Spotify’s special deal is back: Get Premium Spotify for just US$1 for three months. Regular prices will take effect after that.
Andrew Orr
Since 2015 Andrew has been writing about Apple, privacy, security, and at one point even Android. You can find him most places online under the username @andrewornot.
Articles by Andrew Orr
Trump Declares National Emergency Over Threats to American Tech
Today President Trump has issued a national emergency over threats against American technology. A ban is expected to follow that will stop U.S. companies from doing business with Chinese company Huawei.
In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote that the administration will “protect America from foreign adversaries who are actively and increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology infrastructure and services in the United States.”
Apple Music for Alexa Comes to Australia
A recently updated Apple support page shows that Apple Music for Alexa is now available for Australian customers.
A Fix For That Scary WhatsApp Exploit is Live
An Israeli firm called NSO Group used a WhatsApp exploit to inject spyware on target devices. A fix for the exploit is live.
Given the stealthy way the attack was attempted, it’s impressive that WhatsApp caught it as quickly as they did. Engineers at Facebook have been busy sorting this one out over the weekend…Named CVE-2019-3568…affected versions include…WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51.
New Pokémon Game Rumble Rush Heading to iOS
A new Pokémon game called Rumble Rush is heading to iOS soon. It first launched in Australia and will make its way to other countries.
FCC Wants Carriers to Automatically Block Robocalls By Default
The FCC is calling on carriers to start automatically blocking robocalls by default, for free. So far the agency this isn’t a requirement.
VSCO Hasn’t Released a Film X Preset Since January
The story I’m linking to is a bit of a behind-the-scenes look at the effort VSCO puts into emulating analog film. The company releases these special presets as part of its VSCO X membership, which costs US$20/year.
Its Film X filters recreate the look of long-gone analog films like Ektar 100, Portra 400, and Kodak Tri-X (a favorite of the late street photographer Garry Winogrand). It’s a long process that involves not just coding, but locating old film stock and reverse engineering the pictures captured on it.
It’s interesting to read, but I’d also like to take this opportunity to say that I’m a VSCO X member and VSCO hasn’t released a Film X preset since January. We were promised one new preset every month. Time to cancel?
Apple Releases Patch for ZombieLoad Flaw in Intel Chips
ZombieLoad is a serious flaw affecting almost every Intel chip since 2011. Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have issue patches for it.
The tech giant said in an advisory that any system running macOS Mojave 10.14.5, released Monday, is patched. This will prevent an attack from being run through Safari and other apps. Most users won’t experience any decline in performance. But some Macs could face up to a 40 percent performance hit for those who opt-in to the full set of mitigations.
Crazy that Intel chips have had this since 2011. This is the first time I’ve heard of ZombieLoad.
Van-Seyla Mork Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Apple Scam
This week Van-Seyla Mork of Kalamazoo, Michigan pleaded guilty to a US$1 million Apple scam. He filed fraudulent complaints to Apple customer support.
EVE Online Makes it Easier for Mac Gamers Running Wine
EVE Online is an MMO where gamers can build and pilot spaceships and explore the universe. Today the company will start using direct upstream Wine versions for its Mac client.
On rollout, Mac users will no longer need to run a wrapper to execute a 32-bit client on their native 64-bit operating systems, which will allow the EVE client to make better use of system resources and resolve a number of long standing issues that pilots who are playing on Mac experience.
Using upstream Wine will also improve the speed at which updates will reach our pilots who’re playing on Mac, with a multitude of Mac compatibility improvements becoming available to all Mac users with this single release.
Disney Takes Control of Hulu Following Comcast Deal
Disney and Comcast made a deal in which the former immediately assumes full control of Hulu. Within five years Comcast will sell its stake.
Which Push Notifications Should You Allow?
Apps demand our attention by sending us push notifications, but some are more important than others. David Nield has some suggestions.
One of the problems with turning your phone off, or putting it in airplane mode to avoid distractions, is that people won’t be able to reach you in an emergency. If you want to make sure certain contacts (like your kids) can always get through, you’ve got two options using the native features on your Android or iOS phone.
iOS 12.3: How to Use Apple Pay in iTunes and the App Store
In iOS 12.3 Apple gave customers the ability to use Apple Pay in iTunes and the App Store for apps, movies, games, and more. Here’s where to find the setting.
Photoshop for iPad Opens for Beta Signups
Adobe is officially inviting users to sign up for Photoshop for iPad as beta testers, via an email sent to Creative Cloud users.
Real Photoshop is coming to the iPad so you can create something unreal. All your familiar desktop tools and workflows are at your fingertips, from retouching and compositing to spot healing and blend modes. Layers? They’re all here. Resolution? No difference. Your PSDs are exactly the same, whether you’re working on your desktop or a mountain top.
Adobe has been emailing Creative Cloud customers, but you can join the beta program by filling this form.
Apple Support 3.1 Adds iMessage Integration
Apple Support version 3.1, updated today, adds iMessage integration into the app for customers in the United States.
Apple says that this feature is limited to the United States and is available for select topics only. Today’s update also introduces an improved experience for scheduling reservations at the Genius Bar and Authorized Service Providers, and it includes other unspecified bug fixes and performance improvements.
macOS 10.14.5 Brings Security Updates
Alongside iOS 12.3 and other software updates, Apple also released macOS 10.14.5, and it brings bug fixes, supports AirPlay 2, and more.
Apple says it’s ‘not a monopoly by any metric’
Apple has responded to ruling by the Supreme Court giving the go ahead for an antitrust lawsuit. The company denies that it’s a monopoly.
Today’s decision means plaintiffs can proceed with their case in District court. We’re confident we will prevail when the facts are presented and that the App Store is not a monopoly by any metric…Developers set the price they want to charge for their app and Apple has no role in that.
New Apple Pay NFC Stickers Make it Faster to Pay
Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay, announced Apple Pay NFC stickers recently.. Once tapped they trigger Apple Pay purchases, so you don’t need to download a separate app.
With the new support, an iPhone will know how to read a specially-encoded NFC tag (that can be as inert as a sticker) and automatically show the Apple Pay purchase interface when a user holds their device near it. No third-party apps or other set up required.
At launch Apple is partnering with Bird scooters, Bonobos clothing store, and PayByPhone parking meters.
iOS 12.3 Lets You Add an Apple Pay Express Transit Card
One of features included in today’s iOS 12.3 update is the ability for iPhone customers to add an Apple Pay express transit card.
Twitter Location Bug Collected Location Data from iOS Users
A now-fixed Twitter location bug inadvertently let the app collect your location data under certain circumstances.
Apple Releases iOS 12.3 Update With New TV App
Apple has released the iOS 12.3 update, much of which is focused on a new TV app that the company introduced in its March keynote.
Increased Tariffs Could Raise iPhone XS Price by $160
Following an increase of tariffs on Chinese goods by the Trump administration on Friday, today China retaliated, and the iPhone XS price could be affected.
Russian Network RT America Wants You to Distrust 5G Networks
Russian network RT America recently aired a segment called “A Dangerous Experiment on Humanity” to get people to distrust 5G. The segment links 5G to brain cancer, infertility, autism, heart tumors and Alzheimer’s disease, none of which are backed by scientific evidence.
Yet even as RT America, the cat’s paw of Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has been doing its best to stoke the fears of American viewers, Mr. Putin, on Feb. 20, ordered the launch of Russian 5G networks in a tone evoking optimism rather than doom.
Russia is definitely not the first to attempt to link certain cellular frequencies to health problems, but a it’s an interesting new twist in the matter.
Sketchy Rumor Claims iOS 13 Support Won’t Include iPhone SE, Others
A new rumor claims that iOS 13 support won’t include the iPhone 6, iPhone SE, and iPhone 5s. But Andrew thinks it’s sketchy.