Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss what the new version of macOS could look like (and when we’ll see it), and an interesting documentary about an interesting guy, Stewart Brand.
WireGuard VPN Gets Added to the Next Linux Kernel
I briefly mentioned WireGuard when I wrote of Cloudflare’s WARP beta. I think it’s something to add to your technology watch lists. It’s just not any old VPN app, it’s a VPN protocol that could very well replace current protocols like IPsec and OpenVPN, or at least be offered as an alternative. You can read the technical whitepaper here [PDF], along with this write up from Ars Technica.
WireGuard will now operate as either a Loadable Kernel Module (LKM) or built statically into the kernel itself. But whether static or loadable, it will be “in-tree”—which means it’s provided ready to go with the vanilla kernel itself, with no need for repackaging by the various distros. This puts it on the same footing as other supported drivers.
Apple Podcasts Adds ‘COVID-19: Essential Listening’ Section
Apple added a special section in Apple Podcasts called COVID-19: Essential Listening. It features podcasts to keep you informed of the latest news and updates.
YouTube Kids Gets the Watch Time, While Netflix Gets The Installs
Netflix was installed 59 million times in the first quarter of 2020. However, it was YouTube Kids that had the most usage, according to AppTopia and Blaze data reported on by Reuters.
Netflix Inc led rivals YouTube, Amazon Prime and Disney+ with over 59 million installs in the first quarter of 2020, but more time was spent on YouTube’s Kids service as usage boomed following the shutdown of thousands of schools in March. YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc’s Google, collected $110 million in in-app spending during the same time period, the highest among major streaming apps globally, according to a report by analytics firms Apptopia and Braze. The report did not give actual hours of usage, but ranked YouTube Kids first, followed by Netflix. YouTube itself was in third place.
Tile: Apple’s Anticompetitive Behavior Has Gotten Worse
On Wednesday, Tile told a congressional panel that Apple didn’t live up to its promises to resolve a dispute between the two companies.
Tile had objected to Apple requiring its users to repeatedly agree to allow Tile to operate in the background, which is crucial to Tile’s service…Tile also said that there were indications that Apple planned to update its Find My product, adding hardware, so it would be a competitor to Tile.
Those are Tile’s two arguments. One – They’re mad that Apple cracked down on apps collecting location data in the background. No sympathy there from me. Two – Apple allegedly plans to compete with Tile with its own hardware Bluetooth device, rumored “AirTag.” Tile is acting as if Apple specifically aimed its location crackdown at them, to set itself up for AirTag, but I’m not sure if that’s right. Tile certainly wasn’t the only one doing that.
Latest iPad Pro May Not Have the U1 Chip in it
When the 2020 iPad Pro launched there was discussion about whether or not had U1 chip in it. The chip, present in the iPhone 11 series, provides Ultra Wideband support. It is not mentioned in the iPad Pro tech specs but is referred to in the iPhones’ specs. While MacRumors noted that the U1 could still be present and that Apple is waiting until it is useful to highlight it, it has compiled evidence that that is not the case.
The biggest clue of all is that FCC filings for all iPhone 11 models list operating frequencies in the 6GHz range and the 7-8GHz range, and the rules for these frequencies points to “Subpart F — Ultra-Wideband Operation.” TechInsights last year reported that the U1 chip in iPhone 11 models transmits on two different frequencies, 6.24GHz and 8.23GHz. By comparison, FCC filings indicate that all 2020 iPad Pro models operate within a max frequency range of 5GHz for Wi-Fi.
U.S. Census Goes Digital With The iPhone 8
It’s census year in the U.S., but this time around it’s going to be different. Each enumerator tasked with getting the data is to be handed an iPhone 8 instead of a pen and paper. CNet looked into how it is all going to work, and the risks involved.
In an effort to make the door-to-door process, which is the most laborious and expensive part of the census, faster and more efficient, the bureau is arming 500,000 enumerators with the Apple iPhone 8. But as the census goes mobile, instantaneously beaming respondents’ answers to data centers and cloud servers, it opens itself up to those who may want to access or manipulate such valuable information. The stakes to pull off a census have always been high, but with this year’s adoption of new technological methods, the pressure to succeed is even higher.
Amazon Prime Video Offers In-App Purchases for Customers
Apple is loosening its App Store restrictions, at least for Amazon, letting the company directly sell content to users through in-app purchases.
The Case for Apple to Postpone macOS 10.16 into 2021
Traditionally, Apple provides a preview of the next version of macOS at WWDC in June, then releases it late September. This year, there’s a case to be made to postpone macOS 10.16 into 2021.
Restly Sleep App Lifetime Subscription: $39.99
We have a deal on a lifetime subscription to the Restly sleep app. According to the developers, Restly provides a scientifically-based method of falling asleep—male and female voices plus different calming sounds to get you through to the shortened journey of dozing off. The app also features a smart alarm clock, sleeping timer, and statistics to best fit the app’s behavior according to your body rhythm. A lifetime subscription for this app is $39.99 through our deal.
This Year's iPhone, Dark Sky by Apple – TMO Daily Observations 2020-04-01
Bryan Chaffin and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s release of a an iPhone in 2020 (or not), and Apple’s acquisition of weather app Dark Sky.
Apple to Pay Contract Workers Previously Told They'd Lose Work
Apple has committed to paying contract workers unable to conduct their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak.
New 'Share to Instagram Stories' Feature Seen in iOS 13.4.5 Beta
Apple Music users are going to be able to share music they’re listening to on Instagram and Facebook Stories. That’s according to an iOS 13.4.5 beta, which 9to5Mac had a look into. There’s also a lovely Twitter thread from Emily Ross who, as an intern, helped start the process that made this happen.
Sharing a song on Stories with iOS 13.4.5 is very simple. You just have to open the Music app on your iPhone or iPad, choose a song, and then tap the share option. If you select Instagram, for example, it will automatically generate a vertical image with the album cover, the name of the song, and an animated blurred background. From there, you can also share these Stories directly to Facebook. After sharing a song on Instagram Stories, other people can listen to it on Apple Music with just a tap. Apple continues to improve Apple Music to make it more attractive to users. Recently, the company introduced several new curated playlists, including the “Get Up! Mix”.
iOS 14 Adds iCloud Keychain Two-Factor Authentication Codes
According to an early build of iOS 14, the code suggests new changes are coming to iCloud Keychain, like support for two-factor authentication codes.
Apple Doubling COVID-19 Recovery Donation to China
Apple has doubled its donation towards China’s COVID-19 recovery donations. The money is being focussed on aiding long-term recovery efforts.
Apple more than doubled its donation to China’s efforts to fight COVID-19 to over 50 million yuan ($7 million), CEO Tim Cook posted on Weibo on Wednesday, weeks after the iPhone maker said it had opened all its 42 stores in one of its largest markets. Apple will contribute the rest of the money to support longer-term public health recovery efforts, he said. “China has shown incredible spirit and resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak and we are grateful to our teams, partners and customers for their support during these challenging times,” Cook said in a message on China’s Twitter equivalent Weibo.
New Zoom Bug Can Be Used to Steal Passwords, Access Your Webcam, Microphone
Security researcher Patrick Wardle disclosed two Zoom bugs today. They can be used to steal Windows passwords and access your webcam and microphone. They do however require physical access to the machine.
In this blog post, we’ll start by briefly looking at recent security and privacy flaws that affected Zoom. Following this, we’ll transition into discussing several new security issues that affect the latest version of Zoom’s macOS client.
At this point, Zoom should just rewrite its software completely.
Cloudflare’s WARP VPN Enters Beta for macOS, Windows
Continuing its tradition of April product announcements, today Cloudflare announced that its WARP VPN is entering beta for macOS and Windows.
iWork for iOS Updated to Support Trackpads, Mice
Following yesterday’s update to iWork for macOS, today Apple updated iWork for iOS to support trackpads and mice, along with other features.
The UK Limit on Contactless Payments is Now £45
The UK has upped the limit on contactless payments to £45 to both hep retailers and reduce the need for contact with in-store surfaces.
OpenWRT is Vulnerable to Remote Code Execution Attacks
For three years, router firmware OpenWRT has been vulnerable to remote code execution attacks.
The researcher also found that it was trivial for attackers with moderate experience to bypass digital-signature checks that verify a downloaded update as the legitimate one offered by OpenWTR maintainers. The combination of those two lapses makes it possible to send a malicious update that vulnerable devices will automatically install.
This is especially concerning because OpenWRT is commonly recommend by privacy advocates as an alternative to built-in proprietary router firmware.
SiriusXM Premier is Free Through May 15
Announced by Howard Stern, Sirius XM is giving people free access to Premier content through May 15, starting today.
Listeners will have free access to more than 300 channels of dynamic programming, featuring the acclaimed The Howard Stern Show , hundreds of exclusive ad-free music channels, and vital news and information sources. SiriusXM is also adding entirely new curated content, and bringing back some beloved music channels by top artists.
iWork for Mac Updated With iCloud Folder Sharing
Apple updated Keynote, Numbers, and Pages on the Mac today. It includes support for iCloud Folder sharing and other features.
Apple Partners With AI Startup ‘Dent Reality’ With Apple Maps
Apple is partnering with an AR startup called Dent Reality, specifically to work on indoor mapping and navigation based on AR.
Blocking Texts on macOS, Alternative Private Apps – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-31
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss blocking unwanted messages on your Mac, and some private alternatives to the iOS apps Apple gives you.