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The iPhone 8 dummy model industry is hitting its peak production a month or so ahead of the real thing. We’re seeing a rapidly-growing number of photos and videos of these impressively-detailed dummy devices to go along with the renders and mockups of the screen.

Let me start by admitting I’m biased where bezels are concerned …

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Steve Troughton-Smith yesterday helped us learn more about the likely iPhone 8 screen layout, and he’s since shown one possible approach to restoring the symmetry of the screen. He’s produced a mockup (above) showing how the Home button could be presented as a ‘notch,’ matching the physical one at the top of the screen.

He’s quick to point out this is not something he’s found in the code, but rather just an idea he thought it would be fun to play with …

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While Apple may have given in to demands from the Chinese government to remove VPN apps from its app store there, it does generally take a strong stand on encryption. It uses end-to-end encryption for both iMessage and FaceTime, and resisted pressure from the FBI to create a weakened version of iOS, describing it as too dangerous.

We’ve written a number of pieces explaining why we support Apple’s stance, both before and after the San Bernardino case.

The British government wants to ban end-to-end encryption altogether, arguing that it hampers the work of the security services. Support for Apple’s position – and opposition to that of the British Home Secretary – has now come from an unlikely source …

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Miami Heat has announced that it will only accept etickets on phones for the upcoming season. Even if you buy your ticket from the box office on the night, you still won’t get a paper one …

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While previous reports on Foxconn’s U.S. display factory have described it as making large panels for use in TVs and monitors, a WSJ post today claims that it will be making LCD screens for iPhones.

The facility, which would build liquid-crystal display technology, or LCD, screens used for Apple Inc.’s iPhone, would be the first of its kind in North America.

It’s unclear whether the WSJ has new information, or has made what appears to be a common error of conflating Foxconn with iPhone production.

The wisdom of Wisconsin proving a $3B tax subsidy – amounting to a full 30% of Foxconn’s investment – is again being questioned after a state fiscal analysis calculated that taxpayers wouldn’t recoup their investment until the 2042-2043 fiscal year …

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Back in May, Google updated its Gmail app on Android to warn about phishing attempts. It is now rather belatedly bringing that same protection to the iOS app.

The protection kicks in if you click on a sketchy link in an email, with two different levels of warning …

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We’ve certainly seen our fair share of iPhone 8 renders over recent months, but a new set of designs from Quinton Theron offers perhaps the best look yet. The designer shared his renderings earlier today, offering a look at how Apple could market the device…

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This week Benjamin and Zac discuss the new LTE Apple Watch rumor and how cellular could change watchOS, the latest iPhone 7s and iPhone 8 rumors including a new copper gold color, the latest changes in the new iOS 11 beta, and much more.

9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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Recent reports have claimed that the upcoming iPhone 8 will be available in three color choices: black, white, and a new copper gold shade. While nearly every leak we’ve seen has been of the black model, a new video today from YouTuber Danny Winget offers a look at all three choices…

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