Universal Electronics is releasing its own version of an Apple TV remote that looks more like a traditional remote with buttons.
Waze to Get CarPlay Split-View Soon
It looks like Waze is soon going to support CarPlay’s split view fairly soon. That’s according to images sent by a beta tester to The Verge.
A tipster who is beta testing the new feature sent us this image of Waze operating in CarPlay’s new Split View function. Apple rolled out the new dashboard as part of last year’s iOS 13 software update, but it was limited to only work with Apple Maps at the time. Previously, CarPlay required bouncing between different screens to see a track name while getting directions to a destination. With Split View, you can see a map, what’s currently playing on the car’s stereo, and the next piece of guidance to your destination all in one place. Apple eventually released iOS 13.4 earlier this year, which introduced the option for third-party companies to add support for the dashboard mode on their own mapping apps. It took Google until August 2020 to implement support for Google Maps. And now it seems like Waze (which is also owned by Google) is soon to follow. A spokesperson for Waze wouldn’t confirm the beta testing, so we’re not sure when the navigation company plans to officially announce the rollout.
Apple's M1 MacBook Air: One Week In, It's the Little Things
I was fortunate enough to receive my built-to-order M1 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 8-core GPU) last Tuesday, and I’ve had a week to truly experience it. We’ve all read the early reviews (Snell, Gruber, and Bohn are the highlights), and they’ve focused on the specs and the highlights, so I won’t rehash (much of) that here. What I want to focus on are the little things.
Apple Extends In-App Purchase Deadline for Online Group Events
Apple is extending the requirement for apps offering online group events to use the company’s in-app purchase system until 2021.
Clips From Apple TV+ Series 'Doug Unplugs' Available
Apple has shared a number of clips from Apple TV+ kids show ‘Doug Unplugs’ in which the robot discovers new things about the world.
BeardID - Facial Recognition Software Learning to Identify Bears And Cows
Facial recognition software is a key part of how we use our iPhones with Face ID. CNet reported that similar technology is now learning to recognize bears and cows.
After spending over a decade tracking and studying grizzly bears in British Columbia, Canada, bear biologist Melanie Clapham has teamed up with two Silicon Valley-based tech workers to create a facial recognition software called BearID. Designed to monitor grizzly bears and track them via small differences like scars and nicks, the project has been used to recognise 132 of the animals thus far. By adapting existing artificial intelligence programs (namely, funny apps that put moustaches on dogs) the team was able to collect 4,674 images of grizzly bears. According to the team’s research, published in Ecology and Evolution, the system is now 84% accurate — though it requires the bears to be in the system prior to identification.
Fraud Operation Targets Spotify Users With Leaked Database
In a similar situation to a Facebook scam, researchers uncovered an unsecured database with over 380 million records in a potential Spotify hacking operation.
The origins of the database and how the fraudsters were targeting Spotify are both unknown. The hackers were possibly using login credentials stolen from another platform, app, or website and using them to access Spotify accounts.
Working with Spotify, we confirmed that the database belonged to a group or individual using it to defraud Spotify and its users. We also helped the company isolate the issue and ensure its customers were safe from attack.
Big Sur, the M1 MacBook Air, and Quick Tips — Mac Geek Gab 845
Dave’s had his M1 MacBook Air for a week, and John has some questions for him! Lots more about Big Sur including your questions answered *and* some Quick Tips. Of course, MGG wouldn’t be complete without more in-depth tips, too, and y’all have been keeping the queue full in that department! Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things.
What’s the Difference Between Apple Thunderbolt 4 and Windows Thunderbolt 4?
Larry O’Conner, CEO of Other World Computing (OWC), wrote a helpful explainer about the differences between Thunderbolt 4 used by Apple and Thunderbolt 4 used by PCs.
You see, Thunderbolt 4 finally promises PC/Windows users all the features Thunderbolt 3 has long offered Apple users. For Mac users, full Thunderbolt capability has always been present. This has been true since the first Macs with Thunderbolt 3 (Thunderbolt USB-C). What Apple did was simply call out that they now support USB 4. This is in addition to the Thunderbolt features already standard and present.
M1 Mac Mini Logic Boards With 10 Gigabit Ethernet in Internal Parts Ordering System
The new M1 Mac mini is currently only available with Gigabit Ethernet. However, MacRumors reported that Apple included multiple logic boards with 10 Gigabit Ethernet for the device in an internal parts document intended for Authorized Service Providers.
While the boards are available to order (in limited quantities), it is unclear why at this point. There are several possibilities, including that Apple listed the parts mistakenly or before it decided against offering a 10 Gigabit Ethernet option. The logic boards could also be designated for special circumstances, such as enterprise use. Apple could also choose to release an M1-based Mac mini with 10 Gigabit Ethernet at a later time.
