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Want to sell your iPhone? Better do it soon

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It's a great time to convert your Apple gear into cash.
It's a great time to convert your Apple gear into cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Although WWDC is mostly software focused, it’s also significant reminder that Apple is always moving forward with new devices and other big announcements on the horizon.

Unfortunately for us Apple addicts that means you have to be prepared to shell cash when Apple busts out a surprise ‘One more thing…’ announcement, but it turns out Apple devices are a really good way to recoup some of those costs.

Google’s MacBook rivals will soon run Android apps

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hps-latest-macbook-rival-will-only-cost-you-half-as-much-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604HP-Chromebook-13-jpg
Chrome OS is finally getting the Google Play Store.
Photo: HP

A Chromebook may be a super affordable alternative to the MacBook, but relying solely on web apps inside Google Chrome, they’re not ideal for those who have more than basic computing needs. Except they won’t just run web apps soon.

At its I/O conference in California today, Google announced that Chrome OS is finally getting the Google Play Store with full Android app support.

Apple gives sneak preview of flagship Union Square store

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apple-store-union

Photo:

Apple has put the finishing touches on its new flagship store in San Francisco this week and gave the press an early preview of the store that is set to open to the public this weekend.

The Union Square store promises to be every bit as iconic as Apple’s cube on Fifth Avenue, thanks to its incredible glass and metal design and a new prominent location in San Francisco’s popular luxury shopping district.

Take a peek at Apple’s most amazing store on the West Coast:

Smarten up your security with the LockSmart Mini [Reviews]

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The LockSmart Mini uses Bluetooth and talks to your phone to unlock.
The LockSmart Mini uses Bluetooth and talks to your phone to unlock.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In a world full of smart and connected devices, a standard run-of-the-mill padlock just isn’t going to cut it for me. Thanks to Dog & Bone, though, I don’t have to settle.

This is the LockSmart Mini: a keyless, Bluetooth padlock taking the hassle out of remembering to keep those tiny little keys safe. And, saving me from trying to remember yet another four-digit passcode.

To see the lock in action and to check out my full review, see the video below.

Words like ‘crazy ones’ paint accurate picture of Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs typeface portrait
Apple is made in Steve Jobs' image.
Photo: Dylan Roscover

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugApple fans felt a deep sense of mourning in 2011 when Apple founder Steve Jobs succumbed to cancer. With the fifth anniversary of his passing approaching, Cult of Mac looks at the artistic tributes that followed.

If the wrinkles and curves on a person’s face tell a story, Dylan Roscover will find the right words to narrate each and every line.

The commercial artist from Boulder, Colo., used the messaging from Apple’s “Here’s to the crazy ones” television commercial from 1997 to create a portrait of the embodiment of misfit genius, Steve Jobs.

iOS 9 security update means more passcode unlocks

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There has to be a safer solution.
It's not just in your head.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you’ve found yourself entering your passcode more frequently since you updated to iOS 9 — even though you have Touch ID enabled — it’s thanks to Apple’s latest security measures.

In an update to its Security Guide, published this month, the company confirms that iOS 9 will make you enter your passcode if you haven’t used your iPhone or iPad in at least eight hours.

You must choose your apps, but choose wisely. [Deals]

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Choose 10 from dozens of  top-tier productivity-enhancing apps for one low price.
Choose 10 from dozens of top-tier productivity-enhancing apps for one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s only so much space on your computer and mobile, but an endless ocean of apps you could fill it with. With so much to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve narrowed down the best of productivity apps into this bundle of 34 top-tier apps for iOS and Mac. Pick the 10 apps you want, and pay $21.99 for the whole shebang.

Apple opened its first retail stores 15 years ago today

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San Francisco Apple Store Line
Customers queuing outside an Apple Store in San Francisco.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Fifteen years ago today, Apple opened the doors of its first two brick-and-mortar retail stores in McLean, Virginia and Glendale, California.

For a trip down memory lane (a nice way of saying “a way to make you feel really old”), check out the below video of Steve Jobs offering a personal guided tour of what customers setting foot in an official Apple Store could expect.

Flagship New York Apple Store site may get even bigger

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Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store opens in New York City.
Apple wants to expand its space in New York. It just doesn't want to pay full price to do it.
Photo: Apple

It may not have been the first Apple Store, but Apple’s Fifth Avenue New York retail outlet (a.k.a. the big glass cube) is almost certainly the most famous Apple Store in the world — and it may be about to get even bigger and more impressive.

According to a new report, while Apple is overhauling its iconic New York store it plans to occupy the nearby 61,000 square foot FAO Schwarz space in the GM Building, and may even consider keeping this space permanently in addition to its existing site.

Apple’s new Indian office is dedicated to fixing Maps

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Find out when your Mac is looking at your location data.
Apple's new office is entirely dedicated to Apple Maps.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook, Jeff Williams and other top Apple execs are on a packed tour of India right now, and to mark the occasion Apple has announced the opening of a new office in Indian tech hub Hyderabad that will focus on improving Apple Maps.

The office will create up to 4,000 jobs in the the region, and according to Chief Minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, “is testament to [the] proactive approach, quality infrastructure and … excellent talent base we have in the region.”

Google might want to rethink its Android naming game

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Google needs your help with names.
Google needs your help with names.
Photo: Google

Asking the public to name your product is one of the worst ideas in the world, just ask the captain of Boaty McBoatface.

Google is undeterred though and has decided to take name suggestions for the next version of Android, which for now is officially called ‘Google N-Word’. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Any names starting with ‘N’ are fair game, and while Google usually picks desert for its names, Twitter has some funner name ideas in mind.

Here are the best suggestions so far:

Garageband’s Chinese instruments are perfect for playing Game of Thrones theme

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Anyone can create the Game of Thrones song in Garageband.
Anyone can create the Game of Thrones song in Garageband.
Photo: HBO

HBO’s Game of Thrones is the hottest show on TV right thanks to Khaleesi and her dragons, now with the new Garageband update for China you can embrace your inner Westerbro create the entire GoT theme song in minutes.

Playing the theme song is actually amazingly easy now that Apple has added new instruments like the Pipa, Erhu, and Chinese Drum Kit that can more easily recreate the ancient sound much better than a Fender Stratocaster.

Apple superfan iPhonedo put together a quick guide on how to unlock the new Chinese instruments and create the Game of Thrones song in just minutes:

Android Wear 2.0 plays catch up with Apple Watch

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You can add third-party complications to your favorite face in Wear 2.0.
Photo: Google

Google today gave us a glimpse at its upcoming Android Wear 2.0 update, which is going to make your smartwatch even smarter. It’s the biggest update to the wearable platform so far, with brand new features and big improvements — some of which were snagged from Apple Watch.

Siri for Mac icons leak ahead of WWDC

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri is coming to Mac.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s digital assistant Siri is expected to finally arrive on Macs later this year with the next OS X update, and now it appears that we already know what the new icons will be.

Screenshots of the upcoming Siri for Mac features were leaked online today, revealing the multi-colored wave icon that will soon rest on your dock, along with a new menu bar icon for Siri.

This is what Siri will look like on the Mac:

Google Duo is FaceTime for everyone, only better

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Google Duo
Google Duo makes cross-platform video calling great.
Photo: Google

Google has its very own answer to iMessage in Allo, and now it’s taking on FaceTime, too. Google Duo is a brand new video calling platform that’s available to Android and iOS users, and it’s packing unique features you won’t find elsewhere.

Google says hello to Allo, goodbye to Hangouts

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"'Allo, guvna!" Google's new messaging app is obviously British.
Photo: Google

Watch out Facebook Messenger, Google is taking another stab at messaging with its newly revealed app called Allo.

Does the world really need another messaging app? Probably not. But Google is hoping that it has finally created the perfect mix of features that will make you ditch Snapchat and Facebook.

Google Home is the intelligent assistant that does it all

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Google Assistant will also power Google Home.
Google Home is coming later this year, and it looks amazing.
Photo: Google

Google is already helping you with everyday tasks on your smartphone, and now it’s coming to your home. With the new Google Home speaker, you get an intelligent digital assistant that’s there for you whenever you need it — and you’ll be amazed at what it can do.

Amazing tiny stereo is big on features [Reviews]

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Liberate your languishing CD collection with Sonoro's Cubo.
Liberate your languishing CD collection with Sonoro's Cubo.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

I’ve got a fat wallet-full of CDs that I never quite got around to ripping. Without a CD drive in my MacBook Pro, it was starting to look like I’d never hear them again unless I was driving in my car, which still comes equipped with a CD slot.

The Sonoro Cubo comes with a bunch of great features (like its phenomenal speaker system, built-in meditational audio and exceptional remote), but the killer feature is the addition of a CD slot. Now I can listen to any of the CDs I bought back in the 90s right in my living room without having to purchase a big stereo system.

Speck’s clever folding headset brings VR to iPhone

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Speck Pocket-VR
Pocket-VR makes taking your headset anywhere easier than ever!
Photo: Speck

It’s not easy to find a good VR headset for iPhone that’s easy to carry around. Google Cardboard will probably get crushed in your bag, and more robust models made out of plastic are just too bulky. But Speck has an awesome solution.

It’s called Pocket-VR, and it’s an iPhone-compatible virtual reality headset that folds up so small, you can easily fit it into your pants.

It’s all in the fingers for this ‘sick’ iPad drummer

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cult 2.0
The fast-flying fingers of iPad drummer extraordinaire Appleman.
Photo: Appleman

Cult of Mac 2.0 bugHe has been described as the “sickest drummer in metal right now” with the speed, muscle and snap to become a legend — a legend on the iPad, that is.

This self-styled musician and Apple fanboy from Japan has raised eyebrows for furiously finger tapping through a catalog of rock drum solos, using the virtual rock kit on Garageband with eye-popping dexterity with a well-viewed YouTube channel as his stage.

Watch today’s Google I/O keynote right here!

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Google-IO-banner
Will Google I/O give Apple anything to worry about?
Photo: Google

Google is kicking off its I/O developer conference at 10 a.m. PT today, and it’s going to give us a great look at some of the things Apple will be competing with over the next 12 months.

If you’re interested in keeping up, you can watch the whole thing live right here.