This MacVoices Live! discussion spotlights Apple’s latest stolen device protection measures and why you should adopt them. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Ben Roethig, Jeff Gamet, Jim Rea, Mark Fuccio, and Guy Serle underscore the importance of smartphone security in public spaces and Face ID. The panel also touches on how FineWoven is holding up after a rough start, as well as 23andMe's controversial terms of service changes, and AI tools' potential to impersonate live personalities. 

This edition of MacVoices is supported by MacVoices After Dark. What happens before and after the shows is uncensored, on-topic, off-topic, and always off the wall. Sign up as a MacVoices Patron and get access! http://patreon.com/macvoices

Show Notes:

Chapters:

0:02:24 Positive reception to Apple's stolen device protection feature 0:02:55 Enhanced Phone Security with Biometric Scanning 0:07:04 iPhone as a Tracker: Enhanced Theft Deterrent 0:09:21 Fine Woven Bands vs Leather: User Satisfaction Debate 0:11:13 The Irony of Apple's Leather Band Decision 0:13:17 Quality issues with new Apple Watch bands 0:15:53 Pondering Magnetic Link Bands on Amazon 0:17:13 Magnetic Watch Bands and Knockoff Melanies 0:19:03 23andMe's Controversial Terms of Service Change 0:20:27 Curious Speculations and Password Changes 0:21:41 Celebrities Tricked into Recording Propaganda Videos 0:23:02 War situation and misuse of celebrity contracts 0:25:30 Technology's impact on video editing and celebrity earnings 0:28:24 Impersonating people with AI tools 0:30:11 The danger of fictional content being mistaken as real 0:32:01 Samuel L. Jackson as the Voice of Vader?

Links:

Apple Makes Security Changes to Protect Users From iPhone Thefts  https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/apple-iphone-ios-update-stolen-device-protection-698d760e?st=vg2nkphglwtsx9w&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Apple Makes Security Changes to Protect Users From iPhone Thefts https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/12/06/google-drive-offers-possible-fix-for-missing-files-but-isnt-guaranteedf

Apple Makes Security Changes to Protect Users From iPhone Thefts https://www.mactrast.com/2023/12/apple-named-as-petas-2023-company-of-the-year/

Are FineWoven Apple Watch bands really better than leather ones?  https://9to5mac.com/2023/12/07/finewoven-apple-watch-bands-leather/

OCTT Pacific Blue FineWoven Magnetic Link Band Compatible with Apple Watch Band 38mm 40mm 41mm, Woven Loop Strap  https://amzn.to/41FClcs

23andMe frantically changed its terms of service to prevent hacked customers from suing  https://www.engadget.com/23andme-frantically-changed-its-terms-of-service-to-prevent-hacked-customers-from-suing-152434306.html

U.S. celebrities were tricked into recording videos later doctored into anti-Zelenskyy propaganda  https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/celebrities-tricked-cameo-videos-russia-ukraine-propoganda-elijah-wood-rcna128331

Jimmy Kimmel Says George Santos Is Demanding $20,000 for Showing Cameos on Late Night Show  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jimmy-kimmel-george-santos-demanding-money-airing-cameos-1235746697/

Cameo  https://www.cameo.com/

New bedtime story voiced by Jimmy Stewart just in time for Christmas, 26 years after his death  https://www.mynbc5.com/article/bedtime-story-voiced-by-jimmy-stewart-christmas/46072345

Guests:

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at [email protected], on Mastodon at @[email protected], and on his blog, Trending At Work.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @[email protected].

Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @[email protected] on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @[email protected]

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He’s been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @[email protected] on Mastodon.

Ben Roethig has been in the Apple Ecosystem since the System 7 Days. He is the a former Associate Editor with Geek Beat, Co-Founder of The Tech Hangout and Deconstruct and currently shares his thoughts on RoethigTech. Contact him on  Twitter and Mastodon.

Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @[email protected], and find everything at VertShark.com.

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00:02:24 Positive reception to Apple's stolen device protection feature 00:02:54 Enhanced Phone Security with Biometric Scanning 00:07:04 iPhone as a Tracker: Enhanced Theft Deterrent 00:09:21 Fine Woven Bands vs Leather: User Satisfaction Debate 00:11:12 The Irony of Apple's Leather Band Decision 00:13:17 Quality issues with new Apple Watch bands 00:15:53 Pondering Magnetic Link Bands on Amazon 00:17:12 Magnetic Watch Bands and Knockoff Melanies 00:19:03 23andMe's Controversial Terms of Service Change 00:20:27 Curious Speculations and Password Changes 00:21:41 Celebrities Tricked into Recording Propaganda Videos 00:23:02 War situation and misuse of celebrity contracts 00:25:29 Technology's impact on video editing and celebrity earnings 00:28:24 Impersonating people with AI tools 00:30:11 The danger of fictional content being mistaken as real 00:32:01 Samuel L. Jackson as the Voice of Vader?