Apple CEO Tim Cook laid out his company’s plans for the vast Indian market in a meeting Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in turn sought Apple’s support for his “Digital India” initiative focusing on e-education, health and increasing farmers’ incomes.
It’s fine that India ask for help from Apple, but the country is going to have to give something too—you can’t ban Apple from selling used iPhones and then ask them for help.
Amid a growing number of complaints over iOS 9.3.2 bricking some 9.7-inch iPad Pro models, Apple yesterday pulled the iOS 9.3.2 update. 9.7-inch iPad Pro users who have not installed iOS 9.3.2 no longer see the update, with iOS 9.3.1 now listed as the most current version of iOS 9 available for download.
Very specific problem for one model of the iPad. Weird.
Mr. Cook said he was not chasing market share in India but wanted to partner with telecom operators to enhance the quality of services. “We are in India for the next thousand years. Our horizon is very long. We are focussed on best, not most. So it doesn’t bother me that we don’t have top market share,” he said.
Apple is committed to its new markets, no doubt about that.
The plan involved a sequence for the final three minutes of episode 595 (entitled “Simprovised”) that would be acted and animated in real time. The idea was to feature skilled improviser Dan Castellaneta, as Homer Simpson, responding to questions from live callers—real ones, who dialed a toll-free number—as a series of other animations played around him. The beginning and ending lines would be scripted but would still be performed in real time.
I find this an incredible achievement. Imagine an entire episode performed live.
I’m a fan of Apple Support’s Twitter account (@AppleSupport).
I wish there was a way to teach Siri to better understand my pronunciation of other words, like Draymond Green. The technique @AppleSupport shows in the linked tweet works for names in your address book, but not for other names and other words.
On March 31 the Beijing Higher People’s Court upheld earlier rulings by a lower court and China’s trademark arbitration board that Xintong Tiandi had the right to use “iPhone” for products in Class 18 of the international trademark classification system, since Xintong Tiandi acquired the trademark in 2007 when the iPhone name was “not renowned” in China, the court ruled. Apple has the rights in Class 9, which covers computers and smartphones. Class 18 covers leather goods.
You’ve no doubt heard of that case. But here’s the kicker:
Xintong Tiandi didn’t exist in 2007. A Russian company acquired the rights then and Xintong Tiandi bought the rights from it in 2011, the Chinese company’s lawyer, Xiong Zhi, said in a telephone interview. Public company filings show that Xintong Tiandi was set up in 2011.
Intellectual property protection is critically important for any company that spends money on research and development. From this article from Seeking Alpha [Free Reg-wall]:
It’s probably no coincidence that Apple chose a private company for its first truly major investment in China. By pumping money into an existing firm like Didi with big growth potential, Apple avoided China’s problematic state-run sector and also minimized its risk of intellectual property (IP) theft that is rampant in the country. By comparison, India’s receipt of an R&D center plays to its strength as a software development hub, and also its stronger security systems for protecting IP.
And:
Minister Miao Wei was quoted saying he hoped Apple could improve its R&D activities in China and also provide a secure user experience.
Apple is walking a fine line here, opening an R&D center in India and not (at least yet) in China. Tricky business.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan played host to Apple CEO Tim Cook at a private dinner at his home, Mannat, on Wednesday in the presence of Bollywood superstars and celebrities.
And:
Earlier in the evening, Film and TV Producers Guild of India president Mukesh Bhatt took Cook on a tour of the sets of his new horror film Raaz 4 at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai. “People from the Apple group got in touch with me, saying that Tim would not want to skip Bollywood on his first visit to India. I showed him around the sets. He seemed keen to see how Apple could partner with the industry – after all, movies don’t have to be made by just big film producers these days, it can be shot on an iPhone.
Bhatt said Cook asked questions about the studio’s history. “I found him to be down-to-earth, sensitive, passionate. His best quality is that he is a great listener,” said Bhatt, who also attended Shah Rukh’s party later in the night.
Tim Cook is a CEO and an ambassador, doing all he can to open India and China’s doors to Apple.
M.G. Siegler, writing about a closing keynote speech Steve Jobs gave at the 1997 WWDC conference (recalls that Steve Jobs was newly returned to Apple at the time):
It’s almost unbelievable how prescient nearly everything Steve Jobs says here actually is. If not all of it came to pass, nearly all of it did. And he spoke about things in great detail. As Rands notes, Jobs wasn’t underestimating the future, he was writing it, seemingly on the fly in that conversation.
This is one of my favorite Steve Jobs videos. He’s blunt, passionate, and you can feel him pulling this audience along with him.
This project was led by prosthetic artist Sophie De Oliveria Brata, founder of the Alternative Limb Project. Open Bionics, another prosthetics company, was in charge of the manufacturing and the 3D printing of the arm’s hands.
At £60,000, this carbon-fiber limb is controlled by muscle signals from James. He can shake hands, lift groceries, and even pick up coins. More excitingly, it features an interactive screen, a flashlight, a USB port for charging phones, and even a drone on the side—all battery powered.
This is insanely cool. Not cool enough that I’d want to try it but still pretty cool.
It’s not often that Apple invites journalists to its stores for a preview anymore, but today was a bit different. Apple not only unveiled its new San Francisco store, it also explained its new strategy for its major retail outlets, including enhancements in customer experience through the integration of cutting-edge luxury retail clienteling software. It can also improve the store look and help you organize by using shelves from Mills Shelving. These shelves not only maximize your available space but also enhance the overall aesthetic of your store, making it more inviting to customers.
As I sat listening to Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of retail and online stores, it became clear very quickly that Apple kept its attention to detail in the design of the location, but completely rethought how it functioned.
“Fifteen years ago today Apple opened its first two stores and we’re thrilled to mark the occasion with the opening of Apple Union Square in San Francisco,” said Ahrendts. “We are not just evolving our store design, but its purpose and greater role in the community as we educate and entertain visitors and serve our network of local entrepreneurs.”
Ahrendts said the company even thought about how sections of the Apple stores were named, like the Genius Bar. The word “bar” brings up thoughts of a busy, noisy space—not really what you’re looking for when trying to talk to an expert about your problems.
Apple renamed it the Genius Grove and added trees and seating, which gives it a more relaxed look and feel. It’s calming.
While Ahrendts talked about Jony Ive and some design elements of the store, like the 42 foot tall doors that open 40 feet wide, she focused most of her talk on the “purpose” of the store itself.
In all, Apple said they were unveiling five new features in the San Francisco Apple Store:
“The Avenue,” inspired by the window displays along a boulevard that dynamically change with the season. Avenue walls are interactive themed “windows” where Apple’s products and services come to life, from music, to creativity, apps, photography and more. New “Creative Pros,” Apple experts in creative arts, offer advice and expertise at each of the displays. Customers will also find “Only at Apple” products on the Avenue, a curated collection of third-party accessories.
“Genius Grove” invites customers to get support working side-by-side with Geniuses under the comfortable canopy of local trees in the heart of the store.
“The Forum” is a vibrant gathering place, centered around a 6K Video Wall. It is home to “Today at Apple,” which brings to the community the world’s most talented artists, photographers, musicians, gamers, developers and entrepreneurs to inspire and educate our customers to go further with the things they are passionate about. Today at Apple includes year-round programs for kids, new monthly events for teachers, sessions for current and aspiring developers, Creative Sessions in partnership with local experts in creative arts, Game Night with editors from Apple’s App Store and more. The Forum and Video Wall are a place of discovery, including events about the making of movies from iTunes, or exclusive premieres of new music and music videos from Apple Music.
“The Plaza” will be found only at Apple’s most significant stores, including Apple Union Square. It’s open to the public 24 hours a day, features public Wi-Fi and seating, and takes Today at Apple outside, with a regular weekend series of well known local acoustic performances such as Travis Hayes and global talents like Escondido, who will then give exclusive interviews about their craft in the Forum. The Plaza at Apple Union Square features a fountain by well-known San Francisco sculptor Ruth Asawa, originally commissioned in 1969, and a new work, “Love” by local artist Laura Kimpton, commissioned by Hyatt Hotels.
“The Boardroom” is an intimate space where the store’s Business Team offers hands-on advice and training to entrepreneurs, developers and other small and medium business customers.
By looking at the list, it’s easy to say that some of these features have been around for a while—you would be partially correct. The Genius Bar has been a staple of Apple stores for years, but yet, I feel like they are different.
Apple is becoming a larger part of the communities where they do business. Not just the tech community or for the people that are buying products, but the larger community.
It’s not just Apple, the gigantic company, it’s an individual store, with local people working there, local entrepreneurs presenting, local businesses learning, and local artists inspiring and educating.
The Apple store in San Francisco felt different. It felt good.
Google did not pay to use Oracle’s software in millions of smartphones, but the company believed that the intellectual property was free for anyone to use, Larry Page, chief executive of Google’s parent company, told jurors in court on Thursday.
If I tell you to imagine a beach, you can picture the golden sand and turquoise waves. If I ask for a red triangle, your mind gets to drawing. And Mom’s face? Of course.
You experience this differently, sure. Some of you see a photorealistic beach, others a shadowy cartoon. Some of you can make it up, while others only “see” a beach they’ve visited. Some of you have to work harder to paint the canvas. Some of you can’t hang on to the canvas for long. But nearly all of you have a canvas.
I don’t. I have never visualized anything in my entire life. I can’t “see” my father’s face or a bouncing blue ball, my childhood bedroom or the run I went on 10 minutes ago. I thought “counting sheep” was a metaphor. I’m 30 years old, and I never knew a human could do any of this. And it is blowing my goddamn mind.
While I’m not as afflicted as the story’s writer, I have many of the same issues. When I say/type the word “cube”, the vast majority of you will see a three-dimensional cube in your mind’s eye. I don’t have a mind’s eye. I see the actual word “cube”. It’s the only way I can visualize it. It’s probably why I have such an incredibly bad sense of direction. I can’t visualize the three-dimensionality of geography and place myself spatially. Maps mean nothing to me because I can’t imagine my place in the in the 3D space.
CEO of Tekserve Jerry Gepner got in touch to fill us in on the details. He writes:
“I want to state clearly that Tekserve has no plans to close, but we will morph with the times.”
“We are indeed winding down our retail store operation. This is not due simply to major vendors squeezing margins for their resellers and channel partners, but more down to the changing face of retail in general. Over the past several years, consumer buying habits and options have changed, particularly with respect to consumer electronics. The small specialty retailer is rapidly becoming a thing of the past, and Tekserve is no different in that respect.”
First spotted in a tweet by Arik Hesseldahl, this story, while not unexpected, still makes me sad. Tekserve is one of the few remaining cool, old school, Mac retail stores. They had a fabulous vibe, true nerds behind the counter, a great location and wonderful staff and ownership. While they will stick around, their retail location will be missed.
The Loop and iMore are happy to announce that RSVPs for the Beard Bash 2016 are now open. We have a great night of music and fun planned for the night of June 13, 2016 and we hope you’ll join us.
You must be 21 or older to attend the party because we will be serving alcohol—IDs will be checked at the door. You also must bring your RSVP to the event, which will also be checked at the door. Luckily, the RSVP can be placed in your Apple Wallet on the iPhone. Please arrive early—we expect a large crowd and we want everyone to have a great time. Here is an useful source where one can find medical solutions for grooming and a better beard growth.
The party will be held at The Mezzanine in San Francisco, one of the city’s finest live music venues. We will have two bands this year. The party will kick off with a San Francisco staple of rock music, The Department of Rock. This band is a lot of fun and they have an incredible setlist.
The party’s headlining band will be familiar to many of you: Airplane Mode, an indie rock band from New York City. Known for their heavy use of Apple products on-stage, founding members (Dave Wiskus and Joe Cieplinski) have strong ties to the iOS developer community.
The party will be on Monday, June 13, 2016 from 8:00-11:00 pm and we will have free beer and wine available.
We have a few of great sponsors for this years Beard Bash including Pixelmator, MacPaw, Hover, and Microsoft. We thank them for their support and for making this event a reality.
Apple today announced the opening of a new office in Hyderabad that will focus on development of Maps for Apple products, including iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. This investment will accelerate Maps development and create up to 4,000 jobs.
“I hope Apple can expand its business in China, deepen its cooperation in research and development and industrial supply chains, and provide a convenient and secure user experience for Chinese consumers,” said Miao Wei, the head of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The whole point of this is not to show you how to process your own image, but to give you an insight as to my thought process when I’m processing my images. The specifics of each step won’t help you, but hopefully you’ll come to realize that you’re probably having the exact same conversations in your head that I usually am. And at the end of the day, it’s your story to tell…and this was mine.
I love this kind of photography and would love to attempt it someday myself but it can be quite an involved and sometimes complicated process. Thanks very much to @varunorcv for the link.
This is an incredibly well presented oral history of the Run DMC reimagining of Aerosmith’s seminal Walk This Way. From the Washington Post:
It’s 1986. Rap music is explosive and on the rise but still misunderstood and barely represented in the mainstream. The leading innovators are Run-DMC, a trio from Queens who sport black leather jackets and unlaced Adidas sneakers. Two albums into their career, Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell are already minor stars and musical revolutionaries. For their third album, producer Rick Rubin, a 22-year-old white kid from New York University, comes up with a crazy idea: He recruits Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the leaders of the down-and-out arena-rock group Aerosmith, to collaborate with Run-DMC on a new version of their 1970s staple “Walk This Way.”
The rappers hate the idea. The rockers, struggling with drugs and low record sales, don’t know what to make of Rubin’s pitch. But on a Sunday in March, they meet in a Manhattan recording studio to create what will become one of the most important songs of the modern pop era. This is the oral history of Run-DMC’s cover of “Walk This Way.”
This is a phenomenal presentation, much more than a simple oral history. There’s recently uncovered video from the studio and interview-style comments from the various players woven together as the story unfolds.
If you have even the slightest interest in music history, take the time to make your way through this gem.
Tim Cook wants to sell iPhones so badly he prayed to an elephant-headed god
And this from the article itself:
Cook visited the high-profile Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai before dawn on Wednesday to offer prayers to the Hindu elephant-headed god, Ganesha. One of the most worshipped Hindu deities, Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles. Hindus pray to Ganesha before starting anything new as he is said to bring an auspicious start.
My 2 cents, this is Tim Cook paying respects. Tim visiting a shrine or temple does not tell you anything about his motivations. That said, I did find this fascinating.
Interesting that there is a Siri menu bar icon as well as a dock icon. It’d be great if the dock icon represented a dedicated Siri app, one that you could interact with, teach, an app that exposed Siri’s model of your world so you could tweak things to make them work better.
Pichai’s example of a query Google Assistant can handle but which “other assistants” cannot was asking “What is Draymond Green’s jersey number?” I tried that query in the Google app on my iPhone. Got the right answer: 23. I tried with Alexa on my Echo, and got the response “Hmm. I can’t find the answer to the question I heard.” I tried with Siri, and I got this.
Follow John’s link and you’ll see a typical Siri response to a misunderstood query. Not useful, clearly a misunderstanding.
I tried the same thing:
Siri, what is Draymont Green’s jersey number
Note that I tried several times before I got even close to the right spelling of Draymond Green’s name (note the “d” instead of a “t”). Without the correct spelling, Siri is lost.
First things first, this is a context problem. If Siri knew I was a Golden State Warriors fan and had the ability to maintain that sort of context, Siri could resolve this. Alternatively, if Siri had an ongoing context of people in the news, famous people, or (knowing I asked for a jersey number) sports figures who played in games last night, Siri would be able to pick up on what I meant by my query.
Is this detailed contextual awareness coming? Watching the Google I/O keynote, you have a sense that this deep contextual model is a central part of Google’s new announcements. In addition, Google makes their assistant available to developers via an API. Apple, on the other hand, has a long tradition of keeping their R&D cards close to the vest. It’ll be very interesting to hear what Apple has to say about Siri and contextual awareness at WWDC.
OK, back to the Draymond Green jersey problem. Like John Gruber, try as I might, I could not get Siri to understand the name Draymond Green. The key was to edit my query.
Once Siri responded to the unintelligible Draymont (with a “t”) Green query, I dragged down on my screen to reveal the original query. I then tapped on the query to edit it, changed the “t” to a “d” and, lo and behold, Siri responded with:
Draymond Green’s jersey number is 23
Siri followed that with a picture and some stats, just what you’d expect.
Interestingly, you can edit the last Siri query, and you drag down to see previous queries, but you can only edit the last query.
Big thanks and a giant hat tip to Rob Davey for his help working through the logic here.
A previously undocumented requirement asks for a passcode in a very particular set of circumstances: When the iPhone or iPad hasn’t been unlocked with its passcode in the previous six days, and Touch ID hasn’t been used to unlock it within the last eight hours. It’s a rolling timeout, so each time Touch ID unlocks a device, a new eight-hour timer starts to tick down until the passcode is required. If you wondered why you were being seemingly randomly prompted for your passcode (or more complicated password), this is likely the reason.
Good to see Fleishman getting to the bottom of this but very annoying that Apple instituted this new procedure without letting the user know. Many of us have been confused and/or annoyed by this for months.
Mid-side processing can be a powerful tool when mixing, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can also screw it up, badly. I totally agree with this point:
In truth, 90% of a great mix comes from a really solid foundation in basic engineering and really strong decision making.
However, you can use mid-side to add a little something to the mix.
This morning in our Mountain View, CA backyard, we kicked off Google I/O, our annual developer conference. Much has changed since our first developer event 10 years ago, and even more since Google started 17 years ago. Back then, there were 300 million people online, connecting through desktop machines; today that number is over 3 billion, with the majority using mobile devices as their primary way to get information, organize their day, get from point A to point B, and stay in touch. In a world in which the mobile phone has become the remote control for our daily lives, Google’s mission “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” is truer and more important than ever before.
Google runs through all of its announcements from today.
Today we are launching fast.com, a simple-to-use website to help you see how fast your Internet connection is, whether on mobile or broadband, anywhere in the world. And like the Netflix service, it’s ad free with a streamlined design that is quick and easy to understand.
Google is announcing a new messaging app today. It’s called Allo and its main feature is a Google assistant that’s built right in. Google says it’ll be available later this summer — for free — on both iOS and Android.
The intelligence of knowing what the content of the photo was in one of the examples was very smart, but I wasn’t blown away by the rest.
Apple may, in fact, clear up some of the mess and present a simpler solution, but its struggles in the delivery of music are merely a symptom of a deeper problem: how to provide Internet services. Just this week, Apple introduced a smaller visual refresh to the iTunes software, and almost immediately complaints arose about that change, too. As I pointed out when Apple acquired Beats Audio for $3.2 billion, two years ago, the company’s corporate genes are not encoded for exploiting the cloud and user data, which is, like it or not, the realm in which it now competes.
From the user point of view, Apple’s attempts at these kinds of services can be very frustrating. But there may be a deeper, “corporate DNA” reason for the issues Apple has.
