Get into the holiday spirit with our iPhone 16 Pro Max giveaway! Don’t miss your chance to win a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple to Produce ‘Kitbag’ With Joaquin Phoenix for Apple TV+
Apple Studios will finance and produce a Napoleon Bonaparte film called “Kitbag” for Apple TV+. It will be directed by Ridley Scott and star Joaquin Phoenix.
BMW iX Will Receive Digital Key Plus for iPhone Drivers
On Thursday BMW announced that its Digital Key Plus based on ultra wideband (UWB) technology will arrive with the BMW iX vehicle.
Apple REJI Program Lead Alisha Johnson Discusses Latests Announcements
On Wednesday, Apple announced new programs and investments as part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI). Program lead Alisha Johnson talked to Bustle about how efforts fit within the company.
When we looked at REJI as an effort, we had this great model to follow. And it was the environment work that Apple’s been steeped in for over a decade, where in order to ensure this work is sustained and that it’s far-reaching and affects every part of our operations. We have employees in every part of our operations who are looking at ways to already start to focus this work in their daily roles… We talked to our content team, Apple Music, and Apple TV+, and they’re already looking at ways that they can ensure they’re elevating Black voices, that their programming is focused on educating customers. As we were having internal conversations within Apple around launching REJI, there were teams that were already deploying education moments for customers. They weren’t waiting for our green light. We had a Siri team that was already put together in response to the question, “Do all lives matter?” so people could really understand the importance of saying Black lives matter.
Microsoft 365 Upload File Size Limit Increasing to 250 GB
The upload file size limit in Microsoft 365 is set to increase from 100 GB to 250 GB, with roll-out starting in January 2021.
CES 2021: BIWIN Launches New Biwintech Brand of Storage Products
Storage product manufacturer BIWIN used CES 2021 to announce that it is launching a new performance-based memory and SSD brand – Biwintech.
Apple Apps No Longer Bypass macOS Big Sur Firewalls
In macOS Big Sur, Apple deprecated third-party kernel extensions including Network Kernel Extensions (NKEs). NKEs are used by apps like firewalls to monitor network traffic. Apple’s new user-mode Network Extension Framework had a side-effect: Apple’s own apps wouldn’t be routed through it and thus could bypass third-party firewalls. But now that has changed.
I of course also wondered if malware could abuse these “excluded” items to generate network traffic that could surreptitiously bypass any socket filter firewall. Unfortunately the answer was yes! It was (unsurprisingly) trivial to find a way to abuse these items, and generate undetected network traffic.
Get Four Months of Free Unlimited Coffee With Apple Pay and Panera Bread
Apple is partnering with Panera Bread on a deal for the MyPanera+ Coffee subscription. Sign up through January 27 for perks.
Meditation App ‘Calm’ Introduces Calm Puzzles with Spin Master Games
Calm is a popular sleep and meditation app. It recently partnered with Spin Master Games to create Calm Puzzles. These are jigsaw puzzles featuring zen, tranquil landscape scenes (Calm Coral, Foggy Mountains, Hidden Waterfalls, Jasper Lake, Sunflower Fields and Waterfall Mountain). These Mindful Puzzles are available to purchase on Amazon and in stores at Target and Walmart. You can listen to peaceful audio in the Calm app while you work on the puzzle. Each 300-piece puzzle includes a FREE 30-day subscription to the Calm app, which allows you to listen to sounds of nature and peaceful audio content that corresponds to your mindful puzzle as you work on putting it together.
August Releases 4th Generation Wi-Fi Smart Lock
August is showing their 4th generation of their smart lock, a Wi-FI Smart Lock that attaches to your existing deadbolt.
Kingston Digital Introduces Workflow Product Series
Kingston Digital announces the Workflow Product Series, a docking approach to working with external media.
Maktar Releases Qubii Pro iPhone Backup and Memory Solution
Qubii Pro is an iPhone or Android device backup and memory solution, with the Pro version adding security features and greater control over your data through the Qubii app.
UV Light Sterilizer with Built-in Portable Battery: $59.99
We have a deal on the KeySmart CleanTray ToGo rechargeable UV light sterilizer. This device will sterilize your iPhone and other small items, and it features built-in wireless charging, too. You charge the sterilizer through USB-C, and it fits smartphones up to 7-inches. It’s $59.99 through our deal.
watchOS 7.3 Developer Beta 2 Available to Download
The third operating system that received developer beta 2 is watchOS 7.3. Release notes for this update have not been published.
Apple Releases macOS Big Sur 11.2 Developer Beta 2
Like the iOS 14.4 developer beta, macOS betas can be downloaded from Apple’s developer page. Release notes haven’t been published.
iOS 14.4, iPadOS 14.4 Developer Beta 2 Ready to Download
Apple has released the second developer betas of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4. It includes a new interaction with iPhone and HomePod mini.
Apple's Latest Initiative – TMO Daily Observations 2021-01-13
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple’s latest announcement and Apple’s evolving stance as a corporate citizen.
Apple Supplier Foxconn Joins Partnership to Build Cars for Third Parties
Apple supplier Foxconn and Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely announced Wednesday that they are partnering provide contract manufacturing for third-parties, Reuters reported. It adds to a growing number of stories concerning Apple and electric vehicles.
They will each hold 50% of a venture that will also provide consulting services on electric vehicle (EV) technologies to automakers, the companies said in a statement. It marks the latest move by Foxconn, a major Apple Inc supplier, into autos after a tie-up with Chinese electric car startup Byton and comes amid reports that Apple is likely to launch a self-driving electric car by 2024. For Geely, the partnership will allow it to share its first EV-focused platform, launched in September, with other automakers, according to people familiar with Geely’s plan.
Apple Announces Range of Major New Racial Equity and Justice Initiative Projects
Apple announced a collection of major projects as part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative aimed at challenging systemic racism and advancing racial equity across the U.S.
Apple Held Talks With Electric Vehicle Startup Canoo Just Last Year
Apple reportedly met with Canoo, a California-based electric vehicle startup, in the first half of 2020, but the talks ultimately collapsed.
will.i.am Discusses 'American Dream,' i.am Angel Foundation, and Education on Apple Music 1
will.i.am. spoke with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 about his new single and the Angel Foundation education drive it is supporting. Apple is one of the early backers, alongside games publisher Zynga.
CES 2021: Intel Reveals New Core i9 ‘Alder Lake’ Chip
Intel revealed its latest Core i9-11900K chip at CES 2021. Called Alder Lake, it uses an improved version of the 10nm SuperFin process.
Apple's Anti-Reflective Coating Repair Program Still Going
Apple‘s anti-reflective coating repair program is still effect, but users must now mail-in their qualifying device.
Create Your Own Website with WordPress Master Class: $29.99
We have a deal on WordPress Master Class, a bundle of training courses for WordPress. It includes five courses on creating an online store, marketing a site, creating a blog, using design in branding, and site performance. The entire bundle is $29.99 through our deal.
Why Billie Eilish Apple TV+ Doc Looks Like ‘The Office’
Pop stars notoriously come up with all sorts of weird demands for those around them. However, director R.J. Cutler was not quite prepared for Billie Eilish to ask for their Apple TV+ collaboration to look like The Office. He explained the request to Entertainment Weekly.
It took a second for the acclaimed The September Issue director to understand what the young music phenom was looking for, exactly. But by spending more time with her, “I realized what she meant was, as you know, there’s a unique relationship that the John Krasinski character in particular has with the camera in The Office, which is a full documentary. And that’s really what she was alluding to,” he tells EW. “That kind of connection to the camera was something she wanted the opportunity to have in making a documentary.” While it’s not an element that takes over the film, “There are two or three key moments where she connects with the camera in a way that is reflective of who Billie is in her connection to her audience,” the director adds.