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Saturday Night Live inks deal to create funny ads for Apple

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Alec Baldwin has been killing it as President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.
Alec Baldwin has been killing it as President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.
Photo: NBCUniversal

iPhone ads are about to get a lot funnier.

Apple is reportedly planning to inject some much-needed humor into a few of its upcoming commercials after striking a deal with NBC that will see the team behind Saturday Night Live write a few ads for the iPhone-maker.

Get comprehensive VPN coverage for life [Deals]

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CoM - Windscribe VPN- Lifetime Subscription
This powerful VPN works like any other desktop app or plugin, offering full protection from data snoops and identity thieves.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you go online a lot (hi there), you’re vulnerable to a horde of online hazards, from identity thieves and data snoops to annoyances like location-based restrictions on streaming content. One of the best ways to avoid these pitfalls is to sign in with a virtual private network, or VPN.

By channeling your traffic through an anonymous and encrypted network of servers, a VPN like Windscribe protects your data and your identity. And right now you can get an invaluable lifetime subscription to Windscribe VPN for just $69 with coupon code “WIND10” at Cult of Mac Deals.

Candy Crush maker takes control of Call of Duty for iOS

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Call-of-Duty
Call of Duty is a huge success.
Photo: Activision

Candy Crush creator King will bring the next Call of Duty game to mobile devices.

The Swedish developer describes the project as the “career opportunity of a lifetime,” and says its challenge is to transform the franchise’s console experience that fans know and love.

Walt Mossberg, one of Steve Jobs’ favorite journos, is retiring

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Mossbergjobsji1
Mossberg shares a lighthearted moment on stage with Steve Jobs.
Photo: Joi Ito/Flickr CC

Walt Mossberg, the award-winning tech writer who was one of Steve Jobs’ favorite journalists, is retiring.

Currently serving as executive editor at The Verge and editor-at-large of Recode, Mossberg has been one of the best-known names in tech writing since 1991, when he started writing his “Personal Technology” column for the Wall Street Journal.

Hot Hands is Ellen’s fun, voice-activated quiz app

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Screen Shot 2017-04-07 at 14.05.20
Just like on TV, only with less people watching!
Photo: Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is in the illustrious company of Kim Kardashian as one of a small number of celebrities-turned-“developers” who have successfully launched their own apps.

Having previously launched the smash hit Heads Up!, Ellen’s now back with a new iOS game based on a segment from her TV show. Called Hot Hands, it’s a game which flashes up images of celebrities, and then asks players to say their name as quickly as possible.

And thanks to some nifty voice recognition tech, it actually looks pretty good fun!

iPhone 8 schematics hint at larger display, no Home button

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Is this the iPhone 8?
Is this the iPhone 8?
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Supposed iPhone 8 schematics have surfaced ahead of the handset’s official unveiling this fall, revealing significant changes to its physical design.

As previous reports have suggested, the Home button has been removed to make room for a larger display, and there’s no sign of a fingerprint scanner elsewhere.

Cuzzle is an isometric puzzle game that gets your gray cells going

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Screen Shot 2017-04-07 at 11.51.18
Keep your mind active this weekend!
Photo: GalacticThumb

There are plenty of gorgeous puzzle games available on iOS, but GalacticThumb’s new entry Cuzzle is well worth adding to your collection.

It’s an isometric puzzler game, heavily inspired by Sokoban, the 1981 transport puzzle game in which the player has to push crates around a warehouse to get them into different locations. However, onto this formula GalacticThumb has added collapsing floors, switches, and some beautifully minimalist graphics.

Check out the trailer below.

Tim Cook says diversity is key to Apple’s ‘magical’ products

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Tim Cook
Cook received a warm welcome from students at Auburn University.
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

Apple CEO Tim Cook made a visit to his old stomping grounds at Auburn University today to talk to students about life after after graduation.

During his morning speech at the Telfair Peet Theatre, the Auburn alum told students of all backgrounds to get ready to embrace diversity once they enter the workforce.

Adobe teases app that makes bad selfies look good

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Your selfies are about to get an upgrade.
Your selfies are about to get an upgrade.
Photo: Adobe

Creating professional quality selfies is about to become a lot easier, if Adobe ever releases the amazing new app its research team just teased online.

Adobe published a new video today showing off what the future of selfie photography could hold once its powered by artificial intelligence. Powered by Adobe Sensei, the app demo shows how you can transform a bad portrait shot into something great by changing the perspective of a person’s face, add depth of field, and replicate styles of other photos in an instant.

Prepare to be amazed:

Microsoft tops Apple in tablet satisfaction rankings

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Microsoft Surface to take on iPad
The Surface Pro 4 is starting to catch on.
Photo: Microsoft

For the first time ever, Microsoft has beaten the iPad in J.D. Power’s latest tablet satisfaction rankings that found the Surface has a higher number of younger customers than its competitors.

Apple has dominated J.D. Power’s rankings over the last few years, but according to the popular ranking service, Microsoft’s offerings were just a little bit better thanks to best-in-class design, productivity and accessory use.

Apple may be working on 8K display for new Mac Pro

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LG UltraFine 5K Display
This may be the first and last display Apple makes with LG.
Photo: LG

It turns out Apple may not be finished making stand-alone displays for the Mac after all.

Apple partnered with LG to create a new 5K Thunderbolt 3 display last year to go with the new MacBook Pro, but according to a new report, the iPhone-maker is working on a new 8K display just for the next generation of Mac Pros.

Get Apple’s new video app Clips and go crazy

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clips
Spice up your videos with Clips.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new app Clips finally arrived on the App Store today, bringing iPhone and iPad owners an all-new way to make fun and silly videos that are perfect for social networks.

Clips lets users combine video clips, photos and music into short videos that can be up to an hour long. You can also add flair to your videos by adding filters, emoji, stickers, captions and more. But according to some early reviews, navigating the simple app can be a bit complex.

(Update: We’ve got a tip sheet for making the most of Apple’s new video app: How to make your videos more amazing with Clips.)

Trump’s tax breaks could be great for Apple

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Reforms could add 16 percent to Apple's profits.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Apple has clashed regularly with President Donald Trump over a variety of issues, but one thing both sides should be able to agree on is a policy that makes Apple more cash.

That’s exactly what Citi analysts think Trump’s proposed tax reforms would do. A reduction of the U.S. corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent, and a tax of just 10 percent on a one-off repatriation of overseas cash piles, would be great for Cupertino.

Meet Steve Jobs’ alter ego on the opera stage

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Ashton Kutcher and Michael Fassbender played Steve Jobs in movies. Now Edward Parks III brings his rich baritone voice to the Steve Jobs opera, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
Ashton Kutcher and Michael Fassbender played Steve Jobs in movies. Now op
Photo: Dario Acosta/Santa Fe Opera

Edward Parks III will likely be the first singer on an opera stage to perform in running shoes, jeans and a black mock turtleneck shirt.

Yet Parks knows there is nothing casual about playing Steve Jobs. He is soaking up all he can about the late Apple co-founder as he prepares to bring his much-heralded baritone voice to the role this summer in the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera.

“I’m taking in everything that is out there and stuffing it in my head so that I can come away with my own thoughts of who he was and what he means to us,” Parks, 33, told Cult of Mac. “I think at first it was a little daunting. This is going to have a lot of attention, not just from the opera world but in the tech community.”

Seamlessly and painlessly add 256GB to your MacBook [Deals]

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CoM - Nifty MiniDrive
Add a massive amount of storage to your Macbook without adding anything else.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

MacBooks ship with a pretty sizeable hard drive, but that storage can disappear fast. Whether your job involves large file types or you just like saving your favorite TV shows, you’re likely to find yourself wanting a little more space on your computer without having to add an external hard drive to your computer bag.

With this Nifty MiniDrive MicroSD Card Adapter, you can add up to 256GB to your MacBook instantly and without adding any bulk. And right now, you can get a Nifty MiniDrive MicroSD Card Adapter for $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Google Play Music launches in India, undercuts Apple Music

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple has been working to grow its brand in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

India is one of the next big markets for tech companies, and Google just threw down the gauntlet against Apple by undercutting Apple Music with its own Google Play music subscription service.

While Apple Music charges 120 rupees per month (around $2), Google is charging just 99 rupees ($1.50) for tis own service — with a discounted rate of 89 rupees for the first 45 days. In the U.S., both Google Play Music and Apple Music charge $9.99 per month.

Twitter Lite keeps you tweeting over bad data connections

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Twitter
Twitter Lite is available through your browser.
Photo: Twitter

Twitter is making it easier for users to keep on tweeting even when they have a poor data connection.

The company today unveiled its new Twitter Lite web app, which is optimized to deliver a smooth and snappy experience over slow and spotty connections. You can access it in your browser, so you don’t even need to download to get started.

Pebble update ensures your watch will work when services die

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Pebble might be dead, but your watch isn't.
Pebble might be dead, but your watch isn't.
Photo: Pebble

The original smartwatch maker is closing down after being acquired by Fitbit, but your Pebble watch will continue to work after all of its services are dead.

With its final update, Pebble has eliminated any reliance on online servers, ensuring your wearable will continue to function as normal when connected to your smartphone.

Mac malware skyrockets 744 percent in 2016

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Mac attacks are on the up!
Mac attacks are on the up!
Photo: Cult of Mac

Still think your Mac is immune to malware? Think again.

According to the latest Threats Report (.pdf) from McAfee Labs, the number of malware attacks on Mac skyrocketed by 744 percent in 2016. The increase was mostly as a result of adware, which isn’t too harmful — but it’s still software you don’t want lurking on your Mac.

Australian watchdog says Apple punishes customers for third-party repairs

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Australia money
Investigation was sparked by Apple's disastrous Error 53 fault.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Australia headaches are continuing, as the country’s Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) consumer watchdog has filed a lawsuit against the company.

The suit is based on an investigation into Apple’s business practices, sparked by the disastrous Error 53 fault which disabled iPhones which had a home button or cables related to Touch ID replaced by an unauthorized third-party.