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Apple making your iPhone safe from your evil twin

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Apple admits that Face ID really is susceptible to being tricked by identical twins.
Apple admits that Face ID really is susceptible to being tricked by identical twins.
Photo: Apple

The Face ID biometric security system is already extremely accurate but Apple wants to make it even more safe. The company has come up with a method for telling the difference between two people who are almost identical because they’re closely related. 

The system would also prevent unlocking iPhone and iPad devices with 3D masks.

Xbox Live is finally available on iOS and Android

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Xbox live
This could be a game changer. Literally.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft’s Xbox Live network is officially making its way onto iOS and Android.

The company revealed today that it is launching a new SDK that will allow mobile developers to add Xbox Live functionality to their games, giving gamers the ability to score achievements on the go.

Get $10 off Just Mobile’s new AluBase and Gum Slim [Watch Store]

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You know you want this Just Mobile AluBase Wireless Charger and maybe a Gum Slim Hybrid Battery, too.
You know you want this sweet new wireless charger.
Photo: Just Mobile

What’s better than trying something new? Trying something new and saving money.

Our friends at Just Mobile recently introduced the AluBase Wireless Charger and Gum Slim Hybrid Battery, and in celebration we’re knocking $10 off the price for the next week, through Wednesday. Grab the savings on the Cult of Mac Watch Store, and while you are there be sure to check out all our other power options.

iPhone turned into dust in the name of science

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University of Plymouth
iPhone to iPhone. Dust to dust.
Photo: University of Plymouth

Want to see what happens when an iPhone is placed into a high powered blender?

No, it’s not the kind of mindless destruction porn that often pops up on YouTube. Instead, it’s a serious scientific demonstration carried out by the U.K.’s University of Plymouth. The goal? To show exactly which chemical elements make up the pricey handsets we keep in our pockets. Check out the video below.

Add an anti-theft alarm system to your MacBook [Deals]

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Add an invaluable layer of security to your laptop, with a loud alarm that goes off if someone tries to steal it.
Add an invaluable layer of security to your laptop, with a loud alarm that goes off if someone tries to steal it.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you use a laptop, you probably bring it to public places like coffee shops or libraries. So when you go to get a refill or use the bathroom, the move is usually to ask your neighbor to make sure no one snatches your computer. That’s…not secure.

Opulent custom iPhone XS Max boasts its own mechanical watch

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Caviar
It's the steampunk iPhone that threatens to bankrupt you!
Photo: Caviar

If you thought the iPhone XS Max was pricey, you probably should shield your eyes to avoid the sheer indulgent offensiveness of Caviar’s new Grand Complications Skeleton Tourbillon.

Most iPhone cases are supposed to protect the phone by taking the brunt of the damage in the event of a fall. Not so here! This $9,820 custom iPhone outer shell will make you even more nervous about whipping out your iPhone to bash out a quick text while walking down the street.

Mass production ‘gearing up’ for new iPads, AirPods

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AirPods in case
Are you excited about next-gen AirPods?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

New AirPods and iPads are coming — and we just got the latest bit of evidence to support that.

According to a new report, four Apple suppliers are gearing up for mass production of both new products. Flexible PCB firm Flexium Interconnect and Zhen Ding Technology will be handling Apple’s next-gen iPad devices. Meanwhile, Compeq Manufacturing and Unitech PCB will supply rigid-flex boards for the sequel to Apple’s wireless AirPods.

Apple says Qualcomm lawsuit was kickstarted by Intel envy

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Qualcomm patents
Intel muscled in on Qualcomm's previous contract with Apple.
Photo: Qualcomm

Apple claims that Qualcomm’s motivation for taking Apple to court is because it was upset that Apple had switched to using Intel chips in iPhones. Prior to 2016, Qualcomm had enjoyed five years of being Apple’s exclusive chip maker.

The suggestion was made by Apple’s counsel in closing remarks Wednesday during the patent infringement trial in San Diego.

Tiny chargers show the big advantages of gallium nitride, aka GaN [Review]

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Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1 and RavPower PD Pioneer 45W review
Gallium nitride technology allows these chargers to be much smaller than more traditional alternatives.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Chargers are transitioning from silicon transistors to gallium nitride (GaN), enabling  these irritatingly bulky accessories to shrink in size. Anker and RavPower both make power adapters that put out more current than you’d expect for their svelte dimensions thanks to the magic of GaN.

We tested out both chargers that can be used to power up your MacBook, iPad or iPhone. Read on to see how they performed.

Laserlike acquisition boosts Apple’s AI capabilities

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The Laserlike app used machine learning to find relevant news articles.
The Laserlike app used machine learning to find relevant news articles.
Photo: Laserlike

Apple bought a small startup that created an app that used machine learning to auotomically find news articles users would be interested in.

The acquisition of Laserlike is expected to  bolster Apple’s artificial intelligence efforts.

AirPods art challenge turns classic works on their ears

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AirPods art challenge
Apple is the Goliath of the wearables market.
Photo: @SCOTUSPlaces/Twitter

Vincent Van Gogh might have been kinder to his ear if only AirPods were around when he was alive and painting.

Art already gives us so much to ponder. As does Twitter, which a New York City creative agency used to call on followers to Photoshop Apple AirPods into famous works of art.

Enso is the best looper app for iOS

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Enso looks as good as it sounds.
Enso looks as good as it sounds.
Photo: Audio Damage

Enso looper is a big, big deal for iOS musicians. In principle, it works like any other looper app or hardware looper: You play music into it, and then that music is looped over and over, forming a backing track for more playing.

But Enso is hot, hot, hot for two reasons. One is the amount of control you have over the looping. The other is that it is an Audio Unit, which means that it can be used inside other apps, like GarageBand and AudioBus.

Stream Apple Music on Amazon Fire TV starting today

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Your Amazon Fire TV can stream Apple Music.
Your Amazon Fire TV can stream Apple Music, not just Game of Thrones.
Photo: Amazon

In what would have been radical change a few years ago, your Amazon Fire TV can now stream songs from the Apple Music service.

This is the latest move from the iPhone maker to allow users to access its services on hardware made by rival companies.

What to expect from Apple’s ‘show time’ event on March 25

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Apple Show time event
Apple is expected to launch a number of new services this spring.
Photo: Apple

The first Apple event of 2019 is nearly here. Tim Cook and friends are set to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater on March 25 to unveil the company’s newest goodies, only instead of unveiling some shiny new gadgets you can buy, Apple is supposedly going to bust out some services you can subscribe to.

The Apple rumor mill has been working in overdrive leading up the event, so we have a pretty solid idea of what we’ll see.

If you hate Apple keynote spoilers, stop reading now.

Verizon 5G ramps up for April launch

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AOL just got bought by the king of mobile.
AOL just got bought by the king of mobile.
Photo: Verizon

Well behind arch-rival AT&T, Verizon will begin rolling out its 5G wireless network in two cities early in April.

This is the carrier’s first step in having this faster replacement for LTE available in 30 cities by the end of the year.

Make your own iPhone Safari download manager with Shortcuts

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Who doesn’t enjoy a well-managed download?
Who doesn’t enjoy a well-managed download?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

One of the biggest shortcomings of mobile Safari is downloading files. It’ll do it just fine, but it loads everything as if it were a web page. PDFs, ZIPs, MP3s: They all get loaded right there into the current page, whereupon you have to use the Open In… feature to save the file.

Perhaps even worse — you don’t have any idea how long the download is going to take. All you have to go on is the loading progress bar up in the URL bar, which creeps along and really only offers two states: “not done yet” and “done.”

Today we will fix that by whipping up a download manager using the Shortcuts app. Let’s go.

Apple rushes to add HBO and Showtime to streaming service

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Apple TV service facing competition
The Apple TV service will reportedly have movies and shows from other big-name companies.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has created numerous shows for its streaming TV service, but is reportedly also negotiating deals to bring in content from other sources, including HBO and Showtime.

This should help the Apple TV service compete against established rivals, especially Netflix.

iPhone stops arrow en route to user’s head

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iPhone stops arrow
Here's one man's tip on using the iPhone.
Photo: New South Wales police

The iPhone has made news for stopping bullets. A man in Australia discovered his iPhone was durable enough to stop an arrow aimed at his head.

The man was under attack in his driveway by an acquaintance with a bow and arrow in the town of Nimbin in New South Wales. The victim raised his iPhone to get a picture of his attacker when an arrow struck and penetrated the handset.

Spotify files complaint against Apple’s ‘unfair’ App Store fees

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Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music
Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music
Photo: Spotify

Spotify has filed a legal complaint against Apple for what it believes is anti-competitive behavior.

The music streaming service, like many others, has an issue with the 30 percent cut Apple charges on App Store revenue. Spotify says Apple makes it very difficult to avoid the fee, which makes some services more expensive.

Best leather Apple Watch bands, from most affordable to luxurious

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Find the perfect leather Apple Watch band for your budget without compromising style or quality.
Find the perfect leather Apple Watch band for your budget without compromising style or quality.
Photo: Strapa

High-quality leather is a universal way to look and feel classy, timeless and powerful. Deck out your beloved Apple Watch in something it deserves, regardless of price point. Whether you’re buying on a budget or searching for the perfect splurge, your internet scouring ends here.

Check out our watch store guide to finding the perfect leather Apple Watch band for your budget.

Spark now lets you delegate emails to your colleagues

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Spark delegate email
It's as easy as that!
Photo: Readdle

Spark, the popular email client from Readdle, now lets you turn messages into tasks and delegate them to your colleagues.

The feature is available inside the latest Spark update on Mac and iOS. Readdle says it will be particularly useful for CEOs, managers, and team leaders who need to pass on communications and keep track of their progress.