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Name your price for this jam-packed Mac app bundle [Deals]

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This packed bundle of award-winning Mac apps is yours for whatever you're ready to pay
This packed bundle of award-winning Mac apps is yours for whatever you're ready to pay
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

How often do you get more than you asked for at a cost that’s less than you expect? When it comes to Mac software, you’re not likely to find a better collection than this bundle of award-winning apps.

From productivity to photography, there’s something here that anyone can use. But the best part of all is that you can name your price for all 13 Mac apps.

Snapchat Spectacles could blur a line between fun and privacy

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Spectacles are no longer a U.S. exclusive.
Spectacles are no longer a U.S. exclusive.
Photo: Snap, Inc.

After Google released a limited number of Google Glass devices to eager beta testers a few years back, I found myself one day sitting next to a kid in a coffee shop wearing one.

I waited for the jerking gestures of his head to pause to ask him how he liked this much-hyped future of personal computing. He loved it but wondered if people would ever stop worrying about whether he was covertly filming them.

Google plans MacBook rival with new ‘Andromeda’ OS

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Chromebook Pixel
Google's next Pixel could be much more exciting.
Photo: Google

Google is expected to announce to new Pixel phones that will step up Android’s fight against the iPhone next month — and its assault on Apple won’t stop there.

According to a new report, the company is also planning a Pixel laptop powered by a new “Andromeda” operating system that will do battle with the MacBook. It could also steal some of its features, including the pressure-sensitive trackpad.

Apple vet creates iPhone sex toys that would cause a buzz in Cupertino [Kahney’s Korner podcast]

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Suki Dunham OhMiBod
Working at Apple helped sex toy entrepreneur Suki Dunham launch a line of iPhone-connected vibrators.
Photo: Suki Dunham/OhMiBod

It’s true: music can put you in the mood for love. A Spotify survey found that music is more arousing than touch. That’s why OhMiBod’s iPhone-connected sex toys make sense; they enhance the mood as well as buzzing in time to the beat.

“Our massagers offer an unrivaled sensory experience that allows singles and couples to not only hear their favorite music, but feel it as well,” says the firm’s website.

In this week’s episode of Kahney’s Korner, I talk to Suki Dunham, cofounder of OhMiBod, a female-owned and operated company that makes a line of iPhone and iPad controlled female pleasure products.

Suki used to work at Apple, where she learned a lot about product design, packaging and marketing, which she applies to her business selling high-tech vibrators.

Declutter your desk with this 4-device charging station [Deals]

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This clever charging hub lets you juice up four devices at once without cluttering up your desk space
This clever charging hub lets you juice up four devices at once without cluttering up your desk space
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you’ve got more than one iDevice to keep charged, it can result in a tangled mess of wires and screens. To prevent leaving your desk looking like a droid lost its lunch there, Avantree built a dock that keeps up to four of your USB-charged devices humming, while keeping your desk uncluttered.

Winner of the 2014 Red Dot Design Award, this is a great solution for any home or office. And right now you can get one for just $35.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Google Trips, Vulture Island and other awesome apps of the week

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appsoftheweek_1024
'Appy weekend.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’re looking to unwind this fine Sunday by sampling the latest App Store delectables for your iOS device, have no fear: Cult of Mac is here to help!

Whether you’re on the hunt for a great new story-driven Batman game or a new travel-planning app, we think you’ll approve of our picks.

Check them out below. You won’t be disappointed.

Protect, organize, and streamline your iOS and web data [Week’s Newest Deals]

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These 3 apps will assure the whole family's Apple Devices are running efficiently
These 3 apps will assure the whole family's Apple Devices are running efficiently
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s a new week, and that means a host of hot new deals at the Cult of Mac Store. This go-round is looking good for anyone interested in keeping their data organized and secure, from iOS to web browsing. We’ve got a suite of iPhone data management tools, a lifetime of VPN protection, 5 years of password management, and a pack of data management tools for Mac. Read on for more details:

Bluetooth headphones, Apple Watch docks and more [Week’s Best Deals]

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It's all about the sound with these foldable, high-quality headphones
It's all about the sound with these foldable, high-quality headphones
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A new week means a new batch of awesome deals on gear and gadgets, and this go-round we’ve got some big, big discounts, as much as 97 percent. On the deals docket today are a set of premium Bluetooth headphones, three years of VPN access, a wireless Apple Watch charging hub, and half off the uber popular PDF Expert. Read on for more details:

Seven days with iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, this week on The CultCast

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apple watch series 2
Trade-in that old Apple Watch for money off at the Apple Store.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

This week on The CultCast: After seven days with iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2, we’ll tell you what we love (and don’t) about Apple’s newest gadgets. Plus: Hissgate explained; how to auto-unlock your Mac with an Apple Watch; and, if you’re wondering how to use picture-in-picture mode on YouTube videos in macOS Sierra, we’ll reveal just how to make that happen.

This episode is supported TunnelBear, the simple privacy app that makes it easy to browse privately and enjoy a more open internet. Visit GetTunnelBear.com to get your free TunnelBear today.

Is Siri still steps behind Google’s virtual assistants? [Friday Night Fights]

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v2
Which virtual assistant gets your vote?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has taken big strides to make Siri even greater in recent years, like bringing it to Apple TV and macOS, and opening it up to third-party developers. In that time, Apple’s virtual assistant has also gotten more accurate and more reliable.

Friday Night Fights bug But some might say third-party alternatives — particularly those from Google — are still a step ahead, with greater features and more flexibility. So, is Apple doing enough to make Siri just as stellar as Google Now and the new Google Assistant?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we go head-to-head over virtual assistants.

Apple fixes iPhone audio issues with iOS update

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Hold off on iOS 10 for now.
iOS 10.0.2 is here to fix your audio issues.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone 7 users can finally enjoy uninterrupted audio through the Lightning port, now that Apple has released an iOS 10 update full of bug fixes.

iOS 10.0.2 was made available to all iPhone and iPad owners today, fixing issues with audio, photos and app extensions.

iOS 10 has landed! Now it’s time to start coding for it [Deals]

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The time has come to learn the ins and outs of iOS 10, and here's where you get started.
The time has come to learn the ins and outs of iOS 10, and here's where you get started.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

At long last, our iPhones are humming with a fresh install of iOS 10. If you’ve got a mind to develop software for Apple’s latest mobile operating system, we’ve got a bundle of coding resources you won’t want to miss. Clocking in at over 80 hours, there are hundreds of lectures and courses fundamental and advanced concepts in iOS, Swift 3, and more. Right now you can get the whole shebang for a massively discounted $35 with coupon code IOS10.

Apple plans Siri-based Amazon Echo rival with facial recognition

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amazon-echo-keeps-you-up-on-the-times-while-spitting-mad-rhymes-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201411Screen-Shot-2014-11-06-at-173652-png
The Amazon Echo has been a surprising hit.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple plans to take on the Amazon Echo with a standalone Siri device, according to a new report.

The project is said to have begun two years ago, but has only now entered the prototype testing phase. Much like the Amazon Echo, this device would be able to look up information and control smart home appliances using voice recognition — but possibly include facial recognition tech, too.

iPhone 7 owners report poor sound quality during phone calls

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iPhone-7
How's the call quality on your iPhone 7?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Yes, lots of people still use their smartphone to make calls, and some iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners are having a bad experience doing just that. Many report poor sound quality on both devices during calls, and it’s not yet clear if software or hardware is to blame.

WhatsApp plans to beef up security with passcode lock

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WhatsApp
WhatsApp could soon become even more secure.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

After protecting your private conversations with end-to-end encryption, it seems WhatsApp wants to give you even greater peace of mind by adding passcode protection to its app.

The feature was uncovered by a team of translators which helps convert WhatsApp into other languages.

Fair criticism of iPhone 7 camera might not matter to photographers

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What makes a better sunrise, the iPhone 6s Plus or the iPhone 7s Plus? The photographer sees the difference.
What makes a better sunrise, the iPhone 6s Plus or the iPhone 7s Plus? The photographer sees the difference.
Photo: Cielo de la Paz

I was raised by careful shoppers in a home where Consumer Reports magazine was like a second Bible. Cars, a new washer and dryer, and a vacuum cleaner to handle the then-new orange shag carpeting were not purchased without first consulting this venerable institution of objective product testing.

So I hit the pause button on my excitement for the iPhone 7 camera when I read a Consumer Reports review that claimed the iPhone 7 represents “no major leap in camera performance” from the 6s.

For one day only, get 10% off already discounted gear and gadgets [Deals]

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This Apple Watch charging station charges your timepiece wirelessly, but it's also a USB hub for your other devices.
This Apple Watch charging station charges your timepiece wirelessly, but it's also a USB hub for your other devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Cult of Mac Store gets regular shipments of great deals, but once in a rare while there are special deals. This is one of those days — but it’s just one day. Today all four of the deals below is 10 percent off their already reduced prices when you use the coupon code THUR10 at checkout. It applies to a wireless Apple Watch dock, a pack of MFi-certified Lightning cables, water resistant Bluetooth earbuds, and a seamless 64GB expansion for your MacBook. Read on for more details:

Apple Watch Series 2 review: A tick closer to perfection

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apple watch series 2
Trade-in that old Apple Watch for money off at the Apple Store.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

I finally have a reason to stop cheating on my Apple Watch.

For the past 16 months, Apple’s wearable and I have had an on-again, off-again relationship. The Apple Watch looks great. It helps me stay fit. It tells the time really well. But it hasn’t been the complete wrist solution I need.

With the Apple Watch Series 2, a lot of the compromises of Apple’s first-gen smartwatch have finally been fixed. You can get GPS without carrying your iPhone. The new Apple Watch is water-friendly. And it’s built for speed. But with the new, less-expensive Apple Watch Series 1 getting some of the same features, is the Series 2 seriously worth the upgrade?

While working on this Apple Watch Series 2 review, I’ve been wearing the new device everywhere I go ever since it came out Friday. The short answer is, “hell yes.”

If Macs don’t need cleaning, why does macOS Sierra come with cleaning tools?

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macOS Sierra offers new tools to clean your Mac.
macOS Sierra offers new tools to clean your Mac.
Photo: StockSnap/Pixabay

This is a guest post by Vera Tkachenko, a software team lead at MacPaw.

For the first time, the Mac operating system comes with cleaning tools. The new Optimized Storage feature in macOS Sierra might not sound like much at first, but its very presence in the new Mac operating system undermines the long-held notion that OS X is self-cleaning and remains fast and glitch-free on its own.

Why did Apple add this functionality? Let’s check under the hood of the new macOS cleaning tools to find out what they do, why they do it — and how they might have done it better.

These Bluetooth headphones will blow your ears away [Deals]

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These headphones bring the beat and the best of Bluetooth.
These headphones bring the beat and the best of Bluetooth.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When scoping out a new set of headphones, the balance between quality, convenience and cost is always at play. These headphones from Franklin manage to hit the intersection of all three, with a foldable yet solid build, sonorous sound and all the convenience of Bluetooth. Right now you can pick up a set for just $39.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

iPhone 7 has already been jailbroken

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iPhone 7 jailbreak Cydia
A sight Apple won't be pleased to see.
Photo: Luca Tedesco

The iPhone 7 has been on sale for less than a week and hackers have already been able to jailbreak it. Photos posted on Twitter show Cydia, the home of jailbreak apps and tweaks, installed on a device running iOS 10.0.1.