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Forget Apple Watch, Netflix wearable wants to own your wrist

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Yep, I want one of these. Photo: Netflix
Yep, I want one of these. Photo: Netflix

One of the things highlighted in this week’s Apple Watch early hands-on reviews is that the device’s constant stream of notifications has the potential to drive you nuts.

With rival companies never wanting to miss out on a chance to parody Apple while it’s gaining so much attention, Netflix has taken a shot at Cupertino with its joke ad for an even more distracting wearable: the Netflix Watch, which provides on-the-move access to Netflix’s vast archives.

Check it out below.

What shipping delays? Pop stars already have their Apple Watch Editions

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Apple is producing videos for some big name artists.
Yep, we're officially envious. Photo: Drake/Instagram
Photo: Drake/Instagram

Shipping dates on the Apple Watch may have already slipped back as far as August in some cases, but there’s one surefire way to get your hands on Apple’s hotly-anticipated wearable: be a big name celebrity.

As users around the world counted down the seconds until they could preorder an Apple Watch, both Katy Perry and Drake posted pictures to their Instagram accounts, showing themselves posing with their brand new Edition devices.

Is it too late for me to start a career in pop music?

Apple Watch Edition sells out in less than hour in China

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apple-watch-edition
Apple's going to need a lot more gold. Photo: Apple

 

The gold Apple Watch Edition is expected to be big in China, but if the first hour of pre-orders are any indication, Tim Cook’s going to need to order up a lot more gold.

Within the first hour of pre-orders going online the Apple Watch Edition has already sold out in China.

Here’s what it’s like to try-on the Apple Watch at stores

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apple-watch-display
Apple Watch signage at the Shenzhen Store. Photo: Charles Melber

 

Apple Watch pre-orders just went online, but if you’d like to go try-on Jony Ive’s amazing timepiece before you buy it, you can now schedule a one-on-one appointment to go through the different models.

Apple Stores have been outfitted with new viewing tables and demo stations for the pre-order launch. Reservations only last 15 minutes, (unless you’re buying the Apple Watch Edition), but that should be enough time to find the right case and band combo to match your style. Some readers overseas have sent us pictures of their Apple Watch try-on sessions.

Take a look at the store makeover:

You can now preorder your Apple Watch

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post-318753-image-037c2c08b6eea5593e0480d747e48a5d-jpg
Photo: Apple

It’s officially April 10th on the West Coast, which means the Apple Store is now open for Apple Watch preorders.

The Online Apple Store is still down for some visitors, but we were just able to place an order for the Apple Watch Sport 42mm Silver Aluminum Case. Shipping estimates are already slipping into May so you may want to hurry and get your order in sooner rather than later.

The Apple Store iOS app seems to be the easiest way to get an order in right now while the website is down. You can also schedule a try-on appointment to try on watches through the website or iOS app.

ICYMI: Apple Watch pre-order how-tos and early reviews

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ICYMI

This week, Lewis has the inside look at the best way to pre-order that Apple Watch, Buster and Luke have a ton of insight on the wristband based on early reviews, and there’s even more, like the straight dope on the new Macbook from Buster, top keyboard shortcuts for all Mac users from Rob, and a fascinating piece from David about custom action figures, including an armored whale that’s no fluke!

Check it all out in this action-packed–yet still free–April 10th issue of Cult of Mac Magazine!

Finish him! Mortal Kombat X uppercuts its way onto iOS

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Mortal Kombat
"Get swipe over here!" Photo: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Photo: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

For the first time since the disappointing Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, the world’s most ultra-violent fighting franchise is making its way onto iOS, courtesy of Mortal Kombat X Mobile: a stripped down, swipe-based version of the console Mortal Kombat X, which fuses together card battler and bone-crushing action.

Apple says blanket ban on hiring ex-felons isn’t true

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Photo: Buster Keaton in The Goat
Photo: Buster Keaton in The Goat

The construction of Apple Campus 2 came under fire earlier this week, after the Mercury Times reported that Apple had a blanket ban on hiring ex-felons. However, Cult of Mac has learned that such a ban never existed.

“We believe in opportunity for everyone, and Apple has never had a blanket ban on hiring people with felony convictions,” an Apple spokesperson told Cult of Mac.

Some ex-felon applicants were turned away within the past seven years, because of a part of the background process. Those restrictions are now being lifted though, as Apple says it’s recognized that “that this may have excluded some people who deserve a second chance.”

Here’s the full statement from Apple:

Apple Watch takes on power drill. Guess who wins?

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Photo: iPhonefixed
How tough is Apple Watch? Photo: iPhonefixed

To make the most personal device ever, Apple is using sapphire glass for the Apple Watch to make its display more durable. None of the reviews we read yesterday complained about scratches on their Apple Watch, but iPhoneFixed managed to get its hands on a 38mm Apple Watch display and put it through a barrage of tests.

Apple Watch’s glass stood strong during tests with keys, sandpaper, and even a hammer. Then the crazy nerds busted out a power drill to and throttled it on the glass. The results might shock you.

Check out the glass after the test below:

How to use your MacBook in closed-clamshell mode

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Save yourself some desk space with this closed MacBook mode. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
Save yourself some desk space with this closed MacBook mode. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

I was setting up my MacBook Pro with Retina display to work with a new external monitor today, thinking that when I connected to the monitor via HDMI and closed the lid, I’d see the display up on the new monitor.

I was disappointed when I saw absolutely nothing up on my new monitor, so I went searching to find out how to make it work. Is it a special setting in the System Preferences? I haven’t had an external monitor for a while, now; maybe things are more complex.

Luckily for me (and you!), it turned out to be much simpler to make happen. Here’s the recipe.

Forget Apple Watch, we want this retro Apple II Watch

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apple-watch-22
Can your wrist handle the Apple II Watch? Photo: Aleator777/Instructables

 

We’re eagerly counting down the last few hours until we can preorder the Apple Watch, but I think I may have found a new love for my wrist: The Apple II Watch.

The brilliant folks over at Instructables unveiled a retro Apple Watch styled after the Apple II computer. If Apple made a smartwatch back in 1985, this would be it. The amazing device actually works and you can make one yourself.

Check out its incredible features:

Get free preview of Macphun’s new Noiseless app to save your nighttime photos

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The new Noiseless photo app makes grainy photos look better. Photo: Macphun
The new Noiseless photo app makes grainy photos look better. Photo: Macphun
Photo:

This post is brought to you by Macphun, creator of Noiseless.

iPhones double as great cameras, but they do have limitations, especially when you’re taking pictures at night or simply in low-light conditions. The photos can appear grainy when viewed later, enlarged on your pristine Mac screen.

Noiseless is a new photo-editing Mac app that cleans up your pixelated or grainy images and helps you create refreshed, clear pictures for your photo library. And you can download a free preview of this powerful photo app for free.

10 reasons why the new MacBook isn’t for you

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The new Macbook. Photo: Apple
The new Macbook. Photo: Apple

The new MacBook goes on sale this week, and while the first reviews have raved about its incredible design, unbelievable thinness and jaw-dropping display, it’s probably not for you.

While early critiques might have alleviated concerns that the new MacBook’s CPU is about as powerful as a 2011 netbook, there are a few other issues you should know about before you rush to the Apple Store to snap up a shiny gold MacBook.

These are the new MacBook’s 10 biggest flaws:

Have no fear! Watch these superhero shows to prep for Daredevil premiere

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Daredevil
As far as secret identities go, Daredevil's cover as a blind lawyer is pretty solid. Photo: Netflix

Marvel’s new show about blind superhero Daredevil swoops into your Netflix queue this Friday, and the looming arrival of “the man without fear” got us in the mood to watch some other comic-inspired TV shows and movies. To make it interesting, however, we’re avoiding the obvious Marvel and DC characters and focusing on lesser-known and original characters.

Here are a few more metahuman stories to help you get your fix of “BIFFs!” and “POWs!” Be sure to tell us some of your favorites in the comments.

Here’s where you can buy the Apple Watch Edition

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Photo: Apple
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook has only said that the Apple Watch Edition will be available in “select stores” later this month. You won’t be able to just walk into any location and try on the ultra-expensive gold model.

Now we know exactly which Apple retail stores around the world will sell the Edition when it goes on sale April 24th.

First reviews: New MacBook is gorgeous, but limited 

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Apple just released a new OS X beta. Photo: Apple
The new MacBook reviews are in. Photo: Apple

Apple Watch has been hogging so much of the tech spotlight lately that you could be forgiven for forgetting that Apple is also about to release a revolutionary new computer.

The first reviews of the new MacBook landed on the web to remind us that the first gold MacBook will be available to order tomorrow, too. According to the experts, it’s the most beautiful computer ever created. But should you buy it?

Here’s the good and the bad of the new MacBook.

iPad installation plays music based on the face you are wearing

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The
The "Sound of Emotion" will play music based on facial expressions at eh Market Street Protyping Festival in San Francisco. Photo: Sound of Emotion/Neighborland

You’re in a mood and your face can’t hide it. Now imagine if that face was the source of music.

The “Sound of Emotion,” a musical project created with facial expression recognition technology, will be on display at the Market Street Prototyping Festival in San Francisco. The festival runs today through April 11 on Market Street between Embarcedero and Van Ness.

The installation will use four iPad and for selected genres, each device will represent a single instrument, such as bells, a didgeridoo and drums.

Thumbs down: iOS update breaks Touch ID for some

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Touch ID
Apple's fingerprint scanner is experiencing a Touch of bother. Photo: Apple
Photo: Apple

Apple dropped its third major update for iOS 8 yesterday, and along with racially diverse emoji, two-factor authentication for Google and new Siri languages came another altogether unwelcome addition: a fault that is stopping Touch ID from working for many users.

Sadly, this is the kind of thing that is becoming a more regular occurrence for Apple. Despite exciting new hardware developments like the Apple Watch, the company has been getting increasingly sloppy with software updates — with routine and sometimes crucial functionality taking a hit on what feels like a regular basis.