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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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Encryption App ‘Cryptomator’ to Integrate With iOS Files

Andrew Orr ·

Cryptomator is my top recommendation for file encryption and it recently shared its late 2020 development roadmap.

What’s up with Cryptomator for iOS? For the last 6-7 months, we have been hard at work on a completely new app written in Swift.

What will be so special about the rewrite? Cryptomator will be fully integrated into the Files app. This comes with many benefits like thumbnails, support for third-party apps that can edit files directly inside the vault, and many more!

Great news. What I’ve also been hoping for is the ability to access Cryptomator vaults in external storage on iOS/iPadOS, like you can on the Mac.

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Facebook Responds to Apple’s Criticism of Data Monetization

Andrew Orr ·

On Thursday, Apple defended its iOS 14 anti-tracking feature in a letter to privacy groups like the EFF, criticizing data collection practices like those used by Facebook. Naturally, Facebook responded.

[Apple] are using their dominant market position to self-preference their own data collection while making it nearly impossible for their competitors to use the same data. They claim it’s about privacy, but it’s about profit.

Fortunately, of course it’s possible to be private and profitable simultaneously. Paid apps and services hopefully incentivize developers to monetize their talent, not our attention through tracking and ads.

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SiriusXM Enters Podcasting With Original, Exclusive Shows

Andrew Orr ·

SiriusXM announced on Thursday its entry into the podcast market, with original programming like “Marvel’s Wastelanders.”

Original podcasts from SiriusXM that chronicle sports’ greatest rivalries, comedy’s biggest legends, country stars’ humble beginnings, and gripping first-person tales from medicine’s front lines

Plus, influential podcasts from FOX News and popular podcasts from leading creators and providers including Stitcher, NBC News, CNN, NPR, ViacomCBS, The Wall Street Journal, HBO, Wondery, ESPN, Barstool, TNT, Joel Osteen Ministries, WNYC Studios, Slate, TED, Westwood One, PRX, and many more

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A Review of iPhone 12 Pro Max Photography

Andrew Orr ·

The developers behind camera app Halide examined the iPhone 12 Pro Max photography, as well as that of the iPhone 12 mini.

We had an advanced look at the Pro Max specs, but to recap, it has: A 47% larger sensor A faster ƒ/1.6 lens; A brand-new ‘sensor shift’ stabilization system for low-light; ISO sensitivity is 87% higher; A new telephoto lens, reaching a new length of 65mm (full-frame equivalent)

I’ve been under the impression that the iPhone 12 Pro also had the bigger sensor, but it sounds like it’s limited to the Pro Max. Now I’m sad.

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Pandora’s Holiday Music Enhanced with Modes and Stats

Andrew Orr ·

Pandora announced on Wednesday its holiday shows with seasonal Modes and a Soundboard Study.

Pandora has enhanced two of its most popular holiday stations, Holiday Hits and Christmas Radio. Both stations now feature Modes, a popular feature that allows you to customize your station listening experience based on a musical theme. Whether you want to tune into favorites from Christmas past or present, instrumentals or ensembles, covers or duets, Pandora has a Mode for every warm holiday feel.

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Credorax Adds Support for Apple Pay

Andrew Orr ·

Bank Credorax announced on Wednesday that it added support for Apple Pay to its payment method list.

Credorax reported that both methods may now be added to merchants’ accounts as payment options for their shoppers alongside the more than 150 global payment methods the platform offers.

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LAPD Bans Commercial Facial Recognition Technology

Andrew Orr ·

The Los Angeles police department has banned the use of commercial facial recognition like Clearview AI by its officers.

The LAPD, the third-largest police department in the United States, issued a moratorium on the use of third-party facial recognition software on Nov. 13, after it was told that documents seen by BuzzFeed News showed more than 25 LAPD employees had performed nearly 475 searches using Clearview AI as of earlier this year. Department officials have made conflicting statements in the past about their use of facial recognition technology, including claims that they deploy it sparingly.

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1Password 7.7 Supports Apple Watch Unlock, macOS Big Sur

Andrew Orr ·

1Password version 7.7 introduces support for macOS Big Sur and features like Apple Watch Unlock.

One of our most highly requested features, Apple Watch can now unlock 1Password on any Mac with a Secure Enclave. If you’re using macOS 10.15 or later and using the latest devices, you’ll now see an option in 1Password preferences to turn on Unlock with Apple Watch alongside the Touch ID option.

Keep All Your Mac Apps Updated With ‘MacUpdater’
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Keep All Your Mac Apps Updated With ‘MacUpdater’

Andrew Orr ·

MacUpdater is an app that automatically tracks the latest updates of all applications installed on your Mac. You can quickly see which apps are out of date and update them with a click. When you launch the app you’ll see a list of all your apps and the ones with updates will be highlighted in red. Its database has information about the newest versions of over 40,000 apps. MacUpdater’s privacy policy says you don’t need an account to use it, and it doesn’t collect or sell your data.