TikTok is nearly ready to announce a buyer, but the Chinese government could slow a deal.

What you need to know

TikTok has reportedly chosen a buyer for its U.S, Australian, and New Zealand businesses.
With Microsoft in the running, a deal could be announced ”as soon as Tuesday.”
TikTok owner ByteDance still requires a license from the Chinese government to sell to a U.S. company.

The saga around Microsoft’s bid to purchase TikTok could come to an end soon, according to a new report. CNBC reports that TikTok has selected a buyer for its U.S., Australian, and New Zealand businesses. An announcement for the deal could come ”as soon as Tuesday,” the report notes.

Microsoft, Walmart, and Oracle are all in the mix as potential owners. Microsoft acknowledged it was seeking to purchase TikTok earlier this month, while Walmart said last week that it was partnering with Microsoft on a bid. Should the Microsoft-Walmart partnership succeed, it would make Walmart a minority owner with a de…

Apple has updated its App Review process.

What you need to know

Apple has announced an update to the App Store.
The update specifically focuses on new features for developers.
Developers can now suggest changes to the company’s App Review guidelines.

In an news update on its Developer website, Apple has announced that it will be implementing a new route for developers in its App Review process.

The company says that, for apps that are already on the App Store, ”bug fixes will no longer be delayed over guideline violations.” Apple does note that this new exception does not apply to anything considered to be a ”legal issue.”

Developers can also, in addition to appealing a violation, make suggestions for changes to the guidelines themselves. Apple had previously said these changes were coming at WWDC, but it looks like it took until now to formally implement them.

The App Store is dedicated to providing a great experience for everyone. To continue offering a safe place for us…

What you need to know

Netflix is letting users watch some huge shows without paying a subscription fee.
Users can watch ”Boss Baby,” ”Stranger Things,” and more.
Multiple devices are supported, but iPhone isn’t one of them.

Nobody seems to know why, either.

Good news for those on the fence about picking up a Netflix subscription following the streamer’s decision to let users watch some content free of charge. And while people can use all kinds of devices to take that content in, iPhones are a no-go. So far, nobody seems to know why.

As spotted by Gadgets360, there are some big names available for people to check out with the first episode of some big shows on offer to those who aren’t yet subscribers.

Netflix is offering limited free access to several original series and movies, including Stranger Things, Murder Mystery, Élite, Boss Baby: Back in Business, Bird Box, When They See Us, Love Is Blind, The Two Popes, Our Planet, and Grace and Frankie. If you are undecided on w…

Labor Day deals are coming in quick, and this latest sale at Amazon can score you nearly 50% off a pair of wireless Tribit QuietPlus noise-cancelling headphones! True wireless earbuds are on sale today as well. You’ll just want to make sure to use the appropriate promo code when heading to checkout. The QuietPlus Noise-cancelling Headphones fall to $35.49 when you clip the coupon on their product page at Amazon and then use promo code LBDQPLUS during checkout. That saves you nearly $35 off their regular cost.

Tribit’s QuietPlus wireless headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 to wirelessly connect with devices like your smartphone, tablet, or computer, and with active noise-cancelling, you’ll be able to put them on and block out all the ambient noise around you. That allows you to really focus on whatever you’re listening to — whether that’s a video game, your favorite songs, or a new TV series you can’t stop watching. They can be plugged into non-Bluetooth devices to listen in wired mod…

What you need to know

Apple is reportedly adding a LiDAR Scanner to ”some” iPhone 12 models.
DigiTimes sources don’t specify which models will get it.
Apple already added the feature to its 2020 iPad Pro refresh.

It’ll likely be reserved for iPhone 12 Pro, potentially even the Max.

Apple will announce its iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro lineup in the next few weeks and a new DigiTimes report again claims that ”some” iPhone 12 models will get a LiDAR Scanner for the first time.

While the 2020 iPad Pro refresh already brought a LiDAR Scanner to Apple’s products, this will be the first time an iPhone has offered it. We don’t know which iPhones yet, however, with the likelihood being that only some iPhone 12 Pro models will boast a LiDAR Scanner.

The sources said Apple took the lead to adopt ToF (time of flight) LiDAR module for its iPad Pro released in the first half of 2020, and reportedly will incorporate the technology into some of its new iPhone models.

Besides adopting s…

The best HomeKit light bulb sockets are an easy way to squeeze a little more out of your current bulbs. These sockets add remote control of your bulbs through the Home app, Siri, HomeKit scenes, and automations. Plus, they can also add dimming if your existing bulb supports it. Make your lighting smart with the best HomeKit light bulb sockets on the market today.

Color it

iDevices Socket

Staff Favorite

The iDevices Socket supports bulbs up to 60 watts, and can handle incandescent, CFL, halogen, and LED lights. This socket pairs directly with HomeKit via Wi-Fi, and once set up, your existing bulb is ready for remote control and more. This socket also has a nifty LED ring around its base, allowing it to function as a nightlight.

$42 at Amazon$65 at Walmart$40 at Newegg

Cost effective

Incipio CommandKit Wireless Smart Light Bulb Adapter

Incipio’s CommandKit Wireless Smart Light Bulb Adapter is a low-cost way to add HomeKit to your current bulbs. Don’t let the low price…

What you need to know

Apple will reportedly ship an iMac using Apple silicon in the second half of 2021.
That iMac will also include a new, custom-designed, GPU.
The chip will be produced using TSMC’s 5nm process.

Now things are getting interesting.

Apple will reportedly launch a new iMac that uses Apple silicon in the second half of 2021, with the machine also getting a custom-designed GPU built in.

According to a new report by The China Times, Apple’s new iMac chip is codenamed ”Lifuka” and will be built by TSMC using its 5nm manufacturing process. That will allow it to be more performant and power-efficient than anything Intel has been able to offer for Apple’s Mac lineup, too.

In the past, Apple introduced Mac personal computers with Intel CPUs, equipped with Nvidia or AMD GPUs, but industry insiders pointed out that Apple has cancelled support for AMD GPUs in the macOS Arm 64-bit operating system, indicating that Apple will be adopted in the future. Silicon’s Mac perso…

Do you feel like your Mac is running a little slow? It may be in need of more RAM.

It wasn’t that long ago when replacing RAM on a Mac was a relatively pain-free process. Unfortunately, Apple now makes it nearly impossible to update internal parts on many of its computer models. At the same time, however, it’s easier than ever to find out whether your machine has a memory issue and what to do about it.

Signs your Mac has a memory issue

The most obvious sign something is going on with your computer’s memory is that it’s running slower than before. As resources are used more, your computer is forced to use some of your hard disk as memory. Hence, the slower speed.

Time to check

To see how much Mac memory is being used on your computer, follow these steps:

Click on Finder on your computer.
Choose Go > Utilities on the toolbar.
Select the Activity Monitor app.

Check the System Memory monitor at the bottom of the app under the Memory tab.

On the monitor, be aware of the m…