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Casey Neistat dipped his Apple Watch in gold and it still works

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Apple Watch
Of course Casey Neistat would try this.
Photo: Casey Neistat

YouTuber Casey Neistat found a way to bring back the color gold color option to the new Apple Watch Series 4: dunk it in 24 carat gold.

Apple hasn’t made a gold watch since the Apple Watch Edition was cancelled, so Neistat enlisted JerryRigEverything’s creator to come up with a solution. The entire process is a little bit more complex than just dipping a watch in gold, but it’s also so simple you could do it in your living room if you wanted.

Prepare to be amazed:

WWDC app for iOS gets neon logo update and new stickers

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Neon
Apple’s going all-in on neon for WWDC 2019.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s WWDC app for iOS just received a fresh coat of paint ahead of the annual Worldwide Developer Conference that kicks off in less than two weeks.

The update adds a new neon Apple logo to the app icon that is the same style as the wacky neon unicorn on media invites that came out today. One of the coolest things of the new update is that you can customize the Apple logo. Oh, and it comes with some sweet new stickers for iMessage.

Apple’s wacky unicorn invites press to June 3 WWDC keynote

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WWDC 2019 invitation
The press invitation to WWDC 2019 includes a familiar character.
Photo: Apple

Invitations to the keynote address for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference just went out. The design features a unicorn whose brain is exploding with ideas. WWDC 2019, scheduled for early next month, is expected to feature the unveiling of iOS 13, macOS 10.15 and more.

iOS 13 wishlist: 6-ish ways Apple could improve audio

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This is what pre-iOS 13 audio looks like to a visitor from next year.
This is what pre-iOS 13 audio looks like to a visitor from next year.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

 

There’s one big thing I wish for when I kneel next to my bed at night, cross my fingers and think of iOS 13: better audio. Not better quality audio. That’s already great. I just want better control, and better features.

And this isn’t just specialized podcasting or music-making stuff. There are problems everywhere. You know how when you’re listening to music, and you open up the camera app, and your music stops playing? That kind of problem. Which is number one one on my list by the way. Check out the rest:

Apple reveals new way to stop ads from tracking you

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Apple
Safari is about to get a big privacy boost.
Photo: Apple

Apple revealed this morning that it has new plan to stop online ads from tracking internet users across the web.

With some new technology that will soon be implemented in Safari, Apple thinks it has found a way to give both advertisers and privacy advocates what they one. It’s called Privacy Preserving Ad Click Attribution and even though the name is lame, it could be a game changer.

Vignette adds contact photos to your faceless friends

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Vignette App icon on iPhone Screen
Vignette searches popular platforms to find pictures for your contacts
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

If you’re anything like me, you love having contact photos for people you talk to most. But, again, if you’re like me, keeping those pictures updated and accurate can be a total pain and a massive time suck.

That’s where Vignette comes in. The simple utility app for iPhone is your key to a better looking contacts list without all the hassle.

Developed by Casey Liss of “Analog(ue),” “Accidental Tech Podcast,” and “Casey on Cars” fame, the app grew from a passing notion on a podcast to a full-on utility for updating contact photos.

Department of Justice could still block T-Mobile and Sprint merger

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T-Mobile CEO John Legere with the Phone BoothE.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere shows off the iPhone.
Photo: T-Mobile

The U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust division staff has reportedly asked the agency to squash the giant merger between T-Mobile and Sprint.

The massive deal would see the third and fourth largest U.S. carriers combine. It was previously signed off by the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Massively popular League of Legends on its way to mobile

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League of Legends
The game has been in development for over a year.
Photo: Riot Games

League of Legends remains one of the biggest games on the planet, with an estimated 115 million players worldwide. And it could be about to get even bigger as it expands its reach to mobile.

Tencent and Riot Games have reportedly been working on the port for over a year. But you probably won’t get your hands on it in 2019.

Upgrade online life with a simple password manager highly reviewed on the App Store [Deals]

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Get one-click access to all your logins and purchasing credentials in one safe place.
Get one-click access to all your logins and purchasing credentials in one safe place.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re not already using a password manager, consider this a friendly reminder. For one thing, they’re a great way to avoid the terrible moment of forgetting a login info. They also make online life more secure and simple, with one-click logins, so there’s really no reason not to use one.

Apple ramps up efforts to promote coding to kids in India

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iPhone sales are showing signs of life in India
Apple has been focusing increasingly on the Indian market.
Photo: Apple

Apple is ramping up its efforts to promote coding in India, one of its biggest untapped markets.

According to a new report, Apple is actively nurturing young talented coders in schools and colleges across India. These Apple Distinguished Schools teach curriculums based around Swift app development.

FTC wins its antitrust case against Qualcomm

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Qualcomm patents
Case could make 5G landscape more competitive.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm emerged victorious from its recent battle with Apple. But things look a whole lot less rosy for the company in its antitrust case with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Judge Lucy Koh this week filed her ruling in the FTC’s first round of litigation against Qualcomm. She concluded that Qualcomm has been engaging in anticompetitive business practices.

Fortnite 9.10 brings Hot Spots, big fixes, Jordan shoes

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Fortnite Jordan
You can sport the freshest kicks in Fortnite 9.10.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s newest update is out a little earlier than anticipated, bringing new weapons, game modes, and more to Battle Royale.

The version 9.10 update also promises significant audio improvements and lots of bug fixes on mobile. There’s a new crossover with Jordan that brings cosmetics and game modes, too.

Riders in Portland can now use Apple Pay for their Hop Fastpass

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Apple Pay Portland
This is a first for the United States.
Photo: Hop/Apple Pay

Portland-Vancouver has become the first place in the U.S. to let iPhone and Apple Watch users use Apple Pay to pay for their Express Transit needs.

Starting now, customers can take advantage of the functionality to board local TriMet and C-Tran buses, MAX light rail trains, and the Portland Streetcar.

Valve brings brand new Steam Chat app to mobile

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Steam Chat app for mobile
Download it today to stay in touch.
Photo: Valve

Valve now offers a standalone Steam Chat app for Android and iOS.

The free download lets gamers stay in touch with friends on the move. It boasts all the messaging features you’re used to in Steam, including group chat, customizable notifications, and more. But one thing’s missing.

Take your 11-inch iPad Pro offroad with Zagg’s rugged keyboard case

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Zagg Rugged Book
Zagg’s latest combines a rugged iPad Pro case with a clip-on keyboard.
Photo: Zagg

iPad Pros go everywhere, not just classrooms and offices. The Zagg Rugged Book Go was designed to protect this professional-grade iOS slate through somewhat harsher conditions.

After being unveiled at CES, Zagg’s latest keyboard folio is available now exclusively for the 11-inch version of Apple’s professional tablet.

Finally, a simple photo editor focused on drone aerial photography [Deals]

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AirMagic Photo Editor
Quickly and easily touch up those beautiful aerial drone shots with this Mac app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Drones aren’t just fun toys anymore. Drones are changing…well, everything. Drones are delivering medical supplies in Africa, keeping school kids safe in Indiana and improving our understanding of tornado behavior in Texas.

And oh, the aerial photography. From shooting action sequences in “Game of Thrones” to changing the real estate game, it’s not enough just to capture aerial footage. That footage actually has to look brilliant too.

How to escape iPad autocorrect text-entry nightmares

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Escape the nightmare that is iOS autocorrect.
Escape the nightmare that is iOS autocorrect.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/ Cult of Mac

I love and hate typing on the iPad Pro’s on-screen keyboard. I love that it’s a proper keyboard, with a number row, and extra punctuation keys. But I hate that auto-correction is more of a comedy lexical lottery than an actual correction feature. So I finally decided to do something about it. I switched off autocorrect on my iPad, and here’s what happened.

Siri’s meek voice might make us think women are subservient

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Siri Alexa in voice report
Siri is unfailingly meek and polite. What does that say about how we expect young women to behave?
Photo: Apple

Siri, Alexa and all the other well-known voice assistants are female. A new study argues that ordering these artificial intelligences around reinforces the idea that women should be obedient and uncomplaining, especially as they always respond meekly to insults.

The study authors urge Apple and creators of similar products to make male or gender-neutral voices more prominent.

Apple celebrates Ramadan and 4K video on the iPhone XS

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Apple Ramadan
The meaning of Ramadan captured in 4K on the iPhone XS.
Screenshot: Apple/YouTube

Ramadan is a month of spiritual reflection for Muslims. Apple sought to honor the holiday with a 15-second “Shot on iPhone XS” spot featuring gorgeous video footage from two photographers from the Middle East.

Finding Balance is a series of sweeping landscapes around the United Arab Emirates. In each beautifully composed scene, people are reflected in water in the foreground to symbolize the self-reflection of the season.