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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.

TunnelBear is the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.

Get seamless storage upgrades for Mac, endless streaming video, and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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Conveniently add up to 200GB of storage to your Macbook without a bulky hard drive
Conveniently add up to 200GB of storage to your Macbook without a bulky hard drive
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Each week, we get a boatload of gadgets and gear at great discounts. Of course there are always some deals that stand out, and this week is no exception — this round, we’ve got a seamless storage upgrade for your Macbook, a year’s access to one of the largest libraries of streaming content anywhere, an iPhone case that’ll also charge your device, and a lifetime of VPN protection, all at slashed prices. Take a gander:

Apple Music exclusives earn artists one-way trip to Spotify hell [Update: Spotify denies]

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apple music app
Spotify punishes artists for giving Apple Music exclusives.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Scoring an exclusive album deal with Apple Music can be highly lucrative for artists looking for independence, but it might come with some serious payback from Spotify, which is reportedly punishing musicians that sign such deals.

Musicians have been dragged into the fight between Apple and Spotify, according to new reports saying Apple’s rival is threatening to bury artists in its search results. Meanwhile, Spotify has denied the accusations, which come from anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg and The New York Times.

Is Apple wasting its time trying to fight Snapchat? [Friday Night Fights]

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snapchatfnf2
Apple has tried to fight the social networks before.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next big venture could be to go head-to-head with Snapchat and similar content-sharing services. The company is expected to integrate new video features into iOS that would be developed by the engineers behind Final Cut and iMovie.

Friday Night Fights bug But is this a good idea? Apple failed miserably when it tried to take on social networks before, and some would argue that many of its products already suffer as a result of its expansion into new areas.

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple is wasting its time trying to fight Snapchat.

Intel wants to make iPhone processors by 2018

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Future iPhone processors may be made by Intel.
Future iPhone processors may be made by Intel.
Photo: Apple

The next iPhone you buy might have Intel inside, if the company is able to succeed in its new plans to overthrow Apple’s long-time partner, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Intel, the world’s-largest chipmaker, is reportedly looking to make a big splash in mobile chips and has already started talking to Apple about taking over orders to make the ARM processors used in the iPad and iPhone.

Dual-lens camera issues may cause iPhone 7 Plus shortage

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Why you'll fall in love with Apple's new dual-lens camera.
The iPhone 7 Plus is going to be a hard to find.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Getting your hands on the iPhone 7 Plus and its amazing dual-lens camera right after launch might be a tough task, claims the latest rumor out of Asia.

Apple’s part suppliers are supposedly contending with a number of low-yield issues related to the waterproof speaker and the new dual-lens camera that still haven’t been fixed, both of which are expected to be the marquee features of this year’s update.

Grab an award-winning Soundfreaq Bluetooth speaker for nearly half off [Deals]

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Carry your sounds around in style with this award winning Bluetooth speaker.
Carry your sounds around in style with this award winning Bluetooth speaker.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Cupping your hand around the iPhone speaker just isn’t cutting it anymore. If you’re looking to get a groove from your mobile devices while keeping them mobile, your best bet is a portable Bluetooth speaker like the Double Spot by Soundfreaq. It’s slim, sounds great, goes anywhere, and right now you can get one for just $79.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Sore Spotify says music exclusives are bad for everyone

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Spotify
Spotify wants Apple to quit with the exclusives.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

As Apple secures exclusive after exclusive with the hottest names in music, Spotify is beginning to feel the heat. According to Troy Carter, global head of creator services at Spotify, these deals are “bad for artists, bad for consumers, and bad for the whole industry.”

Apple will create 1,000 new jobs at its Irish HQ

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Irish flag
Apple is living up to its promise to expand Irish operations.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has announced that it will create an extra 1,000 jobs to its Hollyhill site in County Cork, Ireland over the next 18 months — substantially increasing on the 5,000 employees the company currently has in Ireland.

The move is broadly in line with Apple’s overall workforce expansion, which has increased 25 percent over the past year.

Apple to adopt new tap-to-pay standard for Japan

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FeliCa-Japan
Apple is adding support for FelICa.
Photo: Sony

Apple is planning to adopt a new tap-to-pay standard that will be integrated into future iPhones specifically for customers in Japan, according to a new report. The FeliCa standard, originally developed by Sony, will allow users to store public bus and train passes in Apple Wallet.

Barbra Streisand once called Steve Jobs for tech support

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Barbra Streisand
Singer Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin.
Photo: Wikicommons

In an interview for Good Morning Britain, global diva Barbra Streisand has revealed how she once called up Steve Jobs to ask him for computer advice.

“I couldn’t figure out something on my computer and nobody could figure it out, no IT guy, so I said, ‘Can you get Steve Jobs on the phone?’” she recalled. As it turns out, she could. But even Jobs was unable to offer a solution.