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Apple seeds new betas for iOS, watchOS and tvOS

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iOS 10.3 is full of new features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Developers received a fresh new batch of updates from Apple today: the third beta builds for iOS 10.3, watchOS 3.2 and tvOS 10.2.

The new beta builds come two weeks after Apple’s last betas got made available to developers, bringing a host of bug fixes, performance improvements and even some new features and UI changes for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Apple is America’s fifth most reputable company

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Will Apple ever bring manufacturing jobs back to America?
Would you buy a used Apple Car from these people?
Photo: Adam Fagen/Flickr CC

In something of a rare showing for the usually top-performing company, Apple takes “only” fifth place in the 2017 Harris Pool’s Reputation Quotient Ratings.

The list, which considers the “100 most visible companies,” is based on 20 different attributes — such as a company’s emotional appeal, social responsibility, financial performance, products and services, and more.

YouTube is killing 30-second unskippable ads

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YouTube's most annoying feature is going.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Google has confirmed plans to scrap 30-second unskippable ads on YouTube in 2018.

The clips, which users are forced to watch before their chosen video, are seen as a nuisance to viewers. Google will instead focus on “formats that work well for both users and advertisers.”

This portable battery juices up almost any device [Deals]

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CoM - Nifty C PowerPod Battery Pack for USB-C-A Devices
This pocket-size power pack can charge up almost any USB-A or USB-C device.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When there’s no wall outlet within reach, we rely on portable batteries to get our devices through the day. Unfortunately, they’re not always the right tool for the job, since they’re specific to certain device types or connections. That’s what makes the Nifty C PowerPod so, well, nifty.

Compatible with USB types A and C, it’ll give the juice to everything from smartphones to laptops to vaporizers. That’s power and flexibility that’ll fit in your pocket, and right now you can get a Nifty C PowerPod for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple expected to introduce red iPhone 7 in March

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For now, if you want a red iPhone, you have to buy a red case.
For now, if you want a red iPhone, you have to buy a red case.
Photo: Apple

Apple will debut a new red variant of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus at a media event in March, a new report claims, citing a Barclays analyst.

The report also claims the March event will see Apple introduce a new iPad Pro lineup, as well as a new Apple Watch band and an added iPhone SE storage option.

Apple reportedly snaps up Israeli facial-recognition company

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iPhone 8 facial recognition
How facial recognition could work on a future iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has reportedly acquired RealFace, an Israeli startup that developed facial-recognition technology for user authentication.

The news comes shortly after a separate report claiming that Apple is planning to incorporate new biometric security systems into future iPhones starting in 2018.

Some popular Mac apps fail as developer certificates expire

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1Password is one of the apps that stopped working this weekend.
Photo: AgileBits

Several popular Mac apps began crashing over the weekend after their developer certificates expired.

The apps suddenly refused to open due to a change Apple made to its signing policy last year. Apple now requires that all apps from the Mac App Store have a valid provisioning profile that must be updated periodically.

You can now buy Snapchat Spectacles online

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Snapchat is taking TV serious.
The wait is over (if you live in the U.S.).
Photo: Snap

Snapchat Spectacles can finally be purchased online.

Until today, the glasses were only available from a popup store in New York City, or from bright yellow vending machines that popped up randomly in different cities for just 24 hours. Now anyone in the U.S. can get their hands on a pair through the new Spectacles store.

Slayaway Camp, TwIM, and other awesome apps of the week

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

What better way is there to spend a lazy Sunday than by catching up on the best apps you missed over the past week? Fortunately, Cult of Mac has done the leg work for you in selecting what we think are the most important new apps or app updates to arrive over the past seven days.

Check out our picks below. And then get downloading!

Portable hub encrypts your Wi-Fi on the road [Week’s Newest Deals]

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A portable Wi-Fi protector, and IP cloaking shield, and more are included in this week's newest deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whenever you go online, you’re vulnerable to all sorts of hazards and headaches. That makes the new portable encryption hub at the Cult of Mac Store a must-see.

It’s just one of the awesome new deals we’ve got this week. You’ll also find what amounts to an IP cloaking device in the form of a VPN, a set of five interchangeable lenses for iPhone, and a sleek stand for MacBook Air that doubles as a USB hub. Everything’s going for a fraction of the usual price.

Get 3 lengthy Lightning cables for one low price [Week’s Best Deals]

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This week's best deals include extra long Lightning cables, a 6-port USB hub, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Tired of charging your iPhone with a cable that breaks and frays and barely reaches as far as your arm? Well this week we’ve got a triple solution to that problem, along with a 6-port USB charging hub, powerful software for repairing and recovering your hard drive, and a lifetime of data backup for five devices. They’re all part of the week’s best deals at the Cult of Mac Store, and they’re all discounted by between 40 and 70 percent off. Read on for more details:

The big changes coming to iPhone 8, this week on The CultCast

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According to new reports, iPhone 8 is getting the big changes you've been waiting for.
According to new reports, iPhone 8 is getting the big changes you've been waiting for.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

This week on The CultCast: According to new reports, the iPhone 8 will get a huge makeover with an edge-to-edge screen, wireless charging, a huge battery and more. We’ll tell you everything we know. Plus: A 4K Apple TV is on the way; our favorite TV shows from days of yore; and the search for the perfect corn dog.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off any hosting plan.

This ugly case disguises iPhone prototypes in the wild

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Apple is ultra-protective of prototype iPhones.
Apple is ultra-protective of prototype iPhones.
Photo: Sonny Dickson

It’s no secret that Apple loves to keep products secret, but thanks to a new leak we can now see the crazy lengths the company goes to just to keep prototype iPhones under wraps.

Notorious Apple leaker Sonny Dickson has put out some new images of an ugly iPhone case allegedly used by Apple to keep the iPhone 6s secret. From the outside it doesn’t look like much, but there are a bunch of tiny details that help Apple keep features from leaking.

Apple pushes iPad Pro as PC killer in new ads

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The iPad Pro comes with LTE.
The iPad Pro comes with LTE.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s latest advertising campaign for the iPad Pro touts how well the tablet works as a PC replacement.

The funny new ads, released today, use real tweets from real people to highlight how the iPad Pro excels over old-school computers in areas like speed, Wi-Fi, productivity and viruses. Each clip is only 15 seconds long — and they all exhibit a playful tone that’s similar to the old “Get a Mac” campaign.

Watch all four right here:

Boost your house’s IQ with these smart home accessories [Deals]

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From smart bulbs to HD home monitoring cameras and more, these accessories will make any home smarter.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You can’t buy smarts, except when it comes to your smart house. Right now at the Cult of Mac Store, we’ve got a bunch of accessories that are sure to make your abode more like the smart home of your dreams.

From an HD home monitoring camera to a Bluetooth power outlet, smart LED lightbulbs and a dual-stream Bluetooth audio transmitter, you can teach any old house some new tricks with this gear. Everything’s available at a significant discount, too!

Apple’s Sydney store cleared due to possible bomb threat

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The George Street Apple store was evacuated.
Photo: Jon Bragg/Flickr CC

Apple’s flagship retail store in Sydney, Australia, was temporarily evacuated earlier today as part of a “police operation.”

A sniffer dog was spotted entering the building, while the three-story venue was cleared of customers by police, who also diverted local traffic. According to one customer who was evacuated, store employees were talking about a bomb threat. She noted that police were “very firm in telling people to leave immediately.”

Samsung chief is arrested on bribery, embezzlement and perjury charges

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Galaxy S7 is pretty, powerful, and packing huge improvements.
The man arrested is the likely heir to the Samsung empire.
Photo: Samsung

The de-facto head of Samsung, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, was arrested earlier today on alleged corruption charges.

According to the special prosecutor’s office, Lee — who is the heir apparent to the Samsung Group and only son of Samsung’s incapacitated chairman — is being held on charges including bribery, embezzlement, hiding assets overseas and perjury.

Apple will build iPhones in India regardless of perks

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Loads of people love the iPhone SE's smaller form factor.
Apple is keen to grow its market share in India.
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

Apple is set to begin manufacturing iPhones in India whether or not it has received agreement from the government over proposed tax relief incentives, a new report claims.

The first iPhones to be assembled in India are said to be 300,000 – 400,000 iPhone SE models, which will be manufactured at a plant owned by Winstron in Karnataka, Bengaluru.

Beats X are better than AirPods in almost every way [Reviews]

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Beats earphones
The Beats X are worth listening to.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

I’ve never been a fan of Beats headphones. Whenever I’ve given them a go, I’ve found the sound quality to be less than stellar, with far too much bass. So when Apple unveiled Beats X wireless headphones alongside the AirPods last fall, the weird-looking white ones grabbed my attention.

Now that I’ve had a chance to try them both, it’s clear I got that backward. I give you all the details on Beats X versus AirPods in my Beats X review below.

Apple touts Portrait Mode as an antidote to boring profile pics

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Portrait Mode is a game changer.
Portrait Mode is a game changer.
Photo: Apple

Are your social media profile pictures starting to look old and stale? Then Apple has some killer advice for you: buy the iPhone 7 Plus!

Apple just dropped two new video ads for the iPhone 7 Plus that tout the device’s dual-lens camera. With the new Portrait Mode feature, Apple showcases how you can take your boring profile pictures to the next level.

Check it out: