Apple's Photos app may improve on its Faces subject identification feature by not just using facial recognition, but also working to identify people's individual body language, typical poses, and torso.Even before it had Face ID, Apple introduced face recognition in Photos.Over a decade since it introduced face detection in iPhoto '09, Apple is researching how to improve its ability to identify people in images. As smart and useful as the Faces feature is, it gets easily mixed up and Apple wants to use extra details such as body language to sort people out.

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Although Apple sells new iPhone models without charger, Procon-SP will require the equipment to be made available to consumers who order a smartphone. The government’s consumer protection and defense group says that smartphone users expect a charger to be included with the purchase.

What’s more, Procon-SP says Apple hasn’t adequately told purchases of new iPhones that they don’t come with a charger. Finally, the consumer protection organization says that Despite reporting that by removing the loaders from the box, it would promote a reduction in carbon emissions, mining and the use of precious materials, the company does not demonstrate this environmental gain.

"It is inconsistent to make the sale of the device unaccompanied by the charger, without reviewing the value of the product and without presenting a plan for collecting the old appliances, recycling, etc....

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20200382879) for a “media system and method of accommodating hearing loss” to make its various devices more user friendly to the hearing impaired.

In the patent data, Apple notes that audio-capable devices, such as Mac laptops, iPads iPhones, and other mobile devices, can deliver audio content to a user. For example, the user may use the audio-capable device to listen to audio content. The audio content can be pre-stored audio content, such as a music file, a podcast, a virtual assistant message, etc., which is played to the user by a speaker. Or the reproduced audio content can be real-time audio content, such as audio content from a phone call, a videoconference, etc. 

However, noise exposure, aging, or other factors can cause an individual to experience hearing loss. Hearing loss profiles of individuals can vary widely, and may even be attributed to people who aren’t diagnosed as having hearing...

I’m really hoping that this means Apple plans to release a monitor that most of us average folks can afford (and that ain’t the US$5,000 Pro Display XDR): the tech giant has been granted a patent (number 20200378547) for a dual display stand.

In the patent data, Apple notes that computer device designers often desire to control positioning of a computer monitor or similar display at whatever height and orientation are best suited for the needs of the user. A stand can position the display to accommodate users and desktop surfaces of different heights, sizes, and postures. The stand can allow the user to adjust the monitor with little expended effort. 

However, as Apple notes, while various existing display stands provide tilt, rotation, and vertical height adjustment of monitors, these features often come at the expense of being convenient and natural to use. Many require the user to deal with significant friction or hysteresis that makes...

The O’Film Group has been kicked out of Apple’s camera module supply chain, according to TheElec. In July, the U.S. Department of Commerce listed the China-based company among a list of 11 companies in the country accused of taking part in human rights violations against the Uighur people.

All companies included in the list are accused of supporting China's "campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, forced labor, involuntary collection of biometric data, and genetic analyses targeted at Muslim minority groups," according to a statement by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Elec says that the exclusion of O’Film from Apple’s supply chain is expected to benefit LG InnoTek and Sharp. O’Film’s modules accounted for around mid-10% of those used by Apple in its smartphones. LG InnoTek’s account for some 50% and Sharp 30%.

Julianna Margulies is joining the cast of The Morning Show, reported Variety. The former star of ER and The Good Wife, will play another anchor at UBA News called Laura Peterson.

Julianna Margulies Joining The Morning Show Cast, Filming Begins Again

Ms. Margulies will join Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Bel Powley, Karen Puttman, and Desean Terry on the show. Indeed, Ms. Aniston shared on her Instagram that the team was again back on set. COVID-19 has disrupted shooting the second season.

Greta Lee, Ruairi O’Connor, and Hasan Minhaj are also joining the case of The Morning Show. Ms. Margulies...

If it can't reduce the need for a bezel to house sensors and circuitry for iPhone and Mac displays, Apple is investigating how it can make them look much smaller.Mockup of iPhons with small to no bezelsThere's a reason why we don't have true edge to edge displays on devices from the Apple Watch to the Mac. Although different display technology allows for different-sized bezels, they all still require control circuitry or sensors to be arranged around the screen.

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Content studio and podcast network, QCODE, has hired former Apple Podcasts executive, Steve Wilson, as the company’s chief strategy officer where he will oversee partnerships, marketing, distribution and work with the QCODE team on content strategy. 

Wilson joins QCODE after nearly 15 years at Apple. His hiring comes on the heels of QCODE’s recent Series A funding, which was led by Sonos and co-led by C-Ventures, and several other high-profile hires.

Wilson’s hiring is one of several high-profile appointments made by QCODE. Earlier this month the studio named Sandra Yee Ling as vice president of Production and Michele Zárate as director of Development and promoted Tess Ryan to the role of producer and Deron Johnson to head of Music.

Apple Music has added a whole bunch of new playlists in the Browse section. These include the Apple Music top songs of 2020, both globally and for a wide range of countries.

Other categories are the most Shazammed songs – the ones people have heard somewhere and wanted to identify – and the most-read lyrics …

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The post Check out Apple Music top songs, Shazams and most-read lyrics appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Even if the HomePod mini didn’t have a pedigree that includes such beloved Apple products as the iPod mini and Mac mini, it still would be in a difficult spot. For one, its namesake is one of the rare misses in the Tim Cook era. For another, its size and lower price point puts it in direct competition with the ubiquitous Amazon Echo and Google Nest Audio.

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