This week on a feedback episode of MPU, David and I check in with the Vision Pro, discuss plumbing super powers, the mysteries of AppleCare, and more.
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Apple Reverses Course on PWAs in EU⇢
Chance Miller with some big news over at 9to5Mac:
Last month, Apple confirmed that iOS 17.4 would remove support for Home Screen web apps in the European Union. At the time, Apple said this decision was due to requirements under the Digital Markets Act related to support for alternative browser engines on iPhone.
Apple is now walking back that decision and says it will “continue to offer the existing Home Screen web apps capability in the EU.”
The 2024 Kottke Redesign⇢
The last time I redesigned the site, a guy named Barack Obama was still President. Since then, I’ve launched the membership program, integrated the Quick Links more fully into the mix, (more recently) opened comments for members, and tweaked about a million different things about how the site works and looks. But it was overdue for a full overhaul to better accommodate all of those incremental changes and, more importantly, to provide a solid design platform for where the site is headed. Also, I was just getting tired of the old design.
Apple’s Self Service Repair Program Expanded to Include M3 iMac and MacBook Pro⇢
Apple today announced an expansion of Self Service Repair for MacBook Pro and iMac models powered by M3, with support available today. Since April 2022, Self Service Repair has given customers access to the same manuals, genuine Apple parts, and tools used at Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Apple is also making Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair available for MacBook Pro and iMac models powered by M3 in the U.S. early next month. Launched late last year for iPhone and Mac, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions give customers the same ability as Apple Authorized Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers to test devices for optimal part functionality and performance, as well as identify which parts may need repair.
Connected #491: Improper Work Attire⇢
Myke, Federico, and Stephen offer important career advice concerning working from home, discuss upcoming changes to PWAs in iOS 17.4, and help sunset Project Titan, Apple’s recently-cancelled car project.
Gurman: Apple’s Car Project is Done⇢
Mark Gurman, with some big news:
Apple Inc. is canceling a decade-long effort to build an electric car, according to people with knowledge of the matter, abandoning one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the company.
Apple made the disclosure internally Tuesday, surprising the nearly 2,000 employees working on the project, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the announcement wasn’t public. The decision was shared by Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Kevin Lynch, a vice president in charge of the effort, according to the people.
Simple Scan⇢
Greg Pierce, the developer behind great apps like Drafts, Tally, and more is out with a new app that I am loving. It’s called Simple Scan, and it’s the fastest and least-annoying way I’ve ever seen to scan documents with the iPhone and iPad.
Here is how Greg describe it:
Do you love the Apple Notes document scanner, but would you like more flexibility in sending the scans to email, messages, files, or other apps? Then Simple Scan is for you. Simple Scan is the quick, easy way to scan paper documents to optimized, searchable PDF documents (or images) and send them almost anywhere.
Kbase Article of the Week: Power Mac G4 Mac OS ROM 1.8.1: Document and Software⇢
During testing, Apple has discovered a potential issue which may cause data corruption or system crashes in certain situations on Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) systems. The Power Mac G4 ROM 1.8.1 Update includes fixes for the following:
- Data or file corruption with Virtual Memory on
- Photoshop crash when Extensis Photo Tools is installed
Apple recommends that all customers with Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) systems install this new Mac OS ROM to prevent the data corruption problem and ensure the greatest stability in your system. Since this issue has already been addressed in Mac OS 9, as well as Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) systems, this update will not install on this version of the Mac OS, or on these Power Mac systems.
Sponsor: Magic Lasso Adblock: Incredibly Private and Secure Safari Web Browsing⇢
Online privacy isn’t just something you should be hoping for – it’s something you should expect. You should ensure your browsing history stays private and is not harvested by ad networks.
By blocking ad trackers, Magic Lasso Adblock stops you being followed by ads around the web.
It’s a native Safari content blocker for your iPhone, iPad and Mac that’s been designed from the ground up to protect your privacy.
Mac Power Users #733: Our Favorite iPhone Apps⇢
This week on MPU, David and I battle it out in naming our favorite iOS apps.
Speaking of Engadget...⇢
Mia Sato, writing at The Verge, which was famously founded by a bunch of folks who left Engadget many years ago:
The nearly 20-year-old tech publication Engadget is laying off staff and restructuring editorial teams today with a new focus around traffic and revenue growth. The changes are designed to give the outlet a stronger emphasis on commerce revenue, while removing key editorial leaders from its newsroom, including its editor-in-chief.
Odysseus Lunar Lander Tipped Over (Updated)⇢
Cheyenne MacDonald, writing at Engadget:
It turns out Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus spacecraft didn’t land upright after all. In a press conference with NASA Friday evening, the company revealed the lander is laying on its side after coming in a little faster than expected, likely catching its foot on the surface at the moment of landing. Fortunately, Odysseus is positioned in such a way that its solar panels are still getting enough light from the sun to keep it charged, and the team has been able to communicate with it. Pictures from the surface should be coming soon.