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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.

Why Control Center no longer turns off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in iOS 11

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Bluetooth in iOS 11
In iOS 11, AirPods (and other Apple accessories) remain connected, even when you hit the Bluetooth "off" switch.
Photo: Cult of Mac

It used to be so simple: If you swiped open the iOS Control Center and tapped the Bluetooth icon, then Bluetooth would be toggled on or off. That was it, and the same went for Wi-Fi.

In iOS 11, tapping the same Bluetooth button doesn’t do that. Instead, the Control Center Bluetooth button disconnects your iPhone or iPad from connected Bluetooth accessories, leaving the actual Bluetooth radio on. What’s more, not all accessories get disconnected. Just what in the blazes is going on here?

Apple TV is finally back on Amazon

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Apple TV Siri Remote
You can buy the new Apple TV 4K from Amazon.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Amazon’s boycott on Apple TV sales appears to finally be over.

After removing Apple’s set-top box from its website in 2015, the online retail behemoth has given in and created a listing for the new Apple TV 4K this morning.

FDA fast-tracks Apple health products

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Apple Watch Series 2 will still make you stare at their wrists waiting for it to wake, when you should be watching where you are running
The FDA is easing up on digital health tools like Apple Watch.
Photo: Graham Bower / Cult of Mac

The Food and Drug Administration is making it easier for Apple and other tech companies to get health-related products out to the public faster.

Apple will be part of a new pilot program aimed at rapidly advancing the development of digital health applications. If the program works as intended, it could mean we’ll see new Apple Watch applications and other Apple-made health accessories a lot sooner.

Apple’s quick iOS 11.0.1 release is here to kill some bugs

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iOS 11
The first iOS 11 update is here.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone and iPad users that upgraded to iOS 11 last week are already getting their first update even though Apple didn’t release any beta builds to developers yet.

The new iOS 11.0.1 update was pushed out to devices this morning exactly one week after the big release of iOS 11. It’s not clear if there are any major changes, but it looks like it may come with some important bug fixes.

Face ID sensor is latest pain point for iPhone X production

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Face ID
iPhone X production is no walk in the park for Apple.
Photo: Apple

If you wonder why you can’t get your hands on an iPhone X until well into 2018, you may have its facial recognition 3D sensor to blame, a new report claims.

Citing two executives working for iPhone X suppliers, the report states that the new sensor’s yield rate is failing to reach a satisfactory level. As a result, just “tens of thousands” of iPhone X handsets are currently being produced daily. For a handset that could have preorders of 40-50 million that’s not good!

iPhone 8’s pricier components nibble away at Apple’s margins

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
Apple still makes a killing on its new handsets. But a bit less than before.
Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Each iPhone 8 costs Apple approximately $288.08 to build, while iPhone 8 Plus handsets cost an estimated $295.44, according to a new breakdown by IHS Markit. On top of this, Apple pays around $7.36 in basic manufacturing costs per device.

The new handsets are slightly more expensive than Apple’s previous generation of iPhones, with the smaller iPhone 8 costing around $9.57 in components more than the iPhone 7 did upon release.

This thermal pouch works like a spacesuit for your iPhone [Deals]

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This space-age thermal pouch protects your iPhone from overheating
This space-age thermal pouch protects your iPhone from overheating
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You don’t need to go to outer space to find damaging extremes of heat and cold. Just forgetting to cover your phone at the beach can fry it to the point where it goes into a coma, or worse. But just like people, a simple layer of thermal shielding can go a long way towards keeping our phones healthy.

Apple’s biggest spoilers: The devs who cracked the code on iPhone X

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Apple keynote spoiler, Steven Troughton-Smith.
One of the devs who helped crack Apple's code. Literally.
Steve Troughton Smith/Flickr

When Apple execs stepped onstage for September’s big iPhone X unveiling, they had precious few surprises up their sleeves. This year’s iPhone keynote became one of the most spoiled in history, thanks to major software leaks — and a pair of industrious young developers who dug into Apple’s code to pierce the veil of Apple’s vaunted secrecy apparatus.

Steven Troughton-Smith and Guilherme Rambo, who live thousands of miles apart in Ireland and Brazil, dutifully combed through the leaked code. Working separately but in parallel, they pieced together clues that allowed them to reverse-engineer Apple’s plans. Then they released their findings on Twitter, painting an incredibly accurate picture of the iPhone X in a drip-drip-drip of juicy, spoiler-filled tweets.

The end result? An Apple event upstaged by leaks, and by the hard work of two curious coders. Cult of Mac talked with Troughton-Smith and Rambo to find out how they uncovered some of Apple’s most closely kept secrets.

Apple TV 4K teardown reveals powerful new internals

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Apple TV
You don't even own an Apple TV 4K yet. These folks have already broken one.
Photo: iFixit

The new fifth-generation Apple TV 4K brings impressively sharp ultra HD video to Apple’s set-top box, but what changes has Apple made the internals of its latest Apple TV model?

To answer that question, our friends over at iFixit have carried out a complete teardown of the new device to find out what makes it tick. Or, in this case, quietly whir.

Foxconn chairman will visit site of company’s first U.S. factory next month

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
One of Foxconn's many existing factories.
Photo: CBS

Apple supplier Foxconn’s chairman Terry Gou will reportedly visit Wisconsin, site of its first U.S. manufacturing facility, in early October to sign subsidy agreements with the local government.

Wisconsin has recently approved a package of subsidies that will help Foxconn establish manufacturing plants in the state. Ahead of Gou’s visit, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will meet on September 28 to discuss the arrangement.