We have a deal on BeeLine Reader, a speed-reading tool that helps you read faster by color coding text. BeeLine Reader applies an eye-guiding color gradient to your text, with the color at the end of one line matching perfectly with the beginning of the next. It’s designed to help your eyes quickly follow each line and snap to the next again and again. Our deal is for a lifetime subscription for $29.99, but coupon code DOWNLOADIT brings your checkout price down to $22.49.
National Security Agency Releases Ghidra
The NSA has released its tool called Ghidra at the RSA Security Conference. It’s an open-source tool that helps security researchers examine malware code.
You can’t use Ghidra to hack devices; it’s instead a reverse engineering platform used to take “compiled,” deployed software and “decompile” it. In other words, it transforms the ones and zeros that computers understand back into a human-readable structure, logic, and set of commands that reveals what the software you churn through it does.
Examining Apple's Recycling Ambitions
Maddie Stone wrote a great dive into Apple’s recycling ambitions and the company’s quest to some day stop mining resources.
For a company that sells over 200 million smartphones a year, along with millions more tablets and computers, achieving what sustainability wonks call a “circular economy” will amount to a complete overhaul of everything from how Apple devices are manufactured to what we do with those devices at the end of their lives…The question is whether that’s a future Apple truly wants—or one that its investors will allow.
Prey Finds You're More Likely to Lose Your iDevice Than Have it Stolen
New data from Prey, an app that helps secure and retrieve lost iPhones, iPads and Macs, showed that your device is much more likely to be misplaced than stolen. 9to5Mac picked up on some of the bizarre lost device scenarios. One user drunkenly put their phone in the fridge following a night out, while another took their corporate laptop having faked their own death!
When it came to analysing the main reasons for putting a device into missing mode, Prey found that theft was relatively low down the list. Misplaced: 69.12%, Pickpocket: 10.98%, Home invasion: 7.6%, Robbery: 6.76%, Car Break-in: 2.77%, Business Break-in: 2.77%. And among the two-thirds of devices that were merely misplaced by their owner, the most common scenario was accidentally leaving it at home.
Inside the Lives, and Servers, of Digital Hoarders
Despite the best efforts of Marie Kondo, many of us still hoard physical items. Perhaps not surprisingly, digital hoarding is getting ever more widespread too. Gizmodo looked into the lives of digital hoarders, who collect huge amounts of data, including rare files, audio recordings, and video games, and build their own data servers to do so.
Online, you’ll find people who use hashtags like “#digitalhoarder” and hang out in the 120,000-subscriber Reddit forum called /r/datahoarder, where they trade tips on building home data servers, share collections of rare files from video game manuals to ambient audio records, and discuss the best cloud services for backing up files…Many self-proclaimed digital hoarders say they enjoy their collections, can keep them contained in a relatively small amount of physical space, and often take pleasure in sharing them with other hobbyists or anyone who wants access to the same public data.
Apple Security Tool Unveiled at RSA Conference 2019
The RSA Conference is a series of computer security conferences. This year, security researcher Patrick Wardle announced a new tool for Macs called GamePlan.
…GamePlan, a tool that watches for potentially suspicious events on Macs and flags them for humans to investigate. The general concept sounds similar to other defense platforms, and it hooks into detection mechanisms—has a USB stick been inserted into a machine? has someone generated a screen capture? is a program accessing a webcam?—Apple already offers in macOS. But GamePlan, cleverly written with Apple’s GameplayKit framework, collects all of this data in a centralized stream and uses the videogame logic engine to process it.
I use a couple of Mr. Wardle’s security tools. I look forward to downloading GamePlan.
Laurene Powell Jobs on the Future of Media and Democracy
Laurene Powell Jobs is amongst a number of wealthy Americans increasingly investing in media. For example, in November 2018 her Emerson Collective purchased the company behind the Sunday Magazine and Pop-Up Magazine. She also bought a major stake in the Atlantic in 2017. The widow of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs discussed her vision of the future of media with Re/Code‘s Kara Swisher.
Our issue areas are those that we think are the most calcified and the most important that reflect the American values and that are important to democracy. So we work in education, we work in immigration, we work in environment. And outside of that, it started to become really obvious to us that the cultural narrative, that the kind of in-depth journalism that exposes the injustices in these fields was under attack from both a business model point of view …
Female British Siri Voice Given an Upgrade
LONDON – Apple customers in the UK might be feeling that Siri is just that little bit more human. It is reported that the digital assistant’s British female voice has been given an upgrade. Cult of Mac noticed a number of users commenting on the improvement to the voice on iPhone, iPad, and HomePod. The male voice was improved earlier in 2019.
Apple launched a mission to make Siri sound less robotic in 2017. The release of iOS 11 that fall brought big improvements to Siri’s voice in a number of markets, and the improvements have slowly but surely continued since then. Apple is thought to be using machine learning techniques to make its assistant sound more natural. It hasn’t changed the voice artists behind Siri — at least not for the British accents — but they now sound more human.
How to Determine Which Version of iPad (or iPhone) You Have
Apple doesn’t make it easy, for some crazy reason, to go into iOS Settings and look up the version and generation of an iPad or iPhone. For example, is that an iPad mini 3 or mini 4 on your desk? Apple’s update cycles can be so long, we sometimes forget! iPhone Life writes:
“The first piece of information you’ll need to help discover which iPad version you own is to find your iPad’s model number. Once you’ve found the model number on your iPad, you can learn which type and generation of iPad you own…” [by going to the handy tables provided.]
The tables in this article are very handy, worthy of a bookmark.
Give Robocallers the Boot with the AI-Based Tool that's Blocked Over 1 Billion Calls: $19.99
We have a deal on a subscription to Call Control Premium. This AI-based service lets you block calls based on your own criteria and a community-driven database, and it provides blacklists, reverse-lookup tools, and a variety of other tools that let you take greater control over your calls. A one year subscription is $19.99 through us. You can find all the details in the deal listing.
Swift Playgrounds 3.0 Beta 1 is Out
If you use Apple’s TestFlight app and signed up to beta test Swift Playgrounds app, you’ll be pleased to know that Swift Playground 3.0 beta 1 is out.
The full extent of what’s new in Swift Playgrounds 3.0 isn’t clear as of yet, but Apple’s release notes for the beta update provide a bit of detail. The new version of the app allows Playground Books to contain directories of Swift code and resources that can be imported for use by any page in the book.
Apple Sold 10.4M Apple Watches in 4Q18
Apple sold 10.4 million Apple Watches in quarter 4 of 2018 (4Q18). The Series 4 remains a strong seller and should remain the market leader as more healthcare organizations utilize the device.
The worldwide market for wearable devices grew 31.4% during the fourth quarter of 2018 (4Q18), reaching a new high of 59.3 million units according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker.
Apple has the number one spot in a list of five companies. Other companies include Xiaomi #2, Huawei #3, Fitbit #4, and Samsung #5.
Tim Cook Made Sure Apple Won in the US-China Trade War
A new in-depth report on Politico revealed the full extent of Apple’s involvement in the U.S.-China trade dispute, And how it was it was successful. A key factor was that CEO Tim Cook remained one of the few tech-leaders who engaged directly with President Donald Trump after comment’s from the President’s caused others to stop doing so. Mr. Cook was also aided by having strong business connections in China.
In the U.S., Cook has made a point of directly engaging with Trump, even as the president’s immigration policies and remarks about minorities have scared off other executives from liberal-leaning Silicon Valley. And in China, Cook — who knows some Mandarin — has actively cultivated government and business leaders during his frequent visits to a country where Apple’s supply chain supports an estimated 3 million jobs. “Among the tech titans, he’s probably the one who is best placed to deal with both sides at the same time,” said James Lewis, a former State and Commerce department official who dealt with China trade issues and now directs the technology policy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
NSA Spying Program Has Allegedly Ended
The NSA spying program that analyzed the calls and texts of American citizens has allegedly been shut down.
Christopher Augustine, an N.S.A. spokesman, told The New York Times in January that agency officials were “carefully evaluating all aspects” of the Freedom Act program, and were discussing its future. Mr. Augustine made clear that the White House would make the final call about whether to ask Congress to extend the Freedom Act.
I hope this is actually true. Now we need the GCHQ to not spy on us either.
Lots of Arguments Against Cord Cutting Are Stupid
Despite cord cutting getting ever more popular, lots of people continue to put up lots of arguments against it. The thing is, most of them just do not make sense. Fast Company helpfully compiled a list of 6 of the dumbest arguments against cord cutting. Something to deploy, perhaps, when friends and family tell you to renew the cable subscription.
By dropping cable or satellite TV for cheaper streaming services–or perhaps an over-the-air antenna–you can easily save hundreds of dollars every year. Yet we’re constantly being told by a parade of contrarian pundits that this is actually a bad idea–that the savings are illusory or that some future consequence will doom cord-cutting in the end. Most of these arguments collapse under scrutiny, which might explain why people are ignoring the naysayers and abandoning cable and satellite TV in record numbers.
Apple Acquires Patents From Failed AI Powered Home Security Startup
Apple acquired patent’s from Lighthouse AI in late 2018, it has emerged. Apple purchased 8 patents from the smart home security startup. They related to, amongst other things, computer-vision based security, visual authentication, and incident sharing. Lighthouse AI closed down in December 2018. The purchases are another indication of the renewed seriousness with which Apple is approaching AI. 9to5Mac wondered if we could see the technology associated with the patents used to improve Face ID.
The patents in question (via Patently Apple) relate to technology used for computer-vision based security, visual authentication, and more. In total, Apple acquired eight patents and patent applications from Lighthouse. Lighthouse AI officially shut down in December of last year after it failed to achieve commercial success. Lighthouse focused on using augmented reality and 3D sensing to make it easier for users to understand and sort through security footage.
Foldable Smartphone Displays are Plastic, but Glass is Coming Next
Wired writes:
Foldable phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold and Huawei’s Mate X are coming, whether you’re ready or not. In fact, they’re coming whether they’re ready or not. The software remains untested or nonexistent. The prices are either astronomical or unannounced. But those potential issues can be fixed on the fly. The real thing you should hold out for? Glass.
Wired explores the technical prospects for real, foldable glass. It’s coming.
Hospital Program for Pregnant Women Compatible With HealthKit
At a hospital in New Orleans a program for pregnant women called Connected Maternity Online Monitoring (MOM) was set up like a Genius Bar and is compatible with HealthKit.
Hatamian was intrigued and agreed to sign up. After her first visit with an obstetrician, she went over to the Ochsner “O Bar,” a part of the hospital modeled on the Apple Genius Bar. But instead of iPhones, the technologies on display included connected weight scales, blood pressure monitors and activity trackers. The O Bar gave Hatamian a set of devices selected for expectant mothers, including a wireless weight scale and a blood pressure cuff, as well as dipsticks and cups to measure protein levels in urine.
USB4 Will Bring Thunderbolt 3 Speeds
USB is suffering a clusterf*ck of names. Last week 3.2 was finalized, and today the media is talking about USB4. This one will bring Thunderbolt 3 speeds.
You probably won’t see USB4 hardware in the near future, however. The USB 3.2 specification was published in 2017 and is due to show up in products this year. USB4 is just a specification at the moment, and it hasn’t even been published. The publication date is scheduled for sometime in mid-2019, which means we won’t likely see USB4 hardware until 2020 or beyond.
Series 3 Apple Watch With GPS: $269.99
We have a deal on the Series 3 Apple Watch With GPS. I’m linking directly to the deal for a 38mm white Apple Watch with GPS for $269.99, which is $9.01 off retail. You can also choose the black model from a pulldown-menu, as well as the black and white versions of the 42mm for $304.99, which is $4.01 off retail.
Delete Your Instagram Pics to Fly JetBlue Free
JetBlue is introducing a contest. Three winners can fly JetBlue free for a year if they delete all of their Instagram photos and post a new photo using a JetBlue template.
Upload and customize your image with the tool below,then download and post to Instagram with @JETBLUE and#ALLYOUCANJETSWEEPSTAKES before 9:00am EST on 3/8/2019. Keep your Instagram posts cleared, except for your newly uploaded ALL YOU CAN ___ image, until 11:59pm EST on 3/8/2019 to be eligible to win.
Huawei Suing U.S. Government Over Ban
Huawei is suing the U.S. government because its products were banned from being used by federal agencies.
According to one of the people familiar with the matter, Huawei’s lawsuit is likely to argue that the provision is a “bill of attainder,” or a legislative act that singles out a person or group for punishment without trial. The Constitution forbids Congress from passing such bills.
AirPods 2 Might Charge in 15 Minutes
The much anticipated AirPods 2 will charge quickly it seems. Very quickly. Cult of Mac reported on a tweet from writer Max Weinbach that said that the earbuds could be charged in 15 minutes. The case is though likely to be heavier and bigger, Mr. Weinbach said. It is also thought that the AirPods 2 will be available in black. It could all be unveiled at Apple’s expected March 25th event.
“AirPods wireless charging will happen. It will be VERY fast (0-100 in 15 minutes.) That speed is for the AirPods AND the case. It will probably use Qi charging,” said Max Weinbach on Twitter. The current version of these headphones already fast charge, but power comes from their case. The charging case has to be plugged into a Lightning cable. The next version will be all wireless.
German Researcher Gives Apple Details of Mojave Keychain Flaw, Despite no Bug Bounty
LONDON – Security researcher Linus Henze handed over all the detail of a macOS Keychain bug he discovered, AppleInsider reported. This is despite not receiving any money from Apple. The company does not have a bug bounty program. Mr. Henze had previously withheld the information. He wanted Apple to start offering a bug bounty for security flaws researchers bring them. He discovered an exploit which allowed apps to see passwords held in the macOS Mojave keychain.
German teenager Linus Henze has sent Apple full details of a Keychain security exploit that he demonstrated in early February, and has done so despite the company ignoring his previous conditions. Henze says that he has decided to reveal the details to Apple because the bug he’s found “is very critical and because the security of macOS users is important to me.”