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Charlotte Henry

Charlotte is a media junkie, covering how Apple is not just a revolutionary tech firm, but a revolutionary media firm for TMO. She is based in London, and writes and broadcasts for various outlets.

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Warren Buffett Holding His Stake in Apple

World-renowned investor Warren Buffet said Monday that he is holding his Apple stake. However, the Berkshire Hathway founder told CNBC’s SquawkBox that his firm is not increasing its holding at the moment. He has previously said that his company “would love to see Apple go down” so it could buy the shares for a bargain price.

“If it were cheaper, we’d be buying it. We aren’t buying it here,” Buffett said in an interview with CNBC “Squawk Box” co-host Becky Quick. “I don’t see myself selling – the lower it goes, the better. I like it, obviously.” Buffett has made Apple a keystone of his expansive holdings and highlighted his own use of the company’s products. Buffett has made Apple a keystone of his expansive holdings and highlighted his own use of the company’s products. He said at his annual shareholders’ meeting in Omaha last May that “we would love to see Apple go down in price,” so he could buy more at a bargain.

Apple Video Hows to Use Depth Control, and Defuse Awkward Situations With Your Partner

Ever taken a lovely portrait, only for it to be ruined by someone lurking in the background? Apple feels you. Ever had a nice snap of your partner, but their friend or colleague features in it accidentally? Again, Apple feels you. That’s why it introduced depth control to iOS- the ability to adjust the depth of field before or after a picture is taken. As a new video released Sunday shows, the depth control tool can also help defuse an awkward conversation with your partner!

Apple Asks Court to Reconsider VirnetX Case

Apple is set to ask the federal court to reconsider a case that resulted in it being told to pay VirnetX $439 million. A court in the Eastern District of Texas found Apple had infringed the internet software firm’s patents. Apple wants that case reconsidered. The legal battle between the two firms has been running since 2010. AppleInsider provided an update on the latest developments.

In a continuation of a long and costly legal battle between Apple and VirnetX, following its failure to convince the U.S. Court of Appeals that it should not have to pay a high cost for patent infringement, Apple is taking a new tactic in attempting to change the result. Rather than going to a higher court, Apple is asking for a reconsideration.  According to Law360, Apple petitioned the entire Federal Circuit on Thursday to rehear a panel discussion that upheld the $439 million Eastern District of Texas jury verdict.

With Roma, Netflix Could Become Hollywood Royalty

Netflix film Roma is hotly tipped in the best picture category Oscar at Sunday night’s Academy Awards. Were it to win, it would mark a significant moment for digital media in general, and Netflix in particular. Lucas Shaw wrote on Bloomberg News that it would be proof that the company has gone from being a techy outsider to Hollywood royalty. With increased investment in original content, it looks like a tech company will be winning an Oscar in the very near future.

“Roma” is the first nominee for best picture that was essentially a digital release — though it had a limited theatrical run — and Netflix would be the first technology company to clinch Hollywood’s top prize. Whether or not Netflix wins, an online movie will certainly be crowned best picture sooner or later, said Rich Greenfield, an analyst with BTIG LLC. Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc. are both spending billions of dollars on programming, and even Walt Disney Co. plans to release digital movies that won’t appear in theaters.

New NASA Book Reveals Stunning Images of Earth From Space

NASA released new book Wednesday containing a collection of stunning pictures of Earth taken by satellites. The hardcover version of Earth costs $53. However, NASA has also released free e-book, PDF and HTML versions. The HTML version is interactive. The pictures certainly make you, as an individual feel rather small. As writer Michael Carlowicz puts it in the forward: “For all of the dynamism and detail we can observe from orbit, sometimes it is worth stepping back and simply admiring Earth.”

London Could Remain Europe's VC Capital After Brexit

LONDON – The tech community in the UK have raised a number of concerns about what will happen when the country leaves the EU. They have fears around being able to hire talent and data storage laws. However, Wired summed reported that London could still remain the VC Capital of Europe, even after Brexit.

London will remain the VC capital of Europe. According to KPMG, more than twice as much venture capital was deployed in the UK as in Germany in the third quarter of 2018. London remains the obvious location for international funds seeking a European HQ, as SoftBank’s presence in the UK testifies. Since the referendum, top Silicon Valley funds have led large investments in globally ambitious UK companies, from Sequoia’s $50m funding of Graphcore to Greylock’s investment in my own firm, Entrepreneur First. The British Business Bank – Britain’s state-owned bank tasked with providing credit for small and medium businesses – is flush with new cash, and has picked up much of the slack left by the European Investment Fund.

Apple Car Might Actually be an Electric Van Instead

The much-discussed Apple car could actually turn out to be an electric van. That is according to a report in German publication Manager Magazin, picked up by Reuters. Apple engineers are reportedly working on an interior for the vehicle. Apple itself refused to comment on the speculation. The revelation about a potential electric van came Thursday, a day after Apple released a White Paper for drivers testing its automated vehicles.

Manager Magazin, citing multiple unnamed sources, said that prototypes painted in black and silver had been seen. The report, which did not provide further details, said that engineers at Apple’s Cupertino, California-headquarters were now working on the interior.

 

Israel Launching First Mission to the Moon

Israel is preparing to launch its first mission to the moon. The privately funded Beresheet robot will launch from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  The aim is that the rocket will land and then hop across the moon’s surface, remaining operating for around 2 days, according to a BBC News report.

The 1.5m-high, 585kg Beresheet will begin its mission with a ride to Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Once ejected from this vehicle, the robot will then use its British-built engine to propel itself to the Moon. The journey will take over two months to complete. SpaceIL, the non-profit behind the project, hopes Beresheet (“In the beginning” in Hebrew) will prove an inspiration to all those who follow its progress.

Mark Zuckerberg Talks Privacy and Encryption with Harvard Law Society

Mark Zuckerberg sat down with the Harvard Law Society as part of its Techtopia initiative. The Facebook CEO discussed a variety of issues including encryption, targeted ads, and whether his company should be considered an information fiduciary. Highlights of the fascinating discussion were written up and published by the HLS.

Zuckerberg argued that offering users different monetization models would mean offering them different data-handling models. “Are we going to let people pay to have different controls on data use than other people? And my answer to that is a hard no.” He described a forthcoming tool called “Clear History” which would allow users to clear some of the data that Facebook accumulates about them for ad targeting purposes.

Marzipan is going to be a big deal for the Mac

News reports broke Wednesday that Apple is going to allow developers to submit one app that will work across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. On 9to5Mac, Ben Lovejoy explained why, despite slow progress, he thinks the project known as Marzipan will be a big deal and encourage more apps to be built for the Mac.

There are a lot more iPhones than there are Macs, so currently many developers target iOS first, and only create Mac apps if they are convinced there’s enough demand to make that a sensible use of their time. A more efficient process will mean a lot more Mac apps, and that’s good news for consumers as well as developers.

New Apple Watch Video - 'Flight'

Apple released a new video Wednesday, promoting cellular connectivity with the Apple Watch Series 4. Called Flight, the clip emphasises the freedom that cellular connectivity on the Apple Watch gives users. A woman, clearly with no phone on her, is led on something of an adventure. She is shown receiving and rejecting a phone call whilst her phone is elsewhere. If nothing else, Flight also happens to be a rather beautifully shot video.

New Hermès Apple Watch Faces Coming with watchOS 5.2

Apple Watch Series 4 Hermès owners can look forward to new faces. They will become available with the release of watchOS 5.2.  9to5Mac reported that the new faces will have a new pink and blue gradient style.  As with previous faces from the designer, users will only be able to have one complication on the face. That complication will show the date, a different timezone or stopwatch. Hermès and Nike are exclusive third-party partners, designing exclusive faces for the Apple Watch.

As discovered by French blog WatchGeneration.fr (via Google Translate), owners of the designer Apple Watch will see a new gradient style Hermès watch face in two colors: Cherry/Sakura and Bleu (pink and blue). And just like the other Hermès Apple Watch faces for the Series 4, these will adapt based on where the hour and minute hands are.