Join James Croft, Raj Deut, Anthony Agius and special guest Terence Huynh as we chat about dirty data done dirt cheap, Spotify gradually becoming the Netflix of audio, Apple wrecking Fed square with their eventual Telstra shop, and Australia’s tech scene rising up against the Assistance and Access legislation that was rushed into law last year.
They did it, Apple has finally showed some teeth!
Facebook, developer of some of the most installed apps on all iOS devices, have had their iOS enterprise distribution certificates revoked after blatantly breaching their enterprise agreement with Apple.
Apple who’ve long campaigned as the champion of user privacy have taken action in the wake of the latest Facebook privacy scandal. Details emerged yesterday that that Facebook were installing a “research” app codenamed “Atlas” onto paid participants phones. Running since 2016 the app has the ability to collect data from any instant message app, media sent to anyone, ongoing location information and more.
Despite Facebook releasing a statement saying they would close the program after it went public yesterday Apple have taken steps to ensure they stay true to their word by revoking their method of distribution. The side effect of doing so is that all of the apps that made use of the same certificates and did not breach the agreement by being loaded onto internal staff’s devices only no longer launch.
Internally Facebook distribute apps for users to arrange travel as well, of course, early builds of Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. Whilst revoking the certificates doesn’t deny Facebook the ability to load apps via other methods it does make it exponentially harder for them to do it at scale.
Apple’s actions will certainly disrupt Facebook today but are far from the company’s apps being removed completely, which I fear other developers (had they done similar) would likely suffer.
A slap on the wrist it may be, it’s nice to Apple back themselves when it comes to privacy.
Over the years, my relationship with Apple has soured. From fanboy to supporter, a workplace user and now a switcher, I think it’s fair to say the string may have finally broken on my Apple yo-yo.
That’s not to say how I feel is any reflection of how well they’re doing. Quite the opposite in fact. Last year they became the first US company worth a trillion dollars; they have hundreds of millions in cash tucked away for a rainy day and are largely considered the people to beat when it comes to smartphones, tablets and industrial design.
But something’s wrong. There’s been a turn. A shift in the tide, if you will, and now long time supporters like myself feel ostracised and ignored. It feels like they’ve lost their way. Their products no longer exhume excitement and as I’ve argued before, “lack direction“.
Apple need to win me back. And now, after downgrading their forecasted revenue for the first time since 2007, they might need to convince a lot of others too. So to help them out and be constructive, instead of merely criticising them, I thought I’d offer my thoughts on exactly how they might go about doing that. Continue reading
Join James Croft, Raj Deut, and Anthony Agius as we discuss a whole crateload of news and reviews. Allow me to summarise in the show notes: man, the Mini is fast! But hoo boy, it’s expensive! The MacBook Air is better! But it’s also, like, confusing! And still quite expensive! The iPad is fast! But man, it’s expensive, and can’t do a bunch of computer things! Facebook is kerosene poured on a fire of social unrest. PAX is a cool convention for games.
Now you know these things, you still have to listen to the show. I insist.
Join James Croft, Raj Deut, and Anthony Agius as we wander through the fields of technology news for this week. We got the government sharing your deets like they’re confetti at a wedding. We got EVs! So tantalizing, but much like a pair of socks on Osher Günsberg, nowhere to be seen. We got another Apple event coming up, will I finally get that PowerBook G5 I’ve been longing for? And much more. Shooooow notes, light the corners of my mind. Misty water-coloured shoooooow notes, of the show we did.
James Croft receives a telegram from his friend Raj Deut saying he’s in danger in Alaska and needs help. He also suggests bringing his brother’s friend Anthony Agius. They arrive in Alaska and set up camp. During a search of the island they find a knapsack, a map, and a piece of jade.
Later, at The Devil’s Paw they lean of an ancient burial site where people would steal gold and jewelry. They use the map to locate the site, find the camp of the gang, and recap a bunch of tech news. The gang is captured, but escapes with the help of their friend Larry Page. The boys learn the true meaning of friendship.
Apple Watch Series 4
iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max, iPhone XR
iPhone X, SE and 6s are out
Where is AirPower exactly?
Cheap battery replacement program ends by Dec 31st – get your battery done
Bunch of HomePod updates
Dates
Watch Series 4 – Pre-order Sept 14, on sale 21st
iPhone Xs – Pre-order Sept 14, on sale 21st
iPhone XR – Pre-order Oct 19, on sale 26th Oct
watchOS 5 & iOS 12 – Sept 18
tvOS 12 – Sept 17
Mojave – Sept 24
I don’t own the latest iPhone & I’m OK with that (I think)
Inbox is dead
We are all searching for the perfect headphones. Maybe they are here…?
OLED TVs are getting crazy cheap again…
One hundred and eighty! Join James Croft, Raj ‘the wizard’ Deut and Anthony ‘the hammer’ Agius as we discuss the pros and cons of a centralised digital health record, the new MacBook Pros (now with added membrane!), the Microsoft Surface Go, and Elon Musk’s latest venture into a self-driving personal breakdown.
Join James Croft, Anthony Agius and Raj Deut as we discuss E3 from the long-long ago, busted keyboards on MacBooks, Samsung sexting your whole crew, HealthEngine sending your deets to the ambulance chasers, and Amazon Prime: Australian Special Edition.
Join James Croft and Raj Deut as we discuss iOS 11.4, Sonos, Airplay 2, and then seamlessly segue into WWDC speculation. We also get Raj to sign up for Beem It, and talk Pokemon and Dad Kratos.
iOS 11.4 is out just before WWDC
The Sonos One is the cheapest AirPlay 2 speaker you can buy
Join James Croft, Raj Deut and founding father Peter Wells as we chat about Pete’s encounter with Tim Cook, Google’s new Chat thing, Flickr, Telegram, Nintendo Labo and more.
Users don’t want iOS to merge with MacOS, Apple chief says
Google is Rebooting Their Messaging Apps Again
In effort to shut down Telegram, Russia blocks Amazon, Google network addresses
Not willing to wait for NBN, I turned to fixed wireless. And I’m not alone.
Preview: Hands on with Nintendo Labo