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iPhone 7 tops 2016 smartphone performance chart

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Top-10-smartphones-2016
Apple's A10X Fusion chip continues to impress.
Photo: AnTuTu

Benchmark specialists AnTuTu have put together a chart that highlights 2016’s top performing smartphones, and it’s no surprise to see iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus right at the top of it.

Apple’s latest handsets grabbed the first and second spots with the highest benchmark scores, followed by the OnePlus 3T. There’s no sign of a Samsung device in the top ten.

Sharpen your iOS coding chops for next to nothing [Deals]

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iOS 10 and 9 lesson bundle
Learn to code for iOS 10 and iOS 9 in this comprehensive, massively discounted lesson bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For developers, iOS is as vibrant a platform as ever. There’s plenty of room for new and seasoned developers alike to make their mark, which makes this duo of lessons in iOS 10 and iOS 9 from Mammoth Interactive a valuable resource for coders of any skill level.

It offers nearly 200 hours of top-shelf instruction, and right now you can get the entire iOS coding bundle for just $29 at Cult of Mac Deals.

New AirPod ads show off Apple’s wireless dream

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Screen Shot 2017-01-16 at 14.57.22
Apple's new ads celebrates its new AirPods.
Photo: Apple

Apple debuted new ads for its freshly-released AirPods over the weekend, demonstrating features like instant pairing and Siri, while getting across the joy that comes with Apple’s wireless dream through a musical dance number.

Starring Los Angeles-based dancer and model Lil Buck, and set to the song “Down” by Marian Hill, the four black-and-white spots debuted on Apple’s YouTube channel.

Check them out below:

Jimmy Iovine reiterates Apple’s interest in original TV content

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Iovine
Iovine says Apple Music isn't just about music.
Photo: Apple

Jimmy Iovine is hinting that Apple may indeed be looking to follow Amazon and Netflix down the original TV programming route, telling The Hollywood Reporter that the company is “going to do whatever hits popular culture smack on the nose.”

“At Apple Music, what we’re trying to create is an entire cultural, pop cultural experience, and that happens to include audio and video,” Iovine said.

Apple commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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MLK-quote-Apple
Apple.com today.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple is today commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a famous quote on the front page of its website that promotes equality.

Paying homage to the legendary civil rights leader is a tradition for Apple, which has become increasingly focused on supporting equal rights and fighting discrimination in recent years.

Samsung chief faces arrest for bribing South Korea president

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Samsung's de-facto boss is in a spot of trouble.
Photo: Samsung

The de-facto head of Samsung faces arrest on charges of bribing South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye and a confidante.

The call for Lee Kun-hee, Samsung’s vice chairman and the only son of its incapacitated chairman, is part of a larger investigation into alleged corruption involving senior government officials and large South Korean corporations.

Breakout Ninja, Sonny, and other awesome iOS games

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

For whatever reason, I’ve been playing a ton of iOS games this past week, so with that in mind I decided to focus on games for this week’s “Awesome Apps” instalment.

Whether you’re looking for something quick and easy to while away your Sunday, or a far more in-depth gaming experience that’ll keep you busy until the bad weather ends, I’m confident you’ll find something on this list to enjoy.

Check it out:

Name your price for this coding crash course [Deals]

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Name your price for a full-spectrum, comprehensive, hands-on set of lessons in coding on several platforms.
Name your price for a full-spectrum, comprehensive, hands-on set of lessons in coding on several platforms.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s a new year, so it’s a great time to give yourself the valuable new skill of coding. It’s a discipline that takes a lot of time — and often money — to get proficient, but this bundle of coding lessons offers a chance to learn for whatever you’re willing to pay.

Today you can name your price for the Learn to Code 2017 Bundle at Cult of Mac Deals.
Clocking in at 156 hours of instruction, this bundle covers everything from basic to advanced techniques for development on iOS, web and other platforms. You can learn Python, Ruby,  JavaScript, Google’s Go programming language, iOS 10 and Swift 3 — and lots more!

This is a full-spectrum set of lessons useful for people at any skill level. The lessons are buttressed by hands-on projects and templates that make this more than just book work. It’s a great way to get practical experience in the craft of coding.

Buy now: Pay what you want for the Learn to Code 2017 Bundle, worth well over $1,000.

Upgrade your iPhone with 60X zoom and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Get triple backup and extra reach for your iPhone's lifeline with this bundle of MFi-certified Lightning cables.
Get triple backup and extra reach for your iPhone's lifeline with this bundle of MFi-certified Lightning cables.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Take your mind off the crazy week and rest your eyes on some of its best deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This go around we’ve got a trio of MFi-certified Lightning cables, a lifetime VPN subscription, a full-on telescopic lens for your iPhone and a skeleton key for streaming video.

The best part? Most of these deals are priced at more than 90 percent off!

Mavic Pro: The coolest gadget since the original iPhone [Reviews]

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Mavic Pro
The Mavic Pro is much more than a cool flying toy.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

Tiny cameras that can fly still seemed like a sci-fi dream just five years ago, but with DJI’s new Mavic Pro drone, the future has arrived ahead of schedule.

When it comes to drones, no company is killing it right now more than DJI, and the Mavic Pro is its most amazing achievement yet. Yes, some drones fly faster and shoot better video, but the Mavic Pro is the ultimate drone for people who love photography, flight and the outdoors but don’t want to be weighed down.

Best of all, you don’t need to be a practice drone pilot or tech nerd to have a blast with the Mavic Pro. Here’s why it’s our favorite drone ever.

Android creator plans new device to challenge iPhone

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Galaxy Note 7
Samsung and other Android smartphone makers are about to get some new competition.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Former Google VP Andy Rubin is in talks with carriers about selling a new smartphone he has created with his startup, Essential.

Rubin left Google two years ago after creating Android and the leading the team behind it for eight years. Now that he’s had time away from the search giant, Rubin is planning to take on the iPhone and Android handsets with a new type of smartphone that specializes in artificial intelligence.

iPhone 8 may have even higher waterproof rating

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iPhone 7
The next iPhone will be great at swimming.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple may be planning to make its next iPhone even more waterproof, according to the newest rumor out of Asia.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7 is currently the only smartphone with a device boasting a IP68 rating, but Apple allegedly plans to catch up this year with an iPhone that can can be submerged just as deep.

Key Apple partners could set up shop in U.S.

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foxconn
Could we see buildings like this in the U.S. soon?
Photo: Foxconn

A number of key Apple suppliers are considering new facilities in the U.S., according to reports out of China.

Assembler Foxconn, display maker Sharp, and chip maker TSMC are all said to be interested in taking advantage of new business incentives proposed by soon-to-be President Donald Trump.

These sleek fitness trackers lean into Apple Watch territory [Deals]

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CoM - Striiv Fusion Activity & Sleep Tracker
Striiv Fusion adds water resistance and a hardened screen to its feature rich fitness tracker.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One of the big features of the Apple Watch is its health tracking ability. Another one of its prominent features is a steep price tag. Striiv has flipped that script with a sleek fitness tracker that also sports the functions of any smartwatch worth its salt, at a fraction of the price. We’ve just got a pair of Striiv models into the Cult of Mac Store, check them out below:

Consumer Reports changes its verdict on new MacBook Pros

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Custom keys for Photoshop.
Software update sorts out battery issues, says the consumer watchdog.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Consumer Reports has revised its earlier rating for the new MacBook Pro lineup and now recommends the laptops, after a software update fixed battery problems found in testing.

The respected consumer watchdog previously cited the new laptops’ “highly inconsistent” battery life as the reason it couldn’t give out one of its coveted recommendations — the first time an Apple laptop had failed to make the grade.

Don’t abandon your Apple TV, sell it to us

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The new Apple TV is about to be unveiled.
The new Apple TV is about to be unveiled.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you’re a decent person (we’ll assume you are since you’re a Cult of Mac reader), you don’t leave your old TV on the sidewalk when it’s outlived its usefulness. The same consideration for your neighbors and the environment should extend to your old Apple TV.

Whether you’re abandoning your old Apple TV to upgrade, replace a busted unit or to give up TV entirely (yeah right), the Cult of Mac buyback program will make sure you get the most money possible. Even better-known companies like Gazelle and Walmart can’t offer as much, and you’ll be making sure your dated or defunct device ends up in the right place.

Apple’s obsessive secrecy may have driven out Swift’s creator

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Apple makes Swift open source at WWDC 2015.
Making Swift open-source wasn't enough to keep its creator at Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s culture of secrecy was responsible for the departure of Chris Lattner, the company’s former head of developer tools and the creator of programming language Swift, claims a new report.

Lattner recently left Apple for Tesla — with friends putting the move down to the ongoing conflict between wanting to create open-source tools and Apple’s tendency to not want to publicly discuss anything.

Apple TV apps can now be up to 20x bigger

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apple tv and siri remote
Apple TV apps can now be 4GB right from the start.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s plan to make the modern TV experience all about apps has just gotten a big boost, with Apple upping the size limit of tvOS apps from 200MB to 4GB.

For those keeping track at home, it’s a whopping 20x the original size limit — and means that Apple TV apps can now be as big as the ones developers can submit for iOS.

App Store’s walled garden could bring antitrust suit

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Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
Does Apple have a monopoly on apps?
Photo: Apple

Apple may find itself at the center of a new antitrust lawsuit after the U.S. appeals court ruled that the App Store’s “walled garden” could be monopolizing the market for iOS apps.

What the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling takes issue with is the fact that iOS apps can only be downloaded from the App Store, and not from elsewhere — thereby adding up to a potential monopoly.

Devs get fourth betas of macOS 10.12.3 and iOS 10.2.1

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iPhone 7
A new iOS beta is now available.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded two new beta builds to developers today, bringing a host of bug fixes and improvements to iOS 10.2.1 and macOS 10.12.3.

The new builds come just three days after Apple dropped its first batch of betas for 2017. Registered developers can now download iOS 10.2.1 beta 4 and macOS 10.12.3 beta 4 from Apple’s developer portal to take advantage of all the new features.

Why a 10.5-inch iPad Pro isn’t totally crazy

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A 10.5-inch piece of paper on a 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
A 10.5-inch piece of paper on a 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Photo: Dan Provost

Apple’s rumored plans to launch three different-size iPads this spring has fans a bit confused as to why creating a new 10.5-inch model is a good idea. But according to Dan Provost, the co-founder of Studio Neat, it actually wouldn’t be crazy for Apple to change the screen size when you look at the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Apple VP Lisa Jackson joins federal committee overseeing automation

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Jackson
Lisa Jackson presenting at an Apple keynote.
Photo: Apple

The U.S. Department of Transportation revealed that it has established a new advisory committee that will make recommendations in the field of automation.

Apple’s VP of environment and policy, Lisa Jackson, will be one of the committee’s 25 members that will work on some of the most important issues facing transportation, including self-driving cars.

Netflix gives birth to boy with smartphone brain

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iBoy
As long as it's not a Galaxy Note 7 stuck in his brain, he'll be OK!
Photo: Netflix

If you thought Black Mirror had the market cornered on stories about the dark side of technology, you’d better think again!

Netflix just released the official trailer for a new movie called iBoy and, as its name implies, there’s a certain tech connection. Check it out below: