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News
iPhone XR promotions
DigiTimes reporting on more supply chain component reductions on iPhones
Says it’s impacted Largan Precision who makes camera lenses and Career Technology a supplier of PCBs
The reports says Apple chip supplier TSMC remains unaffected but only because they have other contacts, like Huawei
Apple does seem to be offering additional promotions and incentives we have not really seen before
Subsidies via carriers in Japan
Increased credits on their trade in site up to $100 more then previously offered if you use it to buy and XS or XR series phone.
Apple’s VP of product marketing Greg Joswiak told CNET that the iPhone XR has been Apple’s top-selling iPhone every day since it’s release
That either disputes analysts claims of slow iPhone sales or is an even larger cause for concern.
Reports have claimed that Apple might be OK even if newer models aren’t selling as well because the lower cost models, like the iPhone 8 series, was picking up the slack.
So “best selling” since it’s release doesn’t really tell us much.
They gave away the iPhone XR for the Ellen Shows 12 days of givaways
DriveSavers offers iPhone cracking
They claim a 100 percent success rate in cracking the passcode on iPhones and other smartphones
Charging $3,500 to “crack” an iPhone.
They say they are using strict controls to verify identities and ownership of the iPhone and rights to it’s data and that they are not offering the service to law enforcement or government agencies
They will also not share or divulge they techniques with the manufacturers.
You might remember the Grayshift Graykey box
I would think they are using a similar technique
I highly doubt their claim of a 100% success rate and I’d love to see them prove it.
The service seems to be mainly targeting the family members of loved ones who have passed away
Consider sharing your logins or passwords with family members
1Passwords family plans are a great option.
Apple Pay expands to Belgium
They launched with three local bank partners in Belgium though all are part on one conglomerate, Fortis
Apple Pay also launched in Kazakhstan
There with support from seven banks supporting MasterCard and Visa
We are still waiting for Germany which Apple says will happen this year and also Saudi Arabia which is “coming soon”
Reports started showing up this week on Twitter of some San Francisco Target customers being able to use Apple Pay in store
At the Metreon location
Not clear if it’s a fluke or if Target is pilot testing
Apple Watch ECG support soon?
It’s looking like the ECG functionality of the Apple Watch Series 4 could finally be in the next update
MacRumors claims to have seen an internal store document confirming the feature will be enabled in the 5.1.2 update which is currently in beta testing
Apple Store employees are instructed to advise customers that the ECG app is “not intended to be a diagnostic device or to replace traditional methods of diagnosis,” and “should not be used to monitor or track disease state or change medication without first talking to a doctor,” according to Apple’s document.
It will also require iOS 12.1.1, also in beta testing.
The roll out will be limited to users in the US, but Apple plans to roll out to more countries hopefully next year
Beta testing started October 31st, so we might expect the public release soon?
Blackmagic eGPU Pro with the Radeon RX Vega 64 was supposed to be here in November, but wasn’t
Apple quietly updated their site to show it now coming in “December”
Ming-Chi Kuo think AirPods with wireless charging support will be coming in the first quarter of 2019
Also likely means the charging case accessory
Notes some internal board and design changes to support thermal requirements
Says will also have upgraded Bluetooth specs
Also says there will be an “all-new” AirPod design in 2020
No mention of the vaporware AirPower mat.
Says 5 percent of iPhone users currently own AirPods.
More info on Apple iHeartRadio deal
There were rumors last month that Apple was considering an investment in iHeartRadio.
iHeartRadio is the largest radio station owner in the US with over 850 stations, but they’ve been struggling
The Financial Times offered more details this week on the negotiations between the two companies
Apple reportedly was considering buying a stake in the company and signing a marketing and promotional partnership.
Another option was Apple buying iHeartRadios streaming platform completely
It serves 120 million registered users
Be great to add those “terrestrial” stations into the HomePod
Apple interest is possibly to capture radio “switchers”
Apple has said to get getting more “aggressive” in promoting Apple Music since Jimmy Iovine has left
Free six months for Verizon customers in the US
Apple Music coming to Amazon Echo on December 17th
Will launch as a skill and give access to Apple Music and Beats 1.
Doesn’t appear that the Sonos models that support Alexa will be supported
Also not clear which countries, if any, outside the US will get support.
Amazon and Apple seems to have become buddies?
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
A Photos "hidden' gesture
Ali wrote in with this one
In the Photos App if you are scrolling through old photos and want to return to the bottom of the page to see the most recent ones in the album you are looking at click on the “Album” button if you are in an album or the “photos” button if you are in photos and this will scroll you back down to the bottom.
Choosing the right "computer" for you
All this talk and debate has really given me a big insight into how varied we are as computer users and what a challenge Apple has when it comes to satisfying the needs of it's customers.
When looking at Apple's lineup and if an iPad can be a replacement for a Mac it's really a question of workflows and preferences.
Some will choose a Mac and some will choose an iPad. Some, like me, will choose both because we have different workflows that are better for each.
The big point in my opinion is that there is no "wrong" answer.
There is also not a "wrong" answer in deciding that for reasons of price, technology, experience, or otherwise that Apple doesn't offer ANY solution that is right for you.
Chris is a photographer and while he really would like to use an iPad Pro for his work has just fond it to fall short
He needs to be able to offload large RAW images and Video from the device to external storage of some kind and you can't easily do that with an iPad
He also find many of the software choices he has to not be full featured enough for the kinds of work he's doing.
So the iPad is not the "production" or "Pro" tool for Chris
He did tell me he loves his iPad for consumption, so he falls in the "both" camp.
My larger issue with the community right now is this… I think what too many people are losing in the conversation is something that Rene Richie summed up nicely recently. Basically that the iPad Pro is a machine for some Pros but not all Pros.
The amount of actual anger and vitriol I am hearing and seeing from some in the community is just shocking to me.
Apple is not suggesting that the iPad Pro is the machine for "all" Pros.
Another thing is that it's OK for a Pro in the same line of work as you to choose an iPad even if you can't, or won't, want to use the same workflow.
It's doesn't make you or them less "Pro".
The reality is there are amazing professionals out there doing amazing things with just iPads and iPhones
Does that mean everyone has to or should, no.
It's why Apple doesn’t just make an iPad. The have MacBooks and iMacs, Mac minis and MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and MacBook Air.
I do think the reality is that more and more I believe the iPad and iPhone are going to be the choice for more and more consumers
I think the biggest fear is from those of use who also need Macs is Apple will somehow abandon the platform completely
I don't feel that will be the case. Will it get less attention? Maybe. Will we get fewer refinements and updates between major refreshes? I think we've already seen the answer to that.
Apple will be making a lot of sedans and few trucks. As long as those trucks continue to be really good dependable trucks, I'm OK with that.
What is 'Other' storage
Play comment from Hank
What's in there?
Browser cache
Mail messages, Mail attachments, Mail cache
Application data
Saved data files, Podcasts are "big" files for example (consider streaming and not downloading?)
Game data
Application Caches
App cache
Messages attachments
Call history, Notes, Voice Memos
There is also a big chunk of what Apple calls "purgeable" storage.
Apple Music doesn't really "stream" in my opinion
It does a progressive download and stores tracks locally and plays them.
Test it by starting a playlist and letting it play for a few tracks and then fill your connection and see how long it continues to play.
What can you do about it.
Review which Apps are using the most storage
Settings > General > iPhone Storage
Below is a list of apps storage by which are using the most storage
Tap an app and it's show you how much is the App and how much is it's data
"Offload" the app or Delete it
Offloading removes the App, which can be re-downloaded from the app store (be careful with older apps), but preserves the data.
"setting "Offload Unused Apps" (all)
Some apps like "Messages" have additional control
"Review Large Attachments"
Can swipe or "edit" to delete them
Delete old "threads" from messages.
Delete old voicemails
Phone > Voicemail
Make sure to go to Deleted Messages and clear all.
Purge old emails, especially ones with large attachments.
Other tips:
Consider cloud storage. I love iCloud Photo Library, but did require me to upgrade my iCloud storage.
Reduce your apps.
In Settings > General > iPhone Storage it'll show when the last time you used an app.
Delete old stuff.
Some apps have settings or options to purge their local "cache".
Wi-fi and network interference
Stephen wrote in with an issue he noticed on his wi-fi network where his transfer speeds seemed to low when he connected Bluetooth devices
Noticed he was getting really bad transfer rates on his wifi. Down to 3Mbps in some cases when he should be getting round 70Mbps
Let me just say that troubleshooting Wi-fi is really hard because there are so many things that can effect it.
There are really two main things you can do
Increase coverage, especially if you have physical barriers or distance to cover
Reduce possible interference
Check you bands
2.4Ghz is best for going longer distances, but more susceptible to interference from other devices
5Ghz will tend to be faster, but not go as far.
Typically with most modern routers you can set up both bands and then let the devices choose
If you are experiencing performance issues you might consider separating your SSIDs and attaching specific devices to each network depending on their capabilities.
Eliminate possible sources of interference
The way wireless router is positioned
Physical obstacles, like walls and floors
Any other wireless appliances (baby monitors, garage door openers, etc.)
USB-C external hard drives (move further away)
Kitchen appliances, such as microwave or fridge
Other Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices in the same space
For coverage issues consider going with a "mesh" solution
