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How to Become More Resilient [Infographic]

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Tragedy. Illness. Job or relationship problems. We all go through tough times at one point or another. It’s unfortunate, but it’s inevitable.

What sets us apart, then, is how we recover from the bad things life throws our way. When you experience a negative event in your life, how do you react? What strategies do you use to heal, grow, and move on?

That’s where resilience comes in. Resilience is your ability to bounce back from the problems you face, no matter their severity. The stronger your resilience, the more likely you’ll learn from your setbacks.

But building resilience takes work. To help you get started, check out the infographic below from Happify. They’ve covered a handful of tips and tricks that’ll help you learn how to heal from tough events in both your professional and personal life.

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How-To: Install iOS 10 public beta on your eligible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch [Video]

As we reported earlier today, the iOS 10 public beta has been released for all interested in having an early hands-on look at iOS 10. Anyone can install the public beta, not just registered Apple developers. Accessing and installing the beta is a fairly straightforward process, but we’re here to walk you through the process step-by-step. more…

Filed under: Apple

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Apple Watch Sport (refurb) $210, Mophie iPhone SE Battery Case $15, Dragon Dictation 5 $90, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

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Get an Apple Watch Sport 38mm in your choice of three colors (refurb) for $210 (Orig. $349)

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Mophie iPhone 5/s/SE 1500mAh Battery Case: $15 (Reg. $25)

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Dragon Dictation for Mac V5: $90 w/ code DRAGON (Orig. $200)

Parallels Desktop 11: Run Windows/Android/Linux/anything seamlessly on your Mac: $40 (50% off) shipped or less

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Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air is on sale for as little as $750 shipped w/ .edu (Reg. $999)

Apple’s 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro brings power and a beautiful display to your work: $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

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App Store Free App of the Week: Mimpi Dreams puzzle-platformer goes free for the first time (Reg. $2)

Apple offering free download of sketching app Procreate via Apple Store app

One of the best sniper titles on the App Store just went 50% off: Hitman Sniper $1 (Reg. $2)

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Short Lightning cables are more useful than you’d think, here are the best MFi options

Review: Mophie’s new Charge Force line brings carefree wireless charging to iPhone [Video]

Apple’s Thunderbolt Display is dead: These are the best 4K & 5K displays for Mac

Skip your pockets, the LD West gun-style iPhone holsters turn your whole life into an 80’s cop show

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Daily Deals: 20-inch Acer monitor $50, Seiki 4K Blu-ray Player $43, more

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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Apple doesn’t make a USB 3.0 hub, so here’s an aluminum 4-port option that will match your setup for $7 Prime shipped

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Bring Nomad’s handsome Italian Leather Apple Watch Bands to your wrist for as low as $80 shipped

PowerTime Apple Watch Charging Dock w/ 3 USB Ports: $39 shipped (Reg. $49)

Just $9 Prime shipped for a new Apple Watch band? Sounds good to me.

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Filed under: Apple

How will iPhone 7 launch affect lineup pricing? Can SE go even cheaper?

Could the iPhone SE get even cheaper with the iPhone 7 launch?

When Apple launches a new iPhone, it usually maintains pricing for the top models as the previous generation models get price reductions and possibly discontinued. It typically bumps the oldest models out of production entirely, keeping four to five models for sale including the new flagships.

With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus introduction, for example, Apple kept the iPhone 5s and an 8GB iPhone 5c around at reduced prices. With the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, it discontinued the 5c and kept the 6/Plus, 6s/Plus, and 5s at reduced price points until ultimately replacing the 5s with the new 4-inch iPhone SE in March.

But this year there are some questions about what Apple will do with the iPhone lineup following the iPhone 7 launch this fall. Reports of increased storage options and a new “Pro line” for iPhone 7 could change Apple’s usual approach if true, not to mention the new iPhone SE, now the only 4-inch device in the lineup, was a rare mid-year iPhone release earlier this year. 

Can iPhone SE get even cheaper with iPhone 7 launch? Will Apple keep the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus around or discontinue those models while offering discounted 6s and 6s Plus models only?

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Filed under: Apple

Mac users can test the first macOS Sierra 10.12 public beta starting today

Apple is releasing the first macOS Sierra public beta today for anyone wanting to test drive Siri on the Mac or any of the other new features included. Previously, macOS 10.12 has only been available to registered developers with access to a paid account; the public beta program is a free alternative that allows non-developers to test Apple’s latest software updates before their general release.

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Filed under: Apple

Apple releasing first iOS 10 public beta for non-developer testers today

Following the latest iOS 10 beta for registered developers, Apple is releasing the very first iOS 10 public beta for non-developers to test on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch today. Back in mid-June at WWDC 2016, Apple first promised iOS 10 would hit public beta status sometime in July. The iOS 10 public beta will bring new features including a redesigned Apple Music app, an overhauled Messages experience, and much more.

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Filed under: Apple

FAQ: How to use Auto Unlock with watchOS 3 and macOS Sierra beta 2

Auto Unlock is now available in macOS Sierra Developer Preview Seed 2, and on Tuesday, we demonstrated how it works with our hands-on video. Yet, there are still many lingering questions about Auto Unlock, such as hardware requirements, range requirements, etc. In the following post, we address some of the questions that you’ve posted in the comments and submitted via email. more…

Filed under: Apple

Pokémon GO tops the app charts as Australian police warn against chasing Sandshrew too far

Well, that escalated quickly. Just a day after Pokémon GO launched on iOS, it is already topping the free app charts. It is currently available only in the USA, Australia and New Zealand, though it is expected to hit the UK soon.

The augmented reality game works by encouraging players to go looking for things in the real world, which is not without its hazards. Australian police have to warn players not to get too carried away while trying to catch a Sandshrew …

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Filed under: Apple

iOS app plus e-ink display lets you skip the baggage-drop queues with Rimowa’s latest luggage

Online check-in is great when travelling hand-baggage only, but doesn’t save much time when you have hold baggage. The waiting in line you used to have to do at check-in you now do at the baggage-drop instead.

But luggage-maker Rimowa has a solution. Its latest luggage range has a built-in e-ink display the exact dimensions of an airline baggage-tag, and your airline app can transmit the correct details to the bag via Bluetooth. A dedicated drop area then lets you skip the queues …

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Filed under: Apple

23 Brilliant Twitter Cover Photo Examples From Real Brands

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What do you think to yourself when you see someone’s Twitter avatar is the default image of an egg? Chances are, you probably assume they are either inactive, a fake account, or someone not worth following.

While almost all businesses understand that the egghead approach isn’t doing them any justice, they often fail to understand that a plain, flat Twitter cover photo can be equally as off-putting to potential followers.

Think about it: Would you rather engage with a company that has a header image featuring a dozen of their happiest employees working together on a cool project, or one that relies on a plain blue rectangle to do the talking? Download our pre-sized Twitter cover photo template here to create a brilliant  header photo of your own. 

Despite the prominent placement and size (the Twitter cover photo dimensions are 500 pixels tall by 1500 pixels wide), far too many companies are underutilizing this opportunity to express themselves. We think all they need is a little inspiration.

To give you a better sense of what a Twitter header photo done right looks like, we’ve put together a list of some of the best examples from companies around the world. Check them out.

23 of the Best Twitter Headers From Real Companies

1) Uber

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When Uber rebranded in February 2016, they wrote about how their new look and feel is meant to celebrate two main things: 1) technology, and 2) the cities they serve. Their cover photo is a smart, well designed visual reflection of both these core values.

Like their app, website, and other parts of their visual brand, the cover photo is represented by bright colors and geometric patterns. All of your communications and marketing assets tell their brand’s story — and brand consistency is one tactic Uber’s nailed in order to gain brand loyalty.

2) Canva

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Canva is an easy-to-use design app, and everything about their cover photo supports their brand. For one, it encourages even non-designers to be creative, thereby encouraging tentative customers to use their products. It’s also fun, friendly, and colorful, all of which are characteristics consistent throughout their web presence. Finally, and most importantly, it was probably made using Canva, which lets you create simple designs using images, text, and objects. Overall, very well done.

3) Target

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Target’s creative cover photo is almost so mesmerizing that we don’t want to look away. Both the red and white pattern and the two girls’ red and white outfits perfectly compliment their signature target logo, making for a visually interesting look and feel. We’re giving Target an A+ for coordination.

4) SlideShare

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The collage SlideShare created for their header photo is an interesting way to show off what people can expect to see on the social presentation platform. While collage formats can sometimes appear cluttered, they managed to arrange this image strategically so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Not to mention, this approach doubles as a way for them to delight their users by highlighting real presentations for the whole Twittersphere to see.

5) British Airways

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British Airways’ cover photo is perfectly simple. While the high quality image of the plane dominates most of the space, our favorite part is on that left-hand side: the names of their other social media accounts. By including these, they are essentially opening up the door for Twitter users to follow their business on their preferred platform.

6) Taco Bell

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Ahh, Taco Bell, the social media darling marketers can’t help but love. They’re rocking almost every social platform imaginable: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and even Snapchat. And while this Twitter header is fairly simple, we love that it’s consistent with their other social media accounts, such as their Facebook cover photo below.

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Plus, they always use fun, bright colors to create a unique, thematic experience across all of their accounts. This is a great trick for anyone looking to enhance their brand consistency.

7) Netflix

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Netflix’s Twitter header image is a great example of a brand that knows how to capitalize on this prominently placed visual space. Here, they use the space to promote one of their latest shows. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good Netflix recommendation?

We also love how they’ve aligned across their international accounts on the same promotions. Check out the variations below from four different areas of the world to see how their cover photo has been translated consistently.

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8) Animoto

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When someone new arrives on your Twitter profile, something about your profile needs to compel them to stick around. If they can’t easily figure out what your company does, you risk losing them pretty quickly. Why not tell them right in your cover photo? Animoto uses that precious real estate — the very first place that draws the eye on your Twitter profile — to nail their value proposition. While they reiterate what they do in their Twitter description, putting it right out there in an attractive visual is a great way to communicate that value prop faster.

9) Basecamp

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For those of us who don’t have professional or stock photography at our disposal, here’s a great example to inspire you. Basecamp, a project management software company, doesn’t have a product that’s easy to showcase through photos, either. Instead, they use a collection of icons to portray what the company does. The checkmarks, conversation bubbles, and to-do lists all lead back to a single theme: productivity.

10) RioTinto

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The colorful high-definition image RioTinto uses for their cover photo catches the eye right away. And while the massive machinery is impressive, what we’re most interested in is the inclusion of one of their employees. Aware that people want to do business with other people, it’s great to see RioTinto spotlighting one of the faces behind their business to provide a personal touch.

11) Etsy

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If you’re not already familiar with Etsy, it can be best described as a peer-to-peer ecommerce website for handmade and vintage goods. With that said, it’s only right that they’d employ an artsy collage of images to represent their do-it-yourself roots. The collage make for an interesting display of colors that are consistent with wedding season, while also inspiring crafty followers to get creatin’.

12) Starbucks

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Starbucks’ Twitter header photo looks like a high quality version of something you’d pull from a #Starbucks hashtag search on Instagram. For that reason, we’re certain that this is something that will catch the eye of their loyal customers and resonate with them. Whether you take your coffee with cream and sugar or you prefer to drink it black, this image will have any coffee lovers craving an ice-cold caffeine fix.

13) TOMS

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TOMS’ entire business is based on the one-for-one business model that helps provide shoes, sight, water, safe birth and bullying prevention services to people in need from all over the world. Their cover photo is an interesting showcase of both their product — the shoes themselves — and that message of improving lives so central to their brand.

14) Danone

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It’s hard not to smile at this whimsical cartoon header from Danone. And with a tagline that reads “alimenta sonrisas,” meaning “feeds smiles,” the image serves as the perfect compliment to their vision. Between the flowers and adorable smiling yogurt container, there’s a lot to look at without being overly cluttered.

15) Zendesk

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Zendesk is a cloud-based customer service software system that has built a charming brand with a little help from their jolly Buddha mascot. We love this choice of a meme-like cover photo, which is a funny nod to their value proposition: building software for better customer relationships. “Because relationships are complicated,” reads their Twitter description. Enough said.

16) Old Spice

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Known for their tomfoolery, Old Spice’s Twitter cover photo is a great visualization of their quirky, charismatic approach to marketing. Between helicopters spouting laser beams to flaming lion and bear heads, this header image is both inventive and humorous, traits consistent with their brand.

17) Caterpillar Inc.

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There are two reasons why Caterpillar Inc.’s cover photo is awesome. First, there’s the quality of the photo and editing job. Since the profile picture is on the left on Twitter, they’ve added some balance to the cover photo design by having the focus of the image be on the right. That makes the overall design more aesthetically pleasing. Secondly, the Caterpillar trucks aren’t the main focus here. Instead, they chose to highlight the man on the right-hand side of the screen, which helps to humanize the brand.

18) CNN

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Whereas British Airways simply listed the names of their other social media accounts, CNN includes theirs in a very clever, more visually interesting way: by showing screenshots of what they look like. More importantly, they’re showing them on mobile screens — because they know that many people are reading the news on their mobile phones nowadays. This is a unique idea for showing Twitter users that the company has a presence on other social networks so users can follow them on the platforms they prefer.

19) Dior

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Rather than highlighting their fancy products, Dior chose a less expected approach: They highlighted the backdrop to their most recent #DiorHomme show. This is a creative way to highlight that Dior is about far more than just the clothing and accessories: it’s about the art of it all.

To give you some context, here’s what the backdrop looked like at the show itself:

20) LEGO

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LEGO’s toy building bricks are so visual that you’d probably expect them to feature some sort of elaborate castle made entirely out of Legos. Instead, the folks at LEGO went with a vibrant yellow close-up, which makes for a surprising and visually interesting display. Between the clean lines and sharp angles, we love this abstract approach.

21) Vodafone Group

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Your Twitter header photo is a valuable piece of real estate — and it’s a great space for promoting current marketing campaigns. Vodafone cleverly includes a hashtag for one of their campaigns in their cover photo to draw interest and drive engagement. Aside from the hashtag, the image maintains a consistent color scheme, especially with the reds and whites of its logo. Notice, for example, that the chairs in the photo have a red-and-white striped pattern.

22) Maersk Line

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We’ve written about Maersk Line’s Twitter presence before. We especially admire how their social media team has found a way to find the beauty in a stereotypically “boring” industry — container shipping — through brilliant photography. The company’s cover photo, which plays with light and reflections at sunset, is a perfect example of the gorgeous imagery found throughout their Twitter page.

23) innocent drinks

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Not only do the folks at innocent drinks have a wonderful Twitter presence, but we also commend them for drawing attention to their commitment to charity. Many consumers look for little ways they can help make a difference, so highlighting their donation process could help convert potential customers while helping them to establish a positive reputation.

What other awesome Twitter cover photos have you seen from brands on Twitter? Share your favorites with us in the comments below.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

free twitter cover photo template

Barclays hopes that ‘poor man’s Apple Watch’ might help bPay compete with Apple Pay

When Apple Pay officially went live in the UK almost a year ago, it was supported by every major bank except Barclays, which waited a further nine months before joining in. The reason was because Barclays was trying to push its own mobile payment service, bPay – which is actually just a contactless card chip embedded into a variety of physical objects.

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Filed under: Apple

Apple Pay launches in Switzerland with MasterCard and Visa bank cards

Apple is continuing its expansion of its NFC mobile payments service, Apple Pay, today. This time around, Apple Pay has made its way to Switzerland, the second European launch after the United Kingdom. iPhone users in Switzerland can now setup their Visa and MasterCard bank cards in Apple Wallet and start using contactless payments at merchants from today. Apple Pay requires an iPhone with integrated NFC chip: iPhone 6, iPhone 6s or iPhone SE.

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Filed under: Apple