Enter our new international giveaway for a chance to win the brand new iPhone 16 Pro.
TikTok Censors Posts by People it Deems Ugly or Poor
Chinese app TikTok told its moderators to censor posts from users deemed too ugly, poor, or disabled.
…according to internal documents obtained by The Intercept. These same documents show moderators were also told to censor political speech in TikTok livestreams, punishing those who harmed “national honor” or broadcast streams about “state organs such as police” with bans from the platform.
Apple Dominates Greatest Designs of Modern Times List
Apple featuress heavily a new 100 greatest designs of modern times list recently released by Fortune. The iPhone came out on top, with the Mac and iPod also in the top 10.
With regards to No. 1 on our list, Apple’s iPhone, respondents did not speak so much to its physical design—as handsome as its various iterations have been—but to the way in which the device has transformed human communication and nearly every aspect of how we live. “Not only an instant way to be constantly connected,” said Kathleen Brandenburg of design consultancy IA Collaborative, of the device, “but a flexible, ever-evolving design that becomes whatever each user wants it to be.”
Apple Extends Device Return Period Over Store Closures
Apple published an FAQ that answers questions customers may have after Apple closed all retail stores due to the coronavirus.
Powerbeats 4 Coming Soon for $149
Beats made it official: New Powerbeats 4 headphones are coming soon for US$149 with an increase in battery life and the H1 chip.
Apple Receives €1.1 Billion Fine From French Competition Authority
Apple received a €1.1 billion fine from the French competition authority, the largest it has ever handed out to one firm.
‘The Uncensored Library’ Bypasses Censorship in Minecraft
Reporters Without Borders created The Uncensored Library inside of Minecraft as a way to bypass censorship.
Anyone can download the necessary map, and Minecraft‘s nature makes it easy to host another server if an oppressive country tries to take one down.
Hopefully all of us sharing news about it doesn’t kill it faster.
Catalina Nonplussed By HFS – Mac Geek Gab 806
Do you want a dock with more USB-C ports? If so, why? John and Dave have some ideas for you. How should you best manage your USB-C-powered devices? Or what if you need a backup internet connection with your cell phone? These questions, plus more questions, plus some Cool Stuff Found, plus your Quick Tips round out the episode. We know… it’s a lot! That’s what it takes to learn five new things each week together, isn’t it?
Blocs 3 Website Builder for Mac: $39.99
We have a deal on Blocs 3 Website Builder for Mac a fast, easy-to-use, and powerful visual web design software that lets you create responsive websites without writing code. This app works on the concept of stacking pre-defined sections to build fully-coded web pages. The promo video shows Blocs in action. Blocs 3 is $39.99 through our deal.
Security Friday, WWDC 2020 – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-13
Charlotte Henry and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the new look for WWDC and Security Friday’s headlines and tips.
YouTube Replacing 'Trending' Tab With 'Explore'
YouTube is replacing its ‘Trending’ tab with a new ‘Explore’ one, Gizmodo reported. The feature was tested for nearly two years, and will now roll out across both iOS and Android.
It appears YouTube will feature videos in those destination pages based on content it already knows you like. When I click the gaming section, for example, I see videos about Age of Empires 2, Teamfight Tactics, and clips from gaming channels I’m already subscribed to. So in a sense, destination pages are just a more targeted place to check out videos for stuff you already like, and maybe find new content that YouTube’s algorithm thinks you might enjoy. YouTube says it plans to continue adding new destination pages in the future, and while the initial lineup looks decent, there are a couple major topics, like sports, that didn’t make the roster.
PSA - Don't Buy Apple Products From Random People
It probably won’t come as a surprise to many reading this site, but you shouldn’t buy Apple products from total strangers. No. Really. iMore has details of a recent scam in the UK.
To be fair, the latest victim, Dylan Obeegadoo, was shown real Apple products before he handed over the cash; here’s his version of the events: “Dylan Obeegadoo told Black Country Live that two fraudsters, James and Frankie, approached him in a Churchill Shopping Centre in Dudley on Thursday, March 5, and offered the expensive products. After examining the two electrical items, which were real, he handed to the cash machine to withdraw £500 and met the duo outside their car. But the Dylan said the con artists managed to switch the bags during a convincing scam and said he was left with two bottles of fizzy pop and a cardboard box.”
WWDC 2020 Will be Online Only, Apple Confirms
After much speculation, Apple has confirmed that WWDC 2020 will be an online-only that will take place in June.
This Safari Extension Can Clean Links With Trackers
A Safari extension called Clean Links can automatically remove tracking parameters from URLs. Blocked trackers include UTM by Google Analytics, FBCLID by Facebook, and others. It is a random app from GitHub outside of the App Store. I uploaded it to VirusTotal and it didn’t show anything weird. But the creator also makes the source code available.
To install Clean Links you can either download the latest prebuild extension from the releases tab, or you can clone the repository and build it yourself.
I also use a shortcut that can accomplish the same thing on iOS and iPadOS.
56 Apps Spy on Your Clipboard and Apple Doesn’t Care
Researchers found 56 apps that are spying on the iOS clipboard/pasteboard, like TikTok, New York Times, Fruit Ninja, and more. There are undoubtedly many more apps engaging in this behavior. And as I wrote in February, Apple doesn’t think it’s a problem.
We found that many apps quietly read any text found in the pasteboard every time the app is opened. Text left in the pasteboard could be as simple as a shopping list, or could be something more sensitive: passwords, account numbers, etc.
Data Caps Probably Won’t Go Away Permanently
Companies are making employees work from home because of the coronavirus. In a rare show of generosity, many ISPs are eliminating data caps. But I have to disagree with Devin Coldeway. Data caps are a way to make money from customers, and I don’t think they will go away permanently. They’ll be charging us up the wazoo like old times.
Pressure from the global pandemic has broadband companies loosening the arbitrary restrictions on the connections users pay for — and this may be the beginning of the end for the data caps we’ve lived in fear of for decades. Here’s why.
All The Apple Stores in China Are Open
All the Apple Stores in China have reopened, but it seems that Today at Apple sessions have have not yet resumed.
France Fines Apple Over Anti-Competitive Behavior
France’s competition authority is fining Apple, saying the company engaged in anti-competitive behavior in its distribution and sales network.
Production on Apple TV+ Series 'Foundation' Suspended Due to Coronavirus
Production on the forthcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series ‘Foundation’ has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Apple Music Signs New Deals With Record Labels, But Maybe Not a Bundle
Apple Music has signed new multi-year deals with top record labels like Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music.
Apple TV+ ‘The Morning Show’ on Hiatus Due to Coronavirus
Apple TV+ show The Morning Show will be going on a two-week hiatus as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus.
Apple VP Rubén Caballero Leaves for a Company Called ‘Humane‘
Apple’s Vice President of Engineering Rubén Caballero has recently left for a new company called Humane, serving as a technical advisor.
Sneak Peek: Here’s How a NordVPN Server Works
TechRadar Pro teamed up with NordVPN to give people an idea of what exactly goes on inside of a VPN server. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a technology ever-growing in popularity.
The session revealed that NordVPN’s Linux servers are configured with various tools that enhance security, privacy, and authentication. FreeRADIUS is used for authentication, while the squid proxy software is also used. SaltStack is used for correct server configuration, controlling the infrastructure.
Pixelmator Updates are Coming. Here’s a Sneak Peek
On its blog today Pixelmator shared that updates for all three of its apps are coming: Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator Photo, and Pixelmator for iOS. I’m very excited to get an update to Pixelmator for iOS, it’s waaaaaay overdue. As the post mentions, two and a half years overdue. Hurry and sign up for the betas.
The answer is that, little by little, we plan to refresh and improve the app and, eventually, make it compatible with Pixelmator Pro. This is one very fundamental step towards that goal. We don’t have a timeline just yet for full compatibility and this will take a while but we’re very excited to get started on it!
Dropbox Offers New Way to Send Large Files with 'Transfer'
Dropbox Transfer allows users to send up to 2GB easily, even to recipients who do not have a Dropbox account.