Apple recently released the fourth beta of iOS 14.5 to developers, and code suggests that updates to the platform could change in the future.
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
Wikipedia Wants Big Tech to Pay for its Content
Tech giants use Wikipedia to power their assistants, like Siri and Alexa. But they don’t pay the non-profit. Now, Wikimedia Enterprise wants to change that.
The Foundation says it doesn’t expect Enterprise ever to become the primary source of funding for the foundation’s roughly $100 million budget. User donations, supplemented by grants, should still carry most of the load, Seitz-Gruwell says, but having a reliable additional revenue stream from companies would offer stability for the foundation, particularly as it embarks on an ambitious agenda for the year 2030 to reach more parts of the world and more communities with “free knowledge.”
Avira Security Updates Mac App With New Code
Avira Security released the latest version of its software suite on Tuesday. It’s been rewritten with Apple’s Swift, SwiftUI, and Combine frameworks.
Recreate Ted Lasso Biscuits With ‘Binging With Babish’
I watch a lot of cooking shows and one of my favorites is “Binging With Babish.” This week his newest video is recreating the biscuits from “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+. “Ted Lasso’s optimistic, unflappable energy didn’t just win over the hearts of the footballers he coached; this past year, audiences everywhere were swept up in his Kansas City charm. Now his crumbly, buttery shortbread biscuits can win you over no matter what scumbag ex-husband’s reputation you seek to sabotage, thanks to this simple-but-loving recipe.”
pCloud Releases Report on Invasive iOS Apps and Facebook Wins
Cloud provider pCloud released a report of the most invasive apps on iOS. No surprise but apps from Facebook are the worst.
Apple Launches Youth Filmmaking Challenge With Redford Center
The Redford Center announced its second annual Redford Center Stories Challenge, and this year Apple has teamed up.
Dropbox Passwords Rolls Out to All Users in April
Dropbox Passwords launched in 2020 for paid users to manage their passwords. Now the company has announced it will be available to free users in April. You can sign up here to be notified of its release.
Dropbox Basic users will be able to store up to 50 passwords in Dropbox Passwords and have them automatically sync with up to three devices. It will also be possible to share passwords securely with anyone eventually, but this is a feature Dropbox is still working on and isn’t available yet.
I think it’s interesting that Dropbox came out with a password manager, but you can find far better ones for free with less limitations, like Bitwarden.
FaceTime Group Call Spam Plaguing Apple Customers
FaceTime group call spam has been recently affecting Apple users, and they’re harder to block than individual numbers.
watchOS 7.4 Beta 4 Released to Developers With iPhone Unlock
Along with other updates, Apple has released the watchOS 7.4 beta 4 for developers to test and install.
Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.3 Beta 4 to Developers
A couple of weeks after releasing beta 3, Apple on Monday has seeded macOS Big Sur 11.3 developer beta 4 to developers.
iPadOS 14.5, iOS 14.5 Beta 4 Released to Developers
Apple seeded beta 4 for iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 on Monday for developers, a couple of weeks after beta 3.
Bitwarden Announces Data Sharing Feature ‘Bitwarden Send’
Password manager Bitwarden announced on Monday the introduction of a new feature called Bitwarden Send.
Molson Coors Production Grinds to Halt From Cyberattack
Molson Coors has revealed in its regulatory filing it suffered a cyberattack, and production has come to a halt.
Molson Coors experienced a systems outage that was caused by a cybersecurity incident. We have engaged a leading forensic IT firm to assist our investigation into the incident and are working around the clock to get our systems back up as quickly as possible.
Not even our beer is safe. One likely candidate is some kind of ransomware.
HBO Max to Launch Ad-Supported Streaming Plan in June
HBO executives revealed a new HBO Max plan that will launch in June. It will be ad-supported and more affordable than its current plan.
The primary difference between the two will center on WarnerMedia’s 2021 films, which are releasing through a hybrid model on HBO Max the same day that they debut in theaters. After the ad-supported plan launches, the films will be limited to the more expensive of the two subscriptions.
Dashlane Reveals New Password Changer and Autofill Engine
Dashlane announced on Thursday a redesign of its Password Changer, as well as a new autofill engine powered by machine learning.
Password Changer seamlessly logs users into compatible websites, generates strong, unique passwords, then changes the passwords for those sites on the user’s behalf in one-click.
Interested persons can sign up to test the beta versions of Dashlane with these new features using this website.
Pepsi Docuseries ‘The Jet’ Coming to Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has landed a docuseries called “The Jet” that tells the story behind the popular Pepsi campaign in the 1990s.
Apple Sues Former Employee Over Leaking Trade Secrets to Reporter
Apple has sued former employee Simon Lancaster, saying he leaked trade secrets to a reporter in exchange for favors.
Adobe Updates Photoshop With M1 Support, Saying its 50% Faster
Adobe announced on Wednesday that it updated Photoshop to support M1 Macs, and the company says it runs 1.5X faster.
This Open Source Tool Can Generate Serial Codes for Hackintoshes
The developer behind Docker-OSX released a standalone tool to generate serial codes that can be used to create “a virtual army of Hackintoshes.”
Just type in a command, and it will set up a CSV file full of serial codes. “You can generate hundreds and thousands of serial numbers, just like that. And it just generates a massive list.
Netflix Moves to Crack Down on Password Sharing
Jason Gurwin reports that some Netflix users recently began seeing warnings if the company detects you’re using someone else’s password.
We’ve heard the test right now is only on TV devices. A Netflix spokesperson told The Streamable, “This test is designed to help ensure that people using Netflix accounts are authorized to do so.” It isn’t clear if users in the test all need to be on the same IP address to be considered in the same household.
To quote Jahil Nelson: “The only thing worse than a bunch of people pirating your software is …nobody pirating your software.”
Apple’s New Page Shares Privacy Labels for its Apps
Apple recently created a new webpage that lists all of its apps from A to X and shares information on its privacy labels in accordance with iOS 14.
Apple Orders ‘Lady in the Lake’ Series Starring Natalie Portman
Apple has given a straight-to-series order for “Lady in the Lake” starring Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o.
Nimble’s Spring 2021 Replay Charging Collection is Environmentally Friendly
Recently, Nimble introduced its Spring 2021 REPLAY Collection filled with fast-charge accessories produced with a low carbon footprint.
Verkada Security Breach Exposes 150,000 Surveillance Cameras
Hackers have breached the systems of Verkada, a startup that sells security cameras. The group says it was done to expose how widespread video surveillance is.
A person with knowledge of the matter said Verkada’s chief information security officer, an internal team and an external security firm are investigating the incident. The company is working to notify customers and set up a support line to address questions, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.