Elon Musk, in a BBC interview, talks about the Tesla Model 3, in production next year, designed to be affordable for the masses. When asked about Apple’s plans, he (almost reluctantly, it seems) makes the point that it is an open secret that Apple is working on a car of their own.
Apple
Bill Ford isn’t scared of Apple
This is a great read. Veteran journalist Steven Levy got the chance to interview Ford’s Executive Chairman Bill Ford (former CEO and namesake Henry Ford’s great-grandson). Like everything Steven Levy writes, this is well written, thoughtful, and entertaining.
How Apple is disrupting the traditional ad agency model
Avi Dan, writing for Forbes, makes the case that Apple is disrupting the traditional ad agency model. I think the point has merit, but disruption isn’t quite right.
Apple: “No, we’re not making an iPhone-to-Android switching tool”
A definitive “No we’re not” from Apple.
Aaron Sorkin wins Best Screenplay Golden Globe for Steve Jobs
There’s a jarring dissonance between Sorkin’s obvious skills as a writer and the way his movie was perceived by people in the Applesphere.
Six Colors: The 2015 Apple Report Card
Interesting results, from iPhone at the very top to HomeKit at the very bottom. Interestingly, reports back from CES say that the Internet of Things marketplace is a real mess with five different competing standards. It’s no surprise that HomeKit is ranked so poorly.
WSJ: Apple News app passing inaccurate numbers to publishers
An embarrassing hiccough that Apple News did not need.
Burberry brings app to Apple TV with live fashion show
Burberry brings a new app to Apple TV that combines live fashion shows with other content.
Chevy commercial features Apple CarPlay
A new commercial for the 2016 Chevy Malibu features a short mention of Apple CarPlay that starts at about 1:01 into the video shown below. This video is a longer version than the one that aired this weekend, but the Apple CarPlay mention here is exactly the same as the one that aired.
Screenshot shows Facebook building Messenger for Mac
If true, always good to see major Mac projects.
Use your iPhone to draw a floor plan of your house
This is a pretty cool idea for an app. Open up RoomScan, then hold it against each wall of a room until you hear a beep. RoomScan records the various locations and uses them to build a floor plan. Check out the main post for an embedded video (15 seconds) that shows the app in action.
Watch MacHeads documentary free online
MacHeads is a funky look back at the Mac’s passionate following. You longtime Mac users might recognize a lot of the folks in this documentary, including our own Shawn King. This brought back a lot of memories.
Judge: Lawyer who filed class-action suit against Apple is “manifestly incompetent”
Ouch.
Apple shares open below $100 for first time since 2014. But why?
Why the stock drop when Apple is breaking all sorts of sales records? One explanation is a possible inventory buildup.
Reverse engineering the date for WWDC
My take on the likeliest week for WWDC this year, based on the booking schedule for Moscone West.
Vidyo, a screen recorder for iOS
Federico Viticci turns up an iOS screen recorder, worth a look. If it solves a problem for you, best get it now. The sense is that Apple will pull this from the App Store.
On Apple entering the car market
Horace Dediu’s interesting take on Apple entering the car market, comparing that risk to the risk Apple took entering the smart phone market.
Interview with Apple COO Jeff Williams
This audio interview gives you a chance to get to know Jeff Williams. He’s a well-spoken advocate for Apple’s health care efforts.
Apple announces record breaking Holiday Season for the App Store
$20 billion spent in apps last year. That is an incredible number.
Tablo brings live network TV, DVR Functionality To Apple TV
Tablo is bringing an Apple TV app to its DVR product. Will this be the first of many such products for the Apple TV ecosystem?
Alternatives to Apple’s Wi-Fi base stations
Glenn Fleishman, writing for TidBits, looks at replacements for Apple’s long-in-the-tooth Airport lineup. A solid, educational read.
Magnetic breakaway USB-C cable for the new MacBook
Good idea. I wonder why Apple didn’t ship something like this.
Why Messages randomly starts recording audio
Long story short, there’s a setting in Messages called Raise to Listen that will turn on recording when you raise your phone to your ear. Read the post if you are interested in how all this works. I found it fascinating.
Lawsuit alleges Apple feigned partnership with Valencell to glean key Apple Watch heart rate sensor tech
Bad business. Presumably, the truth will out on this.
Nice little collection of Mac shortcuts, tips, and tricks
There’s something in this collection for even the most seasoned Mac power user, a two part series with lots of useful tips and tricks.
Apple official Siri Apple TV support page
There have been a number of posts laying out things you can ask of Siri, but none of them are as comprehensive as Apple’s official Siri Apple TV support page. Bookmark and pass along.
Apple questions for 2016
Writing for Above Avalon, Neil Cybart pulled together a thoughtful set of questions for Apple, all business/analysis related. Definitely worth reading through the lot.
Something tells me that there were a lot of Apple Watches under the tree this year
This is purely anecdotal, but I found it interesting nonetheless.
What to do if you forget your Mac’s password
A solid walkthrough of your options, worth reading now (while you still know your password), then tucking away for later (when you forget your password).
Ways to increase your iPhone and iPad security
Rene Ritchie walks through a variety of iOS security settings, shedding light on the recommended balance between security and convenience. Definitely worth reading.