2020 was a big year for the Mac—and we shouldn’t take that for granted. The first year I started predicting things in this column, I felt a little optimism about 2016, and it turned out to be an almost vacant year for the Mac. The last few years show that Apple has become more attentive to the Mac, culminating in a year that might not have been as revolutionary as I was expecting, but still a landmark in Mac history.
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| Read more »The MacVoices Live! panel of David Ginsburg, Kelly Guimont, Guy Serle, Frank Petrie, Brittany Smith, Andrew Orr, and host Chuck Joiner wrap up the Holiday Party #1 with more Apple Car discussions, contemplation of Apple's influence on just about anything and everything, and how we got here from when Apple wasn't at the top of the heap.
MacVoices is an Internet show that delivers in-depth discussions with the most influential people in the Mac industry as well as the individuals who are out there making it happen on the front lines of the global Apple community. Founded as an audio program in 2005, the show has evolved into audio and video versions to offer the best of both worlds.
Joiner is the producer and host of MacVoices. You can catch up with what he’s doing on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
| Read more »This could lead to something impressive. A recently-released patent, entitled “Electronic devices having keys with coherent fiber bundles,” indicates that Apple is currently researching keyboards with small displays on the keys that are capable of dynamically changing the label on each key. The patent was granted to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office […]
| Read more »The new MacBook Pro comes with two or four external ports, depending on the model you pick. And the new MacBook Air has a pair of ports. But those ports are only of one type: Thunderbolt 3, which is compatible with USB-C.
But you probably have devices that use USB-A, Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, DisplayPort, HDMI, or something else. How do you connect these devices? With an adapter.
If you’re planning to buy a new MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, make sure you set aside a considerable amount of cash for the adapters you need. Apple doesn’t include any in the box, except for a power adapter.
Your best bet is to get a combination dock, like the Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter ($60 on AmazonRemove non-product link). It connects via USB-C, and includes a USB-C pass-through port, two USB 3.0 ports, and an HDMI port with 4K (30Hz) support. With this, you don’t have to carry around...
| Read more »This is definitely spiffy. Following Apple’s release of the HomePod version 14.3 update, the new HomePod mini smart speaker now supports 18 watt power adapters or battery packs. While the unit ships with a 20 watt power adapter and originally required 20 watts to function, the update reduces this limit to 18 watts, which enables […]
| Read more »In a great year for feathering your nest, these products are the best of the best.
| Read more »NASA will take part in two heliophysics missions that could give us the data needed to better understand solar winds and explosions, or space weather as a whole. The agency has officially announced its participation in the Extreme Ultraviolet High-Th...
| Read more »Despite Google’s Home Max being officially retired and pulled from sale a couple of weeks ago, the Google Store is once again offering the speaker for sale. While flashing a message saying the device is sold out and prompting customers to try out a p...
| Read more »krakman writes: Corellium, a security research firm sued by Apple, has won a major legal victory against the iPhone maker. In a ruling that has wide-reaching implications for iPhone security research and copyright law, a federal judge in Florida threw out Apple's claims that Corellium had violated copyright law with its software, which helps security researchers find bugs and security holes on Apple's products. Corellium, co-founded in 2017 by husband and wife Amanda Gorton and Chris Wade, was a breakthrough in security research because it gave its customers the ability to run "virtual" iPhones on desktop computers. Corellium's software makes it unnecessary to use physical iPhones that contain specialized software to poke and prod iOS, Apple's mobile operating system. The judge in the case ruled that Corellium's creation of virtual iPhones was not a copyright violation, in part because it was designed to help improve the security for all iPhone users. Corellium wasn't creating a...
| Read more »Vybe Together, an app that facilitated "secret parties" between users, has been removed from the iOS App Store after seemingly flouting coronavirus safety guidelines by promoting large New Year's Eve gatherings.A recent Vybe Together video appeared on TikTok encouraging users to join "secret gatherings" in New York City up to and including this weekend, reports Business Insider. The short video sharing platform disabled the company's account, which was highlighted as advertising "NYE ragers" by New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz in a tweet on Tuesday.Apple quickly followed suit and culled the app from the App Store. Vybe's creators...
| Read more »Last year one of our Best of CES awards went to Dolby Vision IQ. It expanded on the display spec that already tweaked HDR output to look its best from scene-to-scene by taking into account the lighting conditions. That way content can look the way it...
| Read more »While 2020 was all about social distancing and staying at home, there was a controversial app promoting secret private parties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, the iOS app was removed from the App Store this week.
The post App that promoted secret parties during the COVID-19 pandemic is removed from App Store appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »In the latest special offer of 2020 for Apple Pay users, Apple is promoting its payment service with 20% discount for orders in the Grubhub app or website. The offer, of course, is valid when you checkout with Apple Pay.
The post Latest Apple Pay promotion offers 20% discount on Grubhub orders appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »The “Full Self-Driving” system that Tesla sells as a $10,000 option isn’t available in subscription form yet, but the car company is already using that idea to boost sales. Reported earlier by Electrek and confirmed in a tweet by Elon Musk, “All Tesl...
| Read more »Just in time for New Year's Eve, Apple on Tuesday sent out emails informing Apple Pay users that they can save 20% on a Grubhub delivery when ordering through the official Grubhub app and online.The latest in a running series of Apple Pay promotions, today's Grubhub special is applicable to a single order of $10 or more before tax, tip and fees. Apple notes the promo's value is capped at $10, meaning a $50 meal will max out the offer's full worth.Like past offers, users must click on the "Order Now" link provided in the email or enter "APPLEPAY" at checkout in the Grubhub app or through the service's website.
| Read more »This is the best video doorbell we’ve tested, but not everyone will want the professionally installed and monitored smart home/home security system that it's part of.
| Read more »Last month, Apple patented a new version of the Touch Bar with built-in Force Touch technology. Now, the US Patent & Trademark Office has granted Apple a patent for a “reconfigurable” Mac keyboard that is built with a small display for each key, allowing the keyboard to show different characters according to the user’s preferences.
The post Apple patents ‘reconfigurable’ Mac keyboard with small display for each key appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »When Google came out with the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G earlier this year, you could use the company’s astrophotography mode with any one of their primary cameras. But that’s not the case anymore. After Google updated its camera app in November, the Pixel co...
| Read more »Apple has lost its lawsuit against Corellium reports The Washington Post. In August 2019, Apple sued the virtualization software company with a copyright infringement suit ripping into the developer's "illegal replication" of "everything" that makes up Apple's copyrighted operating system and applications.
In the Apple lawsuit, the tech giant says Corellium’s business is based entirely on commercializing the illegal replication of the copyrighted operating system and applications. Apple says the product Corellium offers is a “virtual” version of Apple mobile hardware products that’s accessible to anyone with a web browser. Specifically, the tech giant says Corellium “serves up what it touts as a perfect digital facsimile of a broad range of Apple’s market-...
| Read more »With a namesake like Atlas, you wouldn’t think Boston Dynamics’ bipedal robot would be the most lithe specimen on the planet. But then we’ve already seen it has a knack for parkouring, and now you can add dancing to its list of talents. In its latest...
| Read more »Michigan Public Health has notified participants in the Apple Hearing Study that accidentally collected extra data. Those users have been told that the unnecessary data will be deleted, AppleInsider reported. As well as removing the data, the Research app has been updated to stop a repeat of the issue.
Update to Research App Fixes Apple Hearing Study Issue
The study is being conducted by the World Health Organization and the University of Michigan. Thirty-days of data that had not been requested were unintentionally collected. The error was a result of a (now corrected) bug. Users should update the Research app from App Store to make sure they are using the latest version.
Tags:...
| Read more »Despite a variety of challenges and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a busy year for Apple. The company introduced its most expansive iPhone lineup yet, updated the Apple Watch, undertook a major overhaul of the Mac lineup, and much more during the year.
Read on as we recap all of the hardware that Apple released in 2020.
The post Year in review: All of the new hardware Apple released in 2020 appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple has lost a copyright battle against security company Corellium, a company that virtualizes iOS for security research. Apple sought a permanent injunction against Corellium and wanted the company to destroy its software and pay for damages, lost profits, and lawyer fees (via The Post).
The lawsuit is case number 19-81160-CIV-SMITH in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Florida.
Apple vs. Corellium
Founded in 2017, Corellium runs emulation software that lets it run virtual iOS devices. Its customers use it in security research to find bugs and other security issues in iOS. One such customer is Azimuth Security,...
| Read more »A New Jersey man is suing the town of Woodbridge and its police department after he was falsely arrested following an incorrect facial recognition match. Nijeer Parks spent 10 days in jail last year, including a week in "functional solitary confineme...
| Read more »Both HBO Max and Disney+ saw a huge increase in downloads of their respective apps on the back of big-name film debuts. Bloomberg News reported that, according to Apptopia data, a record estimated 244,000 users signed up to AT&T’s service on Sunday.
HBO Max and Disney+ Hit Download Records over Holidays
In total, 554,000 users are estimated to have signed up to the streamer following Friday through Sunday on the back of the release of Wonder Woman 1984. Disney+, meanwhile, had around 2.3 million global installations of its mobile app over the Christmas holiday, according to Sensor Tower. That marked a 28 percent increase from the weekend before, comes in support well-received movie Soul...
| Read more »Adrienne LaFrance, writing for The Atlantic, “Facebook Is a Doomsday Machine”:
People tend to complain about Facebook as if something recently
curdled. There’s a notion that the social web was once useful, or
at least that it could have been good, if only we had pulled a few
levers: some moderation and fact-checking here, a bit of
regulation there, perhaps a federal antitrust lawsuit. But that’s
far too sunny and shortsighted a view. Today’s social networks,
Facebook chief among them, were built to encourage the things that
make them so harmful. It is in their very architecture.
I’ve been thinking for years about what it would take to make the
social web magical in all the right ways — less extreme, less
toxic, more true — and I realized only recently that I’ve been
thinking far too narrowly about the...
GetSchooled, a charity run by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has leaked the details of over 900,000 children in a data breach.
The breached information contains extensive personal details of children, teenagers and young adults including: full addresses, schools, full student PII including student phone numbers and emails, graduation details, ages, genders and more…
Full everything. What could be “and more”, medical records? GetSchooled got schooled.
Tags: data breach, Security
A new sketchy rumor based on some images of what could be new hardware for the next-gen AirPods Pro has surfaced. The speculation about two sizes for AirPods Pro 2 comes from Mr white. He doesn’t have a very reliable track record but has had access to unreleased Apple hardware and predicted some things correctly in the past.
The post Sketchy rumor suggests second-generation AirPods Pro could come in two sizes appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »A U.S. federal court has handed a win to security firm Corellium, ruling that its emulation of Apple's iOS is fair use.Credit: CorelliumU.S. District Court Judge Rodney Smith issued the ruling on Tuesday, throwing out Apple's claims that Corellium had violated its copyrights. Judge Smith denied Apple's motion and granted Corellium's in part to "the extent the Court finds that Corellium's use of iOS constitutes fair use."
| Read more »In a few short days, Google will officially shutdown Cloud Print. We knew this day was coming since 2019, but now that it’s finally here, consider this a friendly reminder. For most people, chances are the shutdown won’t be anything more than a minor...
| Read more »We have a deal on the Hudly Invisible Wireless Charger. This device uses long-range induction coils to charge your iPhone (or Qi-enabled Android device) through surfaces up to 1.6-inches thick. It comes with a removable adhesive for you to attach it to the underside of your desk or table, and it’s $69.99 through our deal.
| Read more »Last August, Apple filed a lawsuit against virtualization company Corellium, which allows users to virtualize iOS for security research purposes. Now, a judge has thrown out Apple’s claims that Corellium’s virtualization tools violated copyright law.
The post Apple loses copyright lawsuit against iOS virtualization company Corellium appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple is researching keyboards with small displays on the keys to dynamically change the label on each key, according to a newly-granted patent filing. From a report: The filing is titled "Electronic devices having keys with coherent fiber bundles" and was granted to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the final patent day of this year. The patent explains how each key on a keyboard could have "an associated key display" connected to "control circuitry in the keyboard" via a "coherent fiber bundle." Apple proposes that each key would be "formed from a fiber optic plate" with "opposing first and second surfaces." While the patent stipulates that each key would need to contain a small display to provide the label, of which any compatible pixel array would work, the foremost technology put forwards by Apple is OLED. The key may be made from materials such as glass, ceramic, metal, or polymer, or even crystalline materials such as sapphire.
...
| Read more »The Varmilo EC v2 Keyboard uses high-end mechanical key switches and has a fancy paint job, but it lacks modern features and full compatibility with Apple products.The Varmilo EC keyboard looks great, but has too many limitationsVarmilo claims to have the best EC switches in the industry, and hopes to be a popular choice for influencers looking to make their workstation pop with color. The company's slogan is "keyboard artist" and one look at their designs tell you they've created some beautiful designs.
| Read more »Only a few days remain for the year's best M1 Mac deals. Save $150 on a well-equipped MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and a spacious 512GB SSD with coupon.Last call for these M1 Mac dealsThe exclusive M1 MacBook Air discount is courtesy of Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama when shopping through this special activation link with coupon code APINSIDER. Shoppers can save anywhere from $50 to $150 on every M1 model, but a standout config that's in stock and ready to ship (update: units are now on backorder) is this M1, 16GB, 512GB model in Silver. This spec has the 7-core GPU, but for those wanting an M1...
| Read more »Charlotte Henry and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to chat about Apple’s success in unlikely markets after advice against it (e.g., smartphones/maps/watches).
Clean up old and unneeded files, speed up your system, and defend against viruses and malware with Clean My Mac X. Get your free trial at MacPaw.app/TDO today!
Owned by China’s richest woman, Zhou Qunfei, Lens Technology is one of Apple’s oldest suppliers, making iPhone displays. Documents uncovered by the Tech Transparency Project show that it has used forced slave labor from Uighur Muslims (via The Post).
Lens Technology Labor
Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock said the company found no labor transfers of Uighurs from Xinjiang:
Apple has zero tolerance for forced labor. Looking for the presence of forced labor is part of every supplier assessment we conduct, including surprise audits. These protections apply across the supply chain, regardless of a person’s job or location. Any violation of our policies has immediate consequences, including possible business termination.
As always, our focus is on making sure everyone...
| Read more »When most people want to find a reworking of their favorite songs, they usually turn to platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. The fact almost anyone can upload a track to those services has allowed songs like ‘Plastic Love’ and ‘Dead to Me’ to find...
| Read more »Images showing various system-on-a-chip housings for an unreleased "AirPods Pro 2" have surfaced on Twitter, shared by someone generally known for accurate part leaks.Image of the SoC housing from an alleged new set of AirPods ProA Twitter user known as "Mr. White" with a decent leaking history has shared new part images for the "AirPods Pro 2." The images shown depict different sized SoC housing for the H1 processor which could indicate different sized earbuds in the future model. Mr. White mistakenly calls them W2 processors, however.
| Read more »Hedge fund Third Point is urging Intel to make some big business changes in the face of losing chip supremacy to efforts by Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and TSMC.Credit: IntelThird Point CEO and founder Daniel Loeb wrote a letter to Intel chairman Omar Ishrak on Tuesday calling for the company to boost its position as a provider of chips for computers and data centers, Reuters reported. Third Point has a nearly $1 billion stake in the chipmaker.
| Read more »Sure, you can have an 8K TV displaying incredible visuals and a top-of-the-line sound system pumping out crystal-clear 22.2 channel audio. But why bother when you can fit an entire movie onto a floppy disk and use a custom VCR to play it?A Redditor n...
| Read more »One of the oldest and most well-known iPhone suppliers has been accused of using forced Muslim labor in its factories, according to documents uncovered by a human rights group, adding new scrutiny to Apple's human rights record in China. From a report: The documents, discovered by the Tech Transparency Project and shared exclusively with The Washington Post, detail how thousands of Uighur workers from the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang were sent to work for Lens Technology. Lens also supplies Amazon and Tesla, according to its annual report. Lens Technology is one of at least five companies connected to Apple's supply chain that have now been linked to alleged forced labor from the Xinjiang region, according to human rights groups. Lens Technology stands out from other Apple component suppliers because of its high-profile founder and long, well-documented history going back to the early days of the iPhone.
...
| Read more »Apple’s iPhones took nine of the top devices spots for Christmas 2020, according to a new report by Flurry Analytics.
The report says that smartphone activations this year are down 23% year-over-year, likely due to the financial hardships caused by COVID-19. However, for the most activated smartphones on Christmas Day, iPhone devices took nine of the top 10 spots, with LG’s budget K30 the only other manufacturer to make the list. Last year’s iPhone 11 takes the #1 spot for the second consecutive year, followed by the 2018 iPhone XR.
This year’s most premium device, the iPhone 12 Pro Max takes third place. On the flip side, Apple’s budget device, the iPhone SE, as well as LG’s K30 saw the largest Christmas day surge compared to the prior 7 day average, with 34% and 181% increases, respectively. Flurry Analytics is used in over one million mobile...
| Read more »Regardless of whether you're planning on selling, trading, recycling, or giving your old Apple Watch to someone else, there's a bit of work you'll have to do before you get rid of it, but don't worry — our helpful guide makes the process easy.If you're planning on getting rid of your Apple Watch, particularly if you're selling or giving it away, you must unpair it first. Unpairing it disables Activation Lock, allowing others to pair it to their phones. It's also a smart idea to unpair and wipe your Apple Watch clean if you're planning on recycling it, especially a particularly old model like the original Apple Watch or the Apple Watch Series 1.Please note that you will need to keep both your Apple Watch and iPhone charged and close together while they unpair. The process can take quite a long while, so have both devices on their chargers while...
| Read more »It looks like LG has begun rolling out support for AirPlay 2 and Homekit for some of its 2018 smart TVs. Macrumors readers spotted the update on Monday.
AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Support Rolling Out to 2018 LG TVs
Initially, LG said only models from 2019 and later would support the Apple tools. The company could not “guarantee” a “seamless user experience” on older models,” it said. However, there was a huge change.org petition (22,629 signatories at the time of this writing) and the company now seems to have changed. Some LG smart TVs from 2018 now have the...
| Read more »Today’s best deals include the latest Mac mini from Apple, plus markdowns on Apple Watch Series 6, and various iPads on sale. Hit the jump for all that and more in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
The post Deals: M1 Mac mini $639, Apple Watch Series 6 from $339, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple once again dominated Christmas day smartphone activations in the US, according to new data from Flurry Analytics. The data indicates that the iPhone accounted for nine of the top ten smartphone activations on Christmas day this year, although total activations were down compared to 2019.
The post iPhone wins Christmas, claims top 9 spots for new smartphone activations in the US appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »AAPL stock hit an intraday record on Tuesday. It reached $138.79 per share at one point, a 1.5% increase. Having opened at 138.05, at the time of this writing Apple shares were valued at $137.32.
AAPL Ending 2020 Strong
Tuesday’s move cements a strong December for the company, with its share price rising 16 percent in the month. There has been positivity around sales of the iPhone 12 range and news about the eventual rollout of self-driving cars. Indeed, there is increasing analyst optimism about AAPL in 2021. Bloomberg data found that Apple’s revenue growth is expected to increase 15 percent in fiscal 2021, up from 6 percent in 2020. Profit...
| Read more »According to an investigation by The Washington Post and the Tech Transparency Project, companies including Apple, Amazon and Tesla are sourcing parts from a Chinese supplier that allegedly uses forced Muslim labor. The Tech Transparency Project foun...
| Read more »There are more home screen customizations in iOS 14 than ever before. Learn how to customize your iPhone's wallpaper, dress up your home screen, and set up widgets to make your iPhone more personal.One of the best parts about setting up your iPhone is customizing it to fit your style. iOS 14 takes it a step further by allowing you to use new Widgets, flexible tiles that will enable you to quickly perform actions or glean information at a glance. We're here to teach you how to take advantage of some of the most common customization options in iOS 14.This guide will start with the very basics and walk you through some of the more advanced features, so feel free to jump in wherever you feel most comfortable!
| Read more »Among the top 10 smartphone models activated on Christmas Day 2020, nine were Apple's iPhone, with the iPhone 11 holding the crown.Credit: Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsiderThe iPhone 11 was the most activated device on Christmas, marking the second consecutive year that the model has taken the top spot, data from Flurry Analytics indicates. Activations for the specific model were 5% higher than the seven-day average between Dec. 18 and Dec. 24.
| Read more »The last time I exited an all-encompassing public health crisis, day to day life changed subtly but permanently. It was 2003 and, living in Hong Kong, we had just faced a SARS epidemic that left a little under 300 people in the city dead.This crisis...
| Read more »Everyone encounters stress, from challenges at work and squabbles with family members or friends to the unprecedented reality of living during a pandemic, but we all deal with it differently. Some people, for example, need to go for a run or meditate...
| Read more »Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by HabitMinder: Change your habits, change your life. HabitMinder helps you form healthy habits and stay accountable. Get started for free on iOS, Mac, and Apple Watch.
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| Read more »Apple supplier Lens Technology has joined a growing list of companies that have been accused of using forced labor in its manufacturing facilities.Credit: LA TimesAccording to documents uncovered by the Tech Transparency Project and shared with The Washington Post, "thousands" of Uighur workers from the Muslim-majority region of Xinjiang were sent to work for Lens Technology.
| Read more »It looks like AAPL could close out 2020 at a record high. Today, Apple’s shares hit an intraday record near $140 putting the stock’s growth at an impressive 88% YoY, with the market cap moving closer to the $3 trillion mark.
The post AAPL shares hit intraday record just shy of $140, 88% growth for 2020 appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Whenever Twitch announces a new approach to handling harassment on the platform, there’s been a common, overwhelming response from streamers: “Please, please, be more than just words. Please follow this up with actions.”That’s how Twitch Partner Jenn...
| Read more »A fresh claim of iPhone workers being used as forced labor in China has appeared today, following an investigation by the Tech Transparency Project.
It suggests that iPhone glass supplier Lens Technology has been using Muslim minority Uighurs, who were given the stark choice of working in the company’s plant or being sent to detention centers which have been likened to concentration camps …
The post iPhone workers given choice of forced labor or being sent to detention centers, says report appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Power failures. Trying to find your keys in a dark parking lot. Searching around behind a computer for an accessory or power plug. We’ve all been in those situations where a good, bright flashlight would be really helpful. The KeySmart™ Nano Torch XL Compact Pen Light ($32.99) is small enough to go with you everywhere and puts out a bright 120 lumens to shed some light on your subject.
The KeySmart Nano Torch XL Compact Pen Light comes with a sliding barrel head that enables you to adjust the focus from a wide spill to a narrow spotlight. Its ergonomic design is made for one-handed use. The stainless steel pocket clip lets you attach...
| Read more »Apple’s annual New Years movie sale is now live on its iTunes storefront. This time around there’s a heavy focus on its “decades bundles”, which feature 10-films at a notable discount. It’s an easy way to load up your library with some fresh content without breaking the bank. You’ll find all of our top picks down below along with additional deals from $5.
The post Apple New Years sale offers 10-film bundles for $30, more starting at $5 appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »A video leak appears to show a Watch prototype and reveals how Apple gets such devices to developers while still keeping them under a veil of “ultra” security. Released by a leak site called Apple Demo and first discovered via The Verge, it shows a W...
| Read more »Let the Apple Car rumors roll on, especially with all the buzz and speculation that’s going on (which I take with a bit of skepticism). Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,875,380) for a climate control system for a vehicle that would adjust the different areas of an automobile “cabin” to accommodate individual passenger’s comfort levels.
In the patent data, Apple notes that vehicle climate control systems often rely upon one or more air-conditioning units and one or more heater units, to control a climate in various portions of a vehicle cabin. Such control can include directing air, at least partially conditioned or heated by one or more elements, into various regions of the vehicle cabin (“cabin regions”) via various air vents located throughout the cabin, heating various surfaces in the cabin...
| Read more »Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,877,557) for an “IMU-based glove” that hints at an “Apple Glove” for use with the rumored “Apple Glasses.” They can be worn over the user's hands and can allow the user to touch, feel, and hold virtual objects in real-time.
It involves a virtual reality (VR) glove capable of measuring the movement of individual finger and thumb bones. The Apple Glove can include a plurality of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track the movement of one or more finger and/or hand sections.
The IMUs can include one or more motion sensors, such as a gyroscope and an accelerometer, for measuring the orientation, position, and velocity of objects (e.g., finger bones) that the IMU can be attached. An IMU can be located proximate to a finger (or thumb) bone and can measure the inertial motion of the corresponding bone. The Apple Glove may also include magnetometers to determine the direction of the geo-magnetic field...
| Read more »2020 was, you may have noticed, a big year in the streaming wars. However, Input thinks things are going to escalate even further in 2021. Looking at the amount of content on the way, it’s hard to disagree.
Aside from Netflix, which had more than a year’s worth of content on hand before lockdowns began, every major service experienced significant delays, pushing back their original slates of programming. With Hollywood productions back up and running for 2021, this will be the year the streaming wars begin in earnest. Even when just looking at the smaller services, the year ahead should prove exciting. Apple TV+ is gearing up to release Foundation, its next flagship prestige series, along with new seasons of shows the service launched with. CBS All-Access will be rebranding to Paramount+, an effort to reflect the more diverse content offering outside the kind of shows geared to the, er, typical CBS audience. Amazon Prime will drop the first season of its...
| Read more »American Airlines is the first domestic carrier to resume flights with Boeing’s 737 Max after the plane was withdrawn from service more than a year ago. CNBC reports that the craft’s return to active duty begins with Flight 718, a roundtrip jaunt fro...
| Read more »Happy Production Cutmas Eve to those who celebrate!
What the heck is Production Cutmas, you ask? Why, it is the annual celebration of iPhone production cuts that people freak out about almost every year, usually beginning in December and then running into January.
The Macalope hasn’t seen any reports of this yet, but it’s likely because iPhones were released later this year than they have been in previous years. Surely it will be announced tomorrow or the next day or the day after. It’s technically possible Production Cutmas will be canceled this year (stupid pandemic!), but if history is any lesson then we should get rumors sometime soon of absolutely gargantuan iPhone production cuts happening because no one likes iPhones.
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| Read more »There was a time when forgetting to take your wallet with you when leaving home could really spoil your day. Apple Pay changed that, but even in London – where you can use contactless payment for almost everything – there are still occasions when you need a physical card.
But for those using the MagSafe wallet, Apple could easily eliminate the risk altogether …
The post Feature Request: Automated reminder to attach MagSafe wallet when leaving home appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »New documents show Lens Technology, which makes iPhone glass is using forced labor in China, according to The Washington Post.
The documents, discovered by the Tech Transparency Project and shared exclusively with The Washington Post, detail how thousands of Uighur workers from the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang were sent to work for Lens Technology. (Lens Technology also supplies Amazon and Tesla.)
Image courtesy @Imaginechina/REX
The company is just one company (others include Wistron, O-Film, and BOE) connected to Apple’s supply chain that have now been linked to alleged forced labor from the Xinjiang region, according to human rights groups. However, The Post notes that “Lens Technology stands out from other Apple component suppliers because of its high-profile founder and...
| Read more »It will be WWDC and its "historic" announcement of the move to Apple Silicon that will be remembered, but there was so much more going on in June 2020 for Apple.Tim Cook at June's WWDC 2020Apple is very good at judging how to present itself. In June's WWDC 2020, it managed to give us an extremely well-made keynote show, and managed to pull off every bit of hype that it always does. "This is going to be truly a unique week delivered unlike any that we've done before," said Tim Cook.
| Read more »Electric vehicles haven’t taken over yet, but in 2020 nearly every automaker was discussing its plans for the segment. Between regulations muscling combustion engines out and advancements in battery technology and infrastructure, the groundwork is in...
| Read more »Without a doubt my favorite Apple product of 2020 is the new M1 chip in the Apple Silicon Macs. I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase at our nearest Apple Store an M1 Mac mini on the second day of release and had it set up by night for my wife, Ruby. We purchased one with 8GB ram with 512GB of storage. We were unable to get a 16GB version in person.
Ruby has been using a 2015 MacBook Pro as her desktop computer since March of 2017. It is a powerful and capable computer with 16GB ram and a Core i7.
We did not realize what a difference an M1 Mac would make. As with everything Apple, setup was quick and easy. I connected a keyboard, mouse, and two monitors, and powered it up. We simply entered my wife’s iCloud information and all was setup and ready within minutes.
I was truly unprepared for how fast everything is on the M1 Mac mini. Ruby does all the standard computing things such as web browsing, email, etc. The most...
| Read more »Call me Nostradamus.
Every year in this space I make a slew of predictions for the coming year, a combination of analysis and wishcasting that can be a fun exercise in gauging our expectations and understanding what Apple might be planning. And a year ago, I got it right!
2020 didn’t go quite the way we all planned, but I predicted that 2020 would bring the first Macs powered by Apple-designed chips, and I got it right!
I’ll grant you, it was something like the third straight year that I have made that prediction. But this time Lucy didn’t pull the football away from me! Truly, if you persevere and keep predicting the inevitable, you will eventually be right.
| Read more »Vinyl’s resurgence wasn’t a fad. Today, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has announced that 4.8 million LP albums were sold this year in the UK. That’s almost 10 percent higher than 2019 and consistent year-over-year growth since 2007. For com...
| Read more »Apple Cash is an extremely convenient way for people in the iPhone/iPad ecosystem to send and receive money, and it’s where Apple plops its daily cash rebates if you use the Apple credit card.
However, running through transactions in the Wallet app can be tedious. It’s hard to find detail, and there’s no easy summary of monthly totals.
Fortunately, there’s a slightly hidden way to retrieve all your transactions:
Apple mails a PDF containing the last 24 months of transactions to the address associated with your Apple Cash account, subdivided with monthly summaries. It’s a handy way to reconcile and track income and spending with Apple Cash.
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| Read more »This is interesting, and it could be a sign of things in the months ahead. Residents in Los Angeles who receive a COVID-19 vaccine will also receive a digital record they can add to Wallet on iOS. The record will ensure that vaccine recipients can get the second shot of the two-shot vaccine regimen. This […]
| Read more »The word on the grapevine is that is you were hoping for a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini LED display technology in early 2021, you’re in luck. Per recent rumors, the tablet is thought to still be on track for Q1 of 2021, the report focusing broadly on Apple’s efforts to diversify its supply chain […]
| Read more »The first part of the first holiday party on MacVoices Live! started with an idea, but was quickly taken over by a discussion of the much-hyped Apple Car. The panel of David Ginsburg, Kelly Guimont, Guy Serle, Frank Petrie, Brittany Smith, Andrew Orr, and host Chuck Joiner talk about what it might be, what they think makes sense, and who might be involved.
MacVoices is an Internet show that delivers in-depth discussions with the most influential people in the Mac industry as well as the individuals who are out there making it happen on the front lines of the global Apple community. Founded as an audio program in 2005, the show has evolved into audio and video versions to offer the best of both worlds.
Joiner is the producer and host of MacVoices. You can catch up with what he’s doing on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
| Read more »This headphone has a wonderfully transparent, precise, neutral sound that reveals everything in a recording, and for a much lower price than most planar-magnetic cans.
| Read more »This fingerprint-scanning lock lacks smart features, and it has more bugs than I’d want on my front door.
| Read more »John Paul Mac Isaac, the owner of the Delaware computer repair shop at the heart of that controversial New York Post story on Hunter Biden’s emails, has filed a $500 million defamation lawsuit against Twitter. Isaac owned the Mac Shop, which the NY P...
| Read more »After seeing record COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations, Los Angeles County will use technology to help residents track and prove their vaccination records, Bloomberg reports. The public health department has teamed with startup Healthvana on an app...
| Read more »Next-generation 5G cellular service is one of the key features of the new iPhone 12 lineup. Apple is using a “5G Auto” setting it refers to as “Smart Data mode” as the default to give users a balance between network speed and battery life. Follow along for how to turn 5G on/off on iPhone 12, including how to keep it on permanently or turn it off completely.
The post iPhone 12: How to manually manage 5G to optimize for speed or battery life appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple this month announced a new Launch@Apple mentorship program that's designed for first-generation college students, with the program set to launch in early 2021. From a report: According to a PDF describing Launch@Apple, it is aimed at first-generation college freshmen and sophomores who are majoring in finance, mathematics, economics, business, data analytics, and accounting. It matches college students one-on-one with Apple mentors who are able to provide resources for learning and opportunities for professional growth, with the possibility of job shadowing, paid externships, and paid internships. Apple has not publicly announced Launch@Apple, and it's not entirely clear how the word is being spread. MyHealthyApple shared details this morning, and last week, a LinkedIn post highlighted the program. Ahead of when Launch begins in early 2021, Apple is accepting applications from students with a wide range of GPAs.
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| Read more »China’s crackdown on Jack Ma’s empire is far from over: The country’s regulators have ordered the Ma-founded Alibaba affiliate Ant Group to scale down its business. In particular, they’ve ordered the company to “return to its origins” as a payment pr...
| Read more »While we typically focus on LG’s outstanding OLED TVs, it also has LCD panels, and for 2021 it will unveil a new line with Mini LED tech. Branded QNED, they will occupy a high-end slot in the company’s LCD line, although its flagship technology will...
| Read more »The Trump administration on Monday continued its crusade against TikTok with the appeal of a December court order that bars government agencies from imposing restrictions on the company.Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols issued a preliminary injunction that prohibits the Department of Commerce from imposing rules which restrict internet carriers from handling the social media service's data. That ruling was appealed today, signaling Trump is unwilling to give up the fight before he leaves office, reports CNN.Days prior to Nichols' ruling, the U.S. government declined to extend a deadline that required TikTok developer ByteDance to divest the app. Authorities, however, subsequently...
| Read more »As 2020 comes to a close we have the usual slew of wrap-ups and college football bowl games, but not many video games or movies to look forward to. Fans of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will get the series finale later this week, followed...
| Read more »As reported in September, LG finally made the Apple TV app available for its 2018 OLED Smart TVs as the app was previously only available for the 2019 and 2020 LG OLED TV models. However, features like AirPlay 2 and HomeKit remained unavailable as the company promised the official release for later this year — which is now finally happening.
The post LG rolling out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support for its 2018 Smart TVs appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shared its latest set of drone regulations. When the new rules go into effect early next year, they’ll allow licensed drone operators to fly their UAVs at night, provided they complete additional t...
| Read more »Mux Video is an API to powerful video streaming (like Stripe for video), built by the founders of Zencoder and creators of Video.js, and a team of ex-YouTube and Twitch engineers. Take any video file or live stream and make it play beautifully at scale on any device, powered by magical-feeling features like automatic thumbnails, animated GIFs, and data-driven encoding decisions. Spend your time building what people want, not drudging through ffmpeg documentation.
| Read more »As the COVID-19 vaccine has begun to be distributed in the United States, Los Angeles County has developed a new way to let its residents prove that they have taken the vaccine. Citizens can now add the COVID-19 vaccination proof in the Apple Wallet app and in Google Pay for Passes.
The post COVID-19 vaccination proof can be added to Apple Wallet in Los Angeles appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Most rumors suggest Samsung will launch its new Galaxy S-series lineup earlier than usual this year. But even with a supposed January 14th reveal date, the S21 won’t be the first phone to come out with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 888 processor. That di...
| Read more »One of the biggest new features to arrive for HomePod this year is Intercom support. And the handy feature is now available to more people than ever with HomePod mini arriving and many likely being gifted one over the holidays. Follow along for how to set up and use the HomePod Intercom feature on the smart speakers and your other Apple devices.
The post Unwrap a new HomePod? Here’s how to set up the Intercom feature appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »If you unwrapped a new Apple Watch this holiday season, we’ve already rounded up some of our top tips for getting started. There are also a variety of third-party Apple Watch apps you can install to take your experience to the next level. Here are some of the best Apple Watch apps to try.
The post These are some of our must-have apps to install on a new Apple Watch appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Bitcoin’s massive leaps and volatile swings have brought a lot of new people to the technology. We’ll explain what Bitcoin is, how Bitcoin works, how Bitcoin wallets work, and throw a mention in for getting free Bitcoins through faucets.
What Is Bitcoin?
In 2013, Bryan penned his first Bitcoin primer, but these are the things we’ve found most people new to Bitcoin want to know today:
Christmas may be over, but the holiday deals are still going strong. So if you didn’t get a pair of shiny new AirPods Pro under the tree, Woot is selling a brand new pair for the best price we’ve ever seenRemove non-product link: $189 complete with a full year warranty direct from Apple.
To read this article in full, please click here
| Read more »Tesla is preparing to push into a potentially vast market for its electric vehicles. Reports have suggested the company will expand into India in early 2021. While that might not occur as soon as January, CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter the move would...
| Read more »Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Sponsored by HabitMinder: Change your habits, change your life. HabitMinder helps you form healthy habits and stay accountable. Get started for free on iOS, Mac, and Apple Watch.
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| Read more »Michigan Public Health notified participants in the Apple Hearing Study that the extra data it accidentally collected has been deleted, and an update to the app will prevent the issue from popping up again.Apple Hearing Study collects more data than intendedApple launched the Research app in 2019 alongside three health studies, one of them for hearing health. The Apple Hearing Study is conducted by the World Health Organization and the University of Michigan.
| Read more »There is currently a lot of excitement around the prospect of an Apple car in the relatively near future. However, analysts, including the well-known Ming-Chi Kuo, have poured some cold water on the speculation.
Analysts Think Apple Lagging on Tech Key to Car Rollout
In a note published over the weekend seen by CNBC, Mr. Kuo wrote:
We believe that the current so-called Apple car concept stocks are only speculations by the market and do not involve actual Apple car suppliers. We also think that because EV/self-driving car technical specs are still evolving, it is too early to talk about the final specs of the Apple car.
Mr. Kuo described the market on the Apple car as “too bullish” as well. He said that the earlier he believes such a...
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