Readers report Apple unofficially offering free repairs on devices damaged in Hurricane Harvey

by | Sep 4, 2017 |

Readers in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey are reporting that in at least some cases Apple is offering free repairs to water-damaged devices, as well as those which suffered impact damage during the evacuation. Neither type of damage would normally be covered under warranty.

We’ve reached out to Apple, but at present there does not seem to be any company-wide policy in effect, so it seems that this is being done on a case-by-case basis by individual stores – though likely with corporate endorsement …

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Drone Diary: new iPad, new firmware, and some new uses for the drone

by | Sep 4, 2017 |

When I finally gave in and bought a drone, the DJI Mavic Pro sold itself to me primarily on its portability. This was the first drone on the market that combined the ability to shoot high-quality footage with a form-factor that made it sufficiently portable for handbaggage-only travel.

I used it on weekend trips to both France and Portugal, as seen in my original review video. Sadly, it didn’t get to accompany me on a holiday in Havana. Doing a little research found that the Cuban government takes a dim view of anyone flying drones anywhere around the capital of Havana, where we were staying, so I had to leave it at home.

I have, though, found a couple of unexpected uses for it which I’ll get to shortly …

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Tim Cook expresses support for the ‘Dreamers’ at Apple as Trump mulls ending DACA

by | Sep 3, 2017 |

Tim Cook this afternoon took to Twitter to express his support for the Dreamers that work alongside him at Apple. The company, according to Cook, employs some 250 Dreamers – children of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for a significant amount of time.

Cook’s tweet comes after reports emerged claiming that President Trump was considering ending the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which allows for Dreamers who are registered with the Federal government to stay in the United States.

In his tweet, Cook said that he stands with the Dreamers at Apple and that “they deserve our respect as equals.” Furthermore, the Apple CEO said that a solution for DACA should be one that is “rooted in American values.”

250 of my Apple coworkers are #Dreamers. I stand with them. They deserve our respect as equals and a solution rooted in American values.

Earlier this week, Cook was among the tech CEOs who signed a letter urging Trump to not deport Dreamers. The DACA program was introduced by the Obama administration and gives children who were brought into the United States illegally the opportunity to remain if they’re registered and paying their taxes. The letter explained that DACA participants are generally highly productive:

All DACA recipients grew up in America, registered with our government, submitted to extensive background checks, and are diligently giving back to our communities and paying income taxes. More than 97 percent are in school or in the workforce.

At least 72 percent of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies count DACA recipients among their employees […] Our economy would lose $460.3 billion from the national GDP and $24.6 billion in Social Security and Medicare tax contributions.

Cook has opposed much of the immigration policy set forth by Trump, both publicly and in letters to Apple employees. Given his earlier views, this one shouldn’t come as too big of a surprise.

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