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This bundle of Mac apps is like a cybersecurity utility belt [Deals]

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This bundle of 7 cyber security apps will bring you to Fort Knox levels of protection.
This bundle of seven cybersecurity apps will bring your Mac to Fort Knox levels of protection.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s hard to know if we’re doing enough to protect our online identities and data these days. Got an email password with a dozen alternating numbers, letters and an upside-down question mark but somehow your email still gets hacked? This bundle of seven cybersecurity apps will cover the vulnerabilities in your Mac. And right now the whole shebang is going for just $52 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Tim Cook: Apple’s tax bill will have a ‘harmful’ effect on investment in EU

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Tim Cook
It didn't take Tim Cook long to hit back!
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook has written an open letter addressing Apple’s enormous tax bill, arguing that the European Union’s demand for €13 billion ($14.52 billion) in unpaid back taxes will have a “profound and harmful effect” on “investment and job creation in Europe.”

At present, Apple employs close to 6,000 people in Ireland, as well as “sustaining” 1.5 million jobs across Europe — including those at Apple and other manufacturers, developers and suppliers who rely on it.

25-year-old deal led to Apple’s tax bill from hell

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Irish flag
Apple has been one of the biggest employers in Cork since the 1980s.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple landing Europe’s biggest tax bill in history may be hot news today, but the tax arrangement behind it dates back 25 years.

In 1991, eleven years after Apple first opened its Ireland office, it came to a favorable arrangement with the Irish government — at a time when Apple’s market share had collapsed, but it was still one of the biggest employers in Ireland.

Apple gets an unexpected €13 billion tax bill

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money
Apple just got landed with the tax bill from hell.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The verdict’s in on Apple’s European tax investigation, and the company has been handed a massive 13 billion euros ($14.52 billion) bill for unpaid back taxes in the Republic of Ireland.

The order was made by European Union competition officials, who ruled that Apple was taking advantage of illegal state aid that allowed the company to route profits through Ireland.

Big iPad update will make Apple Pencil more powerful

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9.7-inch iPad Pro
iPad Pro is about to become an even better PC replacement.
Photo: Apple

Apple is planning to make some huge improvements to the software on the iPad, but owners will have to wait until next year to try it out.

One of the biggest new features could involve the Apple Pencil, according to a new report that claims Apple’s big update will bring a powerful annotation feature to the device aimed at professional users.

macOS Sierra gets new beta for devs and public testers

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macOS Sierra is here!
macOS Sierra is here!
Photo: Apple

Apple developers continue to hammer out bugs in macOS Sierra at an incredible pace with yet new beta build of the upcoming software for Macs.

Developers and public beta testers can now download macOS Sierra beta 8, just one week after Apple released the previous beta build of the new software that brings new features like Siri for Mac, auto-unlock with Apple Watch, Apple Pay, improved iCloud integration and much more.

After ruling, Apple could owe billions in EU taxes

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Mo money, mo problems.
Apple faces a steep tax bill in Ireland.
Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac

The European Commission has finally finished its investigation into Apple’s tax breaks with Ireland and it appears that the company will be slapped with a fine for more than $1 billion in back taxes. 

The commission’s final ruling is expected to come tomorrow, according to a new report that claims Ireland will be expected to calculate exactly how much Apple owes. 

Wall mount turns old cameras into new art

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This wall mount by LaudWorks pulls a retired camera from the closet to the light of day.
This wall mount by LaudWorks pulls a retired camera from the closet to the light of day.
Photo: LaudWorks via Shapeways

The iPhone turned your old cameras into relics. Why not turn a relic into a piece of art for your wall?

Outdated but still pretty, those old cameras can again see the light of day with Hangie, a discreet metal wall mount that gives something classic its rightful resting place.

Working with Windows files on a Mac has never been easier

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NTFS for Mac
Why is it so difficult to work with Windows files on a Mac? It doesn't have to be!
Photo: Paragon Software Group

This post is brought to you by Paragon Software Group, maker of Paragon NTFS for Mac.

Mac and PC are like yin and yang, or oil and water — essentially similar yet significantly distinct. It’s not just a difference in personal computing preference: The two platforms are literally built not to communicate with one another.

Apple and Microsoft coded their operating systems using completely different languages for writing files to drives, HFS+ and NTFS respectively. OS X offers only limited support for files written to a Windows-formatted drive, whether an external hard drive, SSD or USB stick, which can mean major headaches if you’re living or working in a cross-platform world.

Budding startup uses iPhone to keep cannabis biz legit

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iPhone scanners are helping legal cannabis growers track product and stay compliant with state regulations.
iPhone scanners are helping legal cannabis growers track product and stay compliant with state regulations.
Photo: Flowhub

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugBefore corporate shine and the smell of success, there was a counterculture aura and a whiff of weed. Pot and the dreams of some industrious guys shared a garage where the personal computing revolution incubated under the Apple brand.

So what would the late Steve Jobs think if he could see Apple’s iPhone used to keep the growing and selling of cannabis legal? Jobs, who said he smoked it early on because it made him feel more creative, might smile and say, cool!

iPhone’s Touch IC Disease pandemic triggers lawsuit

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3D Touch app switching
An insidious defect is effecting iPhone 6 owners.
Photo: Ste Smitch

Touch IC Disease, a glitch with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that results in gray, flickering bars at the top of the devices’ screens and a loss of touch sensitivity, has earned Apple its latest class-action lawsuit.

Caused by an apparent design flaw in the iPhone 6 series, Touch IC Disease is more prevalent among the larger iPhone 6 Plus devices. While the problem made headlines for the first time last week, a proposed class-action lawsuit filed Saturday claims Apple has long been aware of the defect, which can render devices useless.

Which new Apple product gets you most excited? [Poll]

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Apple gadgets
All of Apple's gadgets are about to get updated.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is set to deliver its biggest keynote of the year on September 7, when the company will unveil its most important new product of 2016: the iPhone 7.

Apple Watch 2, new MacBook Pros and updated iPads are likely on the horizon as well, so we wanted to know if this is the year you’re looking forward to something other than a new iPhone?

Tell us which Apple product you’re most excited about in our reader poll.

Decoding Apple’s blurry iPhone 7 invite

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What do you see in Apple's invite?
Photo: Apple

Apple is finally set to unveil something new on September 7. While the company hasn’t said what it will be, it’s pretty much certain a new iPhone or two will make an appearance at the invite-only San Francisco event.

The Apple rumor mill has been churning out juicy details about the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus for months and, if you stare at the blurry lights on Apple’s invite, you just might pick up a few more clues about what to expect during next month’s keynote.

This waterproof Bluetooth speaker turns your shower into a soundstage [Deals]

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Bring your favorite tunes and shows into the shower with this waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
Bring your favorite tunes and shows into the shower with this waterproof Bluetooth speaker.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s ok to admit you pretend the shower nozzle is a microphone, but let’s be honest — rocking out in the shower is a lot better when you can actually sing along. With this waterproof Bluetooth speaker, Splash Tunes, you can bring your favorite music, podcasts, e-books, etc. into the shower with you. It’s a major upgrade for a major part of your (hopefully) daily routine, and right now you can get a Splash Tunes speaker for $19.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Microsoft attacks MacBook in latest Surface Pro 4 ad

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Does Surface Pro 4 have more to offer than MacBook?
Does Surface Pro 4 have more to offer than MacBook?
Photo: Microsoft

The iPad Pro has taken a ton of fire recently from Microsoft, but the company’s latest ad shifts targets to attack the MacBook.

The company busts out the old-school disses in the ad, which calls the MacBook “square” during an annoying song that brags about the Surface Pro 4’s detachable keyboard, pen and touchscreen. And it runs Windows!

Listen to Microsoft’s horrible jingle:

Borsch, Space Marshals 2, and other awesome apps of the week

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If you're appy and you know it, check our list!
If you're appy and you know it, check our list!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

If you’re looking to unwind this fine Sunday by sampling the latest delectables the App Store has to offer, have no fear: Cult of Mac is here to help.

From smart AI tools to a great strategic shooter, here are the apps we were busy checking out over the past week.

September is the perfect time to buy these 9 things

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september sales
If you're looking for certain Apple gear, and other popular products, September could be the time to land a great deal.
Photo: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay CC

September is an exciting month for bargain hunters. Not only does it bring us one step closer to the holiday season — which is the best time of year for many big-ticket items — but this month is also a great time to stock up on a variety of items, thanks to a small overlap in Labor Day, summer clearance, and back-to-school sales.

While the end of summer may be upon us, the best deals of the year are only now just beginning. Check out our guide below for tips on the best things to buy in September. (Unfortunately, it’s not a good time to score a deal on the iPhone 7 or an iPad, but other Apple items should be on sale.)

Save on LED smart bulbs, Kevlar Lightning cables and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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This military-grade kevlar charging cable will stand the test of time
This military-grade Kevlar charging cable will stand the test of time.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A great thing about being a hub for great deals on gear and gadgets is being surprised by what shows up. This week we’ve got some especially enticing new deals, from a Kevlar-encased Lightning cable and a massive library of design assets to a Bluetooth-enabled LED smart bulb and an award-winning first-person horror game.

Take a look to share in our surprise and delight.

Frank Ocean pulls off heist of the year with Endless and Blonde

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Frank Ocean Blonde on Apple Music
Frank Ocean pulls a fast one with his Apple Music exclusives, Endless and Blonde.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

By Brandon Shaw

I know, you’re tired of hearing, “Frank Ocean’s new album is amazing!!!” Me too. I’m interested less in the album itself, and more in what it means for the future of music.

With a pair of Apple Music exclusives, Frank Ocean pulled a fast one on his old record label — and shook up the the entire record industry. It’s the latest indicator that Apple sits at the center of a rapidly evolving music industry, where rules and strategies are changing by the minute. Now everyone from Spotify to Universal Music Group is frantically trying to figure out what to do.

On The CultCast: iPhone 8 Plus Edge? Analysts say it’s on the way

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iPhone 7 is spotted in the wild and iPhone 8... getting an edge? Catch the discussion.
iPhone 7 is spotted in the wild and iPhone 8... getting an edge? Catch the discussion.
Photo: Apple/Erfon Elijah

This week on The CultCast: You’ve heard of Samsung’s Galaxy Edge … but is an iPhone 8 Plus Edge on the way? Some respected analysts say yes. Plus: iPhone 7 Plus with dual lens was just spotted on the streets; iOS 9.3.5 fixes one of the most invasive iOS exploits to date; Tim Cook just made fat stacks of cash; and, if the rumors prove true, Apple is working on a new social network … to take on Snapchat. No, seriously.

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