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$1,000 iPhone X just the start of rising smartphone prices

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iPhone X laying down
I wanted a Galaxy S10, but I'm stuck with iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s bet on a $1,000 smartphone has paid off in a big way, and that’s bad news for iPhone fans.

As the iPhone X continues to be Apple’s best-selling smartphone, analysts warn that it will encourage even higher price tags year after year. You can expect this year’s iPhone lineup to be even more expensive, and you won’t save much by shopping elsewhere.

Apple’s new iPhone strategy for world’s second-biggest market

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple's got renewed focus on India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple may be kicking all kinds of butt on the global stage, but it’s struggling in India, where the iPhone currently ranks 11th in the overall list of smartphones. To put that in perspective, Apple accounts for just 1 percent of India’s iPhone sales, with fewer than 1 million handsets sold in the first half of this year.

But it’s got a plan (well, several) to change all that.

Fortnite leak confirms Android users’ worst fears

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Fortnite Wingman Starter Pack
Yes, you'll need a Samsung to play Fortnite for Android.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite Battle Royale will be exclusive to Samsung devices when it finally comes to Android, a new leak has confirmed.

The upcoming Galaxy Note 9 or a second Samsung device will be required to play the game initially. Even if you happen to obtain the Fortnite package for Android, it won’t run on your handset until Samsung’s exclusive deal comes to an end.

It’s not yet clear exactly how long that will last.

Pokémon Go could finally get player battles this year

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Pokémon Go
Battling is the feature every Pokémon fan has been waiting for.
Photo: Niantic

You will finally get the chance to battle against other trainers in Pokémon Go, developer Niantic has confirmed.

The feature could be added into the game before the end of 2018. It will follow the introduction of friends lists, trading, and gifting — and should give players a big reason to keep playing.

Apple Watch Series 3 gets its first jailbreak

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Apple Watch Series 3
If you've been dreaming of jailbreaking your Apple Watch, today is your lucky day!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Jailbreaking isn’t nearly as big news as it was in the early days of the iPhone. However, that doesn’t mean we’re not excited to hear about a new Apple device being given the jailbreak treatment.

That’s what happened recently when jailbreaker Tihmstar released the first “almost complete” jailbreak for the Apple Watch Series 3, running watchOS 4.1. However, the jailbreak will also work on older Apple Watches with slight modifications.

‘iPhone 9’ leak hints at big camera improvements

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iPhone 9 camera leak
iPhone 9 could pack Apple's best camera yet.
Photo: Slashleaks

You’ll miss out on a secondary rear-facing camera if you opt for the more affordable “iPhone 9” this fall, but the single sensor you will get could be Apple’s best yet.

An apparent spy shot of the device corroborates claims that it will pack an even larger camera lens for snapping better photos and videos. You can also expect optical image stabilization for enhanced low-light performance.

Apple removes InfoWars and Alex Jones podcasts

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Alex Jones
Alex Jones is a prominent online conspiracy theorist.
Photo: InfoWars

Apple has removed the entire back catalog for five of far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars’ six podcasts on iTunes and its Podcasts app. One of these shows is the daily “War Room” show hosted by owner and radio host Alex Jones.

The podcasts were removed due to their breaking of Apple’s hate speech guidelines. It comes as part of a concerted effort by Silicon Valley to cut down on the spread of so-called “fake news” online.

This keyboard shortcut will revolutionize copy and paste on your Mac

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Is the Mac's default pasting behavior driving you nuts?
Is the Mac's default pasting behavior driving you nuts?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Did you ever copy some text from a Word document, or from the web, and paste it into an email, only to have the pasted text keep its stupid 24-point Comic Sans formatting? Maybe you had to select everything, then start futzing with the Mac’s font panel to get the new text to match.

The way to fix this annoying problem, as you may already know, is the Mac’s Paste and Match Style command. But what you probably never thought of is that you can make this the default option. That way, you can reap its benefits whenever and wherever you paste text.

Virus briefly halts production at iPhone chip-maker TSMC

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Apple A12 replaces A11 Bionic
TSMC, the company that manufactures all iPhone and iPad processors, including the A11, had a serious virus problem this weekend.
Photo: iFixit

A computer virus infected the fabrication tools and computers at TSMC’s factories that are likely producing Apple’s next-generation iPhone processors. 

The company is still cleaning the malware off its equipment, but expects to be finished by tomorrow.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Apple snatches the $1 trillion crown, and more!

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cover
In this week's Cult of Mac Magazine: The long race to see which U.S. tech giant will become the first company worth $1 trillion is finally over. Apple won.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine: It’s official. Apple beats Amazon to the coveted $1 trillion valuation. Tim Cook plays it cool, telling staffers it’s “not the most important measure of our success.”

You’ll find that top story and much more. Check out the the biggest takeaways from Apple’s Q3 earnings call. Feast your eyes on the iPhone X Plus and new LCD iPhone. Plus: Learn how to use the iPhone camera’s manual controls. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Add edge to Apple Watch with these chainlink and leather bands [In Stock]

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bezels
We love the high quality of Bezel & Bytes' genuine leather Apple Watch bands with added bling.
Photo: Bezels & Bytes

Wearable tech just got way more fashionable with Bezels & Bytes — a San Francisco-based company dedicated to empowering women who love technology with new and fashionable ways to wear it.

These bands are a polished and sophisticated upgrade to the every day Apple Watch band. Made by women for women, these glamorous bands take the wearer seamlessly from work to a night out.

2018 iPad Pro could take another design cue from iPhone X

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2018 iPad Pro concept art
There's now evidence to back up the assumption that the redesign of the 2018 iPad Pro will include rounded corners on the display.
Photo: Álvaro Pabesio

It’s looking increasingly likely that the new iPad Pro models coming this fall will look like super-size iPhone X devices. That means no Home button and a nearly-edge-to-edge display.

Everyone has been assuming that this means the corners of the screen will be rounded too, and now there’s evidence of that.

Dual-SIM iPhone could be just for China

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The dual-SIM iPhone will offer twice as many SIM card slots as any previous iOS device.
The dual-SIM iPhone will offer twice as many SIM card slots as any previous iOS device.
Photo: IFIXIT

Buried in the latest iOS 12 beta is evidence that Apple is going to release the first iPhone that can have two SIM cards installed at once. But most people won’t have the option to buy this device.

The dual-SIM iPhone will reportedly be restricted to just China.

Samsung spills Galaxy Note 9 early in YouTube video

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Samsung leaks Galaxy Note 9 early
The Note 9 looks good in blue.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s answer to the iPhone X is scheduled to arrive later this month, and thanks to one keen employee, we already know what it will look like.

Samsung New Zealand posted the official Galaxy Note 9 introduction video to YouTube weeks early. It reveals the “super powerful” handset’s design and a number of key features, including an improved S Pen.

New video gives best look yet at 2018 iPhones

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The three 2018 iPhone models appear side-by-side , along with possible names.
The three 2018 iPhone models appear side-by-side, along with possible names.
Photo: MobileFun

Apple hasn’t kept a very tight lid on 2018 iPhone rumors. Information about them is leaking out all over. The latest is a video showing two of the three that are anticipated for a September release.

The source for the video also gives possible names for the next iPhone versions.

‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ fuels insane selfie surgery requests

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Snapchat dysmorphia
Snapchat selfie filters are supposed to be fun and are not meant for users to pursue cosmetic surgery.
Photo: Pokemon/Snapchat

Some Snapchat users are requesting to go under the knife to get a face that resembles their filtered selfies, according to a cosmetic surgeon who calls the new phenomena “Snapchat dysmorphia.”

These patients are seeking bigger eyes and fuller lips that often come with some of the filters in social media apps, like Snapchat and Facetune, creating a fresh warping of already unrealistic standards of beauty.

Blade Shadow puts a Windows 10 PC on your iPhone or iPad

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Blade Shadow on Mac
A powerful PC without the PC.
Photo: Blade

Shadow, the service that puts streams a powerful Windows 10 PC to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is expanding across the U.S.

You can use it to play games, run desktop applications, and lots more — without forking out for a powerful desktop of your own. All you need is a monthly subscription and an internet connection.

Instapaper kills its Apple Watch app

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Instapaper for Apple Watch
Instapaper on Apple Watch was surprisingly decent.
Photo: Instapaper

Instapaper has become the latest big service to ditch its Apple Watch app.

The most recent Instapaper app update removes the Apple Watch component, and there are apparently no plans to bring it back. One Instapaper developer explains that it didn’t prove popular enough to warrant a required rebuild for watchOS.

Few VPNs prove as secure as this one [Deals]

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This VPN provider is backed by super secure encryption, Swiss data privacy laws, and lots more.
This VPN provider is backed by super secure encryption, Swiss data privacy laws, and lots more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you use a VPN, it’s because you want to protect your online life. That’s a good move, but some providers are more secure than others. So if security is your concerns, check out this deal on ProtonVPN.

Journey to a trillion, and a look at Apple’s troubled history, on The CultCast

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CultCast MacBook Pro
Apple's the most valuable company on earth, but it almost wasn't.

This week on The CultCast: The journey to a trillion! How did Apple become the most valuable company on earth? We discuss, and remember the company’s troubled history. Plus: Is the i9 MacBook Pro a total ripoff? One YouTube reviewer says yes, and his tests are convincing. We’ll fill you in. And stay tuned for the sad decline of MoviePass. Is the troubled movie service still worth it?

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