The thing I enjoy the most about posting games like this is the chorus of “Gee, thanks, Bryan. I just wasted my entire afternoon because of you” messages I get. With that in mind, I offer you a cordial “You’re welcome!” reply. Today’s game is called TAP and SMASH. The premise is simple: when you tap, a triangle that represents you moves up in a straight line. Along the way, you collect stars (for points) and coins (for buying power ups, continuing your game, etc.). In your way are circles and lines traveling across your path. When you tap, you move. When you don’t, you fall. That makes avoiding the enemy shapes a matter of timing and luck. I suck at this game, but it has that just-one-more quality. It’s also free to download. For $0.99 you can turn off ads that play every five minutes or so between games. You can also buy coins, but you can have a lot of fun without doing so. I happily paid to turn off ads because I’ve been playing the game a lot. Enjoy!
Newest Apple Campus 2.0 Flyover Shows Glass Panels, Solar Panels, More
YouTube user Matthew Rogers has posted a new drone flyover video of Apple Campus 2.0, the so-called Spaceship HQ. This update features some of the glass panels that will form the outer walls of the building, solar panels on the roof, the shrinking dirt mountain on site, many of the outer buildings, fuel cells, and more. I love seeing these updates. The building is amazing, even in its unfinished state, and being able to watch it grow is fun.
TextExpander 1-Year Single User Plan: $19.98
We have a deal on TextExpander, one of our favorite Mac and iOS utilities at TMO. TextExpander lets you create text “snippets” that you can then call with a key combination you designate. It’s great for anything you have to type frequently, especially when combined with powerful for tools for combining the snippet with something in your clipboard. Smile Software moved to a subscription pricing scheme, and our deal will let you get a 1-year subscription for $19.98, 60% off retail. It’s good for one user on an unlimited number of devices.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-09-02: HP Exploits Slow Mac Refresh Cycle, App Store Cleanup
Apple’s slow Mac refresh cycle is HP’s opportunity. John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to talk about how HP is taking advantage of the ongoing lack of new Mac hardware, plus they share their thoughts on Apple’s plan to clean house at the App Store.
Apple Cleaning House, Removing Abandoned Titles from App Store
Apple is about to start cleaning the App Store’s house by removing outdated and abandoned apps. The change should make it easier to find the apps you’re looking for, improve discoverability, and cut down on apps that aren’t compatible with current iOS versions. Developers trying to manipulate search results with long app names are in for a surprise, too.
Siri in iOS 10: Apple Highlights Third Party Apps Using Siri
Apple published two blog posts Thursday that highlight some of the first third party apps that will have Siri support in iOS 10. The move comes ahead of the actual launch of iOS 10, and continues the company’s effort to play a broader role in shaping the Apple narrative. In Hey Siri, book me a ride, Apple highlights Uber, Lyft, mytaxi, Didi Chuxingm Vonage, Cisco Spark, and Skype. Users will be able to use Siri to get a ride or make a call without first opening these apps. In Hey Siri, show me my best selfies, Apple shows Siri integration with Pinterest, Vogue Runway, Looklive, and Pikazo.
Get Ready for the FBI's New Encryption Back Door Push
The FBI’s fight for government mandated backdoors into our encrypted data and devices is far from over, and Director James Comey says he plans to bring that back to the forefront next year. Mr. Comey says it’s time for an “adult conversation” on the topic, and that law enforcement needs an easy way to access our private data for criminal investigations.
Apple Patches 2 Critical Security Flaws in OS X Yosemite and El Capitan
Apple released separate security updates for OS X Yosemite and OS X El Capitan on Thursday. Both updates patch the same two critical security flaws. One flaw potentially exposed kernel memory, and the other allowed a maliciously crafted app to take over your system.
Soundfreaq Double Spot Bluetooth Speaker: $79.99
We have a deal for you today on the Soundfreaq Double Spot Bluetooth Speaker. This portable Bluetooth speaker lasts up to 6 hours on one charge, and it also has a USB port for charging your mobile devices. It has on-board controls and three tone presets, flat, warm, and bright. You can get this device through our deal for $79.99.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-09-01: FBI Still Wants its Encryption Back Door
FBI Director James Comey isn’t ready to give up the fight to punch a hole through our encryption and privacy. Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to discuss the FBI’s stance on mandated back doors into encryption and the Director Comey’s need to save face in this argument.

