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Hackers good and bad depend on stolen iPhone prototypes

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iPhone 8 prototype
Dev-fused iPhone units are a mainstay of the hacking community.
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Anyone who wants to do serious research into hacking iPhones needs to get their hands on a “dev-fused” unit — a prototype that can be used to ferret out iOS secrets.

These are used by both malicious hackers and security researchers alike.

Captain Marvel star signs TV series deal with Apple

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Brie Larson
Brie Larson will suit up for the CIA in the new TV show.
Photo: Marvel Studios

Brie Larson has scored a sweet new TV deal with Apple the day before her new movie, Captain Marvel, is set to light the box office on fire.

Larson will both star and executive produce a new TV drama series for Apple under the new deal. The TV show will be based on an intriguing spy novel that hasn’t even been published yet.

Apple plans to hire 1,200 for San Diego engineering hub

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Kevin Faulconer
San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer announcing Apple's expansion plans.
Photo: Kevin Faulconer/Twitter

Apple is beefing up its plans for expansion into San Diego and revealed today that it plans to hire 1,200 people for its tech hub in the SoCal city.

After revealing late last year that it planned to open a site in San Diego, Apple gave new details on what it says will be a principle engineering hub. The move will put Apple directly in rival Qualcomm’s backyard, but Tim Cook isn’t worried about attracting talent to Apple’s offices.

iPhone crushes Androids on resale value

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
iPhones cost a bit more to buy but they are worth a lot more later on.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Although Apple makes some of the most expensive smartphones, these devices also depreciate in value far less than their rivals.

In other words, iPhones cost more to buy but much less to use.

How to sign PDFs on your iPhone or iPad

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Apple Pencil vs dumb stylus: This old Wacom Bamboo is more than enough
Signing and returning PDFs on your iPhone is easier than doing it on paper.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Scenario: Your divorce papers finally came through, and you can’t wait to sign the things. The trouble is, your spouse already took your office and your home, and you have no way to print or fax the documents.  Or perhaps you need to stick your autograph on some other document, but all you have is your iPhone or iPad.

 No worries. With recent versions of iOS, it’s easier than ever to sign a PDF form and return it to the sender. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the Mail app to do it. If you’re looking for a PDF converter iPhone users can rely on, check out this guide for more details.

This company sells gorgeous custom iPhones for less than Apple

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Remade iPhone
They look even better in real life.
Photo: Remade

Buying a refurbished iPhone is a great way to save a pretty penny, and now there’s another reason why you should consider avoiding the Apple Store.

One French company is selling rebuilt models that have been painted in pretty colors as part of its “Better Then Refurbished” program. They’re gorgeous, and they cost a lot less.

Riffr is like getting voicemails from strangers

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Riffr has some good audio tools built in.V
Riffr has some good audio tools built in.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Riffr is yet another social network, this one based around audio snippets. And maybe it’ll actually take off, despite its awful design. It’s as if the makers took the confusion that is late-stage Instagram as a starting point, and then made things worse from there.

That said, Riffr could be quite useful.

Favorite Clessant Apple Watch bands are back in stock [Watch Store]

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Clessant Barenia Apple Watch band
Barenia leather, traditionally used for Hermès saddles, makes this Clessant band soft yet strong.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

If you make high-quality products that everyone wants, there is the risk that the demand for your goods exceeds supply. On one hand that’s good (hey, we’re selling a lot!). On the other hand, that’s bad (why can’t I buy this?).

Such is the case with France-based Clessant, one of our favorite Apple Watch band makers. Fortunately, several Clessant bands that have been unavailable are now back in stock, ready to make your Apple Watch even more special. Check out the models below, featuring buffalo, ostrich and goat leather. All are available at the Cult of Mac Watch Store while supplies last.

The most interesting factoids from Apple’s 13th annual supplier report

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Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Photo: Apple

Apple came out with its 13th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, giving an inside glimpse at some of the biggest issues it’s been battling.

The 66-page report is stuffed with interesting little facts, like how many gallons of water suppliers have saved and the amount of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Apple admits it still has a lot of work to do, but the progress the company has made is pretty impressive. One of the biggest areas Apple emphasizes in its report is the people that work in the supply chain and the educational opportunities Apple is giving them.

Pixar just posted a dream job for Mac nerds

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Toy Story
Do you have what it takes to join Pixar's posse?
Photo: Pixar

Pixar is looking for a good Mac nerd to join its support team.

If you’ve ever dreamed of working for one of the most iconic animation companies in the world, but don’t have any actual animation skills, this might be your best chance.

Amazing concept video shows why you’d love a folding iPad

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Forget a folding iPhone. The iPad U is a proposed folding iPad.
Forget a folding iPhone. The iPad U is a proposed folding iPad.
Photo: Dongjae "Krystofer" Kim

Folding phones are getting lots of attention, but flexible screens can benefit tablets as well. A new concept video proposes a full-size iPad that can expand into a display larger than all but the biggest laptops.

Watch the video now:

Bauhaus Apple logo looks like the Death Star

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Bauhaus Apple logo
The Apple logo with a Bauhaus bite.
Illustration: Vladimir Nickolic

A company has to be nimble enough to change with the times. It can turnover leadership, recreate its work culture and overhaul its line of products. Just don’t mess with a brand’s logo.

But what if an icon like the Apple logo was reimagined with another iconic style?

Meizu’s port-free phone was nothing more than a marketing stunt

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Meizu Zero
The Zero’s future now looks bleak.
Photo: Meizu

Meizu has revealed its futuristic port-free smartphone was nothing more than a marketing stunt.

The so-called “Zero” handset was announced just over a month ago before being made available to preorder through a failed crowdfunding campaign. But Meizu founder and CEO Jack Wong says the project “was just the marketing team messing about.”

AirPods, Apple Watch give Apple lion’s share of wearables market

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This is the original color of the Nomad Apple Watch Modern Strap and AirPods Rugged Case.
Apple Watch and AirPods dominated the world market for smartwatches and ear-worn smart devices in 2018.
Photo: Nomad

Last year, Apple Watch and AirPods combined to give Apple almost a quarter of the world’s wearable shipments. The total was nearly double the next closest rival.

Shipments of these Apple products grew tremendously in 2018, outpacing the wearables market as a whole.

Apple video service might force Disney CEO out of board seat

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Bob Iger
Disney Chairman and CEO, Robert A. Iger.
Photo: (Disney/ABC/ Heidi Gutman)

Disney CEO Bob Iger’s seat on Apple’s board of directors might be at risk as both companies pursue video streaming services.

Apple hasn’t asked Iger to step down yet, but a new report shines light on what could soon become a very conflicted relationship. Disney and Apple have enjoyed close ties ever since Disney bought Pixar from Steve Jobs. Now it looks like the two companies are about to become close rivals.

Enter to win a new iPhone XS Max and AirPods [Deals]

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Now's your chance to score a free iPhone XS Max and a set of wireless AirPods.
Now's your chance to score a free iPhone XS Max and a set of wireless AirPods.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The latest Apple devices are impressive, but so are their price tags. So you’d be crazy not to jump at the chance to score the latest and greatest tech from Cupertino — for free!

Our iPhone XS Max and AirPods giveaway is just that chance.

How to record any audio on your iPhone

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Make sure you use the right cable for IPhone recording
Make sure you use the right cable.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

However old your iPhone is, it records great audio. You can use it as a dictaphone, to make field recordings of ambient sounds, to “tape” music, and even sample everyday noises and make music from them. But how do you do it? How do you hook up, say, a portable keyboard or an MP3 player to your iPhone, and actually save a recording? Let’s see.

Siri sounds better in Britain after voice improvements

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has quietly updated the female British voice for Siri. The improvements can be heard today on HomePod and iOS devices.

The update comes just a few weeks after Apple updated the male British voice. It is believed the company could be working on improvements for many of Siri’s international voices.

NSA stops spying on everyone’s phone. Maybe

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nsa-hijacked-google-play-to-install-spyware-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201505130606191546-nsa-logo-story-top-jpg
The U.S. government has reportedly ceased tracking all our phone calls and text messages.
Photo: NSA

A controversial system tracking the calls and texts of all Americans has supposedly stopped being used by the National Security Agency (NSA). 

This agency reportedly quit employing it months ago, and might not ask that it be reauthorized later this year.

Leaked images of second-gen Google Glass reveal USB-C upgrade

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technoblog
Say hello to the new Google Glass.
Photo: Tecnoblog

Google Glass is set to get an upgrade later this year for enterprise users and it looks like USB-C charging will be one of the big new features.

Leaked images of the second-generation Google Glass for enterprise surfaced on the web today. The images show that Google is ditching its magnetic cable charging system in favor of a single quick-charging port.

Take a closer look: