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Samsung is ripping off Apple again — this time with phone leasing program

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samsung-is-ripping-off-apple-again-this-time-with-phone-leasing-program-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Samsung-Galaxy-S6-Edge-and-Note-5-jpg
Samsung is going back to the Cupertino well.
Photo: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and Note 5
Samsung is going back to the Cupertino well. Photo: Samsung

Just days after being told to stop ripping off Apple’s designs, Samsung is reportedly getting ready to “borrow” another of Cupertino’s ideas — this time with a program for leasing its Galaxy handsets to U.S. customers, much like Apple announced two weeks back with its iPhone Upgrade Program.

Apple focuses on Apple Music playlists for its exclusive Emmys ad

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Screen Shot 2015-09-21 at 10.30.30
Apple Music's latest ad brings out the celebs.
Photo: Apple

Apple debuted a new star-studded ad for Apple Music during last night’s 2015 Emmy Awards, featuring singer Mary J. Blige, Scandal actress Kerry Washington, and Hustle & Flow actress Taraji P. Henson.

The ad focuses on the curated playlists of Apple Music, which is a feature Apple has been focusing on to differentiate itself from rival music services.

You can check it out below:

Apple cleans up the App Store after biggest security lapse in history

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Apple has lost its third appeal for ownership of the term App Store in Oz. Photo: Apple
Malicious code is causing Apple to remove hundreds of apps from the App Store.
Photo: Apple

Apple is removing hundreds of apps from the App Store after discovering that they contain a malicious program called XcodeGhost.

In the entire lifespan of the App Store, Apple has only previously found five malicious apps — making this easily the single biggest security lapse in App Store history.

Save up to 98% & arm yourself with the tools and knowledge of the digital creative’s trade [Deals]

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Learn the essential skills and software used by professional designers and animators.
Learn the essential skills and software used by professional designers and animators.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re a designer, animator, or any other kind of creative, your work requires skill, taste and, just as importantly, tools. Whether you’re making 3D architectural schematics, designing signage, or crafting a post-Internet seapunk masterpiece in MS Paint, we’ve assembled some of the best gear and lessons to empower your work at some of the lowest prices you’ll see. Check them out now, these deals will only be around for another day or two.

The clock’s ticking on these massive discounts for gear, gadgets and more [Deals]

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NetSpot Pro Wi-Fi Optimizer makes it possible to visualize and fix Wi-Fi signal problems at home or in the office.
NetSpot Pro Wi-Fi Optimizer makes it possible to visualize and fix Wi-Fi signal problems at home or in the office.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Summer’s slipping away and so are these deals on essential tech, toys, and lessons. From mini drones to universal charging stations to photography lessons, there’s something here for anyone and any budget. But with just a few days left, the time to act is now.

The new and noteworthy of iOS 9 and our favorite tips and tricks on the CultCast

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Brace yourselves.  Picture-in-picture is coming... to your iPad.
Brace yourselves. Picture-in-picture is coming... to your iPad.
Photo: Apple

This week: we review the new and notable features of iOS 9, and some lesser-known features you should definitely be using. Plus: why you probably should’ve gotten the 128GB iPhone; a legit way to save 20% off your next Apple purchase; and what we love and don’t about iCloud storage.

And, we all love the sweeping musical scores that define our favorite movies and videos games, but have you ever wondered who creates them? Composer Gareth Coker, creator of the Ori and the Blind Forest score, joins us to talk about the process of creating a cinematic score from scratch, how music and technology are more intertwined than ever, and what it’s like to work as a modern day video game and movie composer.

Has Apple Watch helped you get in shape?

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Join the Cult of Mac club on Strava and share your fitness story
Join the Cult of Mac club on Strava and share your fitness story
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch has been on our wrists for just five months and yet it is already having an amazing impact on many people’s lives.

We want to find out how Cult of Mac readers are using Cupertino’s fitness tech to get in shape, so we’re inviting everyone to share their inspiring stories. Plus, we’ve set up a new Cult of Mac club on Strava so you can connect with other readers who are into fitness.

How iOS 9’s Wi-Fi Assist frees users from slow connections

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Name-changer: Passbook is  called Wallet in iOS 9.
iOS 9's Wi-Fi Assist hopes to help you keep your connection strong.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A new, slightly hidden feature in iOS 9 hopes to help keep your connection as strong as possible.

Apple’s latest version of its mobile firmware contains a lot of obvious changes (Passbook is now called Wallet, for example), but a lot of the biggest and best changes are buried away just waiting for you to discover them. One of these hidden gems is the Wi-Fi Assist feature, which might just solve one of the most annoying issues we saw in earlier versions of the operating system.

Here’s what it is and how it can help you.

Apple Watch heart monitor saves teen’s life

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Apple Watch alerts user of irregular heart rhythms in sleep
Keep an eye on this. It might keep you out of the grave.
Photo: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

A teen sought medical attention after his Apple Watch heart monitor gave him persistently high readings, and that decision saved him from an untimely death.

Paul Houle, a 17-year-old football player, bought Apple’s wearable a few days before he started pre-season training at Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass. After two practices in one day, he noticed that his heart rate was sitting around 145 beats per minute, even hours after he’d stopped exercising.

He wouldn’t know until later, but he was experiencing a potentially life-threatening condition.

iPhone 6s camera hits the runway for NY Fashion Week

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Coach fashion show shot on iPhone 6s.
Coach fashion show shot on iPhone 6s.
Photo: Kevin Lu/Vogue

Apple is still preparing shipments for next week’s public launch of the iPhone 6s, but the folks at Vogue managed to get an early unit to test out the phone’s new picture taking skills at New York Fashion Week.

The new 12 MP camera sensor does not disappoint, according to Kevin Lu who became the first photographer to snap pictures with the new phone. 

Here’s what Lu had to say about the new camera after hitting the runways with it:

Pro Tip: Make iOS 9 keyboard all caps again

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Do we really need lowercase? No.
Do we really need lowercase? No.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Pro Tip Cult of Mac bugI can’t stand the new lowercase keyboard in iOS 9. It’s a fairly useless change to begin with, as it doesn’t make anything easier.

Sure, it shows whether you’ve pressed the Shift key or not, but the new Shift key is also improved, making the lower-case option aesthetic rather than functional.

So, if you’re like me, here’s how to put that keyboard back to the way it “should” be.

How to fix iOS 9’s Slide to Upgrade bug

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It's time to get ready for your iOS 9 upgrade.
You did back everything up, right?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Some users trying to upgrade to iOS 9 this week have run into a serious problem: After the download happens, they find themselves stuck on the “Slide to Upgrade” screen upon restart. This bug renders their iPhones unusable, which is about the least useful state for an iPhone to be in.

But Apple has noticed, and it’s offering a fix. Here’s what you do to fix the annoying Slide to Upgrade bug.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Why you need iOS 9 right now

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More iOS 9 news and reviews than you can handle!
More iOS 9 news and reviews than you can handle!
Cover: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

We’re excited about all the cool new “whiz-bang” features in iOS 9 as well as the hundreds of tiny little improvements that will make your iPhone and iPad much better to use.

This week, we’re sharing that joy with you as we take a deep dive into iOS 9’s killer new features, how to upgrade the right way, an abundance of tiny tricks you need to know, and some of the best apps already rocking iOS 9.

Take a look at Cult of Mac Magazine to fill your head with all this great content.

Android vs. iOS: Do adoption figures mean anything?

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Is it fair to compare (adoption rates)?
Is it fair to compare (adoption rates)?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS 9 has been out for two days, and it’s already running on more than 20 percent of compatible devices, according to the latest data. In comparison, Google’s latest Android release, version 5.1 Lollipop, is running on just 5.1 percent of devices ten months after it made its public debut.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2These figures highlight the staggering difference between updates on Android and iOS. But is it fair to compare adoption figures between these two platforms, and do users really care?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over this very topic!

Developer pulls ad-blocker after topping App Store

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Marco Arment just wasn't at Peace with himself.
Photo: Sundaram Ramaswamy/Flickr CC

Developer Marco Arment pulled his iOS 9 content blocker from the App Store two days after launching it. He says it “just doesn’t feel good” to be profiting from his app Peace while taking money away from advertisers and publishers. He’s even offering refunds to anyone who already bought Peace expecting updates and support down the line, which they now won’t be getting.

How to use Notes in iOS 9 like a boss

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Notes-app
Keep your dirty words out of the Notes app.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The busier my life gets, the more disorganized I become. I fumble for a notepad when I’m out and want to get someone’s phone number. I think of get short story ideas when I’m in the shower, and I have tons of books and movies I want to get (usually when I’m broke). Don’t get me started on shopping lists. Who has time to write those out?

My digital life is just as disorganized. There are web links to save, photos of stuff I want to share with friends, and notes I need to refer to while writing articles on the web. They’re each in their own separate apps or websites, making pulling everything together a pain.

Notes in iOS 9 solves this dilemma by allowing us all to keep all our photos, notes, shopping lists in the one place we’re most likely to find it: on our iPhones.

Better yet, you can dictate an idea for your next screenplay right out of the shower, then pick up your iPad when you get to work and resume it right there.

Here’s how to get the most out of your new Notes app, and never be disorganized again.

Apple’s new Company Store will actually sell iPhones, iPads, and Macs

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Belgium's Apple Store is one of the first to bear Jony Ive's imprint.
Belgium's Apple Store is one of the first to bear Jony Ive's imprint.
Photo: Bruno Dalimonte/macplus.net

For the first time ever, Apple fans will soon be able to buy an Apple device directly from the company’s Cupertino headquarters.

Apple’s Company Store at 1 Infinite Loop is set to reopen this weekend, and along with selling special products like shirts, jackets, mugs, pens, the Company Store will now stock iPhones, iPads, and Macs for visitors to purchase.

Apple Pay is one step closer to arriving in China

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Photo: Adrian Korte CC
Tim Cook has said bringing Apple Pay to China is a top priority.
Photo: Photo: Adrian Korte CC

Apple Pay is a bit closer to making its debut in China — thanks to a new company, Apple Technology Service (Shanghai) Ltd., which Apple has set up to operate in the Shanghai free-trade zone with the express purpose of running its mobile payment service.

Apple has reportedly seeded the new company with registered capital of $13.4 million, and names Apple’s VP and corporate treasurer Gary Joseph Wipfler as its legal representative and chairman.

Unlock the music box with a 6-month subscription to Pandora One [Deals]

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Get 6 months of Pandora One, with zero ads, more 'skips', and improved audio quality.
Get 6 months of Pandora One, with zero ads, more 'skips', and improved audio quality.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Pandora basically invented a whole new way of listening to music when it unveiled its brand of personalized internet radio. While many of us use the freebie version of Pandora’s service, with limited functionality and regular ads, right now you can get a great deal on a 6-month subscription to Pandora One, their top tier option, for just $24 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Love him or hate him, you must Paint with Donald Trump

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The polls don't open for several months, but you can express your feelings with art about Republican candidate Donald Trump.
The polls don't open for several months, but you can express your feelings with art about Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Illustration: David Pierini/Cult of Mac with Paint with Donald Trump

Just when voters thought the 2016 presidential election was a blank canvass, Donald Trump’s face started making a splash. Now you, too, can make a splash with Trumps face on a blank canvass.

The website, Paint with Donald Trump, lets you select from eight different faces of the billionaire Republican candidate and three different sized brushes, which clone his likeness with every click and drag.

It’s about time! Apple Watch is named ‘Gadget of the Year’

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It's about time. (Get it?)
Photo: T3

Apple Watch just racked up another well-deserved award win — being named the year’s best gadget at top U.K. consumer technology event, the T3 Awards.

“Once again Apple have produced a product that has galvanized a market,” said T3 editor Rob Carney. “In a year of outstanding new products, this stood out to all of the judges and voting public as THE outstanding tech of 2015. The tech and fashion media have nothing in common, yet both enthused about Apple Watch. That says it all about this high-style, high-tech, highly personal device. It’s a worthy winner of the 2015 Gadget of the Year.”

We can’t disagree there!

Apple Car is almost ready for public road tests

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Apple Car
Tim Cook allegedly plans to use the BMW i3's body for Apple Car.
Photo: BMW

Apple met with officials at California’s Department of Motor Vehicles to discuss plans to test its self-driving Apple Car on public roads, according to a new report.

What does this mean? Quite possibly that we’re set to get a glimpse of the Apple car a lot sooner than most people figured.

Apple Watch still in need of its killer app

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Not everybody who bought the Apple Watch is wearing it.
Is the Apple Watch still searching for that magical "must have" app?
Photo: Apple

The Apple Watch is still searching for its “killer app,” claims a new report — arguing that the lack of a “must have” use-case is stopping Apple’s wearable device from achieving its sales potential.

The analysts in question suggest that the Apple Watch will sell between 9-12 million units this year.

Apple cloned another Android app for Move to iOS

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apple-cloned-another-android-app-for-move-to-ios-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Move-to-iOS1-jpg
Move to iOS wasn't made by Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Move to iOS wasn’t made by Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Apple brought its first Android app to the Play Store earlier this week, making it easy to transfer all of your data to an iPhone should you choose to switch. But it turns out the app isn’t really Apple’s; it’s actually a rebranded version of an existing Android app.