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Power up 2 gadgets with Anker’s tiny new Nano 3

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A tiny charger that can push 20W+ to two devices is pretty potent.
A tiny charger that can push 20W+ to two devices is pretty potent.
Photo: Anker

Anker introduced a new potent-but-weenie little GaN charger to it lineup Wednesday, the Anker 47W Nano 3. It packs more power than the company’s 30W Nano chargers, adds a most-welcome second USB-C port and comes in three colors.

And it also comes with a 15% off launch discount — $34 instead of the regular $40, a savings of $6.

What’s next for iPod? Catch the discussion on our newest CultCast

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This time on The CultCast: rumored new EarPods take your pulse and more; updated Macbook Airs get faster and cheaper; a leaked “iPhone 6” case indicates an iPod-inspired design; Google takes on Office with new iOS apps for Drive; we ponder the state of the iPod; and we pitch our favorite tech and apps then vote on which is best… it’s an all new Faves N Raves!

Have a few chuckles while we catch you up on each week’s best Apple stories! Stream or download new and past episodes of The CultCast now on your Mac or iDevice by subscribing on iTunes, or hit play below and let the audio adventure begin!

And thanks to Lynda.com for sponsoring this episode! Learn at your own pace from expert-taught video tutorials at Lynda.com.

Click on for the show notes.

Check Out Apple’s Awesome New iPod Ad [Video]

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One of the more forgotten parts of today’s iPhone 5 keynote was the awesome iPod commercial Apple debuted, featuring the new little devices bouncing all over the place. While the iPod is certainly no longer Apple’s flagship product line, this commercial was still top-notch. If you look closely, there’s some really nice touches. My favorite part is when two iPod shuffles combine to make a new, taller nano. Pretty clever. Check out the ad after the break.

Why Microsoft Will Be Cooler Post-Ballmer On An All-New CultCast

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There’s no way to be nice about it: Microsoft is not cool. Their products aren’t cool (sans Xbox!). Their logo isn’t cool. And then there’s their dancing, prancing, screaming, bear of a man slash CEO: Steve Ballmer. And on our brand new CultCast, we have to ask: could Microsoft bring their sexy back with a CEO who isn’t the official jester of the tech community?

And then, don’t miss our discussion on how one simple hardware upgrade can transform your aged Macbook Pro into an unholy speed demon! That’s right, you don’t need a Retina Macbook, just $200 and ten minutes can bring you a renewed computing power that would make even Tim Cook’s glasses start to fog!

Subscribe to The CultCast now on iTunes, or easily stream new episodes right on your iPhone or iPad with Apple’s brand new Podcasts App.

Full show notes coming up next!

This iPod Nano Concept Better Is Than The Real Thing

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I'd trade my crappy square Nano in for one of these in a second
I'd trade my crappy square Nano in for one of these in a second

We love us a good iConcept design here at Cult of Mac, and we especially love those which appear to be better than the Apple product they are based on. So I’m happy to bring you Enrico Penello’s iPod Nano Touch, a great-looking update to the terrible iPod Nano.

Liquipel Coating Will Make Your iPhone Waterproof Without A Case

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No one enjoys slapping a case on their iPhone. They add weight, extra bulk, and almost always ruin the beautiful look of your device. If you want to protect it, however, there’s no other way.

Or is there? A company called Liquipel claims to make your iPhone waterproof without a case. It uses a special water resistant “nano” coating which repels water, allowing you to actually submerge you device into a bucket of juice — naked — without killing it.

Apple Will Reposition iPod Nano As Bling Using New Camera And “Chameleon-Sense”

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Just a couple of days ago, we saw a leaked case for the iPod nano that seemed to confirm that Apple intends on ditching the sports clip and integrating a 1.3 megapixel camera instead. At the time, we wondered just why Apple would do such a thing.

Now it looks like we know: it’s so the Nano can look out into the world and see just where it’s being used, then adapt itself like a chamelon accordingly.

iPad Nano’s Anti-Hacking Detection Circumvented, Jailbreaks Coming Next

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It may not really run iOS, but the latest touchscreen Nano has been hacked… and that hack may very well imply jailbreaks to come.

The hack was achieved by dev James Wheaton, who managed to install an alternate Springboard file that allowed him to remove an app from the device.

This might sound like a simple task, but it’s not: to achive the feat, Wheaton has to figure out how to bypass the Nano’s cache comparison, which scans the Springboard file for changes and reverts the device to factory settings if any mods are discovered.

In other words, it’s not that Wheaton was able to load a modified Springboard plist file deleting an app that is the big deal… it’s the circumvention of the Nano’s own anti-modding tech. That means the next step might be bonafide jailbreaking.

Wheaton’s discoveries don’t end there: he also found hidden support for apps, vCards, calendar events and more lingering in the firmware of the device. Even if the Nano will never run custom apps, some of that functionality may very well be able to be unlocked.