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tvOS 10.1 update brings Apple’s TV app to the living room

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The TV app is set to go public in December.
Apple's new TV experience is here.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV owners can finally start using the new TV app that Apple unveiled at a keynote in October.

Apple released tvOS 10.1 to the public this morning, giving users their first taste of the grand TV-watching experience Cupertino hopes to create by wrangling all your favorite video content into one app.

Microsoft says MacBook switchers hit an all-time high

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Microsoft Surface Studio
Microsoft's Surface Studio is a tablet and a PC.
Photo: Microsoft.

The new MacBook Pro apparently has been great business for Apple rival Microsoft.

Mac users are switching to Microsoft’s Surface more than ever before, claims the PC-maker in a new blog post that takes several shots at Apple’s new MacBook Pro and Touch Bar.

How to fix Mac App Store download problems

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App Store tutorial
If you're experiencing certain download issues, this is an early bit of troubleshooting to do.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Macs are renowned for “just working,” but sometimes you might run into problems while downloading software from the Mac App Store. You might encounter files that say they’ve downloaded despite evidence to the contrary, or face verification errors or other installation difficulties.

If so, a relatively common fix involves emptying your Mac App Store temporary download cache folder. If you find yourself running into any of the Mac installation problems mentioned above, cleaning out this folder should be one of your first tasks.

But how do you do it? Follow our easy “how to” guide below.

Tim Cook gets ready to stare down EU over giant tax bill

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Tim Cook takes home $125 million for Apple’s best year since 2009
The only three things that are for sure: death, taxes, and thinner iPhones.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

So far, most of Apple’s wrangles concerning its European tax issues has been carried out by the company’s accountants and legal team.

That could change in 2017, however, when none other than Tim Cook has been requested to attend a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, alongside the EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

Now’s a good time to sign up for Rosetta Stone [Deals]

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Now's a great time to sign up for levels 1 through 4 of the renowned Language software, Rosetta Stone.
Now's a great time to sign up for levels 1 through 4 of the renowned Language software, Rosetta Stone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You’re probably already familiar with the uber popular language learning program Rosetta Stone. It’s long been renowned as an intuitive and effective language learning tool. But it’s also well known for being pretty expensive, and that makes this a great opportunity for anyone who’s been put off by the price. Right now you can get levels 1 through 4 in Spanish, French, Italian or English for just $139.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple rejects Samsung Pay app for iOS

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samsung-pay-arrives-to-take-on-apple-in-china-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201504samsung_pay_0_0-1-jpg
Samsung Pay won't be coming to iPhone.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung has decided to abandon its attempt to bring its mobile payment service to iOS after Apple rejected the company’s new Samsung Pay Mini app.

The app would have allowed users to checkout with Samsung Pay when shopping online on their iPhone, but Samsung says it will now focus exclusively on Android.

Tim Cook will meet with President-elect Donald Trump this week

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Maybe Trump wants to know where his AirPods are!
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Tim Cook is one of a number of tech executives who will meet with President-elect Donald Trump this week, a new report claims.

The meeting will take place at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Wednesday, and will also be attended by Alphabet CEO Larry Page, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, alongside a handful of others.

You can now report Calendar spam through iCloud.com

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Apple is finally doing something about Calendar spam.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has added a new Calendar spam reporting feature to iCloud.com, allowing users to flag bogus invitations with ease. The feature comes after some iCloud users started being hit by a bombardment of spam last month.

Solar-powered phone chargers, MIDI guitars and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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This slick leather wallet hides a secret power -- the ability to charge your phone.
This slick leather wallet hides a secret power -- the ability to charge your phone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The year’s winding down but there’s no sign of slowing for the great deals coming into the Cult of Mac Store. From a premium wallet that also charges your phone and a security-enhancing keylogger to a mini-guitar made for the digital age and a charger that draws juice from the sun, we’ve gathered some of the very best new deals.

Bully, Touch Bar Piano, and other awesome apps of the week

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

Somehow it’s the weekend again, and to help you celebrate we’ve combed through the week’s best apps to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Whether you’re after a great Tetris-style puzzler, the reissue of a tremendous Rockstar Games classic, or a Touch Bar-compatible music player, we’re confident we’ve got what you’re looking for.

Check out our list below.

7 great ways to save on Steam videogames

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gaming battlestation
These winning strategies will help you snag Steam games on the cheap.
Photo: Flavio Ensiki/Flickr CC

With thousands of games in its catalog and more than 125 million users, Steam has become almost synonymous with computer gaming, whether Mac or PC. And, in great news for gamers, Steam is not afraid of discounts.

But not all discounts are created equal. How can you score the best prices on your favorite titles? We’re here to help, offering seven ways you can save with Steam.

Modernized power strips, convenient VPN and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Kinkoo designed a power strip for today's needs, with three standard USB and a USB-C port built right in.
Kinkoo designed a power strip for today's needs, with three standard USB and a USB-C port built right in.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s finally cold out but we keep getting hot deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This week, some of our best include a surge protector that’s built for users in 2016, an easy-to-use VPN, a tool for organizing daily tasks into sleek flowcharts, and a set of top-shelf Bluetooth earbuds.

They’re all dramatically discounted and make great ideas for stocking stuffers.

Why Apple’s done chasing hit products, this week on The CultCast

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Waiting for Apple's next big thing?  It may be a while.
Waiting for Apple's next big thing? It may be a while.
Photo: iDownloadBlog

This week on The CultCast: Why Apple’s done pursuing the “new hit product business.” Plus: The demise of Pebble Watch is a bad omen for wearables; Foxconn secretly prepares to make more Apple products in the United States; and we remember our favorite movies of 2016!

Our thanks to Harry’s for supporting this episode. Harry’s super-sharp, German-made razors ship right to your door for way less than drugstore razors, and you can use code CultCast at checkout to score $5 off your order at Harrys.com.

Apple Watch gets two new holiday ads focused on fitness

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Runners will love the Nike+ version of Apple Watch.
Runners will love the Nike+ version of Apple Watch.
Photo: Apple

Apple hopes the new Apple Watch Series 2 will become one of the most popular tech gifts this holiday season, so the company made some new ads highlighting the wearable’s fitness skills.

The two new ads, showing how Apple Watch can help you live a healthier life, were published on Apple’s U.K. YouTube channel today.

Watch them both:

Apple drops the beat in its first documentary, 808: The Movie

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The 808 drum machine changed music forever.
The 808 drum machine changed music forever.
Photo: Beats 1

The first documentary from Apple has finally arrived — and it has nothing to do with iPhones or Macs. The film, titled 808: The Movie, chronicles Roland’s legendary TR-808 drum machine and how it influenced the music industry from the ’80s all the way up to today.

Narrated by Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe, the Apple Music exclusive features appearances by Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Rick Rubin, Diplo, Questlove, Phil Collins, Beastie Boys and more.

Check out the trailer:

Audio glitches keep Apple from shipping AirPods

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x
AirPods may miss Christmas while Apple works out audio problems.
Photo: Apple

People griped when Apple launched the iPhone 7 without an earphone jack and asked the world to get excited about AirPods, the company’s cordless earphones designed for the brave new “wireless future.”

Apparently, cutting the cord hasn’t been so easy for Apple, either.

The AirPods, skewered on social media within seconds of being introduced at Apple’s product launch in September, remain in a holding pattern because of audio glitches — and could miss the crucial 2016 holiday shopping season entirely.

Samsung update will brick remaining Galaxy Note 7 devices

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Galaxy Note 7 water wet
The Note 7 is all washed up.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Galaxy Note 7 owners who refuse to give up their explosive device will soon have no choice but to use a different phone.

Samsung revealed today that it plans to release a software update later this month that will brick all Galaxy Note 7 units not returned during its recall.

Dual-lens zoom kit pushes iPhone 7 Plus camera further

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Hey four eyes! The Kamerar ZOOM lens attachment expands the telephoto/zoom capabilities of the dual-lens iPhone 7 Plus.
Hey four eyes! The Kamerar ZOOM lens attachment expands the telephoto/zoom capabilities of the dual-lens iPhone 7 Plus.
Photo: Ztylus and Kamerar

The geeky excitement shared by mobile photographers over the dual-camera of the iPhone 7 Plus has not waned.

And as they’ve played with the small optical zoom and blurring backgrounds in portrait mode, two small accessories companies have been quietly but furiously developing a two-lens attachment dedicated to enhancing the reach of the 7 Plus camera.

Boost your iPhone photography with this folding, pocket-size tripod [Deals]

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This fully featured, sturdy tripod folds up into credit card size and fits right into your wallet.
This fully featured, sturdy tripod folds up into credit card size and fits right into your wallet.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to take better smartphone photos without lugging around gear like a professional? Tripods are an essential tool for taking solid photos — or just engaging in a steady FaceTime conversation — and now you can get one that’ll fit right in your wallet.

The Pocket Tripod PRO is winning praise from the likes of Steve Wozniak for its clever design and convenience. (“Blew me away,” Woz told Gizmodo.) And right now you can get this miniaturized tripod for just $19.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Brain-teasing iPhone puzzler is Tetris with rings

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Dropa
It's like Tetris crossed with that fingerprint pattern used for setting up Touch ID.
Photo: Midnight Tea Studio

As much as I like the kind of long, winding, RPG-style games you can get lost in for months at a time, I’ll always be a sucker for a great mobile puzzle game.

That’s exactly what developer Midnight Tea Studio offers with its new game Dropa! Pitched somewhere between Tetris and that fingerprint pattern you have to fill in when you set up a new Touch ID profile, it’s a game that’s sure to keep you busy during the holiday season.

Check out the trailer below.

Super Mario Run will require always-on internet connection to play

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Super-Mario-Run-Dec-15
Mario won't run anywhere in offline mode.
Photo: Nintendo

Super Mario Run will sprint into the App Store on December 15, but while there’s plenty to be excited about with Nintendo’s first Mario game to hit iOS, there is one big potential downside for users: the game requires constant internet connectivity.

According to Mario creator and Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto, the decision to include no offline mode was made for anti-piracy reasons.

Expel water from your iPhone speaker grille using only sound

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iPhone 7 soaked in water
A crafty Redditor discovers a simple and free way to clear trapped water from your iPhone 7's speaker grille.
Photo: Apple

Apple touts the new iPhone 7 as being water-resistant enough to take into the shower. There’s really no good reason to bathe with your smartphone, but the point is that iPhone 7 owners don’t need to worry about a little rain or spilled tea.

Naturally, some people waltzed into their shower stalls with their expensive new phones in hand — just cuz — and some found a weakness in the iPhone 7’s water-resistance. Luckily for foolhardy iPhone owners everywhere, a Redditor discovered a simple hack for getting the water out.

Tim Cook will drop his wisdom on MIT grads next June

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Tim Cook
This will be Cook's third time as a university commencement speaker.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Steve Jobs gave one of the most memorable commencement speeches in living memory, and it seems that Tim Cook is set to take on the same challenge when he delivers the address at MIT’s 2017 graduation event next June.

“Mr. Cook’s brilliance as a business leader, his genuineness as a human being, and his passion for issues that matter to our community make his voice one that I know will resonate deeply with our graduates,” MIT President L. Rafael Reif said. “I am delighted that he will join us for commencement and eagerly await his charge to the class of 2017.”