#apple's best apps of 2021

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The surveillance advertising to financial fraud pipeline

Monday (October 2), I'll be in Boise to host an event with VE Schwab. On October 7–8, I'm in Milan to keynote Wired Nextfest.

Being watched sucks. Of all the parenting mistakes I've made, none haunt me more than the times my daughter caught me watching her while she was learning to do something, discovered she was being observed in a vulnerable moment, and abandoned her attempt:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2014/may/09/cybersecurity-begins-with-integrity-not-surveillance

It's hard to be your authentic self while you're under surveillance. For that reason alone, the rise and rise of the surveillance industry – an unholy public-private partnership between cops, spooks, and ad-tech scum – is a plague on humanity and a scourge on the Earth:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/16/the-second-best-time-is-now/#the-point-of-a-system-is-what-it-does

But beyond the psychic damage surveillance metes out, there are immediate, concrete ways in which surveillance brings us to harm. Ad-tech follows us into abortion clinics and then sells the info to the cops back home in the forced birth states run by Handmaid's Tale LARPers:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/29/no-i-in-uter-us/#egged-on

And even if you have the good fortune to live in a state whose motto isn't "There's no 'I" in uter-US," ad-tech also lets anti-abortion propagandists trick you into visiting fake "clinics" who defraud you into giving birth by running out the clock on terminating your pregnancy:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers

The commercial surveillance industry fuels SWATting, where sociopaths who don't like your internet opinions or are steamed because you beat them at Call of Duty trick the cops into thinking that there's an "active shooter" at your house, provoking the kind of American policing autoimmune reaction that can get you killed:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/us/swatting-sentence-casey-viner/index.html

There's just a lot of ways that compiling deep, nonconsensual, population-scale surveillance dossiers can bring safety and financial harm to the unwilling subjects of our experiment in digital spying. The wave of "business email compromises" (the infosec term for impersonating your boss to you and tricking you into cleaning out the company bank accounts)? They start with spear phishing, a phishing attack that uses personal information – bought from commercial sources or ganked from leaks – to craft a virtual Big Store con:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise

It's not just spear-phishers. There are plenty of financial predators who run petty grifts – stock swindles, identity theft, and other petty cons. These scams depend on commercial surveillance, both to target victims (e.g. buying Facebook ads targeting people struggling with medical debt and worried about losing their homes) and to run the con itself (by getting the information needed to pull of a successful identity theft).

In "Consumer Surveillance and Financial Fraud," a new National Bureau of Academic Research paper, a trio of business-school profs – Bo Bian (UBC), Michaela Pagel (WUSTL) and Huan Tang (Wharton) quantify the commercial surveillance industry's relationship to finance crimes:

https://www.nber.org/papers/w31692

The authors take advantage of a time-series of ZIP-code-accurate fraud complaint data from the Consumer Finance Protection Board, supplemented by complaints from the FTC, along with Apple's rollout of App Tracking Transparency, a change to app-based tracking on Apple mobile devices that turned of third-party commercial surveillance unless users explicitly opted into being spied on. More than 96% of Apple users blocked spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

In other words, they were able to see, neighborhood by neighborhood, what happened to financial fraud when users were able to block commercial surveillance.

What happened is, fraud plunged. Deprived of the raw material for committing fraud, criminals were substantially hampered in their ability to steal from internet users.

While this is something that security professionals have understood for years, this study puts some empirical spine into the large corpus of qualitative accounts of the surveillance-to-fraud pipeline.

As the authors note in their conclusion, this analysis is timely. Google has just rolled out a new surveillance system, the deceptively named "Privacy Sandbox," that every Chrome user is being opted in to unless they find and untick three separate preference tickboxes. You should find and untick these boxes:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/how-turn-googles-privacy-sandbox-ad-tracking-and-why-you-should

Google has spun, lied and bullied Privacy Sandbox into existence; whenever this program draws enough fire, they rename it (it used to be called FLoC). But as the Apple example showed, no one wants to be spied on – that's why Google makes you find and untick three boxes to opt out of this new form of surveillance.

There is no consensual basis for mass commercial surveillance. The story that "people don't mind ads so long as they're relevant" is a lie. But even if it was true, it wouldn't be enough, because beyond the harms to being our authentic selves that come from the knowledge that we're being observed, surveillance data is a crucial ingredient for all kinds of crime, harassment, and deception.

We can't rely on companies to spy on us responsibly. Apple may have blocked third-party app spying, but they effect nonconsensual, continuous surveillance of every Apple mobile device user, and lie about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

That's why we should ban commercial surveillance. We should outlaw surveillance advertising. Period:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/03/ban-online-behavioral-advertising

Contrary to the claims of surveillance profiteers, this wouldn't reduce the income to ad-supported news and other media – it would increase their revenues, by letting them place ads without relying on the surveillance troves assembled by the Google/Meta ad-tech duopoly, who take the majority of ad-revenue:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/05/save-news-we-must-ban-surveillance-advertising

We're 30 years into the commercial surveillance pandemic and Congress still hasn't passed a federal privacy law with a private right of action. But other agencies aren't waiting for Congress. The FTC and DoJ Antitrust Divsision have proposed new merger guidelines that allow regulators to consider privacy harms when companies merge:

https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FTC-2023-0043-1569

Think here of how Google devoured Fitbit and claimed massive troves of extremely personal data, much of which was collected because employers required workers to wear biometric trackers to get the best deal on health care:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/04/google-fitbit-merger-would-cement-googles-data-empire

Companies can't be trusted to collect, retain or use our personal data wisely. The right "balance" here is to simply ban that collection, without an explicit opt-in. The way this should work is that companies can't collect private data unless users hunt down and untick three "don't spy on me" boxes. After all, that's the standard that Google has set.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/29/ban-surveillance-ads/#sucker-funnel

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[skruttet]

hi !!! these drives have a load of deleted moomin fics !!! :) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S7VLcWR-OrsmIwwtHpY1zykQYFPLlvHh https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EDuL7ji1xa01MUbLxq2AAmDe44eGDQj5 you made a post a long time ago talking about different fanfics and youd given all the links so i was able to go down a rabbit hole of deleted moomin fic on the wayback machine and recover a load of fics, i also linked a drive i was dmed last year containting a lot of methdeatals fics like red thicket <3 A LOT of it in the first one is NSFW so i dont wanna post it on my blog lol, i heard people really wanted g0ryllamas works to be recovered so i basically just got everything i could, looking at the tags and summeries im gonna have to like wipe my whole computer after this lmao /j anyways since some of the deleted fics were in that post and u normally post obscure or hard to find moomin content i thought u would probably be the best person to send this too !!! wasnt sure weather to dm u or send u an ask, i dont mind if you make the drives public soo i thought an ask would probably be most convientent !!! feel free to just ignore this ask if u like u dont have to post it i just wanted to send u the fics since you know some of them :) i also have an insane moomin fic archive of hundreds of download files (the majority of it is snufmin) so if u or anyone else is looking for deleted fics u know the titles of i can see if i have them !!!! all the downloads r from i think 2021-2023ish so unforutantley anything deleted back in 2019 wont be on there </3 but might be on one of the drives i linked :D by the way, the files in the second drive are a little confusing, theres a bunch of ways to open them. if u have an apple device, you can easily open epub files in the default books app. you could also look up (any file type here) in any app store and download an app to open that specific filetype in. or u could look up free (insert file type) to pdf websites online and turn them into pdfs (or anything else) !! :)

whoa that's awesome! i don't read moomin fanfic anymore so i probably won't use these but i'll post this for others to see!

[offthewoptunes]

OFFTHEWOP TUNES

Founded by FreshDuzIt in 2020, OFFTHEWOP is more than just a record label—it’s a movement.

NLE CHOPPA X FRESHDUZIT - CAMELOT (5x Platinum 2024)

Video directed by lyrical lemonade

FRESHDUZIT ON GENIUS EXPLAINING HOW TO STRATEGIZE

CAMELOT (Remix)

INDYSTAR NEWSPAPER: "Indianapolis’ Trailblazing Trap Producer: First to Hit Radio and Achieve Platinum Status!"

OFFTHEWOP/SONY ATV

FRESHDUZIT SIGNS SONGWRITER ADMIN

As a Sony songwriter since 2021, OFFTHEWOP is a leading voice in emerging Trap Music, Art, and the culture that drives it. OFFTHEWOP is dedicated to showcasing raw talent, combining street authenticity with innovative storytelling. Our mission extends beyond signing artists; we’re creating a universe where real artists achieve legendary status. With extensive experience working as A&Rs for various labels, we’re now ready to partner with the industry’s best.

OFFTHEWOP is a phrase that carries multiple meanings, embodying the hustle and grind. It’s synonymous with "off the muscle" or "off the strength," representing hard work and determination. It also nods to "off the block," symbolizing how we’ve transitioned from the streets to the industry, while still making money from the block. Additionally, it can mean "off the phone," highlighting the digital hustle. And with "wop" being old slang for a lot of money, OFFTHEWOP is all about turning hustle into wealth.

OFFTHEWOP ALBUM:

The *Off The Wop* album racked up millions of views across all platforms, including SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Music. This 14-track project cruises through the city streets of Indianapolis to Memphis, featuring guest verses from Duke Deuce and Paper Route Empire's rising star, Paper Route Woo.

Activated NLTOworld.com with merch drop

Exclusive FreshDuzIt Beats: download link

OFFTHEWOP PLAYLIST:

The OFFTHEWOP playlist is a collection of hits from OFFTHEWOP, OFFTHEWOP3D & 4k, that define the sound of the streets. Featuring tracks with and from heavyweights like NLE Choppa, Yo Gotti, Babyface Ray, Veeze, and more, this playlist is packed with bangers.

Logo redesign by FRESHDUZIT

NUMERO UNO: OFFTHEWOP’s ANIMATED HARE

MUSIC VIDEO: EPISODE 1 TURTLES VS THE HARE

written by FreshDuzIt

Directed by Myles Hi

Premiered on HipHopDx:

"FRESHDUZIT x Numero Uno: VVS Pendant"

We need help with funding animation, game development, creative direction, access to advanced technology, marketing toys based on Numero Uno, ensuring they resonate with fans and become a key part of the brand’s merchandise lineup and a strong marketing campaign to ensure the game's success.

Animation Production

Storyboarding. Full animation production (episodes, shorts, etc.)

Comic Book Creation

Scriptwriting and story development

Artwork and illustration. Printing and distribution

Marketing and Promotion

Social media campaigns and content creation

Public relations and media outreach, Advertising materials for both music and comic

Merchandise

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Distribution and retail costs

Creative Development

Additional content such as animated shorts and special comic editions. Interactive content (e.g., apps or games)

Distribution

Integration with digital platforms for comics and promotional content. Promotion and logistics for comic and merchandise distribution

Legal and Licensing

Intellectual property protection for the character and content

Contract negotiations and legal fees

Team Salaries for animators, comic artists, marketing professionals, and other key roles

[broodpeas]

A List of Books I read.

Unlike years before, where I'd normally make a list of fave records or artists, this year I decided that I am no longer the 2012 version of me who was obsessed in never missing out new artists, albums and list that recommended best new music.

My apple music wrapped showed me that since 2016 my most listen song is the same (it's Cranes in the Sky by Solange, because A Seat at the Table is probably one of my favorite records of all times, so much so, it became the soundtrack of my masters thesis) and Beyoncé is still my favorite artist (has been since 2013). And because graduating from my masters gave me the break I needed to go back to reading stuff I care and like, I decided to simply write here the books I read this year. Some were good, some were really fucking good, and some were...well, they were books written by people with far more talent than I'll ever have, and thye got published.

In any case, the truth of the matter is that 2023 was the year of reading for me. I've been a Reader since I was a kid, but with academic work, for many years I didn't have the time or the energy to read what I really cared about- I had to write thesis and papers and essays and they all required I focused on reading what I needed to write those papers and essays and thesis. In addition to Academia, being depressed and having serious bouts of sadness and suicidal thoughts for many years -it hasn't stopped, although therapy has help a bit- also caused that for many years I could barely read things, and that includes many books I was suppose to read during college but didn't- not that I care much about this, but sometimes I do feel guilty about people reading Kant and me pretending I was and that I actually understood what that german hellman was writing about.

However, when I realized I could pick up books that I thought would give me comfort, joy, or simply piked my interest, then I decided I simply had to read, and since 2021, I've given myself the chance to do just that. It no longer matters to me if read a few pages, or read obsessively one book in a matter of hours, at the end, what matters to me, is to read (although when I read on my ipad I do have a 20 minute timer thingy and I do have a focus mode that doesn't allow any apps to interrupt my reading). This has allowed me to feel more comfortable with the fact I realized reading (like writing) is a political act. About 5/6 years ago I decided I would not read academic books unless it was strictly necessary, and if for research I needed to find bibliography, I would make sure I would have a diverse set of voices and not just white, western, cishet male writers. This didn't please most of my professors, especially the male ones, who consider most of my sources to be unrealiable because they weren't men. Some pointed out that as Colombian, I was suppose to choose only spanish writers, and when I did, they got upset because they weren't men. But, in the end, because I learnt that I couldn't sit down to wait for them to catch up to me, I forced my authors in, and I do not regret this decision. I owe the education I have to myself, and myself only. So, in the wise words of Snoop Dogg, I wanna thank me. This has made me a very good reader and an okay Academic.

I also decided that, if I was going to read fiction and non fiction, poetry and essays; then I had to think carefully what authors I wanted to read. Because I wasn't the audience male writers wanted: I am not a man, nor I am white, and as I currently struggle to label my gender, I realized I wanted to read the so-called outside of the canon, peripheral writers/voices/narratives/stories. That decision has proven to be difficult, because I have to constantly check not only what I'm reading but who I'm reading. At the same time, from time to time -especially this year, as this is the year I read many books-, I stop, check myself, and after I realize I'm not following my rules, I re-calibrate my reads and make sure I find my way back to the voices and stories I want to support, engage with, and care about.

Finally, someone on Mastodon pointed out the following questions, that made me realized my decision to read authours outside the so-called canon should be more thoughtful, more political. The questions I paraphrased here for the simple reason of leaving them here, in case anyone finds them: why aren't voices outisde the priviledge that narrate stories that white voices can narrate [from a place, with a voice, about whom and which contexts...]? If they do exist, why aren't those voices published? And if they are published, why aren't we reading them. "I believe it is important to question more who can become writers, who is published and what do we read".

Here's my list of books read in 2023*.

Books I bought because the cover was cute, interesting, or tumblr aesthetic inspired.

Las palabras que confiamos al viento, by Laura Imai Messina.

La clase de griego, by Han Kang.

Books I bought that I got because the title sounded interesting and they fucking were.

Milk fed, by Melissa Broder.

Today, Tonight Tomorrow, by Rachel Lynn Salomon.

Good Material, by Dolly Alderton.

The women of Troy, by Pat Barker.

Books I read and when I was done, I actually wanted to throw my ipad, my kindle or the book out the window.

Happy place, by Emily Henry.

A perfect vintage, by Chelsea Fagan.

The roughest draft, by Emily Wibberley and Agustin Siegmund-Broka.

Crazy Stupid Bromance, by Lyssa Kay Adams.

To Sir with love, by Lauren Layne.

Spare, by Prince Harry.

Plot twist, by Erin de la Rosa.

How to fake it in Hollywood, by Ava Wilder.

Next of Kin, by Hannah Bonam-Young.

Books I really didn't understand, but I know they were good.

La encomienda, by Margarita García Robayo.

History books I read that I wasn't sure why I got them, but they were okay (I guess).

Piratas: Una historia desde los vikingos hasta hoy, by Peter Lerh.

The Last million: Europe's displaced persons from World War II, by David Nasaw.

Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China's Last Golden Age, by Stephen R. Platt.

Non-fiction books that fucked me up (the good way).

How to read, by Elaine Castillo.

You Could Make this Place Beautiful, by Maggie Smith.

Seventeen, by Joe Gibson.

Against White Feminism: Notes on Disruption, by Rafia Zakaria.

Hijab Butch Blues, by Lamya H.

Romantic Comedies or simply Romance books that were a nice read but lacked a bit of complexity, although such fun read they still got my 4/5 stars on Goodreads and Apple Books.

Nora Goes Off Script, by Annabel Monaghan.

Romantic Comedy, Curtis Sttenfeld.

The Bride Test, by Helen Hoang.

The Heart Principle, by Helen Hoang.

Once more with Feeling, by Elissa Sussman.

The Fastest Way to Fall, by Denise Williams.

Weather Girl, by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

The Ex Talk, by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Authors that wrote seriously great books and I don't think the 5 stars on Goodreads and Apple books was enough.

Matrix, by Lauren Groff.

Woman, Eating; by Claire Khoda.

Mucho Ado about Nada, by Uzma Jalalauddin.

Ayesha at Last, by Uzma Jalalauddin.

A Shot in the Dark, by Victoria Lee.

Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell.

Business or Pleasure, by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

You, Again; by Kate Goldbeck.

Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell.

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice, by Curtis Sittenfeld.

For 2024, there's a really long list of pre-ordered books (some are essays, some are memoirs, some are romcoms). I also have a respectable list of books that I was suppose to read this year but I couldn't because I didn't want to, or I started it but I switch it and I'll get back to them. I don't know what next year will have in store for me- this year was so difficult, so painful, that has made me realized I still am in a crossroad whether I want to stay alive or not; but at least I had books, and I was able to find in the reading hours time to rest from my own feelings and thoughts. If 2024 is the year where something happens, I hope at least it has books. And maybe some more writing in this blog.

*Please keep in mind that some weren't published in the present year, and some others were readings I started in 2022 and only finished this year.

[gingerontheside]

I fulfilled a dream of mine since I was 12 years old: I went to a Love Live! Idol concert! These concerts are directly tied to the anime, Love Live! There’s 1: Love Live! 2: Love Live! Sunshine! 3: Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and 4: Love Live! Superstars!

I had the chance to see the most recent group: Liella! (You have to include the exclamation point it is practically part of their title.) They are from the Love Live! Superstar! Anime.

There are 9 girls in Liella!, though when they started up in 2021 there was only 5 girls (I was in a cosplay group for it.) Having only been around since 2021, meaning they started up after Covid, it was extremely impressive to me that this was there 3rd tour as an idol group.

To start, getting the tickets to this show was EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT. If I didn’t have several friends who are pretty adept at Japanese around me, I simply would not have been able to get these tickets. Filling out the online form was impossible if you allowed Google to translate the page cause it screwed up the software and did not allow you to input things like your name. Oh my god, the name section. They did not like my foreign name. I had to scramble to figure out how to write my name in Hirigana, Katakana, AND Kanji. All of which were rejected several times so I honestly have no idea what name they have for me on file now since it is probably not even close to my actual name. Once I finally got passed just the name and address section, I was prompted to input my credit card. Fine and good, I have a Travel credit card! . . . Rejected. Try a different card. Rejected. FINE. Luckily there was a selection to get a little QR code and pay for the ticket at a conbini (I chose 7/11, since it was right next door to the university.) I should also note the ticket was pretty expensive at ¥10,000 plus a ¥550 fee. So I’m total around $90. Hell, I was willing to pay way more if I needed to.

After what felt like hours (because it WAS hours), I got the alert that I had successfully reserved a ticket. And not going to lie, I teared up and screamed and jumped around like a crazy person. Love Live! Concerts were a pipe dream for me, something I genuinely never thought I would be able to experience in person (mostly because they refuse to go to the US at ALL) especially since these concerts sell out months in advance. The fact that I was able to get a ticket a WEEK before the concert is still mind boggling.

Okay so I’m in. Here we go! Or! So I thought! Turns out you cannot download the ticket normally, you have to get a specific app for it. And guess what? If you don’t have a Japanese Apple ID, then you simply cannot get the app. So I had to create a whole new Apple ID just to view my ticket. Infuriating.

Okay NOW let’s go. The concert was about an hour away from my dorm by train, and the concert started at … 5:30 in the afternoon. Very odd for me, who is used to concerts not starting until closer to 7 or 8 or later, but in Japan concerts start early cause the trains close early. Fair enough. After agonizing all week over what to wear I finally decide on an adorable butterfly dress my best friend and lovely roommate Ash made for me.

Since I did not know Japanese concert etiquette, I showed up at the venue (The Musashino Sports Arena) at around 4, to give myself some time to orient myself with the space. Well as it turns out, everyone has gotten there probably HOURS prior. People were queued up down every staircase and walkway I could see, and all of the merchandise was sold out (much to my dismay). I was not surprised to see most of the fans present were men, though I will admit I was a bit disappointed. But the women who did come showed up and showed Out! All of them were dressed adorably, so I was very thankful of the dress I chose to wear.

Getting into the venue was a whole different beast. Thank goodness for a Taiwanese foreigner who spoke English and found me, because without him I don’t know if I would have made it inside. As it turns out, the ticket I purchased looked wildly different than everyone else’s. Everyone around me had a special page for an ID confirmation . . . I did not. The lovely young man helped usher a worker over and I was shepherded away though the crowds to more workers, who spoke quickly to each other and looked at my phone and eventually just .. let me in. I’m sure it was because my ticket was valid but there’s a piece of me that wonders if it’s because I just looked so scared.

Once inside it was pretty easy to find my seat (in the WAY top in the WAY back, cause I probably got one of the last tickets available). One quick thing I noted: there were signs everywhere saying :

NO PHOTOS

No cheering

No dancing

Pretty much no making a ruckus…at a concert. As a person who goes to concerts to scream sing, this was very disconcerting. So I snuck a few quick photos before the concert began, and once the concert actually started, there were attendants at the top and bottom of EVERY aisle, watching to make sure you didn’t take any photos. It was kinda insane.

There were my super sneaky before show photos. The stage was remarkable: HUGE and two pieces (the main stage and a catwalk to a center circular stage.) and surrounded by massive LED screens that displayed all sorts of stuff, like the idols and their corresponding symbols, or pulsing all sorts of lights and colors, showing clips from the anime … it was quite the spectacle.

Where I was (you know, way top way back), everyone in my section would remain standing for as long as the girls were performing, then as soon as they stepped off stage and an interlude would play (clips from the anime) they would sit back and catch their breath. I guess ? Nobody was cheering. No one was singing. The most noise people made was laughing at certain points and clapping quite politely. It was really unnerving. What they DID do, however, was every audience member (I mean…except me and the girl next to me) had a light blade, which glowed different colors depending on who was singing or whatever idol the holder was a fan of. I managed to get one after the concert;

This was the only thing people in the audience would do, flash their light blades in different colors and kind of copy the dance moves the idols would do, as much as you could with just your arms. It was SO bizarre for me. Since I didn’t have a light blade, I opted for sort of…fistpumping along with everyone’s light blades. Well it wasn’t all a busy, since I had my Apple Watch on that has a flashlight feature. Some of the idols actually seemed to notice this when they were parading around the arena in their special carts: I definitely got waved to and specifically pointed at a few times. It might be because I was the only white person there, but I’ll take it.

I cried a lot. Like , a LOT. The idols came on stage and I could not stop hiccuping and crying for the first 20 minutes. Luckily for me, the concert lasted for 3 HOURS. The girls had 7 costume changes! (7!!!!! What!!!)

I wish I could have taken photos or videos, this show was so visually spectacular. It fulfilled all of my little Idol heart dreams, and I cannot even express how happy I was the entire concert. It definitely set in stone how much I WISH THE US HAD IDOLS CAUSE I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO BE AN IDOL LIKE THEM.

For now, I will find that fulfillment in the Idol Cosplay group I am in (we do dance covers of the Love Live! Idol songs in full cosplay. It’s super fun. I’ll include a picture of us in cosplay at the bottom 💕 I’m in the back in the grey wig with the blue skirt)

[vyvesvi]

2022 music recap! (1/3?)

soloists:

after a tough battle, i finally settled on my top three soloists of 2022! this was such a great year for female solo artists in all markets. lexie liu and bibi undoubtedly played a huge role in my year, gaining 255 scrobbles and 287 scrobbles from me, respectively. what pushed lexie liu over the edge to claim the #1 spot is the uniqueness of her third studio album "the happy star," which just released this month! fun fact: lexie liu is the only artist to maintain a song in my top 10 for the past four years! it was time to admit that she's one of my favorite artists overall. i highly recommend most of the happy star (i don't personally care for gaia or shanti) but especially magician, fortuna, 3.14159, and ganma.

bibi is an interesting case- the songs of hers i listened to most, pado and eat my love (2021), are not her most popular (or even her core style). but there's something about them that scream 4.5 gen. if they were released by any rookie gg right now i'm sure they'd be hits. bibi also released an album this year, which i really liked overall! i would recommend the intro (yes, the intro), witch hunt, and motospeed 24. i have to admit that i'm not really a stan, but bibi really impressed me this year!

i have less to say about youha's satellite (currently my 9th most listened song with 48 scrobbles), despite loving it a lot. i just want a girl group to do this style. i want youha to make this her main style. it's just too good- good enough to elevate her to 3rd on my soloists list. "love you more," is her first mini and she killed it, so i'm looking forward to a bright 2023 :)

note: honorable mentions are not in any particular order, i love them all but i need to move on to the other categories lmfao

male releases:

it was a tough year for male artists in my opinion. my only bright spot was my top 3.

xiso/senji and alpha are new discoveries for me! i don't have much to say about them somehow but i would highly recommend you give them a listen! seni oilai (my 4th most listened song with 54 scrobbles) is the first song in kazakh that i've ever heard! the bass is everything to me- it's like this song was designed to take over my brain lmfao. xiso & senji are what i would call part of the onlyoneof extended cinematic universe. they work together a lot, along with haeil (and iiso iirc) and are doing some really cool stuff right on the edge of kpop and krnb.

kb actually held the #1 artist slot in my library with 219 streams for several months before being overtaken by bibi and lexie liu. he still, however, holds the #1 song spot with be free. oddly enough, i don't even think be free is necessarily "the best" of onlyoneof's solo project (that honor goes to junji's be mine) or the best conceptual execution (that would be yoojung's begin). but it is the one that scratched my brain just right. this project is so good y'all TT

gg releases:

i didn't call this one female releases because the soloists would overwhelm the list lmfao. that said, 2022 was definitely a gg year in kpop! oddly enough, despite primarily being a gg stan i actually don't stan any of the monster rookies that debuted this cycle? and i would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite honestly (i might write a whole post about 4th gen later, we'll see). that said, love dive was undoubtedly my gg soty. i don't have scrobble info for it as i primarily listened to it a ton before i got a tracking app, but according to apply music it was my number one song this year. i'd guess that the real rank is probably between 6 and 13.

lesserafim's the great mermaid isn't for everyone but it was certainly for me! another one that i listened to earlier in the year, so apple music has it at #14. i just think it's really unique and i would lovee to see a performance of it. lsf has a bright future and i'm excited to see where they go from here. (i'm also proud of them for not releasing singles lmfao!)

tripleS...i have so much to say about them that i've circled back around to having nothing to say. their first temporary subunit's mini album, access, was really solid in my opinion, but i know it's not for everyone. regardless, i think that the positive reaction to generation was 100% warranted. it's so fun!! i'll have more to say about them in a later post but yeah. my girls. i'm so excited for ot10 debut early next year!

with how much i loved purplekiss' pretty psycho, it's a bit evil for it to now not be in my top 3. i still think it's a great song (my #7 on apple music) but it's aged a lot more than the other songs on the list, including others on the same album. it's still great though, i just wish it had better choreo and was a title.

up next: concepts/albums/throwbacks/debuts

[oliviajames1122]

How to use Apple's built-in and free password manager, iCloud Keychain

With new capabilities in iOS 15, macOS Monterey, and other 2021 software updates, Apple has improved its password management game. Previously, iCloud Keychain was a password manager in the background that would come up from time to time, generally to the user's surprise, to provide a strong password or autofill something. In a separate Settings box, it now searches for password breaches, warns about repeated passwords, and provides two-factor authentication (2FA) keys many business listings.

Many iPhone and Mac users rely on third-party password managers, not aware that Apple's is fully functional and, in some cases, more secure than some of the market's most popular solutions. Here's how to set up and use iCloud Keychain on your devices, as well as how to keep your passwords up to date.

ICloud Password Manager on iPhone

Apple designed the iCloud Keychain to be imperceptible when in use. A prompt will show in place of your keyboard if you're on a website or in an app that employs a properly designed password field.

If you've previously entered a user name or email address, an auto-suggested password will appear on the online form for the password. By default, this is a string of twenty characters that includes two dashes, upper and lower case letters, and a symbol. Accept the option and click "remember login" when prompted on the following box. You'll never have to remember that complicated password again.

This user name and password will be kept and linked to that app or website automatically. The password auto-fill will show instead of the keyboard on subsequent logins, and a Face ID or Touch ID prompt will confirm that you are the one inputting the password.

The new login information will sync over iCloud utilising end-to-end encryption, so you don't have to worry about unwanted users stealing your password in transit. Navigate to the passwords area of the Settings app to examine the passwords you've stored, check for any security warnings, or erase password business listings.

It's also possible to add two-factor authentication codes.

What is the best way to obtain a dedicated Passwords app icon?

Apple's iCloud Keychain doesn't have its own app, but the password manager is found in the Settings app. If you don't want to go to this page every time you need to manage your passwords, you can always make a custom Shortcut and add it to your Home Screen with a direct link.

Step 1 - Open Shortcuts

Step 2 - Tap the "+" in the top right corner

Step 3 - Name the action "Passwords"

Step 4 - Tap "add action" and search "URL" to add that action

Step 5 - Paste in "prefs:root=PASSWORDS" into the URL field

Step 6 - Search for "Open URL," add the action, and select "URL" in variables within the action

Step 7 - Add the Shortcut to the Home Screen using the settings icon in the top right corner

The new Passwords shortcut will display on your Home Screen when you select an icon or custom picture, providing you easy access to your passwords with a single press. You may simply instruct Siri to "display passwords" if you choose.

ICloud Password Manager on Mac

"Keychain Access," vintage software integrated into macOS, serves as a catch-all app for authentication certificates, passwords, and other security prompts. However, starting with macOS Monterey, the System Preferences app has a more user-friendly option.

It's not for the faint of heart to use Keychain Access. It defaults to the "Other" folder in the app launcher and displays password information in a list manner. While users may retrieve their passwords from here, we recommend utilising the "Passwords" option in System Preferences instead free business listings.

The Passwords feature, like its iOS counterpart, is a straightforward list of all stored websites, complete with login details and notifications for duplicate or compromised passwords. During normal use, you won't need to utilise the Passwords feature in System Preferences often. Instead, all websites should automatically fill in the password or provide secure passwords.

Setting up two-factor authentication

The option to auto-fill two-factor authentication codes has been added to Apple's iCloud Keychain. Users may trust on the built-in secure and reliable system rather than using a third-party programmer devoted to 2FA.

While creating a 2FA code might be a nuisance, it is one of the most secure features when done correctly. Some people may be familiar with 2FA because of the text message codes they receive when validating their phone number, however they are insecure.

Many websites and applications now use a method that produces codes using a time signature and a text key. This code refreshes every thirty seconds in the Password tool, which users may view.

If the website is programmed to give a 2FA key to a password manager, this can be done automatically, but otherwise, users will have to manually set up the code.

To use iCloud Keychain for 2FA on iOS and macOS, follow these steps:

Steps 1 - Open the passwords tool

Step 2 - Select the login you're adding 2FA to

Step 3 - Select "Set Up Verification Code"

Step 4 - Select "Enter Setup Key" if you have a string of text

Step 5 - Otherwise scan the QR code on iPhone or right click the code on Mac

Step 6 - Enter the key on the website to verify it has been setup properly

On websites that have been properly developed for this system, the 2FA key will show above the keyboard, much like passwords. Otherwise, users will have to go to the Passwords tool and manually copy and paste the code.

On the Mac, iPad, and iPhone, there's more than Keychain

Although Apple's iCloud Keychain isn't the only choice, it may be the best for most people. Edge situations and commercial uses for password managers are not covered by the built-in solution.

Apple's version of a Windows programmer and a Chrome extension for passwords is included in the iCloud Keychain, so you're not limited into a single environment.

Although some password managers are free and cross-platform, they generally need the use of a specific browser or add-on. For those seeking for a password manager that isn't part of Apple's ecosystem, Google's password manager is a great alternative.

If iCloud Keychain doesn't meet your needs, there are a number of commercial alternatives available. For corporations or groups who need to share a centralized set of passwords, 1Password is a popular option.

For a casual user or family member, though, we'll always recommend iCloud Keychain first because of its ease and accessibility.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Even if you're paying for the product, you're still the product

There’s something oddly comforting about the idea that “if you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product,” namely, the corollary: “If you can afford to pay for a product, you won’t be the product.” But it’s bullshit. Companies don’t make you the product because you don’t pay — they make you the product because you can’t stop them.

The theory behind “if you’re not paying for the product…” is that old economist’s saw: “incentives matter.” Companies that monetize attention are incentivized to manipulate and spy on you, while companies that you pay just want to make you happy.

This is a theory of corporate behavior grounded in economics, not power, a creature of theory and doctrine that never bothers to check in with the real world to see how that theory and doctrine map to actual events. Reality is a lot uglier.

Apple has blanketed the planet with billboards and print and online ads extolling its privacy-forward system design (e.g. “Privacy. That’s Iphone.”). There’s something to this: in 2020, the company made it very easy to opt out of third-party Ios surveillance, and 96% of its users opted out:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

That decision cost Facebook $10 billion in a single year, and the losses keep coming. Facebook launched a campaign that accused Apple of privacywashing an anticompetitive maneuver, claiming that Apple didn’t care about its users’ privacy, they just wanted to eliminate competition for Apple’s own ad brokerage:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2020/12/facebooks-laughable-campaign-against-apple-really-against-users-and-small

Facebook��s campaign poses itself as the true champion of its users, accusing Apple of shamming. It’s laughable. Facebook manifestly despises its users and proves that fact every day in a thousand ways, large and small. Facebook’s true objection to Apple’s privacy tools is that they reduced Facebook’s earnings by $10b. Obviously.

But that doesn’t mean that Facebook is wrong about Apple’s cynicism. Apple exercises enormous control over its users. It’s a direct control. Apple blocks you from installing software of your choosing or from using third-party repair services of your choosing. They pour millions into engineering to make this technically challenging, and lead a coalition of large corporations that kill right to repair legislation whenever it is mooted:

https://doctorow.medium.com/apples-cement-overshoes-329856288d13

Some of Facebook’s critics accuse it of exercising similar control, but via a far more insidious method: they say that Facebook’s voracious surveillance of its users, combined with machine learning, allows Facebook to control its users’ minds, stripping them of their free will and turning them into algorithm-addled zombies who do whatever Facebook directs them to do.

This is an extraordinary claim, given that every previous claim of mind-control turned out to be bullshit, from Mesmer to MK Ultra. The best evidence for these mind-control claims comes from Facebook’s own marketing materials, where the company assures advertisers that they should spend their money on FB’s platform because of its mind-control features.

When FB critics repeat these claims, they’re engaged in “criti-hype,” Lee Vinsel’s useful coinage describing criticism that serves to bolster the target’s own propaganda. If FB are evil geniuses, well, at least they’re still geniuses.

https://sts-news.medium.com/youre-doing-it-wrong-notes-on-criticism-and-technology-hype-18b08b4307e5

Some Facebookers doubtless believe their own hype, but that doesn’t mean we have to join them in self-delusion. We can criticize Facebook for seeking control over its users, and for using that control to do things that serve its own interests at the expense of its users’ interests.

https://onezero.medium.com/how-to-destroy-surveillance-capitalism-8135e6744d59

That’s the true sin of Big Tech: using deception and coercion to control users. Companies that gain this control can be reliably expected to use it in whichever ways they can get away with. They are paperclip-maximizing artificial life-forms bent on devouring the human race, not ethical actors.

Apple’s commitment to privacy is best understood as instrumental. Apple thinks that protecting your privacy will attract your business, and they’re right. I would like to have privacy! But while Apple can increase its revenues by telling you they’ll protect your privacy, they can increase them even more by lying about it.

That’s just what they do. Earlier this month, a small security research firm called Mysk released a video revealing that when you tick the box on your Iphone that promises “disable the sharing of Device Analytics altogether,” your Iphone continues to spy on you, and sends the data it collects to Apple:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JxvH80Rrcw

The data Iphones gather is extraordinarily fine-grained: “what you tapped on, which apps you search for, what ads you saw, and how long you looked at a given app and how you found it.”

https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-analytics-tracking-even-when-off-app-store-1849757558

It doesn’t stop there: “The app sent details about you and your device as well, including ID numbers, what kind of phone you’re using, your screen resolution, your keyboard languages, how you’re connected to the internet — notably, the kind of information commonly used for device fingerprinting.”

The researchers had to jailbreak an Iphone in order to find this lie. Apple has gone to extraordinary lengths to make jailbreaking illegal. Apple claims that allowing users to disable the locks on their phones will make them vulnerable to bad actors who will install deceptive, coercive software.

That is true, but it’s also true that these locks make it impossible to determine whether Apple’s software is deceptive and coercive. The walled fortress that keeps you safe from third parties is also a walled prison that leaves you at the mercy of the warlord who owns the fortress.

Once a company attains a certain scale, it becomes too big to jail, and then it monetizes you however it can. If you think the future of technology is battle is between Google’s approach and Apple’s, think again. The real fight is between the freedom to decide how technology works for you, and corporate control over technology.

https://locusmag.com/2021/01/cory-doctorow-neofeudalism-and-the-digital-manor/

Apple and Google are like the pigs and the men at the end of Animal Farm: supposed bitter enemies who turn out to be indistinguishable from one another. Google also has “privacy” switches in its preference panels that do nothing:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/01/you-are-here/#goog

Indeed, there are so many places in Google’s location privacy settings where you can tick a box that claims to turn off location spying. None of them work. A senior product manager at Google complained to her colleagues that she had turned off three different settings and was still being tracked:

https://twitter.com/jason_kint/status/1398359580275523590

Apple is now the subject of a California class action suit over its deceptive practices, which violate the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/LibmanvAppleIncDocketNo522cv07069NDCalNov102022CourtDocket

As Gizmodo’s Thomas Germain notes, Apple has a good — if self-serving — reason to spy on its users. It has launched its own ad network, and is selling advertisers the ability to target its customers based on their activities:

https://gizmodo.com/apple-iphone-privacy-analytics-class-action-suit-1849774313

Companies will only protect your privacy to the extent that it is more profitable than not doing so. They can increase those profits by advertising privacy promises to potential customers. They can increase them more by secretly breaking those promises, And they can increase them even more by using privacy claims to block their rivals’ spying, so they’re the sole supplier of your nonconsensually collected personal information.

That’s what’s happening with Google’s endless proposals to “increase privacy” in Chrome that block third parties from spying on users, while letting Google continue to invade our privacy:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/03/googles-floc-terrible-idea

If we want our privacy, we need both transparency (so third parties can investigate companies’ claims to protect privacy) and regulation (so cheating companies will face consequences when they’re caught by those third parties).

That’s why it’s so exciting that the FTC has announced its intention to treat privacy invasions as antitrust violations:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/12/regulatory-uncapture/#conscious-uncoupling

For so long as corporations can use technology and law to hide their misdeeds and power to avoid consequences for those misdeeds, “voting with your wallet” is as useless as opting out of Ios tracking.

We had advertising-supported media for generations — centuries — without mass surveillance. The problem with advertising isn’t incentives — it’s impunity.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[Image ID: An Apple 'Privacy. That's iPhone.' ad. The three rear-facing camera lenses have been replaced by the staring, red eye of HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey.]

[secretstalks]

Delta Air Lines’ CEO states Apple Avoids the Vulnerability That Affected 8.5 million Microsoft PCs

Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta, may not be a huge lover of Windows PCs at the moment, as you can see. After all, his company suffered more than nearly any other when antivirus software manufacturer CrowdStrike released an update that resulted in 8.5 million PCs displaying the “blue screen of death.” To fix any of those PCs, it essentially required a manual reboot into safe mode.

At Delta, many of those computers were used for the airline’s scheduling software, which disrupted crew scheduling and led to over 5,000 flight cancellations within five days. Bastian reported that more than 40,000 servers required manual repairs, resulting in costs exceeding $500 million for the company. He is seeking compensation for these losses.

When asked whether he had second thoughts about using laptops running Microsoft Windows, Bastian answered what many people were wondering. “We must,” Bastian answered. They seem to be the most brittle platform in that area, in my opinion. When was the last time you learned of a significant Apple outage?”

While macOS is more popular than ever, it is still far smaller of a target than Windows, which continues to have a commanding global market share. One may argue that because Macs aren’t utilized in nearly as many enterprise settings as Windows PCs, you don’t hear about this kind of disruption.

That is somewhat accurate. Another factor, though, is that developers do not have the same amount of access to the kernel—the lowest-level code that communicates directly with the hardware of the computer—on MacOS. Apple moved away from kernel extensions with the introduction of the Silicon Macs, encouraging developers to utilize system extensions instead, which operate with fewer rights than kernel extensions.

Bastian speaks from experience when discussing Apple. All of Delta’s flight attendants received iPhones in 2021. They are utilized for flight management, scheduling access, and managing in-flight transactions with the devices’ integrated tap-to-pay feature.

As you can see, defects can occur in any software. Millions of Macs or iPhones could be bricked by a release that Apple might release today. It is most likely not going to happen, but it is possible. As the CrowdStrike outage demonstrates, human mistakes do occur in software development and can have disastrous results.

However, Apple has made it far more difficult for developers to create the kind of issue that harmed Windows computers. Generally speaking, Apple is the one who will break your Mac severely enough that it won’t boot up. It won’t be because a bug was inadvertently or intentionally released by a third-party developer who was fiddling with the kernel.

Additionally, iPhone security is significantly higher than that of the Mac. You cannot access the kernel using iOS. Apps, in fact, operate within their own “sandbox,” limiting their access to user space as well. Apps are unable to

Apple has received criticism for its approach, as restricting developer access to the operating system could be seen as disadvantaging them, particularly in terms of competition with Apple. However, in balancing security with competition, it seems Apple has achieved the right mix to deliver the best and most secure user experience overall. According to Bastian’s comments, it appears that at least one person appreciates the company’s approach.

READ MORE

[jcmarchi]

July's Best Indie Games And Marvel Rivals | GI Show

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/julys-best-indie-games-and-marvel-rivals-gi-show/

July's Best Indie Games And Marvel Rivals | GI Show

In this week’s episode of The Game Informer Show, our editor-in-chief, Matt Miller, joins Alex and Marcus to discuss why Marvel Rivals has grown on us and how it’s shaking up the Overwatch formula. Next, the crew dives into some of July’s best indie games, including Dungeons of Hinterberg, Arranger, and Thank Goodness You’re Here — okay, that last one technically releases today, August 1st, but I played and beat it during July via a pre-release copy. Finally, Marcus dives into Silent Hill 2 (2001) and Forestrike, the follow-up to 2021’s pixel art action title, Olija. 

Watch the Video Version on YouTube:

[embedded content]

Follow us on social media: Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), Kyle Hilliard (@KyleMHilliard), Marcus Stewart (@MarcusStewart7)

The Game Informer Show is a weekly gaming podcast covering the latest video game news, industry topics, exclusive reveals, and reviews. Join us every Thursday to chat about your favorite games – past and present – with Game Informer staff, developers, and special guests from around the industry. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.

Matt Storm, the freelance audio editor for The Game Informer Show, edited this episode. Matt is an experienced podcast host and producer who’s been speaking into a microphone for over a decade. You should listen to Matt’s shows like the “Fun” And Games Podcast and Reignite, a BioWare-focused podcast. 

The Game Informer Show – Podcast Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Intro

00:05:29 – Marvel Rivals Closed Beta

00:31:27 – Thank Goodness You’re Here!

00:41:00 – Dungeons Of Hinterberg

00:48:37 – Forestrike Preview

00:59:31 – Silent Hill 2 (2001)

01:14:27 – Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure

01:21:37 – Housekeeping

[elegancetech]

The Evolution of iPhone: A Journey Through Innovation:

1:-Apple iPhone 12 Series: 

The iPhone 12 series, launched in October 2020, represents a significant leap in technology and design for Apple's flagship smartphone lineup. This series introduced several key advancements and new models catering to a range of user preferences. Here's an overview of the iPhone 12 series:iPhone 12 Series

1. iPhone 12 Mini

Display: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display

Design: Compact, lightweight, with an aluminum frame and Ceramic Shield front cover for better durability

Camera: Dual-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide and wide lenses, Night mode, Deep Fusion, and Smart HDR 3

Performance: A14 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: All-day battery life, supports MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Available in multiple colors including Black, White, Red, Green, and Blue

2. iPhone 12

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display

Design: Similar sleek design with an aluminum frame and Ceramic Shield front cover

Camera: Same dual-camera system as the Mini, offering exceptional low-light performance and advanced computational photography

Performance: A14 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: Improved battery life with MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Wide range of colors including Black, White, Red, Green, and Blue

3. iPhone 12 Pro

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display

Design: Premium build with surgical-grade stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front cover

Camera: Triple-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses, LiDAR scanner for improved AR experiences and low-light photography

Performance: A14 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: All-day battery life, MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: ProRAW photo format, enhanced video recording capabilities, available in Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue

4. iPhone 12 Pro Max

Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, the largest in the series

Design: Larger and more immersive display with a stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front cover

Camera: Advanced triple-camera system with larger sensor and sensor-shift optical image stabilization, LiDAR scanner

Performance: A14 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: Longest battery life in the series, supports MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: ProRAW photo format, best-in-class video recording capabilities, available in Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue

Key Features Across the Series:

A14 Bionic Chip: First chip in the industry built on 5-nanometer process technology, offering increased performance and efficiency.

5G Connectivity: Supports 5G networks for faster download and upload speeds, better streaming, and improved gaming experiences.

Ceramic Shield: Provides up to 4x better drop performance.

MagSafe: Allows for easy attachment of accessories and wireless charging with enhanced alignment.

iOS 14: Enhanced user experience with new widgets, App Library, improved privacy features, and more.

The iPhone 12 series set a new standard for smartphones with its blend of cutting-edge technology, refined design, and versatile camera capabilities, making it a compelling choice for users looking for a premium mobile experience.

2:-Apple iPhone 13 Series:

The iPhone 13 series, introduced in September 2021, brought various improvements in performance, camera technology, and battery life. This series includes four models designed to cater to a broad range of user needs and preferences. Here’s an in-depth look at the iPhone 13 series:

1. iPhone 13 Mini

Display: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display

Design: Compact and lightweight with an aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front cover, and a flat-edge design

Camera: Dual-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide and wide lenses, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization, Night mode, and Photographic Styles

Performance: A15 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: Improved battery life, supports MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Available in colors like Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT(RED)

2. iPhone 13

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display

Design: Similar sleek design with an aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front cover, and flat edges

Camera: Dual-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide and wide lenses, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization, Night mode, and Photographic Styles

Performance: A15 Bionic chip, 5G support

Battery Life: All-day battery life with MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Available in Pink, Blue, Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT(RED)

3. iPhone 13 Pro

Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz

Design: Premium build with surgical-grade stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front cover

Camera: Triple-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization, Night mode, Photographic Styles, ProRAW and ProRes video recording, and macro photography capabilities

Performance: A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU, 5G support

Battery Life: Improved battery life, supports MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue

4. iPhone 13 Pro Max

Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology

Design: Larger and more immersive display with a stainless steel frame and Ceramic Shield front cover

Camera: Advanced triple-camera system with 12MP ultra-wide, wide, and telephoto lenses, Sensor-shift optical image stabilization, Night mode, Photographic Styles, ProRAW and ProRes video recording, and macro photography capabilities

Performance: A15 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU, 5G support

Battery Life: Longest battery life in the series, supports MagSafe and wireless charging

Special Features: Available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, and Sierra Blue

Key Features Across the Series:

A15 Bionic Chip: More powerful and efficient than previous models, with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU (5-core GPU for Pro models), and 16-core Neural Engine.

5G Connectivity: Enhanced 5G capabilities for faster download and upload speeds, better streaming, and improved gaming experiences.

Super Retina XDR Display: Brighter and more vibrant displays with higher peak brightness for HDR content.

Ceramic Shield: Provides better durability with up to 4x better drop performance.

MagSafe: Continued support for easy attachment of accessories and wireless charging with enhanced alignment.

iOS 15: Improved user experience with features like Focus mode, FaceTime enhancements, Live Text, and redesigned notifications.

The iPhone 13 series builds on the success of its predecessors with notable improvements in performance, camera systems, and battery life, offering users a refined and powerful smartphone experience.

3:-Apple iPhone 14 Series:

The iPhone 14 series, released by Apple, continues to build on the success of its predecessors with several new features and improvements. The series includes four models: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Design & Display:

iPhone 14: Features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display.

iPhone 14 Plus: Comes with a larger 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display.

Both models have a sleek design with durable Ceramic Shield front covers and aerospace-grade aluminum edges.

Water and dust resistance (IP68).

Performance:

Powered by the A15 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.

Improved efficiency and performance for everyday tasks and gaming.

Camera:

Dual-camera system with 12MP main and ultra-wide lenses.

Enhanced Night mode and Deep Fusion for better low-light photography.

New Photonic Engine for improved image processing.

4K Dolby Vision HDR recording.

Battery Life:

Improved battery life, offering up to 20 hours of video playback on the iPhone 14 and up to 26 hours on the iPhone 14 Plus.

Other Features:

5G connectivity.

iOS 16 with new personalization options, including widgets and improved privacy features.

iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max

Design & Display:

iPhone 14 Pro: Features a 6.1-inch ProMotion Super Retina XDR display with an always-on feature.

iPhone 14 Pro Max: Has a 6.7-inch ProMotion Super Retina XDR display, also with always-on functionality.

Both models come with a more durable Ceramic Shield front cover and surgical-grade stainless steel edges.

Water and dust resistance (IP68).

Performance:

Powered by the A16 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.

Superior performance for demanding applications and advanced photography.

Camera:

Triple-camera system with a 48MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and 12MP telephoto lenses.

ProRAW and ProRes video recording.

Advanced computational photography features, including Photonic Engine and improved Night mode.

8K video recording.

Battery Life:

Long-lasting battery, with the iPhone 14 Pro offering up to 23 hours of video playback and the iPhone 14 Pro Max up to 29 hours.

Other Features:

5G connectivity.

iOS 16 with enhanced privacy features and new customization options.

Dynamic Island feature for interactive notifications and live activities.

The iPhone 14 series brings significant upgrades in performance, camera capabilities, and user experience, making it a compelling choice for both everyday users and tech enthusiasts.

4:-Upcoming iPhone 16 Series:

The iPhone 16 series is anticipated to feature significant upgrades across all models. Here's a summary of the expected features:Everything We Know About iPhone 16 

Design and Display

All Models: The iPhone 16 lineup, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, will continue to sport the sleek designs but with ultra-thin bezels for maximum display area.

Pro Models: These are expected to feature a polished titanium finish, offering a more premium look compared to the previous brushed finish.

Camera Improvements

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: Both will have a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera, arranged vertically to support spatial video recording for the Apple Vision Pro headset.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: These models will see a substantial upgrade with a new 48MP ultra-wide camera and a custom 48MP IMX903 sensor for the main camera. The Pro models will also include a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

Battery and Performance

Battery: Enhanced battery capacities are expected, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max rumored to have a 4,676mAh battery and the iPhone 16 Pro a 3,355mAh battery. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will also see battery upgrades, though the Plus model might get a slightly smaller battery than its predecessor.

Processor: The entire iPhone 16 lineup will likely be powered by the A18 Pro chip, built on a 3nm process, promising better performance and energy efficiency.

Storage and Memory

Storage: The Pro models might offer storage options up to 2TB, while the standard and Plus models will go up to 512GB. Increased RAM (8GB) across all models is also expected to enhance multitasking and AI processing capabilities.

Additional Features

Capture Button: A new capacitive Capture Button for improved camera control, allowing for features like swipe for zoom and half-press to focus.

Thermal Management: Improved thermal design with metal battery casings and potentially a graphene thermal system to manage heat more effectively.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 support across all models for faster wireless data transfer.

AI and Software

AI Integration: The iPhone 16 series will leverage "Apple Intelligence," integrating advanced AI features for better performance and user experience, supported by iOS 18​ (AppleInsider)​​ (MacRumors)​​ (PhoneArena)​​ (PhoneArena)​.

The official release is expected around September 2024, continuing Apple's tradition of fall launches. For more detailed information, you can visit sources like AppleInsider, MacRumors, and PhoneArena.

[music-industry-updates]

Sound Quality Comparison: Apple Music vs Spotify

For many music enthusiasts, sound quality is a crucial factor when choosing a streaming service. The ability to enjoy music in the highest possible fidelity can significantly enhance the listening experience. Apple Music and Spotify, two of the most popular music streaming platforms, offer different sound quality options and features. This article explores the sound quality provided by Apple Music and Spotify, delving into audio formats, quality settings, hi-res audio availability, listening tests, and device compatibility to help you decide which service best meets your audiophile needs.

1. Audio Formats

Apple Music: Apple Music streams music in the Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) format at 256 kbps. AAC is known for its efficiency in delivering high-quality audio at relatively low bitrates, making it a popular choice for streaming services. In June 2021, Apple Music introduced lossless audio streaming, offering tracks in ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) format. ALAC preserves the original audio data, providing a bit-for-bit replica of the original recording, which is particularly appealing to audiophiles who seek the highest fidelity.

Spotify: Spotify uses the Ogg Vorbis format for streaming, with a maximum bitrate of 320 kbps for premium subscribers. Ogg Vorbis is an open-source codec known for its high-quality sound at various bitrates. While Spotify's standard streaming quality is generally sufficient for most listeners, the platform has announced plans to introduce Spotify HiFi, a tier that will offer lossless CD-quality audio, although its rollout has been delayed and is eagerly anticipated by users.

2. Quality Settings

Apple Music: Apple Music offers several quality settings to cater to different network conditions and user preferences. Users can choose between "High Quality" (256 kbps AAC) and "Lossless" (ALAC) for a richer listening experience. For those with compatible devices and headphones, Apple Music also offers "Hi-Res Lossless" (up to 24-bit/192 kHz), which delivers studio-quality sound. Users can adjust these settings in the app’s settings menu to balance data usage and sound quality according to their needs.

Spotify: Spotify provides flexible quality settings, allowing users to select different bitrates depending on their subscription level and network conditions. The options include "Low" (24 kbps), "Normal" (96 kbps), "High" (160 kbps), and "Very High" (320 kbps). These settings are available for premium subscribers, while free-tier users are limited to lower bitrates. The upcoming Spotify HiFi tier is expected to offer CD-quality, lossless audio, significantly enhancing the sound quality for premium users.

3. Hi-Res Audio Availability

Apple Music: One of Apple Music’s standout features is its support for Hi-Res Lossless audio, which offers bit rates up to 24-bit/192 kHz. This level of fidelity provides a more immersive and accurate representation of the original recording, capturing nuances that are often lost in compressed formats. Hi-Res Lossless audio is particularly beneficial for listeners with high-end audio equipment capable of reproducing these subtle details. Apple Music also supports spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, creating a 3D audio experience that adds depth and dimension to the sound.

Spotify: As of 2024, Spotify has yet to roll out its HiFi tier, which promises CD-quality, lossless audio streaming. The delay has been a point of frustration for some users, especially audiophiles who prioritize sound quality. Once available, Spotify HiFi is expected to enhance the listening experience significantly, bringing Spotify's audio quality in line with other premium streaming services like Apple Music. In the meantime, Spotify’s "Very High" setting at 320 kbps remains the best option for users seeking higher fidelity.

4. Listening Tests

Apple Music: Listening tests and user feedback generally indicate that Apple Music’s lossless and Hi-Res Lossless options provide superior audio quality compared to standard streaming settings. The increased bit depth and sample rate result in clearer highs, fuller lows, and a more dynamic range. Users with high-quality headphones or audio systems can particularly appreciate the difference, noting a more lifelike and immersive sound.

Spotify: Spotify’s "Very High" quality setting at 320 kbps is often praised for its clear and detailed sound, suitable for most listening scenarios. However, in head-to-head comparisons with Apple Music’s lossless audio, Spotify’s compressed format may fall short in delivering the same level of clarity and detail. Audiophiles and critical listeners often report that Apple Music’s lossless audio offers a more accurate and engaging listening experience, especially for complex and richly produced tracks.

5. Device Compatibility

Apple Music: Apple Music’s lossless and Hi-Res Lossless audio are compatible with a range of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV. However, to experience Hi-Res Lossless audio, users need external hardware such as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and high-quality headphones or speakers. AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max do not support lossless audio due to Bluetooth limitations, but wired connections can deliver the full quality. Spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is available on all Apple and Beats headphones with an H1 or W1 chip.

Spotify: Spotify’s high-quality streaming is available on a wide variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, smart speakers, and gaming consoles. The anticipated Spotify HiFi tier will require compatible devices that can handle lossless audio streaming, and users may need to invest in higher-end audio equipment to fully appreciate the improved sound quality. Spotify Connect allows seamless integration with various devices, ensuring a consistent and high-quality listening experience across platforms.

Conclusion: Both Apple Music and Spotify offer excellent sound quality options, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Apple Music stands out with its lossless and Hi-Res Lossless audio, making it a top choice for audiophiles seeking the highest fidelity. Spotify, while still offering very good sound quality, especially at its highest setting, is yet to launch its HiFi tier, which promises to bring CD-quality audio to its users. Ultimately, the choice between Apple Music and Spotify may come down to how much you value sound quality and whether you have the equipment to fully enjoy the benefits of lossless audio.

[jihanimobileapp]

Press Release: Introducing Borhan LTD and the Revolutionary Jiani Mobile App Erbil, Iraq – Borhan LTD, a leading technology company based in Erbil, is making waves in the mobile and mobile accessories industry with its innovative Jiani Mobile app. Launched in 2021, Jiani Mobile is transforming the way wholesale mobile products are bought and sold across Iraq.

About Borhan LTD Borhan LTD is renowned for its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to create practical solutions that enhance the lives of its users. With a team of highly skilled professionals and a vision for the future, Borhan LTD has established itself as a key player in the tech industry.

The Jiani Mobile App Jiani Mobile, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, is designed to connect users with a wide range of wholesale mobile products. The app allows users to compare products from different wholesalers, ensuring they get the best quality at the most affordable prices. With just a few taps, users can make online purchases and have their products delivered quickly and efficiently.

Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ir.brzdev.jmob&hl=en_US

Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/jihani-mobile/id1602553326

Expansion Across Iraq Currently operational in Erbil, Jiani Mobile is set to expand its services to cover all major cities across Iraq. This expansion will make it easier for users nationwide to access high-quality mobile products at competitive prices.

Key Features of Jiani Mobile Comprehensive Product Listings: Users can browse a vast selection of mobile phones and accessories from multiple wholesalers. Price Comparison: The app allows users to compare prices and find the best deals available. User-Friendly Interface: Designed with the user in mind, Jiani Mobile offers a seamless and intuitive shopping experience. Fast and Reliable Delivery: Ensuring that purchased items reach customers quickly and in perfect condition. Future Prospects With its planned expansion, Jiani Mobile is poised to become the go-to platform for mobile products in Iraq. Borhan LTD continues to innovate and improve its services, ensuring that users receive the best possible experience.

For more information about Borhan LTD and the Jiani Mobile app, please visit our Google Play Store and Apple App Store pages.

Contact Information:

Borhan Ltd Co No: 15319779 London, England borhanltd@gmail.com +44 7700163349

Jihani Mobile Address: Erbil, Iraq Email: jihanimobileapp@gmail.com Phone: +964 750 212 9669

[andreanagandini]

What to do if your phone gets stolen

If your phone falls into the hands of criminals, do not panic. Here is how to protect your data.

June 2, 2021

If you can’t find your phone, don’t panic. Exhaust your good options — maybe you misplaced it or lent it to someone, or buried it under some papers — and then, unfortunately, assume it was stolen. If you read our post on how to theft-proof your smartphone and data and followed the tips, then you’ve safeguarded your information and can restore it on a new phone. But even if you didn’t prepare in advance, you can reduce the damage.

Table of Contents:

Best-case scenario

Worst-case scenario

Have your SIM card blocked

Warn your relatives and friends

Block stolen smartphone

Unlink bank cards

Block the smartphone’s IMEI number

What’s next?

Contact the police

Change your passwords

Restore your data

Cheer up

Best-case scenario

Your phone’s screen was locked when it went missing, the data on it is encrypted, and the SIM card is PIN-protected. In that case:

Use the Find My Device (Android) or Find My (iOS) feature to mark the phone as lost and have the device display an on-screen message with the number of a friend or relative who can contact you in case someone honest finds the device;

After waiting as long as you’re comfortable on the first step, remotely delete all data on the device and contact your operator to block the SIM card;

Buy a new smartphone and restore your data from a backup copy.

We also recommend staying vigilant after the theft. Thieves often take advantage of that contact information, especially with more expensive devices, and use social engineering to trick the owner of the stolen device into revealing the password for their Google or Apple ID account. If successful, they can unlink the device from the account and make more money by selling the phone whole than by disassembling it and selling the parts.

In short, treat all texts and calls related to a stolen phone with the utmost suspicion, and do not enter or reveal your Google account or Apple ID credentials.

Worst-case scenario

If the smartphone landed in the wrong hands and it is not protected, possibly not even by a screen lock, then time is of the essence. The first thing you need is another phone from which to make several calls. Ask store or restaurant staff to use their phone, or flag down a cab and borrow the driver’s phone.

Block your SIM card

Your first call is to your carrier. Tell the support rep that you lost your SIM card and ask them to block it. Once the SIM card is blocked, the thief will no longer be able to impersonate you (call from your number or receive a text message with a verification code for changing a password or confirming a transaction, for example).

Warn relatives and friends

Your second call should be to a friend or relative. Explain that your phone was stolen, and ask them to warn mutual contacts that they might get calls or messages from your number with requests for money or maybe some questions, all of which they should ignore. You might want to ask them to post a warning on social media if you share many friends there.

Block smartphone

You will need access to the Internet to block your stolen smartphone. If at all possible, do so on a secure device; you will be entering your password.

First, log in to your Google or Apple ID account. If you are logging in from someone else’s device, and you have two-factor authentication set up, that may be difficult. Obviously, you can’t get a verification text or open a mobile authenticator app; your phone is gone. Android users can change the password without text message verification. If that applies to you, you will need to enter one of the backup codes you received when setting up two-factor authentication. iPhone users can recover account access by having a verification code sent to a trusted phone number or device.

Once you have logged in to your Google or Apple ID account, here’s what to do:

Find your missing smartphone in the device list under Security (for Android phones) or the Find My iPhone app (for iPhones) and find the missing smartphone in the list of devices;

Note the location of the smartphone on the map. If the phone is on and geolocation is active, its location icon should appear. However, even if the thief’s path is clear, do not try to chase them. Rather, ask the police for help;

Select Lost Mode. The system will offer to enter a message for the lock screen and a backup number to contact you. Your smartphone will now display that message, and nothing else. If the phone was simply misplaced, not stolen, the finder will be able to call you. Watch out for phishing messages and calls; criminals may pose as support reps and contact you to try to get the account password;

If your device contains important and sensitive information, consider the drastic measure of erasing it remotely. However, keep in mind that option is irrevocable — and also means giving up the ability to locate the phone remotely.

Unlink bank cards

When you block your smartphone with Find My or Find My Device, respectively, Apple or Google may suggest unlinking any associated cards, but in case it doesn’t, unlink bank cards from your device manually in the account settings. Unless they were stolen along with the phone, you don’t need to block the cards.

For Android devices:

Sign in to your Google account;

In the Payments & subscriptions section, select Payment settings;

Remove your cards.

For iPhone:

Sign in to your Apple ID account;

In the Devices section, find the missing iPhone and select Remove all cards.

Block the smartphone’s IMEI number

In some countries, in addition to having the SIM card blocked, you can add a stolen phone’s identification number (IMEI) to the carrier’s blocklist. To do that, you need to give the carrier this number. If you have the box in which the phone came, you can find the number on it.

Android lets you use the Find your phone feature to find the IMEI: Click on the encircled “i” next to the image of your phone and the IMEI code will pop up.

iPhone users can find theirs at appleid.apple.com by signing in with the Apple ID used on the stolen device, scrolling down to Devices, and selecting the iPhone to see its IMEI.

In theory, once the carrier adds the IMEI to the blocklist, the smartphone will not be able to connect to the mobile network even with a different SIM card. This feature works in the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Latvia and certain Latin American countries.

What’s next?

Once you’ve taken prudent steps to protect yourself and your data, it’s time to get down to mitigating other potential consequences.

Contact the police

Report the theft, giving police details such as carrier and phone number. However slim, there is still a chance to get your smartphone back. Sometimes phones get returned even after being missing for years.

Change your passwords

Change as many passwords as you can in your apps and mobile browser. Once you’ve replaced the passwords, set up two-factor authentication.

Restore your data

If you enabled backup on the device while you still had it, then you will be able to recover all information, down to text messages, on your new smartphone.

Here are the steps to do this on Android and iPhone.

Cheer up

The loss of a smartphone certainly carries serious stress and is a threat to your data. However, if you follow the steps above and back up your data in advance, you can cut your losses. Do not despair because your gadget was lost or stolen — your personal safety is the top priority.

[navdurga32]

Where can I buy iOS app reviews and ratings in 2021?

In today's competitive app market, garnering positive reviews and high ratings for your iOS app is crucial. Positive reviews not only improve your app's visibility in the App Store but also build trust with potential users, leading to increased downloads and user retention. So, where can you buy iOS app reviews and ratings to boost your app's credibility and visibility? One of the best platforms for this purpose is ASOeShop.

Why ASOeShop is One of the Best Platforms to Buy iOS App Reviews and Ratings

1. Reliable and Authentic Reviews: ASOeShop stands out for its commitment to providing genuine and high-quality reviews. Unlike other platforms that may offer fake or bot-generated reviews, ASOeShop ensures that the reviews are written by real users. This authenticity not only helps in boosting your app's reputation but also ensures compliance with App Store policies.

2. Customizable Review Packages: ASOeShop offers a variety of customizable packages to suit your specific needs. Whether you're a new app developer looking to gain initial traction or an established developer aiming to maintain a high rating, ASOeShop has a package for you. You can choose the number of reviews, ratings, and even specify the regions from which you want the reviews to come. This flexibility allows you to target your audience more effectively.

3. Increased Visibility and Downloads: Positive reviews and high ratings significantly impact your app's visibility in the App Store. According to a study by Apptentive, apps with a rating of 4.5 stars or higher are more likely to be downloaded by users. Moreover, apps that rank in the top 10 of their category receive 94% of all downloads. By purchasing reviews and ratings from ASOeShop, you can improve your app's ranking and visibility, leading to more organic downloads.

4. Secure and Confidential: ASOeShop ensures that all transactions are secure and confidential. Your app’s details and your personal information are protected, and the review process is designed to look natural, avoiding any potential flags from Apple’s review system. This security and confidentiality give you peace of mind while investing in the growth of your app.

5. Proven Track Record: ASOeShop has a proven track record of helping app developers succeed. With years of experience in the ASO (App Store Optimization) industry, ASOeShop has garnered positive testimonials from numerous satisfied clients. Many developers have seen a significant increase in their app’s ratings, reviews, and overall success after using ASOeShop’s services.

Statistics and Facts:

According to App Annie, 70% of users check at least one review before downloading an app.

A report by The Manifest indicates that 60% of users base their decision to download an app on its rating and reviews.

ASOeShop has helped over 10,000 apps improve their ratings and reviews, with an average rating increase of 1.5 stars.

In conclusion, buying iOS app reviews and ratings can be a strategic move to enhance your app’s credibility and visibility. ASOeShop offers reliable, authentic, and customizable review packages that can help you achieve these goals. With a proven track record, secure transactions, and a commitment to authenticity, ASOeShop is undoubtedly one of the best platforms to buy iOS app reviews and ratings. Boost your app's success today by leveraging the power of positive reviews with ASOeShop.

[theultimatefan]

Harlem Globetrotters Swanson, Rivers Join Samuelsson On Home Plate: New York Premiering Tuesday

Harlem Globetrotters stars ‘Hot Shot’ Swanson and ‘Jet’ Rivers join award-winning chef, entrepreneur, author and food activist Marcus Samuelssonin thenewest episode of the YES App original series Home Plate: New York premiering Tuesday, June 18 at 11 AM.

The YES App’s Home Plate: New York series features Samuelsson teaming up with New York Yankees stars and other high-profile athletes and entertainers to visit New York City restaurants specializing in food from the guests’ respective cultures and family heritages. 

The episode debuting on June 18 features series host Samuelsson, Swanson and Rivers visiting Sylvia’s, the world-famous soul food restaurant in Harlem known as “The Queen of Soul Food.”

Samuelsson is a renowned chef and restaurateur, owning multiple restaurants across the globe. He was the youngest chef to receive a three-star review from the New York Times and has won multiple James Beard Foundation awards including Best Chef: New York City.

Standing at 4’5,” Swanson is one of the team’s most celebrated athletes. Born in the Bronx and raised in Harlem, he started his basketball career playing college basketball at Monroe College in the Bronx. The 6’1” Rivers, who hails from Elizabeth, New Jersey, began his basketball career at Wagner College, where he was a two-time all-conference selection and led the team to their most victories during his four-year reign.

Among the episode’s highlights:

Sylvia’s chef Marcus Woods explains how his grandmother Sylvia Woods founded Sylvia’s in 1962 and built it up into a culinary and cultural institution still owned by the Woods family that is visited by global dignitaries, celebrities and locals

Marcus Samuelsson recalls coming to Sylvia’s to ask for advice for his restaurants, given the amount of knowledge and expertise Sylvia possessed.  Marcus Woods says that Marcus Samuelsson is like family to the Woods

‘Jet’ and ‘Hot Shot’ help season and cook the restaurant’s signature fried chicken

Kenneth Woods, Marcus Woods’ father, says that when you come to Sylvia’s the first time, you are a guest, but the second time you come, you are family.

Previous Home Plate: New York episodes have featured New York Yankees ace pitcher Gerrit Cole and his wife Amy, The Sopranos stars Lorraine Bracco and Steve Schirripa, Olympic Soccer Gold Medalist Kelley O’Hara, former New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist, NBA Hall of Fame player Tracy McGrady, four-time New York Yankees World Series Champion and Latin Grammy nominee Bernie Williams and New York Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux.

YES launched the YES App in March 2021 for authenticated users in its regional coverage territory, and it quickly became the #1 free sports app in the Apple App Store.   Direct-to-consumer access to the YES Network has been available through the YES App since March 2023.  In addition to providing fans with a live stream of the YES Network, the YES App features a variety of app-exclusive original sports and lifestyle programming similar to Home Plate: New York.

The app also serves up customizable push notifications, personalized content, live stats, play-along games and watch-party functions in conjunction with YES’ exclusive Yankees and Nets telecasts. It has won two New York Emmy Awards in its first two years of eligibility.  Fans in YES’ regional coverage territory can access the YES App by going to www.watchyesnetwork.com.