Messages is set to get a big upgrade in iOS 14 with an overhaul to Groups and new Memoji accessories on the way too.
Apple to Remove Unlicensed Games From App Store in China
Apple is to remove thousands of mobile games from its App Store in China if they do not receive Government licenses by July.
Apple Partners With A24 on ‘Sharper’ Film Starring Julianne Moore
Apple is partnering with film studio A24 to acquire “Sharper” for Apple TV+, starring and produced by Academy Award winner Julianne Moore.
Apple Approves ‘Hey’ Email App, Developer Adds Free Burner Accounts
Apple has approved a new version of the Hey email app once the developers added a free option for users. You can now create a free, temporary email account that expires after 14 days, making it a new privacy service for burner emails.
…the company will now offer iOS users a free temporary Hey email account with a randomized address, just so the app is functional when it is first opened. These burner accounts will expire after 14 days. Hey is also now able to work with enterprise customers, as Apple initially took issue with the app’s consumer focus.
I like the burner option. Find it in the App Store here.
WWDC 2020: Did Tim Cook Just Tweet Another Hint at What's in Store?
An animated Memoji version of Apple CEO Tim Cook wished developers “a good morning” ahead of the WWDC 2020 ‘Full Stream Ahead’ keynote.
'Hamilton' on Disney+ Trailer Released
A trailer for Hamilton, coming to Disney+ on July 3, was released Monday. The version heading to the streaming service was filmed at The Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in June 2016 and stars Lin Manuel Miranda. However, it appears the free trials for the service will be ending just before the feature becomes available.
WWDC 2020: Tim Cook Talks Secrets And Social Change in Preview Interview
Tim Cook has given a revealing and in-depth interview with CBS and said he was “full of secrets” in the build-up to WWDC 2020.
Zooming the Web and Learning Your Ms — Mac Geek Gab 820
It’s hours before WWDC begins, and there’s just enough time to get Mac Geek Gab into your hands ahead of the new stuff we’re all about to learn. And, with that, we can still learn at least five new things, including how to Zoom (and unzoom) the web, how to encrypt your files, why you might want to change your cable modem password, and what those three Ms mean. Buckle up, press play, and enjoy the ride with John and Dave!
Security Friday, Apple's AR/VR Future – TMO Daily Observations 2020-06-19
Andrew Orr and Bryan Chaffin join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Security Friday news and what Apple’s AR/VR past and future look like.
Pixelmator Photo 1.3 Introduces Batch Editing Shortcuts
Pixelmator Photo 1.3. for iPad has been released. AppleInsider has given it a test drive, and noted that, amongst other new features, batch editing shortcuts have been introduced.
Pixelmator Photo 1.3 now lets users press and hold on an image in the app’s photo gallery, to bring up a context menu with shortcuts. They’re chiefly basic options that tend to be used regularly, so they are a quicker way to share, duplicate, revert, or mark an image as a favorite. However, there is also always an option called Copy Adjustments. When an image has been edited, choosing this option from the context menu copies all of the effects that have been applied. It copies color changes, exposure adjustments, and, in our testing, all but cropping or resizing. Then tapping and holding on another image brings up the same menu, but now with Paste Adjustments.
Disney+ Ends Free Trials - Just in Time for ‘Hamilton’
It appears that free trials of Disney+ are no longer available. As The Verge noted, that has ended just before Hamilton arrives on the streaming service.
It’s not clear when Disney removed the ability to try out Disney Plus for free, but the timing does sense, given that Disney is just weeks away from releasing what might be the single most anticipated title on the service yet: the recording of the Broadway production of Hamilton, set to debut on the service on July 3rd. Without a free trial, anyone who wants to watch Hamilton when it’s out will have to pay for at least one month of Disney Plus (which costs $6.99, or $12.99 for the more prominently advertised bundle that also includes Hulu and ESPN Plus) — customers that Disney is presumably hoping will turn into long term subscriptions.
Sir Jony Ive Changed Apple’s Approach to AR and VR
Former design chief Sir Jony Ive prompted the company to change course on its VR headset, and opted for a simpler design.
How TikTok’s #ForYou Feed Works
In a blog post, TikTok explained how the #ForYou feed works to recommend videos to users in a personalized feed.
Team Telecom Wants FCC to Stop Part of a Undersea Cable Over China Fears
Team Telcom is calling on the FCC to cancel part of an undersea cable that links Los Angeles to Hong Kong over Chinese spying fears.
UVSHIELD+ 360 Degree Phone Sanitizer Box: $49.99
We have a deal on the The intelliARMOR UVShield+, a device that allows for a full 360° UV-C sanitization process for your smartphone and other small objects. It also features raised nubs on the inner tray’s base to allow full coverage sanitation for your device. The UVShield+ is $49.99 through our deal.
UK COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Failures Blamed on Apple
The UK government shifted to use the Apple/Google API in its COVID-19 contact tracing app but seems to be blaming Apple for its app failing.
Watch ‘The Banker’ Free on Apple TV+ Until June 30
To celebrate Juneteenth Apple is making “The Banker” free to watch on Apple TV+ without needing a subscription until the end of June.
Keep an Eye Out: Mozilla VPN to Launch in Near Future
Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox browser, announced Thursday that its Mozilla VPN product is launching in the next few weeks.
We are working hard to make the official product, the Mozilla VPN, available in selected regions this year. We will continue to offer the Mozilla VPN at the current pricing model for a limited time, which allows you to protect up to five devices on Windows, Android, and iOS at $4.99/month.
You can sign up to join the waiting list here.
Apple Rejects 'Hey' App Store Appeal
Apple has rejected an appeal from the team behind the email app Hey, meaning it is still blocked from being in the App Store.
How to Get NBCUniversal's Peacock Streaming Service
Currently, the only way to get NBCUniversal’s Peacock Streaming Service is with with Xfinity Flex and X1 box. But that will change later this year.
Phil Schiller Speaks Out on ‘Hey’ Email Controversy
A controversy over the past few days has been about an email app called Hey that was initially approved by the App Store review team, then rejected later. Phil Schiller spoke about the issue in an interview.
One way that Hey could have gone, Schiller says, is to offer a free or paid version of the app with basic email reading features on the App Store then separately offered an upgraded email service that worked with the Hey app on iOS on its own website. Schiller gives one more example: an RSS app that reads any feed, but also reads an upgraded feed that could be charged for on a separate site. In both cases, the apps would have functionality when downloaded on the store.
My opinion is that Apple could stand to reduce its cut from 30% down to 15-18%. But we definitely don’t need other proposals, like downloading apps from outside the App Store like you can on the Mac.
Watch the Apple Watch Eject Water in Slow Motion
The Slo Mo Guys uploaded a video on YouTube today where you can watch the Apple Watch eject water in slow motion. It’s filmed at 1,000 frames per second as well as 2,000 frames per second using a Phantom Flex 4K camera. The Apple Watch is submerged in a bath tub and then shows an alert to use the device’s built-in water ejection feature. We see the Watch eject the water from the speaker, turning off and on again about 10 times to remove every drop of water that gets settled back in.
FROST SUMMITS Gives You a Self-Heating Battery And Solar Charging
A product I recently found on Indiegogo is called FROST SUMMITS. It’s a portable solar charger and power bank to keep you connected in extreme outdoor environments. There are three products: SUMMITS 7 solar charger that can charge a GoPro in 90 minutes; FROST 5000 power bank that can charge even at -58°F; and the BOX CONNECT app to pair each device with your smartphone. The campaign on Indiegogo has been fully funded, with estimated shipping dates of November 2020. There are different campaign levels for the products but the cheapest one is US$45 for the FROST 5000.
Foldable Wireless LED Desk Lamp: $29.99
We have a deal on a foldable, wireless LED desk lamp. It’s a 250 Lumen lamp with a 135-degree foldable design and 3 brightness levels so you can adjust it to your needs. It also uses simple touch controls for changing the settings. This device is $29.99 through our deal.