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These wooden skins are a natural fit for your MacBook

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A bamboo skin with the Bambooti logo.
A bamboo skin with the Bambooti logo.
Photo: Bambooti

The MacBook is a work of art, but looking at all that pretty brushed aluminum might get old for some.

A Belgian design firm is here to help. Any MacBook owner can quickly give their laptop a unique look with wooden skins that can be customized with initials, a favorite sports figure — even their spirit animal!

Super-thin iPad Pro cover lets you stash Apple Pencil

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Thin, light, and extra-grippy case will keep the Pencil in place.
Thin, light, and extra-grippy case will keep the Pencil in place.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Best List: CoverBuddy iPad Pro case by SwitchEasy

Keeping track of my Apple Pencil is a royal pain. Either I’ve got to slip it into a bag like an actual writing implement, carry it around in my pocket, or get one of those cases for my iPad Pro that adds a ton of bulk just to include a fabric loop to strap the Pencil in.

Not so the CoverBuddy case, an ultra-thin plastic sheath for the rear of the iPad Pro that includes something I wouldn’t expect from such a thin, light case: a secure spot for the Apple Pencil.

It’s simply the best minimalist pencil-holding cover I’ve seen yet.

Apple sold two-thirds of all smartwatches in 2015

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apple-sold-two-thirds-of-all-smartwatches-in-2015-2-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201503Apple-Watch-options-940x528-jpg
Your smartwatch market leader.
Photo: Apple

So the Apple Watch wasn’t the first smartwatch. It just became the most popular in a hurry.

Shortly after its debut last year, the Apple Watch set out to take over the market it was late to, accounting for two-thirds of all smartwatch shipments in 2015, according to a report by analysts with Canalys.

By Canalys estimates, that’s about 12 million units with more than 5 million Apple Watches sold during the final quarter of 2015.

Skier swings iPhone 6 on a string to create crazy slo-mo video

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The Centriphone.
The Centriphone.
Photo: Nicolas Vuignier

Swiss freeskier Nicolas Vuignier has created a crazy new photography rig that can create matrix-like slo-mo video, only you don’t need a drone or a bunch of GoPros to pull it off. You just need some string and your iPhone.

Vuignier posted an incredible video of his contraption in action, which he calls the Centriphone. The project has been two years in the making and it looks totally worth it. The device works like a sling that twirls around you to capture 360 views that look absolutely gorgeous in slo-mo. Toss in some powder and half-pipes and it’s an adrenaline junkie’s dream toy.

Watch the Centriphone in action:

Companies are looking for project managers. Here’s how to become one. [Draft]

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This bundle of 76 courses will make sure you're ready to ace the PMP and CAPM certification for project management.
This bundle of 76 courses will make sure you're ready to ace the PMP and CAPM certification for project management.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There are a handful of skills that are especially hot in the job market right now, few are as in demand though as project management. Being able to usher a project from concept to completion, to keep all the plates in the air and deliver a solid product that meets or exceeds expectations, is something guaranteed to improve the quality of your working life and the salary you pull in. Getting qualified as a project manager with Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification Training is one of the best ways to open the door to this skillset, and this comprehensive instructional bundle of will ensure you can get ready to ace the PMP test for $49.99.

Apple asks Supreme Court to reject Samsung’s ‘unexceptional’ appeal

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apple-asks-supreme-court-to-reject-samsungs-unexceptional-appeal-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201602Galaxy-S6-edge-iPhone-6s-jpg
Apple wants Supreme Court to kill Samsung lawsuit.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

In a petition to the Supreme Court, Apple says the high court shouldn’t waste its time with Samsung’s high-profile appeal in the two companies’ long legal battle over patents.

Samsung filed an appeal in December asking for the Supreme Court to take a look at how the damages were calculated, but Apple argues that even though it was awarded $548 million, the case is “legally unexceptional.”

iOS 9 bricks iPhones with unauthorized Touch ID repairs

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touchid

Photo: Apple

Getting a broken home button on your iPhone 6 replaced may cause the entire device to become a worthless brick of metal and glass.

Thanks to a new feature in a software update recently pushed out by Apple, thousands of iPhone users who had their devices fixed by non-official repair shops have been greeted by a disastrous “error 53” message that locks the device — and even the Apple Store can’t bring it back from the dead.

Psychologists explain phantom notifications and ‘ringxiety’

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iphone-4-closeup by alejandro escamilla ringxiety
Give it up, man. It's not actually ringing.
Photo: Alejandro Escamilla/Unsplash

More often than I care to admit, I’ll think I feel a tap from my Apple Watch. But then when I check the screen, I’ve received nothing: no texts, no phone calls, no notifications of any kind. It’s really weird and makes me feel like I’m finally losing it.

I usually just assume the watch shifted a little on my wrist, and that I’m not hallucinating at all. But psychologists are suggesting that what’s happening to me and others (you can admit it; this is a safe place) may be the technological arm of some actual psychological issues dealing with attachment, fear of rejection, and a chronic need for validation.

People are calling this symptom “ringxiety” because I’m pretty sure that we’ve really lost our sense of pride in portmanteaus as a culture.

Google cracks down on shady, fake download buttons

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You'll probably see more of this screen until things get fixed.
You'll probably see more of this screen until things get fixed.
Photo: Google

If you use Google’s Chrome web browser, you’re now even safer from sneaky advertisers that try to get you to download their crummy software with fake download buttons.

Chances are you’ve seen these around, even on some large sites like Sourceforge and CNET, and might have clicked on one or two by accident, as intended.

Google’s new addition to its Safe Browsing initiative will block sites that have these deceptive download buttons on them.

Apple, other tech firms look to get exclusive with NFL

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Apple's going head-to-head to secure streaming rights.
Apple's going head-to-head to secure streaming rights.
Photo: Nathan Shively / Unsplash

Thursday Night Football just got more competitive as Apple, Google, Amazon and Verizon are going head to head to take on the NFL’s highly lucrative sports franchise.

The U.S. football association announced that it was in “active discussions with prospective digital partners” for streaming rights to the same games, according to industry sources.

Finally! A mood lamp that looks like a Slinky

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The right light simply unfolds with Orilamp.
The right light simply unfolds with Orilamp.
Photo: Orilamp

The right light can wake us in a good mood, make us productive in work or art and enhance the romance. But, the right light is not something we normally carry with us.

Orilamp, a portable accordion lamp you control with an iOS app, is trying to change that.

What looks like two stacked wooden coasters unfold into a half circle or can be stretched out. The intensity of the Bluetooth-enabled LED light source can be controlled by the app and burn for up to seven hours on a charge.

Apple lets you trade in broken iPhones

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apple-iphone-cracked-security-mac-ios-malware-flaw
Apple's new trade-in program won't discriminate against cracked iPhones.
Photo: Faris Algosaibi/Flickr CC

Apple is rolling out several new programs in its retail store locations that will give credit for iPhones with pretty severe damage, according to a report. The program will allow customers with a cracked screen, damaged buttons or damaged cameras to trade in their faulty device without issue. Apple previously wouldn’t accept this kind of damage in its Reuse and Recycle trade-in program.

Best iPhone camera accessories for iPhone 6s

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If you want to take your iPhone photography to the next level, these accessories will help you get the job done.
If you want to take your iPhone photography to the next level, these accessories will help you get the job done.
Photo: Ally Kazmucha/The App Factor

app-factor-logo-thumbnailFor many of us, the iPhones in our pockets have long since replaced the need to carry around a regular DSLR or point and shoot camera. While the iPhone itself is typically all you need to start capturing great photos, there are a few iPhone camera accessories that can help take your iPhone photography to the next level.

These are some of my current favorites, all of which are compatible with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus:

Steel Apple Watch bracelet rivals Apple’s, but costs half the price

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Juuk Revo Apple Watch band
Juuk's stainless steel Revo wristband for the Apple Watch is a beauty.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

For nearly 20 years, watchmaker Eugene Ho has been making luxury timepieces for the likes of Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Timberland, Ecko and Reebok. Now he’s branched out on his own. His startup, Juuk (pronounced “juke”), makes beautiful, high-end bracelets for Apple Watches.

Juuk’s wristbands rival Cupertino’s aesthetics and quality — but cost half the price.

Amazon Echo adds Spotify to its musical repertoire

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amazon-echo-adds-spotify-to-its-musical-repertoire-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201602amazon-echo-jpg
Amazon Echo adds Spotify to its bag of tricks.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Amazon’s Echo smart speaker just upped its music game, adding Spotify streaming to its ever-growing list of skills. Now playing your favorite artists and playlists is just a voice command away — at least if you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber.

Intense new DOOM trailer unleashes the power of Hell

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DOOM is back!
DOOM is back!
Photo: Bethesda Softworks

The demons are back. The first trailer for DOOM‘s campaign mode was revealed this morning by Bethesda, and it’s way more intense than the original version you fought through on your Mac back in the 90’s.

The game puts you in the boots of the iconic DOOM Marine who wakes up to find out the Union Aerospace Corporation’s facility on Mars has been decimated by Hell’s worst demons. You are humanity’s last hope armed with an array of unbelievably awesome weapons, but based on the new trailer humanity is, well, doomed.

Watch the gory action below:

Name your price for 5 killer audio/video Mac apps [Deals]

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Name your price to get five great apps for working with audio and video.
Name your price to get five great apps for working with audio and video.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Nowadays we’re awash in audio and video, but working with either format can be a hassle. This bundle of five apps from Leawo Software makes it easy to capture, transfer, and edit almost any form of audio and video you’re likely to encounter, whether it’s from the web or a DVD. The best part though is that you can get the whole thing for whatever you’re willing to pay, and a portion of each dollar you spend will go to support the important work of Save the Children.

Take a look at some of what’s included:

Website lets you be a bigger blowhard than Donald Trump

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Trump did not win Iowa. Sound the horns!
Trump did not win Iowa. Sound the horns!
Photo: trumpdonald.org

The headlines that once elevated Donald Trump now predict his fall from presidential politics. If his second-place showing in the Iowa caucuses is an indication, the comedy will soon turn toward Ted Cruz.

Variety even magazine headlined one story: “Donald Trump: Is the Joke Over?” It doesn’t have to be, thanks to a website that lets you blow a loud trumpet in his face and send his much-talked-about combover flying in the breeze.

Watch Super Bowl 50 on Apple TV (no matter where you live)

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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

If you’re a cord cutter like a lot of us, you might be wondering how to get Super Bowl 50 up on your big screen at home without a cable subscription.

Luckily, if you live in the U.S., you’ve got it pretty easy. Even U.K. folks can stream it live (as long as they have a BBC account) on their iPads. If you live outside these two areas, though, you might need a little help.

Here’s how to get Super Bowl 50 on your Apple TV no matter where you live.

Slick security cam watches your house like an owl

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Keep an eye on your precious people, places and things with this great new monitor from Kodak.
Keep an eye on your precious people, places and things with this great new monitor from Kodak.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Best List: CFH-V15 Video Monitor by Kodak

This new 350-degree pan and tilt home security camera from Kodak is the most amazing video monitor I’ve used, ever.

I’ve helped friends set up a few security cameras over the years, usually to keep an eye on their kids or pets, and the CFH-V15 blows all of them away with its ease of use, simple setup, and high-end video quality.

I sure wish I had one of these when my kids were young.

Emoji becomes art in ‘Tiny Gallery’ on Twitter

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Gallery by Ryan McGuire - Pixabay tiny gallery
Tiny Gallery is like this but, like, way smaller.
Photo: Ryan McGuire/Pixabay

A new Twitter account called Tiny Gallery will fill your feed with cute scenes from the world’s smallest art space. But it doesn’t use photographs to take you there.

Instead, the creator uses a combination of punctuation marks and emojis to build and paint walls, hang pieces, and populate the little place with visitors. And it’s exactly as cute as it sounds.