NSFW is a weekly op-ed column in which I talk about whatever’s on my mind. Sometimes it’ll have something to do with the technology we cover here on iMore; sometimes it’ll be whatever pops into my head. Your questions, comments and observations are welcome.

It’ll be no surprise to you to read that I’m pitched on new products all the time. Every day I get dozens of email solicitations from developers, marketing and PR people to cover new products for iMore. And many of them have variations on this:

“How much will it cost for our product to be written about on iMore?”

The answer is: Nothing. We don’t take a dime to cover any product on iMore. In fact, even the suggestion that we would is horribly insulting to our sense of ethics. Unfortunately, not all web sites are so inclined.

The sad part of this is that developers asking to pay for editorial placement are doing so because they’re conditioned to do so. This is how some smaller sites work. They want money anywhere they can find it — ad revenue on the viewer side, and paid editorial placement on the developer side. And it’s a shitty way to do business.

We’ve heard a lot this past year about “journalistic ethics.” Whether you’re a print publication or an online pub, there are a few basic guidelines that cover the operations of editorial departments which have to be followed if you have a snowball’s chance in hell of resembling anything to do with journalistic ethics. And at the very top of that list: Advertisers can’t influence or compromise editorial coverage. And paying for coverage does exactly that. At the very least, it gives the perception of it, which is just as bad, if not worse.

This is something that’s taught in every introductory ethics course in any journalism school around the world. Unfortunately, a lot of the operators of smaller blogs either haven’t gone to J-school or just don’t give a shit. And it smears the entire industry as a result.

No one running a blog can claim ignorance on this front — no one. I didn’t go to J-school. I learned how to be a journalist on the job. Despite that, “separation of church [editorial] and state [advertising]” was something that I learned very early. In order for readers to trust your editorial voice, they have to trust that voice hasn’t been paid for by someone with an ulterior motive.

Obviously sites aren’t charities. We have expenses and families to feed. One of the chief ways many sites make money is to sell advertising space. Nothing wrong with that. It’s pretty crucial, though, that the business people handling the advertising aren’t the same as the people writing about the products.

What’s more, there should never be a point where a company tries to leverage that relationship to gain favor, editorially. They should never say “I’ll pull my advertising unless I get a good review,” and they should never, ever say “I’ll pay you to review my product.”

That’s what gets my goat about this so badly. For the most part, these are companies and products I’ve never heard of, and the first comment out of the gate is “how much does a review cost?” It taints the entire relationship for me. I’m sure I’ve overlooked covering products that were probably pretty good, for exactly this reason.

Let me speak plainly: There is no quicker way for me to a) ignore your product and b) blacklist your company from further coverage than for you to ask me how much my editorial voice costs.

To be sure, the vast majority of the sites that you probably have bookmarked or linked in your RSS reader do not, under any circumstances, take money for editorial coverage, and have never done so.

iMore is certainly one of those.

Anyway, time for me to get off my soapbox. That is all.

Two U.S. senators have sponsored a bill that would make it easier for companies like Apple to bring the cash they are keeping overseas into the United States. Currently, U.S. companies that repatriate their foreign earnings are taxed at 35%. The new bill, sponsored by Senators Barbara Boxer and Rand Paul, is called the Invest in Transportation Act of 2015 and would see these companies taxed at a much lower rate, according to the announcement:

Allows companies to voluntarily return their foreign earnings to the United States at a tax rate of 6.5 percent. The rate is only for repatriations that exceed each company’s average repatriations in recent years, and funds must have been earned in 2015 or earlier. Companies have up to five years to complete the transfer.

The taxes collected from these earnings would go towards the Highway Trust Fund, which funds the repair and maintenance of U.S. highways. The bill will also stipulate that repatriated money need to go towards things like increased hiring, research and development, and more:

Ensures that a portion of repatriated funds will be used for increased hiring, wages and pensions; R&D; environmental improvements; public-private partnerships; capital improvements; and acquisitions. No funds may be spent on increases in executive compensation, or on increases in shareholder dividends or stock buybacks for three years after the program ends.

Apple has come under fire for their foreign tax practices in the past. The question here is: would this change be enough for Apple to bring their cash home? There is also a question as to whether the bill will even pass, as it is already facing opposition from both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.

Source: Senator Barbra Boxer, Bloomberg

This isn’t the first time we’ve asked this question, but it’s been a while and with us now having two new awesome devices available (the BlackBerry Passport and Classic) it’s time to put the feelers out once again.

Read More »

FiftyThree, developer behind popular iPad drawing app Paper, has announced Pencil Gold, a gold version of their Pencil stylus. Pencil Gold is made of anodized and brushed aluminum, and the new color is meant to compliment the gold versions of Apple’s latest tablets, the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3.

The gold version is available for pre-order now from FiftyThree’s shop with a price of $59.95. FiftyThree says that the Pencil Gold will start shipping on Feb. 3, 2015. Pencil is already available in Graphite for $49.95 and in Walnut for $59.95, the same price as Pencil Gold. The Walnut Pencil also comes with a magnetic strip that will attach to your Smart Cover.

FiftyThree will also be holding a giveaway contest for the Pencil Gold. For ten days between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9, members of FiftyThree’s Mix community will be able to enter to win a Pencil Gold each day by remixing the Pencil image that the company has placed there.

Source: FiftyThree

Microsoft has released another update for the system app Extras + Info on Lumia hardware. We’re all major fans of getting updates on Windows Phone, but it’s notably exciting when the updates are rolling out for system apps. Today’s release bumps Extras + Info to

The stylish CrackBerry branded leather holster is made of a fine, durable leather that features a fixed belt clip on the back to secure to your waist, pocket or purse. It gives you and your BlackBerry device a sleek, professional look while keeping it safe from drops and scratches at the same time. Available in brown, red and white today for only $12.95!

Windows Central Roundup: Windows Phone apps for Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl XLIX will kick off this Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The New England Patriots will face off against the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30pm EST. For those planning events around the game, the Windows Phone Store offers a handful of apps that might come in handy as you try to survive the Big Game.

This week’s roundup will offer up a few suggestions to help you tackle Super Bowl Sunday. These Windows Phone apps will help you keep track of the game score, stats and news as well as help you well stocked with food. We even toss out one of our favorite YouTube apps to help you keep up with all those commercials that will air during the game.

Ventev’s 2A Lightning Charger with USB port keeps your device juiced up while your passenger does the same, right off the same charger! This dual output car charger works with any lightning device and provides a quick 2A charge and an illuminated port. Yours today for only $16.95

It looks like T-Mobile will be showing multiple new ads during Super Bowl XLIX. In addition to their ad starring Kim Kardashian, T-Mobile will also air a spot featuring comedians Chelsea Handler and Sarah Silverman. While the full ad hasn’t yet been posted online, the carrier did post a behind-the-scenes video.

It looks like T-Mobile will be showing multiple new ads during Super Bowl XLIX. In addition to their ad starring Kim Kardashian, T-Mobile will also air a spot featuring comedians Chelsea Handler and Sarah Silverman. While the full ad hasn’t yet been posted online, the carrier did post a behind-the-scenes video.

T-Mobile has yet another new ad that takes aim at the data practices of their rivals. Called “Data Vulture”, the ad stars Rob Riggle and, well, a vulture and was produced specifically for NBC’s online livestream of the Super Bowl.

The carrier has also announced an endorsement deal with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. The deal includes three magenta buses with Sherman’s face and T-Mobile branding on them, which will act as free shuttles to key locations before the start of the Super Bowl.

Source: T-Mobile