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Venmo flaw allowed attackers to use Siri to drain accounts

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money
You might wanna check your account.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A critical flaw with PayPal-owned Venmo left iPhone users’ accounts exposed to a lethal account that could have allowed attackers to steal $2,999.99 in just two minutes.

The Venmo security flaw was discovered by Salesforce security engineer Martin Vigo who found that Siri can be used on locked iPhones to drain an account just by sending a few text messages.

Check out the hack in action:

Bulletproof iPhone case!? Pitaka Aramid iPhone case [Reviews]

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Cult of Mac
A light-weight, bulletproof iPhone case?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s not often an iPhone case catches my eye. There has to be a standout feature to get me excited about seeing what it has to offer. Whether that’s amazing craftsmanship or a sneaky charging feature, it can’t be ordinary.

At first glance, the Pitaka Aramid case for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus seems just that; ordinary. But the more I read up about what Aramid was, the more I was interested. Check out my full video review below.

Instagram’s new feature is a ripoff of Snapchat Stories

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Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram is rolling out a new feature that lets you post more privately and without the kind of permanence that can get you in trouble.

Sound familiar, Snapchat users?

On its blog Tuesday morning, the company introduced Instagram Stories, which lets you share multiple photos and videos in a single slideshow. It can be shared with select followers without showing up on your more public profile. It then disappears 24 hours later.

Crashing cyclist suffers third-degree burns from exploding iPhone

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1470122272615iphone1
This pic probably isn't getting onto the "Shot on iPhone" billboards any time soon.
Photo: Gareth Clear

An Australia iPhone user wound up in hospital after his iPhone reportedly exploded after he fell on it while cycling over the weekend.

Thirty-six-year-old management consultant Gareth Clear says that the explosion was bad enough that it melted his cycling shorts and badly burned the skin on his upper right thigh.

It’s time to seize control of your digital media libraries with MacX [Deals]

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Convert and transfer media file types of all kinds to basically any device.
Convert and transfer media file types of all kinds to basically any device.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you buy or download a digital video, it’s easy to imagine that you can get it to work on any screen you like, whether your Mac or PC, phone, tablet, etc. Unfortunately that’s just not how it works, with conflicting video and audio formats that might work in one context but not another. It’s an issue that this duo of MacX apps — MediaTrans and Video Converter Pro — solves offering conversion and transfer options for any audiovisual file type. And right now, you can get both for $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Patent troll won’t get a penny out of Apple … yet

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Apple wants patent trolls to stop ‘gaming the system’
Apple's money is safe. Until September, at least.
Photo: Andrew Becraft/Flickr CC

Due to its massive success, Apple is a frequent target of patent trolls: non-practicing enterprises which appear to make all their money by taking other companies to court.

Earlier this year, one such company called VirnetX was awarded a massive $625 million after Apple reportedly infringed on its intellectual property with both its FaceTime and iMessage tech. However, seven months later it appears that Apple may not have to pay the money after all — after the judge threw out the previous ruling and demanded a retrial.

Apple’s new ad shows why iPad Pro is a great computer

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Is the iPad Pro a true PC replacement?
Is the iPad Pro a true PC replacement?
Photo: Apple

What’s a computer?

That’s the latest brain buster Apple is asking fans in its latest iPad Pro ad that showcases how the giant tablet can replace a PC thanks to its keyboard, touchscreen and Apple Pencil. The short new ad covers iPad Pro’s multitasking capabilities, too, with shots of Slide Over and picture-in-picture that reimagine what you can do on an iPad.

Check it out:

How the Apple Car will make you money, and more fun about robot vehicles [Kahney’s Korner]

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Kahney's Korner podcast with robocar expert Paul Godsmark
Autonomous cars are going to change the world like nothing we've seen before. A fascinating interview with robocar expert Paul Godsmark.
Photo: Paul Godsmark/Stephen Smith

The old adage is that new cars depreciate the minute you buy them. However, the rumored Apple car might be the first vehicle to actually make you money after you drive it off the lot.

If Apple’s car is autonomous, it’ll earn its keep delivering people or goods when you’re not using it. So says Paul Godsmark, a robocar consultant and one of the leading experts on the upcoming autonomous vehicle revolution.

In this fascinating interview, Godsmark talks about the enormous changes that are coming up fast with self-driving vehicles, including Project Titan, the rumored Apple Car.

Buckle up! Everything is about to change dramatically — from the way we travel to the way we work.

New Remote app for Apple TV is now available to the public

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Remote app for Apple TV on iPhone
Say hello to the new Remote app.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Controlling the new Apple TV just got a lot easier today now that Apple has finally released a brand-new version of its Remote app for iOS.

The all new Remote app can completely replace the Siri Remote that comes with Apple TV, allowing watchers to take full control of their viewing experience, without having to put down their iPhone.

Sorry NY sex offenders, no Pokémon GO for you

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Pokémon Go
Pokémon GO isn't for everyone.
Photo: Niantic Labs

Sex offenders in New York who are addicted to Pokémon GO just got some bad news from Governor Andrew Cuomo who has asked the game’s developers to help ban players from the state’s sex offenders list.

The governor takes particular issue with the game’s “PokéStops” that can be equipped with lures to attract pokémon as well as other players to a certain spot. Cuomo believes that sexual predators will use these spots as a way to lure in children, so he’s demanding the makers add extra protections.

iOS 10 adds 100+ emoji to promote gender equality

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emoji in iOS 10
iOS 10's new emoji have more gender diversity.
Photo: Apple

iPhone and iPad owners are set to get a big batch of new emoji when iOS 10 lands on devices later this fall thanks to the addition of over 100 new characters that promote gender equality.

The latest beta build of iOS 10 seeded to developers this morning brings more gender options to existing characters like the surfer, runner, weightlifter, detective, construction worker and much more.

macOS Sierra beta 4 is now available to developers

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

Along with dropping three new beta builds for iOS 10, tvOS and watchOS this morning, Apple has seeded a fourth beta of macOS Sierra for developers to test.

The new beta is available for download directly from the Mac App Store if you have the previous build installed and comes just two weeks after Apple dropped macOS Sierra beta 3. The upcoming update for Macs brings a ton of new features, including Siri for Mac, auto-unlock with Apple Watch, Apple Pay, better iCloud integration and more.

Lightning EarPods spotted blasting tunes in real life

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earpod
And no 3.5mm headphone jack in sight...
Photo: Weibo

A video has surfaced online, alleging to show Apple’s next-gen Lightning EarPods on an iPhone running iOS 9.

While we’ve heard rumors that the iPhone 7 may ditch the headphone jack, and have even seen blurry (and not-so-blurry) photos appearing to confirm the same thing, this is the first time a video has appeared to show off Apple’s forthcoming EarPods in all their 3.5mm jack-free glory. Check it out below.

Learn how to code for iOS 10 before it lands [Deals]

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code

With another public beta recently released, the September arrival of iOS 10 is getting more and more real for mobile developers all around the world. We already know that iOS 10 is going to be crammed with new features, including apps can extend to Messages, Siri, Phone, and Maps to provide more engaging functionality than ever, so this bundle of lessons arrives just in time to get prepared. It’s over 217 lectures, clocking in at 30 hours of content, and right now you can get 24/7 access for just $25 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Pokémon GO loses precious battery saver mode on iPhone

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Pokémon Go
Beware Pokémon GO's latest update.
Photo: The Pokémon Company

Steer clear of the latest Pokémon GO update for iPhone if you rely on the game’s “battery saver” mode. Developer Niantic has inexplicably removed the feature in its latest release for iOS, meaning your latest addiction now burns even more power than before.

Severed, Upthere Home and other awesome apps of the week

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

Looking to get up to speed on the week’s hottest apps? We’ve got your back!

In a week in which Apple sold its billionth iPhone, and a strong showing from the App Store was partially credited as the reason behind Apple’s better-than-expected Q3 earnings, we’ve combed the latest apps to bring you the cream of the crop.

Whether you’re looking for a smart camera app which uses AI to improve your pictures, or a tremendous action-RPG game, we think you’ll find something to entertain you…

Control your home appliances wirelessly, and more [Week’s Newest Deals]

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x
Turn your home appliances into smart devices with this bluetooth enabled outlet and app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another week, another fresh shipment of top shelf deals on essential tools and tech. This week our latest includes a Bluetooth-enabled outlet that lets you remotely control and monitor your appliances, a bundle of tools for organizing and managing your computer’s files, as well as your thoughts and ideas, and a duo of apps for syncing and recovering your iOS data. Take a look: