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Today in Apple history: Powerful, upgradeable Macintosh IIx arrives

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The Mac IIx in all its glory
Photo: Laptopanda

Mon19 September 19, 1988: Apple debuts the Macintosh IIx, an incremental upgrade of its fantastic Macintosh II.

The updated model is the first Mac to come with Apple’s new, improved 1.44MB floppy disk SuperDrive. It also packs a hefty price tag of between $7,769 and $9,300 — the equivalent of $15,817 to $18,934 today.

So don’t even try complaining about the cost of an iMac, circa 2016!

Get years of VPN protection, iPhone 7-ready power cases and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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You've got the new phone, now get this case that protects and adds 140% charge to the iPhone 7.
You've got the new phone, now get this case that protects and adds 140% charge to the iPhone 7.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another week, another new batch of big deals on gear and gadgets. This round we’ve got an iPhone 7-ready power case, professional level training in Excel, a cleverly designed wall charger, and three years of top shelf VPN protection. If you’re online and use a smartphone (hey, that’s me too!), there’s something here to pique your interest. Read on for more details:

Early AirPod reviews and iPhone 7 deals you need to know about, on The CultCast

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cult cast

This week, on The CultCast: The AirPod reviews are in, and we’re excited. Plus: the iPhone 7 carrier deals you need to know about; iPhone 7’s Jet Black’s micro abrasions; Series 1 vs. Series 2 Apple Watch; and, Apple, the new NASA?

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to build a website that looks beautiful on any device that visits at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off.

Learn a new language, add 64GB to your phone, and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Take the padlock off of your PDFs with this all-in-one suite of software tools.
Take the padlock off of your PDFs with this all-in-one suite of software tools.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Welcome once again to the weekly roundup of the best deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This week we’ve got a software tool for getting under the hood of your PDFs, a brand new line of Bluetooth earbuds, a Rosetta Stone box set, and a portable drive that’ll add 64GB to Mac, PC, and iOS devices, most of them going for less than half price. Read on for more details:

Set up your new Apple Watch to max out your fitness gains

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Get in shape with your new Apple Watch
Get in shape with your new Apple Watch.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

If you’ve just bought a shiny new Apple Watch Series 2, hoping it will help you get in shape, then here’s some advice: Invest a little time setting it up so your wearable is tailored to your personal fitness level and goals.

These quick and easy setup tips will help you get the most out of your Apple Watch fitness routine.

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from the new Cult of Mac Fitness Handbook. It’s coming soon, loaded with iPhone and Apple Watch fitness tips — and it will be exclusively free for Cult of Mac readers.

Apple Watch Series 2 looks surprisingly repairable

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apple watch 2
Same on the outside. Different inside.
Photo: iFixit

The new Apple Watch Series 2 is more repairable than Apple’s original wearable, according to the first teardown to pry open the new device.

Apple Watch Series 2 looks exactly the same as its predecessor on the outside. On the inside it’s an entirely different story, as Apple’s engineers have refined the internals and made it a bit easier to work with.

Jet black iPhone 7 Plus is a hot item on eBay

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Sold out everywhere, the iPhone 7 Plus is hot on eBay.
Photo: Leander Kahney

With the new iPhone 7 Plus sold out worldwide, some owners are turning a pretty profit on Craigslist and eBay.

There’s a brisk trade in brand new iPhone 7 devices, especially the Plus models in jet black, with many selling for almost twice their retail value.

This premium jet black 256GB iPhone 7 Plus, for example, just sold for $1,775 on eBay, with 29 bids. That’s $806 above retail.

iPhone 7 faces Aussie surf test at Bondi Beach

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iphone 7 surfing in australia
Is iPhone 7 the ultimate action cam?
Photo: SoBadSoGood.

Apple’s waterproofing on the iPhone 7 is looking worthy of the price to upgrade alone.

I can’t count how many iPhones I’ve destroyed over the last nine years during water accidents. But after watching the iPhone 7 take a surfing lesson at Australia’s beautiful Bondi Beach, it looks like Apple totally undersold just how water-resistant the new smartphone truly is.

Watch the iPhone 7 catch waves:

iPhone 7 first impressions: The smartphone you love, only better

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iPhone 7 has landed.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

At first glance, the iPhone 7 looks just like the iPhone 6s … and the iPhone 6. It feels the same in your hand, too. Unless you buy the jet black model, or you’re upgrading from a 4-inch iPhone, you’re not going to get any surprises when you pull this baby out of its box.

But there are some subtle changes you’ll appreciate. This is the iPhone you already know and love — only much, much better.

Apple’s plans for illuminated flag pole outside London store get rejected

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Let your freak flag fly.
Don't expect any such Apple flag outside its London flagship store.
Photo: James Martin/Twitter

When you’re a company the size of Apple, there’s not much you can’t get away with — but apparently erecting an illuminated flagpole in the center of London isn’t one of them.

Apple recently found itself on the wrong end of London’s City of Westminster council after applying to install two external light fittings to illuminate flags outside its iconic flagship Regent Street Apple store.

Last chance to get these Iron Man-grade Lightning cables [Deals]

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This is your last chance to nab these travel-ready, super tough, steel-lined Lightning cables.
This is your last chance to nab these travel-ready, super tough, steel-lined Lightning cables.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With the iPhone 7, Apple has decided Lightning cables will play an even more central role in the way we use our mobile devices. That makes the tough, steel-lined, flexible, MFi-certified Lightning cables by Titan even more valuable.

Built to last, they’re a wise investment for any Apple user, but this is your last chance to save a big chunk off what they cost. Take one last look at these two discounted travel cables from Titan.

Scratch, flame and bend test puts iPhone 7 through its paces

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Bendgate didn't make a return this year, fortunately!
Photo: JerryRigEverything

The iPhone 7 has only been out a matter of hours, and already it’s undergone its first torture tests, courtesy of YouTuber JerryRigEverything.

After exposing his matte black iPhone 7 to various scratches, flames and bend attempts, JerryRigEverything comes to some interesting conclusions.

Check out his iPhone stress test video below.

Tim Cook celebrates happy iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2 buyers

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A new Apple Watch owner in Hong Kong.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 are out today and — while a botched roll-out means not everyone will get the device they want — Tim Cook is keen to show that there are plenty of happy customers out there.

In a post on Twitter, Apple’s CEO writes that, “It’s time! #iPhone7 and #AppleWatchSeries2 are here!”

Well, for some of us at least!

iPhone 7 Plus teardown confirms bigger 2,900 mAh battery

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Oh, iPhone 7 Plus -- you weren't long for this world.
Photo: iFixit

While most Apple fans around the world are just hoping to get their hands on a new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, our friends over at iFixit have already taken one apart.

In their teardown of the iPhone 7 Plus, the repair experts confirm some important details about Apple’s plus-sized next-gen handset — such as its 2,900 mAh battery, which is slightly more than 5 percent larger than the 2,750 mAh battery used in last year’s iPhone 6s Plus.

Widespread shipping delays hit iPhone 7 on eve of launch

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iPhone 7 Plus jet black
Jet black iPhone 7 will be hard to find.
Image: Apple

With the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus scheduled to arrive in less than 24 hours, customers around the globe who preordered are being notified that their devices won’t ship on time.

The unpleasant news isn’t sitting well with these Apple fans, many of whom thought they’d get their iPhone 7 on launch day.

Galaxy Note 7 review: The best smartphone money can’t buy

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Galaxy Note 7
Don't let a few explosions put you off.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Forget what you’ve read about the Galaxy Note 7 exploding (and wiping out family cars, hotel rooms and homes). Samsung’s latest phablet delivers an improved design, faster internals, an iris scanner, the same great camera we got with the Galaxy S7 and an even better display.

When this baby goes on sale again, without that dreaded battery fault, it will be the best smartphone available — and the iPhone 7 (probably) won’t change a thing.

A school for homeless kids gets backing from Steve Jobs’ widow

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RISE High co-founder Eric Whalen works with a student.
RISE High co-founder Eric Whalen works with a student.
Photo: XQ Institute

A kid moving from shelter to shelter or in and out of foster case has more immediate needs than getting to school regularly. But what if the school could come to them?

Two educators in Los Angeles have a plan to do just that and their bold idea has earned them a $10 million grant from a school redesign competition funded by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

How to back up your data and hand off an old iOS device

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Hold off on iOS 10 for now.
Backing up your data is easier than ever before.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’re planning to get hold of a new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus in the coming weeks, you’re probably planning to get rid of your old handset — either by selling it or handing it over to a friend or family member.

Before you do that, however, make sure you follow our handy guide so you know exactly what to do to safely hand off an old iOS device.

This sleek drive plugs an extra 64GB into your Mac or iPhone [Deals]

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Add 64 GB to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac with a single feature-rich drive.
Add 64 GB to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac with a single feature-rich drive.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Running out of storage isn’t unique to either the iPhone or Mac, but usually the solutions are different for each device. With the multitalented Mill iData Pro, you can solve both at once.

It’s a 64GB expansion drive that sports Lightning and USB connections along with a bunch of other cool features that make it perfect for the mobile user, and right now you can nab an iData Pro for just $74.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.