The biggest feature for end-users is continued testing of Messages in iCloud.
Bryan Chaffin
Bryan Chaffin is the cofounder of The Mac Observer and currently serves as Afternoon Editor. He has contributed to MacAddict and MacFormat magazines, and co-authored the last two updates of iPad and iPad Pro for Dummies with Bob “Dr. Mac” LeVitus and Ed Baig. You can find out more about Bryan at his personal site, GeekTells, or find his Twitter link below.
Articles by Bryan Chaffin
Apple Releases iOS 11.4 Developer Beta 4
So far, this release cycle for iOS 11.4 includes AirPlay 2, along with Messages in iCloud; HomePod stereo pairing was removed in developer beta 2.
Bill Gates Calls Apple 'Amazing,' While Warren Buffett Values How Consumers Make Apple Part of their Lives
Former Microsoft chairman Bill Gates called Apple an “amazing company” on CNBC Monday, while Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett said he liked Apple because of the way consumers make the company’s products a part of their lives.
Picbot Motorized iPhone Mount Tracks Faces, Time-Lapsed Panos, More: $112.99
Check out Picbot, another device I would have features as a Cool Stuff Found if we weren’t running a deal on it. It’s a motorized mount for your iPhone that can move as it tracks your face via the Picbot app. It will also do motorized panoramas and timelapse movies. It can swivel a full 360 degrees, too. It’s $112.99 through us, a 43% discount off retail.
IK Multimedia Announces UNO Synth Analog Synthesizer
It’s a monophonic synth with triggers, pads, presets, and analog sound—Bryan Chaffin does so love his analog sounds.
360 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound Earbuds: $72
We have a deal on a pair of 360 5.1 Virtual Surround Sound Earbuds. I haven’t tested them, but you can check out the 4 minute video for an in-depth look at their features. They come with a carrying case and three sets of silicone ear tips. They’re $72 through us.
Apple HomePod Update Article Appears, but No Update Yet Available
The notes included in the article, however, list only current features with no other mention of an actual update, and a check in the Home app shows no update available, either.
PSA: Twitter Recommends Password Reset after Discovering Internal Bug
That “bug” essentially stored passwords unmasked—which is utterly awful—though the company said there was no known breach of this info.
Going Camping? Take LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger: $34.99
Today I have one of those devices I’d have features in Cool Stuff Found if we didn’t have a deal on it. It’s called the LuminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger, and it’s great for camping. It’s part lantern and part iPhone charger. It works with Android devices, too, if that’s your thing. It can recharge via a built-in solar panel, or through a USB connection. It’s waterproof and it floats, so come on, thats cool! Check out the promo video below. It’s $34.99 through us, 30% off retail.
Apple and Microsoft in Talks with UAE to End Ban on FaceTime and Skype
Voice-over-IP (VOIP) services face are banned in the UAE to protect local telecom monopolies, but the government also tends towards authoritarianism and listens in on communications of its citizens and vast numbers of foreign guest workers.
The Myth of the Failing iPhone X and Other Earnings Report Notes - ACM 460
Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet discuss the myth of the failing iPhone X, where that myth comes from, how it’s sustained, and how Apple’s own data says otherwise. They also talk about how Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri tried to dispel those reports during Apple’s quarterly conference call with analysts. They also look at the indicators that HomePod, on the other hand, isn’t doing well, and Tim Cook’s continued insistence on focusing on sound quality when we really want a capable home assistant. They cap the show with some perspective on just how much money Apple is paying out to shareholders.
Qi Wireless Home Charging Kit for iPhone: $45
We have a deal for you today on the Qi Wireless Home Charging Kit for iPhone. The kit includes a small, magnetic charging pad that can be used to mount your phone on the wall or other surfaces, and a sleek, minimalist, snap-on magnetic case. It’s $45 through us.
Apple's $100 Billion Share Buyback Program Explained
It’s the largest share buyback program in corporate history, and is in addition to Apple’s existing $210 billion stock buyback programs.
Apple Reports Record $61.1 Billion in Revenues and EPS of $273, Beating Wall Street Estimates [Update]
Wall Street consensus estimates were for revenues of $60.8 billion and EPS of $2.68, making the quarter a solid beat for Apple. [Updated with more information about Apple’s results, a $100 billion share rebuy program, and a 16% increase in the company’s dividend.]
Apple Seeds macOS 10.13.5 Developer Beta 3
The biggest feature for end-users is continued testing of Messages in iCloud.
Apple Seeds iOS 11.4 Developer Beta 3
So far, this release cycle for iOS 11.4 includes AirPlay 2, along with Messages in iCloud.
Dashlane Password Manager Premium Subscription: $17.98 with Coupon Code
We have a deal on a subscription to Dashlane Password Manager, an online password storage system. Features include password generation, support for two-factor authentication systems, access from a variety of devices, and more. A one year subscription is $19.98 though us, but coupon code DASHLANE10 takes another 10% off, bringing it to $17.98. That coupon code works on the three and five year subscription options, too.
iPM 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad Charges iPhone and Apple Watch
Check out the iPM 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad. It’s a Qi wireless charging pad for iPhone 8, iPhone 8Plus, and iPhone X, and it’s also compatible with Apple Watch. Plus, it’s wide enough to charge both devices at once. It will work with Qi-enabled Android devices, too, if that’s your thing. It’s $39.99 through our deal, 60% off retail.
Photolemur's 35 Tips for Stunning Landscape Photos
Photolemur—the photo editing app—has a new blog post called the “35 Composition Tips for Taking Stunning Landscape Photos.” I immediately checked it out because I am almost always highly dissatisfied with my landscape shots. It includes some common ideas such as the rule of thirds, but there was a bunch of stuff that was new to me, and I thought it was a great article. Topics include using lines to draw your attention, how to frame the subject, using people or animals properly, lighting, colors, framing, timing, and a whole lot more. Each tip comes with a representative photo, and they’re all gorgeous. If you want to take better landscapes, this piece is a must-read.
Amazon Cyberpunk King, Tim's State Dinner, GrayShift Pudding - ACM 459
In this episode, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet talk about how Amazon has quietly become the Cyberpunk king. They also discuss Tim Cook’s choice of dinner companions for the White House’s state dinner, and how Grayshift’s data breach is the proof in the pudding that backdoors and cracks get mishandled.
Setapp 1-Year Subscription: $69
Our friends at Stack Commerce put together a great deal for us on Setapp from MacPaw. With one subscription, you get access to more than 60 curated apps all in a single, easily navigable library. One year is normally $119, but it’s $69 through our deal.
Instagram Rolls Download Tool for Downloading Your Photos and Posts
So far, the tool is available only on the browser version of Instagram, with the company working on deploying it on iOS and Android.
AVANCA Minim True Wireless Earbuds: $54.99
We have a deal on a pair of AVANCA Minim True Wireless Earbuds. Winners of a Red Dot Design Award, these earbuds are powered by CSR Bluetooth 4.2 chipset. They feature touch controls, and are priced at $54.99, 65% off retail through us.
Apple Releases iOS 11.3.1: Includes Security Fixes and Addresses 3rd Party Screen Replacement Problem for iPhone 8
Apple’s patch notes specify two things: security and an issue affecting iPhone 8 devices with unauthorized third party screen replacements.