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Never forget: How to disconnect from Bluetooth in iOS 9

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You can save yourself from headaches with this subtle new iOS 9 feature.
You can save yourself from headaches with this subtle new iOS 9 feature.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Finally! Apple has added a small yet incredibly useful feature to the way iOS 9 handles Bluetooth devices.

In the past, you’d have to drop into the Bluetooth settings, tap on an offending Bluetooth device, and tell your iPhone or iPad to Forget the device, just to re-pair it or use the built in speakers. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent doing that, especially when I get a call while connected to a speakerphone-capable audio device; I have a lot of Bluetooth speakers.

Now however, Apple’s added a little extra so you can disconnect from a Bluetooth device instead of Forget it entirely, making it much easier to, say, stop using a specific speaker and return to your iPhone’s built-in speaker.

Here’s how.

Stress-busting app will engross your inner child

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Who knew coloring could be so restful, even for adults?
Photo: Recolor

One way I can often determine if an app is worth my time is by putting it through a specific test. If I get so sucked into an app that I forget I’m actually supposed to be gathering thoughts to write up a review, it’s because that app is generally pretty awesome. I had this somewhat rare experience with Recolor, a new coloring book app for adults on iOS.

Apple tried to score ESPN SportsGuy for exclusive podcast

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Bill Simmons nearly signed with Apple.
Bill Simmons nearly signed with Apple.
Photo: Joe Murphy/NBAE

Apple is looking to create its own original content, and according to a new report, that almost included signing former ESPN ‘Sports Guy’ Bill Simmons to provide an exclusive podcast for Apple users.

ESPN abrupty announced that they would not be renewing Simmons’ contract earlier this year, which led Apple media boss Eddy Cue to gauge the ESPN star’s interest in creating an exclusive audio podcast deal, before he decided to sign on a multi-platform deal with HBO.

Apple Stores now stocking professional drones for completely legal uses

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Coming to a backyard near you.
Coming to a backyard near you.
Photo: Apple

With a mere $1,259.95, you can now buy a professional camera drone from the Apple Store.

Called the DJI Phantom 3, it shoots 4K video with a bottom mounted 12 megapixel camera, has a 3-axis stabilization system, and you can run it all from your iPhone or its own remote controller.

You know, for all those legal drone shots you want to take.

BuzzBundle lets you master the online buzz about your business

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Buzzbundle is a powerful tool for finding and joining conversations about your business or brand.
Buzzbundle is a powerful tool for finding and joining conversations about your business or brand.
Photo: Buzzbundle.com

This post is brought to you by BuzzBundle.com.

The power of the internet lies in the conversations it carries. If you’re looking to build an online reputation for your business or brand, you’ve got to make sure your voice is heard where it counts.

Wherever someone is talking about something you can relate to, there’s an opportunity to attract new followers and customers. The trick is finding them, and BuzzBundle can help.

Sleep machine promises a good SNOOZ

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The makers of the SNOOZ white noise machine vow to turn your bedroom into a
The makers of the SNOOZ white noise machine vow to turn your bedroom into a "haven for sleep."
Photo: SNOOZ

Maybe the problem with your sleep is the noise. You actually might need a little.

A startup called SNOOZ has developed a white noise machine based on the premise that quiet rooms make our hearing acuter. The breeze-like sound coming from its machine will provide a gentle buffer between you and sudden startling sounds.

Instagram gets more social with direct messaging

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New social features add solid functionality to both iOS and Android versions. Photo: Instagram
New social features add solid functionality to both iOS and Android versions. Photo: Instagram

Photo-sharing service Instagram takes another step closer to becoming its own self-contained social network today with features aimed at the 85 million folks using Instagram Direct, which lets you send direct messages to individual users or groups of up to 15 people.

The new features include threaded messaging and a new way to share Instagram videos or photos within those direct messages.

Future spacecraft could repair its own skin

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The International Space Station occasionally has to dodge pieces of debris floating in space.
The International Space Station occasionally has to dodge pieces of debris floating in space.
Photo: NASA

To see a satellite image of the field of space debris that floats around the earth is like looking at fleas swarming an unfortunate dog. About a half-million pieces of debris are the size of a marble, but even tiny pieces that travel more than 17,000 miles per hour could be deadly to a spacecraft with astronauts.

Researchers from the University of Michigan and NASA have developed a self-healing material that could instantly plug up a hole in the hull of a ship just milliseconds after impact.

Google forgot to search for ‘sophisticated logo design’

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The new Google logo is simpler than ever. Photo: Google
The new Google logo is simpler than ever. Photo: Google

Google revealed it’s getting a new logo today that ditches its rough edges for a more simplified (some would say childish) design. The change comes just a month after the company announced it was being restructured with Sundar Pichai taking the CEO reigns of the company now owned by Alphabet.

The new logo was introduced this morning on a blog post from Google’s VP of product management, Tamar Yehoshua, and UX director Bobby Nath, who justified their kiddie logo, saying it’s supposed to reflect the many platforms users interact with Google on throughout the day.

Ending soon: Pay what you want for these 10 productivity-enhancing apps [Deals]

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Name your price to get these 10 productivity-boosting apps for your Mac.
Name your price to get these 10 productivity-boosting apps for your Mac.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to give your Mac a +10 level-up without your wallet taking a hit? Then we’ve got the deal for you. With these 10 apps, your computer will be capable of a whole new level of productivity, from running Windows applications to optimizing your calendar, building websites to instantly converting media files. And right now you can pay what you want for the whole lot at Cult of Mac Deals.

Here’s how Apple plans to give stores a next-gen makeover

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Apple store istanbul
Apple Stores are about to look like this inside and out.
Photo: Apple

Memphis will be one of the first cities in the U.S. to get a ‘next generation’ Apple Store, as part of Apple’s big retail revamp that’s expected to start later this year.

Apple has applied for a $1.5 million building permit for a new storefront and interior renovation at 2031 West St, according to a new report that claims the store will be one of Apple’s first new stores with the next-gen design. It’s unclear what kind of layout the new stores will have, but Apple’s application does reveal a few details on how the company plans to gussy up the new retail locations.

The classic Holga camera finally goes digital

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The Holga, a favored toy camera of artists and photographers, will have a digital model thanks to Kickstarter.
The Holga, a favored toy camera of artists and photographers, will have a digital model thanks to Kickstarter.
Photo: Holga

I have three Holga cameras sitting in a box with at least one still loaded with film. Plastic and unpredictable, the low-fi aesthetic makes portraits and landscapes look dreamy and from another time.

But film isn’t as easy or as cheap to develop, scan and print as it once was, so many photographers like me have watched the dust build up on these cameras while hoping a digital alternative would come along so we could relive the surprise and magic in a Holga picture.

The Hong Kong company that has been making Holga cameras since 1981 now has a digital offspring available on Kickstarter.

Amazon Prime bests Netflix by adding offline video

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Prime Video now works offline.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Prime Video now works offline. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Prime Video now works offline. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Amazon Prime Video today took a massive step toward beating Netflix by adding offline video to its growing list of advantages. The feature allows users to download movies and TV shows and enjoy them without a data connection while they’re on the go.

Your next iPhone could double as a smoke detector

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Your iPhone could literally end up saving your life.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A lot of people thought Apple missed a trick when it failed to snap up Tony Fadell’s smart thermostat and smoke detector company Nest.

However, Apple may wind up having the last laugh, since a newly-granted patent describes how Apple hardware — including iPhones, iPads and other devices — could one day include sensors which allow them to function as smoke detectors in their own right.

Neat, huh?

First glimpse at iPhone 6s Plus display shows off Force Touch sensor

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The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s plus are coming on September 18th, according to German carriers.
The iPhone 6s Plus is almost here.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 6s Plus is less than two weeks away but, like last year, photos of the larger iPhone have been decidedly scarce compared to its 4.7-inch baby brother.

That appears to have changed thanks to two new photos leaked from supply chain sources in Taiwan that show off the iPhone 6s Plus display and internal Force Touch component.

Check them out below.

Samsung’s Gear S2 is coming to tackle the Apple Watch

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Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers.
Photo: Samsung
Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers. Photo: Samsung
Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers. Photo: Samsung

After teasing the new Gear S2 smartwatch during its Galaxy Note 5 unveiling earlier this month, Samsung has confirmed all the juicy details we’ve been waiting for.

The new wearable will be available in two flavors — the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic — both of which have round faces and are aimed at consumers who “prefer more timeless watch design.” But will the devices be good enough to trip up the Apple Watch?

Apple Pay transaction limit rises in the U.K.

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Apple Pay is coming to the U.K. this fall.
Apple Pay just got a bit better for U.K. customers.
Photo: Apple

There’s no logical reason why Apple Pay transaction costs should be limited, but in the U.K. users have been stuck with a limit of £20 ($30) since the service first debuted in July.

Thanks to the rise of people using both Apple Pay and contactless cards in general, however, that number has now been increased by 50 percent to £30 ($46).

A great reason not to jailbreak your iPhone

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More and more jailbreak software, such as Pangu, has come from China.
Screenshot: John Brownlee/Cult of Mac

If you enjoy customizing your iPhone, jailbreaking can be a positive thing — although that doesn’t mean it comes without risks.

According to a new report, around 225,000 Apple accounts have been stolen by malware on jailbroken iPhones, in what is claimed to be “one of the largest known thefts of its kind.” In some cases, this data was then used to make unauthorized purchases.

Yikes!

Apple wants to take on Netflix with its own original programming

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Watch out Netflix, Apple might start making shows too.
Watch out Netflix, Apple might start making shows too.
Photo: Netflix

Apple is planning to unveil its new Apple TV set top box in a little over a week, and it looks like the company may be considering funding its own TV shows to go with its big play to dominate the living room.

The iPhone maker has held preliminary conversations in recent weeks with executives in Hollywood to feel out interest in Apple spearheading efforts to produce original entertainment content, according to a new report that claims Apple is ready to take on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime video.

How to get YouTube back on your Apple TV (second gen)

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Here's how to get YouTube back on your second-gen Apple TV.
Here's how to get YouTube back on your second-gen Apple TV.
Photo: FireCore

Although Apple’s September 9th event looks like it will super charge the Apple TV into a PlayStation-killing video game console, it’s not the indisputable king-of-the-hill of streaming media boxes right now. Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast… all have their advantages over the Apple TV except for one killer feature: AirPlay Mirroring, which allows the Apple TV to stream anything running on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Unless you have an Apple TV, you can’t use AirPlay Mirroring… right? Actually, you can, as long you have a Raspberry Pi.

Weather Network app claims it can tell you when it is going to rain

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Back to the Future Part II weather network app
The Weather Network's latest app update might make this a reality.
Photo: Universal Pictures

We’re not quite through 2015 yet, so app developers still have time to make the prophecies foretold by director Robert Zemeckis’ documentary Back to the Future: Part II come true. And to that end, The Weather Network’s latest app update uses radar and algorithms to predict when, exactly, it is going to start and stop raining.

The new feature, appropriately called “Rain Start Stop,” claims to give you a few hours to finalize the details on your outdoor activities.