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Apple may have found perfect spot for its flagship Melbourne store

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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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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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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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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.

Samsung buys connected car company Harman for $8 billion

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Samsung's latest big purchase is its biggest yet.
Photo: Harman

In its biggest-ever overseas purchase, Samsung bought automotive tech company Harman International Industries for a massive $8 billion.

Samsung referred to automotive electronics as a “strategic priority” going forward, which — as with its current positioning in the smartphone industry — makes the Korean company a major rival or resource for Cupertino as it continues its own investigations into a possible Apple Car.

MacBook Pro reviews roundup: Promising, not groundbreaking

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Here's what the reviewers say.
Photo: Apple

Reviews are out for Apple’s controversial new MacBook Pro, which adds innovations like the Touch Bar but ditches a variety of ports in favor of USB-C (and adds a hefty price tag to boot).

So what do the early reviews make of Apple’s new pro laptop? In a nutshell, that it’s futuristic, but maybe not an entirely successful device for present-day users. Check out some of the pros and cons of the laptop’s most talked-about features below.

How to find and change Apple’s default wallpaper on macOS Sierra

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macOS Sierra comes with some stunning wallpapers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Sure, macOS Sierra has some great new features that will fundamentally change the way you work but — particularly if you’ve got one of Apple’s gorgeous 5K iMacs — it’s hard to undersell the value of some beautiful photography.

With that in mind, Apple’s latest operating system comes with some truly stunning new desktop wallpaper that users can choose to add some eye candy to their Macs. Here’s how you access the default wallpapers macOS Sierra comes with.

Mikey Jumps, iBooks StoryTime, and other awesome apps of the week

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

Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, it’s been a seismic, earth-shaking week. With that in mind, what better way to temporarily tear your eyes away from the news than with a sampling of the latest delectables to land in the App Store?

Whether you’re on the hunt for a superb bite-sized platformer, two great Apple TV apps, or a major Gmail update, here are the new apps and app updates that have been dominating our Apple devices this week.

Become a game development rockstar for any price, and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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Name your price for this comprehensive bundle of 10 lessons in cross-platform game development.
Name your price for this comprehensive bundle of 10 lessons in cross-platform game development.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s a new week and, well, a new world. Along with everything else that’s happened, we’ve got a bunch of great new deals on gear and gadgets. From a massive set of lessons in game development, a super tough TPE-reinforced case for iPhone 7, a set of workout-resistant Bluetooth earbuds, and a bona fide USB hub with 6 ports. Read on to find out more:

An AI that writes soothing songs for you, and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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When you need to focus or relax, Brain.fm uses smart algorithms to generate the perfect music.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s a good chance you could use something new to think about. Well, here are some great new gear and gadgets that make the future seem a little less bleak. We’ve got access to an artificial intelligence-powered streaming music station, a bundle of top-shelf Mac apps, a trio of MFi-certified Lightning cables, and a tool (maybe more valuable than before) that lets you lock your camera and mic. Read on for more details:

Apple gets serious about augmented reality, this week on The CultCast

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The reviews are in on Apple's new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar...
The reviews are in on Apple's new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar...
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: Early reviews show the new MacBook Pro is a video-editing powerhouse; Apple’s massive interest in augmented reality; rumors of a jet white iPhone; AirPods to finally start shipping; new dongle discounts; and, is Apple still developing an electric car?

This episode is supported by CultCloth, the best way to keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean. Check them out at CultCloth.co and for a limited time save 20 percent with code JetBlack.

Does the new MacBook Pro deserve the criticism? [Friday Night Fights]

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Are you pleased with the new MacBook Pro?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar might be Apple’s fastest-selling Pro machine to date, but a lot of fans are far from happy with it.

Friday Night Fights bugIt’s thinner and lighter than its predecessors, and it boasts the fastest storage we’ve ever seen on a Mac. But it’s also a lot more expensive, and it’s missing traditional USB-A ports that the vast majority of us still rely on every day. The SD card slot is gone, too.

But, does it really deserve all this criticism? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we debate the new MacBook Pro and whether Apple messed up this year’s refresh.

$500 off refurbished MacBook Air, $80 off a GoPro bundle and much more [Deals]

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Save big on refurbished MacBook Airs, Canon EOS Rebel, GoPro Hero4 and more.
Photos: Apple, Canon, GoPro

Another week, another awesome deal roundup, and this time we’re all about tech! From GoPro cameras to the new Xbox One S, the web is going wild with deals on today’s hottest electronics. Amazon is even getting in on it with huge price cuts on its Echo and Kindle products.

Meet Instagram’s biggest Apple Watch band fan

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A sampling of Ryan Verbeek's ever-growing Apple Watch band collection.
A sampling of Ryan Verbeek's ever-growing Apple Watch band collection.
Photo: Ryan Verbeek

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugRyan Verbeek is fashionable enough as he moves about Holland’s oldest city, but he says his style is not likely to draw much attention. His friends and more than 51,000 followers on Instagram beg to differ and are always curious about one detail — the band Verbeek is wearing with his Apple Watch.

The 17-year-old student has a collection of nearly 40 bands that he routinely switches out depending on his mood or wardrobe. His enthusiasm has gained him Instagram fame, free bands from companies hoping he will model them for his social media account, and a deal to collaborate with a French company to design a couple of bands.