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Porsche picks CarPlay thanks to Apple’s privacy policies

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CarPlay pays off for car manufacturers.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “We don’t want to know” non-snooping data protection policy may not be making it too many friends in government, but it’s certainly won over Porsche.

According to a new report, Porsche opted to go with Apple’s CarPlay platform over Google’s Android Auto for its new 911 Carrera and Carrera S models. The reason? The massive disparity in data the two companies demand.

Apple Watch features showcased in 6 cool new ads

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Are Apple Watch expectations just too high?
This is why now is the perfect time to get an Apple Watch.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Thanks to its arrival at major retailers like Target and Best Buy, the Apple Watch is going (more) mainstream — and Apple wants potential customers to know exactly what they’ll be able to do with their new wearable devices.

In six cool new ads, Apple shows off nifty Watch features like Apple Pay, Siri, Maps, voice messaging, fitness tracking, and more.

Check them out below.

Apple scoops up privacy-loving A.I. company

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Siri
Siri usage is climbing rapidly.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is beefing up its Artificial Intelligence tech with the purchase of Perceptio, a small startup that worked on creating advanced AI systems on smartphones.

Perceptio’s specialization was figuring out how to run complex neural network algorithms without needing to share as much user data. That would seem to fall in line with Apple’s goal of providing more robust features for Siri without compromising users’ privacy in the process.

$5 service will break up with Comcast for you

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Cancelling your cable plan is a more difficult process than it should be.
Cancelling your cable plan is a more difficult process than it should be.
Photo: Mike Mozart/FlickrCC

I wonder how many actual hours I’ve wasted sitting on hold, navigating audio phone menus and arguing with cable company representatives over why I want to cancel my service. I’m betting it’s a lot, and I’m betting that you have been victim to this ridiculous gate-keeping system, too.

AirPaper, a new internet service out of the San Francisco Bay Area, will cancel your Comcast cable subscription — one of the hardest plans to cancel — for just five bucks.

This watch went to the moon (and now you can wear it)

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This Bulova watch worn by Apollo 15 commander David Scott will open at auction at $50,000.
This Bulova watch worn by Apollo 15 commander David Scott will open at auction at $50,000.
Photo: RR Auction

When work takes you to the lunar surface, even the smallest detail should have a Plan B.

Apollo 15 commander David Scott donned his personal Bulova watch for his final moonwalk in July 1971 after the crystal on his NASA-issued timepiece fell off during a previous walk. As an idea, it proved priceless. As a piece of history, it’s worth is expected to exceed $50,000.

Steve Jobs’ co-workers share fondest memories of Apple co-founder

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What was it really like to work for Steve Jobs?
What was it really like to work for Steve Jobs?
Photo: Jigsaw Productions

Today is the fourth anniversary of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ passing, and as has become tradition on October 4, some of his closest co-workers are sharing their fondest memories of what it was like working alongside him.

Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Eddy Cue, Andrea Jung and Bud Tribble all shared short essays with Apple employees this morning on the company’s intranet. To commemorate Jobs’ legacy, Tim Cook told employees in an email to stop older executives today and ask what Jobs was really like.

With controversial movie Steve Jobs set for release later this month, Jobs’ co-workers’ essays provide a look at aspects of the visionary Apple CEO’s personality that those who only knew him through the public eye probably missed.

Here’s what Jobs’ friends had to say about working with him:

How to auto-hide the menu bar in OS X El Capitan

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Look, ma, no menubar!
Look, ma, no menubar!
Screen: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Sometimes you need to use your entire screen at once, like when you’re working on a serious photo-retouching project or need more screen real estate for an epic GarageBand session and you don’t want to maximize the app you’re using.

If you’ve ever wanted to regain a little bit of space on your Mac’s screen, the time is right to make sure you’re running the latest version of OS X, El Capitan. It will let you hide the menu bar up top to give you more space to work with.

Here’s how to have your menu bar hide itself when you’re not using it.

Check out the new Microsoft Windows logo designed by Apple

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Notice something different about the Windows logo?
Notice something different about the Windows logo?
Photo: Apple

It looks like Apple hated Microsoft’s new Windows logo so much that it got redesigned for an iCloud support page.

Apple updated its article on how to get help using iCloud Calendar recently and added a custom Windows logo that looks like a literal window with a little windowsill underneath. It’s more like clip art than something master designer Jony Ive would approve of, which makes it kind of mysterious why it’s there when the official logo would suffice.

Here’s the official logo for comparison:

Young app developer has caught the eye of Apple

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Connor Chung
Connor Chung, 14, of Bethlehem, NY, at the WWDC 2015.
Photo: Connor Chung

Few things could excuse a kid from skipping his middle school graduation. Connor Chung had a note from Apple.

It explained he would be needed in San Francisco for the WWDC. Once there, he would meet important people like Tim Cook, take part in brainstorming sessions with developers and engineers and lay the groundwork for an Apple Watch app that would be among the first in iTunes on the day OS 2 launched.

Turn any PDF into a beautifully readable digital presentation [Deals]

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Flip PDF easily transforms simple PDF documents into beautiful digital books.
Flip PDF easily transforms simple PDF documents into beautiful digital books.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

PDFs are convenient and used by almost everybody, but flipping between preview windows is not a very attractive or engaging way to view content. Flip PDF for Mac makes it easy to create beautiful digital books and presentations out of your PDFs, perfect for designers, photographers, advertisers, anyone who could benefit from a beautiful digital presentation of their work. And right now, you can get a copy for a tenth of the normal price, just $9.

Ultra-chic Apple Watch Hermès goes on sale for $1,100+

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Hermes Apple Watch bands are now available on their own.
The Hermès "double tour" wraps twice around your wrist.
Photo: Apple

Apple today launched its ultra-chic Apple Watch Hermès product line, as announced at the company’s media event last month.

Combining the existing Apple Watch hardware (only with the addition of a Hermès logo) with luxury leather straps from the Parisian fashion brand, the result is quite possibly the most stunning range of Apple Watches yet. They even come with unique Hermès watch faces.

Prices range from $1,100-$1,500.

Samsung’s super-sized iPad Pro competitor to pack disappointing specs

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samsungs-super-sized-ipad-pro-competitor-to-pack-disappointing-specs-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201507samsung-galaxy-tab-s2-2015-07-20-02-jpg
Samsung's massive tablet could be a massive disappointment. Photo: Samsung
Samsung’s massive tablet could be a massive disappointment. Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s super-sized iPad Pro competitor will come packing painfully disappointing specifications, according to the latest leak.

The slate’s 18.5-inch display is to be accompanied by a speedy octa-core Exynos processor — but it’s lacking in RAM, cameras, and motion sensors.

Bridget Jones ditches her diary for an iPad in new movie

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bridget6f-1-web
Move over Darcy, Bridget Jones only has eyes for her iPad.
Photo: Universal Pictures

Is there a single company existence which manages to get more publicity from third parties than Apple?

Universal Pictures has just released its first image for the upcoming Renee Zellweger movie Bridget Jones’ Baby, and… frankly, it looks a whole lot like an advert for the iPad Air 2.

Tim Cook commemorates Steve Jobs on fourth anniversary of his death

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Steve
Steve Jobs connects the dots in his commencement speech at Stanford in 2005.
Photo: Stanford University

It may not seem like it, but Steve Jobs passed away four whole years ago today — leading to his colleagues paying tribute to the late Apple CEO.

In an email sent out to employees, Tim Cook praised Jobs as a “visionary,” reminding people that Jobs’ office remains untouched at Apple, and encouraging people to post their own memories to Apple’s internal AppleWeb intranet and messaging system.

Check out Cook’s complete message below:

iPhone 6s sales may be up to 15% weaker in Japan

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iPhone 6s
Are iPhone sales finally starting to slow down?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has praised the iPhone 6s for selling a record-shattering 13 million units in its first three days. However, a new report suggests that in Japan the 6s and 6s Plus actually sold 10-15 percent fewer units than last year’s iPhone 6.

How can both of these reported facts (record-breaking sales figures and lower demand) be true at the same time? There is an answer — and, no, it’s not Schrödinger’s iPhone.

Tim Cook receives award for his LGBT activism

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Tim Cook has been a tireless champion of the LGBT community.
Photo: Human Rights Campaign

Over the weekend, Tim Cook received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in Washington D.C. for his work as an outspoken voice in support of the LGBT community.

Cook — who came out as gay last year — delivered a great acceptance speech in which he talked about his decision to publicly reveal his sexuality as well as talking about the numerous advances LGBT rights have made within his lifetime.

Check it out below.

Jobs’ widow tried to block the release of Steve Jobs movie

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Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs.
Laurene Powell Jobs probably won't be lining up to watch the movie opening weekend.
Photo: Universal Pictures

Could the story behind the upcoming Steve Jobs movie be even more exciting than the movie itself?

Having seen the movie dropped by its original backers, experienced damaging leaks as a result of the Sony hack, and topped off by a recent war of words between Tim Cook and writer Aaron Sorkin, now a new report claims that Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, tried to block the film’s release altogether.

Cult of Mac will pay top dollar for your used iPhone 

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Every year, millions of older smartphones are dumped. We hope to help change that. Cult of Mac is launching a trade-in service that pays more than almost all the other gadget buy-back programs out there. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Every year, millions of older smartphones get dumped. Cult of Mac hopes to change that with a new buyback service that pays more than similar programs.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

I’m super-excited to announce that Cult of Mac is launching a gadget buyback program that promises to pay more for used and broken Apple devices than Gazelle, Walmart and even Apple itself.

As we enter the annual upgrade season, we’ve teamed up with a U.S. recycling company to offer what we believe is the highest-paying buyback program right here at buyback.cultofmac.com.

We pay cash for old iPhones, iPads, iPods and MacBooks. We accept both used and broken devices — even dead iPhones that have fallen in the toilet.

Last chance to save big on a tiny, tough Lightning cable that goes anywhere [Deals]

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Titan's MFi-certified Loop is a superb way to keep a charging cable on hand when and wherever you need it.
Titan's MFi-certified Loop is a superb way to keep a charging cable on hand when and wherever you need it.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

These days, the charging cable for our mobile devices is almost as important to keep on our person as the house keys. Titan Loop is a great way to keep both on hand, a lightweight, steel-sheathed lightning cable that can also fold into a loop that attaches to anything else you regularly carry around with you. For a very short time, Titan Loops are still available for $19.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Lollicam, Starseed: Origins and other awesome apps of the week

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appsoftheweek_1024
'Appy weekend all!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Somehow it’s the weekend again already, and to help you celebrate we’ve combed through the week’s best apps to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Whether it’s a great retro-style iOS action game or a superb Twitter client, we’re confident we’ve got what you’re looking for.

Check out our list below.

Our fave El Capitan tricks plus seven days with the 6s on The CultCast

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Your Mac—it just learned some new tricks.
Your Mac—it just learned some new tricks.
Photo: Library of Congress

This week: we’ve spent seven full days with iPhone 6s and we’re ready to report what we love and what we don’t. Plus: El Capitan just made your Mac a lot better! We’ll cover the cool tricks your Mac just learned. And then, how does $9 for an Apple Watch Sport band sound? How about $28 for a Leather Loop? Sure, the fake Apple Watch bands are 1/5 the price of genuine bands, but are they any good? We’ve been testing two fakes to find out, and the results might surprise you.

Our thanks to Lynda for supporting this episode. Lynda is like the Apple Music of online education, with over 3000 expert-taught video courses you can stream straight to computer or mobile device. Learn how to use Logic’s new super powerful Alchemy synth, or develop Mac apps for OS X—learn all you want for free for 10 days at lynda.com/cultcast.

Need new headphones? We’ve got the ones you’re looking for, at the right price. [Deals]

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Beats by Dre, like their namesake, are well known for making sound that's guaranteed to move you.
Beats by Dre, like their namesake, are well known for making sound that's guaranteed to move you.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve got a phone, you’ve got to have a good set of headphones. We’re all looking for something different from the music makers we put into our ears, whether it’s studio quality sound, wireless convenience, or something that can survive a daily workout regimen. No matter what your needs, we’ve got you and your budget covered with these four deals on top notch earbuds.

Where are all the watchOS 2 fitness apps?

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Runtastic's text is sometimes too small to read while running
Runtastic's text is sometimes too small to read while running
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

WatchOS 2 offers cool new features for third-party fitness apps. But a week after its launch, most leading fitness apps have yet to go native and take advantage of the Apple Watch update.

So what’s up? The answer may lie in Apple’s new workout API, which does not provide the GPS coordinates required for apps to map your run or cycle ride.

Apple welcomes new batch of HomeKit-compatible devices

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Apple HomeKit
HomeKit is getting closer to helping you live in the future.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s list of HomeKit-compatible devices is finally starting to look impressive.

The company’s smarthome framework has been off to a bit of a slow start since Apple first unveiled it at its Worldwide Developers Conference last year, but this fall might be when it actually hits its stride. The list of available compatible devices is growing, according to an update on Apple’s website.

Wearable with flexible display set to blow your mind next year

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wearable-with-flexible-display-set-to-blow-your-mind-next-year-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201510Wove-smart-wearable-jpeg
Wove smart wearable
The Wove, Polyera’s upcoming smart wearable, looks like the future.

A new wearable is set to make devices like the Apple Watch and the LG Urbane look like old-fashioned junk.

Wove might cause a twinge of nostalgia among children of the ’90s who grew up with slap bracelets on everyone’s wrists, but it’s way more impressive than those (which, let’s face it, most things are). It’s a wonder of technology that wraps a full-featured, customizable, multi-touch screen completely around your arm on a flexible display.

Android Authority got its first look at the upcoming gizmo, and you can see it in action in their video below.