Today Apple featured a story in the App Store that lists 12 apps you can use for working remotely and connecting with your coworkers.
Microsoft and 35 Countries Take Down ‘Necurs’ Botnet
Microsoft, along with partners in 35 countries have taken down the Necurs botnet, responsible for infecting over nine million computers.
UBS Cuts AAPL Target Price And Warns of Potential Delays to 'iPhone 12'
UBS has cut the AAPL target price to $335 a share, following a sharp decline in iPhone sales in China and supply chain concerns.
Things for Apple Watch Gets Major Update
Good news for those who use the Things task manager app – the Apple Watch version has been given an overhaul. 9to5 Mac reported that not only does it now work with multiple Apple Watches, it also syncs directly with the Things Cloud.
The new version of the task manager finally works with multiple Apple Watches. This limitation previously made Things for Apple Watch unusable when using a second Apple Watch for sleep tracking. The bigger story is under-the-hood. Things for Apple Watch has been completely rewritten to sync directly Things Cloud. The major overhaul to the watchOS app now means Things for Apple Watch no longer requires the iPhone for syncing tasks. The new watch app sync is independent just like Mac, iPhone, and iPad versions.
Apple Shares Trailer for Apple TV+ Show ‘Central Park’
Apple has shared the first trailer for its upcoming animated music comedy Central Park. From the co-creator of Bob’s Burgers Loren Bouchard, it follows the life of a family living in Central Park. Voice cast includes Josh Gad, Leslie Odom, Jr., Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, and Stanley Tucci. It arrives to the Apple TV app on May 29.
CleanMyMac X Junk Cleaner for Mac: $67.99
We have a deal on CleanMyMac X, software that cleans the junk out of your Mac. I love and use this app regularly, and I’m delighted we’re offering a deal on it. Speaking of which, that deal is for the one-time purchase version of CleanMyMac X for one Mac. (MacPaw also offers a yearly subscription version). It’s $67.99 through our deal, more than $20 off the regular price. Our deal listing also has an option for the 2-Mac version.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection Arrives June 5
Electronic Arts is releasing a Command & Conquer remastered collection on June 5. It features Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert along with their three expansion packs: Covert Ops, Counterstrike, and The Aftermath. They provide a reveal trailer on YouTube. The graphics are in a higher resolution to match modern device screens, up to 4K resolution. Some aspect of gameplay has been changed, but it’s otherwise faithful to the original games. I remember playing Red Alert and liked it, so I look forward to the remastered version It will be available for PC via Steam and Origin.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that it would be released for PC and Mac. It will be available only for Windows.
App Store Guidelines For Developers Get an Update
On Tuesday, Apple announced updated App Store guidelines for developers. Amongst other things, the updated guidelines cover reviews, spam, push notifications, Sign in with Apple, data collection and storage, and mobile device management. MacRumors has a good breakdown of some the key changes.
1.4.4 – Apps used to commit or attempt to commit crimes of any kind by helping users evade law enforcement will be rejected. (This previously was a rule limited to apps about DUI checkpoints). 4.3 – Apple has added new content types to its “Spam” list of app categories it considers already saturated. Fortune telling and dating apps join fart, burp, flashlight, and Kama Sutra apps as apps that will be automatically rejected unless they provide a “unique, high-quality experience.”
Tracking Company Sensor Tower Used VPN Apps to Collect Data
Tracking company Sensor Tower has been using its VPN apps on iOS and Android to collect data on its millions of users.
Apple Employee at Cork Campus Tests Positive For Covid-19
An employee at Apple’s Cork campus in Ireland has tested positive for the Coranavirus, the Irish Independent reported. The company confirmed the case of Covid-19. Over the weekend, Apple encouraged employees who were able to to work from home at a number of global locations, although Cork does not appear to be one where this policy was initially implemented.
“One of our employees in Cork has been confirmed to have Covid-19,” the company said in a statement. “We are closely coordinating with the local health authorities who feel the risk to others is low, and the individual remains in self-isolation. As a precaution, we have asked some of our team members to stay at home while we work with the Health and Safety Executive to assess the situation. We are continuing to regularly deep clean all our offices and stores and will take all necessary precautions in accordance with guidance from health authorities.” The Apple campus employs over 6,000 people.
Australia Takes Facebook to Court Over Privacy Violations
Australia’s privacy regulator is taking Facebook to court over Cambridge Analytica. It could impose a fine of AUD$1.7 million (US$1.1 million) for every privacy violation.
“Facebook failed to take reasonable steps to protect those individuals’ personal information from unauthorised disclosure,” the Australian commissioner’s office said.
Big companies like Facebook need fines in the billions of dollars for them to start paying attention.
Hermitage - An iPhone 11 Pro’s Journey Through an Iconic Museum
The latest ‘Shot on iPhone’ video takes viewers on a journey through Russia’s iconic Hermitage museum – all in one continous shot.
Founding Director, End Climate Silence Dr. Genevieve Guenther — TMO BGM Interview
Dr. Genevieve Guenther is a scholar and author. She is affiliate faculty at the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School in New York and the founder and director of End Climate Silence, an activist organization helping the news media cover the climate crisis.
How should climate scientists use effective language skills and storytelling to convey scientific research? How can they speak effectively to both fellow scientists and the lay public? How can they avoid what’s called semantic ambiguity so that their choice of words isn’t twisted by deniers? How can the media learn to couch severe climate change events in proper science context while not appearing unduly biased? Dr. Genevieve Guenther chats with me on all this and more in a most engaging and informative discusion.
iOS 14 Leak Suggests Apple Watch May Get Sleep Tracking, Kids Mode, More
Leaked iOS 14 code includes updates for watchOS 7, suggesting future Apple Watches will get sleep tracking, kids mode, and more.
Worried About Germs? Here’s How to Clean Your iPhone (Update)
Your iPhone is probably your most-used device and it easily gets covered in germs. Here’s how to clean your iPhone the right way.
Powerbeats 4: Leaked Images And Details Emerge
Some images and details of the expected Powerbeats 4 headphones have emerged. AppleInsider picked up on the reports from German publication Win Future (from where the images in this post come).
Following both January 2020’s discovery of a “Powerbeats 4” icon within iOS 13.3.1, and February’s FCC approval of the device, what appear to be final specifications and images have leaked. The latest sports wireless earbuds will add Apple’s H1 chip, and bring up to 3 extra hours battery life than the 12 hours in the previous Powerbeats 3. The addition of the H1 chip means, if correct, that Powerbeats 4 will feature “Hey, Siri,” plus the ability to announce messages with Siri. The H1 chip is already in Apple’s Powerbeats Pro, AirPods 2, and AirPods Pro. The leaked marketing images match previous reports, showing a new arrangement of cabling
Handset Depreciation, TV+ Reviews – TMO Daily Observations 2020-03-09
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss trade-in values of various smartphones, and a new wave of reviews for Apple TV+ shows.
5 Productivity Apps to Help You With Your Work
We’ve found five productivity apps to use so you can give your workflow a boost, like using MindNode, Standard Notes, Fantastical, and more.
Are You Eligible to Have Your iPad Air Fixed For Free?
Some iPad Air users reported their screen permanently going blank, and Apple is now offering to repair affected devices for free.
Last Chance for iPhone 11 256GB + AirPods and Charging Pad Giveaway
Our iPhone 11 256GB + AirPods and Charging Pad Giveaway is coming to an end today. With this giveaway, you have a chance to win an iPhone 11 (256GB), a pair of AirPods, and a wireless charging pad. All you have to do is register on our deal site, if you aren’t already, and click the Enter to Win button. There’s a social media link you can use to try and get more entries, too. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PDT tonight (Monday night).
RSS Reader ‘NetNewsWire’ Arrives on iOS
Introduced on July 12, 2002 NetNewsWire was the most popular RSS readers by 2005. It offered people custom feed views, downloading/opening podcasts, syncing feeds between devices, and a built-in browser. After a company acquired it in 2011 it ultimately shut down in 2015. Since then, the original developer Brent Simmons has control once again, and after releasing an updated version for macOS, NetNewsWire is now available for iOS and iPadOS. It’s free and open source. We also have an interview with Mr. Simmons where he talked about the app.
Cloudflare Offering 'Teams' Products For Free to Small Firms During Coronavirus Outbreak
‘Cloudflare for Teams’ products will be free for small businesses for at least the next six months. In a blog post, CEO Matthew Prince said he wanted to help such firms allow staff to work from home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Beginning today, we are making our Cloudflare for Teams products free to small businesses around the world. Teams enables remote workers to operate securely and easily. We will continue this policy for at least the next 6 months. We’re doing this to help ensure that small businesses that implement work from home policies in order to combat the spread of the virus can ensure business continuity. You can learn more and apply at: https://www.cloudflare.com/smallbusiness We’ve also helped launch an online hub where small businesses can see technology services available to them for free or a substantial discount from multiple companies, during the Coronavirus Emergency: https://openforbusiness.org
Apple Staff Encouraged to Work From Home Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Tim Cook encouraged Apple staff in offices around the world to work from home “if [their] job allows” due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
To RAID or Not (to RAID)? – Mac Geek Gab 805
Do you close your Terminal sessions correctly? Does iStat Menus work after you migrate? Are you getting Notes to launch as fast as possible? You’ll be able to answer “yes” to all three of these things after just the first few minutes of this week’s show. Stick around and learn about taming CarPlay, sharing Calendars, using a VPN with your Apple TV and much more. You’ll definitely hit your quota of learning at least five new things with John and Dave this week.