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Become a web developer at your own pace with a lifetime of lessons [Deals]

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OSTraining offers a lifetime of access to more than 2,500 courses covering a wide range of essential web development skills.
OSTraining offers a lifetime of access to more than 2,500 courses covering a wide range of essential web development skills.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Web development skills are essential to many of today’s top jobs, but it’s a time-consuming process to learn, especially for those without coding experience. With OSTraining’s collection of lessons, you can take as much time as you need — literally your whole life. With over 2,500 video lessons covering the whole landscape of web development, it’s an invaluable source of knowledge that you can access now for $69 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Poop now at your fingertips with new emoji keyboard

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This keyboard from EmojiWorks is a quicker way to express your feelings via emoji.
This keyboard from EmojiWorks is a quicker way to express your feelings via emoji.
Photo: EmojiWorks

There’s now a faster way to flip the middle finger or display a steaming pile of poop – along with your other favorite emoji.

EmojiWorks has introduced what is probably the first portable keyboard with built-in emoji shortcuts. Each letter key displays two or three different emoji, which can be inserted into a message by pressing a dedicated emoji key.

Sharing your Touch ID is a big no-no, say banks

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xiaomi-rumored-to-be-borrowing-apples-3d-touch-tech-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015102015-09-25-191408-jpg
Touch ID should not be shared, banks say.
Photo: Apple

Banks may refuse to refund disputed transactions, or help customers who are victims of fraud, if the person in question has their fingerprints stored on a phone or tablet that does not belong to them.

According to a new report, several banks in the U.K. are making the decision now that fingerprints are used to authenticate payments within Apple Pay. Lloyds Bank, for instance, features the following line in its terms and conditions: “If Touch ID is available on your device, you must ensure you only register your own fingerprints (and not anyone else’s).”

Apple already working on Force Touch keyboards

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Use your credit card to solve your Apple problems. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Yep, I'd buy that.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has steadily been rolling out its 3D Touch/Force Touch technology across as many of its devices as possible — and the next step may be Mac keyboards.

According to a newly published patent for an “Ultra low travel keyboard,” Apple’s futuristic keyboard would allow different functions or commands to be assigned as per, “different levels of force input” received when you press a key.

How to use your old TV remote with your new Apple TV

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The smaller one is way better.
The smaller one is way better.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

The new Apple TV remote is a wondrous touch- and motion-enabled trackpad with a few simple buttons that lets you do everything on your new black hockey puck of joy, including playing games, swiping through apps, and, well, playing and pausing your movies and TV shows.

What happens when you lose it somewhere in the depths of your couch, though? The iPhone Remote app no longer works with the new Apple TV, and unless you have an Apple Store nearby, you’re gonna want to have a backup plan in place.

Might as well take a couple of minutes and set up your regular old TV remote to work with Apple TV, right?

Here’s how.

Apple is teaming with other tech giants for financial lobbying

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Apple raked in the cash last quarter.
There's money to be made in, err, money.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple, Amazon and Google aren’t exactly techie BFFs, as can be seen from that whole Android vs. iOS thing, or Amazon’s recent decision to boot Apple TV out of its online store.

But you know what can bring the heads of all three companies together? Let’s try a quick pop-quiz.

A) Team-building paintball trip.
B) Romantic candlelit dinner.
C) The promise of lots and lots of cash.

Click below to find out. (Hint: the answer is C.)

Apple may be cutting back on iPhone 6s orders

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What will you get this Black Friday?
Not the 6s Apple thought it would be?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Despite the iPhone 6s’ record-shattering 13 million unit sales in its first three days, reports coming out of Apple’s supply chain suggest that manufacturer Pegatron has stopped operating several of its iPhone 6s production lines in Shanghai — and may even be laying off some employees who were hired to work on the handset.

While this has the distinct feel of an unsubstantiated rumor to it, Pegatron has come forward and acknowledged that it’s actually true.

But hold back your “Apple will go bankrupt in six months” placards for now; things aren’t exactly as they first appear…

Two years on, Apple’s spaceship campus is taking off

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Screen Shot 2015-11-03 at 11.31.29
Apple's new campus looks like something out of Spectre.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

How time flies! This month marks two years since ground broke on Apple’s futuristic new “spaceship” campus, and — despite the odd hitch along the way — things are looking impressively together.

To show just how together the pieces all are, drone videographer Duncan Sinfield recently flew his DJI Inspire 1 drone over the building site to produce a stunning video of Apple’s forthcoming dream campus.

Check it out below. You won’t regret it.

Activision Blizzard acquires Candy Crush creator for $5.9 billion

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activision-blizzard-acquires-candy-crush-creator-for-5-9-billion-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015112015-11-03-091313-jpg
Activision just spent more on Candy Crush than you ever will. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Activision just spent more on Candy Crush than you ever will. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Activision Blizzard, the gaming company known for franchises like Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Guitar Hero, has acquired King Digital Entertainment for $5.9 billion.

The Candy Crush creator boasts one of the largest networks of players on mobile, with a staggering 474 million active users a month.

Apple TV app will wow you with stunning shots of Earth

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The Aurora Borealis over the Atlantic Ocean as seen from the International Space Station
The Aurora Borealis over the Atlantic Ocean as seen from the International Space Station
Photo: Jetson Creative

I’ve always wanted to go into space. The now-familiar view of our “big blue marble” have always fascinated and entranced me, even as a young boy.

With Earthlapse TV, I can stare out of a virtual window from the International Space Station to watch the coast of Northern Australia spin past my high viewpoint, see the aurora borealis as it shimmers above the northern hemisphere, or watch as the world turns from London to Africa beneath my gaze.

This is a gorgeous app and a perfect fit for the big-screen TV in my living room.

How to set up your Apple TV the right way

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Ready. (tv) set,  go!
Ready. (tv) set, go!
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV is out and it’s pretty fantastic.

Running through setup is fairly simple, but we all could use a little advice on how best to make our choices along the way.

With that in mind, then, let’s run through the Apple TV arrangements in order.

Tiny preamp will solve your biggest audio problems

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beachtek dxa-slr ultra
Filming Leander for his Kahney's Korner videos is always a challenge, but thanks to the DXA SLR Ultra, now there's no need for a hissy fit.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Best List: Beachtek DXA-SLR Ultra preamplifier

Hssssssssss.

Hssssssssss.

I told one of my favorite photographers, Mike Kepka, that I was trying to shoot a little video, but that my audio sounded horrid. He happens to be pretty decent videographer. And a little bit of a gearhead (at least in comparison to me).

“Get a Beachtek,” said Mike.

“What is the hell is that?” I said. “And do you have one?”

How to access open Google Chrome tabs on Android and iOS

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how-to-access-open-google-chrome-tabs-on-android-and-ios-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201511Chrome-open-tabs-syncing-jpg
Syncing open tabs is easy in Google Chrome. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Syncing open tabs is easy in Google Chrome. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Did you know that it’s incredibly easy to access open Chrome tabs on your Android and iOS device? So if you’re reading an article on your computer and you have to dash out, you can access it later while you’re on the go without having to search for it again, type in a URL, or email links to yourself.

Here’s how.

Facebook orders employees to switch to Android

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Facebook's chief product officer has had enough of workers preferring the iPhone.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Facebook-Android
Facebook’s chief product officer has had enough of workers preferring the iPhone. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Facebook has a problem of iPhone love: too many of its employees prefer Apple’s device when given the chance between an iPhone and Android smartphone. This means that up until now, far less workers have been able to truly live in an Android environment where they can identify bugs within Facebook and fix them. Now, the chief product officer is changing that by ordering some employees to switch to Android.

Yes, your glass Apple TV remote will break if you drop it

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The first known casualty of the new Apple TV is this dropped remote.
The first known casualty of the new Apple TV is this dropped remote.
Photo: right2pandaarms/Reddit

The tech accessories industry had better get to work on coming up with a protective case for a new Apple product that appears to be fragile – the remote control for Apple TV.

The above remote fell onto a tiled floor from a person’s lap and shattered. It does not work, costing the owner an extra $79 to replace it (nope, he did not purchase Apple Care).

This tiny black brick adds a layer of backup to your regular Apple charger [Deals]

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NomadPlus mounts the regular white Apple USB hub, turning it into a portable 1800mAh battery.
NomadPlus mounts the regular white Apple USB hub, turning it into a portable 1800mAh battery.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

All of us iPhone users know the feeling of having to pull the plug and get out the door before the battery’s done charging. The sleek white charging block that comes with our phone channels the charge but can’t carry it, but with the NomadPlus it can. Designed to snugly fit Apple’s USB hub, it’s a great way to turn your average wall charger into a portable battery for just $24.99.

Apple says ‘screw you’ to Europe’s largest hacker conference

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Apple offers up to $1.5 million to anyone who spots a software flaw
You know, hackers like these guys!
Photo: United Artists

The Chaos Computer Club, Europe’s largest collective of hackers, claims that Apple rejected the group’s streaming video app — which would allow users to watch talks from its Chaos Communications Congress event.

Why? Because members of the conference had previously hacked iOS, and Apple doesn’t want to help spread the hacking word.

Steve Jobs had another disastrous weekend at the box office

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giphy
Steve Jobs biopic in one sad GIF.
Photo: Reddit

Yikes! Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs movie is now being talked about as the year’s most disappointing box office flop, after taking a beating in its second weekend in theaters — dropping from a dismal $7.3 million opening weekend to just $2.58 million over the past couple of days.

I’m guessing at this point there’s no talk of Steve Jobs II: Think Differenter in the making!

Apple testing out indoor location-tracking app

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It's like Apple's version of the Harry Potter Marauder's Map.
Photo: Apple

Apple is currently letting developers test a new Indoor Survey iOS app, which would allow iPhone users to use indoor positioning technology to pinpoint exact locations in real-time, without the need for extra hardware.

The app is part of Apple’s continuing quest to up its game when it comes to mapping technology.

Bond producers rejected $50m offer so 007 wouldn’t have to use an Android

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bond-producers-rejected-50m-offer-so-007-wouldnt-have-to-use-an-android-2-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201511maxresdefault-jpg
The name's Sung. Sam Sung. Photo: MGM
The name’s Sung. Sam Sung. Photo: MGM

James Bond depressed the brake in his Aston Martin, slowing the silver beast down to stalking speed. As the car dawdled outside the six-star Maldives hotel, he rolled up the sleeve of his Giorgio Armani shirt, checked the time on his gleaming $20,000 Omega watch, and then reached into his pocket and withdrew the middling Samsung Galaxy S6.

Something’s wrong with the above scene — and Bond producers seemingly thought so too, because apparently they turned down a massive $50 million marketing and promotional package from Samsung, which would have seen Bond carry a Samsung handset in the new movie Spectre.

Why? Because Bond only uses the best.

This is what a full-screen iPhone 7 could look like

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iPhone 6s
An edge-to-edge display would look great on the iPhone 7.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

There have been plenty of rumors about Apple creating a bezel-less iPhone, but a new concept by designers DeepMind, in collaboration with SvetApple, may be my favorite yet.

It’s a nifty feature which would keep the iPhone looking like the current model — only with the neat addition of letting users enlarge photos and video right to the edge of their devices.

Check out the video below.