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Why Does Apple Price Products Like This?

Andrew Orr ·

Jason Snell shares three things for Apple users to expect when they’re expecting a new product. Sometimes the price isn’t right and Apple doesn’t sell as many units as it hoped. But reports are saying the AirPods Max are already backordered until March, so it’s a good start.

Today’s Apple seems to be executing a different strategy, pricing their products a bit higher in order to provide some room for sales, deals, and other marketing efforts.

Cool Stuff Found

Fully Functional Apple I in Original Box Signed by Steve Wozniak Up for Auction

Andrew Orr ·

A fully functional Apple I signed by Steve Wozniak with rare original box is up for auction with a starting bid of US$50,000. The set includes: original Apple-1 board, original Apple-1 box, signed inside the lid in black felt tip by Steve Wozniak, “Woz”, original Apple Cassette Interface (ACI), original Apple-1 Operation Manual, original Apple Cassette Interface manual, a vintage Apple-1 power supply, a vintage Datanetics keyboard in wooden case, a vintage 1976 Sanyo monitor, and a vintage Panasonic cassette player. This Apple-1 computer was restored to its original, operational state in September 2020 by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen, and a video of it running and functioning is available upon request. A comprehensive, technical condition report prepared by Cohen is available to qualified bidders; he evaluates the current condition of the unit as 8.0/10. Bidding starts December 10 until December 17.

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Adobe Lightroom Adds Support for M1 Macs, ProRAW

Andrew Orr ·

Adobe Lightroom is now a native app for M1 Macs and supports Apple’s ProRAW photo format it will release in iOS 14.3 for iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max.

As we’re getting started on desktop Arm / Apple M1, we’ll continue to optimize for Arm and M1 in subsequent releases. And if you’re on an Intel based computer, don’t worry…we’ll continue to invest in and improve Lightroom for you too.

TMO Deals

100 Entries to Win the Ultimate Gaming Giveaway and Donate to Charity: $10

Bryan Chaffin ·

Our friends at Stack Commerce have new take on a giveaway for us today, the Ultimate Gaming Giveaway. The short version is that when you donate $10—which goes to Playing for Change—you’ll get 100 entries int the giveaway.  And this giveaway is loaded with stuff:

  • PlayStation 5 Console (Value: $499)
  • 5 Years of PlayStation Plus (Value: $299.95)
  • Xbox X Series Console (Value: $499.99)
  • 5 Years of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Value: $899.40)
  • Secretlab TITAN Gaming Chair (Value: $459)
  • Corsair Optical Gaming Keyboard (Value: $229.99)
  • Sony X900H 65 Inch TV: 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (Value: $1,897.99)
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 Series 2 Gaming Headset (Value: $329.99)

There are options for more tickets, too. If you enter, good luck!

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EU Lays Out New Search Ranking Guidelines For Google And Other Tech Firms

Charlotte Henry ·

Google, Microsoft, and other tech firms will have to provide more transparency about how they rank online search results. Reuters reported on new EU guidelines forcing the change that were released on Monday.

The guidelines, which take immediate effect, will be followed up next week by the publication of draft rules that could eventually impose further restrictions on the tech sector… The Commission said the guidelines require online platforms to identify the algorithmic parameters that determine ranking and to share them with companies. “These guidelines set the standard for algorithmic ranking transparency and will increase fairness in the online platform economy, which drives innovation and welfare for millions of Europeans,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

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Will We See an Apple Hardware Plus Software Subscription?

Andrew Orr ·

Analysts at Loup Ventures wrote a wish list of an Apple hardware + software bundle they call a 360° bundle. I call it a wish list because there are no rumors or evidence suggesting this is Apple’s plan, and the article tries to align shareholder wishes with consumer wishes. However, my opinion is that this sort of bundle is in the realm of possibility. The iPhone Upgrade Program is already a subscription, the only thing missing is the software.

For hardware subscriptions and ultimately a 360° bundle to gain wide adoption, the product family must work seamlessly together, the infrastructure to service and maintain those products must exist, and the products must hold their value over time. Apple is the only company that can bring all three of those together.