How to block unsolicited nudes

NSFW messages are a bigger problem than many realize.

Author

Leander Kahney
June 28, 2023

Unsolicited dick pics are a big problem, apparently.

First, no one sends any to me, plus I grew up before the cellphone era, so I’m inexperienced in the rituals of digital dating.

But one scientific survey found that an unbelievable 50% of heterosexual men admitted to sending them. I find that statistic pretty shocking.

It’s also kinda shocking that it’s taken Apple this long to do something about it.

But help is finally at hand in iOS 17, which includes the option to automatically blur out any NSFW images sent to you.

It looks like a very handy feature if the statistics are true. Here’s how to manage the new feature.

Also in today’s newsletter:

  • New high-end Beats headphones are reportedly inbound. I like the Beats sound, so I’m looking forward to these.

  • We have a special 20% off deal on Brilliant, an online math-learning platform that’s a great place to level up on AI topics and more.

  • If you’re not an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can watch the full first episode of the hit show Silo on ... Twitter of all places. Plus, the new Idris Elba show Hijack just kicked off on the streaming platform.

  • Apple’s new M2 MacBook Air gets a nice discount and a free subscription to Apple services.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

PRESENTED BY:

How to block unsolicited dick pics in iMessage in iOS 17

Censoring NSFW pictures can give you an extra line of defense against unwanted, creepy texts from people you barely know. This feature puts suspected nude images behind a blurred gray background.

New high-end Beats Studio Pro headphones are coming soon

New Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones will arrive July 19, according to the same tipster who predicted the release of Beats Studio Buds+.

Apple TV+ gives everyone a free taste of sci-fi hit ‘Silo’

Apple posted the entire first episode of dystopian sci-fi drama “Silo” on Twitter for all to see, completely free.

A message from the Cult of Mac Store

Get organized with Function101 accessories at 20% off

Feeling messy and disorganized? Tools can help, like the Function101 accessories listed for 20% off this week in the Cult of Mac Store.

Razer's first in-ear monitors give gamers THX-certified sound

The new wired earbuds also offer noise isolation and lightweight comfort for marathon gaming and streaming sessions.

Score a $100 discount on 13-inch MacBook Air, get free Apple Music sub

Best Buy's latest deal drops the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip to less than $1,000, with free subscriptions to Apple services as well.

A message from Brilliant

AI won’t take your job. Someone using AI will. Luckily, there’s Brilliant — the interactive app that makes it easy to master concepts in math, data and computer science in just minutes a day. Here’s how:

  • Brilliant offers thousands of lessons on tons of topics — from AI and neural networks to data science.

  • The lessons break down complex concepts into digestible building blocks that stick.

  • The interactive style keeps you engaged, so it’s easy to build a daily habit.

Join more than 10 million people around the world and start building skills in minutes a day. You can try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days. Plus, right now you can get an exclusive 20% off an annual premium membership.

Beloved farming sim ‘Stardew Valley+’ heads for Apple Arcade

The popular pastoral game will soon debut on Apple’s gaming service. And it’ll be joined by several other classic titles.

This $25 travel eSIM comes with $50 worth of international data

Get your aloSIM Mobile Data Traveler Lifetime eSIM Plan and pay just $24.99 for $50 worth of data credits with this limited-time offer.

Idris Elba plays it unnervingly cool in new thriller ‘Hijack’ [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

Limited series “Hijack” stars Idris Elba as a man caught in an explosive hostage situation in the sky.

Today in Apple history: Mac LC 520 sets its sights on the classroom

On June 28, 1993, Apple shipped the Macintosh LC 520, an "all-in-one" Mac targeted at the education market and schools' multimedia needs.

Designer calls in M2 Ultra Mac Studio to handle CG renders [Setups]

It seemed only yesterday M1 Max Mac Studio was the new powerhouse. But in today's setup, that machine’s not cutting it for a designer's renders.

Tweetz o’ the day

One more thing ...

❝

I saw the craziness of the Western world as well as its capacity for rational thought. If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there’s room to hear more subtle things — that’s when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It’s a discipline; you have to practice it.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

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Results from yesterday’s poll: Which is better for you, Mac Studio or Mac Pro?

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