NVIDIA is releasing a US$99 AI computer called the Jetson Nano aimed at “developers, makers and enthusiasts.”
Bandersnatch-Ing Data from Interactive Netflix Show
Bandersnatch, the interactive Black Mirror movie on Netflix, was something of a hit. Viewers could pick the narrative path they went down. However, the Register reported on research that showed the data about choices could be snooped on using network packet analysis. Indeed, the scientists behind the research claims that they successfully determined what choice users made 96% of the time.
When viewers watching the video choose one of the two narrative paths at various branch points in the story, that information gets sent back to Netflix to display the appropriate video segment. And it turns out to be possible to discern which branch each viewer took through network packet analysis. In a paper just released through pre-print service ArXiv, “White Mirror: Leaking Sensitive Information from Interactive Netflix Movies using Encrypted Traffic Analysis,” a handful of the institute’s computer scientists show that story choices – sent from the viewer’s browser to Netflix via a JSON file – can be inferred despite the encryption of network traffic.
iMac Refresh, Apple's Next Updates – TMO Daily Observations 2019-03-19
Bryan Chaffin and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont for a chat about updated iMacs and speculate on the next Apple product to be updated via press release.
Time for Apple to Acknowledge Flexgate
The Flexgate issue – whereby the ribbon cable that connects the body of some MacBook Pros to their display wears down too quickly, was revealed in January 2019 by iFixit. It seems to be a design flaw. These things happen. However, there has been frustration among users at Apple’s reaction. On The Verge, Vlad Savov said it is time for the company to acknowledge and deal with the issue.
A petition, now numbering more than 15,000, would beg to differ. It calls for Apple to publicly recognize Flexgate as a design flaw, and to commit to repair all MacBook Pro laptops affected by it. I think that’s exactly what Apple should do, and it’s no less than we should expect from a company that touts its reliability and user satisfaction numbers any chance it gets. No one should have to pay upwards of $500 to replace an entire display just because Apple (a) decided to affix a fragile cable to one of the most expensive components in its MacBook Pro, and (b) miscalculated the necessary length of that cable in its first design.
Details on Intel CPUs used in Apple’s 2019 iMacs [Chart]
Exactly which Intel part numbers and generation CPUs were used in the new iMacs just announced? After some investigation, a detailed chart emerged.
Angry Birds AR Coming to iOS
The Angry Birds are back, and this time they are in augmented reality. The user sees the view from behind the slingshot, as Chuck, Red, and friends are placed in the player’s surroundings. The trailer shows them popping pigs on restaurant table. Think Pokemon Go, but with birds being fired around instead. Rovio, the firm behind the Angry Birds brand, partnered with Resolution to create the latest iteration (via Techcrunch). Angry Birds – Isle of Pigs is going to launch initially on iOS only. The birds will flay-in this spring.
Apple Teams Up to Help Students With Media Literacy
Apple is supporting the News Literacy Project (NLP) and Common Sense in the U.S., and Osservatorio Permanente Giovani-Editori in Italy.
With This App You'll Be Journaling Like a Stoic
I’ve been interested in applying Stoic philosophy to my life for a while, although I haven’t quite taken the plunge yet. That’s why this app caught my eye. This Stoic journaling app gives you daily journaling, meditations, reflection, and mood tracking. It sets you up with morning and evening routines. Prepare in the morning, so that nothing can surprise you during the day; and reflect on your actions in the evening, get better every day, and iterate faster. You’ll learn reflective exercises like negative visualization: Discover how many things you have in your life that you should be grateful for. Things you take for granted. achievements that you forgot a long time ago. You are luckier and more privileged than you think. Quotes from philosophers are available, and see how your journal entries and mood change over time. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
Apple TV Sports Has its Own Human Curation
In a new report today we find that Apple TV Sports has its own curation team, watching for newsworthy and unpredictable moments.
Time For a Spotify-Apple 'Conscious Uncoupling'
Apple and Spotify are engaged in a high-profile battle, but perhaps it is time they now went their separate ways.
WeTransfer Adds a Collage Tool to Paper
WeTransfer added a collage tool to its Paper app. You can clip and arrange multiple images on a page and cut them out or slice them up. This feature can be used for scrapbooking, mood boarding, and visual note taking. And since Paper also added an integration with Unsplash, it’s easy to find a beautiful photo right from the app. Kris Martin, product manager for Paper by WeTransfer, said: “While an army of apps have offered countless new ways to layer, retouch, and filter your photos, there’s still something missing. The simple, tangible experience of clipping and arranging images together has never been faithfully translated to our touch screens. With our latest release, Paper invites creators of all ages to rediscover the experience of cutting and combining images we all had when we were young. It’s simple, intuitive, and useful for creators of any age.” Mr. Martin also wrote an article about the collage tool.
iMacs Updated With New CPU and GPU Options
Apple announced iMac upgrades today, with up to 8-core Intel processors and Vega graphics available.
Apple Analyst Skeptical About Impact of Streaming Service
The impact of Apple’s streaming service on its bottom line will be “likely small” according to a Goldman Sachs analyst.
Netflix CEO Confirms Content Will Not be Available on Apple Streaming Service
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said that his company wants to keep people watching its content on its own platform, not Apple’s.
GarageBand And The Musicians Who Use It
This year is GarageBand’s 15th birthday, and Rolling Stone wrote a great article on how it changed how musicians created their art.
In the first media visit Apple has ever allowed to its under-the-radar Music Apps studio, the team of engineers showed Rolling Stone how the creation process for Garageband’s two types of sounds — synthetic and “real” — can span weeks or sometimes months per instrument, with new hurdles at every turn.
Beware the Magnets – Mac Geek Gab 753
You want Cool Stuff Found? You want to know how to uninstall apps properly? What about the dangers of disabling SIP? John F. Braun and Dave Hamilton, your two favorite geeks, come together to answer all of these and more. Have a question? Send it in to feedback@macgeekgab.com or post in the MGG forums.
The Three Eras of the Apple Retail Stores
At ZDNet, Chris Matyszczyk, recounts his discussion with a former Apple store manager. Described are the three eras of the Apple retail stores, starting with the “golden age” under SVP Ron Johnson. After Johnson left Apple, in this employee’s opinion, the experience went vastly down hill. It’s just one ex-employee’s view. but fascinating reading nevertheless.
Aramark Uses iOS Business Chat in Cleveland
Aramark and the Cleveland Cavaliers teamed up with Apple’s Business Chat to let fans order drinks from their seats in the Quicken Loans arena.
Syncing Trello and Todoist to Boost Productivity
Trello and Todoist are key tools in lots of people’s productivity armoury, but it is not obvious how they can best work together.
Apple Set to Roll Out Red Carpet for Hollywood Stars at March 25 Event
LONDON- Apple’s March 25th “It’s Showtime” event looks like it is going to be a bit different from normal tech-company shows. The Times of London reported that Hollywood A-Listers like Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Oprah Winfrey, who is producing a show for Apple, could attend. It is just another element of the firm’s battle for streaming supremacy with the likes of Netflix.
The iPhone maker is ramping up the star power to support its long-awaited push into the entertainment business. For nearly two years Apple executives have been signing up the cream of Tinseltown on lucrative contracts for its on-demand TV and movie service. Next Monday, Apple will explain how it plans to dethrone Netflix and Amazon, the largest players in paid-for video streaming. It may also unveil a subscription news and magazine service, sources said.
