This is a major bummer. I was hoping *this* would be the release that really started a push to replace Microsoft Word.
Tag: apple
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Instacast 4: Revamped for iOS 7
Cody Fink’s review makes me even *more* excited to try it out.
Michael Tsai asks some really good questions about Apple allowing you to download old app versions from the app store. It will be interesting to see how some of these play out.
This is kind of a bummer. I really liked sending cards from this to my family.
Federico has a new iBook on [writing with Editorial on the iPad](https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/writing-on-ipad-text-automation/id697865620?mt=11)[^f4101]. As someone who has completely moved my iPad writing workflow over to [Editorial](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/editorial/id673907758?mt=8&at=10l5TL), I was pleased to find some new tricks that help make the app even *more* powerful.
For $2.99, this book is a no-brainer for anyone who uses [Editorial](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/editorial/id673907758?mt=8&at=10l5TL)[^fn1], as well as anyone who wants to help support Federico and the great work that he does.
[^f4101]: Affiliate Link (as is the original post link, and the *Editorial* link.)
[^fn1]: Seriously, it is worth the $2.99 for the Feed Wrangler workflow alone.
Time to ramp up the speculation.
David Smith gives a very straightforward explanation of how to get into Apple’s new affiliate program. Of course, I am still [confused about the the program’s “privacy policy” requirements](https://johnkiv.us/2013/08/23/apples-new-affiliate-program-and-website-privacy-policies/).
Apple recently rolled out a [new affiliate program](https://phgconsole.performancehorizon.com/login/itunes) managed by PHG. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out whether this program does or does not require a privacy policy on new applicants’ websites. In Apple’s [FAQ about the new program](http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/resources/documentation/faq_en.html) Apple says reasons for a rejected application may include:
> [The site] [f]ails to clearly state an online privacy policy to visitors.
and in the Terms and Conditions associated with the program, Apple and PHG state that:
> (g) [the Publisher of the website] shall provide a clear and conspicuous link to its privacy policy from each page on its Site;
> (h) [the Publisher of the website] shall include a statement in its privacy policy that PHG and/or Advertiser (or another third party, where applicable) may use code or cookies on Publisher’s website to track the performance of Advertiser’s marketing efforts, and that no personally identifiable information is collected in such process;
Yet, a [number](http://shawnblanc.net) of [prominent](http://www.macdrifter.com) [sites](http://david-smith.org/about/), that I assume are part of the new program, seem to have no privacy policy. Does this mean that Apple and PHG are not enforcing this part of the Terms and Conditions? I cannot tell.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: Before I submitted my site to join the new affiliate program, I added a basic [privacy policy](https://johnkiv.us/privacy-policy/) to my site that include the required language from the Terms and Conditions.
Rush Limbaugh mentions something that I have been thinking a lot lately:
> The way you [,Apple Bloggers,] see [the majority of the tech media] propping up Samsung and Google and Android and the way these guys are ripping Apple to shreds, would you try to see that in the mainstream media? Would you open your eyes and see what’s going on in the mainstream media? Would you try to open your eyes and see that in the mainstream media, the Republican Party is Apple, and the Democrat Party is Samsung, Google, and Android.”
It is really too bad that more of the tech bloggers do not recognize that same type of misdirection is happening over in the political side of the news media, too.[^fn1] It feels like it is a waste of their analytical skills.
[^fn1]: This recent [quote from Ben Brooks](http://brooksreview.net/2013/08/post-facts-sort-of/) about the continued NSA scandal reminded me of Limbaugh had said: “That’s on me for not fully reading the source documents and taking the Post at its word.”
It seems like the legal world is the only place that cannot let go of binders full of paper.
A simple “Yep.” from The Beard, and you can pretty much write it in stone.
I really like David’s take and his recommendations. I would like to add one more recommendation: **Remove apps with In-App purchases from the “Top Free Apps” listing.** I do not care if they are listed in some new category, but they should not be listed with apps that are actually free. Being listed there just gives them a change to sucker more people into buying costly in-app purchases.
Justin gives a great summary of everything involved. His concluding section is especially strong:
> The vulnerability isn’t Baliç’s. It’s Apple’s. He just discovered it and Apple deemed it severe enough that their response was to take down their entire developer program until they can close the hole.
> I’ve been incredibly vocal about the inconvenience that the downtime has caused me, but knowing how big of an issue it is, I’m fine with Apple taking their time to get the fix right.
> I am not fine, however, with them trying to paint themselves the victim of malicious intent when in reality it looks as though someone properly reported a vulnerability in their code to them.
> No one comes out of this looking clean, but it could have been a lot worse if a more dark hacker discovered the vulnerability before Baliç.
Chad Bray and Joe Palazzolo, writing at the *Wall Street Journal*:
> In a stern rebuke to Apple Inc.’s AAPL -0.45% electronic books sales strategy, a federal judge has ruled that the company colluded with five major U.S. publishers to artificially drive up the prices of e-books in the months ahead of the technology company entering the market in 2010.
I have not read the opinion yet, but this decision seemed inevitable based on the coverage of the trial I did read.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: DISCLAIMER: This post may contain some discussion about legal issues, but (1) it is not legal advice, (2) it does not establish an attorney-client relationship, and (3) it is not advertising for legal services. The full disclaimer can be found on the [Disclaimer Page](https://johnkiv.us/disclaimer/).
A list of great apps that are currently free[^fn1].
[^fn1]: It appears to be related to Apple’s App Store being 5 years old. There also appears to be some confusion as to if that is *really* the reason.
> The first Mac I purchased and the Mac I’m still using is a polycarbonate MacBook, a laptop that’s been far surpassed by today’s MacBook Airs, yet still a computer that has plenty of life in it and is certainly capable enough for writing and browsing the net. It’s going to be a five year old computer this year, but I’m not sure if I’m really ready for another big purchase. Lion is the latest OS that will run on my machine, although I’m mostly content with that.
I am in the same boat as Cody. I have a Black Macbook that I put a SSD in that still runs really well. Unfortunately, I cannot upgrade its OS past Lion due the compatibility decisions Apple made between Lion and Mountain Lion. No matter how cheaply Apple prices Mavericks, I will not be able to upgrade that computer.
> A free Mavericks sounds temping towards encouraging adoption, but I suspect Apple won’t change the price of the next version of OS X. As John points out any price above free can still be seen as an obstacle, and although Apple doesn’t need the money there is no point leaving it on the table. Marco also makes the point that Macs last a lot longer than there iOS counterparts, contributing to the overall Mac user base longer. And until Apple improves the upgrade process so that it is worry-free there will always be a hesitation over upgrading. With automatic application updates on the horizon for the next version of OS X, it appears as if Apple is taking the right steps towards worry-free, zero-cost, operating system updates. Just don’t count on Mavericks catching the wave this time around.
Sounds right to me.
If it is just the streaming options that are available on the Roku and Xbox 360 then that’s good news, but not earth shattering. I am hoping, however, that an Apple-made set-top box is in the future for Time Warner Cable subscribers.
Okay, I admit it: I am linking to this almost solely because the animated GIF he used is *amazing.*
(h/t [Shawn Blanc](http://shawnblanc.net))
In case you needed *more* coverage of the major iOS revamp.