We finally have the winner of our iPhone 16 Pro international giveaway! Congratulations to Oliver T., and a huge thank you to everyone who participated.
Longtime App Store Developer Relations Boss Ron Okamoto Retires
Ron Okamoto has retired as Apple’s Vice President of Developer Relations and has been replaced by marketing exec Susan Prescott.
Apple Updates Pages, Numbers, Keynote to Version 11
Apple’s iWork suite featuring Pages, Numbers, and Keynote have been updated to version 11, with new features like precise editing controls.
You (Really) Don't Need That SCSI Cable – TMO Daily Observations 2021-03-23
Bryan Chaffin joins host Kelly Guimont to chat about “spring cleaning” from a tech perspective, from unused phones to Son of Box Of Cords.
Apple Studios in Talks to Finance ‘The Greatest Beer Run Ever’
Apple Studios is rumored to be in talks to finance “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” starring Zac Efron and Russell Crowe.
Why Does The Apple TV Still Exist? — Media+
Jason Snell and host Charlotte Henry discuss the future of the Apple TV – not the app, nor the service, but the box. They ponder whether Apple should revamp it, kill it, or just leave it be, and analyze how it fits with the company’s broader media and services strategy.
Global Semiconductor Chip Shortage is Becoming a Crisis
The world’s supply of semiconductor chips has faced shortages due to COVID-19, but things have gotten worse.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X shortages are just the tip of the iceberg. Big phone launches from companies like Apple and Samsung have been postponed, new graphics cards are still hard to find, and all over the world car manufacturers are either scaling back production or piling unfinished cars up in parking lots while they wait for the chips needed to power their software systems.
Darn it, I’m looking forward to the upcoming Nintendo Switch refresh.
Apple Blocks ProtonVPN Updates Over App Messaging
ProtonVPN announced in a blog post that Apple has blocked its app updates, saying this harms users in countries like Myanmar.
Regulator Finds no Fair Lending Violations by Apple Card, Goldman Sachs
An investigation into the Apple Card and its underwriter, Goldman Sachs, has found no fair lending violations or evidence of discrimination.
Apple Launches ‘Apple Teacher Portfolio’ for Educators
Apple announced on Tuesday a recognition badge educators can earn through the Apple Teacher Learning Center called Apple Teacher Portfolio.
Twitter's Jack Dorsey Sells First Tweet as an NFT For U.S.$2.9 Million
Twitter boss Jack Dorsey has sold his first tweet. He did so as an NFT, with the asset earning around U.S.$2.9 million, Reuters reported.
The tweet – “just setting up my twttr” – was Dorsey’s first tweet, made on March 21, 2006. The NFT was sold via auction on a platform called Valuables, which is owned by the U.S.-based company Cent. It was bought using the cryptocurrency Ether, for 1630.5825601 ETH, which was worth $2,915,835.47 at the time of sale, Cameron Hejazi, the CEO and co-founder of Cent confirmed. Cent confirmed the buyer is Sina Estavi. Estavi’s Twitter profile, @sinaEstavi, says he is based in Malaysia and is CEO of the blockchain company Bridge Oracle. Estavi told Reuters he was “thankful” when asked for comment about the purchase.
iPhone 12 Could Give Apple its Best-Ever Year of iPhone Sales
The iPhone 12 could give Apple its best-ever year of smartphone sales according to Wedbush analysts Strecker Backe and Daniel Ives.
World Water Day: Apple Focuses on Progress With International Alliance for Sustainable Water Management
Apple used World Water Day to restate its commitment to improving the “efficient and safe” use of water resources.
These Drumsticks Connect to Your iPhone So You Can Practice Anywhere: $118.95
We have a deal on PocketDrum Bluetooth Drumsticks, a fun little gadget for drummers and aspiring drummers. App-connected, PocketDrum lets you practice your drums, with the sound coming from your app. In other words, you can practice anywhere. They’re $118.95 through our deal, and the deal listing also has a version with a foot sensor.
Judge Approves Class Action Lawsuit for MacBook Butterfly Keyboards
Judge Edward Davila has approved a class action lawsuit against Apple over its butterfly keyboards.
Spring Cleaning Email – TMO Daily Observations 2021-03-22
Charlotte Henry joins host Kelly Guimont to discuss how to clear out your email inbox and get it down to a reasonable size using apps and more.
Ted Lasso Wins Big at Writers Guild Awards
Apple TV+ hit Ted Lasso claimed another big awards victory on Sunday night winning twice at the Writers Guild Awards.
NON ADEPTO DEPRENSUS! — Mac Geek Gab 862
You know the drill: Don’t Get Caught! That means you want to understand your technology as best you can. Good news: Your two favorite geeks are here to help! Listen as John and Dave share your tips and answer your questions. Topics include Apple’s Privacy tool, Apple TV Control Center, APFS, Time Machine, Messages, and the downfalls of pop-up blockers. Press play and enjoy learning (at least) five new things!
'Calls' Now Available on Apple TV+
All nine episodes of Calls arrived on Apple TV+ on Friday. The series tells the interconnected story of a group of strangers in the run-up to a catastrophic event via a collection of phone conversations.
Tim Cook Highlights Apple Racial Equity and Justice Initiative in COVID-19 Op-Ed
Tim Cook wrote in The Wall Street Journal, arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted the need to tackle systematic injustice.
New Studies Show no Harmful Effects to Humans From 5G
Researchers from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia analyzed studies that find no evidence of 5G harming humans.
Aside from looking at animal and lab experiments, one review also analyzed epidemiological studies of radar, which uses the same sort of RF (low-level energy fields above 6 gigahertz to as high as 300 GHz) that 5G is expected to rely on. Their conclusions, based on reviewing data from over 100 studies, should be reassuring.
Eve for HomeKit 5.1 Update adds Support for Eve Weather
The Eve for HomeKit app from Eve Systems received a 5.1 update on Friday. It adds support for Eve Weather and more improvements.
Apple Music 'Up Next' Expands to Have 'International Local Focus'
Apple Music has introduced an “international local focus” to Up Next, highlighting different artists in different countries.
MPOW X4.0 Over-Ear Wireless Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones: $39.99
We have a deal on a pair of MPOW X4.0 Over-Ear Wireless Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. In addition to active noise cancelation, these Bluetooth headphones offer up to 20 hours of listening or talk time on a single charge. They’re $39.99 through our deal.
Apple's Augmented Reality Headset Could Use Eye Tracking Hardware
Apple’s long-rumored augmented reality headset could contain eye tracking hardware for user input according. This could mean handheld controllers are not necessary, according to AppleInsider, which reported on a note by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo in a note to investors on Friday said the headset will use a specialized transmitter and receiver to detect eye movements, blinks and related physical information. The analyst believes eye tracking will soon be the most important human-machine interface technology for AR and VR wearables. “Currently, users primarily operate the HMD (most of which are VR devices) using handheld controllers,” Kuo writes. “The biggest challenge with this type of operation is that it does not provide a smooth user experience. We believe that if the HMD uses an eye-tracking system, there will be several advantages.”