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Apple Music gets exclusive documentary about iconic drum machine

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tr-808
The TR-808 drum machine was a big part of the hip-hop and dance scene.
Photo: Roland

A documentary titled 808, chronicling the cultural impact of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, will debut as an Apple Music exclusive on December 9.

Narrated by Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe and featuring interviews with various big music names — including Apple favorite Pharrell — the documentary previously debuted at 2015’s SXSW Film Festival, although this marks its first wide release.

Check out the trailer below.

Hold onto your butts: Apple restores bootylicious peach emoji

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The emoji that also looks like a butt will stay that way.
The emoji that also looks like a butt will stay that way.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Sometimes a peach is just a peach. But when it comes to emoji, it’s also a tush.

Yet, much to the chagrin of those who like to use emoji for more than visual grocery lists, Apple’s first 10.2 developer beta replaced the peach emoji with something that looks less like a posterior, and more like a piece of fruit or something.

Samsung Galaxy S7 explodes in man’s face

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Galaxy Note 7 that exploded while charging.
Galaxy Note 7 that exploded while charging.
Photo: Mr Ni/Baidu

A Canadian man says he’s lucky to still have his eyes after a Samsung Galaxy S7 exploded in his hands.

Amarjit Mann told a local news station that he felt something in his pocket getting warm while he was driving. He pulled out his Galaxy S7 and says it exploded immediately. Sparks from the blast hit him in the cheek.

Jony Ive goes inside Apple’s design lab in new video

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macbook pro
Not a single detail goes unnoticed at Apple.
Photo: Apple

Going inside Apple’s design lab is a rare privilege some Apple execs don’t even get, but Jony Ive is giving the world a glimpse inside his lab to celebrate the company’s new book.

In Apple’s latest video, Jony Ive’s disembodied voice floats through his Industrial Design Studio while describing the processes for making the company’s iconic gadgets. Shots of Apple’s prototyping machines can be seen, as well as the product benches where every single detail of a product is analyzed and reconsidered.

Take a look:

Super smart remotes, glass iPhone cases and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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

You can find some incredible new gadgets on Kickstarter and Indiegogo that often go unnoticed. We’re rounding up some of the best every week to help them get the funding they need to become a reality.

This week, we have a super smart remote that controls almost everything, a tempered glass case for iPhone 7, a robot that teaches kids to code without computers, and more!

Apple ramps up efforts to remove old apps from the App Store

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You can remove stock apps in iOS 10, but you can't swap them.
Bad apps are getting booted from the App Store.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The great App Store purge is finally underway.

Apple warned developers in September that it plans to remove apps from its store that don’t meet quality standards of being “functional and up-to-date.” According to a new report, the deadline to meet those standards has passed and thousands of crummy apps are now being removed.

Smaller iPhone still won’t get dual-lens camera in 2017

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jet black iphone 7 plus
Dual-lens camera will be exclusive to Plus-sized iPhones in 2017.
Photo: Apple

You won’t have to buy the most expensive iPhone to get the best camera Apple makes in 2017.

Apple is reportedly planning to include a dual-lens camera on two different iPhone models, according to one of the most accurate Apple analysts that also predicts three different models will be announced next year.

Boost your iPhone storage with Lexar’s tiny devices [Review]

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Lexar makes a microSD reader and JumpDrive that backs up your iPhone data and frees its memory.
Lexar makes a microSD reader and JumpDrive that backs up your iPhone data and frees its memory.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

We take for granted how much of our lives are stored on our iPhones until, of course, that day arrives when a notification pops up to say the device’s memory is full.

Lexar has a couple of nifty little devices to quickly store photos, videos, music and documents, and free up the memory on your iPhone.

Apple may have found perfect spot for its flagship Melbourne store

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6451579867_4a2265d53e_b
Federation Square in Melbourne.
Photo: Mark Pegrum/Flickr CC

Apple is reportedly planning to open a new flagship Australian retail store in Federation Square, Melbourne.

According to a new report, Apple is currently negotiating to replace an existing “deconstructivist” metal building in the square with a $50 million glass structure, which sounds reminiscent of Apple’s iconic Fifth Avenue store.

New price for the day on rugged Bluetooth buds [Deals]

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com-freshebuds-pro-magnetic-bluetooth-earbuds
FRESHeBUDS upgrades their already popular Bluetooth earbuds with better sound, water resistance, longer battery life, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Soon we’re all going to be wearing Bluetooth buds, so you might as well get a set that lasts. FRESHeBUDS are among the most popular makers of wireless earbuds, but with their new Pro model they’ve upped the game, adding things like improved sweat and water resistance and enhanced battery life. And today, there’s a drop in the price that makes them even more worth your attention, right now you can get a set of FRESHeBUDS Pro for $29.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Apple had to buy back old products featured in its new design book

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iMac design: The iMac G3 was a bit fatter than model than today's models. The iMac code name was
We hope they used Apple Pay, at least.
Photo: Apple

I don’t know about you, but I imagine Apple having an amazing vault somewhere under 1 Infinite Loop, containing pristine, still-packaged copies of every single computer it’s ever come out with — if for no reason other than as a design reference for employees.

Not so.

In fact, according to a new interview with Jony Ive, Apple had to actually go out and buy copies of its old products in order to photograph them for its new $300 coffee table book, set to be released tomorrow.

Apple chronicles 20 years of iconic design in pricey new book

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Designed-by-Apple-in-California-2
The perfect gift for the Apple fan in your life?
Photo: Apple

Apple has announced that it will be debuting a new hardbound book, entitled “Designed by Apple in California,” chronicling 20 years of its groundbreaking designs — boasting 450 photographs of past and present Apple products.

The book, which is dedicated to the memory of Steve Jobs, will also include exclusive details on the design processes used by Apple’s design team under the leadership of Jony Ive.

You can now donate to charities using Apple Pay

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Lululemon and other retailers are offering Apple Pay deals.
Charities can now accept Apple Pay.
Photo: Apple

Donating to your favorite charity or nonprofit organization is now as simple as using Apple Pay.

Apple revealed today that it is lifting the ban that kept iOS apps from collecting funds for charities via the secure payment system. With the change, charities like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders can now place “donate” buttons in their apps to make the payment process faster than ever, which will hopefully increase donations.

Apple seeds new betas for iOS, macOS Sierra and tvOS

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iPhone 7
iOS 10.2 brings new wallpapers to iPhone 7.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The third beta build of iOS 10.2 is now available to developers, just a week after Apple released the last update.

iOS 10.2 beta 3 is accompanied by the third betas for macOS Sierra 10.12.2 and tvOS 10.1. The previous versions of the beta updates added support for dozens of new emoji, an SOS feature and much more.

Bill Maher has a brilliant Apple product idea for the Trump years

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Liberals would love guns if Apple made them.
Liberals would love guns if Apple made them.
Photo: HBO

iPhone sales in China might tank once Trump takes over the Oval Office, but late-night TV host Bill Maher has a brilliant product idea that could be Apple’s next big hit.

“It’s now liberals’ turn to become doomsday prepping gun nuts, they just need survival products tailored to our lifestyle,” he said during the most recent Real Time With Bill Maher. To get liberals to love guns, Maher suggests Apple make one called the “Apple iDefender.”

Watch the funny segment below:

Samsung could finally rip off 3D Touch for Galaxy S8

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blackberry-ceo-apples-privacy-stance-is-unethical-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015113D-Touch-iPhone-6s-jpg
Is Samsung finally ready to catch up with 3D Touch?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung has a history of ripping off new iPhone features soon after they’re introduced by Apple, but the South Korean company is yet to adopt 3D Touch. According to new rumors, that will change next spring with the Galaxy S8.

Donald Trump’s trade war with China could hurt iPhone sales

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Donald Trump has been outspoken on the subject of China.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

A state-controlled Chinese newspaper suggested that a “naive” trade war led by Donald Trump could hurt U.S. brands, including Apple.

President-elect Trump previously said he will put in place a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports as a form of taxation to “stop [China] cheating” through currency manipulation.

This Bluetooth speaker is built tough for travel [Deals]

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This Bluetooth speaker is made to move, with water-resistant coating and a protective metal grill.
This Bluetooth speaker is made to move, with water-resistant coating and a protective metal grill.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Sometime you want to kick out the jams in a location that’s not safe for typical electronics. The G-Tube can help: It’s an ultra-portable, water-resistant speaker encased in a rugged housing that makes it perfect for carrying in your pocket, clipping to your backpack, strapping to your bike, or even rocking out in the shower.

It’s big sound in a tiny, tough, portable package, and right now you can pick up a G-Tube Bluetooth speaker for just $31.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.