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Boost productivity with a bundle of premium Mac apps [Week’s Best Deals]

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Stuff your Mac with top shelf apps, keep your devices charged anywhere in the world, and more in the week's best new deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another week, another round of great new deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This go-round, we’ve got a voltage converter that’ll keep you charged all over the world, a powerful mind-mapping tool for more productive studying and reading, a bundle of a dozen top-shelf Mac apps, and an extra-long, extra-tough Lightning cable that’ll outlive us all.

And everything’s going for a fraction of the usual price!

Kings backpack treats your tech carry like royalty [Review]

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The Kings laptop backpack by STM Goods will shoulder the burdens of the working class.
The Kings laptop backpack by STM Goods will shoulder the burdens of the working class.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

The Kings laptop backpack by STM Goods is handsome enough, but one small detail on the inside got my attention.

Tethered inside one of the two compartments I found a zippered pouch that could be used to store pens or cords. I stow my various incidentals in similar pouches in my shoulder bag, so it seemed like this particular backpack was designed especially for me.

Apple to open online store in India to sell iPhones

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india
Apple is doing all it can to grow in India.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

Apple will open an online store in India to start selling iPhones, which it may begin making locally within the next couple of week.

Selling iPhones it makes in India is Apple’s first big step in competing for market share in a country with rapidly growing smartphone sales.

Put an SNES controller back in your hands [Week’s Newest Deals]

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The SNES is back, along with some boss Bluetooth headphones, a convenient mobile phone mount, and more in this week's newest deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With talk of Nintendo re-releasing the SNES, the classic console has been on a lot of minds lately. Not that it ever left — the Super Nintendo remains the epitome of gaming bliss for people of all ages.

With the SFC30 Bluetooth Controller, you can bring the familiar feel of the SNES controller to any game you run on a computer or tablet, even plug it straight into Nintendo’s NES Classic system. It’s just one of the best new deals at the Cult of Mac Store, which also include a premium set of Bluetooth headphones, a mobile mount that connects right to your car’s air vent, and a powerful platform for website building.

These spartan Mac setups wage war on wires [iSetups]

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iSetups
Each of this week's Mac setups will put your wire game to shame.
Photo: Richard Lopez

Good cable management is harder than it looks. I should know: Both my home office and my work office are a mess of wires, despite trying to sort things out numerous times.

Unlike my failed attempts, this week’s three iSetups submissions get it down to a fine art. iSetups is our new show that highlights the best Apple-centric setups submitted by our viewers. (You’ll also get plenty of tips and tricks for how you can improve your own setup.)

iSetups Episode 3

Cult of Mac Magazine: Toy Mac runs Photoshop, iPhone 8 leaks, crazy MacBook Pro concept and more

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The latest iPhone 8 leaks raise some serious questions.
Cover: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine, we cover the latest iPhone 8 leaks and give a hands-on look at the most recent schematics and updates — this one includes detailed labeling of each part, revealing a dual-lens camera in the front and wireless charging in the back.

Learn about how a tiny replica Mac made for the American Girl doll captured the kid in one UX designer, who modified the toy to run Mac OS 7 and Photoshop.

Check out a designer’s crazy new concept that imagines what would happen if Apple replaced MacBook Pro keyboards with a giant touchpad. Plus, The CultCast, how-tos and lots more.

Here are this week’s top stories.

Apple wants California to change self-driving car reports

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apple lexus
Apple's self-driving Lexus hits the streets of California.
Photo: Bloomberg

Just weeks after getting its permit to drive self-driving cars on public roads, Apple is already asking the California DMV to change reporting protocol requirements.

Apple sent the DMV a letter today arguing for changes to the rules for “disengagement reporting,” which if successfully implemented, would give the public less information about Apple’s self-driving vehicles.

Is Apple’s product lineup too confusing? [Friday Night Fights]

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streamlining Apple product lineup
Do you find it difficult to choose Apple products?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple currently offers more products than ever before. Whether you’re buying an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac, or even an Apple Watch, there are a bunch of options to consider before you hand over your cash in an Apple store.

Friday Night Fights bugHaving options is always a good thing, but has Apple’s product portfolio become too confusing for consumers? Does the company even have the resources to keep everything fresh and fully-supported, or is its larger lineup hurting its products?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether it’s time for Apple to streamline its product lineup.

Merriam-Webster calls Apple fans ‘sheeple’

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Sydney
Some Australian sheeple photographed in the wild.
Photo: Apple

It is officially proper English to call compliant people — including Apple fans — “sheeple.”

The wordsmiths at Merriam-Webster revealed “sheeple” as the newest entry in the dictionary this morning. And according to the definition, Apple fans are a prime example of sheeple in the real world.

Apple’s self-driving Lexus gets caught on camera

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Apple Car
Apple's first self-driving Lexus.
Photo: Bloomberg

Apple’s self-driving cars have been spotted in the wild for the first time, giving fans an early peek at the tech that could change roads forever.

The California DMV issued a permit to Apple earlier this month allowing it to test its self-driving cars on public roads. Apple is only registered to drive three Lexus cars around Silicon Valley, but the company is wasting no time in its efforts to catch up to the competition.

Get a bird’s-eye view of your business plan [Deals]

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CoM - Bizplan Premium
Dial in, follow and present your business plan with this efficiency-boosting tool.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Any business large or small will sink or swim based on its business plan, but creating and keeping up with one is a real challenge that carries real consequences. That makes a tool like Bizplan valuable in maintaining a clear vision and goals.

It offers a step-by-step platform that helps breaks down the process of building a business plan into manageable chunks, serving as a useful tool for communicating your business’ progress to others. And right now you can get a lifetime license to Bizplan for just $69 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Gatekeeper won’t stop this ‘major scale’ Mac malware

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The OSX/Dok malware forces you to install a bogus OS X update.
The OSX/Dok malware forces you to install a bogus OS X update.
Image: Check Point

OSX/Dok, a new strain of “major scale” malware targeting macOS users, can bypass the Gatekeeper feature that’s designed to block malicious software.

The newly identified trojan, which prevents you from doing anything on your Mac until you install a bogus software update, also goes undetected by many antivirus programs.

Qualcomm: Apple is cutting off our iPhone royalties

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The Qualcomm/Apple standoff is getting nasty!
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

The battle between Apple and Qualcomm is intensifying, with Qualcomm claiming that Apple is set to stop making licensing payments related to the iPhone.

The result of this is that Qualcomm will have to revise its earnings forecasts to give a smaller number, due to Apple cutting off one of its major sources of revenue until the dispute is resolved.

Leaked iPhone 8 case quashes rear-facing Touch ID rumor

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No Touch ID cutout is visible.
Photo: KK Sneak Leaks

A new alleged iPhone case leak appears to back up some previous reports about the forthcoming handset — including the fact that it won’t have a rear-mounted Touch ID sensor, as had been rumored.

This suggests that Apple has found a way of integrating a fingerprint sensor into the display of the new iPhone, rather than having to shift it to the back as devices such as the new Samsung Galaxy S8 have done. Apple was rumored to be having problems getting the embedded Touch ID tech to work.

Drastic new changes coming to an Apple store near you, this week on The CultCast

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Cupertino has a new vision for the Apple Store.
Cupertino has a new vision for the Apple Store.
Photo: CBS

This week on The CultCast: Apple stores are about to get a massive 2.0 overhaul, and we’ve got all the details. Plus: Why the iPhone 8 may launch super-late and with no OLED screen; Final Cut Pro X hits a massive milestone; Google co-founder makes a flying car, and you’re gonna want one; and we reveal our favorite new gadgets in an all-new Under Review!

Our thanks to Blue Apron for supporting this episode. Blue Apron makes it easy to cook delicious meals at home. See their upcoming menu and get your first three meals free at BlueApron.com/CultCast.

Apple inks deal with social video app Musical.ly

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Musical.ly
Apple wants to appeal to tween and teen users.
Photo: Musical.ly

Update: Musical.ly’s partner 7digital denies that it is being replaced by Apple Music, with CEO Simon Cole saying it “just signed a renewal agreement with Musical.ly” and has “in no way ended our working relationship.”

Apple has reportedly teamed up with Musical.ly, a popular music-themed app for video creation, messaging and live broadcasting.

Starting today, Apple Music will be the service that supplies songs for the social network app, replacing joining existing provider 7digital.

Leaked iPhone 8 schematic reveals dual-lens front camera and more

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iphone
We hope the next iPhone is this beautiful.
Photo: AlHasan Husni

Another alleged iPhone 8 schematic has leaked out of China, providing new details about Apple’s upcoming handset — including the tech behind its wireless charging capability.

The supposed iPhone 8 drawing surfaced on Weibo today. Unlike the last two schematics that leaked, this one includes detailed labeling of each part, revealing a dual-lens camera in the front and wireless charging in the back.

Crazy MacBook Pro concept replaces keyboard with a yuuuuuuge touchpad

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Keyboards are so last year.
Keyboards are so last year.
Photo: Daniel Brunsteiner

Tim Cook has repeatedly said Apple has no plans to make a touchscreen MacBook, but a crazy new concept imagines what would happen if the company replaced keyboards with a giant touchpad.

Giving creatives a big touchscreen instead of a keyboard may sounds like a horrible idea at first. Typing would definitely take some getting used to. However, designer Daniel Brunsteiner’s concept shows how you could do some cool new stuff with the touchpad.

Take a closer look:

This rugged case turns your iPhone into a GoPro [Review]

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The Hitcase Pro 2.0, shown with a super-wide lens, is now available for iPhone 6, 6s and 7 on Kickstarter.
The Hitcase Pro 2.0, shown with a super-wide lens, is now available for iPhone 6, 6s and 7 on Kickstarter.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Yes, the iPhone can shoot pictures in the same places as many pro-level cameras. But because the iPhone lacks pro-level durability, you may not bring it on your most rugged adventures.

Hitcase’s latest product should ease your mind and let capture your most extreme imagery ever.

Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy documentary will be an Apple Music exclusive

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Diddy's movie is coming to Apple Music.
Diddy's movie is coming to Apple Music.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music is set to premiere an all-new exclusive documentary this summer and this go around it will be all about hip-hop legend and business mogul Sean P. Combs (aka. Puff Daddy, aka P. Diddy).

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story will make its official debut exclusively on Apple Music starting June 25. The documentary chronicles Diddy’s rise to become one of the most prolific producers in the mid-90s as well as the trouble he faced putting together last year’s 20th anniversary Bad Boy reunion show.

iPhone growth stalls as Chinese smartphones surge

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Product Red iPhone box
The RED iPhone 7 hasn't given sales a boost.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Growth in the smartphone industry isn’t dead yet, according to the latest report from the International Data Corporation which found smartphone shipments grew more than expected last quarter.

IDC predicted shipments would rise 3.6%, but the industry actually saw 4.3% growth in Q1 2017. Unfortunately for Apple, most of the increase in shipments were triggered by a couple of Chinese companies.

Apple Pay’s next step? Peer-to-peer payments

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is again working to deliver its own Venmo competitor that will allow fans to transfer money to one another using their iPhones, according to a new report.

Multiple sources familiar with the company’s plans expect the service to be unveiled later this year.