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TidBITS#1263/16-Mar-2015

We kick off this week’s TidBITS with a look at Meerkat, the Twitter-powered video-streaming app that could democratize live broadcasting — if Twitter doesn’t kill it first. Michael Cohen takes a look at Apple’s open-source ResearchKit and finds out what doctors have to say about it. Michael also contributes an overview of Fountain, a markup language that makes it easy to write a properly formatted screenplay. In a pair of editorials, Adam Engst posits that how you see the Apple Watch says more about you than it, and Rich Mogull explains why it’s a good thing that the CIA is trying to hack Apple products. Finally, we have the latest chapticle of Joe Kissell’s “Take Control of Security for Mac Users,” in which he explains how to surf the Web safely. Notable software releases this week include Security Update 2015-002 (Mountain Lion, Mavericks, and Yosemite), DEVONthink/DEVONnote 2.8.4, iMovie 10.0.7, Evernote 6.0.7, GraphicConverter 9.6, and Mailplane 3.4.1.

Adam Engst 51 comments

Apple Watch: Your Personal Technology Rorschach Test

Will the Apple Watch be the next must-have technology gadget or a complete flop? Is it reasonably priced or expensive beyond any rational calculation? Will it be the sort of device that can be upgraded over time or will it join your old iPod in a drawer in a few years? No one knows the answers to these questions, but Adam Engst suggests that how you answer them says more about you than the Apple Watch itself.

Rich Mogull 16 comments

The Good News about the CIA Targeting Apple

The latest revelation from Edward Snowden’s trove of confidential documents shows that the CIA has long been targeting Apple, along with other major technology companies. Security analyst Rich Mogull explains why average users don’t need to worry, and why this news is actually good.

TidBITS Staff No comments

ExtraBITS for 16 March 2015

In this week’s collection of links, Adam Engst discussed Apple’s latest announcements on The Tech Night Owl podcast, Google revealed a new Chromebook Pixel, we found out if Apple’s switch from MagSafe to USB-C will endanger the 12-inch MacBook, product designer Greg Koenig examined the Apple Watch’s manufacturing process, the Wall Street Journal explained how Apple is taking over your local mall, and Josh Centers spoke about the CIA hacking Apple on The Dan Benjamin Hour.