Category: Apple Insider

Not all docks are created equal, and it’s clear that Thunderbolt 4 docks have their strengths. Faster speeds, better connection between your devices, and more ports make them an easy choice for people with a lot of accessories in their setup.

Built with creatives in mind, the Satechi Multimedia Pro Dock has sixteen different ports. It helps connect your computer to four monitors at 4K 60Hz, charge two devices, connect to ethernet, and much more.

Satechi has been making USB-C and Thunderbolt docks for years and covers various price ranges and needs. The Multimedia Pro Dock is a high-cost and high-powered dock for people with plenty of monitors and peripherals.

• 2x DisplayPort
• 2x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Thunderbolt 4 to host
• 1x USB-C 3.2 10Gbps
• 5x USB-A 3.2 10-Gbps
• 1x USB-A 2.0 for charging up to 7.5W
• 1x SD card slot
• 1x Micro SD / TF card slot
• 1x 3.5mm audio jack in/out
• 1x Ethernet 2.56Gbps
• 1x Kensington Lock
• 1x DC/20V Port with a 135W power supply

Notably, there’s no downstream Thunderbolt port. This isn’t a deal-breaker though for most.

Not many people may have use for sixteen different ports, but the Pro Dock serves as a good way to future-proof your home or office setup. Connecting mice, keyboards, and headphones is simple, and the SD and Micro SD speeds allow for quick transfers of information.

Even under heavy use, the dock doesn’t warm up considerably due to its large size and aluminum chassis. The charging speed is good, bringing an iPhone from 30% to 80% in an hour with the USB-A port on the front.

The power supply brings 96W to your host device, keeping it powered or charging it after a day of use outside.

The split between ports in the front and back is also convenient, with SD/TF, two USB-A ports, and the audio jack in the front for easy access. Most USB and HDMI/DisplayPort are in the back for better wire management.

As for the design, the dock blends in well with most setups, complimenting a silver or space grey Mac or iPad. The rubber feet and stand allow you to position the dock in either landscape or portrait, depending on how much desk space you have.

This is not a portable dock, but the claimed aircraft-grade aluminum helps us keep peace of mind when transporting it.

The Multimedia Pro Dock is a great way for photographers, musicians, and other creators to connect all their accessories to one dock and do their work without distractions.

People with many accessories and peripherals are familiar with the experience of having to unplug and replug devices to make their setup work. A large-sized Thunderbolt dock does away with that entirely, making it easy to plug in your computer and start your next task.

We also think the average creative doesn’t need sixteen high-powered ports to do their job or conduct their hobby. However, this might be the next dock for you for those who struggle even with ten and twelve-port USB-C or Thunderbolt docks.

The Multimedia Pro Dock provides an abundance of ports and information-transferring capabilities while also charging and optimizing your setup. At over $300, many people would prefer to choose a smaller USB-C hub for their needs.

• Abundance of ports
• Versatile orientation for multiple kinds of setups
• Durable and spreads heat efficiently under strain

• Overkill and pricey for some
• No downstream Thunderbolt port
• Limited appeal due to smaller and cheaper alternatives

The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock is available on Amazon for $297.49 (15% off), and on the Satechi store for $349.99.

Image Credit: Procreate

Procreate has long been popular with illustrators as it set the standard when it came to creating digital art on the iPad. Now, the company is gearing up to revolutionize 2D animation with its newly announced iPad app, Procreate Dreams.

Procreate Dreams aims to make animation faster and easier with fluid gestures and intuitive tools like its multi-touch timeline. Onion skins can be customized to help animators create fluid animations effortlessly. A Flipbook tool helps pare down an interface for a more traditional animation experience.

It’s compatible with Procreate brushes, perfect for artists who have been collecting assets over the years.

Real-time rendering allows artists to instantly play back their animations as they make movies. A new audio engine gives animators tools for music, voice-overs, and sound effects.

Procreate Dreams will also feature iCloud support, allowing artists to back up their work automatically via iCloud synchronization. A new file format, the “dreams” format, allows artists to open files up to 1TB to be opened instantly with no loading, saving, or export time.

Like Procreate, Procreate Dreams will be available for a one-time purchase rather than a monthly subscription model. The company says it will be available on November 22 for $19.99.

The exploit was discovered on an iPhone owned by an individual employed by a Washington DC-based civil society organization. The exploit was used to deliver NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware.

Toronto’s Citizen Lab states that the exploit involves PassKit containing “malicious images sent from an attacker iMessage account to the victim.”

Citizen Lab disclosed their findings to Apple, who promptly issued CVE-2023-41064 and CVE-2023-41061 related to the exploit chain. The iOS 16.6.1 patch fixes the security gap, and Thursday’s report from Citizen Lab confirms that.

Both Citizen Lab and AppleInsider recommend that iPhone owners update their devices as soon as feasible. Users can download the security fix by opening the Settings app, tapping Software Update, and installing iOS 16.6.1 from the menu.

The security researchers will publish a more detailed discussion of the exploit chain in the future.

Google search can turn up malicious ads

The malware payload known as Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS) first appeared in April being sold on Telegram for $1,000 per month. Once installed, it collects the user’s system password via aggressive pop-ups and then siphons off sensitive data like passwords, crypto, and files.

According to a report from researchers at Malwarebytes, AMOS is being delivered via a Google ad scheme to unsuspecting searchers. The ads are legitimate and paid for but disguise themselves as the website or software the user is searching for.

This attack relies on users’ trust in Google when clicking on ad search results. It appears at the top of the page and has Google’s ad stamp of approval, so users click through without inspecting for suspicious URLs or domain owners.

Once the user clicks the link, they are presented with a normal-looking page. The attackers create a near-perfect clone of the website users expect, so they click through and download the software.

AMOS doesn’t need to go through the normal installation process through Gatekeeper since it is an ad-hoc signed app. Users are directed to right-click and open the software from the mounted .dmg file.

After the file is opened, a fake prompt for the system password keeps popping up until the user relents and enters their password. It then harvests what data it can from the user’s Keychain, file system, and crypto wallets and sends it to the malware operator.

A disguised malware delivery page. Source: Malwarebytes

Google isn’t a foolproof tool. It delivers information based on the user’s account data and keywords, and malicious ads aren’t always going to get caught on review.

The number one security rule of the internet is paying attention to the URL. In the example given by Malwarebytes, the URL is trabingviews.com.

Users should exercise caution whenever they choose to download software from the web. The Mac App Store is the safest route for Mac users, but that won’t always be an option.

Pay attention to Google’s results, the URL you’re directed to, and the software installer itself. Be wary of how the software asks to be installed. Most software shouldn’t ask the user to bypass Gatekeeper.

A potential red-flag is software that demands the user open the app in place, on the installer image. As a general rule, it should ask the user to drag the installed app to the Finder.

Also, be wary of random requests for the system password, especially right after installing new software. Inspect the dialog for design irregularities or typos.

Apple’s iMessage

The EU’s Digital Markets Act was first proposed in October 2020, but it didn’t get official approval until July 2022. The new law became applicable in April 2023, designates gatekeepers on September 6, then goes into effect in March 2024.

A report from Financial Times sourced from two anonymous individuals says Apple and Microsoft are arguing their “flagship services” are not popular enough to fall under the EU’s definition of gatekeeper services. Apple is specifically arguing iMessage should not be labeled a gatekeeper service.

The EU is expected to reveal which services fall under its gatekeeper banner in the first week of September. The DMA is meant to throttle perceived monopolistic powers of large tech firms, like Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

If Apple’s iMessage does fall under the DMA ruleset, it means Apple will be required to open iMessage to third-party operators. However, how Apple might do that remains to be seen.

To meet the requirements of a gatekeeper service, the EU says it must have at least 45 million monthly active users. The company must also exceed 7.5 billion euros annually or have a market cap that surpasses 75 billion euros.

Apple has confirmed that there are over 1 billion active iPhones in the world. However, the company does not go into detail regarding regions, so it’s unknown if iMessage reaches the 45 million monthly active users in the region.

Apple does meet the monetary requirements. There is some chance the iMessage user base is below the 45 million mark in the EU if only because other chat services dominate the region.

Apple allegedly arguing iMessage does not meet the requirements is a change from July. The company, along with Microsoft and others, confirmed the EU’s new gatekeeper law applied to them in a blanket statement, but didn’t carve out specific services like iMessage before.

Despite Apple’s apparent change of heart, the first list of gatekeeper services should be published in September. If iMessage does avoid the list, it does not mean it won’t be added in the future.

The App Store is likely to also be included in the EU’s gatekeeper services list. Apple has allegedly been working on App Store alternatives for iPhones since 2022.

The MLS Season Pass has been a success for Apple TV+, in part thanks to events such as Lionel Messi’s joining of Inter Miami. However, a new promotion may help boost numbers even more.

First reported by TechCrunch, the MLS Season Pass subscription usually costs $99 per season, or $79 per season for Apple TV+ subscribers. Now, long past the halfway point of the February 25 to October 21 season, fans who were tempted to pick up the Season Pass but were put off by the cost can do so at a much cheaper cost.

Sports fans can now pay $29 for access to the Season Pass for the rest of the 2023 season, or for Apple TV+ subscribers, that price goes down to $25. This is a considerable saving compared to the per-month charges, which are $14.99 per month or $12.50 per month for Apple TV+ subscribers.

Under the season pass, subscribers gain access to live coverage of matches, as well as the post-season play-offs, set to run from October 25 through to December 9. There is also a selection of other video content available, including match replays, original programming, and studio programs.

Once bought, the MLS Season Pass can be viewed wherever the Apple TV app is accessible, including the Apple TV set-top boxes, iPhone and iPad, Mac, and selected smart TVs.

Apps by Apple

Updated on Saturday, the new Apps by Apple page explains users can “connect, create, and get things done with powerful and intuitive apps designed to be accessible, private, and secure.”

The headline carousel has slides promoting Messages, Safari, Final Cut Pro for iPad, and Logic Pro for iPad. Each listing, along with a small paragraph explaining what the user can get out of using the app, is accompanied by a link for users to find out more.

Further down the page are smaller carousels, organized by Communication, Creativity, Productivity, Exploration, Entertainment & Home, Health & Fitness, and Features. The default All view will show all apps on each carousel, but users can also elect to view apps for the Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, with the lists adjusting to match.

At the bottom, Apple has a large grid of non-interactive app icons, showing all of the smaller feature-like apps its operating systems also provide.

Toward the bottom of the page, Apple reiterates its commitment to privacy and accessibility, and a final part that takes users to the App Store.

The timing of the page’s introduction is curious, as Apple is thought to be bracing itself for the European Union to force the company to allow third-party App Stores to exist on its devices in 2024. It also occurs ahead of the expected fall release of iOS 17 and its other milestone operating systems.

Apple’s abandoned child protection feature

Heat Initiative said it would launch the campaign against Apple after pressing the tech giant on why it had abandoned plans for on-device and iCloud Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) detection tools. The launch comes after Apple giving its most detailed response yet as to why it backed off its plans, citing that it would uphold user privacy.

In response to Apple, Heat Initiative has officially launched its campaign website. The advocacy group issues a statement on the front page that reads, “Child sexual abuse is stored on iCloud. Apple allows it.”

“Apple’s landmark announcement to detect child sexual abuse images and videos in 2021 was silently rolled back, impacting the lives of children worldwide,” the statement continues. “With every day that passes, there are kids suffering because of this inaction, which is why we’re calling on Apple to deliver on their commitment.”

The website contains alleged case studies that detail multiple cases where iCloud had been used to store sexual abuse materials, including photos, videos, and explicit messages.

It calls on Apple to “detect, report, and remove sexual abuse images and videos from iCloud,” as well as “create a robust reporting mechanism for users to report child sexual abuse images and videos to Apple.”

The company provides a copy of a letter it sent directly to Tim Cook, saying that it was “shocked and discouraged by your decision to reverse course and not institute” CSAM detection measures.

It also includes a button that allows visitors to send a prewritten email demanding action from Apple to the entire Apple executive team.

Child Sexual Abuse Material is an ongoing severe concern Apple attempted to address with on-device and iCloud detection tools. These controversial tools were ultimately abandoned in December 2022, leaving more controversy in its wake.

The Heat Initiative is not alone in its quest. As spotted by 9to5mac, the Christian Brothers Investment Services, and Degroof Petercam are respectively filing and backing a shareholder resolution about the topic.