Business

First version of Apple/Google contact tracing API will be available on April 28

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Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac:

Tim Cook held talks with European Commissioner Thierry Breton yesterday regarding the upcoming contact tracing frameworks, that Apple and Google are jointly collaborating on. The companies announced a privacy-preserving API that allows devices to be notified when another user’s device who reports positive for COVID-19 was in close proximity, based on Bluetooth, without sharing the identities of said user.

And:

In a press conference following the call, iGeneration reports that Breton said Cook told him that the first version of the contact tracing API will be available on April 28.

And:

In a phase two followup said to arrive in the months ahead, Apple and Google will build parts of this system directly into the OS. This means an app download won’t be needed to get contact tracing proximity alerts.

No matter when this rolls out, it will have value in the long haul, a vital tool to help prevent the wandering in the dark we’re experiencing now.

Home — Inside Look | Apple TV+

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[VIDEO] Apple:

Behind every home lies a story. Learn more about how the unique series #Home, was made.

Nine episodes, all available now. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Using your iOS device as a webcam for your Mac

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Came across this tweet from Matt Cassinelli this morning:

https://twitter.com/mattcassinelli/status/1251918156563529728

Being able to use your iPhone as a webcam, especially in coronavirus time, is a great idea. It’d be a wonderful add for folks with older Macs, lower quality cameras. And for folks who do live streaming (reporters, or late night talk show hosts), they could do camera to camera cuts, perhaps with different over the shoulder shot images.

There is a way to use your smartphone as a webcam, using a third party app.

There are some downsides to this approach, however (not the least is that the app featured in the Verge story breaks with the latest Zoom release). It’d be so much nicer if Apple opened up an API to make this capability available at the system level.

A tough-love, detailed review of the Magic Keyboard

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Jeremy Horwitz, VentureBeat, delivers a real-world review, warts and all. A few highlights, just to give you a sense of the whole thing:

The Magic Keyboard has a vinyl body rather than metal (or Apple’s other iPad accessory material option, leather), so it’s highly likely to show signs of wear after a year or so of typical use. My unit’s exterior showed smudges within seconds of sitting on my dining room table.

And:

Both the top and bottom of the case appear to be reinforced internally with sturdy metal plates, However, the parts of the Magic Keyboard that are exposed to air will likely wear like plastic, including the entirely plastic palmrest area, which will probably become shiny over time as it rubs against your hands.

And:

Hidden in the new hinge: an additional USB-C port. Initial testing suggests that this port delivers power (at a reduced speed) to both the iPad Pro and keyboard, but Apple makes no guarantees about its data performance. In other words, the iPad Pro’s own USB-C port is now free for any type of accessory you might want to connect, while the keyboard port can be reliably used for charging.

And:

The iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard is not as impressive as either the Mac’s Magic Trackpad 2 or Magic Trackpad. It’s much smaller — almost identical to the size of a business card, just a little wider — and it’s fully mechanical rather than haptic, so you actually press it down rather than just feeling click vibrations. Apple’s only remaining “magic” here is its thinness, which is aided by this Magic Keyboard’s lack of any internal battery.

Great work, Jeremy. Lots more to this review, well worth reading.

Why Apple’s iPad is the gadget of the pandemic

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New York Times:

In a flatlining economy, the $399 iPhone that Apple introduced last week might sound attractive. But there’s a better gadget deal in the pandemic: the iPad.

And:

It’s time for us to reconsider the iPad. Last week, I wrote about how the coronavirus had revealed our most essential tech and weeded out the excess. The tech we have turned to over and over boils down to a computing device, communication tools, entertainment and an internet connection. The iPad delivers on all of those needs even better than a smartphone.

And:

So why the iPad and not another tablet computer? After all, many of the same tasks can be done on cheaper tablets, like Amazon’s $50 Fire HD 8.

Yet those other devices are generally much slower and have inferior screens. The iPad is ultimately the best tablet on the market.

Brian X. Chen, hard to disagree with any of this.

Apple TV+ gets down in Fraggle Rock

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Hollywood Reporter:

Apple TV+ has picked up a shortform series from The Jim Henson Co. featuring the beloved stars of the 1980s favorite in a new adventure, called Fraggle Rock: Rock On. The show, which is now available for free on the streamer, features episodes that are between three and five minutes apiece. New episodes will debut Tuesdays on Apple TV+.

The teaser, embedded below, plays off the strength of that theme song, ear-wormed into a generation of kids (and adults).

For folks new to the Jim Henson series, here’s the original Fraggle Rock open.

HBO Max set to launch May 27th, buries the lede

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From the HBO Max press release:

The slate includes the scripted comedy Love Life, starring Anna Kendrick; Sundance 2020 Official Selection feature documentary On the Record; underground ballroom dance competition series Legendary; Craftopia, hosted by YouTube sensation LaurDIY; the all-new Looney Tunes Cartoons, from Warner Bros. Animation; and Sesame Workshop’sThe Not Too Late Show with Elmo (full program details available below.)

And:

Max Originals will continue to premiere on the streamer at a regular cadence through summer and fall including The Flight Attendant, starring and executive produced by Kaley Cuoco, from Berlanti Productions and based on the novel by New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian; the highly anticipated Friends unscripted cast reunion special; all-new original episodes of the critically acclaimed DC fan favorite Doom Patrol; the return of the critically beloved mystery comedy Search Party with a brand new season; the three-part documentary series Expecting Amy, an unfiltered and intimate view into comedian Amy Schumer’s life on tour creating a stand-up special during her difficult pregnancy; sci-fi series Raised by Wolves from director and executive producer Ridley Scott, the award-winning creator behind The Martian, Gladiator, and Blade Runner; the adult animated comedy Close Enough, from J.G. Quintel (creator of Cartoon Network’s Emmy-winning Regular Show), a hilarious look at the surreal life of a millennial family living with roommates; and Adventure Time: Distant Lands- BMO, the first of four breakout specials resurrecting Cartoon Network’s Emmy and Peabody award-winning franchise Adventure Time.

So far, no tentpole content. Interesting that they are leading the press release with all unknown material. Imagine if Disney Plus led their announcement with no Marvel, no Pixar, no big Disney titles, purely leaning on direct-to-video Disney movies.

Buried down below:

The new offering will be bundled with the HBO service including all of HBO’s premium originals such as Westworld, Big Little Lies, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, Veep, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Insecure, Succession,Watchmen, Barry, Euphoria, The Jinx, The Sopranos and more.

And:

Streaming for the first time ever in the U.S., 20 films from Japan’s legendary Studio Ghibli animation house will be available on HBO Max at launch, including Academy Award® winner Spirited Away and Academy Award nominees Howl’s Moving Castle and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, as well as fan favorites My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Fans of all ages will be able to enjoy these wonder-filled films any time they want.

And:

Available films will include Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, The Matrix, The Goonies, When Harry Met Sally, The Lord of the Rings, Citizen Kane, Gremlins, and the Lego movies, along with every DC film from the last decade, including Wonder Woman, Justice League, and every Batman and Superman movie from the last 40 years.

Way to bury the lede.

Apple adds refurbished Apple Watch Series 5

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In the market for an Apple Watch Series 5? Here’s what you get with a refurbished Apple Watch from Apple:

All refurbished Apple Watch models are backed by a one-year warranty, free delivery and returns, and also include:

  • Full functional testing and a thorough cleaning
  • The original Operating System or a more recent version1
  • All refurbished devices are repackaged in a brand new box with all accessories and cables

If I could get a Series 5 on sale cheaper elsewhere, of course I’d go for that. But if not, this is worth a look.

Side note: This was the footnote at the bottom of the refurbish page:

We approximate your location from your internet IP address by matching it to a geographic region or from the location entered during your previous visit to Apple.

Interesting.

Gruber’s Magic Keyboard review

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Love this opening salvo:

Greatly anticipating its arrival, I unboxed the iPad Pro Magic Keyboard as soon as it appeared at my door, and before I even attached my iPad Pro, I was put off. It felt too stiff to open. Then I did attach my iPad Pro (immediate thought: “Man, these magnets are strong”), closed and opened the iPad-as-laptop configuration a few times, and formed a crushingly disappointing first impression. I didn’t like it.

But read on. The rest of the review is a bit of a love letter to the Magic Keyboard. Chock full of fascinating detail, this is the Magic Keyboard review to read, Gruber at his best.

Apple TV+ Beastie Boys Story review

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The Apple TV+ Beastie Boys documentary goes live this Friday. This review captures the spirit of the documentary pretty well. It’s got some spoilers, but if you are a fan, you probably know all this stuff anyway.

Definitely on my Up Next.

Apple expands reach of Apple Services

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Apple:

Apple announced that starting today, even more customers around the world can enjoy many of Apple’s most popular Services. The App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and iCloud are now available in 20 more countries, and Apple Music is available in 52 additional countries.

This is important news. Apple is turning a massive, slow moving ship, from dependence on iPhone sales to more and more dependence on services.

Two more Magic Keyboard videos

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[VIDEO] First up, Dieter Bohn from The Verge, followed by iJustine. Videos embedded in main Loop post.

Hands on with the Magic Keyboard

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[VIDEO] The video is available in 4K (you’ll need to switch to Google Chrome for 4K). At the default 720p, I could not make out the Apple logo on the case. Interesting.

I love how stiff the hinge is. Exactly my preference for a touchscreen stand. I don’t want taps changing the viewing angle. Well done.

Also worth noting is that the trackpad might look a bit small, but it maps exactly from the top of the iPad Pro 11″ screen to the bottom.

Jump to about 7:52 in for details on shortcuts and gestures.

Great video. Embedded in main Loop post.

Apple Maps team continues working, even during pandemic

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Justin O’Beirne:

Would Apple continue working on its new map during the pandemic?

We seemingly got our answer when Apple started testing a new map expansion last month and then released it a few weeks later.

And:

But Apple hasn’t just been expanding—it’s also been updating the areas it has already mapped, such as here in Chicago.

Follow the link to Justin’s excellent site, scroll through to see what’s new. The Maps team has been busy!

Why Apple has stopped making small phones—and why it should start again

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Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, does a good job laying out both sides of this long-simmering argument. Why Apple should, why they likely won’t ever again release a 4″ iPhone.

Jim and I discussed this on last week’s Dalrymple Report. The new iPhone SE tells the tale, I think.

I think it boils down to this: I believe people who would prefer a smaller iPhone are still buying an iPhone. They are not moving to another platform. From a sales perspective, there’s no incentive for Apple to make a smaller phone. This ship has sailed.

Apple TV+ shares Home trailer, series available to watch now

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[VIDEO] Apple TV+:

Discover the groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories behind the world’s most imaginative dwellings. In this globe-spanning docuseries, meet the visionaries who are challenging conventional concepts of “home” and rethinking how we live.

Beautifully filmed, stories well told. I’ve been watching, think this stacks up well against other architectural shows. Trailer embedded in main Loop post.

How iPhone LCD displays are made

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[VIDEO] This is a pretty fascinating, behind the scenes look at how some iPhone displays (LCD, but not OLED) are made. When you think LCD, think older iPhones, as well as the iPhone XR and the brand new iPhone SE. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Apple lays out coming changes to Mac battery management

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The current version of the public release of macOS Catalina is 10.15.4.

In the beta of macOS Catalina 10.15.5 is an update of the Energy Saver System Preferences pane. Follow the link for details.

From Apple’s post:

macOS Catalina 10.15.5 introduces battery health management, a feature designed to improve the lifespan of your Mac notebook’s battery.

And:

All rechargeable batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they get older—and their age isn’t determined only by time. A battery’s lifespan depends on its chemical age, which is affected by factors such as its temperature history and charging pattern. As your notebook’s battery ages chemically, its charging capacity gets smaller.

And:

The battery health management feature in macOS 10.15.5 is designed to improve your battery’s lifespan by reducing the rate at which it chemically ages. The feature does this by monitoring your battery’s temperature history and its charging patterns.

Based on the measurements that it collects, battery health management may reduce your battery’s maximum charge when in this mode. This happens as needed to ensure that your battery charges to a level that’s optimized for your usage—reducing wear on the battery, and slowing its chemical aging.

Bottom line, you’ll get this new battery intelligence when you update to macOS Catalina 10.15.5. Automatically.

If you’ve held off updating to Catalina, this is a strong reason to make the leap, once 10.15.5 becomes public.

Gruber’s take on the new iPhone SE

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This is not about Gruber’s review of the SE, this is from a post titled, “The Quadrennial iPhone SE Schedule”.

A few highlights:

The fact that our collective concern about the time we spend on our phones has grown alongside the physical size of our phones is not a coincidence. The 4-inch 2016 iPhone SE felt like a statement in that regard, whether intended by Apple or not.

An excellent point. Though I still wish for a 4″ form factor, for folks with small hands, no pockets. But we do spend ever more time, do an increasing amount with our phones. Much of that work depends on, and is made possible by, a more complex processor, one that depends on a bigger body for heat dissipation and a larger battery. Not to mention more components.

I think the 4″ form-factor has sailed, part of the past.

Gruber talks about the SE name. From this Fortune article by Jason Cipriani:

Shortly after Apple announced the iPhone SE, I had the chance to ask Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, the meaning of “SE” in the phone’s name, which deviates slightly from its previous “S” format. SE is an abbreviation for “Special Edition,” Schiller said, a name that, to him, recalled the Macintosh SE, a computer the company released in the late 1980s.

Back to Gruber:

Now we have a second iPhone SE — the first time Apple has reused an old name for a new iPhone. What makes “special edition” apt for the two iPhones bearing the SE name is the way they differ, strategically, from regular edition iPhones.

You could argue that the iPhone X could have been called the iPhone SE, but I do get the naming logic there. That was a fork in the road model, not a one-off special edition.

There’s so much more to Gruber’s post. Take the time to make your way through the whole thing. It’s a terrific read.

AnandTech digs into the details of the new iPhone SE

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I found this useful: AnandTech built a side-by-side chart comparing the specs of the iPhone SE vs all the iPhones 11.

One spec, Battery Life, shown as ?? in the AnandTech chart, is listed on China Telecom’s web site as 1,821 mAh, the same as the iPhone 8.

Also, iPhone SE RAM is said to be 3GB, compared to the 2GB of the iPhone 8. Via the same source.

Rene Ritchie digs into the new iPhone SE

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[VIDEO] Lots of solid takes here (video embedded in main Loop post). Worth watching.

And reminder, this is Rene’s new channel, so hit subscribe, even if you already subscribed to Vector.

iPhone SE: Apple’s “Why upgrade” page

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The tagline is:

iPhone SE vs. your iPhone. Go.

Pick your iPhone model on the left, scroll to see various comparisons between the new SE and what you have now. Apple’s been doing this side-by-side forever, but this page is specific to the SE.

Good link to share for folks considering the new phone.

My take? This is a great deal, especially for folks running older gear, or folks looking to dip their toes into the Apple ecosystem. I think Apple will sell a ton of these.

Wheels for your Mac Pro: $699, free shipping

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Joining the Apple tax stratosphere club, a set of wheels for your Mac Pro, $699.

Been thinking about this pricing. The best I can come up with was this: These are custom wheels, with custom-made attachments. Apple will not sell a ton of these (limited number of Mac Pros, and a limited subset of those folks will want wheels) and so they had to amortize the cost to develop these wheels among those limited sales.

Wondering if somewhere in the hallowed halls, this high price is seen as embellishing the brand, raising the prestige.

Whatever the logic, I see $699 for a set of wheels for my computer (with no wheel locks) as extraordinary.

LIDAR: Peek Into The Future With iPad Pro

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Post from Sebastiaan de With, founder of Halide, a best-selling (and for good reason) iPhone camera app.

If you are not particularly interested in the camera aspects of the new iPad Pro, skip down about halfway to the section titled, “The Depth Sensor”. That’s where, for me, this post really gets interesting.

Some great explaining, and some really clarifying animated GIFs. This is now my go-to post for passing along to folks who ask about Apple, AR, and LIDAR.

Great read.

Rare prototype of the first Apple Watch

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Motherboard:

Giulio Zompetti, a 27-year-old from Northern Italy, told Motherboard that he purchased half a dozen early prototypes of Apple Watch recently, and is planning to fix them and sell them for thousands of dollars. Zompetti declined to say where exactly he purchased the devices from, but said they come from e-waste facilities. The prototypes he obtained are all broken, but key components are still intact, making it possible to repair them, he said.

Lots of pictures in the linked article.

AirPods: Automatically and instantly switch between iPhone, Mac & iPad

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MacKungFu:

If you open an app you normally use with AirPods, your iPhone or iPad will automatically connect to your AirPods if they’re in your ears – essentially, “stealing” them from whatever they’re currently connected to (for example, your Mac). No need to manually select and connect to them!

This process requires a bit of Shortcuts work. But the steps are very well laid out. A fun project, if you’ve got some time on your hands.

Training Face ID to recognize you with a mask on

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Try as I might, I have not been able to unlock my iPhone with a mask on. Makes sense. With a mask on, my nose is gone, my beard is gone. My own family couldn’t recognize me.

If you have this same experience, give this training process a try, see if it works for you.