There are lots of great, affordable, apps that can help you keep to your new year’s resolution to be more productive in 2020.
Purchasing iPad Accessories, Original Streaming Shows – TMO Daily Observations 2020-01-02
Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss purchasing iPad accessories, and how streaming original shows stack up.
Do You Have an iPhone and a Dell Laptop? Soon You Can Mirror it
Computer manufacturer Dell will soon release software that will enable iPhone screen mirroring on Dell laptops.
Imagination and Apple Sign Updated Licensing Agreement
Apple signed an upgraded multi-year, multi-use license agreement with UK-based silicon and software IP creator Imagination Technologies.
Brydge Announces iPad Pro Keyboard With Trackpad
Brydge announced the Pro+ keyboard today for the iPad Pro. It’s different than previous products because this one has a trackpad built in.
Media From 1924 and Earlier Enters Public Domain in 2020
Everything that was published in 1924 or earlier is now available in the public domain, meaning that it’s no longer protected by copyright.
Movies, books, music, and more from 1924 are all entering the public domain today, meaning that you’re free to download, upload, and share these titles however you see fit. And it’s completely legal.
California's New Privacy Law Comes into Force Today
A new privacy law aimed to protect consumers comes into force in California today, January 2nd, 2020. Wired rounded up everything you need to know.
The CCPA applies to any company that operates in California and either makes at least $25 million in annual revenue, gathers data on more than 50 thousand users, or makes more than half its money off of user data. For California residents, it creates a handful of new rights over their data. The most significant categories are what Alastair Mactaggart, the California real estate magnate behind the ballot initiative that led to the law being passed, calls “the right to know” and “the right to say no.” That means users will, as of today, be able to see what data companies have gathered about them, have that data deleted, and opt out of those companies selling it to third parties from now on.
Wishing You a Happy New Year in 2020!
With 2019 riding off in the sunset, The Mac Observer is taking off Wednesday off to catch our breath and get ready for 2020. We’ll be back with our regular daily new coverage, analysis, and podcasts on Thursday, January 2nd. We’ll also be on location at CES 2020 to bring you the latest on this year’s tech. Rest up, and get ready for another exciting year!
Jimmy Iovine Worries About the Future of the Music Industry
In a new interview Jimmy Iovine talks about the music industry, it’s future, and how it relates to tech companies. And he’s worried.
The IRS Can Now Create its Own Online Free Tax Filing System
On Monday the IRS announced changes to its deal with the tax filing industry. For years the agency was prohibited from creating its own free tax filing system, like other countries do. In exchange for not competing, the tax industry promised to make free versions of its software if you make below a certain amount of income. But companies like Intuit and H&R Block added code to their web pages to make it harder for their free products to appear on Google. But now it all changes.
“The improved process will make Free File stronger and give taxpayers another reason to consider this valuable software option,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. The agency hopes the changes will make the free option more accessible for taxpayers in the 2020 filing season, he said.
2019 In Review – TMO Daily Observations 2019-12-31
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss favorite apps, games, and gear of 2019.
Lawmakers Sign TRACED Act Into Law to Fine Robocallers
Lawmakers officially signed the TRACED Act into law, which imposes fines up to US$10,000 per call for robocallers. Here are features:
- Extends FCC’s statute of limitations on robocall offenses and increases potential fines
- Requires an FCC rulemaking helping protect consumers from spam calls and texts (this is already underway)
- Requires annual FCC report on robocall enforcement and allows for it to formally recommend legislation
- Requires adoption on a reasonable timeline of the STIR/SHAKEN framework for preventing call spoofing
Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscriptions: $151.20
We have a deal today on a lifetime subscription for Rosetta Stone, the language learning platform. The deal is for one language, and you’ll get lifetime access to it. I’m linking to the Spanish language version, but there’s a pulldown menu where you can pick any of the other languages supported. I’ve used Rosetta Stone, and I like they way this platform teaches. Our deal is for $189, but coupon code 20SAVE20 brings the price down to $151.20 at checkout.
How to Add an Apple Gift Card to Wallet in iOS 13
If you got an Apple Store gift card for Christmas you can easily add it to your Wallet, so you can just use your phone to make a purchase.
Uber and Postmates Rush to Block California Freelancer Law
Assembly Bill 5, known as the California Freelancer Law, goes into effect January 1, 2020. The law says that workers must be classified as employees instead of contractors, under certain conditions. Companies like Uber and Postmates are rushing to block the law.
As employees, drivers would be protected by minimum wage and overtime rules and would be eligible for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance. The companies would have to pay half of their payroll taxes for Medicare and Social Security.
Postmates said it was seeking to delay the law from taking effect to gain time to figure out a compromise so that its workers would not be classified as full-time employees.
Drivers aren’t the only people affected. Freelance journalists in California are being laid off because the law says they can only maintain their status as independent contractors if they submit no more than 35 pieces per year.
iPhone Emergency SOS Feature Helped Stop an Attempted Sexual Assault
A woman managed to receive police help when a man tried to sexually assault her after using her iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature. She triggered the feature during the attack at Virginia Beach, Va, AppleInsider reported, and the attacker fled as officers arrived.
“I get my phone back and I turn around and I try to run away and he just comes up from behind me, tackles me, grabs my face, is covering my mouth,” the woman said. “I’m trying to scream for help, [he] tackles me to the ground — is like shoving my face to the ground — and now, because I’ve been screaming, he’s holding my mouth even tighter trying to muffle any noise I’m making.” Luckily, Emergency SOS was enabled on the woman’s iPhone, allowing her to automatically dial 911 without unlocking the device. In this case, a long press of both the power button and volume down button triggered the feature. Emergency SOS can also be invoked by pressing on the power button five times in rapid succession. Police were directed to her location by a dispatcher who heard her pleas for help.
How 'Dickinson' Brings Past and Present Together
In a new video, Dickinson star Hailee Steinfeld and showrunner Alena Smith discuss how the story of a poet from the 1800s still has relevance today. If you haven’t watched it, the show brings together past and present in a really clever way. It could be awkward and stick, but it doesn’t. This clip gives some insight into why the show’s makers adopted that style.
New California Privacy Law Comes Into Force Tomorrow
A new privacy law comes into force in California tomorrow, January 1st 2020 and retailers are scrambling to make sure they comply.
How to Sign Up For Disney+ and Bill to Your Apple ID
The nominal way to sign up for Disney+ is to go to disneyplus.com and create an account. But it’s also possible to sign up from within the tvOS or iOS app and bill the subscription to your Apple ID. John explains how to do it—and the advantages.
Judge Sides With Big Cable, Puts Maine Cable Law on Hold
A bunch of cable companies including Comcast sued the state of Maine to block a law that would require an a la carte offering of cable.
Best of BGM - Emmy Winning Music Composer John Lunn
One of my favorite Background Mode podcasts was with TV and movie music composer John Lunn. He’s probably best known for scoring the TV drama Downton Abbey — for which he received two Primetime Emmy awards. His recent work includes the scoring of the feature film Electricity and the hit TV shows: The Grantchester Mysteries, Shetland, and The White Queen—for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination. Near the end, I played some sound snippets from two of his scores, and John (a Mac user) explained the instruments used. This episode is worth revisiting, especially now that the Downton Abbey movie is available for streaming.
Facebook Receives $1.6 Million Fine From Brazil Over Cambridge Analytica Case
Brazil’s Justice Ministry issued a $1.6 million fine against Facebook following an investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
ProtonMail Launches ProtonCalendar Beta
ProtonMail, a Swiss company that provides an end-to-end encryption email service, today announced the beta launch of ProtonCalendar.
A Decade of Apple Stories – TMO Daily Observations 2019-12-30
Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to look back at the previous decade of Apple news and notable events.