Month: April 2023

Enlarge (credit: Apple/Andrew Cunningham)

If you're using a Mac and want a refresher on the basics of Bitcoin, good news—blogger Andy Baio has discovered that "every modern copy of macOS" has included a copy of Satoshi Nakomoto's original Bitcoin white paper, hidden away in macOS system folders and accessible with an easy Terminal command.

Here's the command you can use to open it on your own Mac:

open /System/Library/Image\ Capture/Devices/VirtualScanner.app/Contents/Resources/simpledoc.pdf

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images)

Google is cracking down on predatory loan apps by cutting off their access to “sensitive” data including debtors’ contacts, photos, and location, after growing criticism that unscrupulous lenders are tapping the contents of borrowers’ smartphones for harassment and blackmail.

The tech company said on Wednesday it would update policies for financial services apps listed on the Google Play Store at the end of May so that “apps aiming to provide or facilitate personal loans may not access user contacts or photos.”

Details provided to app developers for Google’s Android mobile system also show that lending apps will, for the first time, be restricted from requesting access to users’ precise location, phone numbers, and videos. The new policy covers apps offering personal, payday, and peer-to-peer loans, but not mortgages, car loans, or credit cards.

Enlarge / The latest MacBook Pro. (credit: Samuel Axon)

Apple’s latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros were released in January with new M2 Pro chips, alongside the new Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro options. The range of configurations across these models offers users everything from a power-efficient document editor (though they'd certainly be overkill for that) to a full-on video and photo editing powerhouse.

Whichever you choose, you're likely going to need some accessories—that's the nature of things with any new PC purchase, but with Macs in particular. Given that, we examined a handful of accessories to complete the package and help you get the most out of your workstation.

Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and numpad for $160

(or without Touch ID and numpad for $99)

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is my favorite keyboard pairing with either the MacBook or Mac mini. If you opt for the version with Touch ID, you gain the Apple-specific perk of unlocking your computer with your fingerprint. But aside from its Mac-compatibility, the main reason I use this keyboard is its battery life.