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Apple Music recruits new head of editorial

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Apple Music
Alex Gale joins Apple Music.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Music journalist Alex Gale is the new head of editorial for Apple Music, according to a new report. Gale, who has previously worked for the likes of Billboard, XXL and Vibe, will be responsible for all written content on Apple’s music platforms.

This cheap iPhone X clone comes with a massive battery

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U18
It looks just like the iPhone X.
Photo: Oukitel

Battery life on the iPhone X got you down? Consider downgrading to an iPhone X knock-off fresh out of China.

The Chinese company Oukitel unveiled its newest iPhone copycat this week that comes with a lot of the same features for a fraction of the cost, including a vertically stacked dual-lens camera and face unlocking.

Samsung Galaxy S9 photos leak online ahead of unveiling

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Samsung galaxy
This is the Samsung Galaxy S9.
Photo: Evan Blass/Twitter

The iPhone X’s biggest competition of 2018 is nearly here and unfortunately for Samsung, the unveiling won’t be much of a surprise.

Photos of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9 leaked online today revealing some of the new features Samsung has copied from Apple, along with some new colors the iPhone can’t match.

Check it out:

Guitar Gravitas is the only guitar scale and chord app you’ll ever need

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Guitar Gravitas
Guitar Gravitas has everything you need, all on one screen.
Photo: Mad Harmony

Guitar Gravitas is yet another iOS chords-and-scales app for guitar players, but this one’s worth a look because the layout is so damned useful. Unlike many other scale and chord apps, Guitar Gravitas presents exactly the information you need when you have the guitar in your hands and are ready to practice. It puts as much info as possible onto a single screen, without getting cluttered or confusing.

How to control Apple Music and HomePod with Siri

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HomePod siri
Siri is the primary way you'll communicate with HomePod.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple Music on your iPhone or Mac can be controlled with fingers, mouse, keyboard, or voice. But with the HomePod, you’d better get used to talking. While you can stream music to your HomePod with any AirPlay device, if you want to control the speaker direct, you’ll have to do some talking. Happily, you can get practicing right now. Siri already has a bunch of useful Apple Music commands you can use, so let’s take a look.

Apple sold more tablets in 2017 than Amazon and Samsung combined

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iPad Pro
It might be worth more than you think.
Photo: Apple

Tablet sales are still on the rise worldwide and based on a new report from the International Data Corporation, Apple’s iPad is one of the biggest reasons why.

The IDC published its latest analysis of the tablet market today and according to the firm’s analysts, the detachable tablet market grew 10.3% this past holiday season compared to the year before and Apple was one of the only companies to see much growth.

Save 60% on chic, stingray bands for Apple Watch

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ullu
Ullu offers a line of luxury Apple Watch bands in premium leathers that include stingray. Now on sale at 60% off in Watch Store.
Photo: Ullu

Ullu offers a taste of the accessibly exotic with its line of handcrafted leather bands for Apple Watch. The Apple-centric accessories brand offers luxurious bands in stingray and ostrich, as well as its signature Italian leather bands.

Peruse the collection of colorful, artisan-made bands in our Watch Store, and step up your style for spring. Ullu’s Stingray bands for Apple Watch are on sale for $99 (regularly priced at $249). Order now in time for Valentine’s Day!

HomePod 2 concept brings iPod click wheel to Apple’s speaker

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HomePod
Which HomePod would you pick?
Photo: Martin Hajek

Apple’s new HomePod is flying off shelves with shipping times already slipping, but some Apple fans are already dreaming up what the next generation HomePod will look like.

Concept designer Martin Hajek published a beautiful new set of renders that imagine what HomePod might look like if Apple expands the product category to include larger and smaller versions of the HomePod just like with the iPhone. One of the mockups even brings back the iPod’s iconic click wheel.

Take a look:

Apple Music could overtake Spotify this summer

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apple-music
Grab the latest update from the Play Store now.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music is on track to overtake Spotify as the biggest music streaming service in the United States. Apple’s service has been growing twice as fast, according to industry sources. If it maintains its current pace it will topple Spotify this summer.

HomePod shipping estimates finally start slipping

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Apple Music HomePod
Is HomePod finally sold out in the U.K.?
Photo: Apple

HomePod shipping estimates have finally started slipping just days before the speaker makes its big debut. New customers in the U.K. will now have to wait until February 13 for delivery, but Apple retail stores will be selling HomePod this Friday.

Name your price to learn photography like a pro [Deals]

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Name your price for a massive set of photography lessons and resources.
Name your price for a massive set of photography lessons and resources.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We live in a world saturated by images. So it’s extra hard to make photographs that stand out, especially as a professional.

Whether you’re looking to make a living or just make nice pictures, it pays to get expert instruction. Unfortunately, that instruction is also something you have to pay for. But not with this packed bundle of photography lessons and resources. Right now, it’s yours for whatever you want to pay.

Apple teams up with Cisco to fight cyber risks

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Apple cyber risk
Apple wants to help organizations defend against cyber crime.
Photo: Apple

Apple has teamed up with Cisco and others to offer a new cyber risk management solution for businesses.

The package combines the most secure technology from Apple and Cisco with cyber insurance from Allianz and cyber resilience evaluation services from Aon. It is designed to help organizations better protect themselves from today’s cyber risks.

Apple investigates iPhone X’s incoming call bug

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iPhone buggy software
The bugs keep on coming.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is investigating another iPhone X bug that’s causing users to miss incoming calls.

Some report that their device refuses to wake when a call is received, leaving them unable to answer it. It appears the problem surfaced in December but Apple has only just acknowledged the complaints.

Apple Watch just got way more stylish for Valentine’s Day

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bezel
We love the high quality of Bezel & Bytes' genuine leather Apple Watch bands with added bling. All hardware is stainless steel and nickel-free.
Photo: Bezels & Bytes

With Valentine’s Day just a little over a week away, finding a unique gift for your favorite female tech-lover just got a bit easier. Gift her with a beautifully made Apple Watch band designed for women by women.

Bezel’s & Bytes transforms Apple Watch into jewelry with its decidedly-female collection of metal-accented bands that’ll go seamlessly from work to a night out.

Bezels & Bytes bands include beautiful packaging, making the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for those female tech-lovers out there. Take a look in our Watch Store.

Best iPad cases for every type of user

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pad and quill
The right case is not only protective, but functional, and even classy.
Photo: Pad&Quill

You have in your hands a brand new iPad. Now what? Sure, you can just go ahead and use it au natural. But consider: While iPads may look like hulking slabs of aluminum and glass, they are deceptively delicate. They cry out for protection.

Gauging which is the best case to safely secure your tablet is not for the faint of heart, given the myriad options out there. That’s where our iPad case roundup comes in. We’ve scoured the best reviews, including our own, and looked at buyers’ favorite cases on shopping sites like Amazon.

Then we gathered our picks into several categories, depending on how much you want to pay, what type of protection you need, and any extra functionality offered (like keyboard cases). And we’ve also put together a list of runners-up — cases that are pretty good, or even great, but just didn’t make our cut.

How to spot a fake Lightning cable

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Use the cable that came with your iPhone as a reference to spot fake Lightning cables.
Use the cable that came with your iPhone as a reference to spot fakes.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Who cares if that cheap charging cable you buy is a fake? It’s just a cable, right? Maybe, maybe not. A fake Lightning cable could contain malware, for instance. Or it could be miswired, damaging your iPhone the way a miswired USB power cable can destroy a laptop computer.

The best case is that your device may not sync or charge. The worst case is that your iPhone could get damaged, or the cable could overheat and set fire to your home while you sleep. Here’s how to make sure a Lightning cable is legit.

A Hollow Doorway and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

A fun retro game that’s packed to the gunwales with zombie blasting action is just one of our selections for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a neat update to GarageBand, a trippily brilliant door-tilting puzzle game, and YouTube’s premium skinny TV bundle finally come to Apple TV. Check out our picks below.

Learn to become a project management pro [Deals]

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Get certified in project management, one of today's most marketable skills.
Get certified in project management, one of today's most marketable skills.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Companies are hiring project managers at a record pace. The growing need to innovate while keeping costs down creates a booming market for project managers. So if you want to up your chances of getting a better gig, it’s a skill worth learning.

Cult of Mac Magazine: 5 things Apple needs to fix in iOS 12, and more!

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cover
In this week's Cult of Mac Magazine, we give you five things that should be at the top of Apple's repair list for iPhone X.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apparently, we can forget about big new features for iOS 12, as Apple is reportedly focused on “addressing performance and quality issues” in 2018. But, this is great news! Cult of Mac Magazine shows you five things that should rise to the top of Cupertino’s fix-it list.

In this week’s issue, you’ll find that story and more. Graham Bower explains why it sucks when fitness apps don’t share your workout data with Apple, while Apple confirms HomePod’s supported audio sources. And, discover how to make Mac’s Launchpad useful again. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Gear up with the weekend’s best tech [Deals]

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We've rounded up the best deals on gear and gadgets, from portable speakers to battery packs, cameras, and more.
We've rounded up the best deals on gear and gadgets, from portable speakers to battery packs, cameras, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The best gear and gadgets don’t have to cost top dollar, and we’ve got the roundup to prove it. Included are a top shelf Bluetooth speaker, a WiFi-enabled 1080p camera, an air-purifying USB port and a super powerful portable battery. Even better, everything is discounted by a third or more. Read on for more details:

Embellish your wrist with a one-of-a-kind batik Apple Watch band

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batik
Clessant's Batik Apple Watch Bands are a beautiful blend of ancient Indonesian art, batik, and French leather-making. Available in red or blue.

Make your Apple Watch your own with a truly distinctive, statement-making strap worthy of a double take.

The Batik Strap from French company Clessant is a refreshing take on an everyday accessory. No two are ever alike. And, you can take a look at it now in Cult of Mac’Watch Store.

How to stream music to anybody’s HomePod

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homepod x-ray
The HomePod is happy to be unfaithful to its original owner.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The HomePod is like the creature the emerges from an egg in old-fashioned cartoons. The baby creature — dinosaur, bird, birdosaur — imprints on the first person it sees, then follows it around calling it mama or papa. Hilarity (of the 1970s kind) ensues, as the creature grows into a fully operational birdosaur and causes mayhem. Likewise, the HomePod latches onto the first iPhone it finds, automatically, and remains faithful forever (or until you unpair it, an option not open to 1970s cartoon characters).

But you can still let your friends have a go on your HomePod if you like. Here’s how.