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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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Apple Exec Says Users Who Want ‘Sideloading’ Move to Android

Andrew Orr ·

Apple released a whitepaper [PDF] about the safety of the App Store, and the company’s head of user privacy, Erik Neuenschwander, spoke to Fast Company about it.

Without iOS, users wouldn’t have a mobile operating system platform they could choose from that is impossible to be targeted by malicious sideloading. In Apple’s view, in other words: Do you want the best privacy and security possible? Your choice is iOS. Do you want sideloading? Your choice is Android.

First, “if you want X move to Android” is a bad argument. I like Cory Doctorow’s text on the subject. Second, it’s not “sideloading” it’s downloading your software from the internet like desktop users have enjoyed for decades. Apple has smart people and I’m sure they can figure out a way to bring Gatekeeper to iOS.

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7,000 Crypto Mining Computers Seized in Iran

Andrew Orr ·

Police in Iran have recently seized 7,000 computers used as cryptocurrency miners, it’s biggest haul so far. These miners were located inside an abandoned factory.

In late May, Iran banned the mining of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for nearly four months as part of efforts to reduce the incidence of power blackouts blamed by officials on surging electricity demand during the searingly hot and dry summer.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, around 4.5% of all bitcoin mining takes place in Iran, giving it hundreds of million dollars in revenue from cryptocurrencies that can be used to lessen the impact of U.S. sanctions.

NetNewsWire Update Supports iCloud Sync, Twitter Feeds
Cool Stuff Found

NetNewsWire Update Supports iCloud Sync, Twitter Feeds

Andrew Orr ·

Open source RSS reader NetNewsWire released an update on Tuesday that adds features that may be welcome for users: Sync via iCloud, BazQux, Inoreader, NewsBlur, The Old Reader, and FreshRSS, Share extension, Widgets for Today, Unread, and Starred articles, Special support for Reddit and Twitter feeds. So far this has been my favorite RSS reader to use and I enjoyed moving from Feedly to iCloud.

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WWDC21 Shows How Apple is Building the Metaverse

Andrew Orr ·

I’m not sure who the author is behind Codevoid but they nicely pieced together Apple’s continuing work with AR and the metaverse. I had similar thoughts when I watched WWDC21 and I like the way this article connects the dots.

The AR metaverse aren’t about immersive, focused interactions. Ephemerality will underpin the experiences. Those experiences need to provide you with contextual information when & where you need it — either ambiently as you move about the world, or as part of a more intentional ‘tell me more’ interaction.

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Low GPU Prices in Europe Could Mean US is Next

Andrew Orr ·

GPU prices in Europe fallen as much as 50% after China ordered that cryptocurrency miners halt operations.

More budget-oriented cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT are seeing the most positive results, with a near 50% drop in price compared to last month. For flagship cards like the RTX 3080 and RX 6800 XT, however, prices haven’t moved as much.

In the United States, GPU pricing is slowly catching up to Europe, but it’s still going down nonetheless.

‘Meddify’ Pill Reminder Gives You Actionable Notifications
Cool Stuff Found

‘Meddify’ Pill Reminder Gives You Actionable Notifications

Andrew Orr ·

Meddify: Pill Reminder, developed by Oleksandr Bandyliuk is a brand new app to help people remember to take their pills. The developer said that the main feature of the app are Actionable Notifications and talked about privacy: “The key feature of the app is Actionable Notifications. Actionable Notifications allow marking the dose as taken or missed in one tap without launching the app. I care about Privacy. It means you don’t need to create an account to use the app. The app does not use servers to store your data. And I don’t have access to your data. All your data is stored only on your current device.”

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Photo Editor ‘Darkroom’ Adds Automated Workflows With Shortcuts

Andrew Orr ·

Darkroom announced on Monday that it added new shortcut actions to help automate your photo editing workflows.

You will be able to add a filter, set the filter intensity, inset on a frame, and now also crop to a preset and add your watermark to every photo or video processed. From there, you can save it out to a Files folder, upload to Instagram, you name it.

I should check out Darkroom again for this reason. And beg VSCO to add their own shortcut actions.

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Future Drones Could Hunt You By Your Screams

Andrew Orr ·

Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer FKIE institute are building first responder drones that could track people by their screams.

While it’s easy to imagine human-seeking drones in a sci-fi horror movie, Varela says the gadget would be ideal for post-disaster scenarios, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires. They could hover over an area that rescue crews have difficulty getting to and pinpoint where people may be trapped.

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22 New Actions Coming to Shortcuts in iOS 15

Andrew Orr ·

Matthew Cassinelli shared a post on his website sharing 22 new actions coming to shortcuts for iOS | iPadOS 15, and 21 Mac-only actions. The full post requires a subscription but he shared an image with details.

With the release of iOS 15 and the associated betas across Apple’s platforms, the Shortcuts app has received 2 automation types and 22 new actions that work across iPhone, iPad, and macOS as well as 21 Mac-only actions.

I think I’m most looking forward to Get Folder Contents, Rename File, Overlay Text, Extract Text From Image, and probably Get File From Folder.

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Colorado Becomes Third State to Pass Privacy Law

Andrew Orr ·

Lawmakers in Colorado passed the Colorado Privacy Act, and now Senate Bill 190 needs Governor Jared Polis’ signature.

Consumer advocates said the measure could have gone further to protect people. One change allows consumers to universally opt out of ad-based tracking instead of having to make that request for each website or company. But the act also lets advertising companies keep tracking consumers if they ask for consent first.

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This Man Warned Apple About China Years Ago

Andrew Orr ·

Apple hired Doug Guthrie in 2014 to help the company navigate China. But he warned executives of the growing power of Xi Jingping.

Apple, more than any other company, has been vulnerable to the government’s harder line. As a result, over the past several years, Apple has made compromises in China that undercut the values its executives have put at the center of its brand. To placate the authorities and keep its global business running, Apple has put its Chinese customers’ data at risk and aided the Chinese government’s vast censorship operation.