Friday 31 January 2020

Vine Successor Byte Will Dole Out Its Entire Ad Revenue to Creators Based on Views

After going live on iOS and Android last week, Vine’s successor, Byte, has dropped some more information that “partner program” it’s been teasing since launch, basically its plan to get users paid. None too soon, I’d wager, given the app—a video platform for six-second looping clips—has already become overrun with

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Ring Drops a Major App Update, Placing Privacy and Security Settings Front and Center

Ring has begun pushing out an update to its phone app with the aim of consolidating all of its security settings, a likely response to general privacy concerns, as well as more specific ones about “hackers” who’ve hijacked in-home camera feeds in recent months.

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Lindsey Graham Is Quietly Preparing a Mess of a Bill Trying to Destroy End-to-End Encryption

Top Trump ally and consistent encryption scaremonger Senator Lindsey Graham is working on a bill that could coerce tech companies to stop providing end-to-end encryption by threatening them with massive legal liability, The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act of 2019 (or EARN IT…

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This Pre-Workout Doesn't Make Me Feel Jittery and Actually Tastes Good, Seriously

Hey guys, it’s me, the Inventory’s Resident Cat Lady/Tyrone’s mom, here to talk about something besides my pets. Today, I want to talk to you about pre-workout supplements.

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Instagram Wipes Independent Developer's Work in the Name of Copyright Protections

Social media companies tend to take up copyright issues only when a) mitigating the pain in the ass of takedown notices and b) ensuring users keep reposting memes. Instagram has erred cautiously on the side of supporting potential infringers for the latter reason, so we found it curious when TorrentFreak reported that…

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Tackle All of Your Next Home Projects With Up to 25% Off Select Ryobi and DEWALT Power Tools

Up to 25% Off Select Power Tools and 20% Off Air Compressors | Home Depot

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Roku Drops Fox App Support Ahead of Super Bowl in Pissing Match Over Distribution Agreement

Roku says that a “distribution agreement” with Fox is ending today, meaning that users hoping to watch the Big Game via Fox apps this weekend may be screwed.

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If Trump Wants His Racist Border Wall, He'll Have to Start Taking Climate Change Seriously

Ha ha ha. Donald Trump’s impermeable wall ain’t so impermeable, after all. Not even these high walls of racist fury can withstand good ol’ Mother Nature: The Washington Post reported Thursday that the president’s beloved border wall between the U.S. and Mexico would need to leave portions wide open every summer to…

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EU Officially Votes to Create a Standard Charging Adapter for Phones Despite Apple's Protests

After a debate that had raged on for more than 10 years, the European Parliament has finally voted in a landslide 582-40 decision to create a standard charging solution for all phones and other small to medium-sized mobile devices.

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Exclusive: Expercom Offers MacRumors Readers Best Prices on Custom 16-Inch MacBook Pros (Up to $409 Off), Apple TV 4K, and Apple Watch Series 5

MacRumors readers have a chance to save up to $409 on a collection of custom configuration 16-inch MacBook Pro models this week, thanks to our new exclusive partnership with Apple reseller Expercom. These notebooks are slight variations on the two base models offered by Apple, with added storage of up to 8TB, more RAM, and improved graphics.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Expercom. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The first model on sale is an upgrade on Apple's $2,399.00 16-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Expercom's custom configuration has an upgraded 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory; it's available for $2,597.94 ($201 off of Apple's original price).

The rest of the custom configurations are iterations on Apple's second base model with a 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, which runs for $2,799.00. Expercom's models add 64GB RAM, up to 8TB SSD, and improved graphics with up to 8GB of GDDR6 memory. In total, these prices are the lowest you'll find online for the custom configuration MacBook Pros listed below.

Because they're custom configurations, shipping estimates are also slightly longer than normal, and the notebooks are estimated to be delivered within 10 to 19 business days. Expercom automatically discounts each 16-inch MacBook Pro below Apple's prices on the same custom configurations, but our readers can receive deeper discounts by entering the promo code macrumors at checkout.

Lastly, below you'll find a few sales on the Apple TV 4K and one model of the Apple Watch Series 5. The 32GB Apple TV 4K is on sale for $159, down from $179, representing one of the best prices currently available online for the streaming box. Expercom's deal on the Apple Watch Series 5 is for the 44mm Space Gray Aluminum model at $399, which is also a current low price for this version of the Apple Watch.

16-inch MacBook Pro


Use promo code "macrumors"

Apple TV 4K


  • 32GB - $159, down from $179 ($20 off)

  • 64GB - $179, down from $199 ($20 off)

Apple Watch Series 5


Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

This article, "Exclusive: Expercom Offers MacRumors Readers Best Prices on Custom 16-Inch MacBook Pros (Up to $409 Off), Apple TV 4K, and Apple Watch Series 5" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Augmented Reality Party Game 'Secret Oops!' Lands on Apple Arcade

"Secret Oops!" by Italian developer MixedBag is this week's addition to Apple Arcade across the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.

When a new threat arises and briefcases start to disappear all over the world, the S.P.Y. Agency sends Special Agent Charles to investigate. To help Charles accomplish his mission, players are tasked with interacting with the virtual world remotely and disabling security systems, deadly traps, and more.


The co-operative, multiplayer game is ideal for parties with family and friends, as up to four people can gather in a room and play together on the same virtual game board using augmented reality based on Apple's ARKit 3.

"Secret Oops!" can be downloaded from the App Store with an Apple Arcade subscription. Apple's gaming service launched in September, providing iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year in the United States.

Also See: 'Butter Royale' Debuts on Apple Arcade as Family-Friendly Take on Fortnite


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Apple TV Gets New Underwater Screensavers

As noted on Reddit, Apple recently released a new batch of underwater screensavers for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD.

The new screensavers showcase marine life and ecosystems, ranging from dolphins off the coast of Costa Rica to coral reefs in the Red Sea near Egypt. Other additions display moon jellyfish off the coast of Alaska, waves breaking on the shores of Tahiti, golden cownose rays off the coast of Mexico, and more.


Apple TV displays a screensaver after it has been idle for a short period. To change the number of minutes before a screensaver starts, go to Settings > General > Screen Saver and select Start After. You can also start a screensaver at any time by pressing the Menu button on the Siri Remote while on the tvOS home screen.

A tap on the Siri Remote provides information on where a screensaver was filmed, while a swipe left or right will change the location of the screensaver that is displayed if multiples have been downloaded.

New screensavers can be downloaded daily, weekly, or monthly via Settings > General > Screen Saver > Download New Video. While it is not possible to choose a specific screensaver on the Apple TV, 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo maintains a website that showcases all of the available scenes.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 13
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

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Apple Proposes Standardized Format for Delivering One-Time Codes Over SMS



Apple has proposed a standardized format for delivering one-time code over SMS.

Since there is no current standard text format for SMS delivery of one-time codes, systems rely on heuristics to locate the code in the message and associate it with a relevant origin.

WebKit engineer Theresa O'Connor proposes this lightweight text format:





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Friday's Best Deals: Jach's Sweaters, Cole Haan, Tactical Sporks, and More

An Anker wall adapter, LG monitor, an itty-bitty lighter, and New Balance shoes lead off Friday’s best deals from around the web.

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A Robotic Swinging Spider-Man Is Coming to Disneyland This Summer

After first revealing what many speculated to be robotic stunt doubles several years ago, today the official Disney Parks Blog confirmed that Disney Research’s swinging, posing, self-contained animatronic trapeze artists will be used to create a real-life version of Spider-Man swinging over the upcoming Avengers Campus

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Cool Discovery Could Finally Explain Gigantic Ice Rings Found on Siberian Lake

The appearance of large ice rings on Lake Baikal in southern Siberia has confounded scientists since they were first discovered in the early 2000s. Recent investigations into the ice rings have resulted in a plausible explanation, but there’s still much to learn about these unusual features.

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This Woman’s Mouth Keeps Growing Hairs

A woman in Italy developed a rare, literally hair-raising medical condition, her doctors say. In a case study, they describe how the woman grew eyelash-like hairs inside of her mouth. What’s worse, the hairs kept returning after their initial removal.

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Updates From the Little Shop of Horrors Remake, the New Willow, and More

Shang-Chi may be casting some super spies. Work’s already begun on Servant’s second season. The 100 spinoff series has been given a slithery subtitle. Plus, what’s to come when The Walking Dead returns, Sue Dearborn arrives on The Flash, and Jason Segel gets inducted into the Elsewhere Society. To me, my spoilers!

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Megatron Approves of This Deal

Transformers Generations 35th Anniversary Megatron | $15 | Walmart

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Someone Talk Me Out of Spending $900 on Some Keyboard Caps

I need your help. When I get anxious, I like to buy things. I’ve been good about it for the last few years. I buy a couch—because I need a couch. Or I buy a new computer case because my old one is too big for the space where I’m putting the computer. Sometimes, I’ll blow money on a much pricier and more useless item.…

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These Maps Paint a Dark Future for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge If Trump Has His Way

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last pristine landscapes in America. Tucked along the northern border of Alaska and Canada, the nearly 20 million acres of wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife species, including the Porcupine caribou herd, which visits the refuge’s coastal plain every summer…

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How to Measure Almost Anything Using Your Phone

Your phone can do it all. It’s a portable music player, diary, digital camera, communication device, calculator, and just about everything else. But you might not have considered that it can also replace your measuring tape. With the right sensors on board and the right apps installed, you can measure more data with…

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Apple Close to Deal for Comedy Show Starring Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong

Apple is closing in on a series order for a musical comedy starring "Saturday Night Live" cast member Cecily Strong, reports Deadline.

Photo by Marion Curtis/StarPix/Shutterstock
Written by Despicable Me duo Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, the as-yet untitled comedy series follows a couple on a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship when they discover the magical town of Schmigadoon, in which everyone acts as if they're in a studio musical from the 1940s. They then discover that they can’t leave until they find "true love."
Strong will produce as well as star in the series, while Paul will be showrunner and Daurio will serve as consulting producer.

The series has reportedly been in the works at Apple for almost a year. While Strong is thought to be in the final year of her current "Saturday Night Live" contract, her involvement in Apple's comedy series doesn't necessarily mean she's leaving NBC's late-night sketch program.

Earlier this week, Apple announced that it was also nearing a series order for a comedy-drama series starring Rose Byrne. Titled "Physical," the show is set in a 1980s Southern California beach community, in which Byrne plays a housewife who discovers unexpected power in the world of aerobics.


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Apple Engineers Propose Standardized Format for SMS One-Time Passcodes

Apple WebKit engineers have put forward a proposal to make one-time passcode SMS messages more secure by developing a standardized format for the two-step verification process, reports ZDNet.


Two-step verification logins require a user's password and another element that only the user would know – in this case, a one-time code sent via text message – to gain access to an online account.

As it stands, these SMS messages can arrive in a variety of formats, making it difficult or impossible for apps and websites to detect them and automatically extract their information. They can also

Apple's proposal has two goals. The first is to introduce a way that one-time passcode SMS messages can be associated with the website, by adding the login URL inside the message itself.

The second goal is to standardize the format of the SMS messages, so that browsers and other apps can identify the incoming message, recognize the URL, and then extract the OTP code for automatic insertion into the appropriate login field on the website.

The idea behind automating OTP entry is that it eliminates the risk of users falling for a scam and entering an OTP code on a phishing site with a different URL.

Apple developers provided the following example of the new format SMS message for OTP codes:
747723 is your WEBSITE authentication code.
@website.com #747723
The first line is intended for the user, enabling them to determine the website that the SMS OTP code came from, while the second line is processed by browsers and apps so that they can automatically extract the OTP code and complete the 2FA login operation.

If auto-complete fails, users will be able to check the URL of the website that sent the text against the site they're trying to log in to.

According to the report, Google Chrome engineers are already on board with Apple's proposal, but Mozilla's Firefox team have yet to provide official feedback on the standard.

The new proposals would add another layer of security to Apple's existing security code autofill feature, introduced in iOS 12, that can detect one-time passcodes in Messages and display them conveniently above the user's keyboard.


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YouTuber Gives Fake Award to Far Right Activist Who Calls Greta Thunberg an 'Autistic Fucking Wench'

YouTuber Josh Pieters has revealed that he pranked far right British commentator Katie Hopkins by flying her to Prague and presenting her with a fake award. Hopkins, who is frequently retweeted by President Trump and was recently suspended on Twitter, was awarded with the Campaign to Unify the Nation Trophy,…

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EU Lawmakers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Charging Cable Standard, Despite Apple's Protestations

Despite criticism from Apple, EU lawmakers on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor for new rules to establish a common charger for all mobile device makers across Europe (via Reuters).

Members of the European Parliament voted by 582-40 for a resolution urging the European Commission, which drafts EU laws, to ensure that EU consumers are no longer obliged to buy new chargers with each new device.

The resolution said voluntary agreements in the industry had significantly reduced the number of charger types, but had not resulted in one common standard.
The Commission should adopt new rules by July, the lawmakers' resolution said, calling for "an urgent need for EU regulatory action to reduce electronic waste, empower consumers to make sustainable choices, and allow them to fully participate in an efficient and well-functioning internal market."

The proposed charging ports for portable devices include Micro-USB, USB-C, and the Lightning connector. Thursday's resolution didn't specify what the mobile charging standard should be, but non-Apple mobile devices and increasingly laptops and tablets are charged by USB-C, so the EU is highly unlikely to choose Apple's Lightning connector.

Apple last week pushed back against proposals for binding measures to make smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices use a standardized charging port such as USB-C.

In a statement, Apple said that the industry was already moving to USB-C and that regulation to force conformity would stifle innovation, harming European consumers. Apple also claimed that such a move would "create an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and greatly inconvenience users."

The European Commission, which acts as the executive for the EU, has been pushing for a common charger for more than a decade. However, the latest resolution makes legislation more likely, with the EU executive having included the common charger standard as one of the set of actions it plans for this year.


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Thursday 30 January 2020

If You’re Going to Buy Her Lingerie for Valentine’s Day, Buy It From One of These Brands

At the risk of mixing cultural metaphors, Valentine’s Day is the Super Bowl of men buying lingerie for their significant others. Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated with family, usually, making sexy undergarments a less-than-ideal gift, while anniversaries call for nostalgic presents rather than romantic ones. As…

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