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Godfather of Android teases new bezel-free smartphone

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xiaomi-mi-mix
Essential Products' first smartphone may look a bit like this.
Photo: Xiaomi

Bezel-free screens are set to become the biggest trend in Android smartphones this year, if a new teaser from the creator of Android is any indicator.

Former Google employee and godfather of Android, Andy Rubin, tweeted an image this afternoon hinting at the smartphone he’s been working on at his new company. You can only see a corner of the screen, but it looks pretty intriguing.

Take a look:

Tim Cook set to advise Trump’s ‘Office of American Innovation’

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Peter Thiel separates Tim Cook and Donald Trump at tech summit.
Peter Thiel separates Tim Cook and Donald Trump at tech summit.
Photo: Sean Spicer/Twitter

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new government office today that’s tasked with overhauling federal bureaucracies, and he’s asked Tim Cook and other tech leaders for advice.

Even though Trump sparred with Cook on numerous issues during his presidential campaign, the Apple CEO will reportedly lend a hand to the Office of American Innovation. The new office will be led by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and will be tasked with making the country run more like a “great American company.”

Why I still love Beats X, Apple’s world-beating wireless earbuds [Reviews]

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Beats X Earphones
Sleek, light and compact, Beats X Earphones are the perfect wireless companion.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

I’ve racked up dozens of hours wearing Beats X wireless earphones over the past month, and I still think they blow away the competition — even Apple’s AirPods.

For Cult of Mac’s latest video review, I’ve put together a definitive list of my thoughts on the innovative earpods.

watchOS 3.2 and tvOS 10.2 are now available to the public

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Apple Watch
Prepare to update your Apple Watch.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Wearing an Apple Watch to the movies just got a lot less annoying today thanks to a watchOS 3.2 update that Apple pushed out to wearers this morning.

The new watchOS 3.2 software with Theater Modes comes along side tvOS 10.2, both of which bring a number of tweaks and small features to the Apple TV and Apple Watch.

macOS 10.12.4 brings Night Shift to the Mac

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x
It's time to update your Mac.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

One of the best iOS 9 features has finally landed on the the Mac.

After months of beta testing, Apple released macOS 10.12.4 to the public this morning, bringing a host of performance improvements and new features, including Night Shift.

iOS 10.3 is out with Find My AirPods, Apple File System and more

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iPhone 7
Grab iOS 10.3 while it's hot!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The first big iPhone and iPad update of 2017 has finally arrived.

Apple finally released iOS 10.3 to the public today after months of beta testing the new software. iOS 10.3 can be downloaded now as an over-the-air update, or installed via iTunes. iPhone and iPad owners can expect a rash of new features that not only make iPhone and iPad easier to use, but also more secure.

Here’s everything that’s new:

Apple’s AR glasses won’t hit your face for at least a year

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iPhone 8 concept
Apple will give iPhone 8 owners a taste of augmented reality.
Photo: Gabor Balogh

The next big thing from Apple is probably a year or so away from its grand unveiling.

Apple has a host of engineers dedicated to building and testing different augmented reality headsets, and according to a new report, the crew is getting a lot more resources to turn it into a consumer product.

Apple’s supply chain gets a bit more humane

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Apple is becoming a "force for good" in the world.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s worked hard to improve its supply chain condition in 2016, with a special focus on improving working conditions and protecting the planet.

In doing so, the company claims it “raises the bar higher for its suppliers and the industry.” Check out some of the highlights below.

Spring clean your Mac with this cloud-storage solution

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Zoolz Dual Cloud 2TB Storage
Keep all your files safe, all the time, with Zoolz.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

Cloud storage is the answer to all your storage woes for your Mac. And spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a painstaking task — backing up all your important files is totally easy with cloud-storage solution Zoolz.

Right now you can ensure your Mac is running in tip-top shape with a lifetime of Zoolz dual-cloud storage for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

iPhone 8’s A11 chip enters mass production next month

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Apple chips are getting EMI shielding.
The A11 is on its way!
Photo: Apple

Apple manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to begin volume production of Apple’s next-gen A11 chips next month, with the goal of producing 50 million chips before July.

The chips will be used for the next-gen iPhones, which are likely to make their debut in September. The A11 chips will reportedly be built using a 10 nanometer FinFET process.

WhatsApp faces new encryption challenge after London attack

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WhatsApp on iOS
WhatsApp users have been waiting for better notifications.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp is under new pressure to provide a government backdoor following the recent terror attack in London.

U.K. home secretary Amber Rudd said it is “completely unacceptable” that law enforcement agencies are unable to read messages and conversations that are secured by end-to-end encryption.

iPad bomb plot blamed for tablet ban on flights

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Emirates
Emirates is one of the airlines affected by the ban.
Photo: Emirates

A plot in which explosives were hidden in a fake iPad is one cause of a U.S. and U.K. ban of laptops, tablets and other large electronics on flights from 10 international airports throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

The (thankfully foiled) previously-undisclosed plot is apparently not the sole cause of the ban, but is one notable example that highlights how such devices could be stowed onto aircraft.

Family upset that Apple won’t unlock dead son’s iPad

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iPad Pro doesn't have the latest Touch ID, but it doesn't matter.
Apple faces an ethical dilemma with the family's request.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A family whose deceased 18-year-old son left his last wishes on his personal iPad have criticized Apple for not unlocking the device for them.

Liam Wright from the U.K. died of bone cancer in December. He reportedly recorded his last wishes on his iPad because he found it too difficult to have the conversation with his family.

Apple claims Beats 1 is world’s ‘biggest radio station’

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It's not just you, Beats 1 Radio is down
Beats 1 is pretty darn big, according to Apple.
Photo: Apple

Beats 1 is the “biggest radio station in the world,” claims Apple Music’s head of content Larry Jackson.

“There’s no way you’re going to find another station that has as many concurrent listeners and audience-wise as Beats 1, period,” Jackson said in a new interview with various Apple Music execs.

Death Road to Canada, and other awesome apps of the week

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

Somehow it’s the weekend again already, and to help you celebrate we’ve combed through the week’s best apps to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Whether it’s a great retro-style zombie game or a superb productivity app gone free you’re looking for, we’re confident we’ve got what you’re hankering after!

Check out our list below.

Add new lenses to your iPhone 7 Plus, and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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This week's newest deals include extra tough Lightning cables, new iPhone 7 plus lenses, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This week the Cult of Mac Store saw some great new additions. From a set of extra tough, switchable Lightning cables, to a set of interchangeable lens upgrades for iPhone 7 Plus, a stylish and sleek laptop case, and a lifetime free of location-based streaming restrictions, there’s something here for everybody. Read on for more details:

I can’t wait to reply to App Store reviews in iOS 10.3

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App Store reviews can make or break an app
App Store reviews can make or break an app. Soon, developers will get a chance to answer their critics.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

I’m not so thin-skinned that I can’t handle the occasional criticism. But there’s something about App Store reviews that really bugs me.

Like most indie developers, I put blood, sweat and tears into my app, Reps & Sets, which I develop with my partner. It’s our baby, and we love and cherish it. So when some random dude posts an inaccurate one-star review, I’ll be honest: It hurts. That’s why I’m so excited that Apple will be giving developers the chance to reply to reviews in iOS 10.3.

Get equipped to fix your own electronics and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Fix your own electronics, get help staying on top of your big projects, and more in this week's best deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Welcome to another week of great gear and gadgets at the Cult of Mac Store. On this go around, our best deals include a game-changing tool kit for repairing your own electronics, a powerful app for getting under the hood of your PDFs, a productivity-enhancing timeline program for projects of all kinds, and a set of three extra long, Apple certified Lightning cables. Read on for more details:

Our new Apple hardware reactions, this week on The CultCast

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New iPads. New iPhones.  We react to Apple's new hardware!
New iPads. New iPhones. We react to Apple's new hardware!
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: Apple’s new iPad is cheaper, fatter, heavier and underpowered, but you should still get one. Plus: Why the “iPad mini Pro” is kind of a ripoff; two reasons you should not buy a (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7; everything you can do with Apple’s new Clips app; our hands-on review of the new Pioneer SPH-DA120 budget Car Play stereo; and we test out the Think Tank Helipack V2, a gigantic backpack built for your DJI Phantom.

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.

Drone footage shows crews racing to finish Apple Park by April

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Apple Park
Apple's spaceship campus still isn't ready for its grand opening.
Photo: Igor America

Apple employees are set to move into the Apple spaceship campus just next month, but based on the recent drone footage there’s still a lot of work to be done on Apple Park.

Crews can be seen finishing construction and landscaping work in the new aerial footage. While the tunnel, parking structures, fitness center and side buildings look nearly completely, the Steve Jobs theater doesn’t look ready to host a keynote yet.

Is the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 a terrible purchase? [Friday Night Fights]

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fnf
Are you buying one?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s stunning new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 went on sale this morning, but should you buy one?

Sure, it looks spectacular, and a portion of your purchase goes to a good cause. It’s also packing Apple’s latest iPhone hardware — but that hardware is six months old now, and when September rolls around, it’s going to be old news.

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we discuss whether the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone — and iPhone 7 in general — is still worth your hard-earned cash.