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Apple loses second attempt to ban sales of Samsung phones

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Samsung is after more of Apple's iPhone business.
Samsung is after more of Apple's iPhone business.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Judge Lucy Koh has denied Apple’s second attempt at banning certain Samsung phones. After Apple won its second major patent infringement case against Samsung earlier this year, it requested that a permanent injunction be placed on nine Samsung devices in the U.S.

Just like when Apple was denied a sales ban after its 2011 landmark victory against Samsung, Koh has not granted the second request. This time around, the ruling signals that Apple and Samsung’s court disputes are indeed settling down.

Dad mows down video games and we can’t stop watching

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Screenshot: Rob LeFebvre, via YouTube
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

We’ve all heard it: “Turn that TV off or I’m gonna take it and toss it out the g*dd*mn window.” Chances are, if you’re a parent, you’ve even said such a thing (I know I have).

That’s why after repeated watchings we just had to share this viral video from YouTuber McJuggerNuggets about a crazy family with a dad that resorts to mowing down his layabout son’s video game collection to intimidate the kid into getting a job.

Check out this NSFW video (F-bombs galore) below and you’ll be as hooked on the uncomfortable family drama as we are.

Rare Superman comic fetches record $3.2 million

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Courtesy DC Comics Wiki
Courtesy DC Comics Wiki

Earlier this week, a copy of the holy grail of comic book collecting, Action Comics No. 1 from 1938, sold on eBay for a record shattering sum of $3.2 million.

This pristine copy of Superman’s first appearance in comic books sold for a whopping $1,046,852 more than the previous record-holder, a less pristine copy of Action Comics‘ first issue, which sold for $2.1 million back in 2011. There are only an estimated 50 copies of the hotly collectible title left in the world.

iWatch will debut alongside iPhone 6 on September 9th

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iPhone 6 and iWatch. Perfect companions.  iPhoto: Martin Hajek
iPhone 6 and iWatch. Perfect companions. iPhoto: Martin Hajek

Apple will unveil its first foray into wearables at a special event in September, reports Recode’s John Paczkowski who previously reported that Apple had an October event scheduled for the iWatch, but the plans have changed.

Rumors of production delays have hounded the iWatch over the last few months, suggesting Apple might not even reveal the device until early 2015, but according to Recode’s report, the iWatch will actually debut alongside the two new iPhone 6 models during an event on September 9th.

The 12 best Hyperlapse videos on Instagram so far

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hyperlapsesydney

Instagram’s decision to release Hyperlapse as a standalone app yesterday was a bit of surprise to users, but not adding the feature directly into Instagram certainly hasn’t seemed to hurt its rising popularity.

Hyperlapse was only released 24 hours ago on iOS, but grammers have been eager to take it for a spin, and have tagged over 32,000 Instagram posts with #hyperlapse. Most of the videos are rubbish time lapses of what it’s like to drive in a car, but Instagram made sure Hyperlapse got into the hands of some of its top photogs before the public release, and the results were are pretty breathtaking, whether it be cruising Yosemite on a longboard, or just watching an army of ants march by with its cargo.

We’ve gathered up 12 of the best Hyperlapse videos to hit Instagram so far from both pros and amateurs alike. Check out the videos below to see what’s sure to be the next big trend on Instagram:

Solve low battery issues with the Limefuel Lite USB Battery Pack [Deals]

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CoM_Limefuel

You trust your mobile device to keep you in touch with your business associates, friends, and family. It also stores your vital data and apps so you can access them whenever and where ever you need them. Your mobile device sure does a lot, which is why the battery seems to drain at the most inopportune times.

Well, those days are over with the Limefuel Lite USB Battery Pack, only $34.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

You can now buy a HomeKit-compatible Smart Lock in time for iOS 8

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Picture: August
Picture: August Smart Lock

With the iPhone 6 and public launch of iOS 8 mere weeks away, one of the first products to take advantage of Apple’s new HomeKit platform has started shipping.

The product in question is the August Smart Lock, an electronic lock designed to allow keyless entry into people’s homes. “Now you can control who can enter and who can’t—without the need for keys or codes,” the company’s website notes. “And you can do it all from your smartphone or computer.”

Flappy Bird dev accused of ripping off idea for Swing Copters

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Swing Copters, the latest title from Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen, is in the limelight yet again this week following claims it plagiarizes another mobile game.

Development studio Open Name says the super-addictive title is a ripoff of Bog Racer, a game they released on Android back in July that was recently pulled from the Play Store after Google decided it was a Swing Copters clone.

Steve Jobs called Sports Illustrated’s 2009 iPad demo ‘stupid’

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Steve Jobs at Apple iPad Event
Steve Jobs wasn't a fan of news leaking out about future products.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Is it any wonder that Steve Jobs — who transformed Apple from an incredibly leak-heavy company during the 1990s, into one of the most secretive tech companies in existence — hated word getting out about his future products?

While bloggers and other reporters could get harsh treatment from Apple, however, it was loose lips on the part of actual Apple partners that really threw Jobs into a rage.

An anecdote from a new story about Time Inc. in this week’s New York magazine illustrates this, by relating how Jobs responded to Time Inc. releasing a YouTube video showing how its publications might survive the digital age, by harnessing the possibilities offered by the iPad.

The problem? Apple hadn’t yet announced the iPad’s existence.

Thinner MacBooks reportedly launching in Q4 or 2015

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MacBookAir
Digitimes gives a 15-month window for the new thinner MacBook. But hopefully it'll be with us by the end of 2014.

Apple is planning to launch an even slimmer MacBook, possibly as soon as the end of 2014, or else the vaguer long-term date of 2015, according to a new report from Digitimes.

The rumor cites Taiwan-based supply chain makers, and claims that production of components has already begun in small volumes. The report also states that the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is expected to be retired by the end of 2014.

Check out how this former Apple employee announced his new baby

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baby
Former Apple Online Store training manager Andreas Kleinke came up with a unique way of letting people know about his new family member.

How do you celebrate the arrival of a new member of the family? If you’re super Apple fan and former training manager for the Apple Online Store team Andreas Kleinke the answer is that you announce it in the same way Apple introduces a new product.

Adopting the minimalist design Apple is known for, Kleinke created a website for his new baby Jonathan, describing his son’s “20-inch seamless unibody enclosure,” “ten meticulously aligned fingers” and “maximum volume going all the way up to 120 dB.”

The site notes that parental sleep mode is disabled by default, and that gibberish comes as the pre-installed language, although additional language packs are available.

“The response has been truly amazing,” Kleinke tells Cult of Mac. “We already got hundreds emails from all around the globe, and there’s not a single mean one among them. Only very friendly people wishing the best. I’m sure Jonathan will be pleased, once he gets over that whole screaming thing.”

Stylish metallic iPhone case minimizes signal loss, but stays on for good

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Stylish and electric blue. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac
The AL13 iPhone case comes in an eye-catching electric blue and six other colors. Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

I’m torn these days between wanting a functional wallet-style case for my iPhone and something a bit more minimalist. I tend to switch cases as I need them because I haven’t found a one-case-fits-all solution that works for me.

The minimalist new AL13 metallic bumper case for iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s is quite a classy little addition to your important iOS device, combining good protection with looks that invite stares. It’s got all the great stuff of its ultrathin predecessor, but it’s also easier to put on and doesn’t have any issues with dropped calls due to signal loss.

It’s a bear to get off, though, so if you like to change your iPhone case as often as you change your mood, you’ll probably be a bit frustrated.

You’ll be able to get your hands on iPhone 6 ‘between 16-19 September’

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Apple Loyalty
This happy chap could be you roughly 24 days from now.
Photo: Cult of Mac

September 9 seems all but officially confirmed as the date when Apple will unveil its eagerly-anticipated iPhone 6, but when can users expect to get their hands on Apple’s next generation handset?

According to a new report coming out of China — from PCinLife, the country’s top IT portal — Apple’s new flagship phone will be available in stores between the 16th and 19th of September. This tallies with another earlier rumor from May, in which a German retailer stated that the iPhone 6 would hit the market on September 19: suggesting that this date may be the global date.

Ridge Racer Slipstream adds new cars and tracks

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Ridge Racer Slipstream is one of the best racing games available on iOS.

Ports of popular console and arcade game series can be hit-and-miss on iOS, but Namco Bandai’s Ridge Racer Slipstream definitely falls into the “hit” category.

An iOS game which pulls together a lot of the best vehicles and tracks from previous Ridge Racer games, Ridge Racer Slipstream has just been updated for the first time since March adding two brand new race tracks, four new Class 1 vehicles (including the Kamata Synci, Kamata RC410, and Lucky Wild Evolver), Masters’ Class career content, and support for MFi game controllers.

These are the best messaging apps on iOS

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Cult of Mac runs on Slack. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
It's an iOS messaging shootout! Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

I recently watched The Lady try to convince a friend of ours to download WhatsApp. The friend is moving to the United Kingdom, and we want to stay in touch. Our friend tried to say that email would do the job, but we all know that will never work.

Our friend doesn’t want WhatsApp (maybe because it’s owned by Facebook), and she doesn’t own an iPhone, so iMessage is out. Thankfully, there are plenty of free and good alternatives. Some are more secure, some have more features, and none of them is owned by Facebook.

Let’s take a look at what’s available and how these very different messaging apps compare on a number of key features.

Juciest iPhone 6 leak ever

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iPhone6

Peak iPhone 6 rumor season is upon us and in just a few short weeks we really will know what Apple’s next smartphone(s) will look like. Until Tim Cook actually takes the stage though, the leaks will keep flooding in, but none are sure to be as juicy as what vlogger Doldo411 just uncovered over at the Second City Network.

Thanks to sources close to the situation, Doldo411 got an exclusive first look at the iPhone 6, and after performing a quick teardown, reveals the new iPhone design is definitely thicker but more flexible that previous designs.  It also comes with a delicious new case with gradient wood paneling. If this isn’t the real iPhone, it’s at least the funniest leak of the year.

Take a look:

Cash is but a text away with Square Cash 2.0

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squarecash

Splitting dinner checks with friends in the age of credit cards and no cash has become increasingly complex, but Square Cash for iOS just received a huge redesign and feature update today that makes paying back a buddy as easy as sending a text.

Square Cash 2.0 now enables anyone to request money from up to 25 people at once, even if they don’t use the app, and best of all there aren’t any fees.

Apple is assembling a wearables and fashion dream team

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iwatch1

For a company as secretive as Apple, one of the few ways you can learn anything about what it has planned next is to see who it has been hiring. High-profile hires say a lot about where Apple’s priorities are for the future.

Looking back at the hires Apple has brought on over the last year reveals something pretty obvious: it’s assembling a wearables and fashion dream team.

‘Fat-shaming’ apps slammed for harming kids

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Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apps like Fatify are drawing fire for making light of the obesity epidemic. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

While overweight kids have long been prime targets for bullies, activists are calling out smartphone apps that make anyone look fat.

“Applications such as “Fatify,” “Fatbooth,” “Fat You” and others greatly perpetuate fat-shaming and weight bias in today’s society,” said Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition, in a press release about his organizations campaign against these apps. “Children are the primary users of these types of apps, and the apps are teaching children that the disease of obesity is a funny cosmetic issue, which we know is not true.”

Tim Cook: iPad sales slump is just a speed bump

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Tim Cook onstage at the 2014 WWDC. Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web
Tim Cook onstage at the 2014 WWDC. Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web

The state of the tablet industry has not been promising lately. Over the last few months Apple reported slumping iPad sales, Best Buy’s CEO declared that tablet sales are “crashing,” and many analysts and pundits have eagerly declared the tablet fab is coming to an end, but Recode’s Walt Mossberg has a few points to make in defense of the tablet.

While IDC expects tablet sales to flatline by the end of 2014, Tim Cook indicated to Mossberg that the future of tablets is still bright, calling the current lull in sales a mere “speed bump.”