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EFF: T-Mobile’s Binge On breaks net neutrality by throttling all HTML5 video

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The EFF agrees: T-Mobile's Binge On plan is just throttling.
The EFF agrees: T-Mobile's Binge On plan is just throttling.
Photo: T-Mobile

T-Mobile, America’s uncarrier, claims that its Binge On program allows its customers to stream an unlimited amount of video from select services without taking away from their data caps. And that’s true.

But according to the Electronics Frontier Foundation, what’s also true is that Binge On throttles streaming speeds on literally every other HTML5 video service out there, degrading video performance across the board no matter where you stream. Boo.

Booze bots, badass routers, high-flyin’ drones and more at CES

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The Vuze is a VR camera that captures scenes in 360-degrees. It'll be sold as a kit that includes a headset, and it's pretty cool.
The Vuze is a VR camera that captures scenes in 360-degrees. It'll be sold as a kit that includes a headset, and it's pretty cool.
Photo: Leander Kahney / Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac CES 2016 full coverage LAS VEGAS — CES 2016 is about to kick off. The world’s biggest consumer electronics show, which is held each January in Las Vegas, starts this week. At a press preview Monday night, we got a peek at some of the industry’s latest, greatest offerings.

Here’s some of the stuff we think is pretty cool. Check out a cocktail robot, a monster Wi-Fi router that promises to eliminate dead spots, and a fixed-wing drone that flies like a hawk.

HP borrows from Apple for its MacBook-inspired EliteBook Folio

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Is HP's new laptop a MacBook beater?
Photo: HP

Cult of Mac CES 2016 full coverage Most of the time you hear about another tech company “borrowing” from Apple’s design language it’s a Chinese smartphone maker creating an iPhone knockoff. Not so with HP, which just unveiled its gorgeous new EliteBook Folio notebook — which happens to look a whole lot like a MacBook.

If you’ve ever fancied a MacBook that runs Windows, this is probably the closest you’re ever going to get!

Free wireless EarPods will make up for iPhone 7’s missing headphone jack

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A concept for how the iPhone 7 may look.
Photo: Erin Huismann

The iPhone 7 may be the best part of nine months away, but supply chain sources are starting to shed some light on what we can expect from Apple’s next generation handset.

One thing which seems more and more certain is that Apple plans to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in an effort to push users toward wireless headphones instead.

iPhones, iPads and Mac, oh my! Apple’s next big earnings call will be January 26

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On January 26, we find out how many millions of iPhones Apple sold over Christmas.
On January 26, we find out how many millions of iPhones Apple sold over Christmas.
Photo: Apple

Mark your calendars. Apple is set to announce its Q1 2016 earnings January 26.

Apple confirmed today via its Investor Relations portal that it will be releasing financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2016 (re: September through December 2015) at 2 p.m. Pacific on January 26.

Microsoft excited to almost reach iPad levels of success with Windows 10

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It's on many devices, but we still don't know what kind of devices.
It's on many devices, but we still don't know what kind of devices.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is excited, as it’s almost got as many installs of Windows 10 as there are iPads. Of course, the Redmond-based tech company didn’t put it in as many words, rather shouting out that Windows 10 is on now on a ton of devices.

“As of today,” writes Microsoft on its website, “there are more than 200 million monthly active devices around the world running Windows 10.”

That’s surely a lot of installs, showing significant growth.

Parrot goes Disco and gives its new drone wings

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The Disco drone looks more like a hawk.
The Disco drone looks more like a hawk.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

It looks like the new hotness in drone technology — which many of us associate with quadcopters — is wings. Parrot, the company most well-known for its AR Drone and various mini-drones, is bring an all-new entry into the drone space: the Disco fixed-wing drone.

If you’ve ever wanted to fly your own remote-control plane and haven’t gotten into the technology yet, this just might be your time.

Sleep Number’s ‘It’ bed will help you improve your sleep habits

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The bed that might know more about how well you sleep than you do.
Photo: Sleep Number

Cult of Mac CES 2016 full coverage Sleep Number is perhaps one of the very few companies at CES that actually wants to put us to sleep instead of keep us awake with bright screens and games all night. It’s very latest method for accomplishing that goal is the It bed: a bed that will track different aspects of your sleep patterns during the night to inform you on just how well you’re sleeping at night. Plus, it’ll integrate with its own app and other third-party apps to do that.

Griffin’s Travel Power Bank keeps your Apple Watch charged for days

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For when Apple Watch needs an energy boost. Or four.
Photo: Griffin

Cult of Mac CES 2016 full coverage Griffin Technology introduced several new products ahead of CES 2016 that aim to improve the way you charge your Apple devices. A prominent pick is a tiny portable battery called the Travel Power Bank that delivers much needed on-the-go power to the often inadequate Apple Watch.

“With our compact, all-in-one battery and charging cable on hand, users can leave their Apple Watch charging cable safe at home with no worries about running out of power,” said Andrew Biddle, Category Manager of Power Products at Griffin Technology.

New USB-C cable brings magnetic power to your 12-inch MacBook

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When Apple left off MagSafe connection to its USB-C MacBook, Griffin came up with a solution.
When Apple left off MagSafe connection to its USB-C MacBook, Griffin came up with a solution.
Photo: Griffin

In making a smaller MacBook, Apple took away one little thing that could have us tripping – literally. Gone with all the ports on the slim 12-inch MacBook with a single USB-C port is the magnet in the connector that kept your charging cord securely plugged in.

Trip over the cord on earlier MacBooks and it broke away cleanly without sending your laptop flying. Foreseeing the accidents, tech accessory company Griffin has created a USB-C power cable with a quick-release magnetic feature.

Apple TV now finds PBS shows with universal Siri search

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Now find PBS Kids shows with your Siri Remote.
Now find PBS Kids shows with your Siri Remote.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

It looks like Apple has expanded its killer Apple TV feature again, with Siri searches now turning up shows from PBS and PBS Kids.

This is the first sighting of the universal search feature finding results from more than just the apps included in Apple TVs initial launch, which included iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, HBO, and Showtime.

Now when you ask your Siri Remote to find shows that are available on PBS and PBS Kids, like the show about that curious monkey, you’ll see another option to watch via the Apple TV screen.

How to restart (or just ‘sleep’) your Apple TV

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Reboot your Apple TV with style.
Reboot your Apple TV with style.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Is your Apple TV glitching out in some way? While I’ve not personally seen any weirdness with the rock-solid OS that comes with the Apple TV, it’s possible that you might have.

As most of us know, rebooting our Mac or restarting our iOS devices can save us from all sorts of odd behaviors; the same could be said of Apple TV. Here’s how to restart that little black box of joy, plus an easy way to get it into low-power sleep mode.

Three great ways to streamline your time at the computer [Deals]

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Stay organized and productive by visualizing your data and notes in a brand new way.
Stay organized and productive by visualizing your data and notes in a brand new way.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you spend any amount of time at the computer, there are lots of ways you can save time by making easy changes. That can be a change of habit or a solid productivity app, and we’ve found deals on three great ones for you to take advantage of. Whether visualizing your notes and data or keeping distracting websites out of the way, there’s something here to help anybody make better use of their screen time.

5 tech trends you don’t want to miss at CES 2016

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Tech is taking over Vegas for the week.
Tech is taking over Vegas for the week.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac CES 2016 full coverage 2016 is here and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for CES.

The world’s biggest consumer electronics show, CES 2016, is getting underway this week in Las Vegas, which means nerds and all the companies that make the gadgets they love are instinctively flocking to the desert oasis like the salmon of Capistrano.

This year’s show promises to be bigger than ever, with all the latest tech trends on full display. Cult of Mac will be on the scene all week long bring hands-on looks at the coolest and weirdest gadgets CES has to offer.

Here’s what we expect to see at the show:

Smart gadgets are getting their own Wi-Fi standard in 2018

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A new type of Wi-Fi is on the way.
Photo: Ming Xia/Flickr

A new type of Wi-Fi is on the way. Photo: Ming Xia/Flickr
A new type of Wi-Fi is on the way. Photo: Ming Xia/Flickr
With CES, aka the world’s biggest consumer electronics show, coming up this week, we’re about to hear a whole lot more about the Internet of Things and smart, connected gadgets.

Which makes this the perfect time for the announcement of a new type of Wi-Fi called Wi-Fi HaLow, which is an extension of the upcoming 802.11ah Wi-Fi standard, designed to end up inside fitness trackers, home sensors and other smart gadgets.

Win a brand spanking new 13-inch MacBook Pro [Deals]

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MacBook
Is Apple about to surprise us with a new MacBook Pro?
Photo: Apple

The latest MacBook Pro has made waves, not least by adding a brand new Touch Bar feature. If you’re hankering for the latest powerhouse productivity station from Apple but don’t want to wait in line or drop the $1,800 to get one, today’s your lucky day. Right now, we’re giving away a brand new 13″ MacBook Pro at Cult of Mac Deals.

Obama uses Fitbit to get a fit bod while snubbing Apple Watch

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fitbit
Obama decided against an Apple Watch.
Photo: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

When it comes to wearables, Barack Obama has given the POTUS stamp of approval to the Fitbit Surge, leaving the Apple Watch out in the cold.

Viewers got a glimpse of Obama’s presidential wrist during his recent appearance on Jerry Seinfeld’s web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Given that Obama’s previously been open about his inability to own an iPhone (which the Apple Watch needs in order to operate) due to security concerns, it’s no surprise he would opt for a Fitbit.

Still, it’s another compelling example of why the Apple Watch 2 needs to be more of a standalone device!

Chief exec admits Samsung is in trouble this year

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Samsung is in trouble. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung is in trouble. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

In a not-exactly-happy New Year message sent to employees, Samsung chief executive Kwon Oh-hyun has warned that growth will continue to slow over the course of 2016 — with the reason being weak global economies and increased competition from the likes of Apple.

Beyonce’s stylist just created the most narcissistic iPhone case yet

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Putting the "I" in iPhone
Photo: Tytryone

From bizarre accessories approaching Zoolander levels of parody to thieves stupid enough to snap themselves at the scene of a crime, selfies were one of 2015’s most unfortunate trends.

Unfortunately it looks like they’ll be continuing into 2016, too, with Beyonce’s celebrity stylist Ty Hunter recently unveiling her own contribution to humanity’s downfall: the Ty-Lite protective case for iPhone 6 and 6s, which basically turns your handset into a light-up dressing room mirror.

Someone named a narcissistic iPhone accessory after themselves? Why am I not surprised?

Steve Jobs wins film prize, despite ‘unfortunate box office’

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Aaron Sorkin’s Steve Jobs movie is coming to Netflix
Steve Jobs, Master of Magnetism. Wait, that was the other Fassbender movie, wasn't it?
Photo: François Duhamel/Universal Studios

Steve Jobs may have bombed worse than the Power Mac G4 Cube, but that’s not stopping the movie from being lavished with prizes on the film festival circuit — en route to the upcoming Oscars.

This weekend, Steve Jobs actor Michael Fassbender was awarded the International Star prize at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, presented by his Steve Jobs co-star Kate Winslet.

Apple’s 2015, exciting future tech, and our Force Awakens deep dive, on The CultCast

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Welcome... to the future!
Welcome... to the future!
Photo: Popular Science

This week on The CultCast: Why 2015 was one of Apple’s best (and worst!) years ever; what Apple needs to improve in 2016; and future tech that could change the world. Plus, stick around for our deep dive into The Force Awakens, our in-depth review of the magic, delight and heartbreak of J.J. Abrams’ new Star Wars universe.

Our thanks to FreshBooks for supporting this episode, the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast.