Apple uploaded a funny privacy ad for the iPhone on Thursday. With the song “Diamonds Cutting Diamonds” by Lydia Ainsworth in the background, the commercial follows various people as they share private information to strangers, like their credit card number, “I browsed eight sites for divorce attorneys today,” and “I hate Lee, puke emoji” (As he sits right behind her). Apple includes a link to its privacy page in the video description.
The AAPL Stock Split Explained
On August 31, Apple underwent a four-for-one stock split. Editor-in-Chief Bryan Chaffin explained what this means for AAPL investors and the company itself.
[Apple Announces 4-for-1 Stock Split to Make AAPL ‘More Accessible’]
[Apple Worth $2.2 Trillion as Stock Hits Record High Following Stock Split]
Apple Updates Apple Support With Wallet Passes
The Apple Support app was updated on Wednesday with a major feature: When you make a Genius Bar appointment you’ll see a button to add a pass to Wallet for faster check-in. Other updates included with version 4.1: Easier to find Advisors in your preferred language in regions with multiple languages; Accessibility improvements for VoiceOver, including Search navigation, labels, and more; Performance enhancements and bug fixes.
Official Trailer for Apple TV+ Series 'Tehran' Arrives, Show Available September 25
The official trailer for the forthcoming Apple TV+ series ‘Tehran’ arrived Wednesday. The show is about an Israeli Mossad agent who infiltrates Iran. However, her mission goes wrong and she finds herself trapped. It will become available from September 25.
First Trailer for 'Long Way Up' on Apple TV+ Lands
The first trailer for Apple TV+ show Long Way Up landed on Tuesday. The series features Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman riding electric motorbikes over 13,000 miles over 100 days. Their adventures started in the city of Ushuaia at the tip of South America and they eventually end up in LA, after going through 16 border crossings and 13 countries. The first three episodes will air on September 18.
Netflix Offering Original Movies and Shows For Free
Netflix is offering a small collection of its original movies and shows for free (via Engadget). Offerings include the movie Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock, and the hit series Stranger Things and Love is Blind. The intention, of course, is to encourage those who may subscribe to other services into paying for Netflix too.
Apple Watch Notes App ‘Watch Notes’ Goes Free
Watch Notes by Flicktype is an Apple Watch notes app and it recently went on sale. It used to be US$2.99 and now it’s free, although for an unknown time. The app lets you compose and manage your notes directly on your Apple Watch. Notes are stored in your iCloud and sync between your Apple Watch and iPhone. You can change the note color by long-pressing on the plus button. The popular FlickType Keyboard is built into the app and doesn’t require a separate purchase.
Ginger Labs Updates ‘Notability’ in Time for School
Ginger Labs has updated popular note-taking app Notability with new features that will come in handy for students. This is the app’s 220 release and update includes a variety of new tools and introduces the Notability Shop, an in-app store with artist-designed stickers, handwriting conversion, brushes and more. Features include: Favorites Toolbar for quickly switching between ink styles; Style Popover menu design that fits more colors, widths, and brushes; Draw arrows and curves that snap perfectly into place; Dotted and dashed brushes. The brand-new Notability Shop will offer handwriting conversion and search, as well as stickers, themes, and various other goodies.
Glenn Fleishmann Introduces Free Book ‘Take Control of Zoom Essentials’
Glenn Fleishman has released a free version of his book called “Take Control of Zoom Essentials” as well as updated the paid version called “Take Control of Zoom”. Take Control shared the news in a blog post:
Yesterday, we released two Zoom-related books by Glenn Fleishman: a new, free book called Take Control of Zoom Essentials and a gigantic version 1.1 update to the comprehensive Take Control of Zoom. We know a lot of people are using Zoom for work and school, and we hope you find these books helpful.
Zoom usage has skyrocketed now that more people have been working and learning from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consider these books to know everything you want to know about using the video sharing platform.
Bill & Ted Face The Music Now Available
As of Friday, Bill & Ted Face the Music (aka Bill & Ted 3) is available for purchase from the streaming video provider of your choice. Listeners to the Daily Observations Podcast have heard the signoff “Be excellent to each other” for ages, and it’s because of my deep abiding love for that first film. How deep? I still have my prizes from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Cereal and I keep them next to my first edition run of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book. You can watch the first trailer below, and get a taste for it yourself. If you’re interested, you can join the Twitter watch party at 6pm Pacific on Friday night which will include the cast. The website has other goodies like a browser game, desktop/Zoom backgrounds, and a 360 experience you can explore with your phone or your VR headset, if that’s a thing you have laying around.
Metallica S&M2 Now on Apple Music
Twenty-years after Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony orchestra first worked together, they combined once again for S&M2 to celebrate the opening of San Francisco’s Chase Center. The results were released Friday and both audio and video versions are available on Apple Music.
AR Game ‘The Witcher: Monster Slayer’ Announced
An AR game called “The Witcher: Monster Slayer” is coming in the future. Evocative of Pokémon Go, this exploration game challenges you to become an elite monster hunter. See the world around you transformed into the dark fantasy realm of The Witcher, and explore once-familiar locations now infested with dangerous beasts as you start on the path as a professional monster slayer. A release date has not been announced but you can sign up to be notified via email.
Twelve South Introduces BookBook iPad Keyboard Case
BookBook Cover is a new product from Twelve South that combines its genuine leather case with a keyboard for iPads. BookBook looks like a vintage book. But the big story is the level of protection it delivers. Inside, soft micro-suede protects the iPad surface. Outside, hardback book covers with reinforced corners and a crush-proof spine protect iPad from drops, dings and other hazards. Dual-zippers let you charge iPad while keeping the case closed. As a bonus, BookBook disguises your iPad, keeping it hidden from from itchy fingers even when it’s in plain sight. You can pick one up for US$69.99.
Apple Pro Display XDR Available With $500 Discount For Limited Time
Apple’s stunning 32″ Pro Display XDR is available with a huge $500 discount. Normally $4,999, the standard version is available from B&H for $4,499. The higher-end offerings, including those with a stand or nano-texture finish, also have the discount applied. The offer ends at 11.59 pm EST on August 29.
Apple Updates iMovie With Comic, Comic Mono, Ink Filters
Apple released an update for Final Cut Pro X for professional video editors. For the editors that are perhaps more casual, iMovie 2.2.10 was also updated. Give your videos a hand-drawn look with 3 new filters: Comic, Comic Mono and Ink; Choose from 25 new soundtracks — in genres including action, chill, and sentimental — that automatically adjust to match the length of your movie; Addresses an issue that could prevent the viewer from updating after duplicating a photo in the timeline; Improves reliability of Redo when editing a trailer; Includes performance and stability improvements.
Richard Hoeg’s YouTube Playlist Covers the Epic v. Apple Case
Lawyer Richard Hoeg made a YouTube playlist that covers the Epic v. Apple case. Each video explains the case for viewers and offers his perspective on it. It’s a great playlist to check out for commentary, especially if you want something more than the boring legal PDFs I’ve been sharing at The Mac Observer.
New Level Touch Lock Lets You Unlock With Your Finger and Voice
Level introduced a new lock on Tuesday called Level Touch that lets you unlock it with your finger, voice, or programmable keycard. It also has an app that works with HomeKit and Siri. Features include auto-lock, auto-unlock, sharing access, recent activity, passes, and audio confirmation. With HomeKit you get features like remote connectivity, voice control, automations, and notifications. You can order one today for US$329.
Ted Lasso Chats 'British Soccer' With Jose Mourinho
Apple TV+ star Ted Lasso has come over from the U.S. and is in need of some advice. Who else would he call but the self-appointed ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho? In a new clip, the ‘Coach Mourinho’ gives the newcomer some advice. In a clever nod, Mr. Mourinho is currently the coach of Tottenham Hostpur, the team the Jason Sudeikis’s character coached in the original NBC adverts.
Billie Eilish Stars in New Apple Music Radio Ad
A new advert for Apple Music radio landed Sunday, following the rebrand from Beats 1. Soundtracked by Nvdity Worldwide” by NVDES & Khadya, the clip features a host of artists who have shows on the newly rebranded, and just altogether new, stations. Artists that appear in the ‘Worldwide’ ad include Billie Eilish, Orville Peck, Megan Thee Stallion, and Anderson Paak.
This ‘Clear Clipboard’ Shortcut Empties Your Clipboard Automatically
Redditor u/SpamSencer created a Clear Clipboard shortcut that does exactly what the name says: It automatically clears your clipboard. With iOS 14 Apple introduced a feature that shows when an app accesses the clipboard, like TikTok and Microsoft. You could even set it up as an automation so that whenever you open any app of your choosing, the shortcut will run (an iOS 14 feature). You’ll just have to painstakingly tap on every app you have installed if you choose to automate it.
