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Long-awaited BeatsX earphones finally arriving this week

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Save big on a pair of BeatsX
Coming this Friday to an Apple store near you.
Photo: Apple

After leaving us hanging for five months, Apple’s new BeatsX headphones will finally go on sale this Friday, according to a new report.

The $150 wireless headphones will be available in white and black, as well as previously unannounced gray and blue options — although these will ship further down the line.

Malevolent Machines is an endless runner for shoot-em-up fans

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Screen Shot 2017-02-07 at 15.30.15
Because who wants to just run in an endless runner?
Photo: Goodnight Games

Do you like your endless runners with a dose of run-and-gun action, a sprinkle of old world steampunk style, and a whole lot of pixel-art charm?

If so, you’ll probably get a kick out of Malevolent Machines, a new auto-runner game from Goodnight Games, which promises to take gamers of a certain age back to their misspent youths playing Metal Slug and Altered Beast — and to drag younger players along for the ride, too.

Check out the trailer below:

‘Spaceship’ campus showcases Apple’s obsessive levels of perfectionism

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Apple hQ
Seriously, were you expecting anything else?
Photo: Apple

The inside of Apple’s forthcoming “spaceship” campus — now entering the final stages of construction — demonstrates typically Apple level of design perfectionism, according to a new report.

Apple’s demands for the project reportedly include rules that no vents or pipework be reflected in the massive glass windows which run around the campus. There are also copious details on the special wood used throughout the building, nitpicks about minimalist signage, and much, much more.

Popular iOS apps vulnerable to spilling your sensitive data

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iPhone 7 front
Be wary when using Wi-Fi.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Dozens of popular iOS apps are vulnerable to spilling your sensitive data through silent “man-in-the-middle” attacks, according to a reliable mobile security expert.

During testing, Will Strafach, one of the first to hack open the iOS platform, found 76 apps that were guilty of accepting invalid certificates that could be used to intercept data.

Apple showcases iPhone 7’s low-light performance in new ad

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iPhone-7-One-Night-ad
'One Night' proves iPhone 7 is a great shot in the dark.
Photo: Apple

iPhone 7’s improved iSight camera has a wider f/1.8 aperture lens that lets in more light. Coupled with optical image stabilization, it’s better than ever for shooting in darker environments — as Apple demonstrates in its new iPhone 7 ad titled “One Night.”

Apple’s next connector might be smaller than Lightning

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Lightning headphone adapter
The Ultra Accessories Connector will be better than Lightning.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Lightning connector may soon get replaced as the go-to port on Made for iPhone devices, according to a new report that reveals Apple is currently working on an even smaller connector.

Apple’s tiny new connector is called the Ultra Accessory Connector, or UAC for short, and will soon be used by iPhone and iPad accessory makers, allowing them to save space by ditching Lightning and USB-C.

The slimmest iPhone case looks even slicker in jet black

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Whether you're wishing your iPhone were jet black, or it is and you want to protect it, this insanely slim case it what you're looking for,
Whether you're wishing your iPhone were jet black, or it is and you want to protect it, this insanely slim case it what you're looking for,
Photo: Totallee

This post is brought to you by Totallee.

There’s something utterly drool-worthy about a jet black iPhone. A black mirrored finish first wowed us on the iPhone 3. It quickly gained a reputation as being super-sexy — but also super-susceptible to scratches. Even Apple warns in the fine print that iPhone 7 units with this highly sought after finish are prone to micro-abrasions. Now the phone case wunderkinds at Totallee have created a way to go to the dark side without risking a scratch.

Apple seeds new betas for iOS, watchOS and tvOS

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iPhone 7
There are a lot of new goodies in iOS 10.3.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The second beta of iOS 10.3 is now available for download. Apple seeded the new software update to developers this morning, alongside watchOS 3.2 beta 2 and tvOS 10.2 beta 2.

All three updates contain under-the-hood improvements as well as new features, including Theater Mode for Apple Watch, Find My AirPods and some UI tweaks for Apple TV.

Apple reportedly starting iPhone 8 production early

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iPhone8
Is this how the new iPhone 8 will look?
Photo: Imran Taylor

Apple is getting a head start manufacturing the iPhone 8, according to a report from analysts at BlueFin Research Partners. “Early indication [is that Apple is] trying to pull in next generation iPhone builds as much as possible,” write John Donovan and Steve Mullane in a note issued this morning.

However, the analysts remain unsure whether this means Apple will debut the iPhone 8 earlier than its expected September launch date.

Snap better mobile photos with this dual-lens attachment [Deals]

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Instantly add a pair of powerful new lenses to your phone or tablet with this click-on adapter.
Instantly add a pair of powerful new lenses to your phone or tablet with this click-on adapter.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Our mobile devices ship with ever-more-awesome cameras. But as any photographer knows, the pictures we take are defined by the lenses we use. That makes LimeLens a must-have for anybody who loves taking pictures with their phones or tablets.

It’s a simple clip-on adapter — compatible with more than 70 devices — that adds a pair of powerful new lenses to your smartphone. Right now you can get LimeLens for just $39.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple backs legal brief against Trump’s travel ban

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Yeah, we're pretty incredulous about your ideas, too, Mr. Trump.
Apple has clashed with President Trump previously.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Apple has joined 96 other tech companies signing a legal brief against President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The amicus brief, which was filed late Sunday night in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, makes the argument that immigrants are vital for both society and the economy.

Apple renews bid to sell refurbished iPhones in India

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

Apple wants the right to import and sell refurbished iPhones in India, according to a new report.

The company previously tried to roll out a similar scheme, only to have it squashed by a consortium of local smartphone OEM rivals. This time, however, Apple has the bargaining chip that it plans to manufacture iPhones in India working in its favor.

Crazy-expensive Japanese iPhone case is a handcrafted work of art

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Screen Shot 2017-02-06 at 13.28.57
Well, there goes this month's rent money. And the next.
Photo: SQUAIR

Fancy protecting your iPhone with a hand-crafted aluminum case that’s worth at least twice what you paid for the handset? Then you may be interested in SQUAIR’s Slit iPhone 7 case, a fancy new case that reflects the “stoic” sensibilities of its Japanese creators.

At $1,700 (plus tax), that’s a whole lot of stoicism.

Fire Emblem Heroes, Linea and other awesome apps of the week

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

Looking to get up to speed on the week’s hottest apps? We’ve got your back!

In a week in which Apple announced record-breaking revenues, we’ve combed through the latest apps to bring you the cream of the crop. Whether you’re looking for Nintendo’s latest iOS game or a great sketching app, we think you’ll find something to entertain you…

Get 5 years of mobile photography lessons and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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Master your smartphone camera with unlimited access to this massive educational library.
Master your smartphone camera with unlimited access to this massive educational library.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another new month, another new batch of great new gear, gadgets, and more at the Cult of Mac Store. This round, we’ve got deals on five years of instruction in mobile photography from Polaroid University, a USB power hub for traveling, an AI-powered file management system, and a solid but flexible mobile device mount for your car. Read on for more details:

Upgrade your car with a fighter jet-style HUD and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Get the tools and the knowledge you need to build anything you can imagine with Arduino.
Get the tools and the knowledge you need to build anything you can imagine with Arduino.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Cult of Mac store added a raft of awesome new gear, gadgets and apps this week. And below we’ve gathered some of the very best of the bunch for your weekend shopping pleasure.

We’ve got a bundle of Arduino tools and lessons, a powerful app for turning Apple Mail into a productivity platform, a full terabyte of cloud storage, and a fighter-jet-style head-up display for your car. Most of them are discounted by more than 80 percent. Read on for details!

Affordable first drones and the perfect minimalist camera strap, this week on The CultCast

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Affordable first drones and our favorite gadgets on The CultCast!
Affordable first drones and our favorite gadgets on The CultCast!
Photo: 3DR

This week on The CultCast: Astounding facts and figures from Apple’s newest earnings report; Nintendo promises a bunch of new iOS games; how to get the best deal in cloud storage; affordable options for your first drone; the perfect minimalist strap for your mirrorless camera; and we pitch you our favorite gadgets in an all-new Fave N Raves!

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.

Is Apple headed for another boom period? [Friday Night Fights]

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IMG_3502
Will 2017 be a big year for Apple?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple impressed us all with its Q1 2017 earnings earlier this week. Is it the start of something spectacular?

Friday Night Fights bugiPhone sales beat expectations, and though things may look bad for the iPad business, there’s strong demand for Apple Watch, the Mac lineup is raking in more than ever, and services will be big enough to be its own Fortune 100 company by the end of the year.

Is Apple headed for another boom period? Or does it need more than just the iPhone 8 in 2017 to keep up this trend? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over Apple’s year ahead.

Gorgeous concept video adds Touch Bar to iPhone 8

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iphone 8 concept with touch bar
Would Touch Bar make sense on the iPhone?
Photo: ConceptsiPhone/YouTube

The next iPhone likely won’t be out for at least another seven months, but that hasn’t stopped one Apple fan from dreaming up a gorgeous ad for the upcoming device.

Apple is expected to make the bezels thinner than ever on the 2017 iPhone which is rumored to feature a number of new upgrades. The Concept iPhone YouTube channel created a fake ad that shows how Apple might utilize the extra space by turning the home button section into a Touch Bar.

Check it out:

Hacker spills code developed to crack San Bernardino iPhone

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Proposed bill could hold tech giants more accountable for child exploitation
Code may have helped crack iPhone 5c.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A hacker has released a cache of files allegedly stolen from Israeli mobile phone forensics company Cellebrite — including the hack it reportedly developed for the FBI to help break into older model iPhones.

In an interview with Motherboard, the hacker responsible said that the release was a demonstration that, “when you create these tools, they will make it out. History should make that clear.”