with the accounts.

Score a social media marketing certification for under 20 bucks [Deals]

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Take a deep dive into social media marketing, earning certification that'll boost your resume and marketability.
Take a deep dive into social media marketing, earning certification that'll boost your resume and marketability.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Making money online means knowing how to leverage social media. Whether you’re trying to get an idea out, elevate a brand, or sell a product, social media marketing is essential. So this massively discounted social media certification course is a must-see.

Ireland won’t be sued over Apple’s giant tax bill

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Apple's headquarters in Cork, Ireland.
Apple's headquarters in Cork, Ireland.
Photo: Jan Zuppinger/Flickr CC

The European Commission has decided that it won’t sue Ireland over delays in recovering a 13.1 billion euro ($15 billion) disputed tax bill from Apple.

The European Court of Justice action against Ireland was initiated in October 2017 after the country failed to get Apple to pay up one year after the European Union handed Apple the massive tax bill.

Enter to win 6 awesome iPhone XS cases [Instagram giveaway]

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Protect your new iPhone XS, plus it's on us.
You've already spent a fortune on your new iPhone XS, let Cult of Mac cover the rest literally.
Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac

For the next several weeks, we’re giving away dozens of brand new iPhone XS cases on Instagram. We’re kicking off with a bundle of six sexy cases from Spigen, Urban Armor Gear, and Casemate. The six cases all fit the latest iPhone XS (not the Max), and together are worth a tasty $245.

Save $25 on Oakley gear when you use Apple Pay

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Oakley Apple Pay promotion
Another great deal for Apple Pay users.
Photo: Apple

The latest Apple Pay promotion offers shoppers $25 off Oakley gear.

Apple encourages users to “gear up for the season” in its promotional email. It might also come in handy for those who have already started their Christmas shopping — but there is a catch.

Tesla vs. Lovecraft brings steampunk blasting action to iOS this month

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Tesla vs. Lovecraft 2
Coming soon to an iOS device near you.
Photo: 10tons Ltd

Tesla vs. Lovecraft is coming to iOS, and, no, sadly that’s not a racing game in which Elon Musk’s electric cars challenge the driving supremacy of Cthulhu. It’s still pretty darn great, though.

Instead, the game is a top-down steampunk shooter pitting inventor Nikola Tesla against a horde of Lovecraftian horrors, using a static-powered mech and assorted other inventions to do so.

Latest mophie powerstation battery designed for your MacBook

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The mophie powerstation USB-C 3XL is loaded with advanced features, but has a price to match.
The mophie powerstation USB-C 3XL is loaded with advanced features, but has a price to match.
Photo: mophie

mophie’s name for the  powerstation USB-C 3XL doesn’t roll off the tongue, but there are plenty of MacBook/MacBook Pro users who should check it out anyway. This 26,000mAh battery is designed to quickly recharge an Apple tablet via USB-C, and can send power to an iPhone at the same time.

Just be warned, the price is enough to turn away some potential customers.

Rare diamonds and gold send Lux Apple Watch price soaring above $1 million

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Lux Apple Watch
This is the $58,995 version of Brikk's Lux Apple Watch series 4.
Photo: Brikk

If you think $529 is a lot to pay for a new Apple Watch then you aren’t the target market for a Lux Watch 4. These are produced by Brikk, who takes Apple’s wearable and lavishes on gold and precious gems, Prices start at a mere $28,995 and go up to over $1 million.

Narcissism and meglomania sold separately.