Apple has released a flurry of updates in response to a pair of security vulnerabilities that the company says “may have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac systems.” That’s an unusual level of specificity for Apple, especially given that the vulnerabilities are in core code shared by other platforms.
The two vulnerabilities are highly problematic. The JavaScriptCore vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution, and the WebKit vulnerability enables maliciously crafted Web content to lead to a cross-site scripting attack. Both vulnerabilities were identified by Clément Lecigne and Benoît Sevens of Google’s Threat Analysis Group.
But even when they are technically right, the AI summaries still feel wrong. “Expresses love and encouragement,” one AI notification I recently received crudely announced, compressing a thoughtfully written paragraph from a loved one. What’s the point of a notification like that? Texting—whether on iMessage, WhatsApp, or Signal—is a deeply intimate medium, infused with personality and character. By strip-mining messages into bland, lifeless summaries, Apple seems to be misunderstanding what makes texting so special in the first place.
The lists kick off with the top shows of the year, but go on to list the most popular in a number of different categories, from new shows to those with the highest subscriber counts.
For the last few years in Hollywood, it’s kind of felt like that meme of the dog in a burning house and based on the teaser for their new Apple TV+ series, it seems Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have been picking up on that vibe as well.
They both serve as writers, directors, and executive producers on the half hour scripted comedy “The Studio,” which stars Rogen as an anxiety-ridden new studio chief dealing with a business landscape that’s crumbling at his feet.
After telling the stories of everyone from The Beach Boys to The Bee Gees, Carole King and James Taylor, Frank Marshall has set up another high-profile music documentary at Apple — the first fully authorized doc on Grammy-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Fleetwood Mac.
In a support document published this week, Apple said it will be dropping support for Safari bookmark syncing on iPhones and iPads running iOS 10 or earlier, and on Macs running macOS Sierra 10.12.5 or earlier, starting December 18. Apple said it made this decision in accordance with its minimum software requirements for iCloud.
Apple's free butterfly keyboard service program for select MacBooks models ended late last week, nearly six and a half years after it launched.
The RSS client Unread now lets you create custom article actions powered by the Shortcuts app.
Musi claimed Apple breached its contract by removing the app before investigating YouTube's claims. The music-streaming app is concerned that the longer the litigation drags on, the more likely that its users will move on. A mass exodus of users "risks extinction," Musi argued, telling the court the app fears a potentially substantial loss in revenue over allegedly unsubstantiated copyright claims.
But Apple filed its opposition to the injunction last Friday, urging the court to agree that because Musi fans who still have the app installed can continue streaming, Musi is not at risk of "extinction."
The new 'Shot on iPhone' campaign documents a uniquely Thai phenomenon where graduates transform traditional photography into an art form of joy and self-expression.
Showcasing the artistic creativity and achievements of university students, the campaign harnesses the capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro. Developed by TBWA Media Arts Lab APAC, the campaign spans digital platforms, static out-of-home displays, and Apple’s Instagram account, offering a visually rich and culturally nuanced tribute to this key event.
The Graykey, a phone unlocking and forensics tool that is used by law enforcement around the world, is only able to retrieve partial data from all modern iPhones that run iOS 18 or iOS 18.0.1, which are two recently released versions of Apple’s mobile operating system, according to documents describing the tool’s capabilities in granular detail obtained by 404 Media. The documents do not appear to contain information about what Graykey can access from the public release of iOS 18.1, which was released on October 28.
Apple has started selling its own advertising inventory for Apple News, two sources familiar with the effort told Axios. It's pitching new ad units that it hopes will maximize revenue for itself and its publishing partners.
This past month, I've decided I need to change why I listen to podcasts: primarily, I want to be entertained, not informed. If a particular podcast both entertain and inform me, yes, so much the better. But if a podcast merely informs, but fails to entertain me, I unfollowed.
Among the 'casualties' this month are mostly news and current affairs podcasts. Gone. I no longer want to listen to stories about criminals and felons doing horrible things to this world when I am listening to podcasts.
Rather, when I am commuting, or when I am doing brain-dead admin stuff, or when I am washing dishes, I want to listen to people playing quizzes and games, I want to listen to scientists making new discoveries, I want to listen to nerds talking about apps with orange icons or music to listen to while working, and I want to listen to chefs showing kids how to cook yummy vegetables and ice cream.
If you are interested: "Good Job, Brain", "Just a Minute", "The Numberphile Podcast", "Comfort Zone", "Cortex", "The Kitchen Cabinet".
(I still have a folder of news in my RSS client, but I will only read them when I want to be informed, and only for a specific time period only.)
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Thanks for reading.