We finally have the winner of our iPhone 16 Pro international giveaway! Congratulations to Oliver T., and a huge thank you to everyone who participated.
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.
Cast Deezer Lyrics and Take Your Singing to The Big Screen
Deezer has rolled out new functionality which allows users to Cast the lyrics of a song from their iOS device onto a TV.
iPhone Patent Reveals ‘Gaze-Dependent Display Encryption’
A new patent reveals “gaze-dependent display encryption” whereby the display would show real data to its owner and fake data to anyone else.
How Worried Should You Be About Public USB Charging Stations?
Today DuckDuckGo published a post about the risks of using public charging stations. Technology exists that lets hackers install malware via these chargers. While I personally think the risk is a bit overblown, this is an argument I think can be added in favor of a portless iPhone.
Although it has become synonymous with charging, USB technology was initially developed with the aim of transmitting data. Thus, hackers can use these public charging stations to install malware on your smartphone or tablet through a compromised USB cable. This process, called “juice jacking”, allows hackers to read and export your data, including your passwords. They can even lock your device this way, rendering it unusable.
Crave PowerPack 2 - 50,000mAh Battery Charger: $189.99
We have a deal on a big boy portable battery, the Crave PowerPack 2. This 50,000mAh has two USB-C ports, one of which offers 60 watts for charging your laptop. The other USB-C port is an 18 watt port for mobile devices. It also has two QuickCharge USB charging ports for other mobile devices.
Apple Doesn't Get The iMessage – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-12
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s (lacking) Messages app and what rumors say could make it an Apple-level product in iOS 14.
A Database of 500 iPhones Cops Tried to Unlock
Motherboard built a database of over 500 iPhones that law enforcement have tried to unlock. Many of them weren’t able to be unlocked at all.
Out of 516 analyzed cases, 295 were marked as executed. Officials from the FBI, DEA, DHS, Homeland Security and Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were able to extract data from iPhones in investigations ranging from arson, to child exploitation, to drug trafficking. And investigators executed warrants against modern iPhones, not just older models.
As mentioned, this provides useful data instead of the usual anecdotes. You can find the database here.
First ARM Macs Could Arrive in 2020
Apple is preparing to move its Macs to use ARM processors, starting with the MacBook. The first ones could arrive by the end of this year, according to a note by analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, seen by Cult of Mac.
In his latest note to investors, Kuo reveals that Apple could ship its first ARM-powered Mac by the end of 2020. It is believed a MacBook will make the switch first — ahead of Apple’s desktop machines. However, almost all Macs could use ARM chips eventually. The transition will obviously take time. Switching CPU architectures would require all software, including the macOS operating system itself, to be rewritten. Existing apps and games would not be compatible without some kind of emulator.
Proton Apps Receive Alternative Routing to Stop Censorship
Proton apps will get new alternative routing as a way to block attempts at censorship, whether it’s by governments, ISPs, or network admins.