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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.

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Articles by Andrew Orr

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Looking at Apple Job Hiring For Streaming Video

Andrew Orr ·

Joshua Fruhlinger put together a great deep dive into Apple’s job hiring for positions involving streaming video for its service.

Apple job listings data tracked over time reveals hiring efforts to build out the company’s “Interactive Media Group” (IMG), which, based on job descriptions, is busy building out the base for the company’s upcoming streaming service. Apple is also busy hiring for its retail operations where it hopes to beat concerns that iPhone and hardware sales will continue to wane.

Rumors point to a mid-April launch for Apple’s streaming video service.

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Facebook Research Broke the Rules. Now it Faces the Consequences

Andrew Orr ·

Casey Newton wrote a defense of Facebook/attack of Apple, because of the Facebook Research app that got banned.

But for all the attention we’re paying to Facebook’s moves here, I hope we spare at least as much for Apple. If Tim Cook can wreak this much havoc on Facebook’s day, however justified, just imagine what power Apple holds over the rest of us.

That power is App Store rules, which Facebook willfully ignored. We should be glad that big companies have to follow the same rules as small companies. If you’re a Facebook employee unable to use internal apps, don’t be mad at Apple. Instead, be mad at your employer who was willing to throw it all away in order to take advantage of children.

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How Former U.S. Hackers Broke Into iPhones For UAE

Andrew Orr ·

A team of former U.S. hackers broke into iPhones for the United Arab Emirates. They used a spying tool called ‘Karma.’

Karma was used by an offensive cyber operations unit in Abu Dhabi comprised of Emirati security officials and former American intelligence operatives working as contractors for the UAE’s intelligence services. The existence of Karma and of the hacking unit, code named Project Raven, haven’t been previously reported.

Sounds like a powerful tool. They could remotely break into iPhones just by uploading phone numbers or email accounts into an automated system. It didn’t work on Android phones.

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It Doesn't Look Good for Qualcomm in Antitrust Trial

Andrew Orr ·

Qualcomm and the FTC have presented closing arguments in the antitrust trial, and it doesn’t sound good for Qualcomm.

The evidence is overwhelming that Qualcomm engaged in exclusionary conduct. The effects of Qualcomm’s conduct, when considered together, are anticompetitive.

It will be interesting to see if this case will finally close, or if Apple and Qualcomm will keep fighting like Apple and Samsung do.

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Silicon Valley Needs Abusability Testing

Andrew Orr ·

Andy Greenberg writes that security isn’t enough for Silicon Valley. Companies should also adopt abusability testing.

It’s time for Silicon Valley companies to take the potential for unintended, malicious use of a product as seriously as they take its security. From Russian disinformation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to YouTube extremism to drones grounding air traffic, Soltani argues that tech companies need to think not just in terms of protecting their own users, but what Soltani calls abusability: the possibility that users could exploit their tech to harm others, or the world.

In my cynical opinion, companies don’t care about whether their products could cause social harm. It’s all about money.

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Support for MFi Controllers Comes to Fortnite

Andrew Orr ·

Fortnite’s latest update adds support for MFi controllers, making it a bit easier to play. Another feature includes a chiller grenade.

Bluetooth controller support has arrived in mobile on supported devices! Drop in and earn a Victory in a whole new way.

I don’t play Fortnite but game controllers make it easier to play action games, instead of relying on touchscreen controls.

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GQ's History of Cool Examines White Apple Earbuds

Andrew Orr ·

Johnathon Heaf writes how Apple’s white earbuds changed the industry forever. It all started with the iPod.

The “silhouette campaign” ads, which I’m sure many of you remember more than the early hardware, focused on the white earbuds that came with each iPod – a design feature that Ive has since stated was pure serendipity.

When he first saw the ads, Steve Jobs was worried the iPod wasn’t visible enough. Yet they were popular because they were fun and emotive.

 

Oak Offers Simple, Guided Meditations
Cool Stuff Found

Oak Offers Simple, Guided Meditations

Andrew Orr ·

Oak helps the monkey-minded decompress by transforming meditation practices from experiments into habits. It supports you from your first session to your 500th, with mindful, loving-kindness, and sleep meditations as well as unguided sessions and breathing exercises. Individualize your guided meditations by duration, and customize with silence or calming background sounds. Oak tracks your progress and encourages you to continue building a healthy meditation practice. Plus, the app can integrate with the Health app, allowing you to track your meditative minutes over time. App Store: Oak – Free

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This Weird Trick Will Make Five Eyes Countries Hate You

Andrew Orr ·

Michael Grothaus argues that it’s the perfect time for Android iMessage thanks to Facebook’s plans to unify its messaging apps.

The iPhone maker’s messaging app is widely regarded as one of the best messaging apps ever, thanks to its clean, simple design, its ability to send and receive both encrypted iMessages and regular SMS text messages in the same interface, and its end-to-end encryption.

It’s not the first time this has been suggested, but I think Android iMessage would be great for users. We need an end-to-end encrypted messaging app from a company with a better track record than Facebook.

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Here's Why iPhone Assembly Doesn't Happen Here

Andrew Orr ·

Apple relies on China for a huge part of its manufacturing needs. But why can’t the company bring it back to the United States? Custom screws.

The challenges in Texas illustrate problems that Apple would face if it tried to move a significant amount of manufacturing out of China. Apple has found that no country — and certainly not the United States — can match China’s combination of scale, skills, infrastructure and cost.

Manufacturing and cheap labor are the reasons why Apple and other companies go to China. The GOP can talk about bringing jobs like that back, but it’s not an easy problem to solve.