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Bryan Chaffin

Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.

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Bitcoin Top Crypto on the Darkweb, but Privacy-Oriented Cryptos Are Gaining Steam

Bitcoin remains the cryptocurrency of choice on the dark web, according to a report from TheNextWeb. That might be mostly a matter of inertia, however, as privacy-oriented cryptos are gaining steam. Cryptos like Monero and Dash, as well as others, have features baked into their underlying blockchain that can make it much harder to trace transactions. From TheNextWeb‘s coverage:

Bitcoin is still very much the dark web‘s favorite cryptocurrency, but those looking to cover their tracks are slowly learning to use privacy-focused alternatives. […] Authorities say there has been a more “pronounced shift” towards more privacy-orientated cryptocurrencies, and expects this trend to continue as criminals become more security aware.

CuriosityStream 3-Year Subscription: $45

We have a deal on a 3-year subscription for CuriosityStream, the streaming and on-demand service with more than 2,000 documentaries and shows. It works in a browser, iOS, Apple TV 4 and above, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One, and more. It’s $45 through our deal.

iPM PU Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 11 with Kickstand: $12.99

We have a deal on the PM Leather Protective Wallet Case. This wallet-style case is made from PU leather, and it includes slots for credit cards, ID cards, and one large pocket for your bills. It also has a kickstand function for propping your iPhone up. We’re linking to the black case for the iPhone 11 for $12.99. There’s a pulldown menu for iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, too, as well as several color choices.

Clean Email 1-Year Subscription: $9.99

We have a deal on a one year subscription to Clean Email, an online bulk email cleaner designed to help you to take control of your mailbox. It relies on powerful rules and filters you can define to efficiently segment your mailbox into relevant groups, allowing you to quickly identify useful and clean up useless emails with a few clicks. One year is $9.99 through our deal.

Our Deal for iMazing 2 for Mac and Windows is Back: $19.99

We have a deal on iMazing 2, the Mac and Windows app that lets you manage your iPhone and iPad data and files. You can browse and manage your backups, extract and print your text messages, drag and drop songs to your iPhone—all without jailbreaking your device. We love iMazing at TMO, and I am pleased to be able to offer this deal. You can get your iMazing 2 universal license for Mac and Windows for $19.99 through our deal.

The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 PRO for Mac Bundle: $199

We have a deal on the The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 PRO for Mac Bundle. It includes Cartoon Animator 4 PRO for Mac, 2D Facial Mocap Suite, and the Cartoon Animator 4 Training 3-in-1 Bundle. The first app is an animation app, while the second is motion-capture software that lets you use your own face to animate a cartoon face. The training bundle includes 55 lectures and 6 hours of training content. You get this package through our deal for $199.

Securely Store and Access Your Files with E2E Encrypted Cloud Storage: $99

We have a deal on a 1-year subscription to MEGA Cloud Storage PRO, a cloud storage platform using end-to-end encryption. The service encrypts what you upload before you upload it—and, you control the keys. You can store, access or share your files from within your web browser, or through dedicated Android, iOS, or Windows Phone apps. Our deal has three levels of storage, starting with 1TB at $99 per year.

Camera Grip for iPhone with LED Light Bundle: $54.99

We have a deal on the Ligtro Grip for iPhone, which brings the physical dials and buttons on your phone to the handle, making it easier to control the camera functions. This deal also includes the Ligtro LB1 LED Light for flash photography. The grip works with iPhone models from the 6 to the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. It’s $54.99 through our deal.

Elevate Your Displays in Style While Charging Your Devices Up to 4x Faster: $144.99

We have a deal on the ProBASE X Aluminum Monitor Stand with a Fast Charging port. It also features a storage drawer on the left and a 6-port hub on the right. It connects to your computer via USB 3.0, and for output, it has two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, a MicroSD card slot, an ethernet port (10/100/1000Mbps), and that QuickCharge port. This device is $144.99 through our deal, 8% off retail. 

NordVPN 1-Year Subscription: $60

We have a deal on a 1-year subscription to NordVPN. All data sent through NordVPN’s private tunnels is double encrypted (double data SSL-based 2048-bit encryption). There are 3,521 servers in 61 countries, you can connect up to 6 devices, and you get unlimited data. The company has a no-log policy, too, and it will work with Mac, iOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and Android devices. One year of NordVPN is $60 through us, and there’s a 2-year option available in the deal listing, too.

Portable 10,000mAh Power Bank: $15

We have a deal on a portable power bank with a 10,000mAh capacity. It features dual USB inputs for faster charging up, and dual 2.4A outputs for charging your smartphone and other devices at high speeds. And, it’s just $15 through our deal.

Pictar Smart Grip + Wide Angle 16 MM and Macro Lens Bundle: $129.99

We have a deal on the Pictar Smart Grip and a bundle of two lenses. This device is a camera grip that fits most iPhones and Android devices, if that’s your thing, and it does that in a very clever way. Rather than matching physical buttons or even using a wireless connection for camera controls, this device emits high frequency sounds you can’t hear, but that the free companion app can. That allows you to control all manner of camera settings on your iPhone while using very little power. The deal includes the Pictar Smart Lens Wide 16 mm + Macro X12 clip on lens kit, and you get the bundle for $129.99 through our deal.

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