The Benefits of Using the Internet for Tech Purchases

Every year, millions of people head online in order to purchase a range of tech products. This includes everything from laptops and computers to games consoles, smartphones, and tablets. While you can get all of these items at bricks and mortar establishments, there are various benefits you can look forward to when you go online…

The Marvel Series Cancelled by Netflix Won't Be on Disney+ Anytime Soon

Here’s the opening of a detailed story from Variety.

Fans of the Marvel Television series recently canceled by Netflix who hope to see the shows revived on Disney+ may be out of luck.

Sources tell Variety that the deal for the original four Marvel shows includes a clause that prevents the characters from appearing in any non-Netflix series or film for at least two years after cancellation. That means that “Daredevil,” “Luke Cage,” and “Iron Fist” — which were all canceled this year at Netflix — could not come to the Disney streaming service until 2020 at the earliest.

Iron Fist image credit: Marvel.

Djay Moves to Subscription Model

Popluar iOS music app djay moved to a subscription model and simplified how users access it across multiple devices.

The Storyteller's Essential Mac Bundle: $15.99

We have a deal for you on the Storyteller’s Essential Mac Bundle, a collection of apps aimed at storytellers from Mariner Software. It includes Mariner Write, Contour 2, Narrator, Persona, StoryMill, and Montage. Our deal is for $19.99, but coupon code GREENMONDAY20 at checkout brings it down to $15.99.

Someone Built an Unofficial Apple Music Web Player

A software engineer built an unofficial Apple Music web player so that the service can be accessed by Linux users.

Older People are Driving Growth in Wearables

When you think of consumers of wearable technology, the over-55s are not necessarily the demographic that springs to mind. However, Fortune found that health monitoring features such as the Apple Watch’s new ECG app appeal to older people. Consequently, the number of users in that age group is expected to rise faster than the average.

The number of people using smart wearables is expected to grow 9% next year, but among people age 55 and older, it will jump more than 15%, according to research firm eMarketer. The reason is that wearable makers like Apple and Fitbit have been adding health monitoring features that appeal to older consumers. Apple added a fall detection app and an EKG monitor to the Apple Watch Series 4 this year, for example, while Fitbit is adding a feature to detect sleep apnea.

American Flavor GDPR, $100K for your smartphone – TMO Daily Observations 2018-12-13

Dave Hamilton and Andrew Orr join host Kelly Guimont to discuss new consumer privacy legislation and a contest to give up your smartphone.

Apple has Hired Doctors to Help its Health Tech Development

CNBC learned that Apple has up to 50 doctors working for it as it continues its move into health tech. The report said that some of the physicians operate at very senior levels of the firm, including one who works closely with COO Jeff Williams.  Many continue to see patients as well as working for Apple. While a large number of the doctors work on the Apple Watch, some work at Apple’s AC Wellness primary care group, which cares for its employees.

These hires are not just for show, according to people familiar with the doctors and their roles. Many haven’t disclosed their role at Apple at all, which is commonplace at a company that prides itself on secrecy. One example is Stanford pediatrician Rajiv Kumar, who has worked there for several years. CNBC was able to locate 20 physicians at Apple via LinkedIn searches and sources familiar, and other people said as many as 50 doctors work there. Apple has more than 130,000 employees globally.

Why Apple Products Keep Getting More Expensive

All Apple fans know that its products are not the cheapest out there. The argument always was that they were the best though, so that’s why they were the most expensive. Ultimately, you get what you pay for, and people accepted that. Recently, though, the cost of top-end Apple products rose faster than inflation. Some went up 20% or more this fall. The Washington Post took a look at how prices have changed, and why customers keep coming back.

Many Apple product prices are rising faster than inflation — faster, even, than the price of prescription drugs or going to college. Yet when Apple offers cheaper options for its most important product, the iPhone, Americans tend to take the more expensive choice. So while Apple isn’t charging all customers more, it’s definitely extracting more money from frequent upgraders.

Some People Trying to Crowdfund YouTube Piracy

Plenty of pirated content is available on the platform, and some accounts are asking for donations.

Phone Number Lookup: See Your Public Data Profile

Keepsafe is launching a phone number lookup service. Text “Hello” to (855) 228-4539 and it will send you a small report of public data associated with your phone number.

Keepsafe co-founder and CEO Zouhair Belkoura said that while marketers are able to access this information with relative ease, it’s difficult for consumers to check. “We said, ‘Why don’t we make it super easy?’” he said. “Here’s a number you can text that tells you what information is publicly available.”

I’m pleased to report that my phone number isn’t publicly associated with certain information in any way, like my name, home address, age, gender, carrier, and associated people. In my privacy score, they did figure out what carrier I use, as well as the zip code of my former home town. But again, no actual address.

Apple Building New $1bn Campus in Austin

Apple is building a new 133 acre, $1 billion, campus in Austin, Texas and creating thousands of jobs across the U.S.

Pick up a Costco Mac at a $50 to $200 Discount

Yesterday Costo started selling Macs on its website, and you can pick up a Costco Mac and get a US$50 to US$200 discount.

Chronicle is a Beautiful App That Gives You Bill Reminders

I recently started using Chronicle for bill reminders and I’m glad I found it. The app gives you a calendar view, along with a list of bills that you enter. Name the bill, add a category, amount, and due date, and forget about it. Plus, Chronicle syncs with the available Mac version via iCloud, so you can view and pay your bills everywhere. In addition to reminding you to pay your bills, Chronicle keeps track of all your payment history, including confirmation numbers, so you always have proof of payments. New to Chronicle is the Pro version. Available as an in-app purchase, Chronicle Pro gives you access to all new features of Chronicle as they are updated. Chronicle Pro is US$3.99/year and gives you features like Amount to Save, Intelligent Estimated Amount Due, and Forecast View. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)

A List of iPad Keyboard Shortcuts for Apple Apps

Andrew put together a list of iPad keyboard shortcuts that work in Apple apps. Third-party apps may have their own shortcuts.

Give Up Your Phone for a Year and Win $100,000 From Vitaminwater

Vitaminwater is willing to pay US$100,000 to anyone who can give up their smartphone for an entire year. If you last six months you’ll get US$10,000.

The contest rules clarify that your cell phone is likely a smartphone if it can get on the internet and texting is a pleasant experience. It also clarifies that tablets also aren’t allowed and neither is using someone else’s smartphone. The rules don’t go into detail about how the year-long technology abstinence will be proven, but the company indicates that a lie detector test is involved.

As tempting as $100k sounds I wouldn’t be able to give up my iPhone for a year.

How to Save Money by Repairing Your MacBook

Apple products are everywhere. From the iPhone to the iPad, Steve Jobs’ innovations make up most of our digital possessions and if we’re not waiting for the latest release, we’re making sure our Apple devices are up to date and packed with the very latest software. The Mac is another Apple product that many of…

15 Senators Introduce American Privacy Bill

Unlike Europe the United States doesn’t have GDPR, but that could change with the introduction of an American privacy bill put forth by 15 Senators.

What's the Amount of Google Bias in Search? DuckDuckGo Finds Out

Last week DuckDuckGo published a study examining the amount of Google bias in products like Google Search. CEO Gabriel Weinberg then told Business Insider:

What [our study] does reveal, or at least suggests, is that Google’s collection and use of personal data, including location, which is then used to filter specific search results, is having an effect akin to the effects of a political bias. That is an important nuance often missed in these discussions.

First, there’s a big difference between what a study suggests, and what it reveals. Language is important. Second, like other studies, the first one is interesting, but more studies need to be done in the form of peer review. I’d be interested to see one from an independent party that doesn’t have Google as a competitor.

Get Free Bitcoins from 42 Faucets That Pay

Bryan Chaffin explains how Bitcoin faucets work and which faucets you can trust to pay. [Update: Added a paying faucet and tested all faucets. – Bryan]