Essential Apple Podcast 105: The Shiny Objects Edition

Recorded 16th September 2018

Well this week was of course the Apple event… 3 new iPhones and a new Apple Watch. I think many of us were a touch disappointed that was “all” there was. Does this mean another event later for some iPads and/or Macs? Who knows? I am joined once again by Donny and we talk about what we made of it… and a few other stories. Meanwhile Hurricane Florence flooded parts of the US, a Category 5 Typhoon hammered the Philippines and is bearing down on Hong Kong and China…

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Essential Apple Recommended Services:

33mail.com – Never give out your real email address online again.
Sudo – Get up to 9 free “avatars” with email addresses, phone numbers and more to mask your online identity.
ProtonMail – End to end encrypted, open source, based in Switzerland. Prices start from FREE… what more can you ask?
ProtonVPN – a VPN to go with it perhaps? Prices also starting from nothing!
Fake Name Generator – So much more than names! Create whole identities (for free) with all the information you could ever need.
Wire – Free for personal use, open source and end to end encryted messenger and VoIP.
Pinecast – a fabulous podcast hosting service with costs that start from nothing.
Everyone should have a font manager… I really do believe that. So I highly recommend FontBase — All platforms. Professional features. Beautiful UI. Totally free. FontBase is the font manager of the new generation, built by designers, for designers.

Essential Apple is not affiliated with or paid to promote any of these services… We recommend services that we use ourselves and feel are either unique or outstanding in their field, or in some cases are just the best value for money in our opinion.

On this week’s show:

DONNY YANKELLOW

@rtteachr on Twitter, has books on iBooks, lots of sticker packs in the App Store including the NEW Puzzle Mask, also is Skrbly on DesignBundles.net (http://designbundles.net/)

APPLE

The big “Gather Round” event and our reactions…
- Why the iPhone XR isn’t coming out until October – The Verge
- Thoughts and Observations on Apple’s iPhone XS/XR and Series 4 Apple Watch Introductory Event – Daring Fireball
Apple pledges $1M to Red Cross as Hurricane Florence makes landfall – Apple Insider
Apple Is Deleting Bought Films From iTunes Accounts – And Don’t Expect A Refund — Forbes Magazine
- No, Apple didn’t delete that guy’s movies. Here’s what really happened – CNet
- Follow up to the movies disappearing from iTunes accounts – Slashfilm
Apple loses marketshare but still makes the most money – Cult of Mac
Apple Releases Golden Master Version of iOS 12 Shortcuts App – MacRumors

SECURITY

Apple Has Started Paying Hackers for iPhone Exploits – Motherboard
Firmware weakness in modern laptops exposes encryption keys – Global Banking & Finance Review
Andy Yen: Think your email’s private? Think again– TED
Defending Privacy: An Interview with Andy Yen of ProtonMail – Medium

TECHNOLOGY

US carriers create single sign-on service that could end passwords – Engadget
Microsoft Windows U-turn removes warning about installing Chrome, Firefox – CNet

WORTH-A-CHIRP / ESSENTIAL TIPS

Moment releases first Mfi battery case for the iPhone X, just as it’s being discontinued – The Verge
Message from Joe Kissell for all Essential Apple listeners – “I’ve created a coupon code (ESSENTIALAPPLE) that’s good for 30% off any purchase from us, and valid through November 30. Listeners can enter that code manually at checkout, or they can use this link, which has the coupon code built in: 30% Off

Nemo’s Hardware Store (23:00)

Miggo Pictar One – A powerful smartphone camera-grip – $100 US / $110 US Direct. Same prices on Amazon and from £80 UK on Amazon UK
- Pictar One product overview video
Miggo Splat 3N1 Flexible Tripod – $25 US direct and $20 US or £19 UK on Amazon
Blackloud Soundot AF1 FM Headset (for iOS devices) – $80 US Direct.
NB: The Soundot is not JUST for FM. They are regular good quality listening earbuds for all purposes including voice and FaceTime

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