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Apple Music metadata is messing up your music

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Apple Music
Apple Music uses a less accurate method for song matching than iTunes Match.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you’ve been having problems with Apple Music and iCloud Music Library incorrectly matching songs in your library, you’re far from the only one. It turns out the reason is that Apple Music doesn’t use the same method for matching songs you own as iTunes Match does. This results in significantly more errors and frustrated users.

Though iTunes Match used acoustic fingerprinting to identify songs you own and match them for all of your devices, Apple Music uses the metadata of those songs. That means if you change something as simple as the title and artist, it could match to an entirely different song despite the unchanged audio.

Pinterest hires former Apple designer Susan Kare

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Early Apple designer Susan Kare.
Early Apple designer Susan Kare.
Photo: Photo: Ann Rhoney

As part of the original Macintosh team back in the 80s, Susan Kare created some of Apple’s earliest typefaces and icons, but now the famous designer is ready to bring her iconic skills to Pinterest, as the company’s newest design lead.

Does Apple really need a 4-inch iPhone 6c?

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Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We know Apple will launch its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus this fall — you can bet your house on it — but what we don’t know is whether it will be accompanied by an iPhone 6c. For months it looked like the smaller, more affordable model was set to return, however, a recent report said Apple has scrapped that plan.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2But does Apple really need an iPhone 6c?

The Cupertino company makes billions every quarter off its flagship models, and it has already stated it has no interest in building “cheap” devices to grab market share in emerging markets. But what about those who want a flagship iPhone that’s small enough to use with one hand?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we take it to a debate!

This toaster is actually an iPhone charging station in disguise

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Introducing the Foaster.
Introducing the Foaster.
Photo: Foaster

Keeping enough iPhone cables around the house to your entire family’s devices charged can result in some unsightly blogs of tangled cables. Most charging stations look horrible, or too nerdy to keep in open sight, but the Foaster is hoping the solve that problem by disguising an iPhone charging station in the shape of one of the most ubiquitous kitchen appliances.

Foaster comes with two slots to charge two iPhones at the same time, but it also can be expanded to accommodate two extra iPads. With its built-in power supply, Foaster only uses one electric outlet on your wall, keeping a fresh minimal look.

Check out the full demo:

Repair your electronics with iFixit Pro Tech Screwdriver Set and Jimmy Tool Bundle [Deals]

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iFixit's screwdriver set and Jimmy bundle includes everything you need to get into your devices.
iFixit's screwdriver set and Jimmy bundle includes everything you need to get into your devices.

With today’s tech, the general rule seems to be that if it’s broke you can’t fix it. But perhaps you could, if you just had the tools to work with the micro-sized, specialized screws and airtight seams of phones, computers, gaming consoles, and the like. Most of those tools for access are in this excellent bundle from iFixit’s, which includes a full arsenal of screwdrivers and an ultra-thin prying blade, all for $59.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Activists want Apple to kill gun emoji

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3049265-inline-i-2-new-york-activist-group-calls-for-apple-to-ditch-the-gun-emoji
Guns don't kill people. Emojis do.
Photo: NYAGV

Who would’ve thought emojis could prove so controversial?

Following on from the yellow skin color accusations and Russian LGBT emojis attempted banning, the nonprofit group New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) has launched a new hashtag entitled #DisarmTheiPhone — calling for Apple to “remove the gun emoji [from iOS] and take a stand for stricter gun accessibility in America.”

Check out a video for the campaign below:

Vintage Apple radio spots give customers the hard sell

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20+Gifts
Today these ads would be playing on Beats 1.
Photo: 512pixels

No-one does ads with more consistent high quality than Apple. That’s why it’s kind of fun to go back to a time when getting the word out about new products was less about pushing out a sleek new video on YouTube and more about radio spots designed to give potential customers the hard sell.

Stephen Hackett of website 512 Pixels was recently given a stack of old Apple documents, and among them were scripts for three Apple-approved radio ads promoting the Apple IIc during the holiday quarter of 1984: the same year Apple unveiled the original Mac.

Check them out below.

iPhone 6s Force Touch modules enter mass production

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Force touch Apple Watch
Force Touch is going to be the big feature of this year's iPhone refresh.
Photo: Apple

In yet another apparent confirmation that the iPhone 6s will come with Apple’s Force Touch technology, manufacturer TPK is reportedly heading into mass-production of the relevant pressure-sensitives modules, after shipping off small amounts of samples last month.

It’s being a bit shy admitting which company they are for, though. (*cough* Apple! *cough*)

Acclaimed RPG Legend of Grimrock comes to iPhone

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The best RPG for Mac and iPad is now also on iPhone.
The best RPG for Mac and iPad is now also on iPhone.
Photo: Almost Human

Around four years ago, developers Almost Human released The Legend of Grimrock, a throwback to the first-person dungeon crawlers from the 1980s (Dungeon Master, The Bard’s Tale and even the first Phantasy Star game for the Sega Master System) for Mac.

They claimed it was was coming to iPad “by the end of the year.” It actually took three. I assumed, after all that time, it would never come to iPhone, though… but as it turns out, I was wrong.

Kahney’s Korner: Why you should buy an Apple Watch

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Should you buy an Apple Watch?
Our Glorious Leader Leander Kahney tries on his Apple Watch soon after receiving it.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

For me, it’s the burning question of 2015: “Should I buy an Apple Watch?”

As editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, everybody’s always asking me if Apple’s smartwatch is a must-buy. The simple answer is there’s no simple answer, for reasons that might surprise you.

Customers in New Zealand, Russia and Turkey celebrate arrival of Apple Watch

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Customers queueing up for the Apple Watch in Russia.
Photo: The Village

The Apple Watch went on sale in New Zealand, Russia and Turkey today, with the wearable devices available at the countries’ respective Apple Online Stores and brick-and-mortar retailers.

In Russia, Watches can be purchased in person at iPort, Re:Store, and C-store Internet stores. In Turkey, customers can do in-store pickup at Apple Stores in Istanbul’s Zorlu Center and Akasya Shopping Center. In New Zealand, Watches are available at select Apple Stores.

Apple boosts bus drivers’ pay ahead of union vote

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(Credit: Myhomeinsf)
Apple is throwing more cash in the direction of its drivers.
Photo: Myhomeinsf

Apple has boosted pay for its contracted shuttle bus drivers ahead of a vote this weekend, in which unionized drivers in Silicon Valley will vote on a package for improved wages and benefits.

Drivers are demanding hourly pay increases to $21-$25, which will then increase again to $22.50-$28.50 in three years. They also want pension contributions, differential pay for shifts, and a six-hour minimum for drivers who don’t want to work split shifts.

Reeder 3 enters public beta, immediately becomes best Mac feed reader

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Reeder 3 might be the new Mac feed reader to beat.
Reeder 3 might be the new Mac feed reader to beat.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Developed by Silvio Rizzi, Reeder 2 was our favorite feed reader for Mac when it was released last year, but design wise, it was themed an OSX Mountain Lion app in an OS X Yosemite world.

Now, Reeder 3 is here, available to everyone as part of a public beta. And not only does it have a new look, it comes with a huge number of new features.

New version of Google Glass will turn your boss into a Glasshole

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Google Glass header
Just when you thought you were safe from the Glassholes ...
Photo: Google

Google Glass has returned to keep looking like a really lame version of the future, according to reports. The company is rolling out a new, office-ready version of its augmented-reality wearable to businesses that aims to correct some of the problems of the earlier model.

The new hardware features a smaller form factor, prolonged battery life, and a faster processor.

Continue reading

iPhone 6 Plus still works after months at bottom of ocean

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Water way to test your iPhone!
Your iPhone doesn't usually feel like a dip. Possibly never, in fact.
Photo: Lifeproof

If you’re taking your iPhone 6 Plus on vacation with you, and you anticipate being near a large body of water like, say, the Pacific Ocean, it’s a good idea to take precautions. One kayaker’s ounce of prevention worked out for the best when his iPhone ended up at the bottom of the damned sea.

Months later, a scuba diver found the phone and returned it, and they could do that because both the waterproof bag the owner had bought and the phone inside of it were still working perfectly.

Jimmy Fallon’s Mac throws Clippy into a rage

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Jimmy Fallon Clippy Windows 10
Hide the Mac, Fallon, or he'll rip the rest of your fingers off.
Photo: NBC

If you’re going to own a Mac, you should maybe put it away somewhere if you’re expecting a visit from Clippy.

Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon learned that lesson the hard way when he was talking up the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest OS last night. As is his wont, Microsoft Word’s built-in assistant appeared at random, and everything was cordial until the talking paper clip spotted the MacBook on Fallon’s desk.

You can check out the rest of the clip below.

More iPhone 6s components leak online

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iPhone camera
The iPhone 6s is on the way.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 6s is just weeks away (okay, two months, but saying “weeks” makes it sound closer), and so it stands to reason that more leaked components from Apple’s supply chain would start finding their way online.

Check out the latest pictures below:

Streamline and safeguard your Mac’s hard drive with Drive Genius 4 at 50% off [Deals]

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Drive Genius 4 is the leading app for maintaining, repairing and protecting your Mac's hard drive.
Drive Genius 4 is the leading app for maintaining, repairing and protecting your Mac's hard drive.

We trust our Macs to be solid and reliable, but what if there’s a problem lurking under its silvery hood? Drive Genius is an award-winning app that leads the market in maintaining, optimizing, preventing and even reversing problems in your computer’s main brain, it’s hard drive. Right now you can get peace of mind and peak performance from your Mac with Drive Genius 4 for $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Angry Birds 2 flings its way onto the App Store

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The thirteenth Angry Birds game is here.
The thirteenth Angry Birds game is here.
Photo: Rovio

Rovio has churned out more sequels to its Angry Bird franchise than any developers on the planet. They even have sequels to the sequels (we see you Angry Birds Star Wars II), but six years after the original was released, Angry Birds 2 is finally here.

The thirteenth title in the Angry Birds franchise is packed with new puzzling towers to topples, missile birds, and boss piggies. There’s also a new feature that lets you challenge your friends over Facebook to see who’s the true master at flinging birds.

Check out the first gameplay teaser: