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You can now donate to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts via iTunes

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Hurricane Harvey
1,000+ people have so far been displaced due to Hurricane Harvey.
Photo: Apple

Apple has updated its iTunes desktop and mobile storefronts to start accepting American Red Cross donations for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Tim Cook asked users to join the relief effort in a post made on Twitter over the weekend.

Apple is giving users the option of donating to the cause in $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200 increments.

Death Point, ZCast, and other awesome apps of the week

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

A great premium top-down stealth shooter that’s sure to appeal to any Hitman or Metal Gear Solid fans out there is just one of the apps we’ve picked for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup.

We’ve also got new reminders integration for a superb email client for Mac, a podcast recording app for iOS, and a massive update to one of my absolute favorite games of 2017. Check out our picks below.

Calling all coders: Now’s the time to learn iOS 11 [Deals]

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The Complete iOS 11 & Swift Developer Course- Build 20 Apps
iOS 11 is almost here, so all you coders better get studying.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

iOS 11 is ready to mark yet another major overhaul for Apple users and developers both. Apple has said that iOS 11 will mark the new standard for the operating system, with sweeping tweaks and changes. Whether you’re new to coding or a seasoned pro, it’s time to get studying.

Face value: 7 thoughts about biometrics and the iPhone 8

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Apple will undoubtedly play it smart when it comes to bringing facial recognition to the iPhone 8.
Apple will undoubtedly play it smart when it comes to bringing facial recognition to the iPhone 8.
Photo: Jeshoots/Pixabay CC

By Joey Pritikin

Over the last five years, biometrics has evolved from the stuff of crime scene investigation and science fiction movies to a broad set of technologies that make our lives easier, more personal, and more secure. Starting with the Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 5s, Apple led the way in the acceptance and adoption of biometrics.

The latest indications are that Apple is embracing a face-recognition approach that goes beyond a standard 2D, visible-light sensor. When used in a situation where there are only a handful of approved users, like a consumer mobile device, the promise is great.

Top-shelf writing apps, iPhone mounts and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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collage-2017-08-21
This week's best deals include a streamlined writing platform, a double sided iPhone mount, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With every new week come great new deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This go-round, we’ve got a simple but powerful writing platform for Mac, and a super versatile, double-sided phone mount. Also in are comprehensive lessons in social media marketing, and a powerful VPN for enhanced online privacy and security. Plus everything is discounted by at least 25 percent, and as much as 97 percent. Read on for more details.

Juicy iPhone 8 leaks and a strange twist for Apple car project, on The CultCast

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Apple Car
Why, I just looove our new Apple car, mummy!
Photo: Mario Klingemann/Flickr CC

This week on The CultCast: Even more juicy details leak on iPhone 8, plus a report says Apple’s keynote reveal is right around the corner. Plus: There’s a strange twist in Apple’s autonomous car project; why the 13-inch MacBook Pro might soon get a lot more horsepower; and stick around for an all-new storytime, where we’ll tell you what it’s like inside the eerie darkness of a total solar eclipse.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Galaxy Note 8 vs. iPhone 8 and more!

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cover
So how does the Galaxy Note 8 stack up against iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and the upcoming iPhone 8? Find out right here.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Samsung delivers the new Galaxy Note 8, and it’s bigger and better than ever. So, how does it stack up against iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and the upcoming iPhone 8?

In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll find that story and more. Get the latest on iPhone 8 facial recognition that will amaze you. And, check out the classic Speidel Twist-O-Flex watch band. All the rage mid-century, this stretchy stainless steel band is now available in our Watch Store. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Best looper apps for iPad and iPhone

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looper apps iPad
You don't need a pedal, or even a guitar, to make amazing music with a looper app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A looper is a great musician’s tool, for practice and for making songs. Looper apps are also fantastic fun for anyone who wants to take a crack at creating a tune. Just hit record on a looper app, and make some noise. Then hit the button again, and your recording is played over and over, in a loop.

Then you then build on this, adding more layers. A guitarist can chop out drum beats, then some chords, and play a melody over the loop. A beatboxer can boom, boom, chick and spit into a microphone to build up what the kids call “sick beatz.” And Jimmy Fallon can sing a duet with Billy Joel.

There are many looper apps for iOS. Here are a few of the best.

Google Assistant expands its reach on iOS

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Google Assistant
Look out, Siri!
Photo: Google

Google has expanded the reach of the Google Assistant on iOS.

Until today, the feature was only available to iPhone and iPad users in the U.S. — but now you can access it in a number of new countries throughout Europe, including the U.K.

Last chance: Take PDFs to the next level [Deals]

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PDF Expert 2.2
Now's your last chance to save big on this powerful little PDF editor.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re reading this, you probably see a lot of PDFs cross your desktop. After all, they’re the format of choice for digital documents. But you might not realize that PDFs can be a lot more flexible and useful, with the right tools.

Apple expands Swift training to new community colleges

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Swift
Want to learn to code? Apple wants to help.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expanding its Swift app development curriculum to cover more than 30 community colleges across the U.S. in the 2017-2017 school year.

In addition to the existing colleges adopting the curriculum, it was now be offered by Austin Community College District (ACC), one of the nation’s largest higher learning institutions, with 74,000 students.

Court sentences Samsung heir to 5 years in jail

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Samsung
Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong was accused of corruption.
Photo: Arirang

A court in South Korea has sentenced 49-year-old Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong to five years in prison for corruption.

Lee — who denied all charges — was convicted regarding his role in a bribery scandal involving Park Geun-hye, the former president of South Korea. Prosecutors were seeking a 12-year maximum sentence.

The Shelf is like a Desktop for iOS 11

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The shelf in action
The Shelf may prove to be the handiest iOS utility ever.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You know how on your Mac you always drag stuff to the desktop as a kind of temporary holding spot? You might be gathering together some photos, or just keeping a PDF until you work out where to put it, or until you have emailed it and can delete the original. That kind of thing isn’t possible in iOS, because a) there is no real concept of files, at least not in the Mac way, and b) there’s no desktop. But that’s about to change in iOS 11. The new Files app takes care of a), and thirdparty apps like The Shelf will be able to take to role of the desktop.

Apple Park gets greener in latest drone video

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Apple Park
The Apple spaceship is nearly ready for launch.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

The race to complete Apple Park’s Steve Jobs Theater before the iPhone 8 unveiling looks nearly over in the latest drone video that showcases Apple’s spaceship campus.

Construction crews are still spread across the gorgeous grounds putting the finishing touches on landscaping and other projects but from the look of things, it won’t be long before Apple employees finally move in.

Take a look:

Is that an iPhone 8 in Tim Cook’s pocket?

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Tim Cook
Tim Cook greeting employees at CTS.
Photo: Tim Cook

When Apple CEO Tim Cook paid a visit to testing equipment supplier CTS in Cincinnati this morning, he might have accidentally revealed that he’s already using an iPhone 8.

Cook tweeted a photo of himself talking to workers at the manufacturing facility, but the web is abuzz with what was hidden in his pocket. The outline of a device in his pocket appears to be an iPhone that’s too narrow to be an iPhone 7 Plus but too big to be an iPhone 7.

Price tag on iPhone 8 will likely start at $999

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face tracking
Facial recognition could be the next big thing on iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Getting your hands on Apple’s next generation iPhone won’t be cheap.

According to the latest report from the New York Times, the iPhone 8’s price tag will start out at a whopping $999, making it the most expensive smartphone Apple’s ever introduced.

Apple to build $1.3 billion data center in Iowa

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Apple's Iowa data center
An aerial view shows what Apple's Iowa data center will look like.
Image: Apple

The next great Apple data center powered by renewable energy is coming soon to Iowa.

Apple revealed today that it plans to invest $1.3 billion into a new data center in Waukee, Iowa, that will help create more than 550 construction and operations jobs in the city near Des Moines. Along with splurging on the data center, the company will also create a $100 million Public Improvement Fund to boost infrastructure in the Des Moines area.

How to convert screenshots from PNG to JPEG on iOS

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PNG to JPG
Nothing says 'JPG conversion' better than an over-copied photo of Killian's hair on a dusty red velvet cushion.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Yesterday, we saw how to set the default screenshot format on your Mac to JPEG instead of PNG, in order to make your screenshots more universally usable. You can’t change the default screenshot file type on iOS, so today we’re going to look at the next best option — converting PNG to JPEG as easily and quickly as possible.

Star Wars characters storm Apple Stores via AR

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Star Wars
Head to your local Apple Store to find AR Star Wars characters.

Popular Star Wars characters will pop up in Apple stores and other retail outlets around the world next week in a promotional event powered by augmented reality. Apple and Disney teamed up for the Star Wars promo, which coincides with the release of new toys for the upcoming movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi.