According to iFixit Apple appears to have activated a “dormant software lock” in iOS for batteries in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
If anyone other than Apple or and Apple Authorized Service Provider replaces the battery, even with and official Apple one, the Settings app will display a “service” message
“Important Battery Message” … “unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery.”
You also will not have access to IOS’ Battery Health feature.
The issue is a Texas Instruments micro-controller on the battery itself, which includes an authentication feature that includes details for pairing the battery to the iPhone’s logic board.
No match, no access and only Apple knows the secret sauce for pairing up a replacement battery to your iPhone.
The likely reason here is safety and quality, but it still dories limit your options (in a way) when it comes to battery replacements.
HomePod dwarfed in smart speaker market
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) released it report on Smart Speakers for the second quarter of 2019and Apple’s HomePod only represented about 5 percent of the estimated 76 million units in the market in the US
Still that’s 3.8 million units at USD $299 or about 1.13 Billion dollars worth.
Still Apple’s share is dwarfed by Amazon and Google which have 70 percent and 25 percent of the market respectively.
50 percent of the market is the Echo Dot (hardly a speaker) and the Google Home mini.
I don’t think Apple should go to the very low end of the market, but if they could get a good sounding “mid-level” model at USD $99 - $149 I think it could do quite well.
But don’t worry about Apple’s “Other” category. Where HomePod might be lagging it’s possible AirPods and Apple Watches could more than make up for it
Analyst Neil Cybart thinks those two product could overtake iPad and Mac by the end of next year
Apple’s “wearables” business is at a $16 billion annual run rate and growing 55 to 60 percent
Apple finally launches macOS bug bounties
Apple has upped and expanded their bug bounty program and finally included macOS
They announced the updated program at the Black Hat conference.
Now white hats and researchers can get serious cash for finding exploits in macOS, tvOS, watchOS, iOS, and iCloud
They originally announced a program for iOS in 2016, but that was it.
The bug bounty program will be opened up to ALL security researchers later this year and Apple increased the max payout from $200,000 to $1 million for a zero-click kernel code execution with persistence.
Also if a researcher finds an vulnerability in pre-release software they can be eligible for up to a 50 percent bonus on their payout.
For researchers that have a “track record of high-quality systems security research…” Apple will also be offering access to dev devices like iPhones something they’ve never done before
These will have features like “ssh, a root shell, and advanced debug capabilities”
Researchers at Black Hat also showed off a set of glasses that could defeat FaceIDs “liveness” detection
The lenses just have white squares with smaller black squares in them
They need to be placed on the iPhone owners face while sleeping or unconscious
Exploit seems hardly cause for any alarm
Ready for iPhone Pro?
Would you believe a Twitter user with the handle CoinX?
Does have a track record of getting some recent product leaks right
Says at least one of this year’s iPhone models with get “Pro” branding
Not clear if it would be more than just a re-branding of the updated iPhone XS Max model.
Rumor out of Mac Otakara that updated iPad Pros expected this October could adopt multi-lens camera systems
Says the Pros may get the new triple-lens system and the 10.2-inch iPad dual lenses
Apple also updated it’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
The big news is it now supports HDMI 2.0 which means 60Hz refresh rates at resolutions of 3,840-by-2,160 pixels
It also gains support for HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Still sell for $69 and is available at Apple Stores now.
Better Apple Maps in more of the US
Apple’s been working hard on updating Apple Maps with it’s own first party data
They’ve slowly been working their way down California, looks like they’re about to Bakersfield and the Central Valley
Though one report i read said Southern California and Hawaii were done in November of 2018?
Also Arizona, New Mexico, and metropolitan Las Vegas
Now it looks like they’ve expanded in eastern Texas, Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi
You get a lot more detail like grass, trees, sports fields, and parking lots
Apple said the updated maps will roll out to the entire United States by the end of the year and other countries in 2020.
Sponsor: Masterclass
Masterclass
One of the best things about the internet is the ability to get reviews and opinions on the stuff we eat, what we buy, or the places stay on vacation.
One of my favorite things about Masterclass is the amazing depth and variety of the courses taught by the masters in their fields.
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My daughter is an aspiring writer and she's taking advantage of Masterclass to learn how to create memorable characters from Judy Blume and learn world building from Neil Gaiman
Gaiman had a lesson using one of my favorite books The Graveyard Book as a case study in how character motivations help build compelling plots. It was incredible.
I also love the cinematic quality and presentation of the courses. They're each unique in their style and really well produced
Plus presented in small chunks, typically 10-15 minutes so I can fit then into my schedule
That's made easier by the fact I can access them on any device iPhone, iPad, Mac, and best of all my Apple TV.
While you can get courses individually I really love having the all-access pass because here's what happens…
You'll want one course, like Documentary Filmmaking with Ken Burns
But if you're like me… you'll see Aaron Franklin will show you how to make Smoked Pork Ribs (I love ribs)
I'm not kidding I watched this and learned how to trim up and prep ribs and why it's important. Something I've never even thought was part of cooking ribs
And then I've always been fascinated with wanting to learn magic. I've tried other videos, but the Pen & Teller one was hands down the best
They went though the concept, then teaching to a group, then detailed step by step
Also supplemental downloadable PDF with photos and instructions.
They have over 60 classes and they are constantly adding more, so I think it's a great investment in learning.
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
My MacBook Pro got FAA banned
The 2015 MacBook Pro, because it has a recalled battery, has added it to their banned list
It remains to be seen what airlines will do, but the FAA has told them to adhere to the agency's 2016 safety instructions for devices with recalled batteries.
That means you can’t take it on board as a carry-on or put in in checked luggage.
If you’ve had the battery replaced, like me, then you’re all clear.
Some UK and Canada airlines that haul cargo have also banned the laptop.
More than you wanted to know about Apple Card
First, I got my “early” invite this week
Sign-up took maybe a minute or two
Had the card in my digital wallet
Asked if I “wanted” the physical titanium card. Really?!! They had ask?
Looks like most people will get approved.
Credit scores as low as 620, but with low limit $700 and highest interest rate of 23.99%
Some say that’s bad, but could be an opportunity for some to build better credit
You can’t export your transaction data to other Apps, but you can get PDF versions
Open the Wallet app on iPhone
Tap your Apple Card
Tap the “Total Balance” square
Choose the month of the statement you want
Select “Download PDF Statement”
You can now view, share, and export the statement
How does Daily Cash work?
You get 3% back on Apple purchases, 2% on Apple Pay purchases, and 1% when you use the physical card.
Daily Cash is added to your Apple Cash card
It is paid out as soon as your transaction is settled.
When you return an Apple Card purchase, you get refunded the purchase price and the corresponding Daily Cash is charged back to your card
If you use your Apple Card for your iPhone Upgrade Program payments you’ll get the full 3 percent cash back
You get 3% cashback on Apple Card purchases made through Apple
But the iPhone Upgrade Program is run through Citizens One Bank, not Apple.
Still counts though.
Set up auto-payments (and you should)
Open the Wallet app
Tap your Apple Card
Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner
Tap “Bank Accounts”
Choose “Edit” to remove a bank account, or “Add” to add a new account
You’ll need your bank routing and account number
You can have multiple accounts set up. Set up default payment methods and amounts to pay your bill.
Lose you phone and you’ll have to call Apple and get connected to Goldman Sachs to make a payment over the phone.
You could also use another device to access the Wallet app.
Personal Cloud Backup
Calvin asked me what I thought was a simple question:
“Do you know a way for me and my brother to each have a hard drive with each others stuff on it at our homes in case of a fire”
So I assume he means a sort of “personal” cloud backup.
There used the great CrashPlan Home software that would allow you to do exactly this, even without a CrashPlan account
