macOS Catalina 10.15.6 is out and introduces local news into the Today feed of Apple News for users in certain areas in the U.S.
‘Apple News Today’ Now Available in Apple Podcasts
Announced with the release of iOS 13.6 on Wednesday, the Apple News Today podcast gives people a guide to the most fascinating stories in news, and how the world’s top journalists are covering the stories. There will be a new episode every day, Monday through Friday. There are two episodes so far coming in at eight and nine minutes, so these are perfect bite-sized pods for your morning commute (do we still have those?)
iOS 13.6 Brings Car Key, Apple News Audio, and Other Improvements
Apple released updates to its operating systems today, including iOS and iPadOS 13.6. Here are the features it gives customers.
Big Twitter Accounts Like Apple, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Were Hacked
Major Twitter accounts were hacked today, reports Kevin Truong. Accounts like Apple, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Uber, and others were the victim of a hacking campaign that involved bitcoin.
Events kicked off when the Twitter accounts for major cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase, Gemini, and Binance, among others, all put out tweets minutes apart stating they had partnered up with an organization called CryptoForHealth and that they would be “giving back 5000 BTC to the community.” The tweets all included a link to a site that has been tagged by Google and Cloudflare as a phishing site […]
Most of the tweets have been removed already. Apple’s Twitter account appears to be entirely wiped of tweets.
A fascinating hack that clearly took advantage of Twitter vulnerabilities. But I’d also like to point out that Apple has never actually tweeted, so there wasn’t much to wipe.
Two-time BGM Guest, Astrophysicist Dr. Andrew Friedman, Dies at 41
A two-time, very popular guest on the Mac Observer’s Background Mode podcast, astrophysicist Dr. Andrew Friedman, has passed away.
Justin Timberlake Movie ‘Palmer’ Coming to Apple TV+
Apple has added ‘Palmer’, starring Justin Timberlake, to its collection of original films airing on Apple TV+.
REC App, Apple News Audio – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-14
Andrew Orr joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss the new video app REC, and Apple’s addition of a new podcast and audio stories in News.
Apple Pay Coming to LA Metro TAP Transit Cards
The LA Metro said that TAP transit cards will work with Apple Pay later this year, MacRumors reports. The facility had been scheduled to roll out late last year.
The LA Metro said last year that it was working with Apple to add mobile payment support for iPhones by the end of 2019, but the rollout didn’t end up happening and work on the transition continues. In a tweet today, the LA Metro said that iPhone and Apple Watch support for TAP cards will be coming sometime in 2020. Los Angeles has been working to overhaul its TAP system, introducing upgraded fare boxes with real-time data about fares purchased online and developing a new TAP mobile app that allows for payments and TAP account management.
Case Maker Totallee Runs Sale for FREE Cases
Totallee is offering smartphone users a big sale for certain cases using a special code at checkout that expires July 20, 2020.
Audio News Launches for Apple News+ and Apple Podcasts
iOS 13.6 was released today and one update included is audio news versions of written stories narrated by professional voice actors.
Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Screen Protector: $29.99
We have a deal on Ocushield, an anti-blue light screen protector. It filters blue light coming from your iPhone (a couple of Android devices are supported, too). It’s made from tempered glass with a scratch-resistant oleophobic coating, and it’s $29.99 through our deal.
Peacock App on iPhone, iPad, And Apple TV
The app for NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The service has various tiers and features a catalogue of NBCUniversal content. However, there are currently issues with making apps available on Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV.
'Greyhound' Generates Largest Ever Opening-Weekend on Apple TV+
Tom Hanks film ‘Greyhound’ generated the biggest opening-weekend release on Apple TV+ and also brought in a host of new sign-ups.
Apple Wins Latest Round of EU Court Battle Over Irish Tax Bill
Apple has won the latest round of its landmark tax case against the EU, overturning a $14.9 billion bill that the Commission claimed it owed.
Congressman Wants Apple to Increase Security Over Foreign-Linked Apps
Rep. Stephen Lynch, chairman of the House subcommittee on national security, sent separate letters to Apple and Google, wanting assurances these companies could warn users about apps with foreign ties.
At a minimum, Apple and Google should take steps to ensure that users are aware of the potential privacy and national security risks of sharing sensitive information with applications that store data in countries adversarial to the United States, or whose developers are subsidiaries of foreign companies.
Apple can only do so much. They probably can’t check the source code of every app to see if it contains Chinese spying code. And what about U.S. spying code?
Verizon to Announce Apple News+ Offer
Verizon and Apple are set to offer Apple News+ free for six new months on any iPad activated through the network.
App Store Developers Get More Protection Under New EU Regulations
The EU passed new rights for developers on Sunday. GamesIndustry.biz explained how it will offer App Store developers greater protection.
The scope of the regulation is limited to platforms that allow developers and publishers to offer their games to players, where the platform facilitates direct transactions between developers and publishers and the players. Console manufacturers’ online stores do not, therefore, identify themselves as marketplaces like Apple’s App Store or Google Play, which clearly fall under the new regulation. Instead, they regard themselves as digital retail stores that enter into direct transactional relations with players, and do not fall under the new regulation as “online intermediation services” that facilitate the initiating of direct transactions between developers/publishers and players.
iOS Public Betas, Breaking up with Chrome – TMO Daily Observations 2020-07-14
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss the iOS public beta release, and how Joanna Sterns inspired Charlotte to retry Safari.
iOS 14: All The Devices on Which the New iPhone Operating System Will Work
iOS 14 will work on iPhones from the iPhone 6s onwards and the 7th generation of the iPod touch and the public beta is now available.
Apple Urging Retail Staff to Work From Home, Full Office Return Unlikely This Year
Apple is encouraging retail staff to work from home to support customers, as stores have been forced to reclose due to COVID-19 spikes.
Huawei Kit to be Removed From UK 5G Network
Huawei kit is to be removed from the UK’s 5G network by 2027, the UK government announced, with new purchases banned from December 30, 2020.
'Greyhound' Cast Explains Battle of The Atlantic
In a video released over the weekend, Greyhound screenwriter and star Tom Hanks is joined by cast members to further explain the Battle of the Atlantic and how it was represented in the movie. They reflect on the strain that was placed on the crew and its commander, depicted by Mr. Hanks.
Breaking up With Chrome is Hard, But Right, to do
Tests prove that Safari outperforms Google Chrome on a Mac. Because of that and the extra privacy, Charlotte is going to give it another try.
Apple Uploads ‘Ted Lasso’ Trailer Starring Jason Sudeikis
Apple has posted a trailer for “Ted Lasso”, a comedy series starring Jason Sudeikis. Ted Lasso is a small-time college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer.
In addition to starring, Sudeikis serves as executive producer, alongside Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs”) via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Content. Doozer’s Jeff Ingold also serves as an executive producer with Liza Katzer as co-executive producer. The series was developed by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt, and is based on the pre-existing format and characters from NBC Sports.