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Charlotte Henry

Charlotte is a media junkie, covering how Apple is not just a revolutionary tech firm, but a revolutionary media firm for TMO. She is based in London, and writes and broadcasts for various outlets.

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‘Ted Lasso’ Stars and Writers Set for Big Pay Day From New Contracts

The stars and writers of Ted Lasso have scored a big day as a result of the Apple TV+ comedy becoming a bonafide hit. Those involved in the contract negotiations for season three include Jason Sudeikis (pictured above, left, with Brendan Hunt), as well as executive producer Bill Lawrence.

Sources say negotiations have been ongoing for the past month or so with central cast members including Emmy nominees Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca), Goldstein, Juno Temple (Keeley) and Hunt, who all scored raises that take them from the $50,000-$75,000 range they earned per episode for seasons one and two to the $125,000-$150,000 territory. Sources say Waddingham, Temple and Goldstein have already closed rich new deals for season three, joining Sudeikis. Goldstein also negotiated a second payday for his role as writer and exec producer on the series, with Hunt doing the same…Other actor deals are also expected to close in the coming weeks as Warners and Apple solidify a new licensing deal, with the latter taking on added costs of the show. As for Lawrence, the prolific writer-producer (Scrubs, Cougar Town, Spin City), is seeking a rich new deal that could admit him into the increasingly crowded nine-figure club other prolific showrunners like Shonda Rhimes, Greg Berlanti and Alex Kurtzman.

Investor Tells Tim Cook - 'The Time Has Come to Change Apple’s Approach' to Antitrust

One prominent tech investor has written to CEO Tim Cook urging the company to rethink its approach to antitrust cases and regulators. Roger McNamee had his letter published by Time.

Unless Apple rethinks its approach, regulators will likely have no choice but to undermine its advantage in privacy and security. As a customer, that will piss me off. As an activist trying to reform the tech industry, it will leave me wondering what might have been. I would like to suggest a path to a better outcome. Apple is no longer the plucky upstart it was when Steve Jobs returned two decades ago. The company has a market value bigger than the GDP of all but eight countries in the world. In the trailing four quarters, your firm enjoyed a tax rate of about 14%, which has attracted the attention of Senator Warren, among others, who believe it is too low. Apple has huge economic power, which it uses for competitive advantage. Some of the victims of that economic power are fighting back, not unreasonably, and Apple’s brand with policy makers has taken a beating. The company’s reaction? One of surprise and resentment, which is not working. The time has come to change Apple’s approach.

Major Apple Maps Update Rolling Out in Italy

A major update to Apple Maps is being rolled out in Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, and Andorra. It includes a host of new data and features users in other countries have enjoyed for a while, MacStories reported.

In one update, the entire region is gaining features that were released elsewhere over the past two years, including: Look Around, More detailed road coverage, pedestrian data, and land cover, Improved navigation, 3D buildings. Siri Natural Language Guidance. Speed camera data. Lane guidance, and more… When iOS 15 is released, transit stations in Italy will be easier to find, and riders will be able to pin their favorite transit lines in Maps and track when they should disembark on an iPhone or Apple Watch. Drivers will gain the ability to report accidents, hazards, and speed checks using Siri too.

CarPlay Support Coming to Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is getting CarPlay Support, the company announced in a blog post about hybrid working, released Thursday. Thankfully the meeting service will be audio-only for participants on the road.

Flexibility comes from knowing that no matter where you work from, you are connected to your colleagues and work. The latest innovations in Teams bring your favorite applications and experiences together to help you remain efficient, focused, and connected in hybrid work. With Apple Car Play coming to Microsoft Teams this month, you can now join Teams meetings and make calls hands-free on the road using Siri.

The 'Roy Is Sorry for Not Understanding Keeley Playlist' From 'Ted Lasso' is on Apple Music

In episode seven of Ted Lasso season two, Keely needs a little bit of space from Roy, something the former footballer initially fails to understand. However, when the issue dawns on him, he tries to make it up to his girlfriend by leaving her alone in the bath with a specially curated playlist. But what’s on it? Well, we now know, as it’s available on Apple Music! The ‘Roy Is Sorry for Not Understanding Keeley’ starts with ‘By Your Side’ by Sade, and ‘Morning’ by Beck, with much in between.

What Might be Next For Apple's CSAM Proposals?

Apple’s proposals to tackle Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) have, you may have noticed, attracted some controversy. With the rollout of new features now delayed,  Wired had a look a at what might come next.

It’s unlikely the company can win over or please everyone with what follows – and the fallout from its plans have created an almighty mess. The technical complexities of Apple’s proposals have reduced some public discussions to blunt, for-or-against statements and explosive language has, in some instances, polarised the debate. The fallout comes as the European Commission prepares child protection legislation that could make it mandatory for technology companies to scan for CSAM. “The move [for Apple] to do some kind of content review was long overdue,” says Victoria Baines, a cybersecurity expert who has worked at both Facebook and Europol on child safety investigations. Technology companies are required by US law to report any CSAM they find online to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a US non-profit child safety organisation but Apple has historically lagged behind its competitors.