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#1528: The Case of the Top Secret iPod, Apple’s 2020 Environmental Progress Report, your thoughts on the App Store

In last week’s issue, we documented the many developer complaints against the App Store and asked you to share your thoughts in a survey. Several hundred readers responded with strong opinions about how Apple should change the App Store. But while we’ll criticize Apple in areas where the company could do better, we’ll also praise it for work well done. Apple recently released its 99-page 2020 Environmental Progress Report, and Adam Engst has now read the entire thing, both so he can share key points and encourage anyone interested in the environment to see how much the company has accomplished. Finally, Apple veteran David Shayer joins us again with the gripping story of his work on a top-secret government iPod modification, an article that went viral, garnering coverage on Ars Technica, BBC, CNN, Popular Mechanics, The Verge, and many other outlets. Notable Mac app releases this week include CleanMyMac X 4.6.11 and Transmit 5.6.6.

Adam Engst 24 comments

Read Apple’s 2020 Environmental Progress Report

If you’re concerned about the environment and climate change, Adam Engst encourages you to read Apple’s 2020 Environmental Progress Report, which details the numerous ways that the company works to protect and restore the environment. It’s more—probably vastly more—than you realized.

David Shayer 22 comments

The Case of the Top Secret iPod

15 years ago, Apple helped the US government develop a custom iPod for clandestine missions. Of course, neither Apple nor the US government will admit this ever happened. Former Apple engineer and inadvertent intelligence operative David Shayer tells the story of the iPod that never existed.

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