Daily Tech News Show’s Tom Merritt named generative A.I. the most important story of 2022. It is not slowing down in 2023. He joins Ken to talk about this week’s announcements from Microsoft and Google. Plus – what’s going on with Apple and A.I.?
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Holding a Grudge and Loosening Restrictions - TMO Daily Observations 2023-01-26
Secret sources tell the Financial Times that Apple is trying to lessen its ties with Google over feelings of betrayal tied to Android. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken discuss why it’s a good article anyway. Plus – Rumor has Apple loosening its COVID policies. Yay?
Tom Merritt's Most Important and Interesting Stories of 2022 - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-28
Daily Tech News Show’s Tom Merritt broadens the scope on our 2022 review. His most important story is an intelligent look at A.I. image and text generation, while peak streaming grabs his interest.
Glancing Apple in 2023 and Trouble at HomeKit - TMO Daily Observations 2022-12-23
Citi and Needham analysts have thoughts on Apple’s year ahead. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken kick those thoughts around. Plus – Jeff updates us on trouble with HomeKit, and Apple to the rescue for some last minute shoppers.
Violent 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch Comically Promotes Apple Pay
A “Saturday Night Live” sketch featuring Martin Short and Steve Martin pokes fun at “A Christmas Carol” while promoting Apple Pay.
Concerns About Ads from Inside Apple - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-15
There’s word of a certain malaise inside Apple’s ad department. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to kick that around. Plus – Russian code has been found in apps used by the CDC and the US Army. Jeff will fill us in.
Apple's Advertising Partner Recommends Stopping Twitter Ad Campaigns
Apple’s advertising partner has recommended its clients pause ad campaigns on Twitter, citing potential serious implications to brand images.
Apple Looking into Building New Advertising Network In Preparation for Streaming Major League Soccer Games
Reports indicate that Apple is looking into expanding its advertising network as it prepares to stream Major League Soccer games on Apple TV+.
Apple Warns on iPhone 14 Pro Production - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-07
A press release on a Sunday night? TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins Ken to talk about the bad iPhone news Apple offered and who the news was for. Plus – Major League Soccer may be Apple’s advertising test kitchen for that other football people like so much.
Issues with Unions and Cross Promotion - TMO Daily Observations 2022-11-04
The first Apple Store union in the US has a formal complaint against Apple. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts brings us the story. Then, cross promotions are making Ken cross. Changes to the Weather app and Apple TV prompt the question – Are Apple Services sinking under the weight of their synergies?
Apple Pauses Apps Store Ads Related to Gambling After Developers' Complaints
Apple has paused the placement of gambling-related ads in the App Store after several developers complained about it.
Apple's Big Gambling Spree - TMO Daily Observations 2022-10-27
If you thought it was bad when Apple added two more ad slots to the App Store, hold Apple’s beer. A slew of ads for gambling apps almost make the ad slot additions forgettable. TMO writer Nick deCourville joins Ken to discuss that. Plus – Nick and Ken talk about how Apple is learning from accidental Emergency SOS notifications.
But First, a Word from More Sponsors - TMO Daily Observations 2022-10-24
Jeff Butts, Managing Editor of The Mac Observer, has been playing with the new operating systems due out today. He hips us to a few new features. But first, Jeff and Ken discuss the two new ad slots Apple’s opening in the App Store.
Ads on Apple TV+ and the Joe and Jobs A.I. Show - TMO Daily Observations 2022-10-13
There is talk again/still that Apple may try an ad-supported tier for Apple TV+. TMO writer Nick deCourville tells us why people think so and what such a thing might look like. Also – Joe Rogan interviewed Steve Jobs this week, except – obviously – no he did not. Sure sounds like it though… Nick and Ken talk about that creepy, creepy conversation.
Apple Looking to Expand Advertising Efforts to More Apps, Including Maps, Books and Podcasts
According to reports in Mark Gurman’s recent “Power On” newsletter, Apple is looking to expand its advertising efforts within native apps.
Apple Removes App That Could Hijack Facebook Ad Accounts
An iOS app would hijack Facebook Ad accounts. It locked several advertisers out and ran scam advertisements. It’s now gone from the App Store.
Apple Advertising Business Could Hit $6 Billion by 2025, $4.1 Billion In Search Ads Alone
According to a JP Morgan analyst, Apple’s blossoming advertising business could rake in $6 billion in mobile advertising in 2025.
Google Topics Will Categorize Your Browsing for Advertising
Google Topics will track your browsing and divvy it up into 300 categories for advertising. It replaces Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC).
When you hit upon a site that supports the Topics API for ad purposes, the browser will share three topics you are interested in — one for each of the three last weeks — selected randomly from your top five topics of each week. The site can then share this with its advertising partners to decide which ads to show you. Ideally, this would make for a more private method of deciding which ad to show you — and Google notes that it also provides users with far greater control and transparency than what’s currently the standard. Users will be able to review and remove topics from their lists — and turn off the entire Topics API, too.
Court Rules Blocking Ads is Not Copyright Infringement
Publisher Axel Springer claimed that blocking ads is copyright infringement, but a German court disagreed.
The Court notes that ruling otherwise would represent a “disproportionate encroachment” on users’ freedoms to make various choices, including not to load images to save bandwidth, to deactivate Javascript, or block pop-ups or tracking elements. It would also render translation tools and aids for visually impaired people as copyright infringing.
Sale: AdGuard's Family Plan is Now Just $29, Down From $129
Plans for AdGuard adblocker are now on sale through StackSocial, and as of this writing the deal ends in seven days. This is the adblocker I’ve been using for a few years and one that I personally recommend. Personal Plan – This is a lifetime license that is only available to new users. The maximum number of devices you can activate the service on is three, including desktop and mobile. US$19.99 US$59 Family Plan – This is a lifetime license that is only available to new users. The maximum number of devices you can activate the service on is nine, including desktop and mobile. US$29.99 US$129. System requirements: iOS 10.0 or later, OS X 10.10 Yosemite (64 bit) or later. Unredeemed licenses can be returned for store credit within 30 days of purchase. Once your license is redeemed, all sales are final.
Apple Adds Private Click Measurement to In-App Advertising in iOS 15.2
Apple is bringing Private Click Measurement (PCM) to in-app direct response advertising in iOS 15.2 by way of the SFSafariViewController.
Apple Caught Secretly Buying Ads on Google for Top Tier Subscription Apps
A recent report reveals how Apple has been buying Google ads on behalf of high-value subscription apps, with the developers unaware.
Peloton Latest to Complain That Apple Privacy Hurts Ability to Target Users
Peloton recently held an earnings call and mentioned that Apple’s privacy features with iOS have negatively affected its ad revenue.
Zoom Tests Advertising for Users on Free Plan
Zoom announced on Monday that it will begin piloting advertising for users on the free Basic plan.
For this initial program, ads will be rolled out only on the browser page users see once they end their meeting. Only free Basic users in certain countries will see these ads if they join meetings that are hosted by other free Basic users.