The App Store Connect 1.5 update brings a new icon that uses design language from macOS Big Sur. It also lets developers set up internal TestFlight beta testing and more. Release Notes: Add up to 100 members of your team to test beta builds of your app; edit test details for beta builds, view build activity and status, and expire builds; answer required export compliance questions; remove internal testers.
A Birthday Present From Instagram - New Anti-Bullying Features
Tuesday was Instagram’s 10-year birthday. To mark the occasion, the Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform announced new anti-bullying features on its official blog.
In the last few days, we started testing a new feature that automatically hides comments similar to others that have been reported. We know from research that, while people don’t want to be exposed to negative comments, they want more transparency into the types of comments that are hidden. You can tap “View Hidden Comments” to see the comments. Comments that violate our Community Guidelines will continue to be automatically removed. We’re also expanding comment warning to include an additional warning when people repeatedly attempt to post potentially offensive comments. Since launching comment warning, we saw that reminding people of the consequences of bullying on Instagram and providing real-time feedback as they are writing the comment is the most effective way to shift behavior. These new warnings let people take a moment to step back and reflect on their words and lay out the potential consequences should they proceed. We just started testing this feature in select languages.
Here’s Why Apple Watch Series 6 Blood Oxygen Sensor Didn’t Need FDA Approval
The Apple Watch Series 6 added a blood oxygen sensor to measure the level of oxygen in your blood. But it’s meant for “wellness.”
Greg Joswiak Sends Teasing iPhone 12 Tweet. Guess What the Time Was...
Greg ‘Jos’ Joswiak, Apple’s newly in place SVP worldwide marketing, sent out a teasing tweet ahead of Apple’s ‘Hi, speed’ event on October 13.
James Bond's Future, 4K vs History – TMO Daily Observations 2020-10-07
John Martellaro and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the future of the latest Bond film, and a debate about upscaled history.
IRS Investigated for Location Data Usage Without Warrant
The IRS is being investigated for its use of location data collected from apps without obtaining warrants.
The IRS’ attempts were not successful though, as the people the IRS was looking for weren’t included in the particular Venntel data set, the aide added.
But the IRS still obtained this data without a warrant, and the legal justification for doing so remains unclear. The aide said that the IRS received verbal approval to use the data, but stopped responding to their office’s inquiries.
HomePod Mini, But Not Second Generation, on Way
Rumors picked up on by Cult of Mac indicate that a HomePod mini could be on the way at Apple’s October 13 event, a topic discussed on Tuesday’s Daily Observations podcast. However, the same source suggests we may have to wait a bit longer for the second generation of the full-size version.
L0vetodream made the claim Tuesday on Twitter after Apple issued invites to its October 13 “Hi, Speed” event. Apple likely will unveil its final new hardware products of the year at that time… Given that Apple hasn’t updated the HomePod since 2017, it seems to be on Cupertino’s back burner. Perhaps that’s because a lot of smart speaker functionality, outside playing music, can be done on other Apple devices. But many people could be keen to buy a cheaper HomePod. Apple could find success, essentially following the model laid out by the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE. HomePod SE, anyone?
Here Are All The Message Effects You Can Send on Apple Devices
Message effects have been around for some time, letting iPhone users send cool messages to each other. Here are all of them.
Natural History Series ‘Earthsound Coming to Apple TV+
Following hot on the heels of Tiny World, 12-part natural history series Earthsound is heading to Apple TV+.
Russian Copyright Law Targets Apple With a Lawsuit
A Russian copyright designed to force companies like Apple and Google to remove apps related to privacy is being tested by music labels.
MacBook Pro SuitCase from Twelve South
Accessories-maker Twelve South has released a SuitCase for the MacBook. This rather stylish case has a thermoformed hardshell case covered by a quilted, textile exterior and a leather handle. It has room for paperwork and cables, so you can just have one bag if all you need is your laptop. The SuitCase fits a 13-inch MacBook Pro or Air ($69.99) and a 16-inch Pro ($79.99).
iPhone Health Records Available in Canada, UK
Over 500 institutions in the U.S. support iPhone Health Records and customers in Canada and the U.K. can now make use of this feature, too.
Brydge and Otter Partner on Mobile Accessories
Brydge has partnered with Otter Products to combine their expertise of creating high quality Apple products in a new venture.
Speaker Speculation and 5G School – TMO Daily Observations 2020-10-06
Bryan Chaffin and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple speakers and 5G, and how it all ties into the coming Apple Event.
Apple Orders Fashion Documentary ‘The Supermodels’
Apple has ordered documentary series “The Supermodels” with interviews from Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington.
Set a Reminder for Apple's iPhone 12 Event
Apple has revealed that an event, expected to be an announcement of the iPhone 12, will take place on October 13. To make sure you don’t miss anything, obviously, keep it here on The Mac Observer. However, you can also set a reminder for the event on Apple’s YouTube channel by heading to the video and tapping ‘Set Reminder’ button.
CleverFiles Releases Disk Drill 4 Mac Data Recovery Software
CleverFiles released Disk Drill 4 on Tuesday, which Andrew will be reviewing in the next few weeks. It’s data recovery software
Apple Announces Date of iPhone 12 Event - 'Hi, Speed'
Apple (finally) announced the date of what is expected to be the launch event for the iPhone 12 – it will take place on October 13.
Apple Watch SE Review - High-Quality, Fitness-Focused Wearable For a Hard to Ignore Price
There will always be excitement towards the top end products, but the lower-cost Apple Watch SE feels far from a compromise.
More Details on the Mac T2 Security Chip Jailbreak
Catalin Cimpanu shares more details of the T2 chip jailbreak I wrote about last week.
The attack requires combining two other exploits that were initially designed for jailbreaking iOS devices — namely Checkm8 and Blackbird. This works because of some shared hardware and software features between T2 chips and iPhones and their underlying hardware.
Unfortunately, since this is a hardware-related issue, all T2 chips are to be considered unpatchable. The only way users can deal with the aftermath of an attack is to reinstall BridgeOS, the operating system that runs on T2 chips.
Apple Stops Selling Earphones and Speakers From Rivals Ahead of Expected New Product Launches
Apple has stopped selling earphones and speakers from third-parties that rival its own, ahead of the expected launch of new audio products.
Best Selling Science Writer Steve Silberman - BGM Interview
Steve Silberman is an award-winning science writer, award-winning book author, public speaker, TED talk speaker, sometime record album producer, and a life-long Mac user. His writing on science, culture, and literature has been collected in a number of major anthologies including The Best American Science Writing of the Year and The Best Business Stories of the Year.
Early in his life, Steve fell in love with science fiction, especially the works of Ray Bradbury. Later, he studied under poet Allen Ginsberg and learned about both effective research and the power of language. We chatted about his early writing at Wired and The Well, and that led him to discover the deeper story of autism. The result was a major, influential article at Wired, then his important, award-winning book NeuroTribes .
John McAfee Arrested for Tax Evasion
John McAfee, founder of the McAfee antivirus company, has been arrested in Spain, facing extradition to the U.S. over tax evasion and fraud.
The DOJ’s charges against McAfee are a bit dry but detail 10 counts against the entrepreneur. McAfee faced 5 counts of tax evasion, which each carry a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, as well as 5 counts of “willful failure to file a tax return,” each carrying a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison.
And here I thought he was already in prison.
'The Morning Show' Restarting Filming Season Two, Steve Carell is Back
The Morning Show season two is slated to restart filming on October 19, and Steve Carell looks set to return.