Apple has released a 14.2.1 update for the HomePod and HomePod mini, bringing general bug fixes and improvements ahead of iOS 14.3.
California Launching COVID-19 Exposure Notification App in Partnership With Apple and Google
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state will launch its COVID-19 exposure notification app, developed with Apple and Google.
Will We See an Apple Hardware Plus Software Subscription?
Analysts at Loup Ventures wrote a wish list of an Apple hardware + software bundle they call a 360° bundle. I call it a wish list because there are no rumors or evidence suggesting this is Apple’s plan, and the article tries to align shareholder wishes with consumer wishes. However, my opinion is that this sort of bundle is in the realm of possibility. The iPhone Upgrade Program is already a subscription, the only thing missing is the software.
For hardware subscriptions and ultimately a 360° bundle to gain wide adoption, the product family must work seamlessly together, the infrastructure to service and maintain those products must exist, and the products must hold their value over time. Apple is the only company that can bring all three of those together.
New on TV+, Announcement Speculation – TMO Daily Observations 2020-12-07
Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the latest shows to debut on TV+ and the possible debut of some new Apple gear.
Apple Music is Now Available on Google Nest Speakers
Google announced on Monday that Apple Music is now available on its Nest product line of speakers, like Nest Audio, Nest Hub Max, and Nest Mini.
Next Gen Apple Silicon Aiming to Outperform Intel's Fastest Offering
The next series of Apple silicon is aiming to outperform the fastest Intel chips and could arrive as early as 2021.
Migrating Your Mac and Its Data — Mac Geek Gab 847
It seems to be the season… Migration Season, that is! So many new Macs, so many migrations, so much data, and so many questions! Thankfully your two favorite geeks have answers, as does the MGG Family. Press play and listen as John and Dave take you through all these and more. Of course, there’s more: Quick Tips are aplenty and there might even be some Cool Stuff Found! Whatever it is, you’ll enjoy learning at least five new things this episode!
45 Years After Apple, Steve Wozniak Starts Another Company
Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple 45 years ago and now he’s starting another company. It’s called Efforce, and according to CNBC it will reside “business in the green tech and blockchain space.”
According to Efforce, “investors can participate in energy efficiency projects buy [sic] acquiring tokenized future savings,” while companies benefit from such improvements “at no cost.” Using blockchain, “a smart contract redistributes the resulting savings to token holders and the companies without intermediaries based on exact consumption/savings data.”
How Apple Brings HDR to Non-HDR Displays
Stu Maschwitz wrote an interesting article on Extended Dynamic Range, or how Apple brings High Dynamic Range to non-HDR displays. This doesn’t just refer to its Pro Display XDR; it’s how iPhone OLED displays can be defined as HDR.
So Apple has a method of showing HDR and SDR content together on the same screen. It works on every display Apple bills as “HDR,” even though the phones are performing the stunt using a different underlying technology than the 30″ Mac display. The XDR uses “local dimming” to light up an array of LEDs brighter behind the HDR pixels, as needed. The OLED displays drive each pixel to the desired brightness individually.
Dutch Antitrust Probe Targets Contactless Payments Like Apple Pay
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets announced on Friday the start of an investigation into payment apps and NFC.
