In the least surprising news I've read in weeks, Apple TV+ has launched to "tepid" demand, according to Variety. Data collected by Parrot Analytics obtained in the 24-hour period following the service's launch less than a week ago measured demand levels, and showed that Apple TV lagged far behind Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and CBS All Access.
Peter Cohen
DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials returns to Mac Safari
Privacy-focused Internet search engine DuckDuckGo has announced the re-release of Internet Privacy Essentials for Mac Safari. It's available for free download from the Mac App Store.
Apple Health works with VA, but not with my doctor
Apple's recent announcement that it's partnered with the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) to make the VA's own Health Records system accessible within the Health application on the iPhone got me thinking: What the hell is wrong with my own health care provider? I'm not a vet but I almost wish I were, if it would simplify this process. Because the way I access my own information is a raging dumpster fire.
Twitter 8.1.5 fixes iOS auto-refresh bug
Social media service Twitter lit up with complaints from iOS users who found a very unwelcome behavior in a recent update - the app would automatically refresh when users were scrolling through their Twitter timeline, sending them back up to the top. After acknowledging the problem, Twitter has pushed out an update that's now available for download from the App Store. Look for version 8.1.5 to correct the problem.
VA Health Records come to iPhone Health app
Apple and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Wednesday that U.S. veterans now have access to the VA's Health Records feature in the Health app on the iPhone.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition comes to Mac
Feral Interactive announced Tuesday the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for Mac and Linux, marking the culmination of the trilogy that describes famed video game adventurer Lara Croft's origin story. Feral previously brought forth the Mac and Linux versions of Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider.
Lasers can control Siri and other voice assistants: Researchers
Researchers in Japan and the United States announced they'd found a way to hijack voice assistants including Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Siri using lasers and other focused beams of light, according to a report in the New York Times.
Microsoft makes over Mac Outlook
Microsoft is rolling out some improvements to its Outlook mail/information management application for the Mac. Outlook for Mac beta testers will soon see an overhauled design and significant performance improvements in the next iteration, according to The Verge.
Apple TV+ gets high marks for 4K video quality
Apple TV+ is getting plaudits for the quality of its 4K video streaming from FlatpanelsHD editor in chief Rasmus Larsen. In a recent forum post. Larsen said that Apple TV+ has the highest 4K streaming quality they've seen in any service to date.
Why is my iPhone 11 getting scratches?
If the iPhone 11 really has the "toughest glass" yet put in an iPhone, why are people complaining about it getting scratched? It turns out that "toughest" doesn't necessarily mean "most scratch-resistant."
Setapp Mac app subscription service adds team support
Setapp is a subscription service aimed at Mac users created by MacPaw Inc. The service provides access to more than 160 applications for $9.99 per month. Up until now, only individual memberships have been available. Starting today, though, MacPaw is offering Setapp for Teams. The company is providing early access to the new teams feature as a public beta.
Microsoft consolidates Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Office Mobile
For years Microsoft has offered mobile versions of its Office productivity suite. Today the company launched a public preview of Office Mobile, a new consolidated app that combines the functionality of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into a single unified experience. The public preview is capped at 10,000 users, though, so you might want to enroll quickly if you want access.