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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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Articles by Andrew Orr

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Cred.ai Offers a Unicorn Credit Card Powered by AI

Andrew Orr ·

Cred.ai is a new fintech company that wants to help you improve your credit score with its special credit card powered by AI.

As you buy items on your credit card, Cred will automatically pay them off from your bank account—not instantly (that way, you can still build credit) and not necessarily at the end of the month (that way you don’t float too much debt at any given time, which can also hurt your credit). Even if you autopay your credit card monthly, Cred’s AI can, in theory, do better.

This is old news, but I’m sharing it because the Cred.ai app is now available in the App Store to apply. I applied for the card last night to hopefully review in the future. There is a waiting list unless you have an invite code.

Back Up Your Shortcuts Using iCloud Links With This Shortcut
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Back Up Your Shortcuts Using iCloud Links With This Shortcut

Andrew Orr ·

Apple had some kind of issue on their end that caused iCloud links for shortcuts to stop working. Since shortcuts no longer rely on files within the Shortcuts folder in iCloud, the only way to back up your shortcuts is by generating an iCloud link. The links are working again but only for new iCloud links. Old links don’t work anymore. I’ve been using two shortcuts that I created as a backup. The first one will generate a link for every shortcut you have and create a note in Apple Notes with the links. The second one can back up a single shortcut at a time and appends it to that same note as well as a text file. They can, and should, be modified to fit your own needs and file system. Update: Multiple reports on Friday suggest that old links are working again.

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Brother-Sister Duo Charged With Stealing MacBooks From Stanford

Andrew Orr ·

Two people pleaded guilty to federal charges this week in a scheme to steal and re-sell hundreds of MacBooks from Stanford.

Castaneda was charged with thefts totaling around $4 million, while $2.3 million in stolen goods were attributed to her brother. Authorities say the computers were sold on Craigslist to an uncharged co-conspirator, a Folsom man, who resold them to people living in other states.

The article mentions approximately 800 MacBooks.

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Global Semiconductor Chip Shortage is Becoming a Crisis

Andrew Orr ·

The world’s supply of semiconductor chips has faced shortages due to COVID-19, but things have gotten worse.

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X shortages are just the tip of the iceberg. Big phone launches from companies like Apple and Samsung have been postponed, new graphics cards are still hard to find, and all over the world car manufacturers are either scaling back production or piling unfinished cars up in parking lots while they wait for the chips needed to power their software systems.

Darn it, I’m looking forward to the upcoming Nintendo Switch refresh.

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New Studies Show no Harmful Effects to Humans From 5G

Andrew Orr ·

Researchers from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia analyzed studies that find no evidence of 5G harming humans.

Aside from looking at animal and lab experiments, one review also analyzed epidemiological studies of radar, which uses the same sort of RF (low-level energy fields above 6 gigahertz to as high as 300 GHz) that 5G is expected to rely on. Their conclusions, based on reviewing data from over 100 studies, should be reassuring.

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After Ad Campaign, Intel Launches ‘PC vs. Mac’ Website

Andrew Orr ·

After releasing its ad campaign featuring Justin Long, Intel released a “PC vs. Mac” website comparing the platforms. Juli Clover shares:

Intel positions PCs as more “personalized” to fit a user’s “specific hardware and software needs,” while the ‌M1‌ Macs offer “limited” device support, games, and creation applications. “The bottom line is a PC offers users a choice, something that users don’t get with a Mac,” reads the website.

Notice how all of Intel’s examples are features of Windows, not Intel, a.k.a. actual performance statistics. What a joke.

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Facebook Introduces Security Keys for Two-Factor Authentication

Andrew Orr ·

Facebook announced on Thursday that it now supports two-factor authentication authentication for security keys on its mobile apps.

Physical security keys — which can be small enough to fit on your keychain — notify you each time someone tries accessing your Facebook account from a browser or mobile device we don’t recognize. We ask you to confirm it’s you with your key, which attackers don’t have.

Bacardo Announces Pocket Watch Accessory for New Apple Watches
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Bacardo Announces Pocket Watch Accessory for New Apple Watches

Andrew Orr ·

Bucardo is introducing a Kickstarter campaign for its pocket watch accessory. This latest product works with Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, and Apple Watch SE. The accessory allows you to wear your Apple Watch as a classic pocket watch. Simply remove your bands and slide the pocket watch accessory into the band slots of your Apple Watch. The company worked with talented jewelry designers and engineers to create an accessory that pays attention to all the fine details, highlighting the form of the Apple Watch while creating a unique wearable experience. Right now the base reward is US$95.

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Starting April 15, TikTok Won’t Let You Opt Out of Personalized Ads

Andrew Orr ·

Starting April 15, TikTok will make personalized ads mandatory whether you want them or not.

TikTok says it is “committed” to respecting the privacy of its users, according to a TikTok spokesperson. “We will continue to be transparent about our data privacy practices and help users understand their privacy choices on our Safety Center.”

People will still be able to control whether TikTok personalizes ads based on data pulled from other apps and websites.

Committed to respecting the privacy of its users. Eye roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gtRRMd2_UI
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Justin Long is Now ‘PC Guy’ in New Intel Ads Mocking Macs

Andrew Orr ·

Apple fans are familiar with the ad campaign in the mid-2000s. Justin Long was Mac Guy and John Hodgman was PC Guy, and they compared the different platforms. In a series of new ads from Intel, Justin Long is now PC Guy, mocking Apple’s Macs as Intel is surely still reeling from the announcement of the M1 chip. There are five ads in total of the “Justin Gets Real” campaign: 2-in-1 Flexibility, PC Gaming, Having Choices, Touch Screens, and 3 Monitors.