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Apple Stores will now pay you to sign up for Apple Pay

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Now is a good time to sign up for Apple Pay.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The next time you make a purchase at your local Apple Store, expect to be asked if you want to buy your items with Apple Pay.

Apple is launching a new promotion for its contactless payment system this week that will emphasize paying with your iPhone or Apple Watch rather than busting out a credit card. And those that haven’t signed up for Apple Pay yet will get some free money.

All the iOS 10 beta 3 changes that make iPhone even better

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News and Music ios10
Apple made a lot of improvements to iOS 10.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s jam-packed iOS 10 update has gotten even better in its third beta, which brings a bunch of tiny new features that start to make iOS 10 feel like a polished product.

The list of changes in iOS 10 beta 3, which was seeded to developers this week, isn’t as long as the last update. But Apple has added some really nice tweaks to the lock screen, Apple Music, iCloud Drive and Messages, in addition to a ton of bug fixes and stability improvements.

Check out the most important new additions to Apple’s upcoming mobile OS, which is slated to launch on iPhones and iPads this fall:

Kia offers free CarPlay, Android Auto upgrades

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Screen Shot 2016-07-19 at 17.34.53
Is your Kia eligible for free CarPlay?
Photo: Kia

Kia is offering free CarPlay or Android Auto upgrades for some of its latest vehicles, allowing drivers to get their hands on the smartest in-car platforms. Cars equipped with the AVN 4.0 navigation system or the UVO3 dash interface are eligible.

How to send an emergency SOS on Apple Watch

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Apple Watch Emergency SOS
Emergency SOS isn’t always useful.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

When Apple launches watchOS 3 to the public later this fall, Apple Watch wearers will be able to automatically call for help if they find themselves in an emergency situation.

The new SOS feature in watchOS 3 will make Apple Watch even more of a lifesaver for wearers by placing a 911 call within 10 seconds, even if they don’t have their iPhone.
Here’s how it works:

Protect yourself from online snoops and thieves forever [Deals]

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TigerVPN
You can't be too safe online.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Getting online means getting in line for a whole bunch of headaches — identity theft, data surveillance, hackers, location restrictions. A virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to protect and anonymize your online activity, and TigerVPN is offering a great deal on a lifetime subscription.

Right now you can get a lifetime of TigerVPN for $49 at Cult of Mac Deals.

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.