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This sleek drive plugs an extra 64GB into your Mac or iPhone [Deals]

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Add 64 GB to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac with a single feature-rich drive.
Add 64 GB to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac with a single feature-rich drive.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Running out of storage isn’t unique to either the iPhone or Mac, but usually the solutions are different for each device. With the multitalented Mill iData Pro, you can solve both at once.

It’s a 64GB expansion drive that sports Lightning and USB connections along with a bunch of other cool features that make it perfect for the mobile user, and right now you can nab an iData Pro for just $74.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

iPhone 7 unboxing video reveals new Home button feature

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The first iPhone 7 unboxing we've seen!
Photo: MKBHD/YouTube

The iPhone 7’s new Taptic Home button gives users the ability to make their “iPhone experience even more personal by choosing the click that’s right for [them].”

Revealed as part of a new iPhone 7 unboxing video by YouTuber MKBHD, the feature lets users select light, medium or “firm” haptic feedback to indicate that the handset’s new Taptic Home button has been pressed.

Check out the unboxing video below.

Apple stores won’t have iPhone 7 Plus, any jet black models on Friday

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jet black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Yep, you won't be getting one of these tomorrow if you haven't already ordered it.
Photo: Apple

iPhone 7 units are going to be rarer than hen’s teeth this Friday, according to Apple. The company’s retail stores have sold out of the hugely popular jet black iPhone 7 and all iPhone Plus models altogether.

In other words, unless you reserved ahead, simply queuing outside your local Apple store is no guarantee you will get the handset you want on launch day.

Tim Cook defends Apple’s decision to kill the headphone jack

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Tim Cook loves Apple's vision for a wireless future.
Photo: Good Morning America

Tim Cook appeared on Good Morning America today, in which he defended Apple’s decision to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack and reaffirmed the pro-AirPod message that “wireless is the future.”

“When you decide on what the future is, you want to get there as soon as you can,” Cook said. “That jack takes up a lot of space in the phone, a lot of space. And there’s a lot of more important things we can provide for the consumer than that jack.”

AirPods review roundup: A nice idea with room for improvement

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AirPods are nice, but they're far from perfect.
Photo: Apple

We’ll have to wait until October to get our hands on Apple’s new wireless AirPods, but select reviewers have been granted early access to help us decide whether they’re worth their $159 price tag.

Here’s a roundup of the best reviews we’ve read so far.

Apple Watch Series 2 review roundup: One for the fitness fanatics

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Apple Watch Series 2
The reviews are out — and they're (largely) positive.
Photo: Apple

The first Apple Watch Series 2 reviews are out and, like the iPhone 7, they’re largely positive — while also noting that this isn’t an entirely essential device. If you held out on buying an Apple Watch last year, though, or you’re a certified fitness nut, this could be the wearable for you.

Check out our review roundup below.

These new Bluetooth buds are water-resistant and workout-ready [Deals]

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The latest version of FRESHeBUDS's popular earbuds sound better and last longer than ever before.
The latest version of FRESHeBUDS's popular earbuds sound better and last longer than ever before.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

FRESHeBUDS are already one of the most popular Bluetooth earbuds on the market. If you haven’t already gotten in on the fun, now’s the time with the release of their latest FRESHeBUDS ‘Pro’ line, with improved water and sweat resistance, battery life, and other features including a smoother fit and better sound quality. And right now, you can get a set for just $39.95 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Macphun makes its HDR app more dynamic

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Aurora HDR 2017 pulls a beautiful and natural image from the brink of dullness.
Aurora HDR 2017 pulls a beautiful and natural image from the brink of dullness.
Photo: Serge Ramelli/Macphun

The iris in the human eye sees more than what your camera records. Photo-imaging software company Macphun seemed to solve this problem last year with Aurora HDR, an easy-to-use tool that gives a final photograph the luminosity experienced by your eye.

On Wednesday, Macphun rolled out a new version of the software that can make a single natural-looking image from three exposures in as little as one click.

Today in Apple history: Coldplay gives Apple one of its first music exclusives

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Photo of British rock band Coldplay performing onstage.
Coldplay's charity EP benefited Hurricane Katrina victims -- and demonstrated Apple's growing clout in the music biz
Photo: Yahoo/Flickr CC

Sept14September 14, 2005: Apple embraces exclusive music releases by debuting a digital EP from Coldplay on iTunes, featuring four previously unheard tracks from the enormously popular band.

100% of profits from the charity EP go to support victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, Apple’s ability to broker exclusive music deals with major record labels and popular artists shows that the company’s current exclusives-driven Apple Music strategy stretches back more than a decade.

Apple’s first iPhone 7 ad is a moody noir art piece

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Because what says "a new iPhone is here" better than an owl?
Photo: Apple

Apple has dropped the first of many iPhone 7 ads — called, with Jony Ive levels of minimalism, “iPhone 7.”

Rather than explicitly advertise specific features of the next-gen handset, Apple instead opts for a moody teaser commercial, playing off the black color scheme of its latest iPhone.

Check it out below.

Selling your old iPhone? We pay more than Gazelle!

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Cult of Mac's buyback program pays good money for your gear, even broken ones.
Cult of Mac's buyback program pays good money for your gear, even broken ones.
Photo: Warren R.M. Stuart/Flickr CC

Navigating the internet to find the best price for trading in your old iPhone is a pain. Lots of sites offer different prices — and all the prices seem to change by the minute. To take the pressure off, we did the work for you and compared our services on to leading iPhone buyback competitors Gazelle & iCracked.

Using an AT&T iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s in good condition, we compared our prices with the other guys. The verdict? We pay more.

iOS 10 review: It’s the little things that matter

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iPhone
Don’t miss out on iOS 13. Ditch your old iPhone now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iOS 10 update for iPhones and iPads is the biggest software refresh the iPhone-maker has launched in years, adding a host of major and minor new features that completely change the iOS experience.

I’ve been using beta versions of iOS 10 on my iPhone 6s and iPad Pro since June. While some of the high-profile additions to Messages, Photos, Apple Music and Apple News aren’t totally mind-blowing, the smaller tweaks make all the difference. With iOS 10, using Apple’s devices is easier, faster and far more enjoyable than ever.

This is the big iOS update you’ve been waiting for, but not for all the reasons Apple thinks.

Why a ceramic iPhone 8 might be the ultimate iPhone

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Apple Watch Edition
iPhone 8 could look this good.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s switch to ceramic for Apple Watch Edition could mean big things for iPhone 8. Being four times harder than stainless steel and a darn sight prettier, ceramic would be an ideal material for the next generation of iPhone unibodies.

Recent rumors have promised Apple will deliver a major redesign next year to celebrate the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, and what better way to do that than with a new material that’s better than anything Apple’s used before?

How to use watchOS 3: Tips, tricks and hidden tweaks

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Breathe app in watchOS 3
The new Breathe app in watchOS 3 turns Apple Watch into a meditation machine.
Photo: Apple

Your Apple Watch Series 1 or Series 2 has arrived! Introduced at Apple’s keynote last week, the third version of the Apple Watch does a heck of a lot more than tell time and Cult of Mac has some tips to help you make the most of its myriad new features.

Mastering the various features is a bit of a learning curve on this highly advanced wearable operating system, but we’ve rounded up a cheat-sheet of tips and tricks to try out with the fitness, graphics, games and media features.

What’s your favorite new watchOS 3 feature?

How to use iOS 10: Tips and tricks for iPhone 7

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iOS
Unlock all the hidden features and tips in Apple's new iOS 10.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Welcome to Apple’s latest operating system: iOS 10! With this latest upgrade comes an improved mobile platform packed with tons of new features, improvements and functionality.

It’ll take a bit of getting used to all the new improvements and discover all the hidden gems that await in iOS 10. Once you’ve installed it, take a look below to see Cult of Mac’s roundup of some of the best tips and tweaks to help you get the most out the new features in iOS 10.

Enter to win an iPhone 7 [Deals]

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The hotly anticipated iPhone 7 is finally here. Enter now to win one for free!
The hotly anticipated iPhone 7 is finally here. Enter now to win one for free!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Well it finally happened. Apple’s latest (and, it seems, genuinely greatest) iPhone has landed.

iPhone´7 is packed with new innovations: an advanced new dual-camera system, massively enhanced performance and battery life, and immersive stereo speakers, along with the most vivid screen and powerful processor to date — all in a water-resistant package. This is the game-changing update we’ve been waiting for years to see, and this giveaway is your chance to pick one up without paying.

iPhone 7 review roundup: Great, but won’t put a ding in the universe

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jet black iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Yep, this Jet Black option is going to cause some issues.
Photo: Apple

The first iPhone 7 reviews are starting to trickle in. The verdict? The things you thought would annoy you probably will (like the disappearing headphone jack), but the big camera and battery upgrades are every bit as good as you’d hope.

Oh, and Apple’s new jet black color seems like it’s going to lead to its fair share of criticism — even if everyone is being very nice about it right now.

Check out our roundup of the early iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus reviews.

How to get ready for an iOS 10 upgrade the right way

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iOS 10
iOS 10 is coming. Are you ready?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS 10 will finally roll out to all compatible devices on Tuesday, September 13, bringing awesome new features to Messages, revamped Music and Apple News apps, a redesigned lock screen interface, and more.

Before you upgrade your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, there are some steps you should take to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here’s how to prepare for an iOS 10 upgrade the right way.

How to scribble text replies in watchOS 3

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watchOS 3 lets you scribble notes to friends.
watchOS 3 lets you scribble notes to friends.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Responding to text messages on Apple Watch gets a lot easier with watchOS 3, thanks to a new feature that lets you scribble letters instead of just using canned replies.

The new handwriting option has quickly become one of my favorite features on the big update that just landed on Apple Watch by giving wearers the ability to say whatever they want without depending on Siri.

Here’s how to reply with scribbles when you get a text:

How to locate your files with Siri on macOS Sierra

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Siri
Siri wants to help you find your files.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Up until now, Siri’s remained a tool for accessing services rather than helping us navigate our Apple devices. That changes with macOS Sierra, which lets us use Apple’s helpful AI assistant to locate files using spoken commands.

Here’s how you can use the feature to your advantage if you’re running the new operating system, which is currently in public beta and will be released on September 20.

Get half off the app that offers the key to unlocking your PDFs [Deals]

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Open your PDF documents for editing, annotation, and more with this all-in-one toolkit.
Open your PDF documents for editing, annotation, and more with this all-in-one toolkit.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

PDFs. We all use them because they’re reliable, convenient, and look great on pretty much any device. But when one is landing on or leaving your desktop with a mistake, making an adjustment can require finding the source document and printing a new copy, or calling someone else to do the same. PDF Expert offers a way around — or rather through — all that, making PDFs effortlessly editable. And right now you can get PDF Expert 2.0 for Mac for just $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.

Why Apple is the new NASA

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Apple Watch swimming app
Apple analyzed the performance of 700 swimmers to develop new Workout app routines.
Photo: Apple

Thirty minutes into Apple’s special event last week, one tidbit of information blew my mind.

Onstage, Apple Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams was talking about the Workout app on the new “swim-proof” Apple Watch Series 2 and the effort the company put into advancing the software that makes the fitness device tick. The amount of research deployed, all in the pursuit of updating a segment of an app many Apple Watch wearers will never use, offers a peek into the enormous resources that Apple R&D commands.

It paints Apple, with its enduring emphasis on developing new materials, manufacturing processes and sophisticated software, as a scientific force to be reckoned with — a new NASA for the 21st century.

Sports Illustrated shows off stunning football pics shot on iPhone 7 Plus

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The Minnesota Vikings vs Tennessee Titans, as shot on iPhone 7.
Photo: David Klutho

Over the weekend, Sports Illustrated photographer David E. Klutho shared the first photos taken using Apple’s next-gen iPhone 7 Plus.

Depicting Sunday’s Titans-Vikings football game in all its glory, the snaps take full advantage of the plus-sized handset’s 12–megapixel telephoto lens, wider aperture and more vibrant colors.

The stunning images were even shared on Twitter by Tim Cook, under the punning headline, “Touchdown iPhone!”

Super Powerboy and the other iOS games we loved this week

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Super-Powerboy
One of the week's many great games!
Photo: Super Powerboy

With all the game-related goodies we heard about at this week’s iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 event, we decided to focus on mobile gaming for this week’s “Awesome Apps” installment.

Whether you’re searching for a jaw-droppingly stunning platform game, an excellent RPG card game, or a unique messaging game based on a hugely popular TV series, we think we’ve got what you’re looking for.

Check out our picks below.