We have a deal today on a lifetime subscription for Rosetta Stone, the language learning platform. The deal is for one language, and you’ll get lifetime access to it. I’m linking to the Spanish language version, but there’s a pulldown menu where you can pick any of the other languages supported. I’ve used Rosetta Stone, and I like they way this platform teaches. Our deal is for $189, but coupon code 20SAVE20 brings the price down to $151.20 at checkout.
How to Add an Apple Gift Card to Wallet in iOS 13
If you got an Apple Store gift card for Christmas you can easily add it to your Wallet, so you can just use your phone to make a purchase.
Uber and Postmates Rush to Block California Freelancer Law
Assembly Bill 5, known as the California Freelancer Law, goes into effect January 1, 2020. The law says that workers must be classified as employees instead of contractors, under certain conditions. Companies like Uber and Postmates are rushing to block the law.
As employees, drivers would be protected by minimum wage and overtime rules and would be eligible for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance. The companies would have to pay half of their payroll taxes for Medicare and Social Security.
Postmates said it was seeking to delay the law from taking effect to gain time to figure out a compromise so that its workers would not be classified as full-time employees.
Drivers aren’t the only people affected. Freelance journalists in California are being laid off because the law says they can only maintain their status as independent contractors if they submit no more than 35 pieces per year.
iPhone Emergency SOS Feature Helped Stop an Attempted Sexual Assault
A woman managed to receive police help when a man tried to sexually assault her after using her iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature. She triggered the feature during the attack at Virginia Beach, Va, AppleInsider reported, and the attacker fled as officers arrived.
“I get my phone back and I turn around and I try to run away and he just comes up from behind me, tackles me, grabs my face, is covering my mouth,” the woman said. “I’m trying to scream for help, [he] tackles me to the ground — is like shoving my face to the ground — and now, because I’ve been screaming, he’s holding my mouth even tighter trying to muffle any noise I’m making.” Luckily, Emergency SOS was enabled on the woman’s iPhone, allowing her to automatically dial 911 without unlocking the device. In this case, a long press of both the power button and volume down button triggered the feature. Emergency SOS can also be invoked by pressing on the power button five times in rapid succession. Police were directed to her location by a dispatcher who heard her pleas for help.
How 'Dickinson' Brings Past and Present Together
In a new video, Dickinson star Hailee Steinfeld and showrunner Alena Smith discuss how the story of a poet from the 1800s still has relevance today. If you haven’t watched it, the show brings together past and present in a really clever way. It could be awkward and stick, but it doesn’t. This clip gives some insight into why the show’s makers adopted that style.
New California Privacy Law Comes Into Force Tomorrow
A new privacy law comes into force in California tomorrow, January 1st 2020 and retailers are scrambling to make sure they comply.
How to Sign Up For Disney+ and Bill to Your Apple ID
The nominal way to sign up for Disney+ is to go to disneyplus.com and create an account. But it’s also possible to sign up from within the tvOS or iOS app and bill the subscription to your Apple ID. John explains how to do it—and the advantages.
Judge Sides With Big Cable, Puts Maine Cable Law on Hold
A bunch of cable companies including Comcast sued the state of Maine to block a law that would require an a la carte offering of cable.
Best of BGM - Emmy Winning Music Composer John Lunn
One of my favorite Background Mode podcasts was with TV and movie music composer John Lunn. He’s probably best known for scoring the TV drama Downton Abbey — for which he received two Primetime Emmy awards. His recent work includes the scoring of the feature film Electricity and the hit TV shows: The Grantchester Mysteries, Shetland, and The White Queen—for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination. Near the end, I played some sound snippets from two of his scores, and John (a Mac user) explained the instruments used. This episode is worth revisiting, especially now that the Downton Abbey movie is available for streaming.
Facebook Receives $1.6 Million Fine From Brazil Over Cambridge Analytica Case
Brazil’s Justice Ministry issued a $1.6 million fine against Facebook following an investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal.