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HP is convinced its new laptop will be a MacBook-beater

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12-inch MacBook
HP is desperate to out-Apple Apple.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but a rival tech company is invoking Apple’s name when it comes to claiming its latest products are going to be the greatest yet created.

This time it’s HP, which is set to unveil a new notebook this week that many predict will be even slimmer than Apple’s ultra-thin MacBook.

“For years, Apple has been seen as the innovator and the driver of innovation,” said Ron Coughlin, president of HP’s personal systems group. “HP is really taking over that mantle.”

4K drone video shows how far Apple’s ‘spaceship’ campus has come

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Apple Campus 2 Screen Shot 2011-08-14 at 5.35.53 PM
Apple's spaceship campus is looking almost ready to take off.
Photo: Norman Foster/Apple

Apple celebrated its 40th birthday on Friday, and what better symbol is there to show Apple’s progress over four decades than a glimpse at the company’s gorgeous, James Bond supervillain-scale HQ?

New aerial drone footage offers a 4K tour of how the enormous “spaceship” campus is coming together, complete with stunning comparisons between the site now and last year.

Check it out below:

Apple’s surge into India may have just hit a roadblock

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple's plans to import used iPhones to India is meeting with opposition.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s plan to grow its market in India by selling imported used iPhones is running into problems.

In particular, Apple is being opposed by rival handset makers who worry that letting Apple do this will severely damage initiatives to promote local manufacturing, hurt recycling — and (last but certainly not least) damage their own businesses of selling cheap phones.

Rebus Zone, Snapchat v2, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome-Apps-of-the-Week1
Which apps made our list this week?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s another lazy Sunday, which means that it’s time to unwind in your favorite chair with a sampling of the week’s finest apps. And, boy, have we got a fine selection for you!

Whether you’re after Nintendo’s first mobile title; a game which will keep your brain working as it entertains you; or a major update for everyone’s favorite self-destructing messaging app, we’ve combed through the week’s offerings to bring you the essential downloads.

Check out our picks below:

We talk iPhone 7s features and Tesla’s Model 3 on The CultCast

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Tesla
This Model 3 could have carried an Apple logo one day.
Photo: Tesla

This week on Cult of Mac’s: Rumors point to an iPhone 7s with a drastic redesign, facial recognition and the return of the glass front and back. Plus: Folks around the world line up for the Tesla Model 3; Apple is making a show about apps hosted by technology expert musician Will.i.am; why the new iPad Pro is not a notebook replacement for the masses; and, in a bizarre plot twist, Apple seeks FBI’s iPhone unlocking secrets.

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. It also makes tax time a cinch. Get started now with a 30-day free trial.

40 years of Apple, unboxing new goodies, and tons of how-tos

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Apple turns 40 this week, and we couldn't be prouder.
Apple turns 40 this week, and we couldn't be prouder.
Cover Design: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is 40 years old today, and its journey from scrappy indie to world-conquering behemoth is the stuff of anecdote, history, and even legend.

Get the scoop on this significant anniversary for our favorite company, a look at the latest iPhone SE and iPad Pro models (and learn how to set them up the right way), along with a roundup of all the cool Apple TV tricks and some quick tips on how to keep Facebook’s mobile app from draining your iPhone’s battery.

All this (and much, much more) in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine.

Here are this week’s top stories:

iPhone SE proves size doesn’t matter [Reviews]

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

I forgot how good it feels to hold 4 inches of magic in my hands.

Spending the past year and a half with the luxurious 5.5-inch screen of the iPhone 6 Plus and 6s nearly convinced me that bigger really is better. But after using the iPhone SE, I’m starting to rethink everything I love about iPhone.

The moment I clasped the iPhone SE it was like reconnecting with an ex-lover. Everything is familiar and yet it has somehow improved in nearly every single way. I’ve been re-captivated by its beauty, brains, and brawn all over again, even though on the outside, it looks like such a boring device.

How can an iPhone that looks so old feel so right?

Steve Jobs wouldn’t care how old Apple is today

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Steve_Jobs_2007
Tim Cook was as shocked by Jobs' death as anyone else. Maybe more.
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs wasn’t the most sentimental person ever, and we’ve just found more evidence to back that up.

It comes in an anecdote from a former product manager who was around 10 years ago for the company’s 30th birthday. And his dream of a huge celebration of the milestone earned him a healthy does of terse, Jobsian smackdown.

Apple engineers admit iPhone will never be ‘unbreakable’

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iPhone will never be 100 percent hacker-proof.
iPhone will never be 100 percent hacker-proof.
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

Getting to a point where absolutely no one can hack into your iPhone will be practically impossible, according to Apple engineers who admit no company writes perfect code.

Apple has been criticized by national security officials for making it harder for law enforcement to access much needed information on locked iPhones to solve cases. Now that the FBI has figured out a way to hack the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone the debate has cooled down, but Apple engineers say they want the FBI to divulge their method, for the sake of security.

Has Apple become boring in its middle age? [Friday Night Fights]

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fnf
Well... are you?!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is 40 years old today. In that time, the Cupertino company has delivered some incredible products and services, and revolutionized smartphones, tablets, and music players. But is it boring now?

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2Some say Apple’s innovation has stalled in recent years, and it has become too predictable. The surprises we used to see during its big keynotes no longer show up, and despite its secrecy, you can almost predict its product roadmap for the next year.

Are those claims harsh? Is Apple really past its best, or will it deliver groundbreaking new products again that can shake up the consumer technology industry?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we fight over Apple at 40.

LOL: April Fools’ Day pranks that are actually funny

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lol-april-fools-day-pranks-that-are-actually-funny-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604Zuckerberg-HM-jpg
Zuckerberg's new H&M collection.
Photo: H&M
That's Snoop Dogg... churning out code for YouTube. Photo: YouTube
That’s Snoop Dogg… churning out code for YouTube. Photo: YouTube

For most of us, April Fools’ Day is an abomination. It’s like watching your dad crack terrible jokes at a party. But unlike your dad, some tech companies have perfected the art of the April Fools’ prank and come up with some pretty spectacular ones.

Here are some of the best that have made us LOL today.

Here’s how Steve Jobs answered a question about government snooping in 1981

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TV screen grab of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dressed in a suit and with a full beard
Check out the hipster beard on Steve!
Photo: ABC

Apple turns 40 today and, while a lot has changed since the company’s early days, it seems that questions about government snooping have not.

ABC News today released footage from a vintage interview in which a very young Steve Jobs debates computers on a 1981 episode of Nightline.

In addition to trotting out his “bicycle for the mind” metaphor, Jobs also talks about how best to stop the government from snooping on your computer, a topic that seems very timely in the aftermath of Apple’s battle with the FBI.

Check out the Steve Jobs interview below.

Joke’s on Google after April Fools’ prank backfires

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jokes-on-google-after-april-fools-prank-backfires-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604Minion-Mic-Drop-gif
Gmail "Mic Drop" didn't go down as well as Google hoped.
GIF: Giphy
Gmail "Mic Drop" didn't go down as well as Google hoped. GIF: Giphy
Gmail “Mic Drop” didn’t go down as well as Google hoped. GIF: Giphy

One of Google’s April Fools’ Day pranks was so unpopular with users that the company was forced to pull it just hours after it rolled out.

The Gmail stunt, which automatically inserted a “mic drop” GIF into users’ emails as they were sent, was greeted by a torrent of complaints and labeled inappropriate.

Walmart slashes $100+ off Apple and Samsung phones

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walmart-slashes-100-off-iphone-and-galaxy-phones-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201604store-front-night_129860898494412686-jpg
Walmart has a good offer for phone buyers.
Photo: Walmart
Walmart has a good offer for phone buyers. Photo: Walmart
Walmart has a good offer for phone buyers. Photo: Walmart

If you’re looking to get your hands on Apple’s brand new 4-inch iPhone SE or a powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S7, Walmart has an offer for you!

Starting today, customers can save $150 off all Samsung phones and $100 on all in-stock iPhones (including older, larger models).

Taylor Swift channels Drake in new Apple Music ad

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Make sure you show off the Beats.
Make sure you show off the Beats.
Photo: Apple

Taylor Swift hates doing cardio! The latest ad for Apple Music pits the singer against one of the most ferocious machines in the gym: the dread treadmill.

It’s Swift’s first appearance in an Apple ad, and it also reveals that the country-turned-pop star has a soft spot for hip-hop icons Drake and Future. She says her hilarious ad is “based on real events” that reveal her alien talent for rapping and keeping on beat no matter what happens.

Watch Tee Sweezy drop the bars below:

Heartless Kanye has Apple Music fling behind Tidal’s back

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Kanye
Kanye West showing off his snazzy Apple Watch Edition.
Photo: Justjared

Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo album has arrived on Apple Music — making something of a mockery of Mr. Kim Kardashian’s claim last month that the album would “never never never be on Apple.”

We guess by “never” he meant “you’ll have to wait six more weeks.”

Apple in a word is …

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What does Apple mean to you?
What does Apple mean to you?
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Over the past 40 years, Apple has been many things to many people. Innovative or imitative, premium or overpriced, saintly or evil — everybody’s got their own take on what Cupertino and its revolutionary products mean.

While Apple was founded on April Fools’ Day in 1976, the company and the profound impact that its shiny devices have made on our lives is truly not a joke. Here’s what Cult of Mac staffers said when asked to describe what the company means to them in a single word.

40 moments that have defined Apple over 40 years

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A photo of people looking at the first-gen iPhone inside a glass case on the original iPhone launch date.
Admiring fans check out the first iPhone in its public debut.
Photo: Traci Dauphin/Cult of Mac

Apple turns 40 years old today, and what a journey it’s been: from a promising homebrew startup to an underdog fighting off bankruptcy to an industry-straddling behemoth with $233.7 billion in revenue, all thanks to the vision of the co founder of apple.

It’s impossible to boil down every significant Apple event into one story, but we did our best to pick out the 40 most significant moments in the company’s past.

Check out these key moments in Apple history below.

Yo ho ho! Apple flies pirate flag to celebrate its 40th birthday

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I assume engineers don't get an accompanying bottle of rum.
Photo: Tommy W Farley/Twitter

In case you didn’t know, Apple turns 40 today. To celebrate, the company is giving a wink to longtime fans with a cheeky nod to its past.

A pirate flag flying outside Apple’s campus at 1 Infinite Loop is a reference to the “Jolly Roger” pirate flag flown by the original Macintosh team when it was developing Apple’s (arguably) most iconic computer back in the heady days of the early ’80s.

Tim Cook drops by Palo Alto Apple Store for iPhone SE launch

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Everyone wants a selfie with Tim.
Everyone wants a selfie with Tim.
Photo: CNBC

The iPhone SE isn’t drawing as big of lines today as the wait to reserve a Tesla Model 3, but Tim Cook still decided to check-in on at least one Apple Store to gauge interest in the tiny new device.

Apple’s CEO was spotted at the Palo Alto Apple Store this morning talking to customers and employees. Cook has visited the store during previous product launches, however the crowds and lines for selfies weren’t quite as long today as usual.

Watch Cook glad-hand iPhone SE customers below:

9.7-inch iPad Pro unboxing: Big things come in small packages

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Looks like an iPad Air, but it's so much more.
Looks like an iPad Air, but it's so much more.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new, powerful iPad Pro is available at Apple Stores today and we’ve got a fantastic iPad Pro unboxing video to show you all the ins and outs of the new tablet.

Cult of Mac videographer Ste Smith talks us through the packaging, the setup and the latest-greatest device itself in this cool iPad Pro unboxing video that he made right after picking up the 9.7-inch tablet from his local Apple Store.

If you want to get your (virtual) hands on this sexy new iOS device, here’s your chance.

General Electric nearly bought Apple in 1996

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iPhone
The iPhone could've been made by GE.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Inc. and General Electric are two of the most iconic American companies of the last century, but back in 1996 they almost become one company as GE CEO Jack Welch considered buying the computer maker.

It would have only cost GE $2 billion and the current Apple CEO, Michael Spindler, was begging Welch to pull the trigger on the deal in order to save the struggling company.

Verizon adds $20 fee to all smartphone upgrades

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verizon-adds-20-fee-to-all-smartphone-upgrades-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads20160314777958118_8f2ab75b15_k-jpg
And there's no way around it.
Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr CC
verizon-wireless-logo
And there’s no way around it. Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr CC

Verizon will soon start charging a $20 fee for anyone upgrading their smartphone with pretty much no loopholes to get out of it. Yes, a carrier is introducing a new fee without much explanation and customers are forced to deal with it. Shocking, I know. The new fee goes into effect April 4.

Fill your Apple TV shortlist with Tribeca films

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Get your fill of high-quality film recommendations here.
Get your fill of high-quality film recommendations here.
Photo: Tribeca Shortlist

Looking to watch peerless films on your Apple TV? Look no further than Tribeca Shortlist, a service for film lovers that showcases a high-quality, curated list of films that are worth watching.

Already chosen as a Best New App for iPhone and iPad by Apple, Tribeca Shortlist is now available on the biggest screen in your home via Apple TV.