We finally have the winner of our iPhone 16 Pro international giveaway! Congratulations to Oliver T., and a huge thank you to everyone who participated.
Apple Updates AirPods Firmware to ‘3A283’
Apple is rolling out firmware updates to AirPods 2nd-gen and AirPods Pro. Both models are getting the same update, 3A283.
Apple Stifles Cryptocurrency Innovation, Says Coinbase CEO
According to one CEO, the lack of functionality in crypto apps is because of App Store guidelines that stifle cryptocurrency innovation.
This Camera Has 1080p Resolution, 2-Way Audio, Motion Detection, Companion App: $59.95
We have a deal on the Sinji Smart Outdoor Camera. It features 1080p resolution 2-way audio, motion-detection, a companion app, 128GB of on-board storage, and a cloud storage option. You can also remotely control this security camera with a user-friendly app and install it via your WiFi network or with an RJ45 Ethernet cable. It’s $59.95 through our deal.
There Are So Many VPN Apps. Which One Should You Choose?
With so many VPN apps on the market, which ones should you choose? Andrew has five VPN apps to share with his opinions.
Life in Clouds Around Venus? Scientists Now Think it's Possible
Could there be life… around Venus?! That’s a question being asked by some UK scientists, who found evidence of phosphine, a gas associated with life, around the planet’s atmosphere, BBC News reported.
On Earth, phosphine is associated with life, with microbes living in the guts of animals like penguins, or in oxygen-poor environments such as swamps. For sure, you can make it industrially, but there are no factories on Venus; and there are certainly no penguins. So why is this gas there, 50km up from the planet’s surface? Prof Jane Greaves, from Cardiff University, UK and colleagues are asking just this question.
They’ve published a paper in the journal Nature Astronomy detailing their observations of phosphine at Venus, as well as the investigations they’ve made to try to show this molecule could have a natural, non-biological origin. But for the moment, they’re stumped… Given everything we know about Venus and the conditions that exist there, no-one has yet been able to describe an abiotic pathway to phosphine, not in the quantities that have been detected. This means a life source deserves consideration.
What Does NVIDIA Buying Arm Mean For Apple?
NVIDIA’s purchase of Arm throws about a lot of interesting questions. One is what, if anything, does it mean for Apple. Gizomodo took a look.
Nvidia, however, is the least controversial processor company that could buy Arm. While it also licenses Arm technology, Nvidia’s main schtick is GPUs. There’s a reason you don’t really hear about Nvidia with regard to smartphones. In fact, the only real outside hardware using its mobile chipset Tegra is the Nintendo Switch and the Magic Leap headset, which let’s be real, doesn’t really count as a win. That said, should the deal go through, Nvidia buying Arm could mean a lot of major improvements to the Tegra chipset and could theoretically, be a good thing for Nintendo down the line.
The Journey Towards Apple Making a Carbon Neutral iPhone
GQ has taken a look at Apple’s green revolution in a new feature. It poses the question – will there be a carbon neutral iPhone?
When Cook unveils the iPhone 12 to an empty arena in Cupertino, California, in the next few weeks, it is therefore sure to be its most eco-friendly smartphone ever. If history is a guide, this will largely go unmentioned compared to the usual cocktail of redesigned hardware, customer satisfaction scores and perhaps “one more thing” to send the tech press into a tizz. Make no mistake, for a company that sold a reported $142 billion worth of iPhones last year, this is the work that we ought to be scrutinising most carefully right now… [Lisa Jackson] says that it wasn’t only the scale of the task that drew her to the job, but also the belief that Apple didn’t merely want to tick boxes. “During my interviews no one said, ‘What do we have to do to get in front of all these environmental rules and regulations?’” she recalls. “They said, ‘What can we do to lead the world to a better place?’ And that was really impressive to me. I didn’t run across that practically ever.’”
Oracle Overtakes Microsoft in Bid to Buy TikTok
Microsoft is officially out of the running to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations – a race that Oracle now appears to be leading.
NVIDIA to Purchase Arm in Record-Busting Deal
NVIDIA has come to an agreement to buy UK chip-designer ARM from Softbank in a transaction worth a total of $40 billion.
Apple Registers Various 'Apple One' Domains
Apple has registered a variety of domain names based on the phrase ‘Apple One’ ahead of its expected launch at the ‘Time Flies’ event.
Border Patrol Mistakenly Seized ‘Counterfeit’ AirPods
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 2,000 boxes of wireless earbuds that it referred to as “counterfeit AirPods.” But the photos show OnePlus Buds.
Google Aims to go Carbon-Free by 2030
Google has set itself an unprecedented target- to operate 24/7 on carbon-free energy by 2030, CEO Sundar Pichai has revealed.
Network Speed Dissection, Cool Stuff Found, and More — Mac Geek Gab 833
Having a solid connection to your network is only part of it. The other part? Speed! Dissecting the differences between these two — and teaching you how to do the same — are your two favorite geeks: John F. Braun and Dave Hamilton. Of course, that’s just one of the many things covered in this week’s episode. Lots more tips, questions answered, and Cool Stuff Found shared. Press play and learn those five new things, alright?
The Mac Web Today, Apple Event Speculation, with John Kheit - ACM 534
Bryan Chaffin and John Kheit take a look back at the Mac Web 20 years ago and discuss what’s different about today, including how coverage of Apple is different today. They also chew over expectations for Apple’s media event on September 15th.
Swift Playgrounds: Not Just for Kids Anymore…
Dr. Mac has gotten over his fear of coding with Swift Playgrounds on his Mac and iPad, and his biggest takeaway is that it’s not longer just for kids.
2-in-1 Motorized Slider and Monopod for Smartphones and Cameras: $429.99
We have a deal on the MOZA Slypod, a 2-in-1 motorized slider and monopod for iPhones and other smartphones, as well as cameras. Built with a carbon fiber body, it’s designed to be ultra-light and easy to carry. You can also program precise camera movements by adjusting camera travel distance, speed acceleration via the MOZA Master App. It runs up to 2 hours on its own battery, and can be charged by a power bank for continuous shooting. The image includes the monopod attached to an included table tripod.
China Would Rather TikTok Be Shut Down Than Sold
A report on Friday says that China would rather TikTok be shut down instead of being sold to a U.S. company.
However, Chinese officials believe a forced sale would make both ByteDance and China appear weak in the face of pressure from Washington, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation.
ByteDance said in a statement to Reuters that the Chinese government had never suggested to it that it should shut down TikTok in the United States or in any other markets.
Here’s what I think this means. China is all about the AI, and based on reports its algorithms seem to be more advanced than even invasive Facebook. China doesn’t want the U.S. to know just how more advanced it’s algorithms are. Read: China export ban of such technology.
Apple Changes Streaming Game Rules in New Rules
Apple has pushed updates to its App Store review guidelines regarding streaming game services, reader apps, and others.
Security Friday, State of the Beta – TMO Daily Observations 2020-09-11
Andrew Orr and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news and Andrew has an update on the State of the (iOS) Beta.
What Next for the TikTok Sale?
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he will not extend the deadline for the sale of TikTok. So what comes next? Reuters took a look.
If the deadline is not extended, then transactions with TikTok would be banned, although exactly which ones has not been specified. Reuters has reported the executive order could make advertising on the platform illegal and TikTok has been preparing advertisers for such an outcome. The U.S. is likely to ban TikTok from being downloaded from app stores, Reuters has also reported. However, it is unclear whether there are transactions that can be prohibited that will prevent existing users who have already downloaded TikTok from using it.
Apple Card May Expand Beyond U.S. in 2020
Apple Card may be moving beyond the U.S. Macrumors has information indicating the expansion could happen as early as this year.
A source claiming to be close to an unnamed Australian banking corporation involved in supporting Apple Card in Australia tells MacRumors that Apple Card will be launching in multiple new regions as soon as the end of this year. The tip speculated that the Australian release may coincide with the release of iOS 14.1 or iOS 14.2, but cautioned that it might not be ready until an iOS 14.3 release in early 2021. In addition, Apple has recently advertised for several new Apple Card Product Manager roles that involve travel and “working with external partners such as payment networks, bank issuers and other players.” In the U.S., Goldman Sachs is Apple Card’s only bank issuer. The job description may suggest that Apple is setting about negotiation with other issuers within the U.S., or more likely, issuers to support Apple Card in other regions around the world.
Hollywood Dealmaker Tim Connolly Joins Apple
Apple has hired ex-Disney, Hulu, and Quibi exec Tim Connolly as part of its TV division, seemingly in a bid to expand its reach in Hollywood.
Apple Watch 'SE' Could be Announced at Next Apple Event
Speculation continues that we could see a lower-cost Apple Watch ‘SE’ unveiled at the ‘Time Flies’ Apple Event.
Who Will Succeed Tim Cook, and Who Else is Climbing Apple's Corporate Ladder?
Succession planning is reportedly in place to get in line those who will takeover from Tim Cook and other top Apple execs.