Tim Hardwick

Tim is a Contributing Editor at MacRumors. He has been covering technology for a decade, but will write about anything that interests him, from philosophy of mind to his own brand of bad fiction. Originally from Liverpool, England, Tim can sometimes be found accessing a personal wi-fi hotspot from a ferry somewhere on the Mersey.



Facebook Fights US Government Demand to Break Messenger Encryption in Criminal Case

Saturday August 18, 2018 3:36 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Facebook is contesting a demand from the U.S. government that it break the encryption of its popular Messenger app so that law enforcement can listen in to a suspect's conversations as part of an ongoing investigation into the MS-13 gang. The U.S. Department of Justice's demand is in relation to a case proceeding in a federal court in California that is currently under seal, so public files are unavailable. However, Reuters' sources said the judge in the case heard arguments on Tuesday on a government motion to hold Facebook in contempt of court for refusing to carry out the surveillance request. Facebook says it can only comply with the government's request if it rewrites the code relied upon by all its users to remove encryption or else hacks the government's current target, according to Reuters. Legal experts differed over whether the government would likely be able to force Facebook to comply. However, if the government gets its way in the case, experts say the precedent could allow it to make similar arguments to force other tech companies to compromise their encrypted communications services. Messaging platforms like Signal, Telegram, Facebook's WhatsApp and Apple's iMessage all use end-to-end encryption that prevents communications between sender and recipient from being accessed by anyone else, including the service providers. Tech companies have pushed back against previous attempts by authorities to break encryption methods, such as the FBI's request that Apple help it hack into the iPhone owned by Syed Farook, one of the shooters in the December
Read Full Article • 40 comments

How to Output Your Mac's Audio to Two Pairs of Headphones at the Same Time

Friday August 17, 2018 4:42 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Next time you're on a flight with someone and you both want to watch a video on your Mac without disturbing other passengers, try this convenient solution for sharing your Mac's audio among two pairs of headphones. The method described below should work regardless of whether you're using one wired pair and one wireless pair of headphones, two pairs of Bluetooth headphones (i.e. two sets of AirPods), or even several pairs. How to Output Mac Audio to Two Audio Devices Make sure that the headphones you want to use together are paired with your Mac over Bluetooth and/or connected via the headphone jack. Launch the Audio MIDI Setup app, located in Applications/Utilities. Click the plus (+) button at the lower left of the Audio Devices window and select Create Multi-Output Device. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the Multi-Output Device in the list that you just created, and select Use This Device For Sound Output. (You can also opt to Play Alerts and Sound Effects Through This Device from the same menu.) Tick the sets of headphones that you want to use in the Audio Device list. (If one is a wired pair, tick Built-in Output.) Select a Master Device in the drop-down menu. Tick Drift Correction for the slave device in the Audio Device list. Launch System Preferences (select  -> System Preferences... from the menu bar) and open the Sound pane. Click the Output tab and choose the Multi-Output Device or "Aggregate device" in the list, and you should be good to go.
Read Full Article • 47 comments

'Entry-Level' 13-inch MacBook, Redesigned iPad Pros With Faster 18W USB-C Charger Coming in September, But no New iPad Mini

Friday August 17, 2018 3:05 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple will launch its much-rumored "entry-level" MacBook in September, according to a report by DigiTimes outlining Apple's upcoming product launches. The website says the new MacBook will be priced at $1200, according to industry sources, and will be powered by 14-nanometer Kaby Lake CPU architecture, following delays to Intel's 10-nm rollout. Earlier this year, DigiTimes said that Apple will release the first MacBook Air with a Retina display in the second half of 2018, and claimed that it will be a 13-inch model in a separate report. It also recently said Quanta will assemble new "inexpensive notebooks" for Apple in the fourth quarter. However, the idea of a $1200 MacBook Air leaves the question of a sub-$1000 MacBook offering wide open. TrendForce believes Apple will release a new MacBook Air in September or October, while both Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman expect Apple to release a new entry-level notebook later this year. Whether that's a MacBook or a MacBook Air remains unclear, but Gurman expects at least one of them to have a $999 starting price. Today's DigiTimes report also claims Apple will use the September event to announce the "launch schedule" for its wireless AirPower charger, costing in the region of $160-$190. Apple previewed its multi-device AirPower charging mat at its iPhone X event last September, and confirmed that it will be released at some point in 2018, but it has yet to reveal how much it will cost. An earlier rumor citing "industry insiders" has suggested a price point of around $149. Apple is
Read Full Article • 314 comments

Melbourne Teen Pleads Guilty to Hacking Apple Servers and Accessing Customer Accounts [Updated]

Thursday August 16, 2018 4:08 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
A Melbourne schoolboy has pleaded guilty to hacking into Apple's secure network after the company notified authorities of the intrusion (via The Age). The teen, who can't be named for legal reasons, appeared at an Australian Children's Court on Thursday facing allegations of hacking into Apple's servers on multiple occasions. Details of the case are still sketchy, but the boy's hacking is said to have begun at the age of 16, and included downloading 90 gigabytes of secure files and accessing "authorized keys" that grant login access to users. The boy is said to have attempted to hide his identity using a number of methods including "computerized tunnels", a system which had "worked flawlessly" until the teen was caught. That chain of events began when Apple apparently detected the unauthorized access and blocked the source of the intrusions. It subsequently notified the FBI, which passed on the information to the Australian Federal Police, resulting in a warrant being executed at the family home last year. Prosecutors said the raid turned up a "litany of hacking files" on a computer laptop and hard drive, as well as a mobile phone with an IP address that matched the source of the intrusions. The boy's lawyer said the teen was a fan of the company and had "dreamed of" working for Apple. His lawyer also asked the magistrate's court not to disclose some of the details of the case because the boy is well-known in the hacking community and it could put him at risk. The magistrate's court acknowledged the guilty plea, and the case has been adjourned until
Read Full Article • 100 comments

Google's New Cloud Storage Plans Launch in the U.S.

Thursday August 16, 2018 3:06 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Google today launched its new cloud storage pricing scheme under the moniker Google One, which replaces all paid storage plans under the Google Drive brand. The new plans include 100GB storage for $1.99 a month, 200GB for $2.99 a month, and 2TB for $9.99 a month (down from $19.99). The free 15GB for non-paying users remains. There's also a new family option for divvying up a single storage plan amongst up to five members. As a result of the changes, Google is removing its 1TB/$9.99 plan, but existing 1TB Drive plans will be upgraded to 2TB at no extra cost. Pricing for plans larger than 2TB will remain the same. The new storage plans provide users with space for Google Drive, Gmail, and original quality photos and videos (including 4K) in Google Photos. The paid plans also come with live chat support, something that was previously limited to G Suite business account holders. Apple's iCloud monthly storage plans aren't so different: they start with 5GB free storage for non-paying users, then offer 50GB for $0.99, 200GB for $2.99, and 2TB for $9.99. On the face of it, Google One's new 100GB/$1.99 plan offers something of a middle ground between iCloud's 50GB and 200GB tiers, but that doesn't account for the practicalities of switching ecosystems that you'd need to factor in, not to mention differing privacy policies. As of today, the new Google One plans are available to users in the United States, with existing Drive subscribers there having already been moved to the new plans. Google is promising availability for other regions
Read Full Article • 106 comments

How to Subscribe to Calendars on iPhone and iPad

Thursday August 16, 2018 1:43 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Calendar subscriptions offer a convenient way for you to stay up to date with everything from national holidays to the match fixtures for your favorite sports team. In this article, we'll show you how to subscribe to a public calendar on your iPhone or iPad – all you need in advance is the web address of the calendar (ics) file. Note that if you want a calendar subscription to sync across all devices signed into your iCloud account, you'll need to subscribe to it on your Mac. To do so, open the Calendar app in macOS and select File -> New Calendar Subscription, enter the URL of the calendar to subscribe to, and then select iCloud in the Location menu. How to Subscribe to a Calendar in iOS 11 Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Accounts & Passwords. Under the Accounts section, tap Add Account. Tap Other. Under Calendars, tap Add Subscribed Calendar. Type in your calendar link in the Server field; to paste in a copied link, tap and hold the field and select Paste. Tap Next. Use the Description field to give the calendar an easily recognizable name. Enter a server username and password if required (most users will be able to skip this step). Tap Save. How to Remove a Calendar Subscription in iOS 11 Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap Accounts & Passwords. Tap Subscribed Calendars. Tap the calendar subscription you want to remove. Tap Delete Account.
Read Full Article • 8 comments

Classic Strategy Game 'Rome: Total War' Coming to iPhone on August 23

Wednesday August 15, 2018 4:01 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Feral has announced that the iPhone version of ROME: Total War will be released on August 23. The acclaimed historical strategy game made its way to iPad in November 2016, and has since been redesigned for an even more mobile experience. ROME: Total War on iPhone ROME: Total War seamlessly blends conquest and politics on a massive scale as it challenges players to build and rule the ancient world’s greatest empire over three hundred years, from the late Roman Republic to the early Roman Empire. Players will deploy strategy and tactics in spectacular real-time battles, and use diplomacy, subterfuge and assassination to smooth the path to ultimate victory in huge turn-based campaigns.The upcoming version includes a suite of features tailored specifically for iPhone, from a redesigned user interface to enhanced touch controls. Feral says the game will make full use of the latest version of Apple's Metal API for improved performance, enhanced graphics, and reduced battery usage. ROME: Total War will require an iPhone 5S or later, iOS 11, and 4GB of free space to install. The full list of supported iPhones is below:iPhone 8 plus iPhone 7 plus iPhone 6s plus iPhone 6 plus iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 7 iPhone 6 iPhone 6s iPhone SE iPhone 5s iPod Touch (6th generation) ROME: Total War for iPhone will be available from the App Store for $9.99 as a universal app. That means anyone who previously purchased the game on iPad will be able to install it on their iPhone at no additional cost, and transfer across any existing save
Read Full Article • 4 comments

2018 iPhones Could Start at $699, May Include Apple Pencil Support, 512GB Storage Option for OLED Models

Tuesday August 14, 2018 3:25 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple may introduce its upcoming 6.1-inch LCD iPhone with a starting price of around $699 to $749, according to industry analysis by TrendForce. The pricing strategy is said to be partly a response to lower than expected iPhone sales last year, and partly a result of competition from Chinese brands that have expanded their market shares with devices that offer high performance at affordable prices. Three new iPhone models are expected to form Apple's 2018 lineup: two OLED models measuring in at 5.8 and 6.5 inches, and a 6.1-inch lower-cost LCD model. All three models will feature Face ID in lieu of a Home button, but TrendForce predicts the "budget" LCD device will be Apple's main device in terms of production share. Image via TrendForce The specs upgrades would make new iPhones more favorable in the competition with Android phones. On the other hand, the cost of this model has been approaching that of iPhone 8 Plus due to the upgrades. However, the 6.1-inch LCD model would be positioned by Apple's main product this year, with a production share of around 50% in the new iPhone series. Apple is bound to adjust the prices of this model to meet the market expectation and to further expand its market share. Considering the cost reduction of components, TrendForce estimates the starting price of this LCD version at around $699-749.As for the new OLED models, TrendForce expects the 5.8-inch device will have a lower starting price of $899 to $949, while the current-generation iPhone X, which starts at $999, will enter its "end of life" process due to the similarity in the
Read Full Article • 368 comments

How to Use Secure Code AutoFill in iOS 12 and macOS Mojave

Tuesday August 14, 2018 1:26 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Most readers will have at some point received a two-factor authentication code delivered to them by SMS text message. Many apps and websites send the one-time codes to confirm that the person attempting to log in to an account is the legitimate account holder, and not just someone using a stolen password. Depending on how notifications are set up on your iPhone, receiving a code via text message may mean that you have to switch out from the app or website to read the message and memorize or copy the code, and then switch back to paste it or type it into the login screen manually. To make this process less of a hassle, Apple is introducing Security Code AutoFill for iOS 12. The new feature ensures that SMS one-time passcodes that you receive instantly appear as AutoFill suggestions in the QuickType bar above the virtual keyboard, letting you input them in the passcode field with a simple tap. If you've enabled Text Message Forwarding on your iPhone, you can use the Secure Code AutoFill feature in macOS Mojave, too. The code should appear in Safari as an AutoFill option in the relevant field as soon as the SMS is delivered to Messages on your Mac. iOS and macOS use local data detector heuristics to work out whether an incoming message carries a security code, and Apple says the Security Code AutoFill feature does not alter the security of this two-factor authentication method. So as long as developers craft their secure code text messages correctly, Security Code AutoFill should work in all third-party apps updated for iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, which are
Read Full Article • 11 comments

Latest Firefox iOS Update Brings New Dark Mode and Tab Features

Monday August 13, 2018 4:59 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Firefox received an update on iOS today that brings a new dark theme and a handful of new tab functions to the popular web browser. For some time now, Mozilla's mobile browser has had a "Night Mode" option, which inverts the colors of web pages except for images and certain other elements, similar to the way Apple's Smart Invert works for the iOS interface. From left to right: Standard view, Night Mode, and Night Mode plus Dark theme. Version 13 of the app, released today, adds a new Dark display theme that essentially augments the Night Mode by darkening the interface. Used in tandem, Firefox offers users probably the best night-time browsing experience currently available on iOS. To activate the night-time options, tap the Menu button (the three-line icon at the lower right of the interface) and enable the Night Mode using the toggle button. Then select Settings -> Display, and choose the Dark theme. In addition to the above, version 13 of Firefox adds a couple of useful functions for users who tend to have a lot of tabs open at the same time. There's now a search bar in the open tabs screen to help you find tabs containing specific content, and individual tabs can now be dragged to rearrange them. Firefox web browser is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]
Read Full Article • 17 comments

How to Send and Receive SMS Messages on iPad and Mac via Text Message Forwarding

Monday August 13, 2018 1:56 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Ever since iOS 7, Apple has provided a Text Message Forwarding service that can push SMS messages received through your iPhone's cellular network to your other Apple devices. Using the same network, the forwarding service also allows you to send messages from your iPad or Mac to other phone numbers, even if they don't support Apple's iMessages platform (dumbphones and Android devices, for example). For whatever reason, the Text Message Forwarding feature may not be enabled on your iPhone, so if you tend to miss standard text messages coming through to your phone when you're engaged with something on your Mac or iPad, it's definitely worth enabling. Once activated, those messages will show up on all your devices in the Messages app as green chat bubbles, allowing you to distinguish them from regular blue iMessages. Keep reading to learn how to activate the feature in iOS 11. How to Activate Text Message Forwarding in iOS 11 Launch the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Messages. Tap Send & Receive. Tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage. Tap Sign in to use your Apple ID for iMessage, or tap Select Other Apple ID and then enter the login credentials for the account you want to use. Wait for a moment while iMessage activates. Click OK in any dialog boxes that confirm your Apple ID is now being used for iMessage on your other devices. Tap back to Settings -> Messages, and tap the new Text Message Forwarding option in the menu. Use the toggle buttons next to the devices in the list to include or exclude them from the Text Message Forwarding service. Note
Read Full Article • 5 comments

Former Tesla Lead Engineer Doug Field Returns to Apple to Work on Project Titan

Friday August 10, 2018 2:05 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's former VP of Mac hardware engineering Doug Field has returned to the tech giant's ranks after five years working at Tesla, where he oversaw production of the Model 3. Daring Fireball writer John Gruber broke the news on Thursday after speaking to an Apple spokesperson who confirmed only that Field had returned to the company that he left in 2013. However Gruber's contacts within Apple informed him that Field will link up with former colleague Bob Mansfield to work on Apple's self-driving car program, Project Titan. Field began his career at Ford as a development engineer, before moving on to Segway and then to Apple, and his return is already fueling speculation that Apple's self-driving ambitions have been rejuvenated under the leadership of Mansfield. Rather than solely developing autonomous systems for existing car manufacturers, Apple's rehiring of Field could indicate that the company still retains an interest in building its own vehicles. When Apple began working on Project Titan in 2014, upwards of 1,000 employees were said to have been working on developing an electric vehicle at a secret location near its Cupertino headquarters. However, internal strife and leadership issues reportedly caused Apple to transition its focus to an autonomous driving system and pursue partnerships with existing carmakers instead of building a full car. Hundreds of employees were said to have been laid off as a result. Little is known about the inner workings of Apple's Project Titan group, but court documents filed in July indicate that as many as
Read Full Article • 164 comments

Numerous Apps Caught up in Apple's New App Store Review Policy to Ban Gambling-Related Apps

Thursday August 9, 2018 4:14 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
In an attempt to crack down on gambling-related apps in the App Store, Apple has today implemented a new App Review policy for individual developers, but many apps that are being banned as a result appear to have very little to do with gambling at all. Our newsstand/news/magazine app just got removed from sale from the App Store 24 hours after our 3.0 update was approved. Reason given: gambling/fraudulent activity. We publish a magazine — nothing to do with gambling or fraud at all. 😞😢😲😱 https://t.co/ewu3mE5FG5 pic.twitter.com/vaKtLthvkW— Wojtek Pietrusiewicz (@morid1n) August 9, 2018 Apple has been providing affected developers with the following reason for their app's removal from the App Store: In order to reduce fraudulent activity on the App Store and comply with government requests to address illegal online gambling activity, we are no longer allowing gambling apps submitted by individual developers. The includes both real money gambling apps as well as apps that simulate a gambling experience. As a result, this app has been removed from the App Store. While you can no longer distribute gambling apps from this account, you may continue to submit and distribute other types of apps to the App Store.Apple finishes by saying that "only verified accounts from incorporated business entities may submit gambling apps for distribution on the App Store", and advises developers to visit the Enrollment page to learn more about enrolling an organization in the Apple Developer Program. Apple just removed WatchPlay from the App Store for being a gambling app....? htt
Read Full Article • 63 comments

Chicago Students Present App Projects at 'Everyone Can Code' Apple Store Session

Thursday August 9, 2018 2:04 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Tim Cook in celebrating Apple's "Everyone Can Code" initiative on Wednesday at the company's Michigan Avenue store, where a special Today at Apple session got underway. In a special session titled "One Summer Chicago Student App Showcase", young coders presented their latest app creations to onlookers with the help of the store's giant TV display. Rahm and Cook both took to Twitter to promote the student-centered gig, sharing their photos of participants and members of the public in attendance. #OneSummerChicago youth are demoing apps they built through @Apple's Everyone Can Code program! This summer they learned to code in Swift. #CS4ALL pic.twitter.com/gR34USYl4u— Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@ChicagosMayor) August 8, 2018 Young developers like Fahmeen, Afreen and Amelia are building apps to help their local communities. Thanks to @ChicagosMayor and @1summerchicago for helping us showcase some of the creativity and passion coming out of our Everyone Can Code initiative in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/GeFDmYTEY4— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 9, 2018 Since December, Apple has been working to bring coding opportunities to almost half a million students in the city of Chicago through an expansion of the company's Everyone Can Code program. The Swift-oriented initiative has been designed in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago, local businesses and non-profit organizations. The coding initiative has since been expanded to colleges and universities outside of the United
Read Full Article • 7 comments

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Headphones Gain Alexa Support via Software Update

Wednesday August 8, 2018 3:58 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Bose has released an update for its QuietComfort 35 II wireless headphones that adds Alexa support as a voice assistant feature. Previously, the "Action" button on the popular noise-canceling cans was exclusively for invoking Google Assistant (Siri is accessed by holding down the multifunction play/pause button for two seconds). However, after updating the software through the Bose Connect app, QC35 II owners can now opt to use Amazon's ubiquitous virtual assistant instead via the app's Options menu. For those wondering, voice assistant support is the main difference between the Bose QC 35 Series II headphones and the original Quiet Comfort 35 Series I (reviewed here), although the later model does let you use the noise canceling feature in wired as well as wireless mode. So if voice assistant support doesn't interest you and you're looking to go wireless, the Series I cans are definitely still worth a punt if you can find them online – and you just might save yourself a few dollars in the
Read Full Article • 43 comments

Apple Signals Smart Home Mesh Networking Interest by Joining 'The Thread Group'

Tuesday August 7, 2018 4:49 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has become a member of The Thread Group, an organization that supports companies interested in innovating networking solutions for consumer smart home devices using the Thread mesh standard (via 9to5Mac). Apple has been added to the list of official members on the group's website, although what that means in practical terms is unclear. According to literature available online, the group's mission is "to focus on education, marketing, promotion of the Thread Networking Protocol, and ensuring a great experience through rigorous, meaningful product certification". Thread Group is a not-for-profit organization responsible for the market education around the Thread networking protocol and certification of Thread products. Thread is an IP-based wireless networking protocol providing the best way to connect products in the home. With Thread, product developers and consumers can easily and securely connect more than 250 devices into a low-power, wireless mesh network.Thread is just one among several mesh standards that smart home products can be certified to support. Zigbee and Z-Wave are two such examples of rival standards competing in the connected home market, while Bluetooth was also recently updated to support mesh networking, or creating large-scale networks across devices without relying on a central hub or router. In recent years, Wi-Fi mesh systems have become a popular solution for in-home wireless networks, with options from companies like Linksys, Orbi, Eero, and Google. The technology is also looking to expand, with the Wi-Fi Alliance in May
Read Full Article • 33 comments

Consumer Reports Says Apple Pay Cash is the Best P2P Mobile Payments Service

Tuesday August 7, 2018 3:35 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple Pay Cash is the highest-rated mobile peer-to-peer payments service on the market, according to a review by Consumer Reports. In the first comparison of its kind, the Consumer Reports publication looked at the relative pros and cons of Apple Pay Cash, Zella, Square Cash, Venmo and Facebook Messenger P2P payments. Google Pay's new money-sending feature wasn't included in the group test, however. The five services were rated worse or better in terms of payment authentication, data security, data privacy, customer support, and broad access (use not limited to those with a bank account or particular mobile device). All five services were rated good enough to use, but Apple Pay Cash came out the winner with a higher overall score, mainly because of its stronger privacy and security measures. Apple Pay was the only service that got top marks from CR for data privacy, because its policies state that it limits the information it collects and shares on users and their transactions. It doesn't store credit card or debit card numbers, and it states in the terms and conditions that it doesn't sell users' personal information to third parties, CR found.The requirement of later-generation Apple hardware and software was classed as the only major drawback of Apple Pay Cash, as per the "broad access" category described above. Venmo, Facebook Messenger, and Square Cash all rated above average in most categories barring privacy. Zelle was downrated for poor clarity in its data policies, and failed to offer a way to confirm payments in its mobile app, although the company
Read Full Article • 66 comments

Logitech Unveils 'POWERED' Wireless Charging Stand for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, Designed in Collaboration With Apple

Tuesday August 7, 2018 2:47 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Logitech has announced a new wireless charger for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X that aims to make it easier to use your smartphone while charging it at the same time. Designed "in collaboration with Apple", Logitech's POWERED Wireless Charging Stand can be placed on a desk or bedside table, and can hold your iPhone in an upright position – ideal for unlocking Face ID and reading notifications without removing the device from the U-shaped cradle. Two additional features distinguish the POWERED from most other charging stands on the market: First, your device doesn't have to be in exact alignment with the stand to complete the charging circuit, so you can "drop your iPhone on the cradle and go", according to Logitech. Second, the POWERED also supports landscape orientation, so you can watch video on your smartphone's screen while it's charging. The stand also charges iPhones wearing a protective case up to 3mm thick. Logitech says the POWERED delivers up to 7.5W charging for iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X only, and up to 5W charging for all other Qi-enabled devices. The stand will be available this month in an "off-white" color for $69.99 at Logitech.com and Apple's online store. Stay tuned for a review of the POWERED here on MacRumors. Today's announcement shouldn't affect Apple's plans to launch its multi-device AirPower charging mat before or in September
Read Full Article • 109 comments

Apple Removes Five of Six Infowars Podcast Series From iTunes Directory

Monday August 6, 2018 3:58 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has removed the entire libraries of five Infowars podcasts from the Apple Podcasts platform, Buzzfeed News reported on Sunday. Among the podcasts removed from Apple's iTunes index are "War Room" and "The Alex Jones Show", hosted by the controversial U.S. radio host and conspiracy theory peddler. Infowars host Alex Jones A sixth show, "Real News With David Knight", was the only Infowars podcast to survive Apple's cull, although why that would be remains unclear. Apple does not host the podcasts per se but is responsible for running the directory for users of its stock Podcasts app. In explaining its decision to remove the five shows, Apple provided Buzzfeed with the following statement: "Apple does not tolerate hate speech, and we have clear guidelines that creators and developers must follow to ensure we provide a safe environment for all of our users," a company spokesperson said. "Podcasts that violate these guidelines are removed from our directory making them no longer searchable or available for download or streaming. We believe in representing a wide range of views, so long as people are respectful to those with differing opinions."In terms of reach and discoverability, the removal of the shows is just the latest in a number of blows for Alex Jones' Infowars series. Last month, Facebook suspended the host's personal profile for 30 days for what it said was hate speech and bullying, while Spotify removed several episodes of Jones' shows last week for violating its hate content policy. Infowars was founded by Jones in 1999 and the host has
Read Full Article • 1075 comments

Apple Working With Chinese Mobile Carriers to Reduce iMessage Spam

Thursday August 2, 2018 3:51 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple is working with major mobile carriers in China on exploring ways to reduce iMessage spam, according to state media (via Reuters). The company is actively exploring ways to further cut spam messages, including using advanced technology to identify junk messages and rolling out more tools to block hostile accounts, an Apple official was quoted as saying by the China News Service. "We've been working to reduce the issue of spam for quite some time," an Apple spokeswoman told Reuters in an email. She declined to comment on the China News Service report that it was working with the country's telecom firms.Chinese iPhone users are said to be a regular target of spam iMessages, many of which are said to promote illegal gambling websites. The reason for the influx is that Chinese telecom firms are able to filter out regular spam SMS messages by blocking keywords, but the same approach isn't possible with iMessages, which are end-to-end encrypted. On Thursday, Chinese state media reportedly targeted Apple over the issue in a 30-minute broadside, claiming that Apple allowed illegal content like gambling apps to disseminate freely over the iMessage platform. Apple's decision to work with mobile carriers over the issue of spam will be seen as a move to protect its privacy policies in the region, where the government has been accused of snooping on its citizens. WhatsApp and Facebook have both been blocked in China at one time or another over the use of strong encryption, which makes it difficult for the government to monitor communications. Apple has already tra
Read Full Article • 12 comments