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With Setapp, buying Mac apps goes the way of the dusty DVD collection

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Setapp Mac apps subscription service
You probably don't go to the store for DVDs anymore. Why do it for Mac apps?
Photo: MacPaw

This post is presented by MacPaw, the software team behind Setapp and a variety of proven Mac apps.

Remember the good old days when owning the movies you wanted meant going to the store to buy DVDs? Nowadays, most of us don’t even have a DVD player, and with good reason. Joining a streaming service like Netflix, which lets you pick and choose from a wide variety of great content, is a much more sensible option. It saves you time, effort, space, money and the waste of a misguided purchase (just think of all those DVDs gathering dust).

Get your free trial of Setapp, the Netflix for Mac apps

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Setapp brings the subscription model of Netflix to Mac apps.
Setapp brings the subscription model of Netflix to Mac apps.
Photo: MacPaw

This post is presented by MacPaw, the software team behind Setapp and a variety of proven Mac apps.

These days, lots of us indulge in subscription services. From TV, movies and music to nerd paraphernalia and razors, subscribing to what you love is a great model for exploring many options at an affordable price. If you can name it, you can find a curated collection sent straight to your door or inbox — and now the subscription model is coming to disrupt Mac apps.

The slimmest iPhone case looks even slicker in jet black

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Whether you're wishing your iPhone were jet black, or it is and you want to protect it, this insanely slim case it what you're looking for,
Whether you're wishing your iPhone were jet black, or it is and you want to protect it, this insanely slim case it what you're looking for,
Photo: Totallee

This post is brought to you by Totallee.

There’s something utterly drool-worthy about a jet black iPhone. A black mirrored finish first wowed us on the iPhone 3. It quickly gained a reputation as being super-sexy — but also super-susceptible to scratches. Even Apple warns in the fine print that iPhone 7 units with this highly sought after finish are prone to micro-abrasions. Now the phone case wunderkinds at Totallee have created a way to go to the dark side without risking a scratch.

Get in early on the one cable to connect them all

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This cleverly designed cable includes connections for USB, Micro USB, and Lightning all in one.
This cleverly designed cable includes connections for USB, Micro USB, and Lightning all in one.
Photo: Trilobi

This post is presented by Trilobi, maker of the Trilobi Magnetic 3 in 1 MAG Cable.

With all the sleek digital devices in our lives, one thing that doesn’t seem to get more streamlined is the drawer full of cables needed to keep them charged. Thankfully, a sweet, soon-to-be-released cable is about to cure that spaghetti nightmare.

This plug-in turns Apple Mail into a powerful productivity platform

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MailButler turns Apple Mail into a bona fide productivity platform.
MailButler turns Apple Mail into a bona fide productivity platform.
Image: Feingeist Software

This post is presented by Feingeist Software.

Ah, Apple Mail. Every Mac users’ de-facto communications hub, it’s a convenient tool — but it’s not exactly feature-rich. It serves as a catch-all for our contacts and email conversations, but when it comes to productivity, Mail has a lot of untapped potential.

Remove DRM from iTunes and Apple Music to play your audio on any device

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Apple Music Converter
This app converts audio files into MP3, removing their DRM restrictions so you can play them on any device.
Photo: Convertanymusic.com

This post is brought to you by Convertanymusic.com, maker of Apple Music Converter.

When we download music from iTunes, or audiobooks from Audible, the files that get onto our devices are DRM-protected. That means they can’t be played on “unauthorized” devices. This, let’s face it, is pretty inconvenient.

Pro tips for improving your app reviews

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App Store reviews
Here's how to harness the power of app reviews (even bad ones).
Image: MacPaw

Our App Business section is brought to you by MacPaw, maker of proven Mac apps.

Getting a bad app review is a definite bummer. When some faceless user trashes your labor of love in the App Store or some other public venue, it can really sting. But if you’re smart about it, you can turn negative reviews into positive opportunities for improving your app and winning committed customers.

Here’s how to spin bad app reviews into developer gold.

Combo Cleaner takes Mac antivirus protection to the next level

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Combo Cleaner includes a powerful antivirus tool backed up by a dedicated team of software specialists.
Combo Cleaner includes a powerful antivirus tool backed up by a dedicated team of software specialists.
Photo: RCS LT

This post is brought to you by RCS LT, maker of Combo Cleaner.

The vast majority of apps offering antivirus protection run on an open-source engine called Clam AV. It offers a convenient module that app developers can plug into their products for free and get passable antivirus protection.

Unfortunately, you often get what you pay for, which in this case is a subpar detection rate for malware and adware. That’s why a staff-maintained antivirus solution is a better idea.

Rip DVDs to Mac, mobile or hard drive easily (and for free)

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macx dvd ripper pro boxshot
MacX DVD Ripper Pro might be the best and easiest way to convert DVDs to usable files.
Image: Digiarty

This post is brought to you by Digiarty.

Unless you’re a teenager, you’ve probably got some DVDs lying around from back when people still used DVDs. Ripping those old movies and TV shows not only keeps their contents from being lost or damaged, it also means you can print fresh copies from scratched discs (without those annoying FBI warnings or region codes, thanks to built-in DVD decryption), and have digital versions ready to edit for your own projects.

This company built an AI for helping customer service teams

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This powerful artificial intelligence tool can help customer service agents, or converse with customers directly.
This powerful artificial intelligence tool can help customer service agents, or converse with customers directly.
Photo: Agent.ai

This post is brought to you by Agent.ai.

Not all businesses can afford a full-time staff of phone operators. And let’s be honest: Frustration with automated systems can leave customers looking for another place to do business.

Agent.ai has created something that bridges the gap — a customer relationship management (CRM) system that’s powered by machine learning. It comes in two forms: Co-Pilot and Auto-Pilot.

Mac app licensing is the headache you don’t want to DIY

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app licensing
For Mac developers, handling app licensing can be a huge hassle.
Image: MacPaw

Our new App Business section is brought to you by MacPaw, maker of proven Mac apps.

For independent Mac developers, one of the big, daunting tasks that the Mac App Store efficiently handles is app licensing. You just submit your app, then the store manages the actual app license through its user accounts. But this unquestionable convenience comes with a few critical downsides.

Liveblog: Best Cyber Monday deals 2016, including big Apple discounts from B&H

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IMG_6532
These are the deals you're looking for.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Black Friday is over, but the killer deals aren’t dead yet. It’s time to slap yourself out of that food coma, reach for your wallet, and grab yourself some sweet Cyber Monday deals on Apple products and other premium gear.

Our liveblog is where you’ll find them. We’ve got big discounts on Apple products from Amazon, B&H Photo and plenty of others, plus stellar savings on accessories and other gadgets from the likes of Twelve South, Slickwraps and many more.

Cult of Mac will keep digging through all the Cyber Monday ads to find the best deals on Apple products, electronics and gifts for your holiday shopping list. Get ready to go bananas.

Black Friday deals on health and fitness: A Withings gift guide

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Withings Black Friday gift guide
Great Black Friday deals slash up to 70 percent off Withings fitness and health gear.
Photos: Withings

This post is brought to you by Withings.

Don’t let shopping stress you out and spoil the holiday spirit. Gifts that are useful and beautiful are always a safe bet, and these Black Friday deals on health and fitness products from Withings — one of our favorite purveyors of quality gear — mean you can save up to 70 percent on the perfect gifts for 2016.

But don’t delay: These excellent deals on Withings fitness trackers, home health gadgets and smart scales won’t last forever. Prices go back up Tuesday!

Black Friday giveaway: Get one of the best video converters for Mac

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MacX Video Converter Pro
Get your free video converter today.
Image: Digiarty

This post is brought to you by Digiarty, maker of MacX Video Converter Pro.

Video is one of the most vital ways we communicate and consume media. And whether you’re creating your next viral video or looking to get a movie from your Mac onto your iPhone, a versatile
Mac video converter can be your best friend.

This heart-healthy smart scale delivers what your fitness apps are missing

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Withings Body Cardio smart scale
The Withings Body Cardio smart scale adds crucial cardiovascular insights to your health data mix.
Photo: Withings

This post is brought to you by Withings, maker of the Body Cardio smart scale.

One of the great promises of the mobile and wearables revolution was that we’d all get unprecedented insights into our personal health. Apple even built a Health app into its mobile operating system. And what icon did Apple choose for its trailblazing Health app? An unmistakable red heart.

Now a heart-healthy smart scale can capture critical data about your cardiovascular health that can provide a fresh perspective on your wellness regimen.

The only iPhone case that doesn’t give Apple the middle finger

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SkinCase
Your iPhone deserves a case like this.
Photo: SkinCase

This post is brought to you by SkinCase.

It must drive the designers and engineers at Apple crazy. For all the time and resources they put into the design of the iPhone, tons of people end up hulking it out with an ugly piece of plastic.

It’s a catch-22. The iPhone’s flawless design makes you want to keep it safe, but the cases out there ruin what you love about it in the first place.

DigiDNA devs make apps that rock by thinking like a band

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The indie developers at DigiDNA scored their first hit with iMazing for Mac.
The indie developers at DigiDNA scored their first hit with iMazing for Mac.
Photo: DigiDNA

Our new App Business section is brought to you by MacPaw, maker of proven Mac apps.

Sometimes you’ve got to think small to hit it big. For DigiDNA, a Swiss development team that makes popular software for managing iOS devices, that means functioning more like a tight rock ‘n’ roll band than a sprawling orchestra.

How do you beat light pollution? Try 40 OLED displays.

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The beauty of the aurora borealis, as seen on a giant wall of screens.
The beauty of the aurora borealis, as seen on a giant wall of screens.
Photo: LG Electronics

This post is brought to you by LG Electronics.

It’s a sad fact that around a third of people on Earth — and some 80 percent of Americans — can no longer enjoy the glory of the night’s sky, due to light pollution. The celestial firmament has been a source of wonder and inspiration for the entirety of human existence, making its sudden disappearance a truly significant loss.

How to set up a blog in 20 minutes or less

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With these tips, you can be running your own blog in no time.
With these tips, you can be running your own blog in no time.
Photo: Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko/Shutterstock

This post is brought to you by Websitesetup.org.

They say we’ve all got a book in us. And while not all of us will write that whole book, the internet makes it exceedingly simple for anybody with something to say to self-publish. Start a blog and you can say as much or as little as you like, at whatever pace suits you.

Blogging obviously isn’t new, but it hasn’t gone away either. And the tools for creating your own platform of online expression have never been easier to get hold of and use.

The arms race to protect apps from cracking

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Protect apps from crackers
Protecting apps from crackers can be a daunting task for developers.
Image: MacPaw

Our new App Business section is brought to you by MacPaw, maker of proven Mac apps.

App developers put a lot of time and effort into preventing their apps from being cracked or pirated. But for every coder taking a step toward making an app more secure, there’s someone on the march to crack it. The integrity of any app is subject to an ongoing arms race.

The most popular and useful apps are the most likely to release the cracken (I’m so sorry), so finding out that a bunch of people have downloaded your app illegally can be worn as something of a badge of pride. But that’s cold comfort when you’re losing customers, so let’s take a look at a couple of the most likely app-cracking approaches developers should protect against.

The cutting edge in monitors is UltraWide with a lovely curve

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LG UltraWide monitor
The latest LG UltraWide monitor sets a new standard for immersive viewing.
Image: LG Electronics

This post is brought to you by LG Electronics.

“Immersive” is a big buzzword in tech these days, as creators and consumers of digital media seek ever-more-powerful ways to get sucked into the screen. The latest version of the top-shelf LG UltraWide monitor adds new technology that takes that elusive immersive experience to the next level.

Recover, back up and restore your iPhone without touching iTunes

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Dr.Fone iPhone data recovery
Dr.Fone gets under the hood of iOS to make iPhone data recovery simple.
Image: Wondershare

This post is brought to you by Wondershare, maker of Dr.Fone.

Say you’ve deleted your messages before backing up your iPhone. Usually the best iTunes can offer is a shrug. With a convoluted and opaque system of options, it makes a task that should be a simple matter — finding the stuff you need and getting (or returning) it to your device — overly confusing and frustrating. Worse yet, iTunes can often lead to results you’re not looking for.

The super-thin iPhone cases you’ve been waiting for are here

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Totallee thin iPhone cases
These super-slim iPhone cases by Totallee offer maximum protection and minimum bulk.
Photo: Totallee

This post is brought to you by Totallee.

You know that feeling when you get a new iPhone case and find yourself wondering why it couldn’t be just a little — maybe even a lot — thinner? Sickening, right?

After all, the iPhone was designed to sit in your hand like a slender sliver of shiny wonder. The more it gets sheathed in armor, the less it feels like the sleek, tactile technological marvel that it is.

Wondershare PDF Creator for Mac: Make creation of PDFs from Office files fun and easy

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Wondershare PDF Creator for Mac optimized
It's simple to crank out PDFs with Wondershare PDF Creator for Mac.
Image: Wondershare

This post brought to you by Wondershare, maker of PDF Creator for Mac.

Wondershare has cemented itself as a dominant software-development company around the globe, thanks to an array of world-class software tools it has designed and tailored to fit the demands of the market.

Use this data-transfer tool for a seamless transition to iPhone 7

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AnyTrans Clone function
iOS data-management software AnyTrans makes your upgrade to iPhone 7 simple.
Screenshot: iMobie

This post is brought to you by iMobie, maker of AnyTrans.

It’s almost time for the iPhone 7. And, as when any new iPhone model hits the scene, there are sure to be plenty of people staring at their newly booted devices, wondering where some of their favorite data went.