News

Apple workers are using Android phones for privacy

To hide unionization plans

Published

February 21, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

In the United States, the tech-based workforce is going through a revolution. Prompted by abuse at work, a lot of workers are protesting for better pay and working conditions. Of course, one form of protest is boycotting their company’s products. Apple’s employees are doing just that by using Android phones instead of iPhones.

Though one can easily chalk this off as a boycotting protest, Apple’s employees have another reason for doing so. Reported by The Washington Post, they have turned to Android phones to protect their privacy while they form unionization plans.

Most protests ongoing today revolve around unionization. Retail employees in the United States are earning way below inflation rates. Unionization will prompt more representation to push Apple to increase wages and adequately fight bullying in the workplace.

Naturally, Apple and its contemporaries are either fighting against union efforts or finding loopholes around it. For corporations, knowing what their employees are doing is imperative. For an Apple employee, using an iPhone might be problematic and risky.

Besides using Android phones, employees are also using encrypted messaging. The source did not reveal which app they are using — likely for privacy reasons.

Most of the issue centers around the woes of Apple’s employees. However, it does highlight some claims made by Apple in the past. A few years ago, Apple focused their marketing on their product’s proclivity towards privacy and security. Though it should be taken as given now, Apple likely isn’t as secure as they claim, based on the employees’ refusal to use iPhones for privacy purposes.

Automotive

All-New Ford Mustang and Territory Sport featured for test drives this weekend

At the SM MOA Concert Grounds

Published

May 10, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

One of the best ways to spend a weekend is to go on a road trip. Understandably, it’s not easy to plan one on the fly. If life’s still got you on a “I need to drive far away” mood, Ford has a nearby treat for you. The All-New Ford Mustang and the new Territory Sport are in the spotlight at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds this weekend.

Melding both the new and the classic together, Ford is featuring both cars at the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival happening from May 9 through 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Anyone can request a drive during the four-day event. The list of drivable vehicles include the Ranger, the Everest, and the Territory.

Plus, anyone who wants to grab a new Ford vehicle can take advantage of special offers during the event, including up to PhP 100,000 in cash discounts. Customers can also learn of Ford’s extensive lineup of perks for its users, such as FordPass, Pickup and Delivery, Express Service, Scheduled Service Plan, Extended Warranty, Emergency Roadside Assistance, and Genuine Parts and Accessories.

The Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival is open from May 9 to 12 from 11am to 9pm.

News

Apple apologizes for anti-creativity iPad Pro ad

Video still up but will no longer be on TV

Published

May 10, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

Ads can get away with a lot of things these days. You might even catch a few that explicitly diss their competition. However, there are rare times when an ad rubs even customers the wrong way. Apple, fresh from releasing new iPads, is backtracking from an ad released for the new lineup.

To celebrate the new lineup, Apple released an iPad-themed ad to promote the devices. The video shows a storeroom’s worth of artist’s tools — including sculptures, musical instruments, and drawing boards — under a pneumatic press. The machine then squishes everything into a pulp. However, instead of showing a featureless mess, the press lifts to reveal… what else but an iPad.

The ad’s message is clear enough. The iPad Pro is powerful enough to accomplish the entirety of human creativity. However, in today’s AI-fueled world, the message misses an important point: AI is constantly threatening the livelihoods of artists worldwide. It doesn’t help that this year’s WWDC will reportedly feature a lot of generative AI.

The company has since apologized for the video. While the ad itself is still up on YouTube, Apple no longer has any plans of broadcasting it on TV.

Though Apple’s message is clear, it’s also evident how the ad ignores the public sentiment on AI in the creative industry. It seemingly says that human flourishing can be squished into a single tablet.

Gaming

ROG Ally X announced

Coming June 2

Published

May 10, 2024

Rodneil Quiteles

File Photo: ROG Ally

Those who held off from getting a gaming handheld are in luck. Just about a year since the release of the ROG Ally, the follow-up has been officially confirmed by ASUS — the ROG Ally X.

The ROG Ally X isn’t exactly a 2nd generation device. Based on what was teased, this looks to be more of a product refresh than a full cycle upgrade. So, what’s new?

First and foremost, the company promised a substantial battery life boost. They’re looking at “way more” than a “30 to 40 percent” improvement. This might be one of the main contributing factors as to why the “X” will be slightly heavier than the original.

Joysticks and face buttons have also been redesigned. The joysticks now use hall effect tech which is known to be anti-drift. Those wanting to up the storage will be happy to know that the M.2 2280 SSD slot has increased.

What stays the same? The ROG Ally X will still be powered by the AMD Z1 Extreme and perhaps most disappointingly, will have the same 1080p, 120Hz, 7-inch LCD display. It’s important to note that the display is the main thing that changed in the device that it directly challenged — the Steam Deck. That went from IPS to OLED in a similar product refresh.

More complete details of the ROG Ally 2 will be revealed on June 2.

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