We have a deal on the SURGE DUO Dual USB & Dual Surge Charging Station, which features two outlets and two USB ports with a small footprint on your desk. The USB ports have built-in SmartCharge which automatically detects your device and gives out the optimal charging output. The SURGE DUO Dual USB & Dual Surge Charging Station is $18.99 through our deal.
Swift Playgrounds on macOS, AirPod Domination – TMO Daily Observations 2020-02-12
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Swift Playgrounds coming to macOS and what makes AirPods Pro so wonderful.
New Mac Pro Facing Lengthy Delivery Delays
The new Mac Pro is facing delivery delays, according to MacRumors. This is down to the coronavirus outbreak closing Chinese manufacturing plants.
In many European countries, for example, the base model without any customizations is currently estimated for delivery on March 10. While the new Mac Pro is assembled in the United States for orders placed in the Americas, European orders are assembled in China. The new Mac Pro also has a February 24-26 delivery estimate in the United States, despite being assembled in Texas, possibly because some components are still sourced from temporarily-closed suppliers in China.
Google and EU Engage in Courtroom Battle
The EU and Google continue their court battle with a clash over internet power. Furthermore, the internet giant argued that fines against it went too far. Bloomberg News has a rundown of what happened in the Luxembourg courtroom.
As many as seven billion daily searches make the U.S. giant “the front page of the internet,” Nicholas Khan, a lawyer for the European Commission told a panel of judges in the opening session of a three-day hearing at the EU General Court in Luxembourg. “The case is, in a nutshell, about what users are presented with, having made a search,” Khan said. Google search provides “an immensely powerful lever to direct users’ attention to any specific search market where Google might wish to develop a presence. No other internet player is in any remotely comparable position.” The Alphabet Inc. unit earlier on Wednesday argued that the EU went too far with a 2017 EU fine, then a record 2.4 billion euros ($2.6 billion), and an order to change how it shows shopping search results from rivals.
Czech Authorities Investigate Avast Over Data Collection
Investigations are underway to examine Avast’s practice of collecting and selling its users’ browser histories.
Avast, which is based in the Czech Republic, claimed it was stripping away users’ personal details from the collected browser histories as a way to “de-identify” the data, and preserve their customers’ privacy. However, the joint investigation from PCMag and Motherboard found the contrary: The same data can actually be combined with other information to identify the web activities of individual Avast users, including their internet searches. As many as 100 million users had their data collected.
I’m glad there are investigations. As I found out last week, there are likely other companies participating in this data collection practice.
US Reportedly Gave Allies Evidence of Huawei Backdoors
Although the U.S. hasn’t shared it publicly, it claims to have found actual evidence of Huawei backdoors.
The United States has long claimed that Huawei can secretly access networks through the networking gear it sells to telcos, but the goverment previously argued that it doesn’t need to show any proof. US officials still are not providing such evidence publicly but have begun sharing their intelligence with other countries.
The best part is that, according to The Wall Street Journal, the origin of this report, these backdoors were intentionally put into place for law enforcement. And yet, the DoJ wants Apple to put backdoors in iOS that they swear can only be accessed by law enforcement, and definitely not foreign state hacking groups.
Clearview AI vs Everybody, iPhone 9 Rumors – TMO Daily Observations 2020-02-11
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Clearview AI’s business model and a new wave of iPhone 9/SE rumors.
Babbel Language Learning 1-Year Subscription (14 Languages): $119
Our deal for 1 year of Babbel Language Learning with access to all 14 languages is back. You’ll get to practice with 10-15 minute bite-sized lessons, and Babbel uses speech recognition technology to keep your pronunciation on point. And, it comes with 10,000 hours of online language education. 1 year through our deal is $119. There’s also a 2-year option available in the deal listing.
Remember Neopets? It’s Being Turned Into a TV Show
Virtual pet website Neopets is being turned into a television show aimed at 8-12 year olds.
As part of the agreement, Singapore-based Beach House will develop new stories and characters, with Blue Ant’s Canadian studio providing animation services.
The show is still in the early stages of development and its format and style aren’t finalized, but Beach House plans to target the series at eight to 12s. The pair are seeking co-production and broadcast partners for the project.
I wish I still had my login information for Neopets.
A Curved Laptop Stand is Twelve South’s Newest Product
Twelve South just announced its newest product: A metal, one-piece curved laptop stand called Curve SE. It’s a white (or black), minimalist stand that matches well with Apple’s aesthetic. It has a fixed height of 6.5-inches, which the company says is an ergonomic standard.
Desktop accessories – especially MacBook stands – are inherently home decor. They should match your room, your style, your desk and complement (not copy) your MacBook. Our latest solution, while deceptively simple, is a beautiful matte white MacBook stand we call Curve SE.
You can buy the Curve SE stand for US$59.99.
