Apple Magazine №550 2022

SUMMARY  08BIDEN ANNOUNCES PROGRAM OFFERING DISCOUNTED INTERNET SERVICE  36FACE-SCANNER CLEARVIEW AGREES TO LIMITS IN COURT SETTLEMENT  46SELF SERVICE REPAIR - EMPOWERING CONSUMERS TO FIX THEIR DEVICES  80EA SPORTS AND FIFA END PARTNERSHIP, BOTH EYE NEW VIDEO GAMES

SEC: NVIDIA FAILED TO DISCLOSE CRYPTO AS REVENUE GENERATOR   18 HOW TO AVOID ‘RUG PULLS,’ THE LATEST CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM   26 MS. PAC-MAN CLEARS PATH TO WORLD VIDEO GAME HALL OF FAME   72 NINTENDO’S PROFIT DIPS SLIGHTLY AS SWITCH CONSOLE SALES SLOW   90 META OPENS FIRST PHYSICAL STORE   96 DETAILED ‘OPEN SOURCE’ NEWS INVESTIGATIONS ARE CATCHING ON   102 THOUSANDS OF SMARTPHONES PURCHASED BY VA WENT UNUSED   112 THE HEART OF THE HOME GETS NEW COLOR, CUBBIES, CONNECTIVITY   118 AIRBNB OVERHAULS SITE SEARCHES WITH CATEGORIES OF RENTALS   130 AMAZON FIRES 2 UNION ORGANIZERS TIED TO FIRST U.S. LABOR WIN   134 SAVE ON FAMILY TRAVEL WITHOUT STRESSING   140 ‘DOCTOR STRANGE 2’ GETS WEIRDER, SCARIER, MESSIER   164 GOOGLE STRIKES CONTENT DEALS WITH 300 EUROPEAN PUBLISHERS   192 SUPPLIES LAUNCHED TO CHINA’S NEW SPACE STATION FOR NEXT CREW   196 CALIFORNIA LAYS OUT PLAN TO DRASTICALLY CUT FOSSIL FUEL USE   200 MUSIC   148 MOVIES & TV SHOWS   156 TOP 10 ALBUMS   182 TOP 10 MUSIC VIDEOS   184 TOP 10 TV SHOWS   186 TOP 10 BOOKS   188 TOP 10 SONGS   190





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BIDEN ANNOUNCES PROGRAM OFFERING DISCOUNTED INTERNET SERVICE 09

President Joe Biden announced that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy. “High speed internet is not a luxury any longer. It’s a necessity,” Biden said at a sun-drenched rose garden event with representatives from participating companies, as well as members of Congress. The $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households. With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with government assistance if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program. Biden noted that families of four earning about $55,000 annually — or those including someone eligible for Medicaid — will get a $30 monthly credit, meaning about 40 percent of Americans will qualify. “This is a case where big business stepped up. We’re trying to get others to do the same thing,” Biden told the crowd to sustained applause. “It’s going to change peoples’ lives.” 10

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Advocates were cautiously optimistic. “It might be a game-changer,” said Marty Newell, coordinator for Rural Broadband Policy at the Center for Rural Strategies in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where he said slow internet has plagued residents and businesses alike. Newell said he wanted to see more about what the program will mean going forward, but that his main question is — given that increased broadband access has generally been a bipartisan issue in Congress -- “What took them so long” Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable Wi-Fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in the coronavirus pandemic, including, he said, families driving to McDonald’s parking lots to access wireless internet inside the restaurant. The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, the president said. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met with telecom executives, members of 13

Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households. The president said a top priority going forward will be increasing competition among internet providers in many parts of the country, noting that millions of Americans live in areas with just one provider and currently pay higher prices because of it. The participating providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV. American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. 14

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SEC: NVIDIA FAILED TO DISCLOSE CRYPTO AS REVENUE GENERATOR Nvidia, a major tech company that has expanded aggressively into gaming, will pay a $5.5 million penalty for failing to disclose that cryptomining was a significant source of revenue growth from the sale of graphics processing units that were produced and marketed for gaming. Cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission said that the Santa Clara, California company did not disclose to investors in 2018 the potential future risks of such sales. 18

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“Nvidia’s disclosure failures deprived investors of critical information to evaluate the company’s business in a key market,” said Kristina Littman, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. The company has also agreed to a cease-and- desist order, the SEC said. Nvidia did not admit or deny the SEC’s findings, and declined to comment. Cryptominers are compensated for verifying crypto transactions. As the crypto craze began to spread in 2017, Nvidia’s graphics processing units that were designed and marketed for gaming were increasingly used by Nvidia’s customers to mine cryptocurrency, according to the SEC. The company reported material revenue growth in its gaming business in 2018 and knew those sales were “driven in significant part by cryptomining,” but it did not disclose that in regulatory filings available to investors, the SEC said. 20

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“These significant earnings and cash flow fluctuations related to a volatile business for investors to ascertain the likelihood that past performance was indicative of future performance,” the SEC said. Crypto currencies are a wildly volatile market. Price for bitcoin, a more stable cryptocurrency compared with a myriad of others, rocketed from about $35,000 each in January, to nearly $48,000 by March. That price had tumbled again to around $36,000. The SEC said Nvidia’s failures to disclose its impact of cryptocurrency on gaming sales were particularly misleading because the company did disclose that other parts of its business were thriving due to demand for crypto, “creating the impression that the company’s gaming business was not significantly affected by cryptomining.” Nvidia Corp. reports first quarter earnings later this month. Image: Robert Galbraith 22

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Simply Better Living SUPERSTEAM+™ BUILT-IN WALL OVEN SSC2489DS The Sharp® SuperSteam+ Built-In Wall Oven is the start of a cooking revolution. With Wi-Fi enabled IoT features, the innovations within this steam oven are a perfect match for modern cooking needs. While regular steam only reaches 212°F, the SuperSteam+ oven can create superheated steam up to 485°F. Steam this hot can roast meats and caramelize sugars so your food can be brown and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. With the Sharp SuperSteam+ Oven, you can grill without smoke, roast without drying, and get the roasty-toasty, tasty results you desire. SEE FOR YOURSELF Get started right away with built-in recipes and The new Sharp SuperSteam+ Built-In Wall Oven download the Sharp SuperSteam+ Oven app* to features Steam Bake for superior breads, and Water enable the smart features and access custom Bath for cheesecakes, custards and puddings. recipes powered by SideChef. www.sharpusa.com | simplybetterliving.sharpusa.com *Mobile Application and Home Assistant Skill available upon commercial release. © 2020 Sharp Electronics Corporation. All rights reserved. Sharp, Supersteam™ Oven and all related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation and/or its affiliated entities. Product specifications and design are subject to change without notice. Internal capacity calculated by measuring maximum width, depth and height. Actual capacity for holding food is less.



HOW TO AVOID ‘RUG PULLS,’ THE LATEST CRYPTOCURRENCY SCAM A new type of scam has emerged in the hype- Image: Rick Bowmer filled world of cryptocurrency: the “rug pull.” The scam, which gets its name from the expression “pulling the rug out,” involves a developer attracting investors to a new cryptocurrency project, then pulling out before the project is built, leaving investors with a worthless currency. It’s part of a long history of investment schemes. “This isn’t a crypto-only phenomenon. This is a people phenomenon. Crypto is just the latest way to do it,” says Adam Blumberg, a Houston-based certified financial planner 26

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who specializes in digital assets. But Image: Jakub Porzycki cryptocurrencies have particular risks due to loose regulations for fundraising and their emphasis on decentralization. Cryptocurrency projects often use “smart contracts,” agreements that are governed by computer software, not the legal system. This setup can be a benefit when it reduces transaction costs, but it also leaves little recourse if things don’t work out. Rug pulls have been particularly common in decentralized finance, or DeFi, projects that aim to disrupt services such as banking and insurance. NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, that provide digital ownership of art and other content, have also been involved in rug pulls. Investors can protect themselves by choosing established cryptocurrency projects, making sure the code of any new project has been reviewed and verifying the developers’identities. PICK ESTABLISHED PRODUCTS Rug pulls are most common with new projects that haven’t gotten the same scrutiny as more established cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin has its risks, but countless people worldwide have used it and reviewed its inner workings, which are readily available online. Newer projects don’t have such a track record, which means there may be vulnerabilities that make it possible for their organizers to siphon value away from investors and keep it for themselves. If you’re struggling to break through the hype, one way to find established projects is to look 28

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at centralized exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase and FTX. While the presence of a cryptocurrency on a large exchange is by no means a guarantee of its quality or investment potential, these businesses often will review assets before listing them for sale. The trade-off of investing primarily in more established assets: While cryptocurrency, in general, has seen periods of rapid price appreciation, the highest rewards may come from new projects where the risk is also higher. These are often listed on “decentralized exchanges,” which don’t rely on any centralized authority that would prevent unproven projects from joining. Rex Hygate, founder of DeFiSafety, a company that reviews projects in the field, says scammers can prey on the fear of missing out that’s generated by rare but true stories of mind- blowing returns. “It is seductive. People have made a lot of money. That is a fact,” Hygate says. “The hope is real, albeit small, (and) therefore criminal organizations in an organized and regular manner are making these rug pulls.” KNOW THE CODE The fate of any investment in cryptocurrency or blockchain projects rests on the integrity of the project’s computer code. You may not be a computer programmer, but you should at least understand how a product works before investing in it. One way to evaluate a potential investment without going under the hood yourself is to see if it’s been audited by a professional organization 30

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that is respected in the industry. Projects that have gotten good marks from auditors will often promote the results themselves. RESEARCH THE PEOPLE Some of the biggest red flags in the cryptocurrency world come down to human factors. While it’s not unheard of for people to use pseudonyms in cryptocurrency, reputable developers often have websites and references that can establish their credentials. But even if you do your homework, there’s no guarantee of success. For example, the founder of Rugdoc.io, a service that reviews new projects, says she wound up getting scammed herself on an NFT that was supposed to be a ticket for an event. Diversification is as important in cryptocurrency as anywhere else in finance. Projects can fail due to technical glitches or business blunders, even without malicious intent. “Assume whatever you’re investing in is going to have a problem,” says Leah, the Rugdoc.io founder, who asked that her full name not be used to protect her identity from scammers seeking retribution. “If you plan for failure, if it doesn’t fail you’re going to have a very good day. And if it fails, you’re probably not going to be ruined.” 32

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FACE-SCANNER CLEARVIEW AGREES TO LIMITS IN COURT SETTLEMENT Image: Seth Wenig Facial recognition startup Clearview AI has agreed to restrict the use of its massive collection of face images to settle allegations that it collected people’s photos without their consent. The company in a legal filing Monday agreed to permanently stop selling access to its face database to private businesses or individuals around the U.S., putting a limit on what it can do with its ever-growing trove of billions of images pulled from social media and elsewhere on the internet. 37

The settlement — which must be approved by a county judge in Chicago — will end a 2-year-old lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups over alleged violations of an Illinois digital privacy law. The company still faces a separate privacy case before a federal judge in Illinois. Clearview is also agreeing to stop making its database available to Illinois state government and local police departments for five years. The New York-based company will continue offering its services to federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to other law enforcement agencies and government contractors outside of Illinois. “This is a huge win,” said Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, president of Chicago-based Mujeres Latinas en Acción, which works with survivors of gender- based violence and was a plaintiff in the case along with the ACLU and other groups. Among the concerns raised by Tortolero’s group was that photos posted on social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram — and turned into a “faceprint” by Clearview — could end up being used by stalkers, ex-partners or predatory companies to track a person’s whereabouts and social activity. A prominent attorney who was defending Clearview against the lawsuit said the company is “pleased to put this litigation behind it.” “The settlement does not require any material change in the company’s business model or bar it from any conduct in which it engages at the present time,” said a statement from Floyd Abrams, a lawyer known for taking on high- profile free speech cases. 38

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Abrams noted that the company was already not providing its services to police agencies in Illinois and agreed to the 5-year moratorium to “avoid a protracted, costly and distracting legal dispute with the ACLU and others.” Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act allows consumers to sue companies that don’t get permission before harvesting data such as faces and fingerprints. Another privacy lawsuit over the same Illinois law led Facebook last year to agree to pay $650 million to settle allegations it used photo face-tagging and other biometric data without the permission of its users. “It shows we can fight these companies when they’re taking these kinds of actions,”Tortolero said of the Clearview settlement. “It also highlights the fact that there are many ways that social media — and the technology companies that collect this kind of information — can be harmful to Americans.” The settlement document says Clearview continues to deny and dispute the claims brought by the ACLU and other plaintiffs. But even before Monday’s settlement, the case has been curtailing some of the company’s controversial business practices. Clearview AI co-founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That told in April that the company was preparing to launch a new “consent-based” business product to compete with the likes of Amazon and Microsoft in verifying people’s identity using facial recognition. The new venture would use Clearview’s algorithms to verify a person’s face, but would not involve its trove of some 20 billion images, which Ton-That said is now reserved for law 40

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enforcement use. That’s a shift from earlier in Clearview’s business history when it had pitched the technology for a variety of commercial uses. Regulators from Australia to Canada, France and Italy have taken measures to try to stop Clearview from pulling people’s faces into its facial recognition engine without their consent. So have tech giants such as Google and Facebook. A group of U.S. lawmakers earlier this year warned that “Clearview AI’s technology could eliminate public anonymity in the United States.” While Monday’s settlement “reins in Clearview’s practices significantly,” it should not end scrutiny of the company by Congress, state legislatures and regulators, said Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of ACLU’s speech, privacy and technology project. Much of the strength of Clearview’s artificial intelligence technology – now a selling point for police and other uses – is that it was able to “learn” from all of the faces it scanned across the publicly accessible internet. “This company’s approach was effectively a Silicon Valley mentality of let’s break things first and then figure out how to clean up the mess later in order to try to make a profit,”Wessler said. “They broke through a very strong taboo that had kept big tech companies like Google and others from building the same product that they had the technological capability to do.” 42

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RepairSelf Service Empowering consumers to fix their devices Image: Greg Rosenke 47

As Apple officially launches its Self Service Repair program in the United States, consumers can now purchase genuine Apple parts and tools and fix broken iPhones and Macs, setting a new standard for repairs and empowering consumers. The scheme offers real environmental benefits, cutting down on waste and extending the lifespan of the world’s most beloved tech. 48

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