Notices by Dwight Silverman (dsilverman@mastodon.social), page 2

An error-filled meme floating around social media earlier this month warned that Apple Intelligence can read messages in the privacy-focused Signal app, and offered tips on preventing it. But the settings offered have nothing to do with Apple Intelligence. And while the issue is overblown, I've got the settings that will really do the trick.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/apple-ai-privacy-messages-19986208.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2FwcGxlLWFpLXByaXZhY3ktbWVzc2FnZXMtMTk5ODYyMDgucGhw&time=MTczNDc4OTAyNjYzOQ%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=Mg%3D%3D

US targets TP-Link with a potential ban on the Chinese routers - The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/18/24324140/tp-link-us-investigation-ban-chinese-routers

Surprise factoid in the original WSJ report: TP-Link has 65% of the market for home routers in the U.S.

@WarnerCrocker The best thing anyone can do is avoid faux-cable packages like YouTube TV, and rethink everything about how they watch TV. Because the delivery may be faux-cable, but the endless prices hikes are very much real-cable.

You may have heard that desktops are dead. You've heard wrong. Check out the new iMac and amazing Mac mini.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/imac-mac-mini-2024-review-19959675.php

(Sorry all out of gift links for the 30-day period. But if you live in Houston, you should subscribe to the Houston Chronicle anyway.)

Belkin recalls its BoostCharge Pro power bank due to fire risk - The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/27/24307644/belkin-recall-boostcharge-pro-fast-wireless-charger-bpd005-power-bank-apple-watch

Apple Smells Blood in the Water | PetaPixel https://petapixel.com/2024/11/14/apple-smells-blood-in-the-water/

I Can't Stop Thinking About This Scene From ‘A.I. Artificial Intelligence'

https://150wordreviews.substack.com/p/i-cant-stop-thinking-about-this-scene

@JohnDeVore revisits this misunderstood masterpiece.

Growing pains at Bluesky.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/technology/bluesky-growing-pains.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

"Times New Dumbass" is a font inspired by the owner of Xitter - Boing Boing

https://boingboing.net/2024/11/13/times-new-dumbass-is-a-font-inspired-by-the-owner-of-xitter.html

Gemini for iPhone: Google releases its AI app for iOS - The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/14/24296295/google-gemini-app-iphone-ios-ai

@WarnerCrocker I don’t think there will be another one-social-network-to-rule-them-all; it’s fractured and you’ll choose your neighborhood.

I dabble in all of them because watching these nascent communities grow and evolve is fascinating. At least to me, and maybe others who study online culture.

I have not seen similar growth at Threads, which has many more users already. I chalk much of the growth at Bsky to some of its unique features, including the ability to create your own feeds, user-driven moderation and Starter Packs, which make it easy to find people to follow. Also, Bsky looks a lot more like the original Twitter. The vibe is looser and more fun.

I can’t say I’ve seen much growth at all here. This is no longer a destination for Xitter refugees. (2/2)

There definitely has been a rush of people to Bluesky over the past few days. I've almost doubled the followers on my personal account, and the @spacecityweather Bsky account I manage has gained hundreds of followers. They're likely people fleeing the hatred, grifting and harassment that is now rampant on Xitter, post-election and since that hellsite has changed how blocks work (someone you block can now still see your posts, but can't interact with them). (1/2)

@WarnerCrocker Yes! I have a paid ChatGPT account and linked it in 18.2 public beta. Still experimenting with it.

Did you know there are people who still think Elon Musk is the smartest person in the world?

This should pretty much lay that delusion to rest.

Google steps in to correct Elon Musk election conspiracy

https://www.chron.com/culture/article/elon-musk-vote-election-texas-19890520.php

The Washington Post sold Democracy. Now it needs a new line of business. | Semafor

https://www.semafor.com/article/10/28/2024/the-washington-post-sold-democracy-now-it-needs-a-new-line-of-business

Nice to see my column being touted on Apple News.

@WarnerCrocker Yes, Adobe is not wrong.

Farewell to Foursquare's app | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/22/farewell-to-foursquares-app/

The company is focusing on its Swarm app, which was split off from the Foursquare app. Swarm is basically a check-in app, very useful to keep track of place you eat and frequent. (I can see how many times I've eaten at our favorite Vietnamese place, for example.) It's back to basics.

I had not upgraded my Apple Watch in six years, going from the Series 4 to 2024's Series 10. From the display to battery life to speed, it is a revelation. If you've been holding on to an older Apple Watch, it's worth taking the plunge.

Gift link:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/tech/article/apple-watch-series-10-review-19844039.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vYnVzaW5lc3MvdGVjaC9hcnRpY2xlL2FwcGxlLXdhdGNoLXNlcmllcy0xMC1yZXZpZXctMTk4NDQwMzkucGhw&time=MTcyOTM0MzkxNjkzMw%3D%3D&rid=YmE1NjU5MDMtMDM4OS00MDYwLWE1YzItNTYwNzYwZDQ2NDc5&sharecount=Mw%3D%3D