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Apple Watch may get an ‘S’ upgrade in March

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Apple Watch
Get your Apple Watch ready for your new iPhone.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The iPhone might not be the only device getting an incremental upgrade at Apple’s next keynote, which is rumored to take place March 15.

In a note to investors this morning, Apple analyst Gene Munster claims Apple Watch may get a slight hardware upgrade this spring that will include a better processor, improved battery life and other new internal components.

Apple Watch credited for explosive growth in wearable market

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Chances are you'll see quite a few more of these in the coming years.
Chances are you'll see quite a few more of these in the coming years.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Makers of wearable electronics need to thank the Apple Watch for the rapidly growing wearable market, itself poised to see even more stunning gains in the coming year.

“From 2015 through 2017, smartwatch adoption will have 48 percent growth largely due to Apple popularizing wearables as a lifestyle trend,” said Angela McIntyre, director at research firm, Gartner.

Apple is finally giving iPhone users a taste of VR

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The iPhone looks good inside the View-Master VR headset.
The iPhone looks good inside the View-Master VR headset.
Photo: Apple

Apple is supposedly working furiously on product ideas to enter the Virtual Reality market. There have even been reports of several prototypes of VR headsets created by a secret research team said to be comprised of hundreds of engineers.

If Apple has been mind-bogglingly quiet about VR, it did offer a sign of interest recently when the View-Master VR headset appeared for sale on Apple’s website.

You should never go online without protection [Deals]

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ZenMate offers protection and anonymity when you browse online, even via public Wi-Fi networks.
ZenMate offers protection and anonymity when you browse online, even via public Wi-Fi networks.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We all know that the Internet can be a dangerous place, but too few of us ever do anything about it. One of the best and easiest way to ensure a safe and private online experience is to connect through a virtual private network, and few are better than ZenMate VPN. And right now you can get a lifetime premium subscription for just $49.

Google wants its Nexus phones to be more like the iPhone

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The official Google phone is coming.
The official Google phone is coming.
Photo: Google
Google could make its own iPhone rivals. Photo: Google
Google could make its own iPhone rivals. Photo: Google

Google’s flagship Nexus 6P delivered significant design improvements last year, putting its hardware on par with the best devices from rival manufacturers. But Google wants the Nexus lineup to be even more like the iPhone.

To make that happen, the company will reduce its reliance on third-party manufacturing partners like Huawei and LG and assume greater control over Nexus hardware, according to one report.

How to get better deals while shopping online with PriceRadar for iPhone

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No matter what you're shopping online for, PriceRadar can help ensure you get the best possible deal.
No matter what you're shopping online for, PriceRadar can help ensure you get the best possible deal.
Photo: Ally Kazmucha/The App Factor

app-factor-logo-thumbnailFrom tech gadgets to clothes to our favorite tv shows and movies, prices for our favorite things are constantly changing online. If time isn’t an issue, I can show you how to get fantastic deals with only one iPhone app — PriceRadar by Francesco Zerbinati. Once set up, you can easily track price drops effortlessly. Here’s how…

Apple has reached testing phase of dual-lens camera samples

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Apple is reportedly testing dual-lens cameras from three different companies.
Apple is reportedly testing dual-lens cameras from three different companies.
Photo: Computerbild.de

Apple is apparently reviewing samples of dual-lens cameras that may go into a version of the iPhone 7.

A tech website based in Taiwan reported Tuesday that Largan Technology, which currently supplies Apple with the bulk of its smartphone cameras, is one of three companies to submit samples.

Apple plans March 15 event for iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se unveiling

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iPad Air 3 will pick up some tricks from the iPad Pro.
iPad Air 3 will pick up some tricks from the iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

The grand unveiling of Apple’s newest iPad and iPhone is reportedly just over a month away.

Although the iPhone-maker usually waits until fall to reveal its latest and greatest iOS devices, a new report claims Apple has set its sights on March 15 as the date for its first big keynote of 2016.

Alphabet tops Apple to become world’s most valuable company

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Google logo
Google's logo
Photo: Google

Google’s parent company Alphabet is now the most valuable company in the world, passing Apple in market capitalization today in after hours trading.

This is the first time since February of 2010 that Google has passed Apple in value. The Cupertino-based iPhone maker has held the top spot since 2013 when it passed Exxon Mobile, but thanks to a strong earnings report today, Alphabet has rocketed to the top.

User-friendly soundtrack app easily helps you ‘score’

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Easy and powerful music creation.
Easy and powerful music creation.
Photo: Filmstro

Need to add that special musical magic to your short film or home video, but know next to nothing about film scoring or playing an instrument?

Filmstro’s got your back with a super easy-to-use Mac app that will let you create powerful, custom soundtracks simply and easily without needing to know how to compose or write music.

Best iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch accessories for frequent travelers

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7 must-have accessories for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch owner on the go.
7 must-have accessories for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch owner on the go.
Photo: Unsplash

app-factor-logo-thumbnailI travel frequently, both for work and for pleasure. Over the past few years I’ve found certain accessories I just can’t live without. Whether I’m walking out the door to a coffee shop or I am getting on a plane and need to pack more serious gear, these are the travel accessories I couldn’t live without when it comes to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Sketchbook gets second life as iPad Pro case

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The look of a sketchbook in an iPad Pro case may appeal to the ever-doodling artist.
The look of a sketchbook in an iPad Pro case may appeal to the ever-doodling artist.
Photo: Longo Case

The iPad Pro and Apple Pencil are impressive tools but what becomes of the special bond an artist has with their sketchbook?

This is centuries-old relationship Apple is disrupting, so an accessories company has designed a case for the iPad Pro that has the look and feel of a personal and coveted sketchbook.

iPad Pro dominated Microsoft Surface lineup during holidays

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Microsoft Surface to take on iPad
Microsoft’s next Surface tablet wants to make difficult for iPad.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft still has a long way to go before it takes down the iPad.

The iPad Pro absolutely dominated the Microsoft tablet lineup, selling more units than the Surface Pro 4 and Surface 3 combined, according to the latest estimates from IDC which revealed that the iPad Pro was the clear winner this season as the top selling detachable tablet.

Pro Tip: Get higher-quality exports from Photos app

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Photos app does some things differently than iPhoto did.
Photos app does some things differently than iPhoto did.
Photo: Apple

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bugAs a longtime iPhotos user, I’ve taken my sweet time getting to know the new Photos app in OS X. But I can tell you this much: It brings a few differences in the way it does stuff.

One of the new subtleties of the Mac’s Photos app is how it treats exporting your pictures. There are two ways to get your images out of the Photos app. One will give you a smaller file; the other will preserve the higher resolution of the original photo.

Here’s how to make sure you’re exporting your photos at the quality you want.

Schematic reveals iPad Air 3 will be slightly thicker than iPad Air 2

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iPad Air 3 will be the smartest iPad yet.
iPad Air 3 will be the smartest iPad yet.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The iPad Air 3 is poised to be the biggest upgrade the iPad lineup has ever seen, but all those new features might come with a price of extra thickness.

An alleged schematic of the iPad Air 3 has been leaked that shows the upcoming device’s exact dimensions. The schematic also appears to confirm that the iPad Air 3 will use the Smart Connector found on the iPad Pro.

Check it out:

iPad Air 3 case on Alibaba hints at Smart Connector

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If this picture is accurate, the iPad Air 3 could come with a Smart Connector.
If this picture is accurate, the iPad Air 3 could come with a Smart Connector.
Photo: Shenzhen Hong Technology Co./Alibaba

It’s a product with some holes in it and it’s the holes that could be of interest to Apple fans excited about the upcoming iPad Air 3.

A photo allegedly showing an Air 3 case has cutouts for a Smart Connector and four speakers. The Japanese Apple blog Macotakara raised the possibility of a beefed up iPad after seeing a case available for pre-order on Alibaba.

Feeling bored with your iPhone? Deck it out [Deals]

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Add a phone charger to your wallet. Seriously.
Add a phone charger to your wallet. Seriously.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

iPhones are amazing, but they can be better. How? That’s up for you to decide. One of the great things about the explosion of the iPhone is all the peripherals that have been made to trick them out. We’ve found some of the best add ons for the one device most of us always have with us. Take a look and see what grabs you:

Bill Gates says Beatles song perfectly explains relationship with Jobs

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Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, rivals and friends.
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, rivals and friends.
Photo: AllThingsD

Bill Gates has a song in his heart for the late Steve Jobs. Yes, they were fierce rivals as they pioneered products that revolutionized personal computing, but the competition mellowed into a good friendship.

So when Gates, in an interview on BBC show Desert Island Discs, was asked to choose eight songs and why they are meaningful to him, he had one picked out for Jobs — “Two of Us” by The Beatles.

Porsche CEO: ‘iPhone belongs in your pocket, not on the road’

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Your Porsche won't drive its self anytime soon.
Your Porsche won't drive its self anytime soon.
Photo: Axion23/Flickr

Don’t count on Porsche to enter the self-driving car craze anytime soon.

In an interview with a German newspaper, Porsche’s CEO Oliver Blume turned up his nose at the idea that one day humans will no longer be in command behind the wheel, saying the company does not plan to develop self-driving vehicles.

To make the point clear that Porsche will not team up with a tech company, the CEO then dropped a not so subtle dig at Apple’s electric car project.

Apple’s ‘Shot on iPhone’ billboards are back

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Everyday photographers are part of Apple's new ad campaign.
Everyday photographers are part of Apple's new ad campaign.
Photo: Kate Schermerhorn

Apple is bringing back its popular ‘Shot on iPhone’ advertising campaign that won several awards in 2015, only this year instead of using pictures of scenic landscapes and city life, the company is changing the focus by using only portrait photos.