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Dark mode might get even darker in macOS Sierra

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You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
Apple is working on a better dark mode for macOS Sierra.
Photo: Apple

iOS 10 might not be not be the only Apple operating system set to get a darker coat of paint later this year.

After scouring through Apple’s first two betas of macOS Sierra, an OS X developer has discovered that Apple has hidden the ability to activate Dark Mode in a broader way on the Mac — and it’s making it easier for third-party developers to take advantage of the new feature.

Time’s running out on these killer productivity upgrades for your Mac [Deals]

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Dragon's latest version comes with all new features for easily and instantly converting speech to text.
Dragon's latest version comes with all new features for easily and instantly converting speech to text.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Recently we’ve received a long list of amazing Mac apps at equally amazing discounts, but they’re about to slip away. This is your last chance to save half off (and more) on Dragon’s latest dictation software, Parallels for running Windows and Linux on your Mac, Prizmo for converting text images into editable files, and Roxio’s latest version of Toast for the ultimate in file conversions of nearly any type. If you’re looking to expand your Mac’s functionality, get on these deals now:

Today in Apple history: iPhone 3G sells 1 million in single weekend

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iPhone 3G
The iPhone 3G went on sale on this day in 2008.
Photo: Apple

July 11 July 11, 2008: The iPhone 3G goes on sale, becoming the first Apple product in history to sell more than 1 million units in its first weekend.

Building on the original iPhone by adding GPS, 3G data and a higher-quality build, the iPhone 3G also coincided with the launch of iOS 2, which introduced push email, turn-by-turn navigation and, most importantly, the App Store.

Pokémon GO, Thinga.me, and other awesome apps of the week

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appsoftheweek_1024
Appy weekend, all!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

From the augmented reality Pokémon game everyone’s talking about to a notable update to disappearing messaging app Snapchat, we’ve sifted through this week’s most exciting apps to bring you the ones you absolutely need to download now.

Check out our picks below. Trust us, this is the way you want to spend Sunday!

The cheap ways to protect your tech without AppleCare, this week on The CultCast

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It's gonna break... we'll tell you how to protect your tech on the cheap.
Photo: Unbox Therapy

This week on The CultCast: The best ways to get your gadgets the protection you want, but without those high AppleCare prices! Plus: The iPhone 7 might pack more storage than you expected; taking over Tidal could mean CD-quality streaming is coming to Apple Music; hands on with the iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas; “the Fappening” hacker heads to the slammer; and this year’s iPhone Photography Award winners prove your iPhone is all your need to create captivating images.

Our thanks to Casper for supporting this episode. Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them. Learn why and save $50 off your order at casper.com/cultcast.

Master iOS 10, streamline your workflow and more with the best deals this week [Deals]

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TaskPaper uses plain text editors to keep yourself on point and organized.
TaskPaper uses plain text editors to keep yourself on point and organized.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Every week we take the many amazing deals we have and decide on a small handful of the absolute amazingest. This week we’ve got a dead simple way to streamline your desktop workflow, a speaker that projects sounds and glittering light, a high-speed VPN subscription and a lifetime of courses in iOS coding — including the soon-to-be-released iOS 10.

iOS 10 beta 2, new malware targeting Macs, iPhone Photography Awards, and more

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Cover

Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine, we introduce you to the iOS 10 beta 2, and give a hands-on look at the latest tweaks and updates to Apple’s latest operating system. More than 50 changes have been discovered by developers, affecting everything from Apple Music to widgets, and we uncover many of them this week.

Learn about “OSX/Keydnap,” the latest strain of malware intended to attack your Mac. Disguising itself as an innocent text or image file, OSX/Keydnap installs malicious code onto your machine. We’ll let you know how the malware works, and how to prevent this from happening to your Mac!

Peruse the stunning images of this year’s iPhone Photography Awards winners. iPhone photography has never looked so good. Plus, The CultCast, How-Tos and lots more.

All this, and much much more, in Cult of Mac Magazine, free for you right now.

Here are this week’s top stories.

What is Apple’s most underrated product? [Friday Night Fights]

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FNF Apple's most underrated
Which Apple product do you think deserves more respect?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Not every Apple product has been a runaway success, but that doesn’t mean those that weren’t were complete failures. Products like the Newton MessagePad, the G4 Cube, the Macintosh TV and even the iPhone 5c — which were all considered flops — brought great features and innovations that weren’t appreciated.

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we butt heads over Apple’s most underrated product to date.

Small Bluetooth fitness earbuds that fit super snug [Reviews]

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Jaybird Freedom wireless earbuds marry form and function, with a very small earprint.
Jaybird Freedom wireless earbuds marry form and function, with a very small earprint.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Best List: Jaybird Freedom wireless earbuds

Promoted by pro beach volleyballer and three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, the Jaybird Freedom earbuds are premium sports headphones specifically designed for the active, lifestyle-focused consumer. That means those who work out and those who want to look great doing it.

These earbuds bring huge wireless sound to the trail, the gym, the street and anything in between. Jaybird CEO Judd Armstrong stopped by Cult of Mac for a demo, and says the Jaybird Freedom is designed to enhance any athletic and adventurous pursuits.

Light and sound collide in this portable Bluetooth speaker [Deals]

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FRESHeCOLOR Bluetooth portable speaker
The FRESHeCOLOR Bluetooth speaker will please your eyes as well as your ears.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Summer is as much about its sights as its sounds. Whatever your musical mood, the FRESHeCOLOR renders it in a dazzling and colorful display that you can take anywhere you go, from the poolside to the party to just hanging out in your living room with the fan on your face. Right now you can get this portable vibe enhancer for $59.95.

Today in Apple history: QuickTime brings video to the Mac

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An image of a Macintosh computer running the first QuickTime beta.
QuickTime was a breakthrough for Macs.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

July 8 July 8, 1991: The first QuickTime beta arrives, making it possible for people to play movies on their Macs for the first time, with no extra hardware needed.

The innovative software showcased Apple’s commitment to pushing technological boundaries and set the stage for the seamless integration of video into everyday computing.

How to make Amazon Echo default to Spotify or Pandora

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The Amazon Echo may finally have competition from Apple.
It's easier than ever to get the Amazon Echo to play tracks from Spotify Premium.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Barking out a song request at my Amazon Echo smart speaker, then hearing the track magically start playing, makes me feel like I’m living in the future.

Unfortunately, that feeling evaporates when the song isn’t part of the relatively skimpy Amazon Prime Music catalog. If it’s not there, Amazon’s AI assistant Alexa queues up an annoying 30-second sample — and that makes me realize I’m living in the very buggy present.

Luckily, you can fix that. Here’s how to make Amazon Echo default to Spotify so you don’t get stuck with those annoying song and album previews.

Behold the year’s best iPhone photographs

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This photo of man and eagle was the grand prize winner in the 2016 iPhone Photo Awards.
Photo: Siyuan Niu

The winners of the 2016 iPhone Photography Awards could have made their celebrated photographs with almost any camera. But the iPhone isn’t any camera and our amazement over it hasn’t waned.

And it won’t once you behold the incredible images of this year’s entries.

iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas are now open to the public

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iPhone SE
Public testers can download iOS 10 now.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple fans who want to get a glimpse of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra before their public release later this fall will finally get the opportunity to install the new software today.

Coming just two days after the release of the second beta of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra to developers, Apple is now letting members of its public beta program install the new software, which debuted last month at WWDC.

Learn app development now, just in time for iOS 10 [Deals]

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iOS Online Courses
Gain lifelong access to cutting-edge coding education with iOS Online Courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

iOS 10 is almost here, and along with it a whole host of new features for enterprising developers to take advantage of. Oh, you’re not a developer? Well that can change. iOS Online Courses is a leading provider of expert instruction in iOS game and app development, and right now you can get a lifetime of access for just $69 at Cult of Mac Deals.

This is iOS 10 beta 2 in action

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iOS 10 Beta 2
Hands on with iOS 10 Beta 2.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

When Apple rolled out iOS 10 beta 2 earlier this week, I rushed to install it straight onto my trusty iPhone — and I had my camera ready to give you a hands-on look at everything that’s new.

Check out the video below to see Cult of Mac’s overview of some of the latest tweaks and updates in iOS 10 beta 2.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs starts Apple’s dramatic turnaround

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The
Jobs' turnaround of Apple was one of the most dramatic in corporate history.
Photo: Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview

July 7: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs starts Apple's dramatic turnaround July 7, 1997: Apple CEO Gil Amelio officially steps down from his role, turning the company over to the returning Steve Jobs, who immediately begins making his presence felt.

If you’re looking to pinpoint a turning point when Apple began the transition from the ailing company it was in the first half of the 1990s to the powerhouse it is today, this is it!