Recent closures include all 53 stores in California and all four here in Tennessee, the two states with the highest COVID infection rates.
Here in Memphis, we have just 18 ICU beds available as of last night,1 which is terrifying. Stay safe, y’all.
And no state-wide mask mandate. ↩︎
Since … forever … Apple has offered standalone installers for OS updates. This would allow someone to install an older build of any given particular release of macOS, then run one update to catch up:
These packages were also very useful while troubleshooting, and could often be used to fix software issues that didn’t require a full reinstall.
If you’ve noticed that I’m writing in past tense, it’s for a reason, as Howard Oakley writes:
It’s important to understand ProRAW and when to use it. ProRAW is not simply a magic switch you can flip on to make your photos better. In fact, the non-ProRAW file initially looks much better than the ProRAW file, so shooting ProRAW really only makes sense if you intend to spend the time fine-tuning the image in post.
I suggest turning on ProRAW when you are shooting in extreme conditions of any kinds (extremely low light, extremely high dynamic range with super bright highlights and dark shadows, mixed light temperatures, and so on). Also, use ProRAW if you plan on enlarging the images (on screen or in print).
I’m excited about this service, and Justine’s look at it has only made me more so:
iOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3 are rolling out now with support for the new service.
Chris Wilkinson, writing at Ars:
There’s something intangible about these old computers that makes them a pure joy to use, limitations and all. At its worst, the Quadra 700 is a vehicle for unbridled retro gaming and a fun nostalgic afternoon. At best, it’s potentially the clear frontrunner for some workflows, such as distraction-free writing and basic image retouching.
I would never go as far to say that the Quadra 700 should have a place on your desk. But step back, for just a moment, and appreciate these old computers for more than the sum of their parts. You may be surprised by what you find.
Hartley Charlton with the bad news:
The custom iPhone 12 Pro is styled as a homage to the original Apple I, which was the first computer to be made by Apple. The custom casing features a back panel made of wood that resembles that used on the Apple I, a glossy titanium miniature monitor and keyboard buttons, Apple lettering in the style of the original, and most importantly, an exclusive fragment of the Apple I’s circuitry.
Additionally, there’s a bit about the device’s construction:
As with most soft materials, the covering of accessories might experience normal wear over time. The hinge area of your MagSafe Duo Charger might wrinkle over time if kept in the folded position. Leaving your MagSafe Duo Charger in a very hot environment (like the inside of a car on a hot day) in the folded position might lead to more visible, deeper wrinkles in that area. This doesn’t affect the functional performance of the accessory.
The AirPods family has expanded to include over-the-ear headphones, powered by a set of H1 audio chips, wrapped in high-end materials:
From the canopy to the ear cushions, every part of AirPods Max is carefully crafted to provide exceptional acoustic performance for each user. The breathable knit mesh canopy, spanning the headband, is made to distribute weight and reduce on-head pressure. The stainless steel headband frame provides strength, flexibility, and comfort for a wide variety of head shapes and sizes. Telescoping headband arms smoothly extend and stay in place to maintain the desired fit.
Apple today announced Fitness+, the first fitness experience built around Apple Watch, is launching Monday, December 14. Apple Fitness+ brings studio-style workouts to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, intelligently incorporating workout metrics from Apple Watch for a first-of-its-kind personalized and immersive experience users can complete wherever and whenever is convenient for them. Apple Fitness+ will launch with 10 of the most popular workout types, including High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, Cycling, Treadmill (for running and walking), Rowing, and Mindful Cooldown, led by a phenomenal team of trainers whose approach is welcoming to all. The workouts are fueled by inspiring music from today’s top artists designed to keep users motivated from start to finish.
Mark Gurman and Ian King have a new report out on Bloomberg about Apple’s plans for machines that will have better performance than the first three machines with Apple silicon:
The current M1 chip inherits a mobile-centric design built around four high-performance processing cores to accelerate tasks like video editing and four power-saving cores that can handle less intensive jobs like web browsing. For its next generation chip targeting MacBook Pro and iMac models, Apple is working on designs with as many as 16 power cores and four efficiency cores, the people said.
Craig Federighi, in an interview with Ars Technica, speaking about Windows on Apple Silicon Macs:
We have the core technologies for them to do that, to run their ARM version of Windows, which in turn of course supports x86 user mode applications. But that’s a decision Microsoft has to make, to bring to license that technology for users to run on these Macs. But the Macs are certainly very capable of it.
I’m sure it’s a bug, but it feels like yet another nudge to upgrade an OS I can’t run yet on my production machine:
