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UE Boom 3 crams ‘magic’ new features into iridescent package

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The UE Boom 3 Bluetooth speaker packs great new features into a sophisticated package.
If you like Apple Music, this is the Bluetooth speaker for you.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Like a cute iMac G3 blossoming into a “simply breathtaking” iMac G4, Ultimate Ears’ Boom and Megaboom speakers just morphed into something even more wonderful.

Sporting an updated design and loads of advanced features — including a new Magic Button that puts Apple Music playlists at your fingertips — the best Bluetooth speakers around just got even better. And, surprisingly, they also got cheaper!

Presidential iPad proves Trump is an Apple fanboy

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The Trump iPad might be how the president starts his day each morning.
The Trump iPad might be how the president starts his day each morning.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Perhaps Pres. Trump is more tech savvy than many people would expect. He fires off his tweetstorms from his phone, and today we learned he uses an tablet.

Specifically, we learned he uses an iPad. That goes with the pair of iPhones he carries around. Obviously, the president is an Apple fan.

People can’t wait to get their hands on the 2018 iPhone models

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2018 iPhone compared to 2017 iPhone X
iPhone demand, and faith in Apple, is so high that over 20 percent of all iPhone users intend to buy an as-yet unannounced 2018 model in the next year.
Photo: Jonas Dähnert

Apple hasn’t even announced its next generation of smartphones, and millions of people already want them. In fact, interest in upgrading to any iPhone is extremely strong.

A survey of iOS users found that almost twice as many people are interested in moving to a newer model as last year.

Square finally updates its card reader for Lightning era

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Square
Square just got a Lightning update.
Photo: Square

Square, the payments company that makes it easy for small businesses to accept credit card payments wherever you go, is finally catching up with the times today by updating its tiny card reader.

Starting today, customers can now get a Square Card reader that connects via Lightning port instead of the traditional 3.5mm audio jack that Apple is trying to hard to kill.

Small phone screens go the way of the dodo

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iPhone SE 2 could cost $399 just like the first-gen iPhone SE
In just a few years this 4.7-inch iPhone screen will be considered tiny.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 8 display is 4.7 inches. Over the next few years, phone screen sizes are expected to grow to the point that only a tiny fraction will be that small.

Fortunately, it appears Apple is keeping up with the trend. In fact, it could be argued that the iPhone started it.

Sonos Amp gives old audio systems a brain boost

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Sonos Amp
The new Amp is twice as powerful as the the old one.
Photo: Sonos

Got a bass-bumping home audio system but also got serious smart-speaker envy? The new Sonos Amp is here to save your old speakers by integrating them into Sonos’ ecosystem and adding a few new tricks along the way.

Sonos unveiled the new amp this morning which is the successor to the company’s Connect:Amp. While it’s not something more normal consumers will buy, it could help Sonos become a mainstay in serious audio systems created by professional installers.

Take a look:

How to use iOS 12’s cool new selfie filters and AR stickers

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The new iMessage photo filters are so good, you'll want them in the regular camera app.
The new iMessage photo filters are so good, you'll want them in the regular camera app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You’ve long been able to take photos inside the Messages app on your iPhone, sending pictures directly into a conversations without saving them to your camera roll first. And you’ve also been able to grab photos from your library. But in iOS 12, both of these features are way better. Especially the camera. Not only does it ditch the stupid thumbnail-sized camera view, but you get access to some awesome new filters, and even AR stickers. Let’s take a look.

Nifty Zagg Flex portable keyboard works with phones, tablets, and TVs

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Touch type on your iPad or iPhone with the Zagg Flex universal keyboard.
Touch type on your iPad or iPhone with the Zagg Flex universal keyboard.
Photo: ZAGG

Many portable keyboards are designed for just one device. The new Zagg Flex works with any computer with Bluetooth, including tablets, smartphones, and most smart TVs.

The keyboard comes in a protective case that can also serves as a stand for mobile devices large and small.

Foxconn teams with Wisconsin university for $100 million lab

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Foxconn signing
Foxconn's Terry Gou and UW–Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sign a partnership agreement.
Photo: Bryce Richter/University of Wisconsin-Madison

Foxconn has pledged up to $100 million to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to fund a new research facility for its College of Engineering.

This facility will collaborate with Foxconn’s planned manufacturing plant in southeast Wisconsin. Funding will be used to investigate subjects including artificial intelligence, 8K resolution, robotics, and 5G wireless technology — along with human health areas, such as genomics research and medical imaging.

Apple is driving high-end online smartphone sales

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
Apple customers are loyal online shoppers, it seems!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Amazon is responsible for selling an ever-increasing number of smartphones in the U.S., but Apple isn’t doing badly for itself, either.

According to a new report from Counterpoint Research, the iPhone remains the most popular smartphone in both offline and online channels. In Q2, Apple managed to sell almost as many handsets in Q2 2018 as Best Buy’s online store, despite only selling iPhones, rather than a range of brands. It is also almost single-handedly driving high-end online sales.

Easily track, manage and collaborate on projects with Task Pigeon [Deals]

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Get the tools you need to keep your team on track, at a super affordable price.
Get the tools you need to keep your team on track, at a super affordable price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether it’s just you and a partner, or an entire team working in concert, using a task manager can be a huge help. They can keep your short sprints and long hauls aligned, so everybody is in sync and on the same page. But subscriptions to task management platforms can also be expensive — especially for big teams.

Apple expands pilot repair program for vintage Macs

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MacBook Air in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes.
Apple isn't giving up on the mid-2012 MacBook Air just yet.
Image: Apple

Apple is expanding its pilot repair program for vintage Macs.

Both the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air machines released in mid-2012 will remain eligible for service at Apple Stores worldwide until August 31, 2020. That’s despite them being added to Apple’s vintage and obsolete products list on August 31, 2018.

Former Apple video exec helps connect authors with filmmakers

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apple tv
New startup shows the crossover of tech and Hollywood.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A former Apple executive who left to join Netflix has launched a new startup, aimed at producing a searchable library of content which can be adapted for movies or TV.

George Berry worked at Apple for almost six years, first as its Senior Manager of Video Operations and then of Global Media Services. He then jumped ship to Netflix, before teaming up with producer Uri Singer to launch TaleFlick as its COO.

Tim Cook cashes in $58 million of his Apple fortune

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Tim Cook earnings apple
Apple's CEO just got even richer.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook has been granted 560,000 restricted Apple stock options and, to celebrate the windfall, he’s cashed in $58 million.

As revealed in an SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filing, Cook was awarded his stock options on Friday, valued at around $120 million. However, approximately half of these were withheld as the result of statutory tax withholdings on vested stock options.

Ultra-rare original iPhone prototype pops up on eBay

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321dady/eBay
This will make you the envy of Apple fans!
Photo: 321dady/eBay

Apple may have sold well over a billion iPhones, but something in much, much more limited supply are the prototype models for Apple’s original 2007 handset. These never-commercially-available models were produced for internal use at Apple, back when the company was still honing the software and hardware for its now iconic device.

If you’re eager to have a piece of history in your possession, one of these rare prototypes just showed up for sale on eBay — although you’ll have to be willing to splash some serious cash to get it.

Apple’s ancient AirPort Express miraculously gets AirPlay 2 support

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AirPort Express
With Air Port 2 support added, the AirPort Express is your ticket to whole-house audio.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

It’s possible you have an old AirPort Express wireless router in a box somewhere. Dig it out and set it up, because it can now be used as part of an AirPlay 2 audio system.

Even though it’s been discontinued, Apple just issued a firmware update for the second-generation AirPort Express that adds AirPlay 2 support.

Apple tries teaching photo editing over the phone

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Apple Photos app on iOS or macOS
Apple's phone-only training covers the iOS and macOS versions of Photos. But a Today at Apple training session might be better.
Photo: Apple

Apple is once again offering one-on-one tutorials on photo editing. Oddly though, these training sessions are given over the phone.

There are grounds to question the usefulness of a lesson in which neither the teacher nor the student can see what the other is doing. Perhaps an in-person Today at Apple group session would be a better option.

$13,000 iPhone bill nearly puts sad ending on family trip

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data charges
Mom, I swear I didn't use the internet.
Photo: KGO San Francisco

Correction: This story has been updated to accurately explain how Airplane Mode works.

A family from San Jose, California, returned from an overseas trip with several memories. But the strongest may be the one that greeted them at home — an iPhone bill with more than $13,000 in data charges.

The Chung family prepared for their trip to Vietnam with a firm rule that the iPhones would be on Airplane Mode to avoid roaming and internet fees. So it appeared son Nicholas Chung was in trouble when the T-Mobile bill showed the sky-high data charges coming from his number over a 30-minute period.

Instagram now lets users apply to be verified

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Instagram lawsuit
Instagram is letting everyone apply for verified badges.
Photo: Pixabay

Getting verified on Instagram just got a little bit easier. The social photo sharing app revealed today that it will now let users apply to get a little blue check by their profile so followers know if you are really a public figure, celebrity or global brand.

These new HomePod rivals are even pricier than Apple’s smartspeaker

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This Bose smartspeaker costs more than the HomePod, built not nearly as much as an upcoming Harman Kardon model.
This Bose smartspeaker costs more than the HomePod, built not nearly as much as an upcoming Harman Kardon model.
Photo: Bose

Apple’s HomePod smartspeaker has struggled at least partly because of its high price. Well, Bose doesn’t see a problem because it just unveiled an even pricier option. And Harman Kardon will bring out one twice as expensive.

The Bose smartspeaker uses Alexa, while Harman Kardon turned to Google Assistant. Both these voice control systems are widely regarded as a more capable than Apple’s Siri.

Huawei embarrasses itself with jab at iPhone X notch

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Huawei notch
Oliur Rahman didn't have to say much to start the conversation on Twitter.
Photo: Oliur Rahman/Twitter

Huawei can boast about surpassing Apple in worldwide smartphone sales. It just shouldn’t try to one-up the iPhone X on design and interface points.

The Chinese tech giant got a lesson in marketing, user experience and the power of the Apple brand community last week when a presentation showing the notch on the Huawei P20 next to the one on the iPhone X backfired.