14 years ago today Steve Jobs unveiled the first MacBook Pro at Macworld 2006. Most of the keynote is focused on other products, like Aperture, iLife, iMove, iWeb, iWork, and more. The MacBook Pro’s introduction came as a “one last thing” announcement. In this segment, he discusses the performance per watt of various Apple microprocessors like the PowerPC G4 and PowerPC G5. But Intel’s Core Duo processor was better at energy efficiency, and that’s what the MacBook Pro used.
Andrew Orr
Since 2015 Andrew has been writing about Apple, privacy, security, and at one point even Android. You can find him most places online under the username @andrewornot.
Articles by Andrew Orr
FCC Urged to Do Something About SIM Swapping
Lawmakers are urging the FCC to do something about SIM swapping attacks, which have been responsible for the theft of tens of millions.
SIM swapping is an insidious form of mobile phone fraud that is often used to steal large amounts of cryptocurrencies and other items of value from victims. All too frequently, the scam involves bribing or tricking employees at mobile phone stores into seizing control of the target’s phone number and diverting all texts and phone calls to the attacker’s mobile device.
Apple Collects Donations for Australian Fires With Red Cross
Apple started a donation campaign with the Red Cross so that users can donate to relief efforts for the fires in Australia.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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 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.
CES 2020: Twitter’s New ‘Conversation Participants’ Feature
Twitter’s director of product management Suzanne Xie announced a feature coming later this year called Conversation Participants.
Samsung Announces Biometric SSD T7 Touch
Samsung announced a biometric SSD called T7 Touch. It’s secured by your fingerprint for an extra layer of security.
Share Your Best iPhone Night Mode Photos to Contest
Starting today through January 29, Apple is holding an iPhone Night Mode contest. Judges will determine the five best photos.
Texas Sees Surge in Iranian Cyber Attacks
Texas officials say they’ve seen an increase in Iranian cyber attacks. Over the past two days as many as “10,000 probes…per minute” came from the country.
Speaking after a meeting of the Texas Domestic Terrorism Task Force, of which she’s a member, Crawford of the state information resources agency said as far as she knows, none of the attempted cyberattacks on state government networks originating in Iran have been successful.
Apple Files Trademark for Dark Mode Icons
Apple filed a trademark today that shows a Dark Mode version of the Apple Music icon. It’s possible they could appear in iOS 14.
Here’s What Data is Accessible With Cloud Forensics
When a company like Cellebrite or GrayKey use their devices to break into your iPhone, it’s not just your local data that can be accessed. Using various types of “cloud forensics” or cloud extraction technology, they can get your data in the cloud as well. It’s a long read but worth it.
Cellebrite’s UFED Cloud Analyzer, for example, uses login credentials that can be extracted from the device to then pull a history of searches, visited pages, voice search recording and translations from Google web history and view text searches conducted with Chrome and Safari on iOS devices backed-up iCloud.
Travelex Infected With Sodinokibi Ransomware, Attacker Wants $3M
A cyber attack infected international foreign currency exchange Travelex with Sodinokibi ransomware. The attackers are demanding US$3 million.
The attack occurred on December 31 and affected some Travelex services. This prompted the company to take offline all its computer systems, a precaution meant “to protect data and prevent the spread of the virus.”
We were told that they deleted the backup files and that the ransom demanded was $3 million; if not paid in seven days (countdown likely started on December 31), the attackers said they will publish the data they stole.
CES 2020: AURA Strap for Apple Watch Launches in April
Last year at CES 2019 AURA announced an Apple Watch smart strap that could measure body composition, and it ships in April.
CES 2020: Eve Cam Works With HomeKit Secure Video
Today smart home company Eve Systems announced a product called Eve Cam, an indoor camera made exclusively for HomeKit Secure Video.
CES 2020: Razer Unveils Kishi iPhone Gaming Controllers
At CES 2020 Razer showed off several products, one of which was a mobile gaming controller called Kishi that works with iPhones.
FBI Wants Apple’s Help to Unlock iPhones Again
The FBI is again asking Apple’s help to unlock iPhones. This time it’s part of an investigation into the shooting at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.
Fresh Cambridge Analytica Leaks Reveal Scope of Manipulation
A fresh wave of Cambridge Analytica leaks is being disseminated by the press, and it reveals that its misinformation and manipulation reached at least 65 countries.
Platforms whose profiteering purpose is to track and target people at global scale — which function by leveraging an asymmetrical ‘attention economy’ — have zero incentive to change or have change imposed upon them. Not when the propaganda-as-a-service business remains in such high demand…
This campaign is still going, because Cambridge Analytica shut down and renamed itself as Emerdata.
Today at Apple Offers Apple TV+ iPad Poster Series
Apple is introducing a Today at Apple creative session that has customers designing posters inspired by Apple TV+ shows.
Anker’s iPhone LED Flash Available to Preorder
Anker has an LED flash accessory for iPhone photographers that plugs into the Lightning port. It’s MFi certified and is available to preorder.