LAS VEGAS, NV — So you have a new USB-C Mac, PC or tablet, and want to plug your stuff into it—Moovy claims to have “the most advanced USB-C dock with wireless charging.”
Luxitude Tablet and Phone Holder Stand: $33.99
We have a deal on Luxitude, a tablet and smartphone holder and stand, combined. It features adjustable arms that fit most tablets and phones from 4″ to 11″. It rotates 360° for the best viewing, and has suction cups that make it easy to pop off and fold up to move from surface to surface. A padded holder protects the device from scratching, falling, or slipping. It’s $33.99 through our deal.
Microsoft’s Project Artemis Tool Will Help Find Online Predators
Microsoft has created an automated tool codenamed Project Artemis that can help detect patterns of communication used by predators to target kids.
Building off the Microsoft patent, the technique is applied to historical text-based chat conversations. It evaluates and “rates” conversation characteristics and assigns an overall probability rating. This rating can then be used as a determiner, set by individual companies implementing the technique, as to when a flagged conversation should be sent to human moderators for review. Human moderators would then be capable of identifying imminent threats for referral to law enforcement…
Microsoft was the company that also helped developed PhotoDNA, an automated tool to detect child abuse images. Now it’s moving to text.
Apple At CES, New TV+ Shows – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-09
John Martellaro and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s (lack of) presence at CES, and the new wave of TV+ content.
CES 2020: Tivo Apple TV App 'On Hold'
Apple TV and Roku apps for Tivo are on hold, as the company focuses on the launch of TiVo Stream 4K moving forward with Android.
CES 2020: Turn Your iPad Into a Drawing Board With Sketchboard Pro
With the arrival of the Apple Pencil, more and more artists and designers are using their iPad to draw. Braintreehouse, a studio of artists who have worked on shows such as Adventure Time and The Simpsons, created Sketchboard Pro. The stand fits your iPad perfectly and has a slot for the Pencil. It essentially turns your iPad into a classic drawing board. The product launched on Kickstarter and hit its target. The makers brought it to CES this last week. Sketchboard Pro is expected to ship in March 2020. You can pre-order one now at Indigogo for $50.
North Korea Upgrades ‘AppleJeus’ Malware for Macs
A new version of North Korea’s AppleJeus malware has been spotted, one more effective than the last version.
'Mythic Quest' And The Future of Apple TV+
Mythic Quest will launch on Apple TV+ on February 7. Variety spoke to Rob McElhenney, who he acts in and wrote the show, about what viewers can expect.
The show will be Apple’s first straightforward comedy since launching its streaming platform in November — and a successful launch would be welcome. The platform’s flagship series, “The Morning Show,” recently received three Golden Globe nominations but was widely panned by critics. Other Apple shows, like “Dickinson,” “For All Mankind” and “Servant,” have found modest critical success, but it remains unclear if any of them have truly broken through the crowded pop culture landscape. Apple no doubt hopes that gamers, who collectively spent a record $43.4 billion in the sector in 2018 in the U.S. alone, will flock to the series given its subject matter and the pedigree of its creators.
Fan in Dubai Has One of The World's Best Collections of Apple Devices
Jimmy Grewal is not just an ordinary Apple fan. Based in Dubai, he has one of the world’s most impressive collections of the company’s products. Cult of Mac had a chat with him.
Is this heaven? The world’s greatest Apple Store? Nope, it’s Dubai, actually. Home to Jimmy Grewal, a collector of vintage Apple computers and one of the most impressive collections you’re likely to find anywhere. “Dubai is not exactly the hotbed of vintage Apple collecting,” Grewal told Cult of Mac. “Although Apple computers were sold and used here from the early 80s, a lot of those old computers are not [around any more.] The dealers who used to sell them have gotten rid of their inventory and their spare parts. What I don’t already have, I have to import.” Fortunately, Dubai’s geographical location makes this reasonably easy. Grewal has sourced computers from everywhere from the U.S. to Australia and Europe. He scours eBay and Facebook Marketplace, and relies on word-of-mouth to clue him on possible deals.
Tim Cook Receives Irish Award Over Business Investments
Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is presenting an award to Tim Cook to recognize Apple’s 40 years of investment in the country.
CES 2020: Bosch Smart Home System Getting HomeKit Support
Bosch announced at CES that users will be able to control its Smart Home System via the Home App and Siri in the near future.
iPhone Growth in China Defies Market - Shipments Increase by 18.7 Percent in December
Chinese iPhone shipments increased by 18.7 percent in December 2019, according to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications.
Facebook Deeply Committed to Keep Lying Political Ads
Facebook remains committed to keep lying political ads on its platform, saying that private companies shouldn’t make decisions about them.
Instead of banning such ads across the platform, Facebook has opted to introduce new tools for users to limit the way they interact with political ads. The company has expanded its Ad Library tool, an archive which shows all the political ads running on Facebook or Instagram, by adding information on approximately how many people ads reach.
Why would Facebook ban its source of income?
CES – Brydge Pro+ Adds a Trackpad and Keyboard to iPad Pro
LAS VEGAS – At CES this week, Brydge was showing off their new Brydge Pro+ Keyboard with Trackpad for iPad Pro. Leveraging iPadOS’s AssistiveTouch to add a cursor-like dot to the screen, using the trackpad feels smooth and natural throughout. Available for pre-order now, Brydge Pro+ is $229.99 for the 12.9” iPad Pro, and $199.99 for the 11” model.
CES – LifeProof FLiP iPhone Case Tucks the Wallet Inside
LAS VEGAS – LifeProof’s FLiP wallet case puts your cards and cash inside so that, when closed, the back of the iPhone remains flush. The FLiP case can even open up and act as a stand and, when open, Qi charging is possible, too. Available now from LifeProof for US$60.99.
LaunchCuts Adds Folders, Search Filters, More to Shortcuts
Writing for MacStories, Federico Viticci reviewed LaunchCuts, a launcher for shortcuts that can organize them into folders, gives you search filters, and more.
…LaunchCuts’ sole purpose is to offer an alternative view for your shortcut library with folders and powerful search filters. If you have less than 20 shortcuts installed on your iPhone or iPad, you’re likely not going to get much benefit out of LaunchCuts’ advanced organizational tools; but if you’re like me and use hundreds of different shortcuts on a regular basis, and especially if your library has grown out of control over the past few years, you’re going to need the assistance of LaunchCuts to make sense of it all.
App Store: US$7.99
Energizer SPOT LED Tag Lets You See and Find Your Furry Friend
LAS VEGAS, NV — Energizer is showing SPOT LED Tag for seeing and finding your furry friend, the latest entry in their Energizer Pets line, at CES 2020.
Withings Ups the Health Watch Game with ScanWatch
LAS VEGAS, NV — Withings is adding a third entry to their health watch lineup with ScanWatch, offering both ECG and SPO2 sensing.
Lumicharge Updates Their Multifunction Device Lineup with LumiCharge LD
LAS VEGAS, NV — LumiCharge is showing a new version of their multifunction device, the Lumicharge LD, at CES 2020.
PSA: People Have Been Getting Fake Military Draft Texts
The U.S. Army is warning Americans about fake military draft texts going around. They tell you to report to the nearest Army recruiter “for immediate departure to Iran.”
Some of the fake texts used real names of Army recruiting commanders — while others used fictitious names — lending the false appearance of authenticity, said Kelli Bland, a spokeswoman for the US Army Recruiting Command.
US military conscription was suspended in the 1970s. To resume the draft, Congress would need to enact legislation, according to the Selective Service System, the independent agency that would manage the draft in an emergency.
CES Picks, Happy Birthday Aqua – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-08
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss their CES picks, and Bryan and Kelly reminisce about Aqua’s lickable design.
Twitter Adds Touch Bar And Sidecar Support to Official Mac App
The official Twitter app for Mac got an upgrade. It added Touch Bar shortcuts and now supports integration with an iPad via Sidecar, Cult of Mac reported.
The version 8.5 update makes it so that you can put Twitter for Mac on your iPad when using Sidecar. It also adds some (but not many) Touch Bar shortcuts for those using a MacBook Pro. Touch Bar support is basic for now. You’ll see a compose tweet button, plus a toggle that lets you quickly switch between your most recent and most relevant timelines. There’s a lot of empty space for now. Nevertheless, it’s a good start. Future updates will likely add other useful buttons for things like direct messages, search, lists, and more.
CES 2020: Satechi Releases Mega 108W USB-C Desktop Charger
Satechi unveiled a massive 108 watt USB-C PD desktop charger with two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports to charge up to four devices at once.
Ideal for the home, office or travel, the 108W Pro USB-C PD Desktop Charger features an ultra-sleek and modern design that complements users’ favorite accessories. Compatible with a wide variety of USB-C devices, the charger combines four ports into one compact, high-speed power bank, making it the only charger user’s need to take with them while on-the-go.
It’s available now to purchase for US$79.99.