In addition to being completely open source and transparent, this device includes hardware kill switches for camera, microphone, WiFi/Bluetooth and cellular baseband modem.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
TREBLAB Z2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones: $78.99
We have a deal on a pair of TREBLAB Z2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones. They use Bluetooth 4.2, and have a battery life up to 35 hours, with a charge time of 3-4 hours. It also comes with a carrying case. You can get a pair through our deal for $78.99.
Apple Seeds macOS Mojave Developer Beta 10
Apple is most likely nearing the end of the developer beta process, though Mojave does typically have more time to bake than iOS.
This Voice Search Infographic Is Chock Full of History of Data
Check out this infographic from SEOTribunal.com on voice search that traces the history of the concept of voice search, and also has lots of stats on how people are using voice search today.
Apple Advertises for AR Jobs that May Involve Maps
Apple has six recent job postings for Augmented Reality (AR) positions, and they could be for a Maps-related project.
Turn Your iPhone or iPad into a Microscope: $101.99
Check out today’s deal of the day, the uHandy Duet kit that turns your iPhone or iPad (or Android device) into a microscope. It comes with two lenses, a battery-powered Hi-Mag Lens with a magnification of 30x-200x on 5″ cellphones and 60x-360x on 7.9″ tablets. The Lo-Mag Lens doesn’t need a battery and has magnification of 10x-60x on 5″ cellphones and 20x-120x on 7.9″ tablets. This is the sort of thing I’d write up as a Cool Stuff Found if we didn’t have a deal. The deal listing has all the tech specs, and it’s $119.99 through us—but if you use coupon code “LABORDAY15” (no quotes), you get 15% off, for a price of $101.99.
How to: Fix Apple TV Refusing to Play Sound through HomePod
Bryan Chaffin shows you how to fix Apple TV refusing to play sound through HomePod.
Nix Mini Color Sensor: $58.65 with Labor Day Coupon Code
We have a deal on the Nix Mini Color Sensor. This device senses color so you can match it to one of 31,000 brand name paint colors. If you’re looking for digital color matching, it will also give you the RGB, HEX, CMYK, and LAB colors. The Nix Mini Color Sensor is $69 through us, but if you use “LABORDAY15” (without the quotes) at checkout, you’ll save 15%. That brings it down to $58.65. Cool, yeah?
Happy Labor Day, from TMO!
In observance of Labor Day, a U.S. holiday, The Mac Observer will be taking the day off for a little outdoor fun with friends and family, and we hope you are, too. We’ll resume our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday, September 4th. Enjoy the holiday!
Apple Launches an iPhone 8 Logic Board Replacement Program
The replacement program affects specific models produced between September 2017 and March 2018, and includes free repair and logic board replacement.
Apple Seeds watchOS 5 Developer Beta 10
Apple seeded watchOS 5 Developer Beta 10 for Apple Watch to developers on Friday, making this a two-developer beta release week.
tvOS 12 Developer Beta 10 Available for Apple TV, Apple TV 4K
Along with iOS 12 developer beta 12 and watchOS 5 developer beta 10, Apple released tvOS 12 Developer Beta 10 on Friday.
Apple Fixes 'New iOS Update' Bug with iOS 12 Developer Beta 12 and Public Beta 10
The updates appear to fix an alert bug spamming the notification that there was a “New iOS Update.” Beta testers began experiencing that issue on Thursday.
Check out this Tablet/Phone that Rolls Up Like Scroll
Let me state right up front that this thing is useless, a bad idea in search of a problem. I don’t care, because it’s also super cool and a herald of some crazy cool stuff yet to call. That out of the way, here’s the Magicscroll (via TechCrunch), a research product from scientists at Canada’s Queen’s University Human Media Lab. It’s part smart-ish phone, part tablet, and part wonky, because it rolls into a cylinder, thanks to a 7.5” 2K resolution flexible display. Watch the video, and you can see how they use the ends to navigate and unroll the screen to use it as a tablet. Ish. Here’s why I’m excited about it: it’s that rolled up display. While “displays” are eventually headed towards holographic projectors (I’m telling you now), an intermediary step is going to be displays that roll up into tight little cylinders we can take with us. Again, I’m telling yo now. The Magicscroll is an early step towards much more useful iterations, and you have to start somewhere. Also, I love to see anyone trying to think about different ways to do things, even if those ways seem absurd. You know, like this one. So, check it out!
Syncwire UNBREAKcable MFi-Certified Lightning Cable: $10.99
Check out the Syncwire UNBREAKcable, an MFi-Certified Lightning cable bend-tested for 30,000 charging cycles. It features a TPE jacket exterior and tinplate-wrapped inner wires. And it’s $10.99 through our deal.
BeeLine Reader Lifetime Subscription: $29.99
We have an interesting deal for you on BeeLine Reader, a speed reading tool that works on Chrome or Firefox on your Mac or PC. According to the company, “this speed reading tool applies an eye-guiding color gradient to your text, with the color at the end of one line matching perfectly with the beginning of the next.” The deal is for a lifetime license good on one browser for $29.99. If you choose the 5-browser version ($39.99), the company will donate five licenses to low-income students.
Apple Will Livestream 'Gather Round' iPhone Media Event
The company set up a special webpage just for the event, and even included a handy-dandy link for adding it to your Calendar.
Apple Asks Journos to 'Gather Round' for Media Event on September 12th
The invite is titled “Gather Round,” seemingly a reference to the Steve Jobs Theater in the circular Apple Park, and the company is expected to announce new iPhone models.
Jane Krakowski Joins Hailee Steinfeld for Apple's Show about Emily Dickinson
The title role will be played by Hailee Steinfeld, with Jane Krakowski playing her mother, Mrs. Dickinson.
Killing the Lighting Port, Buying into Apple Watch Series 4 - ACM 477
What would it take for Apple to ditch the Lightning port on iPhones? Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet explore the possibilities, and Bryan ends up convincing himself to buy Apple’s not-shipping-yet AirPower charging pad. They also ask themselves what it would take for them to want Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone Xs, new iPad Pros, and new MacBooks. Their conclusion? It’s going to be an expensive fall.
Adjustable Laptop Stand for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro: $32.99
We have a deal on an adjustable laptop stand for your MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. But hey, it’s adjustable, so you could put a Chromebook or Windows laptop in it, too, if that’s your jam. We’re not judging*. It’s $32.99 through us.
*Yes we are.
Apple Releases macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Supplemental Update 2 for MacBook Pro (2018)
The update is specifically for MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2018) models, and is being labeled by Apple as a “stability and reliability” update.
uTalk Language Education Lifetime Subscription (Choose 6 Languages): $29.99
We have a deal on uTalk, language education software designed to teach you real, practical vocabulary that you can use in real-world situations. You can access your account from a variety of devices, and our deal lets you choose up to six different languages. A lifetime license is $29.99 through us.
Spectre Drone with HD Camera - Price Drop to $69
We have a deal on the Spectre Drone with a built-in HD camera. This device features a 6-axis gyro and can do 360 degree flips. It also has built-in LED lights for night flying. It comes with a hardware controller, and you can view the HD video through your iPhone. The price has dropped to $69, too.