Podcast

TMO Contributor Kelly Guimont - TMO Background Mode Interview

John Martellaro · · Add Comment

Kelly Guimont is a long-time podcaster, Contributing Editor for The Mac Observer, the host of the Mac Observer’s Daily Observations podcast, a tech support guru, and a Founding Volunteer of App Camp for Girls.

Kelly first appeared here in December, 2015 to tell her career story and has returned many times for interesting technical and media discussions. In her 7th appearance, we chat about our favorite TV shows of late. John: Anne With an «E» (Netflix) and Outlander (Netflix). Kelly: Good Omens (Amazon), Stranger Things S3 (Netflix), and Battestar Galactica (SyFy). Join us as we explore together what’s great about these shows. We also put in a good word for Chuck Joiner’s new podcast Trek Favorites.

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White House Drafts Order to Investigate Alleged Social Media Left-Wing Bias

Andrew Orr ·

The White House is drafting an executive order that would address alleged left-wing bias by social media companies, with an official saying:

If the internet is going to be presented as this egalitarian platform and most of Twitter is liberal cesspools of venom, then at least the president wants some fairness in the system. But look, we also think that social media plays a vital role. They have a vital role and an increasing responsibility to the culture that has helped make them so profitable and so prominent.

A WH official actually used the phrase «liberal cesspools of venom.» What a trashy administration.

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TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini Cancels HomeKit

Andrew Orr ·

TP-Link unveiled its Kasa Smart Plug Mini back at CES 2019. The company quietly announced that it has canceled the device’s HomeKit integration.

It’s not known yet whether the company is abandoning HomeKit for all devices or solely for this one product. Nor are there any details about whether there will be any recourse for customers who bought the Kasa Smart Plug Mini in the expectation that HomeKit was coming.

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iPad Pro Could Get Triple Lens Rear Camera Array

Charlotte Henry ·

The next iPad Pro could have a triple-lens rear camera setup. Meanwhile, the entry-level tablet could get a dual-lens camera. MacRumors rounded up the latest information coming out of China.

Japanese blog Mac Otakara cited a Chinese supply source over the weekend claiming the fourth-generation 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro devices will get the same multi-sensor array widely rumored to be coming to Apple’s next iPhone range this year. Meanwhile, Apple’s rumored new version of its entry-level iPad – a device with a slightly bigger 10.2-inch screen than the existing 9.7-inch model – will inherit the dual lens setup currently seen in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

TMO Deals

The Award-Winning Luminar 3 Software Bundle: $49

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a deal on the Luminar 3 Software Bundle. Luminar 3 is a full-feature photo editor and organizer that lets you create edited photos with a single click. This bundle also comes with a tutorial called Deep Dive to Luminar 3 by Richard Harrington. You can get both for $49 through our deal.

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Music App Deezer Adds Queue List Feature

Andrew Orr ·

Music app Deezer is adding a new feature called Queue List for premium users. People can change devices in the middle of a song without having to restart it or search for it again.

Each user’s queue list is now stored in the cloud, making it effortless to switch between mobile, web, desktop, smart watches, autos, Android TV and Xbox.

Users can also edit and make changes to their queue list with all changes reflected across devices. Even if your queue list is set to Shuffle or Repeat, you can still enjoy your music on this setting after switching devices.

Cool Stuff Found

Apple Releases First Trailer for 'The Morning Show'

Charlotte Henry ·

The first trailer for forthcoming Apple TV+ series The Morning Show landed Monday. The show stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Withersppon and Steve Carell. The trailer hit many of the notes you might expect about a program set around morning TV in this current day and age. Intense piano music? Check. Dramatic dialogue? Check. Lingering shots of a TV newsroom and control room? Check. This trailer does not give much away then, but it shows preparations for releasing series on Apple TV+ is gearing up.

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Def Con 2019 and Hacking iOS Contacts

Andrew Orr ·

Another Apple hack shown off over the weekend at Def Con 2019 involves iOS Contacts and a SQLite vulnerability. But it’s not something we need to worry about. Emphasis mine:

Documented In a 4,000-word report seen by AppleInsider, the company’s hack involved replacing one part of Apple’s Contacts app and it also relied on a known bug that has hasn’t been fixed four years after it was discovered…

They replaced a specific component of the Contacts app and found that while apps and any executable code has to have gone through Apple’s startup checks, an SQLite database is not executable.

Basically, it sounds like the bug is only available if you specifically remove a key component of Contacts.