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Top stories - page 572

iOS 11 concept supercharges the Home screen

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The Home screen becomes more than just an app launcher.
The Home screen becomes more than just an app launcher.
Photo: Matt Birchler

It’s about time Apple made our Home screens more useful. It could start by taking tips from this iOS 11 concept, which imagines more informative icon badges and support for complications similar to those on Apple Watch.

Rip, convert and manage digital media like a pro [Deals]

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CoM - MacX Media Management Bundle
Get on top of your media files with this trio of powerful MacX apps.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re making hard copies of your files or trying to get a video to work better on your phone, having a solid set of media apps can really come in handy. This trio of MacX media management apps offers a comprehensive toolset for anyone working with digital video, audio, or any other kind of file. The MacX Media Management Bundle includes MacX DVD Ripper Pro, Video Converter Pro, and MediaTrans, and right now you can get the whole bundle for just $20.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Beware phone scammers who warn of iCloud hack

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Got a call from “Apple Support” to say your iCloud account was hacked? Hang up and ignore it.

Phone scammers are calling unsuspecting iPhone and iPad users and trying to trick them into handing over their iCloud account details. Once they have them, they can purchase whatever they want, and it’s you who foots the bill.

iPad teardown throws shade on ‘brighter screen’ claim

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ipad
Apple's new iPad is cheaper, but maybe not necessarily brighter?
Photo: Apple

Update: “We put the new iPad through more tests,” iFixit notes. “The display on the iPad 5 has ~44% greater luminance than the LCD in the Air 1.” Well, we guess that answers that!

Apple claims that its latest iPad boasts a “brighter 9.7-inch Retina display” than its predecessors.

However, our friends over at iFixit call that claim into question with their teardown of the device — which prompts them to ask, “Brighter than what?”

Xcode 8.3 provides more hints at 120Hz iPad Pro displays

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x
The new iPad Pro may feature smaller bezels.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The latest update to Xcode has provided another hint that Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro will feature a faster 120Hz display.

Existing iPhone and iPad displays max out at 60Hz, but higher refresh rates allow for a smoother experience when playing graphically intensive games and using Apple Pencil.

Total Android app revenue could surpass iOS this year

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The Apple brand is the big difference.
Numbers are tipping in Android's direction. Kind of.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iOS App Store is expected to remain the most lucrative app store around for at least the next five years, but according to a new report Google Play and various third-party Android stores are likely to overtake it in total revenue as early as this year.

The insight comes from app analysis company App Annie, which suggests that total worldwide mobile app store downloads will exceed 352 billion in 2021, while gross consumer spend across all app stores will surpass $139 billion.

How the Galaxy S8 stacks up against iPhone 7

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Galaxy S8 in hand
Galaxy S8 is the smartphone to buy, says Consumer Reports.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung delivered the Galaxy S8 series today, and the phones are everything fans hoped they would be. The gorgeous, curved-glass form factor packs the latest specifications, stunning Infinity Displays and features like iris scanning.

But how do the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ stack up against iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus?

5 features iPhone 8 must steal from the Galaxy S8

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Galaxy S8 Infinity Display
Samsung has a winner in the Galaxy S8.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have landed, and they’re by far the South Korean company’s most exciting smartphones to date. They boast stunning curved glass designs, jaw-dropping Infinity Displays, and impressive features.

Here are five that we think Apple must steal for this year’s iPhone 8.

Samsung Galaxy S8 sets a high bar for this year’s iPhone

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Galaxy S8
The Galaxy S8 is a stunner.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung today unveiled its stunning new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, setting a high bar for this year’s iPhone refresh.

The Android flagship is packed with impressive features and stellar specifications, and it sports a gorgeous curved glass design with an edge-to-edge Infinity Display. It’s the most impressive smartphone we’ve seen so far this year.

Get room-filling sound from a slender speaker [Deals]

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CoM - Kove Commuter Wireless Speaker
This portable speaker will deliver up to 8 hours of bassy tunes on a single charge.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Headphones are super convenient, but sometimes you want to fill a room with sound instead of your skull. Bluetooth speakers come in many makes and models too, which is why this super portable, super long lasting Kove Commuter Wireless Speaker is worth checking out. It packs high quality sound and an impressive 8 hours of playtime into a super slim cylinder that fits in any bag. And right now you can get the Kove Commuter Wireless Speaker for just $89.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Devs no longer allowed to mention prices in app titles

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App Store
It’s gone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS and macOS developers are no longer allowed to mention price information in app titles.

Apple has previously discouraged users from including words like “free” in their App Store titles. Now the company has instigated a complete ban, and developers who don’t comply with its new rule will see their submissions rejected.

With looming iPad Pro update, now is the time to sell your old iPad

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iPad Air
The easiest way to get quick cash for your old iPad.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

With one new iPad model already released and a refresh to the iPad Pro line likely coming soon, now is the perfect time to sell your old iPad.

With every upgraded iPad that hits the market, the value of older iPads plummets. So, if you have an old tablet, the best time to trade up and sell your iPad for the most cash is right now. Use our fast and easy online buyback program today — before current iPads depreciate.

Everything you need to know about the new Apple File System

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APFS
APFS arrives in 2017.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in June 30, 2016, but has been updated with new info since the release of iOS 10.3)

It’s hard to believe that Apple’s speedy Macs are still using a file system that was developed more than 30 years ago, when floppy disks and spinning hard drives were considered cutting-edge technology.

But that’s going to change in 2017 with the new Apple File System — or APFS — that debuts in iOS 10.3 and macOS 10.12.4. Here’s everything you need to know about APFS and how it’s going to make your life better, no matter what Apple device(s) you use.

Watch a rare Apple I power up like it’s 1976

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This is one of six Apple I computers in the world that actually work.
This is one of six Apple I computers in the world that actually work.
Photo: Victoria & Albert Museum/YouTube

Take a good look at that slim iPhone 7 in your hand, or the powerful MacBook Pro balanced on your knees. Then imagine the very first circuit board that flipped the switch to power a revolution that put those devices in your possession.

A video recently posted to YouTube by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London shows a working Apple I computer, one of only six known in the world today.

This MacBook Pro dock saves space, adds style [Review]

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Henge Docks' Vertical Docking Station, a MacBook Pro dock
Henge Docks' Vertical Docking Station for MacBook Pro makes for a sleek desktop. (The Gravitas, for iPhone and iPad, helps.)
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A recent move into a new studio put my OCD on high alert. Determined to maintain a truly “clean workspace,” I wanted to avoid a jumble of cables slowly creeping across my new desk at all costs. A MacBook Pro dock definitely seemed in order.

For a sleek solution to any pending cable chaos, I added Henge Docks’ Vertical Docking Station for MacBook Pro to my desktop. So far, it’s the best solution I’ve found.

Check out my full video review below.

3 awesome features Apple should steal from Android O

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Android O makes its public debut this fall.
Android O makes its public debut this fall.
Photo: Google

Google announced its new Android O update last week, and it includes a whole bunch of big improvements, like support for streaming high-quality audio over Bluetooth, the ability to use a wide color gamut in third-party apps, and lots more.

Here are the features that we think Apple should steal for iPhone and iPad.

Use this VPN to stay anonymous and secure for life [Deals]

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CoM - TigerVPN
This is a great deal on a lifetime of comprehensive VPN protection.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The internet is full of headaches and hazards, whether it’s the constant snooping on personal data, the threat of identity theft or the annoyance of location restrictions. One reliable way to minimize all of the above is to sign on via a virtual private network, or VPN.

By channeling your traffic through a series of encrypted servers, you can vastly enhance your online anonymity and security. Right now you can get a lifetime of protection through TigerVPN for just $29 at Cult of Mac Deals. That’s already a huge 96 percent discount, but if you enter DIGIWEEK15 at checkout you’ll get an additional 15 percent off.

Why I still love Beats X, Apple’s world-beating wireless earbuds [Reviews]

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Beats X Earphones
Sleek, light and compact, Beats X Earphones are the perfect wireless companion.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

I’ve racked up dozens of hours wearing Beats X wireless earphones over the past month, and I still think they blow away the competition — even Apple’s AirPods.

For Cult of Mac’s latest video review, I’ve put together a definitive list of my thoughts on the innovative earpods.

Apple’s supply chain gets a bit more humane

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Screen Shot 2017-03-27 at 16.18.28
Apple is becoming a "force for good" in the world.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s worked hard to improve its supply chain condition in 2016, with a special focus on improving working conditions and protecting the planet.

In doing so, the company claims it “raises the bar higher for its suppliers and the industry.” Check out some of the highlights below.

Samsung’s doomed Galaxy Note 7 is making a comeback

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galaxy note 7
Oh yes!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung has confirmed that its doomed Galaxy Note 7 is making a comeback.

The South Korean company ceased production five months ago after a battery fault caused some handsets to overheat and explode. Now it has begun refurbishing some of the units that were returned with plans to sell them later.

Spring clean your Mac with this cloud-storage solution

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Zoolz Dual Cloud 2TB Storage
Keep all your files safe, all the time, with Zoolz.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

Cloud storage is the answer to all your storage woes for your Mac. And spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a painstaking task — backing up all your important files is totally easy with cloud-storage solution Zoolz.

Right now you can ensure your Mac is running in tip-top shape with a lifetime of Zoolz dual-cloud storage for just $49.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

WhatsApp faces new encryption challenge after London attack

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WhatsApp on iOS
WhatsApp users have been waiting for better notifications.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp is under new pressure to provide a government backdoor following the recent terror attack in London.

U.K. home secretary Amber Rudd said it is “completely unacceptable” that law enforcement agencies are unable to read messages and conversations that are secured by end-to-end encryption.

Death Road to Canada, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Somehow it’s the weekend again already, and to help you celebrate we’ve combed through the week’s best apps to help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Whether it’s a great retro-style zombie game or a superb productivity app gone free you’re looking for, we’re confident we’ve got what you’re hankering after!

Check out our list below.