Apple execs, including Tim Cook, have reportedly interfered in production of content for its streaming service, annoying some media makers.
Apple
Qualcomm Launches Latest Legal Challenge Against Apple
The latest round of legal clashes between Apple and chipmaker Qualcomm will take place in San Francisco this week.
Apple is Hiring More Software Employees Than Hardware
For the first time in years, Apple has been hiring more software employees than hardware employees. I think this is a great move because Apple software is generally basic.
It makes sense for Apple: its hardware is now not only ubiquitous, but demand has finally plateaud. At the end of 2018 (right around when Apple began its earnest search for more software people), it became very clear that the iPhone was no longer Apple’s meal ticket as sales lagged followed by a very rare warnings call from Tim Cook.
So now what? Lock people into the ecosystem with software and services. How to get there? Hire people who know how to build that walled garden.
Robots, Apple Robots, Autonomous Vehicle Robots, and Foldable Phones with John Martellaro - ACM 503
This episode is all about robots! Apple robots, military robots, delivery repots, preacher robots, manufacturing robots, and self driving car robots! Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest host John Martellaro to deep into what’s happening with robots today and what they expect for robots in the future. Put your SciFi futurist cap on for this one. They also talk about foldable phones, or as they like to think of it, the netbook of 2019.
Apple Cash Holdings Could Lead to Emulating General Electric
At BetaNews, Robert X. Cringely writes:
But most importantly for those who are still looking for a headline, Apple will in 2019 greatly expand its profile in the finance industry. Tim Cook has already started in 2019 along the same path forged by GE’s Jack Welch back in 1981.
This strategic shift started to show just this week with Apple directly financing iPhone sales in China and announcing an Apple credit card with Goldman Sachs.
The theme here is wiser utilization of all that cash to make more cash. That’s what Big Companies do and what Apple seems poised to do now.
Apple Video Hows to Use Depth Control, and Defuse Awkward Situations With Your Partner
Ever taken a lovely portrait, only for it to be ruined by someone lurking in the background? Apple feels you. Ever had a nice snap of your partner, but their friend or colleague features in it accidentally? Again, Apple feels you. That’s why it introduced depth control to iOS- the ability to adjust the depth of field before or after a picture is taken. As a new video released Sunday shows, the depth control tool can also help defuse an awkward conversation with your partner!
Apple and Content, Marzipan, and the Executive Shuffle, with Charlotte Henry - ACM 502
Where is Apple going with its content drive? Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest-host Charlotte Henry to dive deep into original shows, services, publishing, news, and Apple’s other content ambitions. They also talk about the promise (and potential drawbacks) of Marzipan, and what Apple’s recent executive shuffling might portend.
Advice to 1999 Apple Customers, Facebook Tomfoolery – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-20
Host Kelly Guimont chats with John Martellaro and Andrew Orr about advice to Mac users 20 years ago, and the latest in Facebook tomfoolery.
Spielberg's Streaming Fears, Apple's Services Future – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-19
Host Kelly Guimont talks to Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro about the moviegoing experience and what Apple’s executive shuffle tells us.
Apple's Post-iPhone Era, Facebook vs UK Lawmakers – TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-18
Kelly Guimont chats with Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry about Augmented Reality as Apple’s future, and the UK putting Facebook on blast.
Apple Infrastructure, Attention to Details, Apple Car/AR/Glasses, with John Martellaro - ACM 501
Does Apple have the infrastructure it needs for a cohesive future? Once that seemed clear, but Bryan Chaffin and guest-host John Martellaro say it’s become harder to see, if so. They then pivot to how augmented reality will figure into Apple’s future plans and products. They cap the show by weighing Apple’s ability to pay attention to details as the company grows.
The Success of AirPods and Apple's Product Strategy
But fast-forward to 2019 and, somehow, the £159-a-pair little pods have transformed into a bona fide status symbol.
I’m not so sure AirPods are a status symbol, and definitely not a millennial one (The word millennial isn’t even mentioned in this article except the headline). But the AirPods are a great example of Apple’s product strategy: Enter a market with crappy products with a better designed, easy-to-use product, and reap the rewards.
Apple Yesterday vs. Apple Today vs. Apple Tomorrow, with Dave Hamilton - ACM 500
Bryan Chaffin is joined by Dave Hamilton to take a very high-level look at Apple, comparing the company from its early days to the company of today, and looking ahead to what kind of company Apple might be tomorrow.
Angela Ahrendts Leaving Apple in April
In something of a shock move, Apple retail supremo Angela Ahrendts is leaving the company and will be replaced by Dierdre O’Brien.
Apple Annoyances, Charger Lawsuit– TMO Daily Observations 2019-02-05
Andrew Orr and John Martellaro make a grand entrance to discuss how Apple is currently annoying us and a new lawsuit about iPhone chargers.
What Would Happen if You Remove Apple From Your Life?
Kashmir Hill has experimented with cutting out tech giants from her life. In week 5 she found out what it was like to remove Apple.
In addition to abandoning all my iProducts, I am blocking myself from interacting with Apple in any way, using a custom VPN designed for me by technologist Dhruv Mehrotra. The VPN prevents my devices from communicating with the 16,777,216 IP addresses controlled by Apple, rendering iCloud and any Apple apps defunct.
It’s an interesting experiment, especially going so far as to block Apple IP addresses. I look forward to Ms. Hill’s next experiment: Blocking Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Google, and Microsoft all at once.
Apple Agreed to Pay Back-Taxes in France
Apple has agreed to pay back-taxes in France after a multi-year audit, with the settlement reported to be worth $571 million.
This Website Exposes Apple Censorship in China
A new website called AppleCensorship.com exposes how the company censors apps in China at the behest of the government.
A new website exposes the extent to which Apple cooperates with Chinese government internet censorship, blocking access to Western news sources, information about human rights and religious freedoms, and privacy-enhancing apps that would circumvent the country’s pervasive online surveillance regime.
I’m a fan of Apple, privacy, and Apple’s stance on privacy. That being said I think whenever Apple mentions privacy on its website there should be an asterisk with fine print saying: “We believe privacy is a fundamental human right except in these cases.”
3 Things Apple Does That Keep Annoying Us
Dan Moren at Macworld reminds us that there are some Apple practices that continue to greatly annoy customers. In this case it’s all about revenue, and the argument is that Apple could please us greatly for not much loss of income. But at least we have a choice: buy or not buy.
Qualcomm had 4 Lawsuits Against Apple Dismissed by German Court
Apple scored its second legal victory against Qualcomm this month when a German court threw out 4 cases brought by the chip maker.
Apple's Earnings, iPhone Pricing, and Mac Sales, with Jeff Gamet - ACM 499
It’s time to break down Apple’s earnings, and Bryan Chaffin is joined by guest-host Jeff Gamet to do just that. They also discuss the ins and outs, ups and downs, and even some sideways aspects of Apple’s iPhone strategy. They cap the show with a look at Apple’s one weird trick of goosing Mac sales, which is to release new Macs.
Facebook Got its Apple Enterprise Certificates Back After Rule Violation
Facebook had its enterprise certificates restored by Apple. They had been revoked following the exposure of rule violations.
Apple Revoked Google Enterprise Certificates
Apple followed up on its revocation of Facebook’s enterprise certificates by revoking Google’s for an app that violated App Store rules.
Apple Sued Over Group FaceTime Eavesdropping Bug
An Attorney in Houston, Texas sued Apple Wednesday as the fallout over the Group FaceTime eavesdropping bug continued. Bloomberg News reported on allegations from Larry Williams. He claimed the flaw resulted in him being eavesdropped on while a client was giving sworn testimony in a deposition.
Attorney Larry Williams II said the glitch intrudes on the privacy of “one’s most intimate conversations without consent,” according to the complaint he filed in state court in Houston. He said he was eavesdropped on while taking sworn testimony during a client deposition. Williams is seeking unspecified punitive damages on his claims of negligence, product liability, misrepresentation and warranty breach.
