Category: Apple

Apple, in a rare acquisition announcement:

Texture brings over 200 of the world’s best magazines to life, providing an easy way for users to read high-quality stories and entire issues of their favorite titles. With Texture, users enjoy the magazines they know and love, while discovering new content that fits their passions and interests.

“We’re excited Texture will join Apple, along with an impressive catalog of magazines from many of the world’s leading publishers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and engaging stories for users.”

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BRB, selling a kidney.

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As spotted by The Verge, Apple has filed a patent for a keyboard designed to be resistant to crumbs and other debris:

The patent describes two different ways that a keyboard can keep dirt out, either by sealing gaps off or having a membrane beneath each key that would blow out air every time a key is pressed, pushing out unwanted debris.

From the figures shown in the patent, it’s clear that Apple is considering many different approaches and alternatives to create a crumb-resistant keyboard.

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Since wrapping up HomePod vs. iPod Hi-Fi video, my HomePod has been in our kitchen, sitting where our Amazon Echo has been for the last year and a half. I unplugged the Echo and put it away, leading to many questions about where Alexa went, voiced by our three year old son.

That was about three weeks ago, and in those three weeks, the entire family has gotten acquainted with HomePod and this iteration of Siri.

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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo via MacRumors:

We expect Apple (US) to roll out the new MacBook Air with a lower price tag in 2Q18. We forecast total shipments of MacBook models will grow 10-15% YoY in 2018 (vs. 0-5% YoY decline for the NB industry), up from 15.5-16mn units in 2017. While Quanta, Radiant, Catcher and SZS are likely to benefit from strong shipments momentum, SZS also stands to benefit from increased market share and a higher ASP.

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Jack Purcher at Patently Apple has pointed out that Apple has been awarded patents for a notebook that uses two displays: one where you expect it to be, and one where the keyboard would normally be:

The device presented in Apple’s patent figure below illustrates a dual display notebook that eliminates a physical keyboard or Trackpad. This way the second display could also be used as a sketch pad, gaming controls and more as discussed in past patents.

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Mark Gurman and Debby Wu at Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. is preparing to release a trio of new smartphones later this year: the largest iPhone ever, an upgraded handset the same size as the current iPhone X and a less expensive model with some of the flagship phone’s key features.

With the new lineup, Apple wants to appeal to the growing number of consumers who crave the multitasking attributes of so-called phablets while also catering to those looking for a more affordable version of the iPhone X, according to people familiar with the products.

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Apple Support:

Starting May 25, Apple will introduce security changes that prevent older Windows PCs from using the iTunes Store. If you have Windows XP or Vista PC, your computer is no longer supported by Microsoft, and you’re not able to use the latest version of iTunes.

And:

Also beginning May 25, security changes will prevent Apple TV (1st generation) from using the iTunes Store. This device is an obsolete Apple product and will not be updated to support these security changes.

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Mark Gurman is reporting that the AirPods are due for some exciting updates:

Like with its mobile devices – the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch – Apple intends to frequently update the AirPods with new hardware features. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant is working on a new version for release as soon as this year with an upgraded wireless chip, the people said. A subsequent model for as early as next year is planned to be water resistant, they added, asking not to be identified discussing private product plans.

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Jon Chase, in his review of the new HomePod for Wirecutter:

An unhappy discovery after we placed a HomePod on an oiled butcher-block countertop and later on a wooden side table was that it left a defined white ring in the surface. Other reviewers and owners (such as Pocket-lint, and folks on Twitter) have reported the same issue, which an Apple representative has confirmed. Apple says “the marks can improve over several days after the speaker is removed from the wood surface,” and if they don’t fade on their own, you can basically just go refinish the furniture—the exact advice Apple gave in an email to Wirecutter was to “try cleaning the surface with the manufacturer’s suggested oiling method.” This really undermines the design aspect of the HomePod—especially if you were thinking of displaying it on some prized piece of furniture—and it will surely be a sore point for many potential buyers. In other testing, we have seen no visible damage when using it on glass, granite countertop, nice MDF, polyurethane-sealed wood, and cheap IKEA bookcases. We also tested the HomePod in the same place a Sonos One regularly lives—and the Sonos hasn’t caused damage in months of use.

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Jordan Kahn at 9to5Mac:

Apple has informed store employees and authorized service providers that it will in some instances perform repairs for detached or damaged HomePod cables, according to an internal memo obtained by 9to5Mac.

Apple describes damaged or detached cables for HomePod as something it expects to be a “rare instance” for users, but it does have a policy in place to perform repairs at a cost.

If no physical damage to the speaker itself is present, Apple will replace a damaged power cord for $29. That’s far better than the $279 out-of-warranty replacement cost for the HomePod itself, but a removable power cord would have been even better.

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Reddit user aerialbyte reports on what happens if you try to use two HomePods in stereo mode. The feature is “coming later this year,” but using two of the speakers doesn’t break quite the way I expected:

I just received the two HomePod’s I ordered! As soon as I added the second one to the Home app, it asked me if I wanted to put them in stereo mode (which is odd since it isn’t supposed to be supported yet). Anyways, I said yes and they were added to a group in the Apple Home app.

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