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The Educated-Decision Edition Saturday, January 30, 2021

Tim Cook On Why It's Time To Fight The "Data-Industrial Complex", by Zach Baron, GQ

But we're not trying to get anybody to change their business model. We have no objective to do that. All we're trying to do is give the individual the right to say, “I want to be tracked,” or “I don't.” That's all we're trying to do. And then with the privacy nutrition label, we're just trying to give the user more facts so they can make an educated decision of whether they want to download this app or not. It's not aimed at anyone. It's about giving the user more power.

I Checked Apple’s New Privacy ‘Nutrition Labels.’ Many Were False., by Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post

Apple’s big privacy product is built on a shaky foundation: the honor system. In tiny print on the detail page of each app label, Apple says, “This information has not been verified by Apple.”

The first time I read that, I did a double take. Apple, which says caring for our privacy is a “core responsibility," surely knows devil-may-care data harvesters can’t be counted on to act honorably. Apple, which made an estimated $64 billion off its App Store last year, shares in the responsibility for what it publishes.

Why Facebook And Apple Are Fighting Over Your Privacy, by Sara Morrison, Vox

The ads won’t go away; they just won’t have as much access to your data to target them. Facebook has already said it will comply with Apple’s ATT requirements, so it won’t be pulling its apps from the App Store over this, nor will Apple be kicking them out.

This is good for both companies because Apple’s users want Facebook’s apps (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) on their iPhones, and Facebook wants their apps in front of as many people as possible. They may be feuding publicly — as they’ve done for years — but their mutually beneficial relationship is still very much intact.

Stuff

I Paid Apple $69 To Replace My 3-year-old iPhone Battery. Here's What Happened, by Rick Broida, CNET

The entire transaction was smooth and efficient, and $69 later my iPhone X feels like it just came out of the box -- at least from a battery perspective. Normally, by 5 p.m. I'd be down to about 10% remaining. Yesterday, I still had 55% -- at 8 p.m.

Hands-on: Unboxing And First Look At Standalone AirPods Max Ear Cushion Sets, by Parker Ortolani, 9to5Mac

The packaging of these standalone ear cushions seems to imply that the idea is customization rather than simply for replacements. The box reminds me a lot of Apple’s watch band packaging. It has a simple pull tab to remove the cushions from the box and could be used to store other sets of cushions that aren’t in use.

Nomad Multi-Device Charger Aims To Be AirPower’s Heir, by Julio Ojeda-Zapata, TidBITS

So is the flexible positioning on the Nomad Base Station Pro a reason to pay more? Sure, if you can afford it, it’s a snazzy accessory. But for those on tighter budgets, save your money.

Notes

Tim Cook Pens Letter To President Biden Praising Early Action On Preserving DACA, by Chance Miller, 9to5Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook has penned a letter to US President Joe Biden on behalf of Business Roundtable. In the letter, Cook praises Biden’s swift action on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and says the group looks forward to working together on future issues.

The Iconic Watches That Inspired Apple Watch Faces, by Arun Venkatesan

In particular, the analog faces reveal what Apple does so well — taking the familiar and making it their own. Over the years, they have released quite a few faces with roots in history. Each one started as an iconic watch archetype and was remade to take advantage of the Apple Watch platform.

Apple In 2020: The Six Colors Report Card, by Jason Snell, Six Colors

It’s time for our annual look back on Apple’s performance during the past year, as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple.

Bottom of the Page

Dear Apple: Can you also allow me an educated decision on what to keep and what to junk all the iCloud stuff that is currently taking up space in my iPhone?

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Thanks for reading.