Apple Music exeuctive Trent Reznor recently granted a rare(ish) interview to Vulture magazine. Topics covered included Apple, Apple Music, streaming music, tech “stars,” and Nine Inch Nails. It’s a very interesting interview, and Mr. Reznor talks about how the idea of tech rock stars is “bull$%&@,” how the modern culture doesn’t value artists properly (including the music industry), and how having access to all of the music ever made has both good sides and down sides. I’m a big fan of Mr. Reznor (YMMV), and very much enjoyed reading this interview.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
Apple Store App Updated to Allow Purchases Using Touch ID and Better Local iPhone Availability
The main difference for payments is that the Apple Store app used to require users to enter their password every time when using credit cards attached to their iTunes account to make a purchase.
Build 20 Apps with the Complete iOS 11 and Swift Developer Course: $19
Check out the Complete iOS 11 and Swift Developer Course. It features 249 lectures and 34 hours of training content, and you’ll build 20 different apps during the course. You’ll also work with iOS 11, Swift 4, ARKit, MLKit, MusicKit, and the new Depth Photo API. You can get the full course through us for $19.
Peering into the Real Future of AI, AR, VR, and Self-Driving Cars - ACM 421
Bryan and Jeff don their futurist hats and explore what they think is the real future of augmented reality, virtual reality, AI, smarthomes, and self-driving cars.
Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 36 with 27 Bug Fixes and Improvements
Safari’s tech preview releases are aimed at developers, and are similar to the developer betas for macOS and iOS.
PDF Expert 2.2 for Mac: $29.99
Our deal on PDF Expert 2.2 for Mac, a PDF-editing tool from Readdle, is back. This was the 2015 App of the Year Runner Up in the Mac App Store, and it allows you to edit text, images, links, and outlines in PDFs. You can also fill out forms, annotate, and more. We have it for 50% retail at $29.99.
![Find 1Password’s Hidden Log of Past Generated Passwords [Update]](https://www.macobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/1password-safari-password-generator.jpg.webp)
Find 1Password's Hidden Log of Past Generated Passwords [Update]
Bryan Chaffin recently found this incredibly helpful in recovering a Bitcoin wallet he thought permanently lost, and wants to show others where it is. [Updated with more info.]
Apple Releases iOS 11 Public Beta 3
iOS 11 Public Beta 3 is a 335.2MB download as an over-the-air (OTA) update on iPad Pro (9.7-inch).
Apple Releases macOS High Sierra Public Beta 3
Apple doesn’t include detailed release notes with the public beta releases, but each release includes bug fixes, tweaks, and new approaches in implementing the many new features in macOS High Sierra.
Final Draft 10: $127.49 with Coupon Code
We have a deal on Final Draft 10, screenwriting software for Mac and Windows. Features include Story Map, Beat Board, collaborative capabilities, and much more. We have it for $149.99 in our deal site, which is already 40% off, but we also have a 15% coupon code for you that brings it down to $127.49. Enter coupon code FINALDRAFT15 at checkout to get the discount.
Bob LeVitus Doesn't Want You Buying the Paperback of Working Smarter for Mac Users
So my old friend Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus made a paperback version of Working Smarter for Mac Users, but he doesn’t want you to buy it. Weird, right? He has his reasons, though, and he made a video (with some cheesy help from yours truly) explaining why. Check it out. And if you haven’t already checked out Working Smarter for Mac Users, you should. I edited this book, and it’s amazeballs. It’s chock full of both Mac productivity tips and Dr. Mac’s techniques for overcoming procrastination. But unlike other productivity systems I’ve read, Bob’s focus is less about “do these things” than it is, “here are different things to try, and here’s how to think about them so you can pick what works for you.” It’s on Amazon ($19.99 Kindle, $29.99 Paperback), iBooks ($19.99), or direct from Bob (where’s a coupon code at the bottom of the page). In the meanwhile, enjoy Bob’s video!
10-Ft MFi-Certified Lightning Cable 3-Pack: $16.99
Our deal for a 3-pack of 10-foot MFi-Certified Lightning cables for $16.99 is back. Easy peasy.
Surprise, Verizon Just Pooped on Net Neutrality
If Ajit Pai had an ounce of respect for reality and the American people he serves, he’d fine Verizon for this “test.” He doesn’t. He won’t. We lose.
New Apple HR Head Has Worked For 5 Apple CEOs
Deirdre O’Brien has worked at Apple for some 30 years, which means she’s worked for five different Apple CEOs: John Sculley, Michael “The Diesel” Spindler, Gil Amelio, Steve Jobs, and Tim Cook.
Fader Stealth Drone: $99
Ooooooh, toys! We have a deal for you on the Fader Stealth Drone. This tiny quadcopter features a six-axis gyro module and a 720p HD camera. You can do flips, and it has LED lights for nighttime flying. It’s $99 through our deal.
This Is The Star Wars Luke Skywalker Landspeeder You're Looking For
Man, kids today get all the cool toys! Check out the Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder by Radio Flyer. I mean, it looks like Luke’s landspeeder, and it actually goes. It GOES! It’s an electric car, for goodness’s sake! For kids! The gear shift switches between 2mph forward, 5mph forward, or 2mph reverse, and it holds one or two kids with a combined max weight of 130 lbs. The company described the dashboard as “interactive,” too. How fun! Oh, and pricey for a kid’s toy. It’s $499.99, and available in the U.S. More countries are coming.
Pay What You Want for The World’s Biggest Mac App Bundle
It’s the last chance to Pay What You Want for The World’s Biggest Mac App Bundle. The full bundle is 15 apps, and you can get all of them if you beat the average price ($13.01 as of this writing). Pay less than the average—even a penny—and you get two of the apps. Beat the leader’s price at any point and you’ll be entered into the a giveaway. Check it out!
Amazon Pay Places, Atari Flashback, and Apple's New Emojis - ACM 420
In episode 420, Bryan and Jeff discuss whether or not Amazon was high when it came up with Amazon Pay Places. They also discuss Atari Flashback 8 Gold, the new Atari retro gaming box, as well as Apple’s new emojis.
Apple Releases Logic 10.3.2 with New Drummers, Multiple New Editing Features
This update includes new content in the form of three new drummers, as well as several new features.
Apple Releases iTunes 12.6.2 for Mac, a Maintenance Release
Apple’s patch notes say only, “This update includes minor app and performance improvements.”
Apple Releases tvOS 10.2.2, a Security Release
Apple notoriously doesn’t include patch notes for most tvOS releases, but like the other updates released on Wednesday, this is likely a maintenance and security release.
Apple Releases Security Updates for OS X Yosemite and El Capitan
Apple’s patch notes for both updates specify only that, “Security Update 2017-003 is recommended for all users and improves the security of OS X.”
Apple Ships macOS Sierra 10.12.6, with Security, Stability, Enterprise Fixes
It’s a maintenance release that, “improves the security, stability and compatibility of your Mac,” and it includes three fixes for enterprise.
Apple Releases iOS 10.3.3, a Maintenance and Security Release
The patch notes say simply. “iOS 10.3.3 includes bug fixes and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad.”
