Enter our new international giveaway for a chance to win the brand new iPhone 16 Pro.
The Inside Story of How Apple and Google Worked on Contact Tracing
CNBC has a report today on how a small team at Apple started developing ideas on how to help with the pandemic. It was codenamed Project Bubble.
In mid-March, with Covid-19 spreading to almost every country in the world, a small team at Apple started brainstorming how they could help […] Within a few weeks, the Apple project — code-named “Bubble” — had dozens of employees working on it with executive-level support from two sponsors: Craig Federighi, a senior vice president of software engineering, and Jeff Williams, the company’s chief operating officer and de-facto head of healthcare.
It’s a fascinating read.
Apple Maps Shows COVID-19 Testing Locations in US
Apple Maps now shows COVID-19 testing locations for users in the United States. This is part of a series of updates Apple made.
New iPhone SE Gets The Teardown Treatment
It has arrived. Having outlined which iPhone 8 parts go in the 2020 iPhone SE, iFixit has published its teardown of the new device.
The two most commonly replaced components, display and battery, remain straightforward to access with the proper knowledge and tools. Most components are modular and independently replaceable, including many that are cross-compatible with iPhone 8. IP67 seals complicate repair, but make the need for difficult liquid damage repairs less likely. While the overall construction is pretty repair-friendly, you’ll still need up to four different driver types for many repairs. The fragile glass back is impractical to replace.
UK Coronavirus Contact Tracing App Could be Rolled Out in Two-Three Weeks
The UK could begin rolling out its coronavirus tracing app widely in under a month, an official leading the development has told lawmakers
Apple Support 4.0 Update Adds Dark Mode, New User Interface
The Apple Support app was updated today with Dark Mode and a new, streamlined user interface. It‘s easier to find topics like Device Performance and Repairs & Physical Navigation, as well as support for services like Apple TV+. Release notes: All new customized user interface, including Dark Mode support; Get smarter solutions for even more topics using guided, step-by-step troubleshooting; It’s now easier to find support for all of your Apple services and subscriptions; New and improved chat and call experiences. App Store: Apple Support – Free
Todoist Introduces 'Upcoming View' to Give Users Clear Picture of Their Schedule
Todoist, the popular checklist and planning app, has made those tasks a little bit easier. On Tuesday, it rolled out a new ‘Upcoming View’ that gives users a clearer picture of what’s to come. The company explained all in a blog post and showed off the new feature in a video. The app is available through the App Store, with a premium subscription costing $3.99 a month or $35.99 for a year.
Zoom Security Tips – TMO Daily Observations 2020-04-28
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss newly everywhere meeting service Zoom, and how hosts and attendees can stay safe.
U-STREAM Home Streaming Studio with 10" Ring Light and Tripod: $49.99
We have a deal on Aduro’s U-STREAM Home Streaming Studio, a bundle of products designed to help you make the perfect in-home video. It includes a tripod with a 10-inch ring light with 3 distinct lighting options and a remote. The tripod is adjustable, and stands from 18-inches to 52-inches. And the included smartphone holder has a non-slip rubber grip to hold your phone securely in place. This kit is $49.99 through our deal.
Zoom: How to Host a Meeting Safely
300 million people a day use Zoom. You’re probably one of them. Here are some tips on how to host a meeting on it safely.
Australian Bank Westpac Adds Apple Pay Support
Westpac adds Apple Pay support, the last of the major Australian banks to do so. Rollout was scheduled for June 2020 but was fast tracked due to COVID-19.
macOS Image Capture Bug Fills Your Hard Drive With Empty Data
A macOS Image Capture bug was discovered on April 22 that can fill up your hard drive with empty data. It has been reported to Apple.
'Many' Apple Stores to Reopen, Company Retail Chief Tells Employees
Apple’s VP of retail and people Deirdre O’Brien has reportedly told employees that “many more” Apple Stores will reopen in May.
Former Apple Lawyer Gene Levoff Says Charges of Insider Trading are Unconstitutional
Former Apple lawyer Gene Levoff was accused in 2019 of insider trading, but his attorney says these charges are unconstitutional.
Examining the iPhone SE Single Lens Camera
The team behind camera app Halide have taken a look at how well the iPhone SE can take Portrait Mode photos with a single lens camera.
The new iPhone SE can’t use focus pixels, because its older sensor doesn’t have enough coverage. Instead, it generates depth entirely through machine learning. It’s easy to test this yourself: take a picture of another picture.
A good write up, and interesting that it can do this purely with software, while the iPhone XR still had some hardware basis for these types of photos.
NASA Aerospace Engineer Dr. Craig Hunter - TMO BGM Interview
Dr. Craig Hunter is an aerospace engineer at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia with research experience in experimental, theoretical, and computational fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and aeroacoustics. He has developed technology-enabling software tools and analysis methods for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, aerodynamic design, and jet noise prediction.
In 2008, Craig founded Hunter Research and Technology to create innovative and compelling apps for the fledgling Apple iPhone, namely Theodolite, Pro Compass and Nav Camera.
Craig is an expert pressing high-end Macs into service for scientific computations. We chatted about his Ph.D work, work at NASA in CFD and jet engine noise simulations, his recent computational review of a US$31,000 2019 Mac Pro, and his iOS app side-business and how that market has changed over the years. Heady stuff.
8 Year Old Finds iPhone Screen Time Workaround
An eight year old has found an iPhone Screen Time workaround, after her older brother noticed something odd (His post on Reddit has since been deleted).
It turns out she’d developed a pretty simple trick to keep browsing videos: just access YouTube through the iMessage App Store…For example, the Reddit post specifies that the eight-year-old in question was unable to access YouTube on the iPhone’s Safari app or even in the iMessage version of YouTube. The kid had to go to some lengths to figure out that she could access YouTube by searching for it in the iMessage App Store.
She’s a security researcher in the making.
Verizon Late Fees for Customers, Small Businesses Waived Until June 30
Verizon announced today that it won’t terminate service or charge late fees for customers through June 30.
Verizon today signed onto the FCC’s new “Keep Americans Connected” pledge. Verizon’s new customer commitment will help ensure connectivity and offer assistance to customers and small businesses facing challenges from the global crisis.
Good to know if you’re a Verizon customer.
UK Moves to Create Centralized Contact Tracing App
The National Health Service is building a contact tracing app using a different model than the one proposed by Apple and Google.
Power Your Apple Watch on-the-Go with this Pocket-Sized 950mAh Charger: $19.99
We have a deal on an Apple Watch wireless charger keychain, a 950mAh Apple Watch charger that fits in your pocket. The charger is itself recharged via microUSB, and you turn it on with a long (3-second) press of its power button. There are 4 LED lights to indicate its current charge. And, it’s $19.999 through our deal.
Apple Processors in Apple Computers – TMO Daily Observations 2020-04-27
John Martellaro and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the future of processors in the Mac, and why it matters who makes them.
Apple Search Ads Now Available in Russia
Apple announced today that Apple Search Ads are now available in Russia, with the ads going live on May 4.
Germany Agrees to Apple/Google Coronavirus Contact Tracing Approach
Along with other European countries, Germany is now backing Apple and Google’s approach to coronavirus contact tracing apps.
GDPR Hasn’t Been as Aggressive as Critics Would Like
Two years later, Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation has struggled with a lack of enforcement, not enough funding, limited staff resources, and stalling tactics by tech companies.
Privacy groups and smaller tech companies complain that companies like Facebook and Google are avoiding tough oversight. At the same time, the public’s experience with the G.D.P.R. has been a frustrating number of pop-up consent windows to click through when visiting a website.
I expected a lot more out of it as well. Sounds like the government needs to take it more seriously.
It's Good to Do The Math – Mac Geek Gab 812
USB Power Delivery isn’t as clear a concept as it could be, and your two favorite geeks help sort this out. That’s not all, of course, because John and Dave are here to answer ALL of your questions. This week that includes issues with Spotlight, Backups, displays for your Mac mini, managing your external DAC, and more. Press play … and enjoy!