Enter our new international giveaway for a chance to win the brand new iPhone 16 Pro.
‘Chain of Trust’ on Apple Devices Explained
In computer security, a ‘chain of trust’ is when each component of hardware and software validates each other to make sure they haven’t been compromised. Kirk McElhearn explains the chain of trust on Apple devices.
It all begins with your Apple ID. When you create a new Apple ID on Apple’s website, or on a device you own, you provide your name, birthday, and email address, set up a password, then answer three security questions. You verify your email address, and your Apple ID now allows you to use Apple’s services.
Space Black Hermes Apple Watch Series 5 No Longer Available
The Space Black Hermes Apple Watch Series is not available to order, according to AppleInsider. It can still be selected from the Apple Website, but there is no delivery date.
Spotted over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, would-be shoppers visiting Apple’s Apple Watch purchase page are unable to pick up the black Hermes model. Prospective purchasers are able to still choose the Space Black color option while using the Apple Watch Studio tool —but the option to add it to cart for delivery or in-store pickup is not available. Anyone hoping to pick up the Space Black Hermes Apple Watch Series 5 shouldn’t concede defeat just yet though. Given that the model is still selectable in the configure tool, and still featured on the Apple product page, it appears only out of stock. But, the lack of an expected delivery date is unusual, especially during the holiday buying season
Early Cyber Monday Deal Roundup: Drone, Lightning Cable, Gimbal, Disk Drill Pro
In the spirit of the weeklong Black Friday weekend, we have a roundup from our deal site, including a Lightning cable, a drone, a gimbal, and Disk Drill Pro.
TMO's Black Friday Deals: Charging Dock, Security Camera, VPN, 12min, Language Learning, More
We have a raft of Black Friday deals for you on the TMO deals site. Each of the deals below has a coupon offer saving you an addition 15%-%40%, and are available for order now.
Apple's Black Friday Deals Are Live: Gift Cards Back for $25, $50, $100, $200
Apple launched its Black Friday deals just after midnight on Friday, with gift cards back on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. We have the details in the full story.
Save 20% on Sonos Home Theater for Black Friday
Sonos‘s speakers have been long-time favorite for us here at TMO and Mac Geek Gab, both for listening to music and enjoying the sound from our home theaters. This weekend Sonos is running a rare sale on their popular Home Theater products.
Happy Thanksgiving, from TMO!
It’s Thanksgiving in the U.S., so that means The Mac Observer is taking Thursday and Friday off to celebrate the holiday. (Though we will also sneak some Black Friday deals in throughout the long holiday weekend.) We’ll be back with our regular news, analysis, tips and podcasts on Monday, December 2nd. We hope everyone has a great weekend, wherever you are in the world!
eero: Mesh Wi-Fi and More
Dr. Mac has done the research, and has his official recommendation for a mesh network for those looking to upgrade their Wi-Fi or replace Apple’s canceled AirPort networks.
DOJ Closes eSIM Investigation With AT&T, Verizon, GSMA
The Department of Justice has closed an eSIM investigation involving AT&T, Verizon, and the GSMA trade group.
Russian Dairy Cows Wear VR Headsets to Reduce Anxiety
The RusMoloko farm is experimenting with giving cows VR headsets. They claim it can reduce anxiety and thereby increase milk production.
“Examples of dairy farms from different countries show that in a calm atmosphere, the quantity, and sometimes the quality, of milk increases markedly,” it read.
Researchers will examine the effects of the programme in a long-term study. The developers reportedly hope to expand the project if positive results continue.
This Tool Shows Which Sites Disguise Third-Party Trackers
Tracking companies have started disguising their third-party trackers as first-party trackers to bypass privacy tools, called CNAME tracking. This tool called TrackingTheTrackers can find them.
This method is called CNAME Cloaking and the disguise is not obvious if one does not know where to look. That’s why we made a free analysis tool that anyone can run on any website. We also wrote an in-depth article about this, you can read it here.
Sounds like a helpful tool. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one. Even Apple does it (But The Mac Observer doesn’t).
'Steven Universe' Inspired Game 'Unleash the Light' Added to Apple Arcade
New game ‘Unleash the Light’, a mobile RPG based on the Cartoon Network show Steven Universe, has been added to Apple Arcade.
Apple's App Behavior, Black Friday Gift Guide – TMO Daily Observations 2019-11-27
John Martellaro and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s apps behavior vs third party apps, and the Black Friday gift guide.
Apple is Buying Google Ads For 'Tile App' in Preparation For Its 'Tag' Product
Apple has been buying Google ads for search terms related to the Tile app, in order to assess the popularity of its rumored rival product.
New Apple Store Opening in Toronto
Apple customers in Toronto can look forward to a new Apple Store. Macrumors shared details about the new downtown location.
The new store will take over a space recently vacated by apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch. Apple’s new store will be more than twice as large as the current 4,977-square-foot store, according to an Eaton Centre floor plan. The extra space is much needed, as not only is the Eaton Centre the busiest shopping mall in North America, but it is home to Apple’s only store in Toronto’s downtown core. Apple has three other stores in Toronto at Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens, and Fairview, all within shopping malls.
Samsung and LG to Supply iPhone 12 OLED Displays
The iPhone 12 is set to have OLED displays supplied by Samsung and LG. That is according to industry sources that spoke to South Korean outlet Etnews.
According to the industry, 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch new iPhone models that will be released in the fall of 2020 are expected to be applied with three different sizes of OLED panels. Although there are three types of displays, it is likely that the number of entire iPhone models will be more than four as Apple is also planning to release a model that will support 5G network. It is understood that Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of 5.4-inch and 6.7-inch OLED panels. Specifically, it will supply on-cell touch flexible OLED panels… 6.1-inch OLED panels will be supplied by both Samsung Display and LG Display as 6.1-inch OLED panel will not be an on-cell touch OLED panel but based on film touch method.
Readdle Celebrates Black Friday 2019 With Deals up to 50% Off
Readdle creates apps like PDF Expert and Documents, and it’s celebrating Black Friday 2019 with deals until December 2.
PDF Expert for Mac at 40% off
Black Friday Bundle at 50% off: Apps include Scanner Pro, Calendars 5, PDF Converter, and Printer Pro
Premium Features in Calendars at 40% off
PDF editing in Documents at 50% off
I no longer use Readdle apps but these are great deals for great apps.
Apple Obeys Russian Demand to Change Crimea in Apple Maps
Apple has complied with Russia’s demand to display Crimea as Russian terroritory in Apple Maps after it was annexed in 2014.
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Accusing Apple of Selling User Data
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Apple accusing the company of using selling user data from the iTunes Store.
Lawmakers Wonder if Apple Uses Privacy for Anti-Competitive Behavior
Rep. David N. Cicilline (D-RI) is concerned that Apple may be using its privacy measures to hide anti-competitive behavior.
Woot.Com Offering Big Black Friday Deals on Refurbished 2017 MacBooks and MacBook Pros
Woot.com has some big Black Friday deals on refurbished MacBooks and MacBook Pros, starting at just $649.99 for a limited time only.
Apple Staff Support Tim Cook's Trump Strategy
It is probably fair to say that Donald Trump is not widely popular across Silicon Valley. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken a pragmatic approach to dealing with the U.S. President. A survey conducted for Fortune showed his staff largely agree with it.
The survey, conducted on Fortune’s behalf on the anonymous workplace social network Blind, 81.6% of Apple employees said they support Cook’s efforts to engage the president on matters that “shape policy in Apple’s favor.” Meanwhile, eight in ten respondents said they believe it’s “fair that some of Apple’s products have been exempted from U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made goods.” The findings, which were collected from more than 100 Apple employees between Thursday, Nov. 21 and Monday, Nov. 25 suggest Cook has strong support among his employees in working with Trump to get favorable results for his company.
Inactive Twitter Accounts to be Removed in December
Inactive Twitter accounts will be removed in December, freeing up these usernames for reuse.
Twitter is sending out emails to owners of inactive accounts with a warning: sign in by December 11th, or your account will be history and its username will be up for grabs again. Any account that hasn’t signed in for more than six months will receive the email alert.
Twitter hasn’t yet said exactly when recouped usernames will be made available to existing users. The account removal process “will happen over many months — not just on a single day,”
Apple Arcade, New Holiday Ad – TMO Daily Observations 2019-11-26
Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss cancelling Apple Arcade subscriptions, and Apple’s new holiday ad.