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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.

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Emulation Apps Get JIT Compilation With iOS 14.2

Emulation apps in iOS 14.2 receive Just In Time (JIT) compilation, meaning they can run at full speed.

However, that doesn’t mean you’ll see emulation apps in the App Store, or even any other app using JIT. Testut told us that the current implementation works only for sideloaded apps, which are usually installed through Xcode and other developer tools instead of the App Store. In other words, this is a feature intended for developers with debugging purposes.

CASETiFY Releases iPhone 12 mini Cases, Pro Max Cases

Hot on the heels of Apple’s launch of iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max, CASETiFY has released cases for both models. They come in various configurations like leather, clear, prints, and custom cases to showcase your logo. They’re eco-friendly with some collections made from 50% recycled PC materials, and vegan leather for other cases. With the company’s DEFENSiFY coating, these cases are anti-microbial, preventing 99% of bacteria from occupying your iPhone’s surfaces.

‘Reigns: Beyond’ Joins Apple Arcade Today

The latest game in the Reigns series called Reigns: Beyond joins Apple Arcade on Friday. As an intergalactic indie rockband, plot your rise to stardom, traveling from planet to planet and gig to gig on your quest for fame and fortune. Play local (and not-so-local) clubs throughout the galaxy, recruiting alien band members along the way, and rock out across the cosmos!  But make sure you’re managing your ship’s resources and keeping your crew in check while on this stellar tour because one wrong decision may leave you dead in space.

Safari 14 Translation Rolls Out to Brazil and Germany

Filipe Espósito shares news that 9To5Mac readers in Brazil and Germany report they can use Safari 14’s built-in translation feature.

For some unknown reason, the Safari translator wasn’t available in all countries supported by the Translate app. Luckily this might have changed today, as multiple users from different countries reported that the Safari translator is now enabled for them.

Some 9to5Mac readers from countries like Brazil and Germany told us that the translating option is now working in Safari, which is something that has definitely changed today. I was able to confirm that the Safari translator is now working on my devices with the system region set to Brazil.

Here’s How to Disinfect Your Apple Card

Brittney Myers wrote a guide on how to disinfect your Apple Card and other credit cards. I think it’s useful in situations where you’re unable to pay contactless with Apple Pay. We’ve heard for years that our smartphones are dirty, with some saying they can be dirtier than a toilet. I expect that credit and debit cards will have a similar level of uncleanliness.

According to Harvard Health, the coronavirus can live on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days, and the CDC advises that frequently touched objects and surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized at least once a day. In addition to copious handwashing, cleaning your frequently used items can help keep your home germ-free.

Michigan Prop 2 Passes; Police Need a Warrant to Search Your Devices

Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly passed Proposition 2 which adds “electronic data and electronic communications” to the state’s search and seizure laws.

The person, houses, papers, possessions, and electronic data and electronic communications of every person shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures. No warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things or to access electronic data or electronic communications shall issue without describing them, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

Translation: Michigan police need a warrant to search your electronic devices. And as a Michigander myself I definitely voted in favor of this.

Arc Pulse is a Minimalist Titanium Bumper for iPhone 12

I have one more piece of iPhone 12 phone case news for today. I was alerted to the Arc Pulse on Indiegogo. It tries to strike a balance between protecting your phone and enjoying its naked beauty. It’s not a case but a couple of metal attachments that slide over the top and bottom, protecting it from drops. There is an aluminum 7075 version and a titanium grade 5 version.

Mattel Revealed it Suffered a Data Breach on June 28

Toy company Mattel suffered ransomware attack on June 28, 2020. It revealed this in a 10-Q form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

On July 28, 2020, Mattel discovered that it was the victim of a ransomware attack on its information technology systems that caused data on a number of systems to be encrypted. Promptly upon detection of the attack, Mattel began enacting its response protocols and taking a series of measures to stop the attack and restore impacted systems. Mattel contained the attack and, although some business functions were temporarily impacted, Mattel restored its operations.

AirPods Menu Bar Tool ‘ToothFairy’ Updated to Version 2.7

ToothFairy is a Mac app that lives in the menu bar to connect your AirPods with a single click or key press. It works with other Bluetooth accessories too, like mice, keyboards, and gaming controllers. Version 2.7 readies the app for macOS Big Sur and brings changes: Added AppleScript support for listing devices, getting their properties, and toggling connections; Updated the sample scripts in the “Run shell script after connecting/disconnecting” section of the manual; Added new icons for AirPods Pro, Beats Studio 3, controller, headphones, Playstation, Powerbeats 2020, Siri Remote, and Xbox; The “Improve sound quality by disabling audio input from device” option now works better when a Bluetooth device auto-connects rather than being connected via ToothFairy. It’s also more reliable in cases where macOS reports that it has set the audio input device but actually hasn’t. ToothFairy is available on the Mac App Store for US$4.99.

Bookshop.Org Unites Indie Sellers to Battle Amazon

Apparently this launched earlier this year but I haven’t heard of it until now. Bookshop.org is a virtual bookshop that partners with indie book sellers as a rival to Amazon.

Hunter believes the reason for Bookshop’s quick success is readers’ fondness for their local booksellers. “Bookstores have been in trouble for a while because of Amazon’s growth, but this pandemic has really accelerated it. Amazon has gotten much more powerful, while there are 100-year-old stores that are hanging on for survival,” he said. “I think we were so successful because enough people were conscious of that, and wanted to rally around around their beloved bookstores, because they care about the world that we emerge from this pandemic into.”

Ignore Instagram. TODAY is Election Day in the US

Certain Instagram users found out on Tuesday that when they opened the app, they saw a banner that said, “Tomorrow is Election Day.” Ignore that because as you’ll see everywhere else in the news, TODAY is Election Day. Also, check out Charlotte’s article if you want to stay informed of the results.

“While we turned off the ‘Tomorrow is Election Day’ notice last night, it was cached for a small group of people if their app hadn’t been restarted,” Instagram wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, responding to a number of users who had received the message. “It’s resolving itself as people restart.”