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Futuristic alarm clock wears a retro face

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Snooze with a wave of your hand.
Snooze with a wave of your hand.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Best List: Retro Alarm Clock Radio by Electrohome

Experts say you need to minimize distraction from your smartphones and tablets at night, so I’ve started leaving my iPhone charging in the kitchen. Instead, I now wake up to NPR thanks to this gorgeously retro alarm clock radio from Electrohome.

It’s got everything you need to get you up at the right time, plus a host of features that make it the only alarm clock you’ll ever need.

Ballmer: Saving Apple in 1997 was ‘craziest thing’ Microsoft ever did

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"Let's talk developers!"
Photo: Bloomberg

Microsoft infamously invested $150 million in archenemy Apple in 1997 as the company was facing bankruptcy right after the return of Steve Jobs, and according to former CEO Steve Ballmer, it was the craziest thing the Windows-maker ever did.

Ballmer spends more of his time on the basketball court now than working on the next big tech ideas, but in an interview with Bloomberg this morning, Ballmer was brought on to talk about the Microsoft’s battle with Amazon. After saying Amazon is not a great place to work, the conversation drifted to Apple and Ballmer actually admitted that “they’ve done a great job.”

Coming from the guy who laughed off the iPhone because he thought the Zune was killer, that’s a hell of a compliment. Watch what Ballmer had to say about Microsoft’s rivalry with Apple below:

Mac dev uses Klingon to make app pirates walk the plank

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How do you say
How do you say "Payback's a bitch" in Klingon?
Photo: Edward Brawer

When a Klingon says bortaS bir jablu’DI’reH QaQqu’ nay,’ it’s not good. It means “Revenge is a dish best served cold” and what is likely to follow is some sort of death blow.

So when Edward Brawer, the developer of the dock replacement software uBar, had pirates of his Mac app in sight, he set his phaser to amusement. Users who ripped him off soon saw the titles on apps and folders switched to the Klingon language.

Become your own cyber security expert with this bundle of lessons [Deals]

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These 11 lessons will make sure your business is caught up with the complex world of cyber threats and security.
These 11 lessons will make sure your business is caught up with the complex world of cyber threats and security.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A key part of running any effective business these days is securing computers and online accounts against threats from hackers. The Cyber Security Professional Training and Certification Bundle offers 11 courses and more than 13 hours of instruction covering everything from the history of the software development to specific techniques for defending against attacks. It’s an ideal way to become conversant in cyber security or prepare for certification, and right now it’s a massive 98% off the normal price, just $39.

How to get iOS 9’s “picture in picture” video mode on your Mac

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Just like your iPad, your Mac can do picture in picture mode, thanks to Helium.
Just like your iPad, your Mac can do picture in picture mode, thanks to Helium.
Photo: Helium

One of my favorite things about iOS 9 is picture in picture mode, which keeps a small window of a movie visible on screen at all times. Unfortunately, OS X El Capitan doesn’t have an equivalent: you can watch a movie while multitasking, sure, but it doesn’t stay on top of your window stack no matter what, which is the genius of iOS 9’s interpretation.

I’m hoping OS X 10.12 will address this issue. In the meantime, though, there’s an app that will give OS X iOS 9-style picture in picture mode. And it’s free!

Xiaomi rumored to be ‘borrowing’ Apple’s 3D Touch tech

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xiaomi-rumored-to-be-borrowing-apples-3d-touch-tech-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015102015-09-25-191408-jpg
Xiaomi wants to bring Apple's 3D Touch technology to its smartphones.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Xiaomi wants its users to enjoy 3D Touch, too. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Xiaomi wants its users to enjoy 3D Touch, too. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Xiaomi isn’t exactly known for having its own ideas, so why would you expect it to act any differently when Apple introduced its innovative new 3D Touch feature for the iPhone 6s?

True to form, a new rumor coming out of China claims that Xiaomi has patented its own version of the technology. Because, of course it has.

Apple Watch goes on sale in India next month

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It can be tricky to explain Apple Watch's subtle allure.
The Apple Watch is coming to India.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is slowly rolling out the Apple Watch worldwide, and the next place to receive it is set to be India — a largely-untapped market which ranks among the biggest in the world.

The Apple Watch will go on sale on November 6, according to Apple’s India website. No prices have been announced yet, but it is likely to be significantly more than the cost in the U.S.

Pandora earnings hit a bum note thanks to Apple Music

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Tired of Apple Music's playlists? Try something even more indie.
Apple Music is claiming victims.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

With Pandora CEO Brian McAndres dismissing Apple Music back in July as nothing to worry about, Pandora stock took an after-hours beating yesterday, falling by as much as 21 percent to just $15.25.

The reason? A poorly-received quarterly earnings report, thought to be the result of would-be customers trying (you guessed it!) Apple Music instead of the ad-supported Internet radio company.

Somebody finally figured out where you can stick your Apple Pencil

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The Quarter with the Apple Pencil docked and ready for use.
The Quarter with the Apple Pencil docked and ready for use.
Photo: SteelConnect

When Apple enthusiastically introduced to the Apple Pencil in September, it left out one little detail – where we are supposed to put it.

SteelConnect, a company known for designing smart watch accessories, has come up with with a pencil holder that connects to the new iPad Pro. The Quarter provides a way to store the pencil, dock it in a ready position or keep the cap from getting misplaced while the pencil is charging elsewhere.

Sleek Apple Watch 2 concept inspires hope for the future

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Apple Watch 2 concept by Eric Huismann
We hope Apple takes some cues from this cool Apple Watch 2 concept.
Photo: Eric Heisuman

If Cupertino is looking for some ideas for its next wearable, this slick Apple Watch 2 concept would be a good place to start.

The mock-up comes from designer Eric Huismann, and he has some cool ideas for how the future of Apple’s smartwatches could look and behave. Along with some nice cosmetic changes, Huismann’s version of the device also boasts some of the features that didn’t make it into the first wave.

Cast a dark shadow with iOS 9.1’s hidden emoji

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Left Speech Bubble iOS 9.1 emoji
Well, you tell us.
"Drawing": Evan Killham

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bugYou’re probably excited about all of the fun new emoji characters that you just got in iOS 9.1, but one of the new additions won’t show up on any of your keyboards.

The “Left Speech Bubble” emoji isn’t part of the official canon yet, but Apple went ahead and added it, anyway. Here’s what it looks like and how to add it to your pictorial lexicon.

Embrace the new Kindle Paperwhite for reading bliss

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Get a gazillion books at your fingertips day and night with the Kindle Paperwhite.
Get a gazillion books at your fingertips day and night with the Kindle Paperwhite.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Best List: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

My wife is a voracious reader. And a bit of a hoarder.

So I tried to convince her to start reading ebooks on her iPad mini, instead of constantly bringing home new books from the book store. But it was not an easy transition. Partly because she loves to support our local bookstores and partly because she didn’t love the reading experience on the iPad.

Into the house comes a Paperwhite and all that changed.

iPad tops Best Buy survey of most desired tech gifts

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Best Buy is preparing for shoppers wanting iPads.
Best Buy is preparing for shoppers wanting iPads.
Photo: Apple

Want the new iPad or MacBook for Christmas? You’re not alone. Big box store Best Buy found the iPad the most desired tech gift this holiday season, according to a survey of 2,000 people.

The MacBook came in third behind the Bose QuietComfort noise cancelling headphones. Of the 15 tech items listed, the Apple Watch ranked 12th.

Tiny shock absorbers could save you a fortune in iPhone repairs

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broken-iPhone-5
An avoidable disaster?
Photo: Cult of Mac

iPhones are pretty tough things, but despite all the Gorilla Glass and engineering magic Apple can throw at them, they’re still susceptible to broken screens when dropped.

That could change in future iPhone models, with a newly-published patent application describing an automated mechanism for protecting the iPhone display with a method straight out of James Bond.

Instagram takes on Apple’s Live Photos with Boomerang

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Boomerang is just like Live Photos.
Boomerang is just like Live Photos.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram’s new app Boomerang lets users create one-second videos of everyday moments, then share them to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

The new app is a lot like the new Live Photos feature Apple introduced on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Boomerang takes a burst of five photos, stitches them together into a mini-video, then plays the clip in forward and then reverse — you know, just like a boomerang!

Here’s how it works:

Give yourself the capacity to code with this bundle of lessons [Deals]

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Step up your coding game or start from scratch with this bundle of 8 lessons.
Step up your coding game or start from scratch with this bundle of 8 lessons.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s never too late to learn a new skill, and coding is one skill that’s worth acquiring no matter when you choose to start. Few things look as good on a resume as confidence with a variety of coding languages and techniques, which is what this bundle of 8 courses offers. With over 74 hours of training on everything from basic web development to Ruby, Python, Node, and other essential elements of the modern coding landscape, there’s something here to enhance anybody’s skill set. And right now you can get in on these lessons for a whopping 94% off the regular price, just $59.

Another Apple partner accused of unsafe worker conditions

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timcookgoestochina
Tim Cook visits one of Apple's factories in China.
Photo: Tim Cook

One of Apple’s supply chain iPhone manufacturers is under fire for unsafe and illegal labor practices — and for once it’s not Foxconn.

This time the company is Pegatron, which worker rights group China Labor Watch says has not cleaned up its act, despite Apple claiming that it would investigate it back in 2013 after 86 labour rights violations were identified at three of its factories.

Twitter flips out over Apple’s new bird-flipping emoji

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Look for a one-fingered salute coming soon to a text near you.
Look for a one-fingered salute coming soon to a text near you.
Photo: iOS 9.1

Remember in grade school when you learned what the middle finger meant? Twitter was kind of like that Thursday morning as giggly and astonished people reported their discovery of a middle-finger emoji in their iOS update.

This is not new news. We knew the finger would fly when the iOS update was announced earlier. Maybe it got lost in the excitement of finally getting a taco emoji. Who knows. But the tweets about the bird were refreshing 20 and 30 at a time every few seconds this morning.

To most taking to social media, the middle finger feels naughty and delicious.

HomeKit makes Philips Hue smartbulbs even cooler

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Philips-Hue-smartbulbs
The new Philips Hue starter set might be the first must-have gear for people interested in HomeKit.
Photo: Evan Killham

If you’re even slightly interested in having smart lighting for your house, the new Philips Hue bridge, which supports Apple’s HomeKit automated-home framework, should be in your shopping cart right now.

Controlling your lights from your phone is one level of crazy future-stuff, but doing it with your voice drops you into an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. And you definitely want your home to feel like an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Tim Cook defends faltering Chinese economy

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tim-university-china
Tim Cook says Apple will continue to invest in China.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook has stuck his neck out again in support of the Chinese economy, saying that Apple will continue to pour money into the market, despite a slowing stock market and economy.

“I know some people are worried about the economy,” Cook said in an interview with the Chinese Xinhua news agency. “We’ll continue to invest. China is a superb place to be. Nothing has changed that.”

Is your Mac or iPhone charger an energy vampire?

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Don't worry. This isn't a vampire.
Don't worry. This isn't a vampire.
Photo: Hildgrim/Flickr CC

If you’re environmentally conscious at all, or if you’re just trying to save a few pennies on your electricity bill, you’re probably aware that a lot of gadgets suck up a surprising amount of energy when in standby mode.

Consequently, many people suggest that you should totally unplug these “energy vampires” when they’re not in use … but how seriously should you take that? Should you be totally unplugging your MacBook charger, or your iPad charger, when it’s not in use?