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Apple’s Classroom app for iPad lands on App Store

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iOS 9.3 embraces education.
iOS 9.3 embraces education.
Photo: Apple

Apple is putting more tools in the hands of educators today with the official launch of the new Classroom app for iPad that promises to opens up new, more engaging ways of teaching and learning on the iPad.

The new app is part of the new iOS 9.3 education features Apple has added that allow teachers to manage student devices, share work and assignments, as well as track students’ progress to help them stay on track.

Why the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is Apple’s most important iPad since the original

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The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the best tablet Apple's ever made.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the best tablet Apple's ever made.

Small was the new big at Apple’s “Let us loop you in” keynote today. And while some felt the 64-minute unveiling was the most snooze-worthy event ever, Apple used it to unleash the most important iPad its made since the original tablet launched in 2010.

The new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is much more than just a smaller variant of the 12.9-inch super slate Apple came out with last year. It’s a machine built to target Apple’s next big customer pool: the 600 million people still using 5-year-old PCs.

“That’s just sad,” Apple VP Phil Schiller said onstage, describing the unfortunate souls toiling with aging Windows machines. And the new, right-sized iPad Pro is exactly what those people need.

How to organize your Apple TV with folders

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Get your OCD on with folders on Apple TV.
Get your OCD on with folders on Apple TV.
Photo: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

The latest Apple TV has 5,000 apps and every one I’ve installed on my Home screen is a pain in the ass to find.

That is, until now. Apple just introduced tvOS 9.2, which brings the organizing power of folders to your 4th Generation Apple TV, and boy are we excited.

Here’s how to organize all those media and gaming apps on your Apple TV with folders.

Apple Watch nylon bands will make your head spin

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Apple Watch nylon bands
They kind of look like Easter eggs, is what we're getting at.
Photo: Apple

One of Apple’s biggest reveals at its low-key “Let us loop you in” event today was the premiere of a new set of bands for the Apple Watch. And woven nylon was the star of the show.

These colorful, zig-zaggy straps look like they’re the “fun” options for the wearable, like if you’re going to an ’80s throwback party but you still want to know when you get texts. They’re bright, boast “a comfortable, fabric-like feel” (according to the listing on the Apple Store website), and the best news is that they aren’t super-expensive.

Check out all seven varieties below:

How to update the software on your Apple TV

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appletv
Apple TV's new app could give us the interface we've dreamed of.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The fourth-generation Apple TV is ready for a new update to tvOS (9.2), bringing Siri dictation to the whole system, including search, user names and passwords. It’s also got a new Folder system like iOS does, which will let you organize your Home screen to your heart’s content, and it will support Apple wireless keyboards and your iCloud Photo Library on the big screen.

If you want to update your Apple TV right now and get all these great new features, just follow the directions below.

Everything that knocked us for a loop at today’s Apple event

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Tim Cook Apple March 21 event
"What if we told you that we were making the same things, but these ones are smaller?"
Photo: Apple

The March 21 Apple event wrapped up earlier, and we have to say that for the most part, we saw that coming.

The company followed through on every rumor we heard that said it was going to put out smaller versions of its latest iPhones and iPads. It introduced new Apple Watch bands, including a Space Gray Milanese Loop, just like we’d heard. And it totally confirmed that the new versions of tvOS and OS 9 would be out today, which didn’t surprise us at all.

But we did manage to fit a gasp or two between all those yawns. Here’s everything that was actually surprising at today’s Apple event.

Apple makes righteous choices look drop-dead sexy

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Dangerous curves, for sure.
Dangerous curves, for sure.
Photo: Apple

Whether you’re recycling your iPhone in order to upgrade to the latest iPhone SE, or you favor Apple products because they’re the best on the market, you can feel good about your choice thanks to Apple’s environmental and medical initiatives.

Cupertino’s favorite tech company dropped four gorgeous videos into its low-key keynote today that showcase Liam, a radical recycling robot, and ResearchKit, which is helping connect people and medical researchers in unprecedented numbers. These two videos, below, along with Apple’s historical 40 years in 40 seconds and the new iPad Pro, are as beautiful as you’d expect from the company that continues to make righteous choices while it makes loads of cash.

Apple drops tvOS 9.2 and watchOS 2.2

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apple tv and siri remote
Grab the latest tvOS 11 update now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new Apple TV is finally getting folders for apps today, thanks to the public release of tvOS 9.2 that is available now to all fourth-gen Apple TV users.

Apple touted the new update today at an event, previewing new features like app folders, support for Bluetooth keyboards, voice-to-text dictation for text entry fields, a podcasts app and other improvements.

Along with the new Apple TV software, Apple has also released watchOS 2.2 to the public that contains a number of bug fixes, and some small tweaks such as the ability to sync multiple watches to one iPhone, Maps improvements and more.

Take a look at the new features:

iOS 9.3 is out now for everyone

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ios-9-3-notes
iOS 9.3 is here!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The biggest iOS update yet of 2016 is finally here, bringing new features to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users.

iOS 9.3 doesn’t contain many design changes, but there are a host of new features like NightShift mode, Touch ID secured Notes, iPad education features, and lots of little changes in Apple Music and Apple News.

iPhone and iPad owners can grab the new update over the air by going to the Software Update section in the iOS Settings app, or you can download it directly via iTunes.

Here’s a look at everything that’s new:

The biggest takeaways from Apple’s tiniest keynote in years

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A size for every hand.
A size for every hand.
Photo: Apple

Evolution, not revolution, was the tone of today’s low-key Apple event. Smaller is better, says Apple, with two big product “reveals” that show off compact new devices with impressive internals.

While most of the announcements today have already been discussed and dissected, like the 4-inch iPhone SE, new Apple Watch bands and a smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro, there were a couple of surprises.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Apple’s oddly low-key “Let us loop you in” event.

Enter to win $1,000 to spend in the Apple Store [Deals]

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Enter now for a free chance to win a $1,000 Apple Store Gift Card!
Enter now for a free chance to win a $1,000 Apple Store Gift Card!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Here’s a chance to win big: Our new $1,000 Apple Store Giveaway means a chance to get pretty much any Apple product your heart desires. With a cool grand of Apple credit in your pocket, you can snag a new iPhone SE, a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro or take a huge chunk out of a new MacBook. Or, if you really wanted that Apple TV, it’ll buy a bag full of those.

Entry is free so there’s literally nothing to lose and plenty to gain. But hurry, it’s only up for the next 23 days.

Apple’s new iPad Pro packs pretty display and plenty of grunt

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I want one, like, now.
Apple's gorgeous new iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Forget the iPad Air 3. Apple’s new 9.7-inch tablet will be a scaled-down version of its supercharged 12.9-inch iPad Pro — called (drumroll, please) the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

The new, smaller iPad Pro features four-speaker audio, a rear flash, Apple Pencil support, a Smart Connector for an all-new 9.7-inch Smart Keyboard, Apple’s most advanced iPad camera yet, and some very, very cool True Tone technology for matching the ambient light wherever you are.

Oh, and a fancy new 256GB storage option.

Liveblog: Apple loops us in with the iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro

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Apple event let us loop you in
Get ready for a new iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

The first big Apple media event of 2016 is finally here.

Months of rumors, speculation and anticipation have been leading up to Apple’s “Let us loop you in” event this morning, at which the company is expected to unveil a new 4-inch iPhone, a new iPad Pro model, and some Apple Watch hardware.

Tim Cook and the rest of the Apple crew are set to take the stage at 10 a.m. Pacific and Cult of Mac will be here to liveblog the festivities. Will there be a “one more thing” at the end to make this a truly unforgettable event? Come follow along with us below:

Samsung Gear S2 to gain iPhone support this month

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samsung-gear-s2-to-gain-iphone-support-this-month-2-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201603Gear-S2-with-iPhone-jpg
iPhone is getting a new companion in Gear S2.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iPhone is getting a new companion in Gear S2. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
iPhone is getting a new companion in Gear S2. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch will get an update that adds iPhone compatibility by the end of this month, according to a new report.

The move will allow Samsung to compete with the Apple Watch in its own backyard, but some features — such as Samsung Pay — will be lost when the wearable is connected to iOS.

Researchers find gaping hole in Apple’s iMessage encryption

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Federal judge shoots down down group iMessage lawsuit.
iMessage contains a critical encryption flaw.
Photo: Apple

Encryption researchers at John Hopkins University have found a serious flaw in the encryption of Apple’s iMessage platform that shatters the FBI’s stance that encryption on devices like the iPhone is unhackable.

The group of researchers discovered a bug that would allow attackers to decrypt pictures and video sent over iMessage. The flaw wouldn’t help the FBI in its investigation of the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, but it shows just how hard it is to get air-tight encryption right, even for a company with as much talent and resources as Apple.

How to watch the Apple event on March 21

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ipad-pro

Monday, March 21, will be a big day for Apple, with possible reveals of a budget 4-inch iPhone SE, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro and maybe even some new Apple Watch bands ahead of the second iteration of Apple’s wrist computer.

Want to watch the Apple event live? Here’s how you do it on any of your Apple devices (and even a PC).

Note: Monday’s Apple event starts at 10 a.m. Pacific. Cult of Mac’s liveblog will start serving up color commentary an hour before that, so don’t be late!

Protecting your online activity is critical, and also easy [Deals]

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Easily anonymize and protect your online activity with a virtual private network.
Easily anonymize and protect your online activity with a virtual private network.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Sure, the Internet is a risky place, but what are you doing to protect yourself? Something you can do right now to avoid pitfalls like identity or data theft is to connect to the Internet via a virtual private network. ZenMate VPN offers an easy and powerful option, and right now is the last chance you have to get a lifetime premium subscription for just $49.

FBI was ‘stunned’ by Apple’s hardened encryption of iOS

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So many new updates!
iOS 8 is when the FBI got really worried about Apple encryption.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The FBI was reportedly “stunned” when it first got to see what Apple had planned for iPhone encryption, after it received early access to iOS 8 (where Apple introduced its new, stronger iPhone encryption) so that it could examine how its evidence-gathering techniques would have to change.

Twitter turns 10 years old today

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twitter-turns-10-years-old-today-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201603twitter-png
Twitter in its earliest days.
Photo: Twitter
Twitter in its earliest days. Photo: Twitter
Twitter in its earliest days. Photo: Twitter

Twitter turns 10 years old today — with the company having been founded back in the halcyon days of March 2006, when V For Vendetta had just arrived in theaters, James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” was being played on repeat by every radio station, and the iPhone was still an excited rumor on tech sites.

#ManyHappyReturnsOnYourBirthday.

Get ready! Apple Store is down in preparation for today’s keynote

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2015-09-09-12.41.37-1-780x614
Never is an outage more exciting than before a keynote.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The Apple Online Store has temporarily gone down in advance of today’s Apple keynote.

When it returns, we’re expecting to see a new 4-inch iPhone SE, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, additional Apple Watch straps, and more — although you probably won’t be able to order them right away.

Woz in wax: Madame Tussauds unveils Steve Wozniak statue

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unspecified
Woz poses with his waxwork double.
Photo: Rogers & Cowan/Getty CC

Steve Wozniak sure likes to wax lyrical about the Apple II, and now he can do so with his very own wax figure (sorry for the awful pun!) — which was unveiled over the weekend at the first ever Silicon Valley Comic Con at the San Jose Convention Center.

“I am so honored. I have always wanted to be in a wax museum due to characters we idolize like our superheroes. You live on forever,” said Woz.

Is this our first glimpse of Apple’s Lightning EarPods?

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iPhone 6 headphone jack
Wave goodbye to EarPods that connect to the headphone jack.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

There are plenty of rumors that Apple plans to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack connector for the iPhone 7 — and now we’ve got our first (possible) photo of the company’s next-gen EarPods, complete with Lightning connector.

The picture first appeared on Chinese social network Weibo over the weekend. Check it out below.