Our holiday giveaway has officially come to an end, and we’re so excited to share the results! Congratulations to Antoni N.!
Review: The Roborock S6 MaxV Can Vacuum and Mop
Roborock sent Andrew the Roborock S6 MaxV which is a vacuum and mop combined. He shares his thoughts in his review.
Chargeworx Motion-Activated Wireless Charging Car Mount: $39.99
We have a deal on the Chargeworx Motion-Activated Wireless Charging Car Mount. This car mount attaches to your air vent, dashboard, or windshield, and has a built-in Qi wirelesss charger. It also comes with a built-in infrared motion sensor so you can attach or remove your phone with one hand. This car mount is $39.99 through our deal.
Uber Pledges to be Zero-Emission's Platform by 2040
Uber has pledged to become a zero-emissions platform by 2040. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi made the announcement in a blog post on Tuesday.
Instead of going back to business as usual, Uber is taking this moment as an opportunity to reduce our environmental impact. It’s our responsibility as the largest mobility platform in the world to more aggressively tackle the challenge of climate change. We want to do our part to build back better and drive a green recovery in our cities. While we’ve taken some important steps in recent years, from expanding micromobility options to offering public transit in the Uber app, we know we’ve got a long way to go. That’s why we’re working with the World Resources Institute, Transport & Environment (T&E), and others to become a stronger partner in the fight against climate change by leveraging our innovation, technology, and talent to expedite the global transition to clean energy. Uber is committing to become a fully zero-emission platform by 2040, with 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit, or with micromobility.
A First Look at 'The Last Campfire' on Apple Arcade
On Friday, Apple published a fairly in-depth look at the Apple Arcade game In The Last Campfire. Players take on the character of ember, who is trapped in a dark fantasy adventure. By completing a variety of tactile puzzles, players uncover a way home and restore hope to friends.
"Time Flies" Apple Event Speculation – TMO Daily Observations 2020-09-08
John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s “Time Flies” event announcement and what could be unveiled.
Smart Home Open Standard From Apple, Amazon, Google Alliance Set For 2021 Release
An open standard for smart home tech is set for release in 2021, according to a consortium that includes Apple, Google, and Amazon.
Reboot Your iPhone Weekly as a Security Measure
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has a tip for iPhone owners: Reboot it at least once a week as a security measure.
Not only does this clean the systems RAM and get it ready to do more work, it also helps protect against remote exploits by making it harder for hackers to keep control of your iPhone — hacks don’t survive reboots.
A good, practical, and easy tip for Apple users.
Apple Reveals iPhone Event on September 15
Apple has officially revealed an event on September 15, 2020 at 10AM PDT for a new iPhone, Apple Watch, and possibly more.
Apple Releases Oprah’s Book Club Podcast
Apple TV+ series “Oprah’s Book Club” has expanded into a podcast. It’s an eight-part series examining a book by Isabel Wilkerson.
Rumors Are Circulating About an Apple Event Announcement... or a Product Announcement... or....
After the Labor Day weekend, Apple rumors have returned with a bang – from new products to a potential iPhone 12 event.
Apple Releases First Look of ‘Wolfwalkers’ on Apple TV+
Apple has shared a first look trailer for “Wolfwalkers” an animated film co-directed by Tomm Moore and Toss Stewart. “In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.”
Italy Cloud Storage Probe Examines, Apple, Dropbox, Google
Italy’s Competition and Market Authority is opening a competition probe into cloud storage services run by Apple, Dropbox, and Google.
Apple Marina Bay Sands Opening Thursday
Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, the first Apple Store directly on water is to open on Thursday morning.
Packing Your Geeky Go Bag — Mac Geek Gab 832
What’s in your Geeky Go Bag? Whether you’re heading to work remotely, or take a plane trip, or head to the hospital, or just work outside at a coffee shop, what do you bring with you? John and Dave talk through their thought-processes here as they assemble their own Go Bags, helping you to make sure you have yours together. That’s not nearly the tip of the iceberg, though. This episode is chock full of your questions answered, tips shared, and Cool Stuff Found. Press play and learn at least five new things together with the rest of the Mac Geek Gab family!
From Everyone at TMO, Happy Labor Day!
It’s Labor Day in the U.S., and The Mac Observer will be taking the day off for some socially-distanced fun. And of course, we hope that you are, too. So mask up, stay distanced, and we’ll resume our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday, September 8th. Enjoy the holiday!
Prison Phone Service ‘Telmate’ Leaks Data of Inmates
Telmate, owned by Global Tel Link, makes an app for prisoners to send messages and calls to friends and family. It exposed a database of private messages, call logs, and personal information numbers in the tens of millions. Why? The database wasn’t secured with a password.
Comparitech security researcher Bob Diachenko on August 13, 2020 discovered the unsecured database and immediately reported it to Global Tel Link, the company that owns and operates Telmate. The company, to its credit, responded within two hours and secured the database an hour later, but it’s possible that other unauthorized parties accessed it prior to Diachenko’s disclosure.
This Tiny Pod Has Auto Tracking, 360 Degree Rotation, 9 Quick Create Modes, More: $109.99
We have a deal on the Pivo Pod, a device that will rotate your iPhone for getting panoramic shots, time-lapse shots, automated movements, and more. You control it through an app that also serves as a camera app. Pivo Pod is $109.99 through our deal.
Apple Seeds iOS 14 Public Beta 7 for Testers
A day after releasing it for developers, Apple has seeded iOS 14 public beta 7 for iPhone and iPad users.
Security Friday News, iOS 14 Privacy – TMO Daily Observations 2020-09-04
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news, and what privacy will look like in iOS 14.
'Mulan' Now Available on Disney+ Premier Access
The live-action remake of Mulan is now available on Disney+ via Premium Access. Subscribers have to pay $29.99, or else wait until December 4. It is also available to buy on other platforms, including Apple TV.
Broadcom Seems to Confirm iPhone 12 Release in October
Broadcom said its annual increase in shipments is expected to be later than usual, seemingly confirming a delay to the iPhone 12.
Former Apple Employee Jon Callas Joins EFF as Technology Projects Director
Jon Callas, formerly of Apple, PGP Corp, Blackphone, and Silent Circle, has joined the EFF as its Technology Projects Director.
Apple Publishes Human Rights Policy in Response to Shareholders
Apple has published a human rights policy in response to a campaign from SumOfUs, an international consumer group and an Apple shareholder.
Why a Second Screen For Your iPhone is Useful
It’s long been possible to connect your iPhone to second screen But do you really want another display for your phone? Ed Hardy at Cult of Mac thinks doing so has lots of uses, particularly when it comes to streaming.
Once your handset and the larger display are connected, you can watch the video from many streaming services. I’ve tested it with Apple TV+, Disney+, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access and YouTube — it works perfectly. According to the internet, Netflix and Hulu work, too. But not Xfinity Stream. That said, there are limitations. Apple’s adapter has an HDMI 1.4 port — it can handle 1080p video but not 4K. However, not all streaming services offer 4K, so you might not be losing anything. Also, you’re not watching a movie while scrolling through Instagram. Your iPhone will be fully occupied. But still, if you’re looking for a way to watch movies or shows on a full-size TV, you don’t need to buy a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, etc. All you need is your iPhone and Apple’s HDMI adapter.