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Famous jailbreaker says WikiLeaks CIA dump is overhyped

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The CIA has been hoarding zero day exploits.
The CIA has been hoarding zero day exploits.
Photo: US Gov.

WikiLeak’s trove of CIA cyber documents is being hyped as one of the biggest leaks since Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the NSA. But according to one of the world’s top jailbreakers, you shouldn’t believe the hype.

Cyber security expert Will Strafach, who gained notoriety under the name Chronic for finding zero-day exploits used for jailbreaking, says iOS users don’t need to be worried.

Gaming smartwatches, concentration headphones, and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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Crowdfund Roundup
Help turn these awesome ideas into reality!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you still feel like smartwatches have no use, how about one that’s designed for on-the-go gaming? Gameband is built to be the most powerful wearable you can buy, with long-lasting battery life and expandable storage.

It’s just one of the awesome projects included in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We’ve also got a beautiful mechanical keyboard inspired by traditional typewriters, headphones that help you concentrate, and more!

Apple seeds macOS 10.12.4 beta 5 to developers

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macOS Sierra logo
A new macOS beta is out.
Photo: Apple

Registered Apple developers received some new beta software from Apple today with the release of macOS 10.12.4 beta 5.

The new beta comes one week after Apple released macOS 10.12.4 beta 5, bringing a number of new bug fixes and performance improvements to the Mac.

Global elites’ love of iPhone made iOS a prime target of CIA

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The CIA's new headquarters.
The CIA's new headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Although Google’s Android dominates the worldwide smartphone market, the CIA concentrated on Apple’s iOS because of its popularity among global elites, WikiLeaks reports.

The huge trove of leaked CIA documents, codenamed “Vault 7” and released Tuesday by WikiLeaks, reveals that the CIA formed a special unit called the Mobile Development Branch (MDB) to infect smartphones. And within that unit, Apple’s iOS was a prime target.

Poor people should give up iPhones for healthcare, congressman says

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iPhone-7
Why buy healthcare when you can eat an iPhone?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Are you unable to afford your new health insurance premiums now that Obamacare might be going away? Well, according to Rep. Jason Chaffetz, you should trade in your iPhone.

The GOP’s replacement plan for Obamacare has been met with plenty of hate from both sides of the aisle, but in an interview this morning, Chaffetz pointed out that people just aren’t focusing on how the new law will give us all more choices.

Everything you need to know about WikiLeaks’ CIA document dump

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The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
Photo: Brian Klug/Flickr CC

The entire hacking arsenal of the CIA has been dumped online and the entire internet is freaking out.

WikiLeaks dropped a data bomb Tuesday with its massive document dump, which it claims is one of the biggest in history. Secrets on how the CIA hacked devices made by Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft are now available for all to see. But should you start freaking out just yet?

Cult of Mac talked to a number of iOS security experts to make sense of all the new info. While it’s tempting to panic, there’s a lot more you need to know first.

WikiLeaks: CIA lost control of its iPhone hacking arsenal

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Wikileaks'
Wikileaks' "Vault 7" data dump allegedly reveals CIA hacking tools used to compromise iPhones, Android phones and other devices.
Image: Gordon Johnson/Pixabay

The Central Intelligence Agency has been using malware to spy on iPhone and Android users, according to the largest-ever publication of confidential documents from WikiLeaks — and the spy tools are now in the hands of others.

As part of a covert hacking program, the CIA created a “malware arsenal” and dozens of “zero day exploits” to infiltrate smartphones, tablets and even smart TVs to extract data and turn them into covert microphones.

But the agency recently lost controls of these tools. Those who have obtained them now have “the entire hacking capacity of the CIA” at their disposal, according to WikiLeaks.

Sell your old Apple device for cash today!

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The quickest and easiest way to get paid for your old devices.
The quickest and easiest way to get paid for your old devices.
Photo: MyPhones Unlimited

Trying to make some easy cash? If you’ve recently upgraded devices and have an old iPhone, iPad or MacBook laying around to sell, we have your answer. By using our online buyback program, you can receive the biggest bang for your buck with the easiest trade-in program on the internet.

It takes less than two minutes to get a quote — we’ll mail you a prepaid box to send us your device, and we cut checks within 24 hours of receiving the device!

Save massively on 2 terabytes of secure cloud storage [Deals]

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CoM - Zoolz Dual Cloud 2TB Storage
Lock in two full terabytes of super secure and convenient cloud storage.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Photos, music, documents of all kind — if you care at all about the data in your life you’re going to want to have a layer of cloud security. Whether to save space on your local drives or just to have a duplicate copy when your hard drive quits, this deal from Zoolz is a can’t miss. Right now they’re offering a full terabyte of instant backup, and a full terabyte of longer-term archive backup, totalling two full terabytes of secure cloud storage. And the best part? You can get these two terabytes of cloud storage for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Amazon Alexa now offers medical advice from WebMD

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Connect the Amazon Echo Dot to your existing speaker system, and you bingo! -- your speakers just got smarts.
Dr. Alexa will see you now.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Amazon Alexa’s incredible skill-set continues to expand, with medical advice the latest addition to the list.

Thanks to a partnership between Amazon and WebMD, Alexa speakers can now answer basic health-related queries that could save you a trip to the doctor’s office.

Apple’s WWDC scholarships now include a free place to stay

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A lot is changing at WWDC.
A lot is changing at WWDC.
Photo: Apple

The rules for winning a coveted scholarship to Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference are changing this year.

Apple revealed today that it will begin accepting applications for WWDC 2017 scholarships on March 27. Getting one of the spots means you don’t have to pay the $1,599 ticket price. And for the first time ever, Apple is going to hook up student winners with a free place to stay.

All-glass iPhone 8 concept art looks totally gorgeous

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We hope the iPhone looks this good.
We hope the iPhone looks this good.
Photo: Daniel Csonth

Apple fans are anxiously awaiting the grand unveiling of the iPhone 8 which is expected to have the thinnest bezels of any iPhone ever. How Jony Ive will go about reducing the bezels is still a mystery, but one concept designer has a great idea: make the body all-glass.

In his new iPhone 8 concept, Daniel Csonth imagines how Apple could make the OLED screen double as a speaker so that there’s no ugly bezels at the top of the camera. The end result is an iPhone that looks like window into the digital world.

Check it out:

Lightroom Mobile’s new HDR mode means even better iPhone photos

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Lightroom Mobile from Adobe now has HDR to balance shadows and highlights in contrasty settings.
Lightroom Mobile from Adobe now has HDR to balance shadows and highlights in contrasty settings.
Photo: Adobe

Your iPhone photos can look more spectacular than ever, thanks to an update to Lightroom Mobile that brings an HDR mode capable of capturing three RAW DNG files.

We’ll explain all the acronyms in a bit, but here’s the gist: Adobe Systems’ popular image processing app can now capture the kind of rich photographic details you previously could get only with a conventional digital camera.

Go totally ballistic with these nylon Apple Watch bands [Watch Store]

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x
The colors pop in Nyloon’s vibrant selection of Apple Watch bands crafted from ballistic nylon.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Breathe new life into your Apple Watch with a cool, contemporary nylon band inspired by the original NATO watch strap. Best yet, this one won’t leave you cash-dry.

Spanish company Nyloon started with the goal of making high-quality versions of the NATO straps created by the British Ministry of Defence in 1973. The result is a line of fun, versatile and easily interchangeable nylon bands that are now flying off the shelves.

Apple won’t go all-in on OLED until 2019

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The iPhone 8 won't be cheap.
The iPhone 8 will be the first to get OLED.
Photo: iDropNews

Apple may not put an OLED screen on every new iPhone this year, but a new report is claiming all iPhones will pack the new display tech within two years.

According to the latest rumor out of Apple’s supply chain in Asia, the Cupertino plans to double adoption of OLED panels in 2018 before going all-in in 2019.

These charging cables evolved. Have yours? [Deals]

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CoM - Nomad Charging Roundup
These three versatile, tough new charging options show that the Lightning cable has evolved.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Considering how much we rely on and use various cables to connect and charge up our devices, it’s high time they learn to keep up. These three new, rugged and highly adaptable cables from Nomad represent a step in the right direction.

From a PVC-jacketed cable to a built-in battery and a universal interface for any connection type, these next-gen cables are well worth checking out.

Apple suppliers make big bets on iPhone 8 circuit boards

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iPhone-7-logic-board
iPhone 8 logic boards are big business right now.
Photo: iFixit

Apple suppliers are investing tens of millions of dollars into the production of flexible printed circuit boards to meet inevitably strong demand for an iPhone 8 with an OLED display.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics is reportedly expanding its production plant in Vietnam at a cost of $88 million, while Interflex is expected to make a similar investment later this year to ensure steady supply.

Recover unsaved QuickTime files with this handy trick

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If you lost an audio file due to the dreaded QuickTime crash, this tip could save the day.
If you lost an audio file due to the dreaded QuickTime crash, this tip could save the day.
Image: PSD.Graphics/Ste Smith

When you’re recording audio in QuickTime, there’s nothing more frustrating than a crash before you’ve had time to click Save. But all is not lost: This handy trick can help you recover lost recordings in the QuickTime app.

It might just save you a whole lot of effort. Here’s how to use it.

Curved OLED displays will be exclusive to premium iPhone 8

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iPhone 7
Not all iPhone 8 models will be created equal.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will indeed bring OLED displays to the iPhone 8 this year, according to fresh reports out of Japan — but you’ll have to pay a premium to get your hands on one.

Sources claim the new 5.8-inch curved display will only be available with the high-end iPhone, while the more affordable 4.7- and 5.5-inch models will carry LCD panels similar to those Apple has been using since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007.