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The Push-To-Say-Yes Edition Wednesday, August 31, 2022

A Free Period-Tracking App That Doesn’t Sell Your Data, by Naomi Kresge, Bloomberg

When Marie Kochsiek started work on an open source app for tracking menstrual cycles four years ago, some people questioned why the world needed another such program given that dozens were already on the market. But the Berlin software developer saw that most had a common flaw: They used private information for targeted ads, so a user who skipped a period might suddenly get a pitch for diapers, strollers, or baby food. While that argument resonated among the privacy-minded, the not-for-profit app—called Drip—barely got any traction against commercial rivals such as Flo, Ovia, and Glow, all of which have millions of users.

[...]

Now, to extend its reach in the US, Kochsiek’s team is introducing a version for iPhones. “Roe v. Wade was a push to say yes, we really want to make it available to as many people as possible,” Kochsiek says.

Tom Hanks Is Launching A Trivia Game Exclusively On Apple Arcade, by Todd Spangler, Variety

It’s the first game created by the Oscar-winning actor, producer and director, and the first trivia game coming to Apple Arcade. “Hanx 101 Trivia,” developed by independent game studio BlueLine Studios, lets players test their knowledge across a variety of categories and multiple game modes — to become the ultimate trivia master. The game launches on Friday, Sept. 2.

Stuff

Captionista: Simple, Flexible Video Subtitling For The iPhone And iPad, by John Voorhees, MacStories

Captionista is a fantastic tool for anyone who has ever wanted to add a bit of explanatory text to their videos.

Belkin Launches New Boost Charge Pro Dual USB-C Power Adapters, by Juli Clover, MacRumors

Belkin today announced the debut of two new Boost Charge Pro Dual USB-C GaN Wall Chargers, which are available in 45W and 65W variants. The chargers feature PPS technology, which Belkin says is designed to deliver the optimum power to compatible devices, including Apple products.

Must-have iPad Gadgets And Accessories To Use In The Kitchen, by Lauren Wadowsky, Gadgetflow

Most of us cook with recipes on a device. And, if your preferred cooking tablet is an iPad, you probably want gadgets that help you use it better and keep it safe while you simmer consommé and the like. Well, we’ve got some great suggestions in today’s roundup of gadgets and accessories to use in the kitchen.

Develop

Xcode Cloud Subscriptions Now Available For Developers, by Juli Clover, MacRumors

Apple today announced that developers can purchase subscriptions to Xcode Cloud, a continuous integration and delivery service that’s built into the Xcode app. Apple designed Xcode Cloud to provide cloud-based tools to developers for building apps, running automated tests, providing apps to testers, and managing user feedback.

Notes

Apple’s Chief Privacy Officer Set To Leave Company For Law Firm, by Mark Gurman, Bloomberg

Jane Horvath, who first joined Apple in 2011, is taking a job at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move hasn’t been announced publicly. Horvath recently informed Apple’s legal department of her plans in an internal memo.

[...]

Privacy has become central to Apple’s marketing efforts, and Horvath represented the company in its dealings with trade groups and Capitol Hill. She was also responsible for Apple’s compliance with privacy rules globally, such as GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, in the European Union.

Free, As In Context, by Nick Heer, Pixel Envy

Someone more sympathetic than I am might point out that Google will always struggle to understand context because it is operating at a prohibitively massive scale. This is a cop-out or, at least, an incomplete thought. Google, like many other big businesses, has prioritized growth at the expense of caution because the incentives outweigh the risks. Some variation of this is true across industries, from banking to natural resources to food.

Storing Data On Floppy Disks? Japan Tells Bureaucracy Time To Stop, by Shiko Ueda, Nikkei Asia

Japan may be known for its advanced technologies, but government agencies still require some data to be submitted or saved on floppy disks and CD-ROMs. That is about to end.

"Where can you buy floppy disks these days?" Digital Affairs Minister Taro Kono told reporters on Tuesday. "We will change [these rules] promptly."

Bottom of the Page

I was watching this season's Trying over at Apple TV+, and, for some reason, my brain was telling me that this will be the last season. So, throughout the episodes, I was reassuring myself that by the final episode, surely there will be a happy ending. It is a comedy, after all, and comedies always have happy endings.

Then, this morning, I've gotten news that there will be a fourth season, and I am now worried about my favorite characters in the show.

:-)

~

Thanks for reading.