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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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Apple Watch Helps Save Life of Man Who Fell Through Ice

AppleInsider has picked up on another amazing story of an Apple Watching helping save someone’s life. William Rogers was able to call 911 for help and have firefighters respond after he fell through the ice on Salmon Falls River, New Hampshire because he had the wearable on.

“I remember telling myself, ‘OK, don’t panic. Don’t panic,'” Rogers said. “Figure out what your options are here.” As the seconds passed and hypothermia was on the verge of setting in, he remembered he was wearing his Apple Watch, and he used it to call 911. “So, I told them that I probably had 10 minutes before I was not gonna be able to respond anymore,” he said. The fire department that provided the rescue was able to arrive within five minutes of the call through the Apple Watch.

Disney+ Now Has Over 100 Million Subscribers

Disney+ has cleared the 100 million subscriber mark, CNBC reported on Tuesday. It comes just 16 months after the streaming service launched.

“The enormous success of Disney+, which has now surpassed 100 million subscribers, has inspired us to be even more ambitious, and to significantly increase our investment in the development of high-quality content,” (Disney CEO Bob) Chapek said in statement. Disney’s streaming service has released a number of popular TV series since its launch, including two seasons of “The Mandalorian” and its first Marvel series, “WandaVision.” Both have been top-viewed content, according to reports from Nielsen, and have driven sign-ups for the service. Disney has made its Disney+ service a destination for family-friendly favorites and the only place Marvel and Star Wars fans can see content that directly connects to blockbuster theatrical features.

Future MacBooks Could Offer Multiple Haptic Areas, Patent Suggests

Upcoming MacBooks could incorporate multiple discrete haptic areas. That’s according to a new patent, spotted by Patently Apple.

Apple’s granted patent generally relates to electronic devices with one or more input areas that also function to provide spatially localized haptics via the Taptic Engine. “Spatially localized” haptics (or haptic output) generally refers to any haptic signal, e.g., haptic output, that is tactilely perceptible to a person touching a particular active region of the electronic device, but imperceptible outside that region. The surface area over which a single haptic output is perceptible is referred to as a “discrete haptic region.” There may be any number of discrete haptic regions in an input area of a laptop computing device. The discrete haptic regions may be separated from each other, or they may overlap. Either way, they remain discrete haptic regions each associated with an individual haptic actuator. An “input area” is a structure or surface configured to accept a user input.

Mobile World Congress to Take Place in Barcelona in June

It was one of the first major events cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, but Mobile World Congress looks set to go ahead in Barcelona in 2021.  Indeed, 50,000 could attend, Bloomberg News reported.

The GSMA trade body said everyone present will have to show a negative Covid-19 result to access the Fira Gran Via venue and repeat the test every 72 hours. Rapid testing centers will be made available on site and organizers are considering using hotels for more. Additional measures being put in place for one of Europe’s most important business gatherings include a new contact tracing mobile app, real-time occupancy monitoring, improved air conditioning at the venue, and an increased number of on-site medical staff. “We believe that we can have around 45,000 to 50,000 attendees, as of today,” Stephanie Lynch-Habib, the GSMA’s chief marketing officer, said in an interview on Monday, adding that visitor interest is expected to be strong.

Ming-Chi Kuo: US$1000 AR headset expected in 2022, With Glasses and Contact Lenses to Follow

Users can expect an Apple AR headset next year, with glasses following in 2025 and contact lenses during the next decade. That’s according to a note by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, seen by AppleInsider.

In outlining an expected roadmap for Apple’s AR efforts, Ming-Chi Kuo claims AR and MR will be the “next critical technology that defines the innovative human-machine interface of electronics products.” However, while virtual reality devices will be niche, MR and AR hardware is reckoned to become mainstream down the line. Apple is thought to deploy products in AR and MR in three phases, with the first being a “helmet type” in 2022. It will be followed by a “glasses type” product in 2025, then contact lens-based hardware between 2030 and 2040. This is a little push back of the expected schedule for Kuo, as a January note floated the idea of AR hardware releasing in 2021. However, earlier notes from TF securities proposed a 2022 launch.

Some Very Good Dogs Watching Snoopy on Apple TV+

Whether it is releasing groundbreaking products, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, or developing powerful content for Apple TV+ with the likes of Malala Yousafzai, Apple often does big picture, serious things. However, sometimes we all need some light relief. So please enjoy some very good dogs taking in the latest episodes of The Snoopy Show. You can share your own clips on social media using #DogsWatchingSnoopy​.

Jamf Sees Boost From Strong Apple Enterprise Demand

Jamf, the Apple-focused device management firm, reported strong revenue for both Q4 2020 and the year as a whole. It follows increasing enterprise demand for Apple products. Furthermore, the company is now manager over 20 million devices, 9to5 Mac reported.

One of the key financial figures Jamf has been reporting is annual recurring revenue (ARR). Jamf’s Q4 recurring revenue grew 40% year-over-year to $70 million; its fiscal year recurring revenue rose 42% to $249.2 million. “We finished 2020 with high growth across every product, geography, and the top 10 industries we serve, demonstrating the strength and diversity of our platform,” said Dean Hager, CEO of Jamf. “As we look to 2021, we’ll continue to expand the breadth and depth of our Apple Enterprise Management platform to enhance our value to customers and accelerate further penetration of Apple in the enterprise.” Jamf had set a goal of managing 20 million Apple devices by the end of 2020 way back in 2015. The company ended the year with 20.4 million Apple devices on its platform with more than 47,000 customers.

Find Where You Can Buy Girl Scout Cookies With This App

It is, (I’m told by U.S. colleagues!) the time of year for Girl Scout Cookies. Obviously, fewer people are out and about to buy them in front of stores and the like this year. However, there is an official iPhone and iPad app to help you find where they are being sold available in the App Store, so you don’t have to miss out.

Apple TV+ Earns Three Nominations at the Saturn Awards

Apple TV+ has picked up three Saturn Awards nominations from The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, AppleInsider reported. This might not be quite up there with the Golden Globes and other awards the stream service’s content has been put forward for, but no doubt every piece of recognition will be welcomed.

“For All Mankind,” is nominated in the Best Fantasy Television Series category. It will compete against shows including “Outlander,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.” Similarly, “Amazing Stories” will compete against “The Mandalorian,” “His Dark Materials,” and, perhaps oddly, also “Perry Mason” for Best Television Presentation (Under 10 Episodes). Lastly, “Servant” is nominated in the Best Horror Television Series category, opposite such dramas as “The Walking Dead,” and “Creepshow.”