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Recalled 2015 15-Inch MacBook Pro Models With Faulty Batteries Banned From Flights in U.S.

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Following a recall initiated by Apple, the Federal Aviation Administration has banned mid-2015 15-inch MacBook Pro models with faulty batteries from flights, reports Bloomberg.

Apple in June announced a voluntary recall and replacement program for 15-inch MacBook Pro models sold between September 2015 and February 2017 as these models may contain batteries that can overheat and pose a fire safety risk.

In a statement to Bloomberg, the Federal Aviation Administration said that major U.S. airlines have been notified about the recall and have been instructed to follow guidelines for goods with recalled batteries.

That means affected Apple laptops that have not received replacement batteries are not allowed on flights as cargo or in carry-on luggage, which is standard operating procedure.

Earlier this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency also warned European airlines to make sure affected MacBook Pro models are switched off and not used during flights.

Four cargo airlines, including TUI Group Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Air Italy, and Air Transat have implemented bans that prevent the laptops from being brought on planes as cargo.

"Please note that the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro laptop, sold between mid-2015 to February-2017 is prohibited on board any of our mandate carriers," a TCE operations coordinator wrote to employees.

TUI Group Airlines, based out of the UK, plans to begin making announcements about affected MacBook Pro models at the gate and prior to takeoff, but laptops with replaced batteries will not be affected. There is no word on whether similar announcements will be made at U.S. airports and other airports worldwide.

Apple has asked customers with a 15-inch mid-2015 MacBook Pro to stop using their machines until they can take the steps to have their batteries replaced. Users with a 2015 MacBook Pro can enter their Mac's serial number in the recall program website to check if their machine needs a replacement battery.

Apple has been offering free replacement batteries since June and has sent out emails to customers who are affected urging them to bring their MacBook Pro models in for repair. 2015 machines that have a fresh battery are allowed on planes as normal.

15-inch MacBook Pro models from 2015 that have faulty batteries are in danger of overheating and catching on fire. Approximately 432,000 potentially affected MacBook Pro units were sold in the United States, along with 26,000 in Canada.

This article, "Recalled 2015 15-Inch MacBook Pro Models With Faulty Batteries Banned From Flights in U.S." first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Twitter Testing Feature That Lets You Follow Interests, Support for Live Photos Coming

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Twitter this afternoon unveiled several new features that are in the works for the social network, sharing the news at an event for press that was attended by The Verge.

Twitter will soon allow users to follow interests in addition to people, which will let users see tweets about topics of their choosing such as sports teams, celebrities, TV shows, and more.

The feature, in testing on Android devices, will feature topics curated with Twitter. Individual tweets surfaced for people will be surfaced through machine learning.

Twitter is also exploring a option that would let users set up separate lists in the Twitter app to follow individual interests, which Twitter hopes will make the social network a "more powerful interest platform."

Other features are in the works too, including searchable direct messages, an option to re-order photos that are included with a tweet, and support for Live Photos. There's no specific word yet on when we can expect to see these features introduced on iOS devices.

Tag: Twitter

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Hands-On With Apple Card

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Apple last week began allowing some iPhone users to sign up for Apple Card as part of a limited test ahead of a wider launch, and we got our hands on one of the new cards.

In our latest YouTube video, we highlight the Apple Card sign up process, how it works, what it looks like, and how the titanium card feels in person for those who haven't yet had a chance to sign up.

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Apple Card, which Apple created in partnership with Goldman Sachs, is a credit card that's designed to be simple, straightforward, and easy to use, making it ideal for those who are new to credit cards or who are looking for something no-frills that's easy to understand.

Signing up for Apple Card can be done in the Wallet app, and the entire process takes just a couple of minutes from the time that you enter your name, address, and other info to approval or rejection.

Your APR (interest rate) and your credit limit are based on your credit score, and Apple is aiming to make the Apple Card available to most people so even those with scores in the 600s have reported being approved.

Once you've signed up for Apple Card, you can use it right away for Apple Pay purchases both in stores and online because it's deeply integrated into the iPhone. It works like any other credit card you've added to Apple Pay. At the same time, Apple sends you a physical titanium card in the mail that can be used where Apple Pay isn't available. It takes a few days for the titanium card to arrive, and it's worth the wait.

The titanium Apple Card is uniquely Apple, featuring a simple design that's engraved with your name and no other information. There's no card number, CVV, or expiration date on the card, though there is a chip and a traditional magstripe for purchases.

Your card number, CVV, and expiration date can be found inside the Wallet app if you need that info for online purchases where Apple Pay isn't accepted. Your card number can even be changed on a semi-regular basis, which means it's more secure than a traditional credit card. That's one of the main benefits of the Apple Card.

The titanium card is hefty and it weighs more than your average plastic credit card, plus it's about twice as thick. It's a statement card for sure, and it stands out when you use it. When you use either your physical Apple Card or the digital Apple Pay version, Apple tracks all of your purchases in detail, which is the other major Apple Card benefit.

There's a virtual card in the Wallet app that starts out white but changes color based on what you're buying. Apple organizes all of your purchases into different categories that each have a color, making it easy to see what you're spending your money on each month. Apple offers detailed purchase tracking, full merchant name info (so no purchase is ever ambiguous), and instant notifications when you make a purchase (so you know right away if something's charged you didn't authorize).

Apple Card doesn't offer benefits like extended warranties or purchase protection, but it does have a cash back feature that's paid out each day. You get 3% cash back on purchases made from Apple (or its digital stores), 2% cash back on all Apple Pay purchases, and 1% cash back for all other purchases with the titanium card.

Cash is paid out at the end of each day and is added to your Apple Cash card, also in the Wallet app. The Apple Cash card can be used for purchases or the balance can be transferred to your bank account.

Payments are made in the Wallet app through a linked bank account, and it's worth noting that there is no web option. That's potentially going to be a hassle if you lose your iPhone and need to make a payment, but your Apple Card can be managed on your other iOS devices too.

When it comes to payments, Apple's aiming to make it so you pay as little interest as possible. Apple will send reminders when payment is due, encourage you to make extra payments to cut down on interest, and help you understand exactly how much interest you're going to be charged.

Apple Card can't match other cards when it comes to benefits, travel rewards, and specific cash back options, but where it does win out over other cards is its deep integration into the Wallet app and the effort Apple put in to making it understandable.

Your purchases are clearly outlined, your spending is tracked across different categories so you can better budget and track your money, and payment information is optimized for your benefit, rather than the benefit of the credit card company.

For more on Apple Card, make sure to check out our comprehensive Apple Card guide.

Tag: Apple Card

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Chrome OS 76 brings a fix to a bug that has plagued tablet mode for nearly a year

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Facebook Paid Contractors to Transcribe Messenger Voice Chats

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Facebook paid “hundreds of outside contractors” to transcribe user audio clips from its Messenger app, reports Bloomberg.

Employees who worked on the transcription were not told where the audio was recorded or how it was obtained, nor were they told why Facebook needs conversations transcribed.

Facebook says that while it had indeed been transcribing audio, it no longer plans to do so. "We paused human review of audio more than a week ago,” Facebook told Bloomberg.

Facebook’s decision to pause its audio transcribing comes following scrutiny of human review programs from Apple, Amazon, and Google. The three companies use employees to review voice assistant requests and accidental activations for improvement purposes.

One firm that Facebook uses to transcribe Messenger conversations is TaskUs, a company that also reviews Facebook content for possible policy violations.

Facebook says that users who had voice chats transcribed had opted in, and that the transcriptions were used to make sure Facebook’s AI correctly interpreted the messages. Despite this, Facebook did not disclose to users that third parties may be reviewing audio, which led some of Facebook’s contractors to “feel their work is unethical.”

Facebook’s data use policy does mention the collection of “content, communications, and other information,” but there’s no specific mention of audio.

Facebook says its “systems automatically process content and communications you and others provide to analyze context and what’s in them.” It includes no mention of other human beings screening the content. In a list of “types of third parties we share information with,” Facebook doesn’t mention a transcription team, but vaguely refers to “vendors and service providers who support our business” by “analyzing how our products are used.”

While Facebook claims it has stopped the audio transcription program, those concerned should refrain from using Facebook services like Messenger and WhatsApp.

Google and Apple have temporarily suspended their human audio review programs, while Amazon is letting Alexa users opt out. In the future, when Apple re-implements human review of Siri queries, there will be a clear privacy policy and opt-out option.

Tag: Facebook

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