iPhone shipments in Q1 2020 were down five percent compared to the same time last year, but Apple still fared better than many of its rivals.
Apple Pro Display XDR Wins 2020 Display Industry Award
These are awarded to displays that “embody the profound level of innovation within the industry and exemplify how crucial displays have become to nearly every aspect of daily life.”
Latvia Releasing COVID-19 Contact Tracing App Based on Apple-Google Framework
Latvia is to release a COVID-19 Contact Tracing app based on the framework recently released by Apple and Google, Reuters reported. It will become one of the first nations to do so.
Early success of tracing apps in countries like Singapore and Australia has been patchy because Apple’s iPhone does not support their approach to using Bluetooth short-range radio as a proxy for measuring the risk of infection. Latvia’s Apturi Covid (Stop Covid) app is, by contrast, based on technology launched last week by Apple and Google, whose iOS and Android operating systems run 99% of the world’s smartphones. “The developers believe that reliance on this standard will ensure widespread adoption and also compatibility over time with contact tracing apps around the world that are also expected to adopt the same exposure notification framework,” the app’s developers said in a statement.
Google Chrome Adding New Privacy Features
Google Chrome recently announced a variety of new privacy features will be added when the latest version is released. These include real-time threat checking and password checking. Wired has a good rundown of what users of the popular browser can expect in the near future.
Chrome’s new Enhanced Safe Browsing mode will attempt to play catchup. If you turn the feature on the address of websites you’re visiting will be shared with Google in real-time and the company will compare it to its blocklist of unsafe sites. This builds on its existing Safe Browsing mode. “Chrome checks the URL of each site you visit or file you download against a local list, which is updated approximately every 30 minutes,” Google explains in a blog post about the new setting. “Increasingly, some sophisticated phishing sites slip through that 30-minute refresh window by switching domains very quickly.”
Apple Wants You to Remember Apple TV+ Has Content For Kids Too
All the focus from critics and the public may have been on big-budget scripted dramas, but Apple TV+ has content for kids too. The streaming service offers the likes of Snoopy in Space, Helpsters, and Ghostwriter, amongst other things. A new ad seeks to remind viewers of that.
Drawing, Backing Up, and Being a Screenshot Ninja – Mac Geek Gab 816
Did you know you could move your screenshot selection window around after you create it? How about rearranging columns in the Finder and having it remember? What about Profiles on your Mac, and how they can be used to hijack your browser?
If you listen to this week’s Mac Geek Gab with Dave Hamilton and John F. Braun, not only will you know how to do these three things, we guarantee you’ll learn at least two more (and probably a lot more than that!). Press play and enjoy learning all these things with your two favorite geeks.
In Observance of Memorial Day
In honor of Memorial Day, a U.S. holiday, The Mac Observer will be taking the day off. We will resume our regular coverage of the Apple Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch world on Tuesday, May 26th. Please stay safe.
Apple TV+ Series on Gawker in Development
An Apple TV+ series about legendary news and gossip website Gawker is reportedly in the early stages of development.
Security Friday, Exposure Logging – TMO Daily Observations 2020-05-22
Andrew Orr joins host Kelly Guimont for Security Friday news and to discuss the difference between contact tracing and exposure logging.
AirPods Ad ‘Bounce’ Wins Best of Advertising Award
Apple’s AirPods ad called “Bounce” has won a Best of Advertising award in the 99th annual Art Director’s Club awards for advertising.
This Contactless Thermometer Uses an Infrared Sensor to Get Temperature Readings in under 1 Second: $69.99
We have a deal on an infrared thermometer that uses an infrared sensor to scan temperature from a distance of 2 to 3 inches for no-contact measurement. It offers precise temperature readings in under 1 second without the need for direct contact. It’s $69.99 through our deal.
The Butterfly Keyboard May Still Return
Just when you thought it was safe to start typing again…. the Butterfly Keyboard could be on its way back. That’s according to one Apple leaker, whose claims Cult of Mac reported on.
Despite it vanishing from Apple’s MacBook line, Apple hasn’t given up on its controversial (read: hated) butterfly keyboard design, claims Apple leaker L0vetodream. In a Friday tweet, L0vetodream said that Apple is “trying to improve on the structure, and solve the [issues]” faced by users. Should it manage to do so, “we might see it comes back again in future”… L0vetodream’s tweet suggests that, fundamentally, Apple still thinks the idea is a solid one. The company never came out and said that the butterfly keyboard had been a disaster; it only moved forward with new models without it. This is, of course, only a rumor. L0vetodream does not cite their sources when it comes to this rumor. But they have reported a number of previous Apple rumors — and had some of their messages supported by Apple leaker-of-the-moment Jon Prosser.
How to Turn on COVID-19 Exposure Logging on Your iPhone
In iOS 13.5, Apple has made COVID-19 Exposure Logging on the iPhone available. It can be activated through your device’s settings.
Leaked Version of iOS 14 Has Been Circulating Since February
A report from Motherboard today finds that a leaked version of iOS 14 has been circulating around the hacking and security community since at least February. Sources claim someone bought a development iPhone 11 running iOS 14 from a Chinese vendor in December 2019.
“That sucks,” said a current Apple employee, who didn’t have knowledge of the leak. Another current Apple employee told Motherboard that they spoke to other employees referencing the leaks. Both employees asked to remain anonymous as they were not allowed to talk to the press. A source in the cybersecurity industry said, his team has this leaked version of iOS 14, and they are studying it.
Like Will Strafach, I too feel bad for whomever Apple rains fire upon.
How to Dig Into the Apple Photos SQLite Database
Now here’s a cool article I found last night. Simon Willison found the SQLite database that Apple Photos uses. It contains photo metadata as well as the aesthetic scoring system that the machine learning uses. Further, there are numeric categories used to label content within photos. For example, Category 2027 is for Entertainment, Trip, Travel, Museum, Beach Activity, etc. I think the quality scores are particularly interesting. There are scores for noise, composition, lively color, harmonious color, pleasant lighting/pattern/perspective, and a bunch more. I bet Apple’s acquisition of Regaind contributed to this.
New Series ‘Little Voice’ Comes to Apple TV+ July 10
“Little Voice”, a series from J.J. Abrams, Sara Bareilles, and Jessica Nelson, is coming to Apple TV+ on July 10.
The Care19 Contact Tracing App Gives Your Location Data to Foursquare
Care19, a contact tracing app used by North and South Dakota, violates its own privacy policy. Notably, the creator of the app, ProudCrowd, made sure that location data from the app is shared with Foursquare, although it claims it’s not used for commercial purposes. It’s a violation of its privacy policy because users are told their location data is private:
This location data is private to you and is stored securely on ProudCrowd, LLC servers. It will not be shared with anyone including government entities or third parties, unless you consent or ProudCrowd is compelled under federal regulations.
Apple Looking for Exec to Lead Original Podcasts Push
Apple is reportedly looking to increases its original podcasts offering and is searching for an executive to lead the push.
Proposal: Discounted AirPods in the iPhone 12 Box
Currently, when you buy an iPhone online, there’s a “page 2” option to also purchase a set of AirPods at full price. But John thinks there’s a nifty, alternative option.
Apple Announces Short-Form Docuseries ‘Greatness Code’
On Wednesday Apple announced a short form docuseries called “Greatness Code featuring stories from LeBron James, Tom Brady, and others.
iPhone Ports and Headphones – TMO Daily Observations 2020-05-21
Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the future of iPhone ports, and John’s brilliant iPhone ordering idea.
Apple to Update Schoolwork App to Support Homeschooling
Apple is set to release a software update to its Schoolwork app to make it easier for teachers to manage assignments and handouts.
Some Online College Exams Don’t Support Apple’s HEIC Format
Apple’s HEIC photo format isn’t widely supported and that causes problems when students upload photos during online exams.
But the testing portal doesn’t support the default format on iOS devices and some newer Android phones, HEIC files. HEIC files are smaller than JPEGs and other formats, thus allowing you to store a lot more photos on an iPhone. Basically, only Apple (and, more recently, Samsung) use the HEIC format — most other websites and platforms don’t support it. Even popular Silicon Valley-based services, such as Slack, don’t treat HEICs the same way as standard JPEGs.
I wish more websites would support HEIC/HEIF. It should be a no-brainer since the file size is smaller than JPG and supports a wider color gamut.
How to Turn Off Group FaceTime Moving Photos
Apple added Group FaceTime calls with iOS 12.4.1, and with iOS 13.5 you can now turn off Group FaceTime moving photos.