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Why Steve Jobs’ Playboy interview was his most revealing ever

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Jobs
This was one of the most in-depth interviews of Jobs' career.
Photo: Esther Dyson/Ann Yow-Dyson/Flickr CC

Playboy magazine may be more closely associated with bunnies than with bytes, but back in February 1985 it was home to one of the most revealing interviews of Steve Jobs’ career.

To mark the passing of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who died Wednesday at the age of 91, we revisit one of the most in-depth interviews Jobs ever gave, which was conducted at a particularly tumultuous time in his career.

Super Mario Run gets big price cut as new content arrives

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Super Mario Run on iOS
The game is available for just $4.99 for a couple weeks.
Photo: Apple

If you’ve not tried Nintendo’s Super Mario Run game yet, the company has an offer it hopes may be able to lure you in: a half price sale, along with the addition of all-new game elements.

From today through October 12, Super Mario Run will set users back just $4.99 for every level. The update, meanwhile, adds support for a new character called Daisy, and an extra nine levels, which are playable once you’ve completed the existing stages.

All iPhones could get bezel-free screens in 2018

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iPhone X
Apple's next LCD iPhone could look a lot more like this.
Photo: Apple

Apple is reportedly planning on keeping LCD iPhones around for another year after the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus — but don’t expect any ordinary, regular LCD displays.

According to a new report, Apple is investigating the possible use of technology known as Full Active LCD screens, a type of advanced liquid crystal display that would allow it to create an LCD handset which looks much closer to the new OLED iPhone X.

Cedars-Sinai’s new Apple Watch app connects patients with doctors

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Cedars Sinai Apple Watch
Cedars-Sinai's new Apple Watch app.
Photo: Cedars-Sinai

The Apple Watch may not yet be a fully FDA-approved medical device in its own right, but it’s already playing a valuable role when it comes to healthcare.

World renowned Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has just launched an update to its existing iOS mobile app — allowing patients who own an Apple Watch to use it to find nearby hospitals and even call doctors directly.

How to zip files in iOS 11’s Files app

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zip files in iOS 11 hero
Zipped works on iPhone too, only without the drag-and-drop.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Zipping files just got a whole lot easier on the iPad thanks to iOS 11’s new Files app. Now, instead of having to fire up a third party app and somehow get your files in there, you can use drag-and-drop, or other methods, from right inside Files, and then save the results back to Files. Today we’ll take a look at two zipping apps which work with Files to zip files in iOS 11, both with different approaches: Kpressor, and Zipped.

Now’s your chance to win 5 full years of Netflix [Deals]

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Netflix 5YR Giveaway
Win five free years of all your favorite movies and TV shows delivered straight to your screens and mailbox.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Netflix needs no introduction. It’s one of the few services that everybody gets use out of, with movies and TV shows for anyone’s tastes. Basically, Netflix is a utility provider for home entertainment. And when was the last time you got five years of free utilities?

Well we can’t offer you a break on your gas bill, but here’s a chance to win five years of premium Netflix subscription for free.

Amazon unleashes 5 new Echo products with crazy price tags

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Amazon Echo Plus
Amazon's new Echo devices are ready to invade your home.
Photo: Amazon

Amazon revealed not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Echo-based products at a huge event today at its headquarters in Seattle.

The wave of gadgets, which also included a new TV dongle, is ready to take on Apple’s HomePod speaker and Apple TV 4K with some pretty impressive features. Even more impressive, though, are their incredibly low price tags. It makes you wonder how Apple possibly can compete.

Here’s all the stuff Amazon just revealed.

Half app converts your JPEGs to space-saving HEIC files

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Use the Half app to convert JPG to HEIC, saving space without losing quality.
The Half app converts JPG to HEIC, saving space without losing quality.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The iPhones 7, 8 and X all capture images in the new HEIC format, which creates images much smaller than JPEGs, with the same quality.

All new images you snap, and movies you capture, will be saved in the new HIEC and HVEC (for movies) formats. But what if you want to convert your older images from JPEG to HEIC to save some space? That’s exactly what Half App does.

Meteorite makes for a heavenly iPhone X case

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iPhone case
To boldly go where no iPhone case has gone before.
Photo: Caviar

We’ve seen iPhone cases plated in gold, encrusted with precious gems and crafted from the skin of an ostrich. But one made from a meteorite is sure to make a strong impact.

Since you’re already spending more than a grand on the new iPhone X, another $4,100 will get you a case made with “authentic elements” from a meteor discovered in Russian in 1967. The case, available for pre-order now from the Russian luxury accessories company Caviar, which also offers slightly less expensive cases made from volcanic rock, mink fur, and amber.

Mailbutler turns Gmail into a productivity monster

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Mailbutler is bringing its inbox-enhancing email plugin to Gmail.
Mailbutler is bringing its inbox-enhancing features to Gmail.
Image: Mailbutler GmbH

This post is presented by Mailbutler GmbH.

If you have an email address, there’s a very good chance it ends in “@gmail.com.” Well over a billion people use Gmail, which claims more than 20 percent of the email market. Even though Mac users’ machines come with Apple Mail, many prefer to use Google’s email platform in their browser.

One thing Apple Mail users could dangle over the head of Gmail users is the ability to install Mailbutler, a plugin that adds a bunch of useful new functions to the Mac’s built-in email program. But with today’s release of the latest beta, Mailbutler finally becomes available for Gmail.

Hollywood lines up to help Apple make its own Game of Thrones

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Planet of the Apps
Apple's next TV shows should be a lot better than Planet of the Apps.
Photo: Apple

Hollywood is racing to do business with Apple in hopes to help the iPhone-maker create its first breakout TV series and movies.

Apple’s LA-based TV execs, Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, have been lining up meetings with some of the top names in town, according to a new report that sheds some light on the company’s TV strategy. Everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Steven Spielberg has pitched the duo. But in true Apple fashion, they’re being very picky about what they say yes to.

iOS 11.1 beta 1 is already out for developers

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iOS 11
iOS 11 just got its first big update.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The first big beta update for iOS 11 has already arrived just over a week after Apple’s new software went live for the public.

Developers received a fresh batch of updates this morning, including iOS 11.1 beta 1 which adds a host of changes and bug fixes to Apple’s most significant software release of 2017.

The action cam that raised over $1 million on Indiegogo does it all [Deals]

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YoCam Versatile Waterproof HD Life Camera
YoCam is a versatile, waterproof camera that takes great shots almost anywhere.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Having a powerful camera in your pocket is really handy when a great photo moment happens. A beautiful skyline, a precious family moment, a funny looking cat. But one place where you can’t reach for the phone to take a snap is when you’re underwater.

Rare Steve Jobs-signed magazine goes up for auction next month

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Steve_Jobs_2007
Who wouldn't want their very own Steve Jobs autograph?
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

Do you fancy getting your hands on some Steve Jobs memorabilia, but can’t quite stretch to the high six figure dollar mark needed to purchase a big ticket item like an original Apple-1 computer? No problem if so — because an upcoming auction for a Steve Jobs autograph may be more in your ballpark.

The autography in question is on the front cover of a Newsweek magazine from October 24, 1988, features Jobs with his NeXT computer — the first of several computers he launched during his wilderness years outside of Apple.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ to blame for iPhone X’s latest production woes

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Juliet
Romeo and Juliet sensor components are to blame.
Photo: 20th Century Fox

The TrueDepth facial recognition 3D sensor is reportedly the latest manufacturing bottleneck when it comes to the iPhone X, and is causing Apple’s suppliers to turn out just “tens of thousands” of finished handsets per day — against possible preorders of 40-50 million.

A new report sheds a bit more light on the exact problem being faced by Apple’s suppliers. Apparently, it relates to a pair of components dubbed Romeo and Juliet, which make up the sensor in question.

Apple named world’s most valuable brand for fifth consecutive year

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New brand ranking
That sound you hear is champagne flutes clinking in Cupertino.
Photo: Interbrand

Apple has had another great year, which is why it’s no surprise to hear that brand consultancy Interbrand has just named it the world’s most valuable brand for a highly impressive fifth year in a row.

Apple was followed by Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, Facebook, and IBM — all of which helped technology firms dominate the top 10 list.

Only 1 in 5 people can accurately draw the Apple logo

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logo
That's a whole lot of logo fails.
Photo: Branded in Memory

As the world’s most valuable company, with one of the most recognizable logos in corporate history, you’d think that most people would be capable of drawing the Apple symbol with some degree of accuracy. Especially since it appears on the devices that millions of us carry in our pockets every day.

In fact, a new survey called Branded in Memory shows that more people get the Apple logo wrong than get it right when sketching it out. Check out the most common mistakes below.

Apple says a fix is coming for iPhone 8’s crackling earpiece

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iPhone
Issue only affects a small number of handsets.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 4 had Antennagate, the iPhone 6 Plus had Bendgate, and — at least according to multiple online complaints — the iPhone 8 suffers from Cracklegate.

The issue affects a small number of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus earpieces, resulting in a distracting “crackle” or “static” noise during calls. But don’t worry — according to Apple, a fix is on the way.

iPhone 8 sales far more promising than early reports suggested

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iPhone
Apple is expecting a 50/50 split between the iPhone 8 and iPhone X product lines.
Photo: S Marshall-McCormack/Twitter

Concerns that the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus experienced disappointing first weekend sales are overblown, claims respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a note to investors, Kuo said that reports about the new iPhone 8 have so far been “excessively negative.”

Instead, Kuo suggests that first weekend sales for the handset were relatively stable, and that Apple is expecting a roughly even split between the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

iPhone 8 bumper cases, must-have charging accessories, and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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Dynamic Defender
A protective bumper that's actually protective.
Photo: Telephant Labs

Crowdfund Roundup bugBuying a bumper case is a great way to protect your iPhone while showcasing its good looks. But did you know that most bumper cases on the market have poor impact protection? The Dynamic Defender changes that with its unique shock-absorbing mechanism.

It’s just one of the awesome ideas in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We also have a MacBook charging accessory that should come bundled with every Apple notebook, and more!

Modder converts 2008 MacBook Pro into Android gaming laptop

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MacBook Pro DeX
This MacBook Pro is now a Samsung DeX laptop.
Photo: Kris Henriksen

The 2008 MacBook Pro isn’t much of a gaming machine nowadays, but apparently, if you just slap some new innards into it, it makes a pretty decent Android setup.

A modder named Kris Henriksen decided to take his old MacBook Pro and convert it into the most beautiful laptop to ever run Samsung’s DeX software which allows Galaxy S8, S8 Plus, and Note 8 owners to plug their device into a monitor to run Android-based apps in a desktop environment.

Check the abominable creation in action:

This wireless box turns your iPhone into a portable recording studio

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Spire studio
The Spire Studio looks super easy to use.
Photo: iZotope

If you’re a musician, there are plenty of ways to get recordings into your iPhone or iPad. Almost everyone uses either the Voice Notes or Music Memos to capture ideas, and there is a small universe of music apps for iOS, along with hardware to connect your instruments or high-quality microphones. But the Spire Studio hopes to make things easier by combining new hardware with an app, to make capturing audio super-simple.