It’s Labor Day in the U.S., and The Mac Observer will be taking the day off for some socially-distanced fun. And of course, we hope that you are, too. So mask up, stay distanced, and we’ll resume our regular publishing schedule on Tuesday, September 8th. Enjoy the holiday!
Prison Phone Service ‘Telmate’ Leaks Data of Inmates
Telmate, owned by Global Tel Link, makes an app for prisoners to send messages and calls to friends and family. It exposed a database of private messages, call logs, and personal information numbers in the tens of millions. Why? The database wasn’t secured with a password.
Comparitech security researcher Bob Diachenko on August 13, 2020 discovered the unsecured database and immediately reported it to Global Tel Link, the company that owns and operates Telmate. The company, to its credit, responded within two hours and secured the database an hour later, but it’s possible that other unauthorized parties accessed it prior to Diachenko’s disclosure.
This Tiny Pod Has Auto Tracking, 360 Degree Rotation, 9 Quick Create Modes, More: $109.99
We have a deal on the Pivo Pod, a device that will rotate your iPhone for getting panoramic shots, time-lapse shots, automated movements, and more. You control it through an app that also serves as a camera app. Pivo Pod is $109.99 through our deal.
Apple Seeds iOS 14 Public Beta 7 for Testers
A day after releasing it for developers, Apple has seeded iOS 14 public beta 7 for iPhone and iPad users.
Security Friday News, iOS 14 Privacy – TMO Daily Observations 2020-09-04
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news, and what privacy will look like in iOS 14.
'Mulan' Now Available on Disney+ Premier Access
The live-action remake of Mulan is now available on Disney+ via Premium Access. Subscribers have to pay $29.99, or else wait until December 4. It is also available to buy on other platforms, including Apple TV.
Broadcom Seems to Confirm iPhone 12 Release in October
Broadcom said its annual increase in shipments is expected to be later than usual, seemingly confirming a delay to the iPhone 12.
Former Apple Employee Jon Callas Joins EFF as Technology Projects Director
Jon Callas, formerly of Apple, PGP Corp, Blackphone, and Silent Circle, has joined the EFF as its Technology Projects Director.
Apple Publishes Human Rights Policy in Response to Shareholders
Apple has published a human rights policy in response to a campaign from SumOfUs, an international consumer group and an Apple shareholder.
Why a Second Screen For Your iPhone is Useful
It’s long been possible to connect your iPhone to second screen But do you really want another display for your phone? Ed Hardy at Cult of Mac thinks doing so has lots of uses, particularly when it comes to streaming.
Once your handset and the larger display are connected, you can watch the video from many streaming services. I’ve tested it with Apple TV+, Disney+, Amazon Prime, CBS All Access and YouTube — it works perfectly. According to the internet, Netflix and Hulu work, too. But not Xfinity Stream. That said, there are limitations. Apple’s adapter has an HDMI 1.4 port — it can handle 1080p video but not 4K. However, not all streaming services offer 4K, so you might not be losing anything. Also, you’re not watching a movie while scrolling through Instagram. Your iPhone will be fully occupied. But still, if you’re looking for a way to watch movies or shows on a full-size TV, you don’t need to buy a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, etc. All you need is your iPhone and Apple’s HDMI adapter.