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Analyst Ming Chi Kuo Starts Looking Ahead to iPhone 13

Charlotte Henry ·

The entire iPhone 12 range is not yet available, with the final set of pre-orders opening Friday. However, thoughts are already turning to the next generation of devices. According to a note by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, seen by MacRumors, there will be four models of the next set of devices in the same sizes as this year’s.

Specifically, Kuo says the Ultra Wide cameras on the two high-end models will be significantly upgraded to f/1.8, 6P (six-element lens) with autofocus. All the current ‌iPhone 12‌ models are equipped with f/2.4, 5P (five-element lens) Ultra Wide cameras with fixed focus. Looking further ahead, Kuo says he also expects all the new 2022 iPhones (tentatively called the ‌iPhone‌ 14 series) to be equipped with the same improved Ultra Wide camera with f/1.8, 6P and autofocus. Kuo states that Largan is likely to become the major supplier of voice coil motors (VCM) for the improved Ultra Wide cameras. It is expected that Largan will obtain about 70% of the VCM orders for the ‌iPhone 13‌ under the advantages of vertical integration of lens production and VCM, versus 50% of the ‌iPhone 12‌ series’ Ultra Wide angle lens.

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Safari 14 Translation Rolls Out to Brazil and Germany

Andrew Orr ·

Filipe Espósito shares news that 9To5Mac readers in Brazil and Germany report they can use Safari 14’s built-in translation feature.

For some unknown reason, the Safari translator wasn’t available in all countries supported by the Translate app. Luckily this might have changed today, as multiple users from different countries reported that the Safari translator is now enabled for them.

Some 9to5Mac readers from countries like Brazil and Germany told us that the translating option is now working in Safari, which is something that has definitely changed today. I was able to confirm that the Safari translator is now working on my devices with the system region set to Brazil.

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Here’s How to Disinfect Your Apple Card

Andrew Orr ·

Brittney Myers wrote a guide on how to disinfect your Apple Card and other credit cards. I think it’s useful in situations where you’re unable to pay contactless with Apple Pay. We’ve heard for years that our smartphones are dirty, with some saying they can be dirtier than a toilet. I expect that credit and debit cards will have a similar level of uncleanliness.

According to Harvard Health, the coronavirus can live on plastic and stainless steel for up to three days, and the CDC advises that frequently touched objects and surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized at least once a day. In addition to copious handwashing, cleaning your frequently used items can help keep your home germ-free.

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How iPads Helped Baseball Crowds ‘Return’ to Ballparks

Charlotte Henry ·

When Major League Baseball returned, without fans, during the coronavirus pandemic, those involved realised crowd noises still needed to happen. Oakland A’s executive producer for ballpark entertainment Amelia Schimmel and others told Sports Illustrated how iPads helped bring empty ballparks to life.

“When you see a fly ball that’s clearly not going out for a home run, but everybody does that oooh? That still has to happen,” says the A’s Schimmel. “Because we’re not trying to make it sound just like how we’d want it to sound. We’re trying to make it sound real.” The end result of all those layered noises is somewhere north of 1,000 individual sounds per game in Oakland, Schimmel estimates. (It’s common to have several different ones layered for each at-bat, she notes, as they try to adjust the background murmur a bit for every individual pitch in the count.) “It’s almost like playing the piano,” she says, with some buttons pressed together like chords and others on their own, all blended into one greater body of sound.

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WhatsApp Users Can Now Send Disappearing Messages

Charlotte Henry ·

WhatsApp finally gave users the ability to send that message that disappear after a certain period of time. As The Guardian noted, it’s something of a shift for the Facebook-owned app.

Unlike some competitors, such as the secure messaging app Signal, WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, decided against offering flexibility to users. There is no option to change the length of time messages are stored, for instance; and the service also removes images and videos sent. “We’re starting with seven days because we think it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about,” the company says in a blogpost. “The shopping list or store address you received a few days ago will be there while you need it, and then disappear after you don’t. “While it’s great to hold on to memories from friends and family, most of what we send doesn’t need to be everlasting. Our goal is to make conversations on WhatsApp feel as close to in-person as possible, which means they shouldn’t have to stick around forever.”

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Michigan Prop 2 Passes; Police Need a Warrant to Search Your Devices

Andrew Orr ·

Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly passed Proposition 2 which adds “electronic data and electronic communications” to the state’s search and seizure laws.

The person, houses, papers, possessions, and electronic data and electronic communications of every person shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures. No warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things or to access electronic data or electronic communications shall issue without describing them, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.

Translation: Michigan police need a warrant to search your electronic devices. And as a Michigander myself I definitely voted in favor of this.

Arc Pulse is a Minimalist Titanium Bumper for iPhone 12
Cool Stuff Found

Arc Pulse is a Minimalist Titanium Bumper for iPhone 12

Andrew Orr ·

I have one more piece of iPhone 12 phone case news for today. I was alerted to the Arc Pulse on Indiegogo. It tries to strike a balance between protecting your phone and enjoying its naked beauty. It’s not a case but a couple of metal attachments that slide over the top and bottom, protecting it from drops. There is an aluminum 7075 version and a titanium grade 5 version.

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Mattel Revealed it Suffered a Data Breach on June 28

Andrew Orr ·

Toy company Mattel suffered ransomware attack on June 28, 2020. It revealed this in a 10-Q form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

On July 28, 2020, Mattel discovered that it was the victim of a ransomware attack on its information technology systems that caused data on a number of systems to be encrypted. Promptly upon detection of the attack, Mattel began enacting its response protocols and taking a series of measures to stop the attack and restore impacted systems. Mattel contained the attack and, although some business functions were temporarily impacted, Mattel restored its operations.

TMO Deals

6-Foot Magnetic Fidget Cable (Glow/3-Pack): $56.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

Our deal on the Magnetic Fidget Cable is back, only this time it’s the 6-foot version. This Lightning cable has magnets all along its length that allow it to coil automatically. You can also unwind just the amount you need at any given time. Or, you could just play with it—and it glows in the dark. I’m linking to the USB-A-to-Lightning version of the deal, but there are also non-glowing (Black or White) and USB-C options you can choose in the deal listing. Our deal is for a 3-pack of 6-foot cables for $5799. The non-glow models are $56.99 for a three pack.

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Why The 'Vintage' iPhone 5c Lives on

Charlotte Henry ·

The iPhone 5c is now officially vintage, meaning support is “subject to availability of inventory.” However, as Cult of Mac points out, the colorful, budget-friendly, device has had a lasting impact on the iPhone range.

The iPhone 5c was one half of the first bifurcation of an iPhone launch. Up until that point, Apple released just one iPhone each year, the only variations being color and storage capacity. In 2013, with iPhone sales still rocketing upward with no sign of an end in sight, Apple released two different handsets for the first time. There was the premium iPhone 5s, which came with the all-new Touch ID. Then there was the cheaper, primary-colored, “unapologetically plastic” iPhone 5c. Despite being cast as a failure by many, Apple doubled down on the iPhone 5c concept in the years following. For one thing, Apple never again had a year in which it launched just one iPhone. This year, it offers five models: The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone SE.