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AirTag Zero Day Found That Could Steal Your iCloud Password

Andrew Orr ·

A security researcher found a zero-day bug with AirTag that could let an attacker potentially steal your Apple ID.

Apple’s “Lost Mode” allows a user to mark their Airtag as missing if they have misplaced it. This generates a unique https://found.apple.com page, which contains the Airtag’s serial number, and the phone number and personal message of the Airtag owner.

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Apple Should Scrap Leather if Its Serious About The Environment

Charlotte Henry ·

Apple is always keen to tout its environmental credentials. However, Adam Oram at iMore makes a really good point. If the company wanted to really improve the impact it has on the environment further, it would stop using leather.

One aspect of Apple’s product lineup no one appears to be looking at, though, is the use of leather. Environmentally, leather is extremely damaging, and it’s surprising to me that Apple has not pursued more eco-friendly alternatives. Apple has a long history with leather, having made a variety of accessories. Right now, in Apple’s product lineup, it has several leather items, including iPhone cases, folios, and sleeves, Apple Watch bands, iPad Smart Covers, MacBook sleeves, MagSafe wallets, and AirTag key rings. These are all supplementary to its hero products, but they are often sold as add-ons when picking up a new phone or tablet.

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So What is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization Anyway?

Andrew Orr ·

David Shuttleworth wrote a nice write-up to explain decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO). These are blockchain-related entities where power is shared by everyone.

Ultimately, a DAO is governed entirely by its individual members who collectively make critical decisions about the future of the project, such as technical upgrades and treasury allocations.

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Microsoft Store For Windows Available to Third Parties - Including Epic Games

Charlotte Henry ·

Microsoft announced an update to its new Microsoft Store for Windows policies on Tuesday. From October 5, third-party storefront apps will be allowed. One of those in at the start is Epic Games, the maker of ‘Fortnite‘ with who Apple is involved in a major legal battle.

In that spirit, today we’re announcing another significant update to our Microsoft Store on Windows policies, which will allow third-party storefront apps to be discoverable in the Microsoft Store on Windows. Just like any other app, third-party storefront apps will have a product detail page that can be found via search or by browsing – so that users can easily find and install it with the same confidence as any other app in the Microsoft Store on Windows. Today, we are sharing that Amazon and Epic Games will bring their storefront apps to the Microsoft Store over the next few months, and we look forward to welcoming other stores as well in the future.

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The iPhone 13 Camera is For TikTokers and Oscar Winners

Charlotte Henry ·

Much of the discussion around the iPhone 13 has been around the camera, as it was the part of the device that got the most notable upgrade. Apple’s VP of camera software engineering Jon McCormack and VP of camera hardware engineering Graham Townsend gave British GQ an insight it how it was made.

“The planning has to start about three years ahead, because that’s when we actually fix the specification of the silicon,” says Townsend. “So, for instance, the sensor gets defined at that point and the A15 Bionic processor is also frozen. That’s when we have to begin to talk with Jon and predict the experiences that we want. Obviously when we designed the new ultra-wide lens, we were going to deliver macro photos. But how is that going to work both in stills and video?”

[iPhone 13: How Cinematic Mode Was Made]

‘Before Your Eyes’ From GoodByeWorld Games Comes to Mac
Cool Stuff Found

'Before Your Eyes' From GoodByeWorld Games Comes to Mac

Andrew Orr ·

In Before Your Eyes, players embark upon a thought-provoking journey with the Ferryman who is tasked with shepherding souls to the afterlife. They move through time by using real-world blinking to interact and progress through the story. Before Your Eyes’ unique blink interaction mechanic offers a novel way for players to control the story and become more immersed, as their progress is determined through their eyes and detected through the player’s webcam. Purchase Before Your Eyes on Steam as part of a deluxe content bundle including the game, its complete soundtrack in MP3 and lossless formats and an artbook with concept art, character designs and insight from the team for US$13.49. The deluxe content is also available separate from the game for US$7.99.

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New 'Mastercard Installments' Program Helps You Buy Now, Pay Later

Andrew Orr ·

A rumor we heard of in July was that Apple would launch “Apple Pay Later” to let people pay for purchases in installments, like Apple Card customers enjoy. This was not announced at the iPhone 13 event, but in the meantime, Mastercard customers can use a similar service.

Mastercard Installments enables consumers to digitally access BNPL offers, either pre-approved through their lender’s mobile banking app or through instant approval during checkout. Pre-approved installments can be used directly on a merchant’s website, and can be stored in digital wallets including Click-to-Pay, to then be used online or in-store wherever Mastercard is accepted. Instant approvals during checkout will be available through Click-to-Pay shortly after launch.