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A prismatic puzzle game and other cool apps of the week

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Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We’re always keeping our heads up for the best new apps coming to our iOS devices and Apple TVs. We’re like prairie dogs that way, only we’re not as cute, and our homes are only metaphorical holes.

Every week, we round up the coolest new apps (or awesome updates to existing ones) that have hit Apple’s digital storefront in the past seven days. And if you’re spending your Valentine’s Day browsing the App Store for some new utilities, we have you covered. Also, we’re sorry that that is how you’re spending your Valentine’s Day.

Check out our weekly picks for apps of the week below.

Winning a Steve Jobs Blu-ray is easier than writing a biopic

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Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs.
You don't have to do any of whatever Michael Fassbender was doing in this scene to win yourself a Steve Jobs Blu-ray.
Photo: François Duhamel/© 2015 Universal Studios

Maybe moviegoing audiences didn’t completely fall in love with director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s Steve Jobs, but we liked it a lot. And if you also enjoyed it — or are just looking to score yourself a free copy — keep reading.

If you want to code, you want these coding lessons [Deals]

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Master the easy-to-learn, multifaceted language behind Google and YouTube with 50 hours of training.
Master the easy-to-learn, multifaceted language behind Google and YouTube with 50 hours of training.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s a lot to know for anyone looking to get into the lucrative field of coding for the web, and it’s a topic that grows every day. That’s why it’s good to develop some solid, focused fundamentals, which is exactly what these four courses offer. Covering Python, Javascript, iOS Xcode and SQL, it’s a great opportunity to develop your skills in one, two, three or four of the most critical corners of coding for web.

Apps vs. apparel: Can Strava compete with big sportswear brands?

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The last of the indie fitness apps: can Strava hold their own against the big brands?
The last of the indie fitness apps: Can Strava hold its own against the big brands?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Sports apparel makers clearly believe that fitness apps are an important part of their futures. Under Armour and Adidas have invested heavily in fitness apps, and Runkeeper’s recent acquisition by ASICS is just the latest in a long series of app acquisitions by apparel makers.

These companies have big brands and deep pockets. Can an indie developer realistically compete with all that? Gareth Nettleton, VP of marketing for indie fitness app Strava, tells me that like any serious athlete, his hard-charging company thrives on competition.

How to control your Mac with an iPhone or iPad

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Ever forget a file on your Mac? With Screens you'll never have that problem again.
Ever forget a file on your Mac? With Screens you'll never have that problem again.
Photo: Ally Kazmucha/The App Factor

app-factor-logo-thumbnailEver left the house or office only to realize later that you forgot a file on your Mac? We’ve all done it. This is why I always have Screens VNC running on all my devices. With the help of a single app, you can access and control your Mac from iPad or iPhone, and even other Macs. Here’s how:

Even the U.S. government thinks you should recycle your old devices

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We should probably start recycling more if we want Earth to stay this beautiful...
We should probably start recycling more if we want Earth to stay this beautiful...
Photo: NASA

Honestly, you know things are grave when the U.S. government thinks we’re behind on something. According to the Government Accountability Office, the United States has dismally low recycling rates for used TVs, computers and other devices.

There’s no national infrastructure for a strong recycling program, so states are left to take on the problem themselves, leading to a patchwork of regulations and inconsistencies on how to deal with it. Luckily, Cult of Mac can help Mother Earth and you at the same time — check out our Apple devices buyback program to either sell or straight-up recycle your used or broken gear.

Traveling shouldn’t mean losing access to your favorite movies [Deals]

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Getflix makes it easy and secure to sidestep location restrictions on your streaming media content.
Getflix makes it easy and secure to sidestep location restrictions on your streaming media content.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Take your laptop overseas with you and you’ll likely find, as you crack it open to catch up with the TV show you’ve been binging on, that location restrictions are blocking your stream. That’s not how it should be, and with Getflix you can sidestep annoying and inconvenient location restrictions that come between us and our content. Now you can get lifetime access to more than 100 streaming channels, anywhere around the world, for just $69.

Is Apple doing too much? Catch the discussion on The CultCast

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Apple car truck
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: the Apple Car.
Photo: devastatormonstertruck.com

This week: Neighbors complain of “motor noises” emanating from Apple’s secret auto labs; the strange error that’s bricking iPhones everywhere (and how to avoid it); and, has Apple lost their way? Some pundits argue Cupertino needs to shape up and start shipping better products. We discuss!

Our thanks to FreshBooks for supporting this episode. FreshBooks is the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started with a free trial at Freshbooks.com/cultcast.

Why new MacBooks will rock, why ‘Error 53’ sucks and how to make Siri Remote do more

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All the Apple info you need in one gorgeous place.
All the Apple info you need in one gorgeous place.
Cover Design: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

Your next MacBook will get more than just a speed bump, with Intel’s powerful new Skylake chips bringing intense performance (and maybe better battery life) to the new laptops we’ll all be drooling over soon.

Find out exactly how these new processors will make new MacBooks rock, plus what you need to know about iOS’ brick-inducing “Error 53,” how to make Siri work even harder for you on your Apple TV, and which are the best ergonomic accessories for your Mac in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine.

Here are the week’s top stories.

Soon, you can run Apple TV from your iPhone

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Siri Remote menu button
Your tininess and fragility doesn't scare us anymore.
Photo: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

An upcoming update to the iPhone’s Remote app will let it completely control your Apple TV.

We’re looking forward to this because while we love the Siri Remote that comes with Apple’s latest streaming box, it has a few problems. First, it’s tiny, and we’ve discovered it wedged inside the absolute farthest and darkest corners of our couches far too often. It’s also covered in glass, and while we know that it’s really strong glass, we’re slightly afraid of breaking it because see Point 1: It’s just a little thing.

Third, if the worst happens and we do lose or break our Siri Remote, a replacement costs $79, and then the anxiety starts all over again.

In other words, bring on the update, Apple.

How to represent your town with custom Snapchat geofilters

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Your bedroom probably doesn't count as a
Your bedroom probably doesn't count as a "location."
Photo: Maurizio Pesce/FlickrCC

If you’re looking to show a little local pride in Snapchat, the company made it pretty easy to make and upload your own so that you (and anyone else who’s in that location) can swipe right and show off a custom geofilter.

All you need is a graphics program like Illustrator, Photoshop, or (my favorite) Pixelmator, a little bit of time, and you can represent your town with a custom Snapchat geofilter.

Here’s how.

Apple demands court ruling on mobile encryption

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iPhone mobile encryption touch id
Apple's right to fight backdoors, but should it end there?
Photo: Olly Browning/Pixabay

In a court letter today, Apple is insisting that the legal system make up its mind on mobile encryption.

This is a bit of a surprise, and it’s hardly necessary anymore for the case at hand. The defendant has entered a guilty plea since the question of whether law enforcement could induce Apple to access encrypted information on its devices first arose. But in its two-page letter, Apple wants a decision anyway for “efficiency and judicial economy.”

It might also clear up a bunch of its own headaches.

How to set up a quality Mac podcasting rig for under $300

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Podcasting doesn't have to break the bank. Here  are some high quality rigs and Mac apps to get you started.
Podcasting doesn't have to break the bank. Here are some high quality rigs and Mac apps to get you started.
Photo: Ally Kazmucha/The App Factor

app-factor-logo-thumbnailPodcasting has been experiencing a renaissance lately, and for good reason. Podcasts can be about a wide variety of topics, from Apple to sports, comedy, storytelling and so much more. It’s a great time to get into podcasting because the barrier to entry is so low and you don’t have to break the bank to buy a totally workable setup.

Some of the greatest podcasts in the iTunes Top Charts are regularly recorded using sub-$100 to $300 mics. Whether you want to gain influence in a community or nerd out about the latest iPhone, a podcast is a great place to do it.

This coffee maker makes mornings suck less

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Zojirushi's Fresh Brew Plus  coffeemaker will keep your joe fresh and piping hot.
Zojirushi's Fresh Brew Plus coffeemaker will keep your joe fresh and piping hot.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Best List: Fresh Brew Plus coffee maker by Zojirushi

Every coffee fiend has a morning ritual. For me, it’s getting up before my wife and brewing a half-pot of strong black coffee that we can share. She usually gets up much later than me (lucky her), so a thermal carafe works wonders for us: I can drink mine as early as I like, and she can enjoy hers at a more leisurely hour.

That’s one key reason I’ve abandoned fancier coffee makers and set up shop with a Zojirushi Fresh Brew Plus — among its other features, it boasts the best carafe I’ve ever used.

Awesome archive brings ancient Windows games to your browser

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awesome-archive-brings-ancient-windows-games-to-your-browser-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201602Windows-3-1-Solitaire-png
Windows 3.1 in Google Chrome.
Screenshot: Cult of Android
Windows 3.1 in Google Chrome. Screenshot: Cult of Android
Windows 3.1 in Google Chrome. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Remember the days before high-speed broadband and photo-realistic graphics, when the best games you could get on PC were things like Win Pool, Brickbuster, and Gopher-It? Now you can go back in time and relive them right inside your web browser.

When the lights go down, this is a USB you can see [Deals]

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Luminid's light-up Lightning cables won't leave you in the dark.
Luminid's light-up Lightning cables won't leave you in the dark.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You know the feeling of trying to plug in your iPhone in the dark? The awful grinding of metal on metal as you miss the socket? The Luminid Touch Light-Up Cable solves that. It’s an MFi-certified charging cord that can help you put an end to the nighttime USB guessing game for only $9.99.

Don’t expect wireless EarPods with iPhone 7

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EarPods aren't going wireless in 2016.
EarPods aren't going wireless in 2016.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

The headphone jack will likely get killed when Apple introduces the iPhone 7 this year, but don’t expect Cupertino to toss in a free pair of wireless EarPods with the new device.

Apple will supposedly include a pair of Lightning-connected EarPods with the iPhone 7, according to an investors note from Barclays that reveals Apple hasn’t purchased the rights to use Cirrus’ noise-canceling technology that would be necessary for the headphones.

How Intel’s Skylake processors will supercharge your MacBook

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Intel-Kaby-Lake
Intel's Skylake chips are coming to your MacBook.
Photo: Intel

This year’s MacBook and MacBook Pro upgrades are expected to bring Intel’s latest Skylake processors. Delivering more than just speed improvements, the new chips will bring far greater performance, graphics and battery life to Apple’s notebook lineup for 2016.

Here’s what makes those Skylake processors so special — and how they’ll supercharge that new Mac you’ll soon be drooling over.

Samsung to pounce on falling iPhone demand with cheaper Galaxy S7

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samsung-to-pounce-on-falling-iphone-demand-with-cheaper-galaxy-s7-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201602galaxy-s7-edge-leak-jpg
Despite a larger screen, the S7 edge could be cheaper than its predecessor.
Photo: Evan Blass
Despite a larger screen, the S7 edge could be cheaper than its predecessor! Photo: Evan Blass
Despite a larger screen, the S7 edge could be cheaper than its predecessor. Photo: Evan Blass

Samsung hopes to reverse declining Galaxy sales and tackle the iPhone head-on by making its upcoming Galaxy S7 more affordable.

The leaked price list below claims the entry-level option with 32GB of storage will start at just €699.99 ($787) in Europe — a full €50 ($56) less than a 16GB iPhone 6s.

Long-lost video shows Steve Jobs launching his biggest failure

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Steve Jobs during the NeXT years.
Steve Jobs during the NeXT years.
Photo: Doug Menuez

Only a handful of products Steve Jobs introduced to the world became flops, but three years after he was kicked out of Apple, the tech visionary unveiled his biggest failure ever: the NeXT computer.

Video footage of Jobs’ first major public appearance since he left Apple in 1985 was lost to the world until researchers for Aaron Sorkin’s movie came across two videotapes of the NeXT’s gala unveiling at San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall in 1988.

How to impress Snapchat friends with a two-filter combo

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Here's more snap for your chat.
Here's more snap for your chat.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Snapchat lets you filter your snaps with a color, the temperature, or the name of the city you’re in (geofilters), but did you know you could create a snap with more than one of these cool things?

It’s relatively simple, but (as with many things with the popular app) it’s not super easy to find in the weird interface that Snapchat uses.

Here’s how to impress Snapchat friends with a two-filter combo.

How to track your water intake with your iPhone and Apple Watch

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Water intake is vitally important to your overall health. Here's the best way to track it right from your iPhone, or your Apple Watch.
Water intake is vitally important to your overall health. Here's the best way to track it right from your iPhone, or your Apple Watch.
Photo: Ally Kazmucha/The App Factor

app-factor-logo-thumbnailDrinking enough water each day is important, yet it’s something a lot of people don’t do. Last year I committed myself to making sure I drank an adequate amount of water each day. To hold myself accountable I went on a hunt to find a way to easily track water intake on iPhone, and if possible, Apple Watch too.

‘Motor noises’ complaint at Apple’s auto campus fuels speculation

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Apple Car might be coming, but will it be special?
Apple's electric car is making a lot of noise.
Photo: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

Apple is supposedly revving up the engines on its electric car project, and it’s waking up the neighbors in the process.

At least one resident who lives near Apple’s top-secret automotive campus in Sunnyvale, California, has filed a complaint with the city for what the person describes as really loud “motor noises” coming from the Apple campus late at night — even though electric cars are mostly silent.

Tiny ActionCam is perfect for cheap thrillseekers

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A capable, budget-friendly action camera.
A capable, budget-friendly action camera.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

I waited for a GoPro-type video camera that won’t the break the bank, and happily discovered Vivitar’s DVR 786HD ActionCam fits the bill.

It’s tiny, capable and totally scratches my itch for an easy-to-use video camera to wean me off using up my iPhone’s battery to capture longer videos.

I found one of these ActionCams for around $75 or so on Amazon, and while it doesn’t offer all the extreme insanity of a GoPro, it’s a pretty nifty little camera on its own.