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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.”

Get a lifetime of lightning-fast cloud storage for 60 bucks [Deals]

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Get a lifetime of secure, easy cloud storage for all your essential data.
Get a lifetime of secure, easy cloud storage for all your essential data.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

No matter how often you update Time Machine, without cloud storage your backup arrangement is incomplete. Whether for your photos, videos, music, or essential documents, this deal from pCloud is a great opportunity for anyone looking to add an important layer of security and convenience to taking care of their data. Right now, you can get a lifetime of pCloud Premium storage for just 60 bucks at Cult of Mac Deals.

South Korean government wants to hear about exploding phones

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160927142551-samsung-note-7-fire-1-780x439
The Note 7 was one of the last year's hottest phones. And not in the good way.
Photo: Hui Renjie

In the aftermath of Samsung’s exploding Galaxy Note 7 debacle, the South Korean government is set to make it mandatory for manufacturers to report instances in which their handsets burst into flames.

“When the new rules come into effect, phone makers will also have to immediately launch an investigation — right after the submission of the report — to prove if the fires or explosions were caused by flawed parts or external force,” an official from The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is quoted as saying.

Apple will start manufacturing iPhones in India this April

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iPhone in India
It's finally happening.
Photo: CC: Aasif Iqbal J/Flickr

Apple will begin manufacturing iPhones in India by the end of April.

Its factory in Bangalore, Karnataka, will be run by Wistron, and all of the devices it produces will be sold locally. Apple will be hoping that the move can bolster the iPhone’s presence in India, where it has somewhat struggled in the past due to its high price tag.

Apple accused of breaking FaceTime to force iOS 7 upgrades

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facetime
Some users say that iOS 7 made their iPhones run slowly.
Photo: Apple

A class-action lawsuit claims that Apple intentionally broke its FaceTime service on iOS 6 in order to get users to upgrade to iOS 7 — thereby making older iPhones run slowly.

The reason was allegedly driven by Apple’s desire not to have to continue paying high data costs to the company Akamai, which ran third-party servers used for handling FaceTime data.

Bucardo takes Apple Watch from band to necklace

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bucardo
Wear your Apple Watch in a unique way with the brand-new Silver Tassel Charm Necklace by Bucardo.
Photo: Bucardo

Note: If ordering for Valentine’s Day, the cut off date is Friday, February 6!

The Apple Watch doesn’t need to live on one’s wrist alone. Bucardo has taken this idea to new levels with its elegant lockets and pocket watches for Apple Watch. We’re excited (and highly curious) to see what Watch Store customers think of Bucardo’s latest creative way to wear Apple Watch — via charm necklace. Ladies, take notice!

Sometimes fashion meets functionality — in wearing these well-made charm necklaces, the Apple Watch is still clearly visible, incorporating itself into the necklace itself. It’s a unique and aesthetically appealing way to showcase and use your wearable. And, with Valentine’s Day only a few weeks away, Bucardo’s Charm Necklaces make the perfect, original gift for your favorite tech-lover. Check them out.

Custom-fit Apple Watch band takes simplicity to next level [Reviews]

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The adjustable length button-stud band fits virtually all wrist sizes.
Photo: Form Function Form

Best List: Button-Stud Apple Watch Band by Form Function Form

Making Apple’s “most personal device ever” personal to you is super-serious business for one Florida purveyor of hand-made leather goods.

Echoing the individuality of Apple Watch, Form Function Form takes customization to new levels in the design of its one-of-a-kind Button-Stud Apple Watch Band. This ingenious leather strap has 21 different size options, one of which is sure to fit even the fleshiest of wrists. If it doesn’t, the company provides free size adjustments for the entirety of your life.

America has almost no love for small iPhones

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Apple finally gave us a phablet with iPhone 6 Plus.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Over 132 million Apple smartphones are now in use in the U.S., and the vast majority of those are larger devices.

According to the latest data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, demand for the 5.5-inch Plus-sized iPhones is getting even stronger, with their share of the market rising 10 percent in just one year.

Apple and IBM team up to develop United Airlines apps

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IBM
You could say that Apple and IBM's partnership has really... taken off!
Photo: Apple

Apple is teaming up with IBM and United Airlines to create new mobile apps for use by the airline’s front-line employees.

The apps will be designed for the roughly 50,000 Apple Watches, iPhones, and iPads that United Airlines has already issued to its flight attendants, gate agents, and other employees.