Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer who started his career on PC World and has written for dozens of computer and technology magazines, as well as numerous national newspapers, business and in-flight magazines. He has also written two technothriller novels , a romcom novel, and an SF novella series.
He is old enough to have owned the original Macintosh. He currently owns an M1 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air 11, 12.9-inch iPad Pro (LTE 256GB), iPhone 13 Pro Max (256GB), Dell Ultrawide 49-inch monitor, an Apple Watch (Series 4 WiFi) and multiple HomePods – he suspects it might be cheaper to have a cocaine habit than his addiction to all things anodised aluminum.
He thinks wires are evil and had a custom desk made to hide them, known as the OC Desk for obvious reasons.
He’s known for his op-ed and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review:
He considers 1000 miles a good distance for a cycle ride and Chernobyl a suitable tourist destination. What can we say, he’s that kind of chap.
He speaks fluent English but only broken American, so please forgive any Anglicised spelling in his posts.
If @benlovejoy-ing him on twitter, please follow him first so that he can DM you if appropriate. If you have information you can pass on, you can also email him. If you would like to comment on one of his pieces, please do so in the comments – he does read them all.
It will soon be possible to have two WhatsApp accounts on one phone, thanks to an update now rolling out to the encrypted chat app.
There is, however, a catch – which is likely to mean some people will have to continue using an unofficial and somewhat clunky workaround …
Expand Expanding Close
The latest TSMC earnings report appears to provide further evidence for recent reports of relatively weak iPhone 15 demand – when compared to last year’s iPhone 14 lineup.
While the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models appear popular, it seems demand for these isn’t high enough to offset disappointing sales of the base and Plus models …
Expand Expanding Close
A British charity that investigates tax avoidance has named Apple as one of seven tech giants it says pays too little UK tax.
It says that collectively Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Adobe, Cisco, and Google owner Alphabet paid around four times less tax than should have been due – but doesn’t blame the companies …
Expand Expanding Close
Pickleball has been named the fastest-growing sport in America, combining elements of tennis, table-tennis, and badminton. But when it comes to tennis versus pickleball, which offers the greatest health benefits?
That’s a question a research study is tackling with the help of Apple Watch data, and the Cupertino company has shared some initial insights …
Expand Expanding Close
We’ve been hearing claims about folding iPhones and folding iPads for years now, with the latest supply chain report saying that it could launch as soon as 2024.
Today’s report echoes earlier ones, stating that Apple will launch a foldable iPad ahead of a folding iPhone …
Expand Expanding Close
Apple has today been granted a patent for using Vision Pro (or variant) to see out of an Apple Car (or other self-driving vehicle) without windows – or to use movements of the car to simulate an entirely different experience …
Expand Expanding Close
The IRS is piloting a free TurboTax alternative, offering the benefits of the paid app without the price tag, but there are plenty of limitations for now.
TurboTax has become an increasingly popular way of filing taxes, as it automates a lot of what would otherwise be a tedious manual process …
Expand Expanding Close
After conflicting reports about whether Apple was going to launch new iPads, a new Apple Pencil, or both, the matter appeared to have been settled with yesterday’s announcement of the Apple Pencil (USB-C).
However, it turns out there was a new(ish) iPad also – but only in China …
Expand Expanding Close
While next year’s iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to use a smaller version of TSMC’s 3nm process, Apple’s chipmaker is already planning production of its first 1nm chips …
Expand Expanding Close
All current Apple processors are compared in an updated chart, mixing in iPhone, iPad, and Mac chips to show their relative power in benchmark tests – including, of course, the new A17 Pro.
One standout result is that the iPhone 15 Pro is almost on a par with the entry-level MacBook Air when it comes to processing power …
Expand Expanding Close
Apple CEO Tim Cook has put in an appearance at a Chinese games tournament and local Apple Store. The rest of his itinerary isn’t yet known, though it’s likely he will be attending an international political and economic forum hosted by the Chinese government.
The visit comes at a time when Apple has been caught in the cross-fire of diplomatic tension between US and Chinese governments – and Cook also managed to get caught up in a minor photo battle of his own …
Expand Expanding Close
WhatsApp passkeys are on the way, says the developer, but the security feature will be rolling out to Android users ahead of iPhone owners.
Once it does reach iPhone, however, you’ll be able to ditch your password or passcode and simply use Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate …
Expand Expanding Close
I get offered a lot of Bluetooth speakers for review, and turn down most of them because I’ve experienced <insert company name here>’s prior offerings and have been left decidedly unimpressed. But the Tribit Stormbox Flow made it through, because my last experience left me very pleasantly surprised.
I wrote last year that the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 had absolutely no right to be as good as it was, for both size and price reasons – and the same is true of the company’s latest offering …
Expand Expanding Close
Apple’s environmental claims have again come under the microscope, just a few weeks after Greenpeace criticized the company’s annual product cycles for driving carbon emissions.
While a new report also accuses Apple of exaggerating its environmental credentials, it does acknowledge that the Cupertino company is far ahead of its tech rivals …
Expand Expanding Close
A Goldman Sachs exec reportedly responded to the announcement of the Apple Card savings account by immediately declaring it a mistake.
According to the report, the unnamed Goldman partner said: “We should have never done this f—ing thing” …
Expand Expanding Close
TSMC founder Morris Chang has said that Intel won’t catch up with its technological lead, and will remain in the “shadow” of the Taiwanese company.
Intel has acknowledged that Apple’s own Mac chip designs are more advanced than any PC chip the US company currently offers, but the company’s CEO has repeatedly suggested that it will eventually catch and then overtake TSMC …
Expand Expanding Close
It was suggested yesterday that new iPads might be announced as soon as tomorrow, and our own sources indicate that something iPad-related is landing this week, but a new report suggests that something might be an Apple Pencil 3.
The latest report gives weight to earlier talk of an upcoming Apple Pencil update with a choice of three magnetically attached tips …
Expand Expanding Close
Customers on older T-Mobile unlimited plans are facing a price hike, thanks to a sneaky approach by the carrier.
Although it was prohibited by both regulators and its own promises from increasing the prices of the four plans concerned, T-Mobile will move customers onto new plans, and charge more for those. Thankfully, you can opt out – and here’s how …
Expand Expanding Close
A MOVEit data breach resulted in “at least” 64 million people having their personal data exposed by the failings of a company they’ve likely never heard of.
The breach affected customer organizations ranging from Sony to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, and the SEC is now investigating …
Expand Expanding Close
The new Apple Maps experience – which include more detail, better navigation, and Look Around – has today launched in two new countries, Denmark and Greece. This brings the total number of countries covered to 35.
Apple Maps expert Justin O’Beirne notes that this is the 20th expansion of the new mapping data, which the company built from scratch …
Expand Expanding Close
The launch of the two iPhone 15 Pro models is being heralded as a success for chipmaker TSMC, with the A17 Pro chip expected to account for between 4% and 6% of its total sales this year.
Next year, Apple is expected to adopt TSMC’s next-gen chip tech, known as N3E, for the iPhone 16 Pro models. Five other companies are expected to do the same for their most advanced chips …
Expand Expanding Close
A class action lawsuit against Apple claims that AirTag stalking has led to “multiple murders.”
The lawsuit alleges that AirTags have been used by stalkers in at least 20 US states, and that Apple has failed to take adequate action to protect victims …
Expand Expanding Close
The row over widespread Israel-Hamas hoaxes and antisemitic hate speech on X continues, with the social network’s CEO insisting the company is taking the matter seriously, while others are unconvinced …
Expand Expanding Close
A new bill being put forward in New York state would require kids to get parental permission to use apps with algorithmic feeds. This would include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and more.
The bill is known as the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, and has the backing of the state’s governor and state attorney general …
Expand Expanding Close