05/25, 6:50pm
Airfoil, AirFloat iOS Airplay receivers pulled from App store
Applications Airfoil Speakers Touchby Macintosh audio software purveyor Rogue Amoeba, and similar application Airfloat by The Famous Software Company have been removed from the app store by Apple program managers. Both applications developers possibly reverse-engineered some aspect of Apple's Airplay technology, or used the illegally-distributed cracked encryption key, both violations of the Apple developer's agreement. Apple has not commented publicly on the matter, and neither developer has been told why the applications were removed.
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05/25, 12:57pm
Sources suggest Facebook would join browser wars
Facebook may be planning to buy Opera Software, maker of the Opera web browser, according to a rumor. Sources of Pocket Lint say that the social network is looking towards making its own browser, which would put it alongside Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Yahoo, and the purchase of Opera Software and its technology would save Facebook from having to build one from the ground up.
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05/25, 9:48am
Unnamed source disputes rumored BBM on other platforms
Research in Motion may not open up its BlackBerry Messenger service as previously thought. Rumors that the BBM service would expand to Android handsets and iPhones, as evidenced by a photo of a beta app, are in doubt following the replacement of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie by chief executive Thorsten Heins, according to an unnamed source speaking to the Wall Street Journal.
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05/24, 5:54pm
Maintenance release fixes Viewer functionality
Apple on Thursday released a minor maintenance update for its photo-editing software, Aperture. Version 3.2.4 is said to improve stability when operating in Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The update also resolves an issue that sometimes prevented the Viewer from correctly updating after a photo had been modified in an external editor.
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05/24, 1:41pm
Bump app update sends photos to web browser
Application and file sharing app Bump (free) has been updated to allow for photo transfers between a phone and a computer. Users of the app can go to the Bump website on a computer, then after selecting photos to share, can bump the phone into the spacebar to send the images to the browser. Images could then be saved to the computer or shared through social networks with a short link.
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05/24, 12:12pm
Latest Google+ Android update brings Mobile Hotspots, more
Google has just began offering the latest version of its Google+ app for Android, version 2.6 (free, Google Play). The update includes a refreshed user interface and a better integration with the Hangout video chat feature. Dubbed Mobile Hangouts, video chats with up to nine friend can now be initiated while users are on the move.
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05/24, 10:10am
Obama order forces agencies to make two public apps each
President Barack Obama has ordered all major federal agencies to make more services available on mobile devices in the next year. The administration wants to increase governmental technology use, with agencies ordered to make services available for public access within 12 months. The news comes at the same time as reports that the US Navy will add LTE capabilities to three of its ships, allowing Android smartphones to be used out at sea.
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05/24, 7:41am
iOS app and browser extension offers image-based search
Update: Axis was temporarily pulled by Yahoo due to a security vulnerability, but has already been updated.
Yahoo has released Axis, which it is calling a 'visual search' application. It has been released as a full mobile browser for iOS and as a cross-platform desktop browser extension that uses page snapshots in live search results instead of text. The iOS app, while having the same tabbed browsing and bookmarking found in Safari, has a user interface focussing on image-heavy search, with cross-device synching possible between iPhone, iPad and the desktop browser extension.
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05/23, 9:15pm
Global sales head Spence leaves RIM
Patrick Spence, 14-year veteran of Research in Motion (RIM) and its head of global sales, has departed the company. Spence "will be taking on a leadership position in a different industry," according to RIM spokeswoman Rebecca Freiburger. No comment has been made if the move is in response to the announcement of RIM's new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer three weeks ago.
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05/23, 4:20pm
Would carry over feature from iPhone 4S, third-gen iPad
Apple could be hoping to bring iOS' Dictation feature to OS X, a code string in the current preview of Mountain Lion suggests. Within the preview's build of Safari, a resource file mentions using a Command-Command hotkey to "Start Dictation." While the option isn't yet functional, it could be by the time Mountain Lion ships, or alternately in a later Safari update.
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05/23, 1:20pm
Boot menu redesign due to promised fast boot times
Windows 8 will have an improved pre-boot menu screen, to avoid constant reboots and stop the user from repeatedly tapping F8 or another key to interrupt the process before Windows loads. An MSDN blog post by Microsoft's Windows engineering team explains in detail how the system will work if the BIOS is needed due to a problem, and how to get to the same screen when there isn't an issue.
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05/22, 5:46pm
Adds six new support camera models
Apple late today has issued Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 3.13, adding support for six new and recent camera models now on the market. The new update adds support for models from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony. Still missing from the list of supported cameras (among other models) is the Fujifilm X-S1, a high-end "superzoom" camera we reviewed in late March. The new update requires OS X 10.6.8 or later.
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05/22, 5:04pm
Symantec-owned Norton has released a new security app at the Mac App Store, iAntivirus. The software is intended as basic malware protection, and can block potential hazards, scan drives for suspected infections, and check a Facebook feed for malicious links. As a quicker way of scanning files, a person can just drag and drop items into the app.
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05/22, 1:50pm
CrumplePop intros ColorKit Suite
AKVIS has announced that full CS6 support has been added to five of its plug-ins, Retoucher 5.5, Coloriage 8.5, HDRFactory 2.5, NatureArt 4.5, and MakeUp 2.5. Support has also been integrated for the upcoming Photoshop Elements 11, and a number of bugs have been resolved in the standalone versions of each app. Upgrades are free for existing users, while full licenses range in price from $39 to $87.
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05/22, 5:53am
Evizone keeps confidential correspondence confidential
At a time when businesses are exchanging more and more information online, with a corresponding risk of data theft from cyber hackers, Internet security is more critical than it has ever been. Evizone has developed a unique approach enabling the secure exchange of files, view-only copy protected messages and documents so that businesses can be confident that their vital corporate information remains only in the hands of its intended audience. MacNN recently had the opportunity to put some questions to Evizone CEO Andrew Coutts about what sets Evizone apart from the crowd and why businesses that value corporate security should consider it instead of email and other file sharing services.
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05/21, 7:14pm
Both will be half-off regular price on debut day
Long-time Mac software developer Panic will be launching a major new version of its web-coding tool, now called Coda 2, along with an iPad companion app called Diet Coda on Thursday. The company describes Coda 2 as an "overhaul of every facet" of the editor, while Diet Coda is seen as a portable tool for making quick fixes to code when a developer is on-the-go. Both programs will be sold at half-price on Thursday, May 24 only.
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05/21, 2:20pm
New game 'The Journey Down' for Mac, Windows
The first episode of The Journey Down, a point-and-click adventure game, has been released for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The first chapter of the game has players searching for a lost journal that contains the secrets of a the mysterious Underland. Players must work through a number of puzzles that have been spread across varying locations in order to find the journal and begin unlocking its secrets. The Journey Down can be purchased from a number of online game distributors for $14.
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05/21, 12:36pm
Auto-downloads appear in latest Developer Preview
Automatic app downloads are being integrated into OS X Mountain Lion, checks show. The feature is present in the latest Developer Preview of the OS; under the new option, titles bought at the Mac App Store should, in theory, appear on any other Mac signed in with the same Apple ID. In practice though, the store is marking titles as "installed" on secondary Macs without actually copying any files. The function will likely be turned on in future Developer Previews, or at least the final version of Mountain Lion, due sometime this summer.
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05/21, 12:04pm
Microsoft shows evolution from Windows 1 to Metro
Microsoft has blogged about the history of Windows user interface changes in preparation for the expected Windows 8 release later this year. The post explains how Windows has morphed from the original release in 1985 through to present day, and the jump from "Aero" UI elements in Windows Vista and 7 to "Metro" in Windows 8.
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05/20, 5:34pm
Apple sends sandboxing reminder to Mac devs
Apple sent an email reminder to developers working on apps for the Mac App Store letting them know that new programs will have to be compatible with the platform's forthcoming "sandboxing" constraints in order to be offered in the Mac App Store. Developers are expected to implement sandboxing within their apps by June 1, though existing programs can be updated after that date. Apple has previously extended the deadline for app sandboxing, first November 2011 to March 2012, and later to June 2012.
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05/18, 11:40am
appsbar officially launched
Brainshark has announced the launch of an update for its free iPad app, SlideShark, which includes tools for viewing, sharing, and tracking PowerPoint presentations. Version 1.6 introduces a new Presenter Mode that allows users to connect to an external display and simultaneously view slide notes, times, and the current, previous, and next slides. Other new features include faster conversion times, advanced reporting on presentation viewing activity, and enhanced administrative controls.
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05/17, 4:42pm
Known issues include problems with FileVault, Time Machine
Apple has released a fourth preview of Mountain Lion Server to developers. The code is also listed as build 12S219n, and follows just a day after a third update of the main Mountain Lion preview. A number of known issues are listed in the Server preview; among others, there are several problems each in the use of FileVault, Time Machine, and Game Center.
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05/17, 2:46pm
PDF2Office Professional update released
Recosoft has launched the next major version of PDF2OFfice Professional, which now includes support for Windows XPS files and the OmniGraffle v5.x format. PDF3Office allows users to convert PDF and XPS files into editable Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OmniGraffle formats by recreating the intended construction and layout of the document. Version 6.0 introduces a new hybrid 64-bit PDF/XPS conversion core, as well as an option for optimizing files for editing and viewing on iOS devices. Customers who purchased a PDF2Office Professional v5.x license on or after April 1, 2012 are entitled to a free upgrade, while a full license costs $99.
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05/17, 10:06am
Samsung Cares Android app brings information, troubleshooting abilities
Samsung has just released a new Android app called Cares (Google Play) that aims to improve the customer service experience. It will allow users to check out FAQs, How-To guides, tutorial videos, and troubleshoot issues with their Android 2.1 and newer Samsung devices. Not all devices are covered, however.
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05/17, 12:55am
New network storage array to feature anti-virus, run applications
Storage solution provider Iomega announced a new flagship product today, the Iomega StorCenter px12-450r Network Storage array, a networked data storage system incorporating an Ivy Bridge processor from Intel. Iomega also announced the addition of McAfee VirusScan Enterprise to all Iomega StorCenter PX series products. Iomega's new storage option would appear to be the first non-computer product to feature an Ivy Bridge processor.
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05/16, 6:06pm
Mid-2007 MBPs temporarily excluded
Earlier today, Apple updated its OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion Developer Preview 3 for developers, though no significant changes or additions were listed by the company. For reasons unknown, Apple has excluded the mid-2007 MacBook Pro (identifier 3,1) from this build, but says it will restore support for the model in future releases. Numerous known issues from the previous build remain unaddressed, though a minor enhancement has already been spotted.
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05/15, 11:10pm
Phase two of trial complete, damages could start Wednesday
The same California jury that couldn't decide on the "fair use" aspects of the Google versus Oracle is now debating Oracle's patent claims. Oracle began this suit in 2010, claiming that Android infringes on its Java patents. Google says that it has not infringed and furthermore, Oracle can't copyright certain parts of Java, an open source language. Closing arguments were made today in phase two of the three-phase, multi-year trial.
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05/15, 6:22pm
Version 7.7.2 covers security issues
Apple has issued an updated version of QuickTime 7, now at version 7.7.2, for Windows systems in order to address a number of security flaws. The vulnerabilities listed either do not exist on the Mac version of QuickTime 7, or are already addressed in Lion. Most but not all of the flaws were discovered by researchers working in conjunction with HP's "Zero Day Initiative" and are duly credited. A total of 17 flaws are addressed in the update.
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05/15, 3:25pm
Desktop browser connects with Android Chrome beta
Google has announced that Chrome 19 is now available as a stable build, enabling users to try out the new features that were announced early last month. The latest overhaul to the company's browser broadens sync capabilities between devices and platforms. Users can open multiple tabs on the desktop browser, then pick up their Android 4.0 phone and access the same content from the mobile Chrome beta.
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05/15, 12:39pm
Android 4 reaching Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tabs
Samsung has expanded its Android 4.0 update list to include several devices sold through T-Mobile. The carrier appears to have committed to Ice Cream Sandwich for several Galaxy handsets and two Galaxy Tabs.
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05/15, 12:19am
One final release coming soon
The group of developers that had begun and maintained the Perian video-codec project over the last six years is calling it quits, and will release one more version of the popular video translator before shutting down support and posting the code on a public repository for others to (perhaps) take over. The final version "may or may not" work under Mountain Lion, and the code will eventually be posted on Google Code or Github.
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05/14, 8:35pm
Available in app form for Windows, Mac, mobile
A new version of the subscription streaming music service Rdio has launched, bringing with it a native Mac OS X application for the first time. Previous versions were web-based. The new version is available on browsers, and applications Windows, the iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7. All versions allow listening to over 15 million tracks on the Rdio service.
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05/14, 7:15pm
Judge says patent conduct of Motorola not in good faith
Motorola's patent demands and conduct were condemned by a judge overseeing a preliminary ITC ruling against Microsoft. Administrative Law Judge David Shaw wrote an initial determination, entering public records in a redacted state last week, stating that assurances on reasonable licensing of standards-essential patents "were misleading."
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05/14, 7:02pm
Feral Interactive handling port
Tomb Raider: Underworld, the eighth in the series of games features adverturess Lara Croft, will debut on the Mac on May 31st. The game, originally released for the PC in late 2008, is a direct sequel to Tomb Raider: Legend game (never released officially for Mac) but also contains plot elements drawn from the Tomb Raider: Anniversary reboot, which reinvented the original game with a modern game engine.
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05/14, 5:50pm
Patches solve issues with Flash, Flashback
Apple has posted two separate security updates for OS X Leopard. The first, Leopard Security Update 2012-003, disables versions of Flash without the most recent security updates, and instead provides a method of getting the latest release from Adobe. Apple's update is 1.11MB and requires at least OS X 10.5.8.
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05/14, 2:50pm
Windows 8 Pro upgrade to be $15 option on Windows 7 PCs
Microsoft will soon begin offering a promotion to buyers of Windows 7 PCs that will allow them to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $15, WinSuperSite reported. The special offering will kick off on June 2, with the idea being to 'future-proof' computers and motivate buyers who may otherwise hold off on a new purchase as they await the latest software to come out. In previous, similar promotions, however, Microsoft offered equivalent versions of the software to the one they've purchased, but this time it seems to be upgrading them to the Pro version.
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05/14, 4:30am
Mozilla says lack of browser choice takes users back to dark ages
The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the Firefox web browser, is calling out Microsoft for anticompetitive practices with regard to browser capabilities on the upcoming Windows RT. In a blog post, Mozilla's General Counsel Harvey Anderson takes Microsoft to task for programming decisions that will limit the power and feature set of non-Internet Explorer browsers in the next version of Windows.
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05/11, 4:39pm
Turntable.fm app finally arrives at Google Play
Nearly eight months after it made its debut at the app store, the Turntable.fm app is now available for the Android platform (free, Google Play). It's compatible with Android 2.2 and newer versions of the OS, though Android users are reporting a few issues, including incorrect formatting in the chat function and the tendency to crash when there is a lot of traffic in the chat. Despite the launch, it's already in version 2.0.
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05/11, 1:23pm
Baidu to name hardware partners for new Baidu Cloud OS next week
Chinese software giant Baidu, which also runs the country's largest search engine, will reveal a new smartphone partner next week, according to a recent report. The phone will run on Baidu's OS, likely to be called Baidu Cloud. The company has previously partnered with Dell to launch a phone running on the current OS, called Baidu Yi.
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05/10, 11:33pm
Now free for iOS, web for a limited time
One of the classic computer games, the first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D, is celebrating its 20th anniversary year with a new browser-based version of the game as well as a promotional giveaway of the iOS version of the original game for a limited time. While the original Castle Wolfenstein first appeared on an Apple II computer in 1981, Wolfenstein 3D (the more familiar version of the game) debuted on DOS in 1992.
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05/10, 2:52pm
Evernote gains enhanced text editing
Rayner Software has launched NetShade 5 for Mac, the latest version of its web anonymizer software. The app works by routing the Internet connection through an intermediary proxy server, which prevents the user's IP address from being sent to visited sites. Version 5 is built on a new server architecture and no longer requires logins or passwords to access the NetShade proxy. Additionally, the proxy manager and user interface have been re-designed. Windows are now collapsable, multiple proxies can be tested in a batch, and proxies can be automatically cycled on a timer. A one-year NetShade subscription is set at $29 for new customers, while existing users can renew their one-year subscription for $19.
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05/10, 2:00am
Price is identical to boxed version
Two months after its official debut, Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom 4 pro-level photo managing and editing software has come to the Mac App Store. The program is priced identically to the boxed version, but is aimed at new users (since owners of previous versions of Lightroom can upgrade to 4.0 for $79 through Adobe). The program competes with Apple's own Aperture, which costs $80.
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05/09, 10:45pm
Active Network launches two campsite reservation apps
Outdoor enthusiasts will now be able to make reservations for campsites at national parks, forests and other recreational facilities through the release of two new apps for iOS. The ReserveAmerica camping app (free) lists nearby state campground sites, and provides information on sites, RV restrictions, tent and cabin use and other options.
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05/09, 6:37pm
Security fixes for Snow Leopard as well
Accompanying the just-released OS X 10.7.4 update, Apple has also posted several new versions of other products -- including Safari, Remote Desktop, the server version of Lion's Server Admin Tools and a security update for Snow Leopard users. The Safari and Remote Desktop updates apply to both Lion and Snow Leopard, and should be available through Software Update. The Safari update is available for both Mac and Windows users.
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05/09, 5:20pm
Includes Safari 5.1.7, more RAW support
Following several weeks of developer testing, Apple has released the completed version of OS X 10.7.4. Now available though Lion's Software Update mechanism, the upgrade deals with several security, reliability and compatibility problems. Most notably it fixes a security issue in FileVault which could potentially expose a person's passwords in plain text.
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05/09, 4:28pm
Barcode 2.0 plug-in launched
Quark has announced that all customers using QuarkXPress version 3 or later can now upgrade to QuarkXPress 9 for $349. QuarkXPress 9, which is regularly priced at $849, is a page layout and design tool that can help developers create content to be published on digital devices. In order to upgrade customers must have a valid, registered, and activated serial number, however those who are unable to locate their serial number may be able to upgrade by providing proof of purchase or completing an online missing serial number form.
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05/09, 12:52am
Six vulnerabilities in both PC and Mac versions
Microsoft has starting pushing security updates for the 2008 and 2011 versions of Microsoft Office for Mac, including an "important" security fix for six vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution, even on affected Macs. On the Windows side, the problems stretch back all the way to Microsoft Excel 2003, but for Macs only the two most recent versions of Office are affected. The fix is available through the Microsoft Updater.
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05/08, 10:41am
RIM hires experienced executives for COO, CMO roles
After what seems like nothing but job cuts and execs leaving, Canadian smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM) on Tuesday announced it is naming two new executives to its team. The new Chief Operating Officer is Kristian Tear, while Frank Boulben has become the Chief Marketing Officer. Both are said to bring an abundant amount of mobile computing experience to the table. RIM President and CEO Thorsten Heins said the two have a strong understanding of the emerging trends in mobile communications and computing.
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05/08, 10:15am
Nokia City Lens browser now available to beta testers on Windows Phone
Nokia has just added a beta app to its Windows Phone offerings. Called the Nokia City Lens Augmented Reality Browser, it allows users to point their cameras at a new neighborhood and get information superimposed atop each storefront to see more information. Users can then click on the location to get even more data or walking directions to the spot.
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05/07, 5:37pm
New iPad, iPad 2, iPhone 4S still unsupported
Third-party jailbreaking utility redsn0w has been updated for iOS 5.1.1, which was released by Apple just earlier today. Currently the hack works only in tethered mode, meaning that a device has to be connected to computer anytime it's restarted. It's also restricted to devices based on A4 processors, excluding the third-generation iPad, the iPad 2, and the iPhone 4S.
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