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No, Apple didn’t purge ‘Chipgate’ app from App Store

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The A9 processors inside Apple's new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come from two different manufacturers and appear to perform differently. And thus
The A9 processors inside Apple's new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come from two different manufacturers and appear to perform differently. And thus "Chipgate" is born.
Image: Austin Evans/YouTube

As iPhone 6s owners freak out over whether their new smartphones might be saddled with a performance-deficient chip, an app that makes it easy to identify the type of chip inside the new smartphones mysteriously vanishes from the App Store.

It’s enough to get “Chipgate” conspiracy theorists churning, but the reality is a little less dark than all that.

Become a Python coding pro with this 6-course bundle [Deals]

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This bundle of six courses will provide a complete foundation and advanced command of Python, one of the most widely-used coding languages.
This bundle of six courses will provide a complete foundation and advanced command of Python, one of the most widely-used coding languages.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Python is one of the most widely used programming languages out there, a clear but powerful and perfect for projects big and small. It’s a perfect addition to anyone’s resume, but like any new language it takes practice and guidance to master. This bundle of 6 lessons is like a full-immersion language course for Python, covering everything from general web development to data analysis to games, a wealth of skills and knowledge that can be yours for $29, more than 80% off the normal price.

Skip the grind: 3 fun mobile games that (almost) play themselves

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Look, ma, no hands!
Look, ma, no hands!
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

I just leveled up while I was driving to pick my kid up from school. I set up a digital battle using my iPhone while sitting in my driveway, hit “Go,” and then just put my iPhone down on my dashboard while I drove to get him.

I’ve been calling these types of games “auto-battlers” for their central feature: letting you skip tedious, grinding gameplay that tends to be a feature of traditional role-playing games. I don’t have time to micromanage my iPhone; chances are neither do most people, which explains the rise of casual gaming over the past five years or so.

Here are three fun mobile games that let you experience more depth than a typical Flappy Bird clone, but still don’t require too much input to enjoy.

Petite stomp boxes pack serious sonic punch

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Stomp your way to glorious sound.
Stomp your way to glorious sound.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Best List: Bullseye guitar effects pedals by GMF

These tiny guitar effects pedals from GMF Music will fit on any pedalboard or stage setup thanks to their unique, top-loading design. Sure, they’re small, but boy do they pack a powerful punch.

All four Bullseye pedals feature a fully shielded steel case (to minimize that hum you’ll hear at most live shows) crammed with some serious circuitry that makes it super-easy to dial in the perfect guitar sound.

Steve Jobs movie is dramatic, but Michael Dell’s is hilarious

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Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 13.27.13
"Don't think different; think same."
Photo: Conan

Michael Dell is most familiar to long-time Apple fans as the man who told a crowd in the late-1990s that, if he was running the company, “I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

With Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs movie currently making waves, Conan yesterday unveiled his hilarious trailer for what a Michael Dell biopic might look like.

If you ever wanted to see a Hollywood version of the Dell story — complete with inspirational lines like “Don’t think different; think same” — this is probably the closest you’re ever going to get. Check it out below.

Exclusivus iBookus! Apple magics up special edition Harry Potter books

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Should we call him Harr iPotter now?
Photo: Warner Bros.

Apple today announced the launch of special “Enhanced Editions” of all seven Harry Potter books, exclusively on iBooks.

Featuring interactive animations, elaborate artwork, custom covers, exclusive annotations by J.K. Rowling, and, of course, the original text, the books can be downloaded individually for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

iPhone 6s defeats $3,000 Nikon DSLR in 4K video battle

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Nikon_D750_01
Shootout at the 4K Coral.
Photo: Henry Söderlund

It’s no secret that the iPhone 6s packs a pretty darn great camera, but how does it compare to a professional DSLR like the Nikon D750?

A recent 4K video shootout compares the two and, wouldn’t you know it, finds that Apple’s next-gen handset pretty much owns the Nikon in terms of filming beautiful, crisply detailed footage.

Check out the video below.

Jimmy Iovine: Free music streaming is hurting the industry

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Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 11.34.30
Jimmy Iovine shares a similar philosophy to Steve Jobs about music.
Photo: Vanity Fair

Jimmy Iovine used his appearance at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit in San Francisco to take swipes at Spotify and, in particular, to underline his hatred of free music streaming.

“Free is a real issue,” he said. “This whole thing about freemium, maybe at one time we needed it. But now it’s a shell game … These companies [offering a free music tier] are building an audience on the back of the artist.”

Almost 3 out of 5 compatible devices are running iOS 9

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iOS 9 is good, but iOS 10 needs to be spectacular.
There's no shortage of enthusiasm for iOS 9.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Not content with selling a whopping 13 million iPhone 6s handsets in their first weekend on sale, Apple is also smashing records with iOS 9 adoption.

According to Apple’s latest developer figures, just three weeks after its public debut, 57 percent of users with compatible mobile devices are already running iOS 9. Meanwhile, 33 percent are still using the last-generation iOS 8, while just 1 in 10 users is stuck on an earlier version.

Jony Ive expresses ‘primal fear’ over Steve Jobs movie

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Jony Ive
He hasn't seen the movie, but Ive has his doubts.
Photo: AP

Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive said in an interview that he has a “primal fear” over the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic, and particularly the possibility that the movie could portray his former boss and friend in a negative light. He did say he hasn’t seen the film, but remains skeptical.

“I’ve talked at length with friends of Steve and of me who have seen the film,” Ive said, before later adding that there are “sons, daughters, widows and very close friends who are completely bemused and completely upset.”

Wearables aren’t flying with the IT crowd

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Time travel without a flux capacitor - right on your wrist.
But ... Apple Watch doesn't even connect to Wi-Fi.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A new study suggests that the increased popularity of wearables like the Apple Watch and fitness trackers in the workplace is giving information technology professionals the willies.

IT tool and service provider Ipswitch polled 288 workers who feel like the burgeoning devices might present some problems, especially if they’re connected to company-owned Wi-Fi networks.

Apple TV vs. Roku 4: Which box will hold your attention?

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Apple TV versus Roku 4
Which streaming box has earned a place by your TV?
Photo: Evan Killham

Those on the lookout for a new streaming box this fall will have a tough decision to make when the fourth-generation models of both Apple TV and Roku hit the market. And while they both have some solid features, which one you end up buying depends a lot on what you already own.

Here’s how the two streamers measure up.

Adidas wants you to 3D-print your own running shoes

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Print out your own specialized sneakers with Adidas' new tech.
Print out your own specialized sneakers with Adidas' new tech.
Photo: Adidas/Futurecraft 3D

Imagine a day when you can turn on your 3D printer and just print out running shoes that match your feet perfectly.

That day may be sooner than you think: sportswear company Adidas let loose a new proof of concept it wants to bring to market soon: 3D-printed running shoes.

Called Futurecraft 3D, this lightweight, high-performance footwear boasts a running shoe midsole that you can tailor to your foot’s own cushioning needs, a clear advantage over buying off the shelf.

Check out the amazing reveal video below.

Samsung chip might be ruining your iPhone 6s’ battery life

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The new Low Battery Mode in iOS 9 means your device will last even longer than before.
The new Low Battery Mode in iOS 9 means your device will last even longer than before.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A new controversy is brewing online after it’s been revealed that not all iPhone 6s units get the same amount of battery life. The apparent culprit? The new A9 processors, which power Apple’s latest iPhones and were sourced by two chip manufacturers.

Hand stabilizer will put the ‘pro’ in your GoPro films

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The Aeon is a hand stabilizer that keeps your GoPro footage from looking jittery.
The Aeon is a hand stabilizer that keeps your GoPro footage from looking jittery.
Photo: áetho

The GoPro action camera has turned average consumers into cinematic artists. But sometimes the star is not the camera itself, but the accessory that helps the camera get that award-winning clip.

A new handheld stabilizer by áetho could be the next star, preventing jerky footage with a professional smoothness that uses sensors to adjust to movement at an astounding rate of 1,000 times per second.

It’s great to work ergonomically, but what about sleeping ergonomically?

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Hullo pillows are a sustainable, long-lasting  and cost-effective way to sleep ergonomically.
Hullo pillows are a sustainable, long-lasting and cost-effective way to sleep ergonomically.
Photo: Hulltex

This post is brought to you by Hulltex, maker of the Hullo Buckwheat Pillow.

If you’re one of the millions of people sitting at a computer for eight hours a day, keeping proper posture is a constant concern. You buy all kinds of stopgaps — yoga ball chair, curved keyboard, ergonomic mouse — but how often do you think about keeping your spine lined up while sleeping?

This portable iPhone battery doubles as a charging stand

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The ChargeStand in the resting position. It then folds up and functions as a portable battery.
The ChargeStand in the resting position. It then folds up and functions as a portable battery.
Photo: Ventev Mobile

The ChargeStand is a device with a static name, one that suggests its place is on a desk or end table. But the combination charging dock and portable battery is only meant to rest when you do.

It elegantly holds your smartphone in portrait or landscape position as it charges, but as your day begins, it folds up, fits neatly in a pocket or bag and, with a 3000 mAH battery, can lend an ample supply of juice to a battery near empty.

Pro Tip: How to disable calls on other Apple devices

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Keep your Amazon details safe with two-step verification.
Keep your Amazon details safe with two-step verification.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bug

We received a message today on our Cult of Mac Facebook page asking about calls showing up on an iPad when the call originated on an iPhone.

There are a couple of different places to turn this feature off so you’re not juggling all your iPads and MacBooks when you make or receive phone calls.

Taste the Apple in the new Beats Pill+

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beats-pill-plus-apple
The new Beats Pill+ is a bigger one to swallow.
Photo: Beats

The Beats Pill+ is on its way and equipped with that Apple lovin’. The successor of the Beats Pill takes a somewhat different design approach from the Beats Pill and comes with some terrific improvements to sound and battery life. Most interestingly, the speaker is the first the company released since Apple’s acquisition last year.

OS X 10.11.1 gets third beta with lots of bug fixes

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el-capitan-beta
New El Capitan beta is here.
Photo: Apple

The next big update for OS X El Capitan is nearing completion with the release of OS X 10.11.1 beta 3 to developers and registered public beta testers.

OS X 10.11.1 build 15B30a comes just over a week since the last El Capitan beta was released. It’s available in the Apple Developer Center, as well as through the Software Update option in the Mac App Store.