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Today in Apple history: G4 Cube makes its (ill-fated) debut

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Ad for Apple Power Mac G4 Cube that shows the computer, with the words,
Do you remember Apple's G4 Cube?
Photo: Apple

July 19 July 19, 2000: Apple launches its futuristic-looking Power Mac G4 Cube. The clear computer is one of the company’s most jaw-droppingly gorgeous machines, but ultimately becomes one of its biggest disappointments.

Technologically, the G4 Cube was a game-changer. Financially, it was one of Steve Jobs‘ most notable failures.

Millions of iPhones at risk of being seized in Iran

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An alley in an old part of Kish Island, Iran, by Ako Salemi
Apple must register its iPhones in Iran, or risk being banned.
Photo: Quixotic54/Flickr CC

Iranian officials have issued an ultimatum to Apple: telling the company that it must officially register in Iran or have its products banned.

“If Apple will not register an official representative in Iran within the next few days, all iPhones will be collected from the market,” the local Tasnim News Agency quotes the director of Iran’s anti-smuggling office as having said.

New ‘Shot on iPhone’ spots will make you antsy and nuts

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squirrel eating a peanut
Meet the star of Apple's new ad.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” ad campaign got a tiny dose of nature with the company’s two latest video ads that highlight the iPhone’s ability to capture amazing close-up macro videos.

The two new ads star a nut loving chipmunk and an ant on the prowl, and somehow manage to be incredibly captivating.

Watch them both below:

macOS Sierra beta 3 is now available to developers

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

Following the launch of three new beta builds this morning, Apple has now made a new beta of macOS Sierra beta 3 available to developers this afternoon.

The new beta is available for download directly from the Mac App Store and comes two weeks after Apple dropped the second beta build of macOS Sierra that brings a ton of new features, including Siri for Mac, auto-unlock with Apple Watch, Apple Pay, better iCloud integration and more.

Apple Music finally gets audio fingerprints from iTunes Match

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apple music app
This fix might stop Apple Music from garbling your library.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Music’s matching software has a terrible history of replacing artists’ live songs with a studio version, but that will finally be a thing of the past, thanks the addition of audio fingerprints from iTunes Match.

A quiet rollout of the iTunes Match audio fingerprint to all Apple Music subscriber is currently underway, fixing the less accurate metadata version of iTunes Match that was currently used on Apple Music.

Apple releases updates for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS

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Safari iOS 11
iOS 9.3.3 has arrived.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Along with seeding a batch of new beta builds for developers, Apple has a slew of new updates for the public this morning, bringing bug fixes and other software improvements to every single one of its platforms.

The public release of OS X El Capitan 10.11.6, iOS 9.3.3, watchOS 2.2.2 and tvOS 9.3.3 are now available to Apple users, after five beta builds were seeded to developers.

Army special ops top brass is switching to iPhone

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iPhone
iPhone is now the Army's preferred device.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The U.S. Army Special Operations Command is planning to tell Android to stand down.

Charged with overseeing the Army’s elite special forces operations, the command is reportedly making a switch to iPhone because Android is unstable compared to iOS.

Apple seeds new betas for iOS 10, watchOS 3, tvOS 10

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iOS 10
Get your hands on the latest iOS 10 beta now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has today seeded new beta releases for iOS 10, watchOS 3, and tvOS 10.

These are its third updates to each platform since they were first previewed at WWDC last month, and they should all make your testing devices that little bit more stable.

Dodgy photos show super-powered ‘iPhone 7 Pro’

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iphone-7-iphone-7-plus-iphone-7-pro-back
It looks like there really will be an iPhone 7 Pro.
Photo: NowhereElse

A new photo of Apple’s next-generation iPhone lineup all but confirms there will be an iPhone 7, an iPhone 7 Plus, and an iPhone 7 Pro. Only the latter will be blessed with a dual-lens camera and a Smart Connector, which means you’re going to have to pay a premium for them.

Best headphones: Lightning, Bluetooth, wired, on-ear and more [Reviews]

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We've tested and reviewed top-rated headphones in a variety of categories and price ranges for you to choose the perfect pair.
We've tested and reviewed top-rated headphones in a variety of categories and price ranges for you to choose the perfect pair.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We’ve gathered the latest and greatest headphones for review, and will update you regularly on our favorites. Whether you’re looking for the best over-ear headphones, the best wireless, Bluetooth or sports-specific headphones, Cult of Mac has you covered.

Check back often for our latest picks!

Learn how to actually use your fancy new DSLR [Deals]

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Digital SLR Photography course
The Digital SLR Photography for Dummies course will make you a better photographer.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Did you buy a DSLR camera without knowing what any of those letters stand for? The modern digital single lens reflex (you’re welcome) camera is a marvelous tool for creative expression, but without a proper introduction you might just find yourself asking, “What’s this button do?”

The Digital SLR Photography for Dummies course is perfect for anybody who wants to really make use of their camera, and right now you can sign up for $35 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Xiaomi’s first MacBook clone will be a powerhouse

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Xiaomi plans to ripoff the MacBook Air next.
Xiaomi plans to ripoff the MacBook next.
Photo: GizmoChina

Like most of the products in its lineup, Xiaomi’s next big thing will be inspired by Apple. But it won’t be another iPhone clone. Instead, the Chinese firm is building its very own MacBook rival, and leaked specifications suggest it will be a tiny powerhouse.

iPhone chip designer ARM to be snapped up for $32 billion

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money
ARM just sold for an arm and a leg.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

ARM Holdings, a.k.a. the company responsible for the mobile processor architecture which powers the iPhone and iPad, looks set to be bought by Japan’s SoftBank for an eye-watering (iWatering?) $32 billion, it has confirmed.

ARM’s board will recommend that shareholders accept the deal, which represents 43 percent over the company’s closing market value as per Friday. The news caused shares in ARM to leap up by 45 percent to 1,742.85p per share when the London Stock Exchange opened this morning.

Today in Apple history: First affordable PowerBook goes on sale

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Powerbook_150
Do you remember this Apple laptop?
Photo: Dana Sibera/Wikipedia CC

July 18July 18, 1994: Apple ships its PowerBook 150 laptop, the company’s first truly affordable PowerBook — and the last to feature the original case design, which included a built-in trackball mouse.

While it’s a normal sight to see students using Apple laptops today, there was a time when Mac notebooks were out of the reach of your average learner. That all changed in the 1990s — and the PowerBook 150 played an important role.

Apple’s already doling out contracts for next year’s A11 chip

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Apple chips are getting EMI shielding.
Apple's next-next gen processor is already underway.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 7 is still around eight weeks from hitting shelves, but Apple and its suppliers are already looking ahead to next year’s iPhone refresh — according to a new report claiming that Apple has placed its orders for the next-next-gen A11 chips.

And in a break from its recent strategy, it’s apparently placed them all with one supplier. And sorry Samsung, but it isn’t you!

Forget Pokémon Go, here are some other awesome apps of the week

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If you're appy and you know it, check our list!
Having an 'appy weekend?
Photo: Cult of Mac

It may be hard to believe, but it turns out that there are other non-Pokémon Go apps out there — and we’ve picked out a few of the juiciest picks of the last week.

From a brand-new Batman game to a movie buff’s answer to karaoke, here are the apps you should be downloading during whichever part of your Sunday isn’t set aside for tracking down Pikachu and the rest.

A sleek iOS stylus is just one of the newest deals this week [Deals]

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Moai Pen
Bring precision back to your iOS devices with this soft-tipped stylus.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another week, another delivery of awesome new deals on gear, gadgets, and education. This week we’ve got a fine-tipped iOS-ready stylus, a massive bundle of WordPress plug-ins, a car charger that can juice up 4 devices at once, and a pair of key lessons in coding for iOS and OS X. Take a look:

Why Pokémon Go is the smash iOS hit Nintendo needed, this week on The CultCast

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x
Look at all those little Pokémon, taunting you, just waiting to be caught.
Photo: Yokohama's Pokémon Festival

This week on The CultCast: Why Pokémon Go is the smash iOS hit Nintendo needed; iPhone 7 may get the extended battery life we’ve all been asking for; Cult of Mac’s bizarre connection to Apple’s new Planet of the Apps TV show; and… which is manlier summer attire, midriff shirts or short shorts? We answer life’s most intriguing questions on an all-new Get to Know Your Cultist.

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.

VR headsets, wall-sticking iPhone cases, and more in the best deals of the week [Deals]

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Get control of your smart home straight from your smartphone.
Get control of your smart home straight from your smartphone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We get a lot of great deals on gadgets and gear here, which is why every week we wrangle the best of the bunch. This week, we’ve got a way to turn your iOS device into a universal remote, an iPhone case that’ll stick to almost any surface, a VR headset powered by your phone, and more. Take a look:

This ‘dark mode’ iPhone 7 might make Darth Vader squee

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iPhone 7 concept with black aluminum case and OLED dark mode screen
iPhone 7 concept with black aluminum case and OLED dark mode screen.
Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

With so many iPhone 7 leaks and rumors on the interwebs right now, there may not be many surprises left by the time Apple unveils the device. But what if everything we think we know is wrong? Could all the iPhone 7 rumors be pointing toward something more interesting than the current crop of leaked photos?

Creating these iPhone 7 mockups based on recent rumors made me realize that the next iPhone could be a real black beauty.