Scientists are working with the FBI to 3D print fingers so they can unlock smartphones. Dave Hamilton and Bryan Chaffin join Jeff Gamet to talk about the potential privacy and security issues related to 3D printing copies of our fingers. They share their thoughts on a report claiming the iPhone 7 will sport pro-grade waterproofing.
New Security Threat Targets OS X, iOS through Graphics
There’s a new security threat for OS X and iOS that could let attackers remotely control your device or install malware by sending you an image file. The threat is fairly serious, although so far it’s still just a proof of concept, and Apple patched the flaw in OS X 10.11.6 and iOS 9.3.3.
Apple Reportedly Shifting Car Plans to 2021
Apple has reportedly shifted its target date for Apple Car back to 2021, one year later than earlier leaks suggested. Waiting another year sucks, but it won’t affect Apple Car’s eventual success.
Polymail for iOS and OS X Drops Invitation Requirement
Want to try out Polymail on the Mac or your iPhone? That’s no problem now that it doesn’t require an invitation to download. Polymail is an alternative email app for iOS and OS X that lets you track email messages and receive notifications when they’ve been read, schedule when a message is sent, “snooze” messages for later reference, and even unsend messages. You can download the Mac version at the Polymail website, and the iOS version at Apple’s App Store.
Satechi's Excellent 60 Watt Charging Station: 2 USB-C and 4 USB-A Ports
Satechi has introduced the “60W 6-Port Multi-Port USB Desktop Charging Station.” It’s a pure charging hub that intelligently partitions up to 60 watts of power to four USB-A ports and two USB-C ports. Notable features include a great exterior design, a power LED and an on/off switch. John reviews it.
Beats by Dr. Dre - Beats Pro Lil Wayne On-Ear Headphones: $239.99
We have a solid deal for those who like their tunes bass-heavy, Beats Pro Lil Wayne On-Ear Headphones from Apple’s Beats by Dre. Made of steel and aluminum, these headphones feature thick padded cups for your ears. Our deal offers a significant discount at $239.99, which is 39% off retail.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-07-21: Apple Car Delays, Listener Feedback
A new report says Apple’s car won’t ship until 2021, but is that a problem? Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to weigh in with their opinions, plus they respond to listener comments from yesterday’s show where we discussed black box recorders in autonomous cars.
Withings Thermo Digital Thermometer gets FDA Greenlight
The Withings Thermo is a really cool digital thermometer we first saw at CES earlier this year, and now it’s available because it finally passed the FDA approval process. It senses your temperature without touching your skin, displays its readings instantly, and shows high temperature alerts. Thermo is more accurate than other digital thermometers thanks to its 16 infrared sensors that capture 4,000 measurements as it sweeps across your forehead. It syncs with your iPhone, offers advice based on readings, and can alert you when it’s time to take your temperature again. The Thermo costs US$99.95 and is available at the Apple Store and Withings website.
No, Apple didn't Buy Music Provider Omnifone
Earlier this month a report said online music provider Omnifone was being purchased by an unnamed U.S. company for US$10 million. Now a new report is out saying that company was Apple, but it’s very likely that’s not really the case.
Vaja Offers 20% Off Sitewide on iPhone, iPad, MacBook Cases
Vaja is offering a 20% sitewide discount on its leather cases for iPhones, iPads, and even a few Android devices. I don’t often mention things like sales, but I am a huge fan of Vaja cases. My first Vaja case was for the last Motorola RAZR I owned before I got the first-gen iPhone. I then got a Vaja case for that iPhone and for the iPhone 3GS I replaced it with. They’re very well made, high quality, and gorgeous, but you pay for what you get. That’s code for “they ain’t cheap,” making a 20% discount a possible buying opportunity for me. To get the discount, use coupon code “20off” at checkout. The item pictured with this article is the iPad Pro 9.7″ Detachable Libretto Leather Case, which normally starts at $199.
ACM 369: BlackBerry Doofus, Black Box Regulation, Twitter Harrassment
BlackBerry CEO John Chen had some seemingly irrational things to say about Apple’s stance on encryption, and Bryan and Jeff break it down. They also take a deeper look into black boxes and self-driving cars with a focus on regulating these devices and surveillance worries. Just to keep things light, they dive into Twitter harassment and social media censorship.
Plex on Sonos – Two Great Platforms Now Work Together
Plex today announced the public availability of Plex Music on Sonos. It still officially bears the “beta” label, but it works just fine in our quick tests. Now you can access your Plex Music Library from any Sonos device, and that includes remote access. If you have Sonos at your lake house and your Plex library is on your Mac at home, good news: it’ll stream across the Internet. It also works to stream friends’ libraries, too, as long as you’re both linked together via the Plex back end (and as long as your friend has their Music sharing enabled in Plex). Additionally, because Plex is built to transcode music, you can play any file, including those that Sonos doesn’t natively support. To add Plex, launch your Sonos controller app on your Mac or iPhone (or Android), select “Add Music Service,” choose Plex, sign in and you’re all set!
iPad Pro 9.7-inch vs. iPad Air 2
Dr. Mac’s has been running an iPad Pro 9.7-inch and an iPad Air 2 side-by-side for the past month. Wanna know which one he’d buy?
If a Black Box in Apple's Autonomous Cars Recorded Everything, Would You Care?
One of the most important issues with the autonomous driving cars of the future is the partitioning of liability. To that end, new legislation proposed in Germany would require a data recorder to log when the car is under autonomous or driver control to aid in the assignment of responsibility. But such a box has privacy considerations. And it might be hacked. Would such a data recorder deter buyers? Could Apple overcome all this?
Screens 3 for Mac VNC: $12.99
Check out Screens 3, a virtual network client (VNC) that allows you to login to and control a Mac, Windows or Linux box from your Mac. There’s some of that built into OS X, but Screens 3 adds support for Windows and Linux devices. It also allows you to set up an action that triggers each time you disconnect (for instance, “Log Out Your User,” etc.). There are other features you might find useful, too, so check out the deal listing for more info. You can get Screens 3 for Mac through our deal for $12.99.
WebP Comes to iOS 10, macOS Sierra Betas: What You Need to Know
Apple added support for Google’s WebP image format to Safari in the beta versions of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, which could make websites load faster. “Could,” in this case, assumes Apple keeps WebP support in the shipping versions of its operating systems, and Web developers adopt the format for their site images.
How to Apply for Twitter Account Verification
Previously only available by private invitation, Twitter now allows users to apply for account verification. Note that you still need to be noteworthy or otherwise provide a compelling reason for Twitter to approve your verification, but at least now you can ask instead of having to sniff around at cocktail parties and coffee shops for someone who knows someone. To get verified your account must first be in proper shape. Read along and we’ll help get you there.
TMO Daily Observations 2016-07-20: Autonomous Car Black Boxes, WebP in iOS 10 and macOS Sierra
Germany wants black box recorders in autonomous cars. Kelly Guimont and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to look at Germany’s plans and what that means for anyone considering buying a self driving car. They also explain WebP, Google’s image format Apple is supporting in the iOS 10 and macOS Sierra betas.
iOS: Fixing Color Casts on Pictures
If you’ve never played around with the photo-editing tools available on your iPad or iPhone, you really should check them out! Today’s Quick Tip is about one of the easiest to use. We’ll talk about how you can adjust for unwanted color cast in your images, so you can make ’em cooler and warmer as needed!
Slow Motion Laughing Girl Video 'Shot on iPhone'
Apple posted two new spots in its “Shot on iPhone” series on YouTube. The one below, is titled Shot on iPhone by Marc Z. It should have been called something like Laughing Girl, or Joie de Vie. It’s just happy. And fun. And it’s yet another great spot in this wonderful series that shows off iPhone’s abilities. Apple also released Shot on iPhone by Robert S., a video of a gondola ride off a mountain.
