Rumor has it Apple is working on an AI-powered HomePod. Until that happens, Petey is here to take charge. Once installed, you can interact with ChatGPT on your Apple Watch—no more typing in queries. Petey supports text-to-speech and is available in English, Spanish, Dutch, and French. 

How To Install Petey ChatGPT on Apple Watch

Very Much Like Using ChatGPT In the Browser

I tested multiple combinations of questions with Petey. Accuracy is pretty much what I expected, having used OpenAI’s ChatGPT in the past. In fact, I didn’t find much difference between ChatGPT in the browser and Petey on Apple Watch.

The app generates results quickly with very little waiting. Previously, users reported that the app trimmed longer responses or threw an error. The newest update supports longer messages. 

Earlier, the app was called watchGPT. However, the makers of the app ran into some trouble when Apple began cracking down on apps using the term “GPT.” Eventually, they had to rename it to Petey.

The app’s latest update supports multiple queries. In other words, you can carry on a conversation with ChatGPT in Petey. Enhanced volume for the speech-to-text feature is a noteworthy upgrade, too. Petey has extended support to Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian languages.  

How to add Petey complication on Apple Watch

Petey also has an Apple Watch complication to allow you to access essential bits of information on the watch face. ChatGPT has a lot of use cases, some of which extend to the Petey app. Thus, it makes a lot of sense to add Petey as an Apple Watch complication. Here’s how:

1. Edit your Watch face by pressing and holding the Home Screen. Tap the Edit button.
2. Apple Watch supports a limited number of complications. You need to decide which complication to replace. Tap on one to open the Complications tab. 
3. Select Petey from the list of available complications.
   
   
4. Clicking the button opens the keyboard. Type your queries using the onscreen keyboard. I prefer using text-to-speech for lengthier questions. Tap the microphone icon on the bottom right corner to use dictation.
   
5. Save changes by tapping anywhere on the screen. You can also press the digital crown.
   
6. Voila! Petey is now on your Apple Watch homescreen. With a simple tap, you can have ChatGPT at your disposal.
   
   

ChatGPT is more than just a passing fad. I use it to write emails, reply to brand inquiries, and do other repetitive tasks. It helps focus on critical tasks (like writing this article!). Want to get more done? Integrate ChatGPT with Siri on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. What is the most impressive thing you have done with Petey on Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments below.  

One of the most frustrating but all too common error messages you might encounter is “Messages in iCloud not available as iCloud and iMessage accounts do not match.” This problem arises on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac when the Messages app on your iCloud account is not syncing across your devices. In this guide, I will walk you through some simple steps to resolve this issue.

Simple Steps to Fix “Messages in iCloud Not Available” Error

If you read the error message carefully, the second line already tells you what’s causing the problem. It reads, “Messages in iCloud is not available because iCloud and iMessage accounts do not match.” What this means is that you may be using different Apple ID accounts on your Apple devices and your iCloud account. Hence, the Messaging app is not syncing properly.

To fix this, you just need to follow some simple steps.

Fixing the Error “Messages in iCloud Not Available” on Your iPhone or iPad

How to Fix the Error on Your Mac

Follow the steps below to check if you are using the same Apple ID on your iCloud account and Messages app.

1. Click the Apple Menu > System Settings (or System Preferences).
2. Click on your name, then check your Apple ID (email under your name).
   
3. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
4. Click Settings (or Preferences), then click the iMessage tab.
5. Check if you are using the same Apple ID as in step 2. If not, click the sign-out button.
   
6. Sign in again on the Messages app, then click Sync Now.

Other Ways of Resolving the Error ‘Messages in iCloud Not Available’

Aside from ensuring that you’re using the same Apple ID on iCloud and the Messages app on your devices, there are other ways that you can do to resolve the error. I listed them below.

1. Sign in and out of your Apple ID across your devices.
2. Instal the latest software updates on your devices.
3. Reset Network Settings On your iPhone.

If the above doesn’t help, you can try to perform a Forced Check-in with iCloud. Follow the steps below to do this.

1. Disable iMessage and Facetime in Settings.
2. Restart your iPhone or iPad.
3. Re-enable iMessage and Facetime.
4. Activate Messages on Settings > iCloud.

Final Words

As mentioned, the error message saying “Messages in iCloud not available” is a minor, but definitely frustrating, glitch. However, it should have been solved by the steps outlined above. If the problem still persists, your last resort would be to check Apple’s System Status page and see if both iMessage and iCloud are in green status. If not, then wait for Apple to resolve the network issue and the error message should be gone by then.

Tags: featured, iMessage, messages app, Messages in iCloud

]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2023 21:35:46 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp2QRNO49efL3n9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoeujnm2voSiylmFkX7M1Jw

Apple may be getting serious on the back to work thing, another Epic rant from Tim Sweeney, and Apple may be sinking big bucks into cinema.

Apple Reportedly Leaning on Employees to… Show Up for Work

Here’s a weird story: Zoe Schiffer, Managing Editor @platformer, hit Twitter on Thursday with… something that seems to have come as a surprise to some. “NEW,” began the Twitter post:

Apple is tracking employee attendance (via badge records) and will give employees escalating warnings if they don’t come in 3x per week.

In a follow-up post, Schiffer said:

At Apple, some orgs are saying failure to comply could result in termination, but that doesn’t appear to be a company-wide policy.

I know I’ve not worked in a traditional work setting for about 15-years, and I know there’s been a pandemic. But is showing up to work now optional for work? 

Articles written on the posts highlighted recent reports that Apple was looking at ways to limit spending. But I have to go back to my original question. You can debate whether Apple should have called people back to the office (as we’ve done over the past couple of years) and you can debate whether the return to work-at-work was or is necessary (something else we’ve done over the past couple of years), but — traditionally, anyway — employers get to say where work will be done. 

Apple wasn’t the only company addressed in Schiffer’s Twitter posts, by the way. So was Twitter. “ALSO,” said the first Tweet:

Elon Musk sent Twitter employees an email at 2:30am saying the “office is not optional” and noting SF was half empty yesterday.

So “not optional” as in they can’t go? Or they have to?

No platform for nuance is Twitter.

Apple Removes Sprint as Option for Device Activation

The wireless carrier Sprint is a thing of the past as far as Apple is concerned. Odd that it took this long — Sprint was actually acquired by T-Mobile back in 2020. Three incredibly long years later, a piece from MacRumors says Apple will no longer let people activate iPhones on the truly unCarrier. Same goes for iPads and Apple Watches with cellular connectivity. “Apple has also removed remaining references to Sprint from its online store,” according to the report. 

That said, I guess Sprint is still kind of a thing — emphasis on “kind of.” Going to the site sprint.com immediately rolls one into T-Mobile’s site. “Sprint customers have technically been using the T-Mobile network since shortly after the acquisition,” according to MacRumors. The site still thinks there may be bumps, though. The MacRumors piece says:

Former Sprint customers who are experiencing issues related to their service should contact T-Mobile for help as they will need to move their Sprint accounts to T-Mobile to activate their devices.

Epic CEO Already Angry About Apple’s Mixed Reality Future

From the “Trolls gonna troll” file, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is worried about Apple and the metaverse, or says he is anyway. AppleInsider had Sweeney speaking this week at Game Developers Conference 2023. It seems that Apple’s anticipated mixed reality headset has him scared or bummed or something. Citing an interview with GameIndustry, the piece has Sweeney saying:

[Apple will] either try to crush the metaverse, or extract all the profit from it. One or the other. Apple doesn’t let you use a competing browser engine. So they can do the same thing with the metaverse, so [they] can say, ‘you must use Apple’s limited metaverse engine, you can’t build your own, you can’t use Unreal.

Speaking of unreal, AppleInsider says it’s not sure where that comment came from. The piece says Unreal is used in iPhone and Mac development, which makes its inclusion in Apple’s mixed reality hardware seem likely.

What he says he wants is an open metaverse. Quoting Sweeney again:

If we just build this thing in an open environment then companies can live on their merits… We very much like that because we have a history of winning on the merits when given the chance and we’re terribly frustrated at markets like iOS where you just can’t make an Epic Games Store for iOS because Apple says ‘You can’t compete with us’!

Sweeney also says he’d like to see robust antitrust laws brought to bear against the Cupertino-company. Quoting the CEO one more time:

We see them as utterly dominating this business if they’re allowed to use their market power and hardware to do so. So we’re fighting that. The other challenges I think can all be overcome.

If you’ll allow me to editorialize — briefly:

This guy makes me mental. 

There is a chance — it’s not certain, but there is a chance that Apple is about to do for VR and mixed reality and eventually AR what it did for MP3 players and smartphones and tablets. Apple was not first to any of those categories. But it defined them. It made them. Whether it can do it again with VR and mixed reality and eventually AR remains to be seen. And Tim Sweeney is already angry because, if it goes the way MP3 players and smartphones and tablets went, he’ll probably have to pay a commission to be included.

Guy makes me mental.

Report: Apple to Spend $1B a Year on Theatrical Release Films

Apple’s looking to spend a billion dollars at the movies. That’s the word in a Bloomberg report, highlighted by Yahoo! Finance — a billion dollars for movies to run in movie theaters. 

To this point, most of Apple’s time in theaters has been about awards eligibility — releasing films for the requisite week or two in select cities, then promoting those films and waiting for Oscar. Oh — and running those films on Apple TV+. Now though, Yahoo! has Bloomberg indicating that Apple:

…plans to spend $1 billion a year to produce movies that will be released in theaters, and has already approached movie studios about partnering on certain titles for releases this year and in the future.

Films already in the works that could see such treatment include Matthew Vaughn’s Argylle, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon.

If the plan comes to pass, Apple will be following a path reportedly being blazed by Amazon. In a report last November, Bloomberg said the online super-seller was planning a box office blitz. That had Amazon planning to invest a billion dollars a year producing 12-15 for theatrical release.

The report is seen as promising for ticket sales, which did better last year than the year before but are still falling short of pre-pandemic levels. That said, potentially good news was good enough for investors on Thursday. Talk of Apple’s alleged billion-dollar plan caused shares of theater chains to pop. When the day was done, IMAX closed up 2%, while shares of Cinemark ended the day up just under 6%. AMC had risen early on the news, though shares ended the day unchanged.

Report: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 Premier Views Up 59% Versus Season 2

And finally today — a huge score for Apple’s soccer push. I am referring, of course, to “Ted Lasso.” The first episode of the third-season of the Apple TV+ comedy hit premiered a little over a week ago — and it apparently crushed it. 

Deadline cites numbers from audience analytics firm Samba. According to the report, “About 870,000 Samba TV-measured U.S. households tuned in to the first episode in the first four days since it debuted on the streaming service…” By that firm’s reckoning, the season-three premier was up roughly 59% from season-two’s premier. That one saw 546,000 households tuning in over its first four days, according to Samba. 

While Deadline seems to be onboard with Samba’s methodology, the deafening silence from Cupertino does leave the site wondering. Apple never gave out hard numbers for “Ted Lasso” (or any other title). However, Deadline points out that Apple “did say that Season 2 delivered the streamer’s biggest premiere day ever, largest opening weekend ever and No. 1 debut across all series and movies.”

That was then, so what gives now? Even if the Samba numbers are sound, Deadline thinks the season three premiere may have missed Apple’s own goal.

Today on The Mac Observer’s Daily Observations Podcast

Apple’s call for people to — seriously — get back to the office piqued the interest of TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and me. We talk that over. Plus — Jeff thinks Apple’s next OS updates will hit Monday or Tuesday… but I feel like there’s something missing. Find out what on the Daily Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer.

Tags: Apple, Apple TV+, Epic Games

]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2023 15:39:03 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoeujnm2voSiylmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUpsOJ3Dhkq9aezdsCmHakzH

Spring OS Updates Without a Product Event? – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-24

Word is Apple is getting serious about having people back in the office three days a week. TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts and Ken puzzle over the report. Plus – Jeff thinks Apple will release its next OS updates next week. So, no spring product thing then?

• Apple Reportedly Leaning on Employees to… Show Up for Work
• Apple Delays Bonuses for Some and Limits Hiring in Latest Cost-Cutting Effort
• Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers [Update: Public RC Available]
• References to New AirPods and AirPods Case Spotted in iOS 16.4 RC
• References to Beats Studio Buds+ Spotted in iOS 16.4 RC

This post Spring OS Updates Without a Product Event? – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-24 appeared first on The Mac Observer

For those looking for a Mac alternative to Rufus in order to help them make their own bootable USB drive, I’m going to offer up some super cool alternatives. While many users may not often consider a bootloader, this is often because they typically serve a background role. Bootloaders primarily help with getting an operating system going, and one of the more popular ones for Windows machines is Rufus.

For those that don’t know, Rufus is an open-source app that allows users to create bootable USB drives for their Windows machine. Many praise it for being incredibly easy to use, while also giving it high-marks for being open-source. Making the process of creating a bootloader for Windows super straight-forward, many Mac users often wonder if it is available for Mac.

Can I Get Rufus to Run on My Mac?

While a lot of users have high praise for the app, it’s unfortunately only available for Windows. Additionally, it doesn’t seem that the developer has any plans of releasing the program for Mac or Linux any time soon. On the bright side, this has little to do with the developer’s opinions on these operating systems, and more to do with time constraints. In fact, the developer of Rufus has even suggested that since the app is open-source, a user with a dedicated amount of time could port the app themselves.

What Are Good Alternatives to Rufus for a Bootable USB?

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best USB bootloaders currently available for Mac. Keep in mind that some of these apps are for older versions of macOS, which can still be quite helpful.

Etcher by Balena

Etcher by Balena tops our list for a variety of reasons. In addition to being open-source, many also compliment it for being incredibly easy to use. Typically, all you have to do is select your image, then select your drive and then flash it. Additionally, users also don’t need to know how to navigate the command-line to use Etcher, and it also provides support for being able to flash up to 16 drives at once.

Users should know that Etcher is going to work with macOS Yosemite and later. However, Etcher is also great in that it is able to work with Windows and Linux as well. This can be an awesome alternative to Rufus, and one potentially everyone should check out.

You can find Etcher here.

UNetbootin

Another great Rufus alternative is UNetbootin. Originally designed for Linux-based boot drives, UNetbootin is great for those that are missing Rufus in their lives. The program is also cross-platform, and works for Windows devices as well. Additionally, the program is also rather easy to use. All a user needs to do is select an ISO file or distribution, select the USB drive (or hard disk) and then make sure to reboot when they are done. It’s really that easy.

However, some of the downsides is that UNetbootin doesn’t feature support for SD cards, nor is it able to use multiple boot images from a single hard drive. However, the software is free, so you can give it a try if you like. The program also has its own Wiki if you have any questions or need to do further research.

You can find UNetbootin here.

Deepin Boot Maker

Another popular choice is Deepin Boot Maker, developed by Deepin Technology Team. Straightforward and lightweight, this can be a great alternative to Rufus for those that are looking to keep things simple. Another open-source app, a great thing about this development team is that they also offer a wide variety of other products, which many may have an interest in checking out.

While the forum for Deepin Boot Maker is in Chinese, there is one available if users have any questions. Considering that the app is also free, it’s worth checking out for those that are looking for a simplified means of making a bootable USB drive.

You can find Deepin Boot Maker here.

DiskMaker X

If you’re using an older version of macOS, or are using an older Mac in general, a highly popular choice is DiskMaker X. While it unfortunately no longer supports macOS Big Sur or later, and also doesn’t support Catalina, many have given it high-praise for its ease of use and functionality. Written using AppleScript, the cool thing about this app is that it searches for macOS install promos using Spotlight. Once found, it instantly creates a bootable disk.

While the developer has unfortunately abandoned the project due to issues with AppleScript, this can still be a great choice for those that use older devices. If you’re on a legacy device, this app can be particularly useful for creating a bootloader for your Mac.

You can find DiskMaker X here.

Which One is the Best?

Personally, out of all of these on the list, I would recommend Etcher. The ease of use, combined with adaptability and features makes this one a sure-fire win for anyone looking to create a bootable USB drive for their Mac. While the others all have their merits, I think Etcher offers the most. However, many of these selections are free, so you can try any or all of them out and see what your preference is.

Alternatives to Rufus to Create Your Own Bootable USB for Mac

If you’re in need of a program that can create a bootable USB for you, Mac users are simply going to have to wait and hope Rufus one day makes it to the Apple-ecosystem. While you likely shouldn’t hold your breath for this day to arrive, there are some alternatives out there. Of course, don’t forget to get your copies of macOS from the official Apple source.

Having a bootable USB drive can be a great time-saver, or can even help avoid headaches later down the road. It’s not a bad idea to keep one around just in case things go south for your device. Of course, they can also be particularly useful if you have to take care of multiple devices at once. While Apple fans shouldn’t expect to see Rufus anytime soon, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options available.

Tags: featured, Mac, USB, WIndows

]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2023 01:06:31 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUrLytua-BE0qF1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqKcRaWtI2rpKCY3L745TL_

When you travel, sometimes you might want to take your HomePod or HomePod mini along for entertainment. Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi in hotel rooms is often lackluster, and it can cost a pretty penny on a cruise ship. So, you may find yourself wanting to AirPlay from your iPhone or iPad to your HomePod without an internet connection. By following the guidance I’m about to give you, you’ll be streaming your playlist to your HomePod in no time, even offline.

Can You Connect to an Apple HomePod via Bluetooth?

One of the most glaring limitations of the HomePod and HomePod mini is that no, you can’t connect to it directly via Bluetooth. Yes, the device uses Bluetooth to hand off your music from one device to another, and to begin the setup process.

Unfortunately, though, you can’t pair your device to the smart speaker and use it like you would a “dumb” Bluetooth speaker. This not only prevents you from pairing the device with non-Apple devices, but it also means you have to use a workaround if you want to use your HomePod when the internet is out.

A Change to Your Home Settings Allows AirPlay Without Internet

That workaround goes like this. You set up the Speakers & TV permissions in your Home app settings to allow broader access to those accessories.

That’s all there is to it. After these steps, you should be able to AirPlay to your HomePod speaker without internet. In fact, this workaround allows you to stream your content to the smart speaker even if your iPhone isn’t connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Now, nothing is perfect, and this workaround might prove a bit glitchy. If things don’t work, there are steps you can take to get everything hooked up and happy.

Reasons Your iPhone May Not Be Connecting to My HomePod in AirPlay

Sometimes, you’ll try to connect to your HomePod via AirPlay and it just won’t work. Or, you might see it get stuck on configuring.

There are a few possible causes of this. If it happens to you, try these troubleshooting steps.

Restart Your HomePod

From time to time, the problem is as simple as the speaker being unresponsive or in an unstable state. If so, a simple reboot will take care of it.

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, and tap on the misbehaving HomePod.
   
2. Scroll down into the Settings section and tap Reset HomePod > Restart HomePod.
   
3. After a few minutes, your HomePod should finish rebooting and you can try again.

Make Sure Your HomePod Is Up-To-Date

If your iPhone and HomePod have different versions of the operating system, this can keep AirPlay from working reliably. So, you need to make sure you regularly update the software on your HomePod.

1. In the Home app on your iPhone, tap the ”Hamburger” Icon > Home Settings.
   
2. Tap Software Update > Get Updates or enable Automatic Updates for your HomePod.
   
3. Once any updates are complete, try to AirPlay to your HomePod again.
   

Enjoying Your AirPlay Experience On Your Devices Even When the Internet Is Down

This workaround is great for streaming music from your iPhone to your HomePod even when you’re offline. However, it doesn’t stop there. If you have an Apple TV, you probably noticed it in the Speakers & TV section of the Home app.

That’s right, you can also stream the content you’ve got downloaded to your iPhone to your Apple TV this way. It’s a terrific option for those times when you’re going mostly off the grid, but want to have movies and TV shows to watch while you’re away.

Tags: AirPlay, featured, HomePod mini, iPhone

]]> Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:21:37 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqKcRaWtI2rpKCY3L745TL_ https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp7NFmDhHicf8b1naedg1wr

In today’s digital age, there are many ways by which other people can pry at your privacy. Take the case of text messages on your iPhone. No matter how careful you are, there will come a time when other people may get a hold of your precious iPhone. When that happens, your text messages, including private ones can be easily read by whoever got your iPhone. Even if your iPhone is locked, they could still get a glimpse via Message notification preview.

Thankfully, there are several methods of safeguarding messages on your iPhone. And in this guide, I will teach you how to lock messages on your iPhone using Screen Time.

Lock Messages on Your iPhone Using Screen Time

For those who are asking how to password-protect their messages on their iPhones, this is the answer. You can lock your text messages using Screen Time. That’s the first item on the second section of your iPhone Settings. If this is your first time using Screen Time, you go to Settings > Screen Time to toggle it on. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your preferences for Screen Time. After that, tap on Select Screen Time Passcode and assign a 4-digit numeric passcode. Note that this is different from the passcode used to unlock your iPhone.

That’s it. After one minute of usage a day, the iPhone Messages app will ask for a Screen Time passcode to unlock it. Easy, right? Apart from using the Screen Time passcode to password-protect your text messages on your iPhone, there are other ways you can keep them private.

Other Ways of Keeping Your iPhone Text Messages Private

Turn Off Messages Preview

To prevent others from intentionally or unintentionally reading your text messages, you should first do something about the default iPhone settings of previewing text messages you received, including the sender’s name. To change that, follow the steps below.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Notifications > Messages.
   
3. Tap Show Previews > Never.
   
   

Use Invisible Ink When Sending Messages

You can protect messages containing sensitive information, images, or videos through iMessage by using invisible ink. If you do this, the content of your message will not be readable until the recipient taps on the message. Follow the steps below to use the invisible ink.

1. Open the Message app, then type your message.
2. Tap and hold the send button until the Send With Effect menu pops out, then select invisible ink.
   
3. Tap the message to send it.

Auto-Delete Messages

This is another way of preventing others from reading messages on your iPhone, setting them to auto-delete after a certain period. To do this, go to Settings > Messages > Keep Message. Then choose to have your messages deleted after 30 days or one year.

Use Face ID or Touch ID to Lock Third-Party Messaging Apps

If you use third-party messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, you can use Touch ID or Face ID to lock them up so that only you can open the messages. Follow the steps below to do this, you simply open the app and look for the options to enable Face ID or Touch ID under Settings.

Final Words

Hopefully, by doing one or all of the methods mentioned above, you’ll be able to safeguard your privacy and prevent other people from reading your private messages. However, your iPhone messages could also be be accessed by other people through your device. If somebody is persistent in getting access to your private messages for whatever reason, they can access them through your iCloud account, if you set up iCloud for Messages.

So, anyone who knows your Apple credentials (hopefully no one does) can read your messages through iCloud. To prevent this from happening, it would be best to set up two-factor authentication on your Apple account, if you haven’t done so yet. Follow the steps below to set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID.

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on your name > Password & Security.
3. Toggle on Two-Factor Authentication.
   
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to activate the feature.

Once this is set up, a verification code will be sent to your authorized Apple devices when somebody tries to use your Apple credentials on another device.

Tags: featured, iPhone, Messages, Screen Time

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2023 23:26:19 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp7NFmDhHicf8b1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUo2I9NR-Ii5y8b1naedg1wr

User privacy versus national security, Free Friday Night Baseball is a thing of the past, and a glitch in the Apple Music matrix.

User Privacy vs National Security

Report: Apple Most Compliant When Governments Ask for User Info

While Apple has built a bit of a reputation on user privacy in the past few years, that doesn’t mean your secrets stay secret — not when Uncle Sam and his compatriots come calling, anyway. 

The site WebProNews has new numbers from VPN provider SurfShark. According to those, “the US government makes the most requests for user data from Big Tech companies than any other jurisdiction in the world.” And — historically, anyway — our pals in Cupertino tend to be the most compliant. The report says:

The company analyzed data requests to Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft by “government agencies of 177 countries between 2013 and 2021.”

In that timeframe, nearly 2.5 million account requests were made by the US. That’s said by the piece to be “more than four times the number of Germany,” second on the requests list. “In fact,” the piece says, “the US made more requests than all of Europe, including the UK, which collectively came in under 2 million.”

Of course, if you give a mouse a cookie… calls for information beget more calls for more information — or have to this point, anyway. Gabriele Kaveckyte, Privacy Counsel at Surfshark, is quoted in the piece saying:

Besides requesting data from technology companies, authorities are now exploring more ways to monitor and tackle crime through online services. For instance, the EU is considering a regulation that would require internet service providers to detect, report, and remove abuse-related content… On one hand, introducing such new measures could help solve serious criminal cases, but civil society organizations expressed their concerns of encouraging surveillance techniques which may later be used, for example, to track down political rivals.

As for who’s giving up what how often, the SurfShark report says:

Apple has led in disclosure rate since 2016, raising it from 76% in 2016 to 86% in 2021. While Apple’s average is 82%, the remaining three companies’ average is around 70%. More than half (57%) of all requests that Apple complied with had come from the US.

A Privacy Reformation?

While Apple may make it easier than others today, Apple, Alphabet, and Meta all want to make making at least some requests more difficult going forward. AppleInsider says those three companies are lobbying to “change the way Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) works” before the end of the year. That’s when Congress is expected to try to renew the rule. According to the piece:

…Section 702 allows government agencies to demand data — such as phone records, texts, and emails — from companies for national security investigations.

According to the piece, the companies:

…hope to gain the ability to publicly disclose how often they’re asked to provide information under Section 702 and what kind of data they are expected to hand over.

Big Tech also hopes to restrict intelligence agencies from using the information and instead require a warrant before agencies can search the Section 702 database for info on US citizens.

That may sound like a pipe dream, though legislators on both sides of the aisle are said to be interested in tightening the rule. AppleInsider says Representative Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) has said publicly that “a clean legislative reauthorization of 702 is a non-starter.” Similarly, Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) is quoted as saying, “We must take this opportunity to reform Section 702 and overhaul privacy protections for Americans.”

‘Friday Night Baseball’ Goes Behind Apple TV+ Paywall

Free baseball is a thing of the past, where Apple TV is concerned. The Cupertino-company and Major League Baseball announced their “Friday Night Baseball” plans on Wednesday. This year, they require a plan. According to the press release, the weekly doubleheader “will be available to all Apple TV+ subscribers on Fridays throughout the regular season.” 

Subscribers — not just people with the Apple TV app. That’s the bad news, assuming any of the news is bad. More to the upside, the games will be available in more places. A piece on the announcement from TechCrunch says the games will be available to viewers in 60 countries, a significant increase over last year’s 13. 

Interesting Local Aspects of ‘Friday Night Baseball’

There are a couple of interesting local angles as well. Same as with Major League Soccer, there are no local blackout restrictions for the MLB games. So, if you live in New York City and one of the week’s games involves the Yankees of the Mets, you’ll get to watch the game. Additionally, there’s a local angle to the broadcasts as well. While Apple did announce a new broadcast team, they’d be national for a national audience. For folks who prefer more homers with their homers, Apple says:

Fans in the U.S. and Canada will also have the option to listen to the audio of the home and away teams’ local radio broadcasts during “Friday Night Baseball” games.

So —  two “marquee” games every Friday, though no ability to follow a particular team or teams throughout the season. Local radio broadcasts to compliment national television coverage, though — again — local to whatever game happens to turn up, which may or may not be your favorite team. Is any of that enough to get people to pony up $6.99 a month? Or is “Friday Night Baseball” just a nice bonus for folks already paying to watch Sharper, “Shrinking,” and “Ted Lasso?” 

Whatever the case, Apple TV+ will be taking viewers out to the ball game, soon. “Friday Night Baseball” starts just over two weeks from now on Friday, April 7 on Apple TV+. 

Report: Other People’s Playlists Showing Up for Some Apple Music Users

Streaming services like Apple Music are great for discovering new tunes. But they shouldn’t belong to other people, right? MacRumors notes a number of complaints on Reddit “about other people’s playlists randomly appearing in (…) music libraries in the Music app.” According to the piece Redditor adh1003: 

…has compiled several reports from users complaining about the appearance of strange playlists in the app that they do not recognize. MacRumors has since found other posts on Reddit from users reporting the same behavior.

It’s not just adding, though. Some reports have the unexpected playlists slotting in with a user’s existing playlists. Other times though, the mystery lists have replaced playlists made by the user.

The piece says the issue “appears to be sparking serious privacy concerns for some users,” though MacRumors itself sees little call for that. Quoting the report:

Some users have expressed concerns that their Apple accounts have been hacked, but the more likely cause of the issue is an unspecified problem with Apple’s iCloud server. Unsyncing and then re-syncing iCloud for the Music app (Settings -> Apple ID -> iCloud -> Show All) has worked for a handful of users, but not all.

Apple does not seem to have commented on the issue to affected users, nor to MacRumors.

Apple’s Auto Testing Continues

Apple’s still hard at work on the autonomous auto thing. The site macReports reports that the number of Apple drivers testing driverless features has grown since January from 196 people to 201. As for driverless cars with no driver — that number for Apple stands at zero, at least for cars on the road. “Apple still has not applied for a driverless permit,” according to the report. 

So how’s the program going? Well, there was one fender bender, though that seems to have been down to human error. Late last month, the report says one of Apple’s cars in “manual driving mode” made a u-turn and hit a curb in the process. “No injuries were reported and law enforcement was not called to the scene,” according to macReports. “The test vehicle sustained damage to the right front rim.”

Apple TV+ Up for 15 BAFTA Television/Television Craft Awards

And finally today, Apple TV+ has 15 shots at more awards. Nominations for the BAFTA Television and Television Craft Awards have been announced, and Apple TV+ titles have picked up 15. 

According to a piece from AppleInsider, the shows “Bad Sisters” and “Slow Horses” have each picked up five nominations, “The Essex Serpent” picked up three, “Pachinko” nabbed one in the category for International productions, and Taron Egerton picked up one for Leading Actor in the limited series “Black Bird.” He’ll actually go up against Gary Oldman in the same category for “Slow Horses.” 

“The Bafta Television Craft Awards will be announced on April 23, 2023,” according to AppleInsider. “The remaining Bafta Television Awards categories will be on May 14, 2023.”

Today on The Mac Observer’s Daily Observations Podcast

Apple’s major changes with major league baseball raised a few questions for me — TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts joins me to bat those around. Plus: Jeff may have had that Apple Music issue — he’ll tell us more on the Daily Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer.

Tags: Apple, Apple TV+, MLB

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUo2I9NR-Ii5y8b1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp1_heGn9y0P5s0ohxaO6Yr

Opera has just joined other browsers in offering OpenAI’s chatbot, the question-answering AI known as ChatGPT. The suite of new features, called AI Prompts, brings the popular and controversial chatbot to the browser’s sidebar for easy access to its web version. In this quick guide, you will learn how to use ChatGPT in the Opera Browser on Mac.

How to Install Opera Browser on Your Mac

If you haven’t used the Opera browser on your Mac, now is probably the right time to download and install it on your machine. Whether you have plans of replacing Safari or Chrome as your Mac’s default browser or not, you still need to install the Opera browser to be able to use its ChatGPT features. Once you’ve installed the Opera browser, you can skip the nitty gritty of setting it up and simply go straight to activating the Early Access option that will enable you to try out Opera’s AI Prompts.

How to Get Early Access to Opera Browser’s AI Prompts

Follow the steps below to activate early access to the AI Prompts feature of the Opera browser.

1. Open the Opera browser.
2. Click on the Easy Setup icon at the upper right corner of the screen (the three lines icon)
   
3. Scroll down and toggle on AI Prompts to activate Early Access.
   
4. The ChatGPT features will now be available in the sidebar

How to Use ChatGPT in the Opera Browser on Mac

Using ChatGPT in the Opera Browser is pretty simple once you have activated the AI Prompts.

From here, you can either click the thumbs up or thumbs down icon. After that, ChatGPT will prompt you for more feedback. If you want to start a new chat, just click the plus symbol in the top right corner of the sidebar. ChatGPT will then clear the screen for you to start a new chat session.

Now, if you click the More Options icon, what some call the “hamburger button,” in the top left corner of the sidebar, you can view your chat history. Simply click on any chat session to load the ChatGPT response. You can also click on the trash icon to clear all your past conversations.

And that’s all there is to it. If you’ve tried using ChatGPT with Siri before and liked it, you might want to try using it on the Opera Browser this time.

Final Words

As ChatGPT continues to gain popularity, let us not forget that it’s still a pretty new technological development. So, it is bound to make mistakes and can be quite buggy. In other words, if you encounter glitches while using it, simply try to refresh your browser and start all over again. The second time that I used it, ChatGPT failed to load. So, I just refreshed the Opera browser and it worked again.

Also, in case you missed our previous article about using the chatbot with Siri, you should remember that you need to create an account at OpenAI.com. Once you have an account, OpenAI gives you a running balance that is good for three months. Once you’ve used up that balance, you may have to add more credits to continue using ChatGPT. Additionally, since ChatGPT is getting quite popular, the OpenAI servers may not be prepared for the influx of users. So, expect some glitches or outages from time to time.

Tags: artificial intelligence, chatbot, featured, Mac, Opera

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:47:02 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp1_heGn9y0P5s0ohxaO6Yr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUo6UAH5VH2zL5s0ohxaO6Yr

Making Apple TV+ a Superstation? – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-23

Changes to “Friday Night Baseball” on Apple TV make Ken wonder whether Apple is trying to turn Apple TV+ into a superstation. He and TMO Managing Editor Jeff Butts bat the idea around. Plus – They talk over the random playlists that are turning up for some Apple Music users.

• “Friday Night Baseball” Goes Behind Apple TV+ Paywall
• TechCrunch: Comparing “Friday Night Baseball” Year-to-Year
• Report: Unexpected Playlists Showing Up for Some Apple Music Users

This post Making Apple TV+ a Superstation? – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-23 appeared first on The Mac Observer

If you’re looking to run Windows on your Apple Silicon Mac, you have a few options. Two of the easiest to use are Parallels Desktop and UTM. So, the question is, which will prove better at running Windows on your M1 or M2-powered Mac? Read on as I compare Parallels vs UTM on M1 and M2 Macs.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this debate. Both options have their own strengths and weaknesses. You’ll need to think about what your specific needs are as far as running Windows virtually on your Mac. Let’s explore both software packages to help you make that decision.

The Core Difference Between Parallels and UTM: Virtualization vs Emulation

Parallels Desktop and UTM both serve very similar purposes. They also perform similarly, although some reports indicate UTM offers better GPU performance. Parallels Desktop tends to offer more bells and whistles that matter to the average user. On the other hand, UTM supports a bit more customization.

The core difference between the two tools, though, lies deep under the hood. To grok this difference, you need to know the difference between virtualization (which Parallels Desktop relies upon) and the emulation support offered by UTM.

This is because UTM is built upon QEMU, a free and open source emulation software that’s been around for decades. The problem with QEMU is that it can be difficult to set up and configure. UTM eases that pain, by intuitively setting the options to best suit the OS you’re running.

With virtualization, the software is basically offering the guest operating system a virtual copy of your Mac’s CPU and other hardware. This means that on an Apple Silicon Mac, you can only run operating systems in Parallel that are made for the Arm chipset.

Emulation, on the other hand, allows the software to create a PC with one of several different CPU architectures. Currently, UTM supports emulating dozens of different processors, including those used for enterprise solutions.

This means you can run not just Windows or macOS in your emulator under UTM, but a host of older operating systems as well. Let’s say you want to run the old Mac OS 9 operating system on your Mac, or Sun Solaris 9. You can do that with UTM, but not with Parallels Desktop.

GPU Options for Gaming and More

Now, one reason quite a few folks want to run Windows on their Mac in the first place is to play games. This, unfortunately, gets tricky. Both Parallels Desktop and UTM provide a virtual graphics card. That’s often not nearly good enough for the heavy demands of AAA games.

UTM even comes right out and says gaming probably isn’t an option.

No, probably not. UTM does not currently support GPU emulation/virtualization on Windows and therefore lacks support for 3D acceleration (e.g. OpenGL and DirectX). You may be able to run older games with software rendering options, but nothing with hardware acceleration. There is experimental support for hardware OpenGL acceleration on Linux through Virgl.

Parallels Desktop is somewhat better, although my own experience has shown the difference to be minimal at best. Parallels Desktop does support DirectX 11 applications in Windows, using Apple Metal to power it. It also offers OpenGL 3 support.

That being said, many of the top games today need DirectX 12, Vulcan or OpenGL 4.6 support. You won’t find that in Parallels Desktop or in UTM. If you want to check whether your favorite game will run under Parallels Desktop, check out the AppleGamingWiki list of Parallels Windows-compatible games on M1 Macs.

The State of Virtualization or Emulation Is Heavily Work-Slanted

The fact of the matter is, development on these tools focuses primarily on work-related needs. That’s because, for obvious reasons, corporations and corporate users are much more likely to pay for such software.

This becomes crucial for corporate users who want to work on a Mac, but need access to Windows-based productivity apps. Both UTM and Parallels Desktop will fully support that need.

Parallels Desktop focuses its feature set very clearly on the corporate users. If you’re wanting or needing to run Windows and have daily snapshot backups, Parallels supports that. If you’re looking for a software solution that’s tried and tested, and backed by a strong customer and technical support team, Parallels excels in that, too.

However, if your needs extend to running operating systems for a processor other than what’s inside your Mac’s case, Parallels won’t help you. UTM, on the other hand, could very well offer the support you’re looking for.

Summing Up Parallels Desktop vs UTM

Unfortunately, I can’t explicitly tell you which option to choose. I can say, though, that if your virtualization needs include being able to run Intel-based, Power PC-based, or other architectures on your Mac, UTM is probably your best bet.

The good news is there’s an easy way to test each out to see which best suits your needs. Parallels Desktop offers a 14-day free trial. After that, the Standard Edition is $99.99. For more advances support and options, subscriptions for the Pro and Business Edition versions start at $119.99 per year.

On the other hand, you can download UTM absolutely free or pay for it on the Mac App Store. This is identical to the free version, but offers automatic updates and helps fund the software development of the tool.

As a final note, there are other options out there for virtualizing Windows on macOS. These include Virtual Box and VMWare Fusion. However, both tend to appeal even more to the corporate user than even Parallels Desktop does. Even so, they do warrant mention and you can read more about them in our article comparing several options for running Windows on your Mac.

Tags: macOS, Virtual Machines, WIndows

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2023 02:18:18 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUo4WxXD5xwR-iejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUpwqBC7_ygGYuT5HJgy6HUf

When Apple introduced the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar in 2016, it garnered mixed reactions from critics and users. Many wondered whether it was a useful addition to the hardware or just a waste of space on the MacBook’s keyboard layout. But Apple did not remove it from the succeeding models of the MacBook Pro until 2021. So, for those of you who are still using your pre-2021 MacBook Pro, you might be experiencing some problems with the Touch Bar. If your MacBook Pro Touch Bar is not working, stick around as I give some troubleshooting tips to make it work again.

Possible Reasons Why Your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar is Not Working

When your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar stops working, it won’t respond to your touch. So, you won’t be able to use its various functions. There are several reasons why your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar istops responding. It could be due to either hardware or software issues.

When it comes to software issues, the cause might be settings errors, malfunctioning apps, temporary software bugs, or an outdated version of macOS. Some owners have also reported that the Touch Bar stops working when their MacBook Pro overheats.

Whatever is causing your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar to stop working, there are several troubleshooting steps that you can do to resolve any issues.

Solutions to MacBook Pro Touch Bar Not Working Issue

Reset Your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar

You can reset the touch bar of your MacBook Pro quickly using the Terminal. Follow the steps below to reset your Macbook Pro’s Touch Bar and hopefully unfreeze it.

That’s it. You just reset your MacBook Pro’s terminal. You will see it restarting when the Touch Bar flickers off and on. Now, see if it’s working again. If not, try the next tips below.

Reset Your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar via Activity Monitor

An alternative way of resetting your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar is via Activity Monitor.

1. Open the Finder app.
2. Click Applications > Utilities.
3. Double-click Activity Monitor.
4. Search for TouchBarServer then Stop its process.
   
5. Choose Quit to confirm.
6. Also reset the Control Strip process by following step 4.
7. Enter your password when prompted.

Restart Your MacBook

To get your MacBook Pro Touch Bar to work again, you may need to reboot it. As you all know by now, this is a tried and true solution whenever something goes wrong while you’re using any computer. Mac or PC. After restarting, check if the Touch Bar is working again. If not, try the next tip.

Check Your MacBook Pro’s Setting

Go to System Settings > Keyboard. Make sure that App Controls and Show Control Strip are enabled. You can see this under the Touch Bar dropdown list. If your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar settings are correct and it’s still not working, continue to the next tip.

Update Your MacBook Pro to the Latest version of macOS

By this time, I hope that you already know how to check whether your laptop’s version of macOS needs to be updated. If not, simply go to System Settings > General > Software Update. If there are available updates, install them at once.

More often than not, hardware and software issues on MacBook Pro are caused by outdated versions of macOS. If updating to the latest macOS version did not solve the problem of your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, it’s time to do a hard reset.

Reset the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM

If you own the M1 MacBook Pro, you simply need to plug it into a power outlet, then restart it. Apple Silicon Macs don’t have the System Management Controller (SMC). For Intel-based MacBook Pro, resetting the SMC involves the steps below.

1. Shut down your MacBook Pro.
2. Press and hold Command + Option + Shift keys for 7 seconds, then press and hold the power button.
3. Release the keys and press the power button to turn on your MacBook Pro.

To reset the NVRAM/PRAM of the Intel-based MacBook Pro, simply follow the steps below.

1. Shut down your Mac,
2. Turn it on again, then immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R.
3. Release the keys after 20 seconds.
4. Wait for your MacBook Pro to restart.

Similar to SMC, resetting the NVRAM/PRAM also does not apply to Apple Silicon Macs.

Hopefully, the above troubleshooting tips resolved the issue of your MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working so that you can use the macOS apps connected to its different keys again. If the Touch Bar is still not working, then the final words of this article could be your last recourse.

Final Words

Ideally, any of the troubleshooting tips outlined above would solve the issue of your MacBook Pro Touch Bar not working. But if none of the tips fixed the problem, then my last piece of advice is to contact Apple Support and schedule an appointment to have your MacBook Pro checked by an Apple expert technician. If the problem is caused by hardware issues, they will know how to fix it.

Tags: featured, MacBook Pro, Touch Bar

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:30:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUpwqBC7_ygGYuT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoQp5-tweC9jezdsCmHakzH

iPhone 14 Plus fails at failing, Apple and Foxconn rerun a play in India, and developers get release candidates of Apple operating systems.

DSCC Data Shows iPhone 14 Plus Outperforming iPhone 13 mini

Interesting notes and an odd assertion today on iPhone 14 Plus. The notes are from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), brought our way by both MacRumors and 9to5Mac. The DSCC report looks at panel shipments for iPhones from June of last year through next month (somehow), comparing those to the panel shipments for the same period a year earlier. In so doing, they’re able to guesstimate the performance of the iPhone 14 line versus the iPhone 13 line. Looking at a “breakdown of panel shipments by model for the iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14,” 9to5Mac says:

• Panel shipments for iPhone 14 Pro Max are up 23% versus it’s counterpart in the 13 line
• Panel shipments for iPhone 14 Pro are up 22%
• Panel shipments for iPhone 14 are down 36%
• And — saving the most interesting for last — Panel shipments for iPhone 14 Plus are up 59% versus panel shipments for the previous generation’s iPhone 13 Mini

That last one is strange, I know. Not an apples-to-apples comparison, if you’ll pardon the use of that term. We’ll come back to that. For the latest line as a whole, MacRumors says:

…the iPhone 14 series looks to be marginally more popular than the previous series, with a 2% increase in the number of year-on-year panel shipments as of April, apparently buoyed by increased sales of the more expensive Pro models at the cost of fewer standard iPhone 14 models being sold.

Boy does that discount the 14 Plus, which is a habit just about everybody is in. “A number of reports have suggested the iPhone 14 Plus is selling worse than Apple’s expectations,” according to the piece from 9to5Mac. The number of reports cited in the piece is two. Maybe two and a half. It links to an article written for 9to5Mac back in October, based on an article from The Information, as well an article written for 9to5Mac back in November, based on a Tweet from display analyst Ross Young. 

Okay, But What’s It All Mean, Ken?

A lot is being based on those two sources. The first part of the 9to5Mac headline says, “iPhone 14 Plus sales are too small for Apple…” Okay… I mean, Apple never said so, but — whatever. Writing for 9to5Mac, Chance Miller says near the end of the piece:

…I think we (and maybe even Apple) sometimes forget that not every iPhone can be a best-seller. The iPhone 14 Plus might be missing Apple’s sales target, but Apple is still selling millions of them. Apple needs to decide whether it’s ok having a niche iPhone in the lineup. 

You’re killing me. You’re so close to there, but you’re not there. Apple seems to have decided “whether it’s ok having a niche iPhone in the lineup.” It’s made a few iPhone SEs at this point. It made the iPhone 12 mini, it made the iPhone 13 mini, and now it’s making iPhone 14 Plus. 

Some people “sometimes forget that not every iPhone can be a best-seller.” That is true. That said, the only indication we have that Apple is in that group are pieces like the one from The Information and the Ross Young Tweet, and pieces written based upon them.

Apple and Foxconn Seek Changes to Labor Laws in Indian State of Tamil Nadu

News of a push for new labor practices in India. News that sounds so familiar, I had to make sure the story wasn’t a repost. According to a piece from Bloomberg (via Economic Times), secret sources say Apple and Foxconn are lobbying for changes to labor laws in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. According to the report:

The suggested changes include allowing factories to operate two shifts of 12 hours each, instead of the previous three shifts that each went on for eight hours.

The piece goes on to say:

The envisioned changes could also encourage more women to work in factories. By having more flexible shifts, women could avoid commuting on night buses — often seen as an unsafe option. 

It all sounds really familiar, right? That’s because it’s all happened, just not in Tamil Nadu. It was just over a week ago that the Financial Times ran a piece on labor law changes in the Indian state of Karnataka. That report had changes in that sate allowing:

…for 12-hour shifts, up from the previous limit of nine hours. It also eased rules on night-time work for women, who dominate electronics production lines in China, Taiwan and Vietnam but are under represented in India’s workforce.

That said, “Apple and its suppliers” seem to be going a bit further in Tamil Nadu. According to secret sources in Bloomberg’sreport, the companies “are also in talks to build large working women’s hostels in and around factory complexes, which would reduce travel time…”

No word in the piece on when changes in Tamil Nadu might be enacted, though they could be big for Apple and Foxconn. That state is home to Foxconn’s biggest iPhone plant on the subcontinent, according to Bloomberg.

Foxconn’s Bangaluru Plans Move Forward

Meanwhile, the changes in Karnataka were apparently aimed at new business — specifically a new Foxconn plant. Earlier this month, a piece from Bloomberg (via Apple News) had Foxconn planning to spend $700 million on a 300-acre facility in Bengaluru, in the state of Karnataka. Secret people said to know something about something said the plant would make parts for iPhones. Additionally, the piece said:

The factory may also assemble Apple’s handsets, some of the people said, and Foxconn may also use the site to produce some parts for its nascent electric vehicle business.

Plans for the plant are moving forward, though a piece from AppleInsider says Foxconn is paying more than originally expected and getting less than it may have hoped. Citing a piece from the Times of India, AppleInsider says Foxconn’s outlay has risen from US$700 million to US$968 million. Additionally, while initial plans had called for the creation of 100,000 jobs at the plant, the latest numbers put the new jobs expected closer to 50,000.

Morgan Stanley: App Store Needs Not Fear Possible Microsoft Mobile Game Store

“Microsoft poses ‘biggest potential threat’ to Apple’s App Store.” That is the gist of a note from Morgan Stanley, according to a piece from CNBC. Spoiler: It’s really no threat, according to Morgan Stanley — at least no time soon. Here’s what happened. 

Earlier this week, Microsoft Gaming exec Phil Spencer said that his company could open a new app store for games sometime in 2024 — if regulators approve Mr. Softy’s $75 billion buy of Activision Blizzard and if the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) forces Apple to open the iPhone and iPad ecosystems to third-party app stores. 

Those are two ifs worthy of note. They bring us back to CNBC, which had Morgan Stanley saying in a note on Tuesday that if Microsoft makes it past those other two ifs and if it is able to launch its own app store for games on iThings, it would represent an “immaterial risk” to Apple, though it would be a “long-term threat” to keep an eye on.

It would be “immaterial,” according to the firm, because Activision Blizzard and Microsoft “accounted for less than 1% of total Apple Services revenue combined” in 2022. As for why it would be worth keeping an eye on, the analysts say:

If we took a ‘worst case’ view of the world and said the potential Microsoft app store could take all EU gaming revenue from the Apple App Store – given the focus of the DMA is just in Europe, for now – that would equate to 8% of App Store revenue, 2% of Apple Services revenue, and a ~1% hit to Apple company-level revenue and EPS. 

That… still doesn’t sound threatening. And Morgan Stanley seems to agree, even as it uses the word “threat.” Quoting the analysts again:

We estimate the impact of a potential Microsoft App Store on the iPhone would be limited to <3% of App Store revenue and <0.5% of EPS, but it still represents the biggest potential threat to the App Store today.

That is a weird assertion. 

Morgan Stanley has a “Buy” rating on Apple Shares, according to TipRanks. The firm’s price target on the shares is $180.

New Round of OS Release Candidates Out to Apple Developers

New operating systems are just around the bend, my Huckleberry friend — and maybe new hardware as well. First, a big round of release candidates was made available to developers on Tuesday. Pieces from MacRumors note the arrival of release candidates for iOS and iPadOS 16.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, watchOS 9.4, tvOS 16.4, and Studio Display Firmware 16.4 to members of Apple’s developer program. 

Raised Voices, Fewer Duplicate Photos

Additional pieces noted a few new features. They’re not sexy, but they’re not nothin’. For example, one MacRumors piece says iOS 16.4 brings “voice isolation for cellular calls.” Spelled like it sounds, the feature should separate voices from other noises — elevating the former and sinking the latter. According to the report:

Apple says that Voice Isolation will prioritize your voice and block out the ambient noise around you, making for clearer phone calls where you can better hear the person you’re chatting with and vice versa.

Also coming soon — duplicate image detection for the iCloud Shared Photo Library. Another piece from MacRumors points out that Apple added duplicate image detection for the Photos app with the arrival of iOS 16. “If you have duplicate images,” the piece says:

…the ‌Photos‌ app displays a “Duplicates” folder in the Utilities album section. From there, you can merge all of your duplicate images together. 

While that works for the Photos app, it does not work for the iCloud Shared Photo Library. Come iOS 16.4, it will. Three cheers.

Other upcoming iOS 16.4 features we’ve heard about before. They’re said by MacRumors to include “new emojis, Push Notifications for web apps, bug fixes for HomeKit, Crash Detection optimizations, and more.” There is of course no word on exactly when the operating systems will see wide release. Next week feels somewhere between “possible” and “likely.” 

Code in iOS 16.4 RC References Unreleased Earables

And what of this “maybe new hardware” I mentioned? Eh, stick it in your ear, maybe. Yet another piece from MacRumors says this week’s iOS release candidate “appears to hint at a new set of AirPods that could be coming in the near future.” Citing a post from Twitter’s @aaronp613, the piece says under the hood code references unreleased AirPods and an unreleased AirPods case.

While the hints may be there, MacRumors has trouble buying it for a couple of reasons. First — there have been no new AirPods rumored, and second, “it is early for Apple to update the earbuds,” in the site’s estimation, “as they were just refreshed in 2021.” Still, they don’t seem willing to discount the idea entirely. 

New AirPods aren’t the only earables referenced. “Earables,” by the way — not a word. But you could totally hear some idiot saying it, right? 

Yes, I know what I just said. 

Anyway, a piece from 9to5Mac says this week’s iOS release candidate also references an unreleased pair of Beats Studio Buds+. Just like 2021’s Beats Studio Buds, the report says the Buds+ “will have active noise cancellation and transparency mode.” Additionally, code indicates support for “audio sharing, automatic device switching, and ‘Hey Siri,’ just like AirPods and other Beats wireless earbuds…” 

With their apparent inclusion in the iOS 16.4 release candidate, 9to5Mac expects an official Beats Studio Buds+ announcement in the very near future. 

Sunsetting Exposure Notifications API

And finally today, news of a feature finding the exit in the iOS release candidate. A piece from 9to5Mac says Apple is opening the escape hatch for the Exposure Notifications API for COVID-19 contact tracing. 

It was a technological feat in early 2020 when Apple and Google teamed up to launch that API. The plan was to let users know when they had possibly been exposed to COVID-19. This would allow them to get tested and isolate, if necessary. 

The amazing part was the API’s ability to do this while protecting the privacy of people who opted in. Well, that was one amazing part. The other amazing part was the resistance with which the API was met. The U.S. went with contact tracing on a state-by-state basis. Some states used the Apple/Google API. Some did not. Even in states that did go Silicon Valley’s way, there didn’t seem to be a huge push. Now, when iOS 16.4 hits, 9to5Mac says health departments will be able to end their support for the system. Folks in a system dropping support will receive a message, saying:

Your health authority has turned off Exposure Notifications. Your iPhone is no longer logging nearby devices and will not be able to notify you of possible exposures. Previously collected exposure data is automatically deleted.

Today on The Mac Observer’s Daily Observations Podcast 

TMO writer Nick deCourville and I kick around the iPhone 14 Plus story… Plus: Have you heard Steve Jobs’ thoughts on COVID-19? We’ve got a creepy talking A.I. story on the Daily Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer — online at macobserver.com, or wherever you get podcasts.

Tags: Foxconn, iOS 16.4, iPhone 14

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoQp5-tweC9jezdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUrdWOruv_l_NSejEQ2Mq9rY

Technically, Windows users cannot use macOS on their PCs. Furthermore, newer Macs with the Apple silicon chip cannot run Windows. But thanks to the development of emulators and virtualization tools, it is possible for users of both platforms to use one operating system together with another. I’ve rounded up four Windows emulators on Mac to help you decide which one to use to install the Windows operating system, apps and games on your Mac.

What is a Windows Emulator?

Emulators allow you to reproduce the function or action of a Windows-based PC on your Mac through virtual machines and guest operating system images. To put it simply, a Windows emulator is a tool that lets you run software or applications (including games) that are otherwise not compatible with your computer’s operating system or chip architecture. Hence, a Windows emulator for Mac allows you to run Windows 11, for example, on your Mac. This enables you to install and use Windows apps as well as play many Windows-based games.

4 Best Windows Emulators for Mac (Paid or Free)

Boot Camp

The first and possibly the easiest emulator to use included on our list isn’t really an emulator at all. This would be Apple’s Boot Camp. It comes preinstalled on Intel-based Mac computers, and it’s free to use. You can access Boot Camp through the Utilities folder in your Mac’s Applications folder. Boot Camp allows you to install Windows on your Mac.

Once installed, you can dual-boot both Windows and macOS. The good thing about using Boot Camp to dual-boot between Windows and macOS is that both operating systems can fully utilize the power of your Mac hardware. It doesn’t scale down the performance of the two operating systems.

Boot Camp utilizes two partitions on your Mac’s hard disk to install the two operating systems separately. So, when you boot your Mac, you will be given the option to either boot into Windows or macOS. One letdown of Boot Camp is that it only works with Intel-based Macs; it’s not compatible with the newer Apple Silicon Mac computers.

Availability: Free.

Pros

• Free and built-in to macOS.
• Delivers a fast and more stable performance.

Cons

• It’s not a virtualization tool, so you can’t run macOS and Windows at the same time.
• Takes up a lot of space.
• You won’t be able to change the partition size of your Mac HD once installed.

Parallels Desktop

Another popular emulator that lets you run Windows on your Mac is Parallels Desktop. It’s a visualization tool that allows you to create a virtual machine where you can install Windows, and then install apps and play games.

Compared to Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows within macOS. This means you don’t have to reboot your Mac anytime you want to switch between the two operating systems. Another difference between Parallels Desktop and Boot Camp is the fact that it is compatible with Apple Silicon Macs. It might even work better with those Macs.

Availability: $99.99 annual subscription fee. A free trial is available.

Pros

• Smooth graphics performance.
• Lets you install macOS from the recovery partition of Intel-based Macs.
• Faster than its rivals.
• Runs ARM-based Windows on Apple Silicon Macs.

Cons

• Not as stable as VMWare Fusion.
• Integrations between Windows guest and Mac host can become quite confusing.

VMWare Fusion

VMWare Fusion is similar to Parallels Desktop. It’s also a virtualization tool that lets you run Windows OS within macOS. Hence, no rebooting is needed to switch between Windows OS and macOS. VMWare Fusion allows you to use your Mac apps in the background while you use Windows OS. And when you’re using Windows, you can expand into full window mode, allowing you to run apps easily and enjoy playing your favorite Windows games. One good thing to note about VMWare Fusion is its Unity Mode. This lets you run Windows Explorer, Windows’ equivalent to Finder, as an app in macOS.

Availability: $149 (30-day trial free version is available).

Pros

• Supports virtualization of any Intel-compatible OS and macOS.
• A free, limited-feature version is available for personal use.
• The virtual machine runs on Macs, Windows, and Linux hosts.

Cons

• May run slower than Parallels Desktop.
• Lacks support for ARM-based guests or hosts.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is another tool that lets you create a virtual machine to install Windows on your Mac without the need to reboot. It’s freely available for personal and educational uses. But for businesses, a paid version is offered, which comes with technical support and more features. These also include support for Mac hardware such as the camera, connected printers, and other peripherals.

But as it is, the free version has been proven to be stable enough to run Windows apps, games, audio, and 3D graphics. The only letdown is that VirtualBox can be rather difficult to set up. But with patience, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to run it smoothly.

Availability: Free for personal and educational users. A paid version is available for businesses.

Pros

• Offers an unlimited number of snapshots.
• Easy to install and takes less storage space.
• Can detect USB devices.

Cons

• Offers limited support for 3D graphics.
• The user interface needs improvement.

Final Words: Emulators That Let You Install Apps and Games on Your Mac Without Installing Windows OS

I intentionally did not include Wine and CrossOver on the list simply because both of them only allow you to install apps and games on your Mac without the need to run Windows itself in a separate virtual machine. So if you just need to use Windows apps and play Windows games, these two tools would serve the purpose, and serve it well.

Wine is free to use while CrossOver is available for $9.95.

Tags: boot camp, featured, macOS, Parallels Desktop, Virtual Machines, WIndows

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:15:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUrdWOruv_l_NSejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoKNckwyUPulZs0ohxaO6Yr

iPhone 14 Plus Fails at Failing – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-22

Since its introduction, most in the tech press have deemed iPhone 14 Plus a failure. New numbers indicate otherwise, leaving most in the tech press to question how Apple got it so wrong? No. That doesn’t make sense. TMO writer Nick deCourville and Ken will discuss it. Plus – Google Bard goes bigger and a very convincing Steve Jobs chatbot.

• Report Suggests iPhone 14 Plus More Popular Than iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 14 Plus sales are too small for Apple, but it’s not an iPhone 13 mini-sized dud
• ChatGPT watch out: You can now chat to Google Bard
• Steve Jobs returns from grave as a chatty AI
• Hear the Jobs/ChatGPT Bot Talk on Twitter

This post iPhone 14 Plus Fails at Failing – TMO Daily Observations 2023-03-22 appeared first on The Mac Observer

We all love taking pictures with our iPhones. We want them to be the best possible, but sometimes we need a few extra seconds after we hit the shutter button to compose the shot. Fortunately, Apple thought about that and included a timer in the camera app. Read along as I explain how to use that timer in your iPhone to get the best photographs possible.

There’s More Than One Way to Take That Shot

There are several ways you can snap a photo on your iPhone. Sure, you can just tap the shutter icon in the Camera app. However, there are several other ways to take a picture using your iPhone.

One of the most common questions about iPhone photography is how you can use a timer to give yourself a bit of extra time before the camera captures your image. This is crucial when you want to include yourself in a group picture, or just time to get the image perfectly composed after you tap the shutter icon.

Yes, you can use a Bluetooth remote to trigger the shutter, or even your Apple Watch. However, if all you need is 3 to 10 seconds to get ready, you don’t need any of that.

How To Turn On the iPhone Camera App’s Shutter Timer

Hidden away in plain sight, your iPhone’s Camera app has its own timer. By turning it on, you can delay the time from when you tap the shutter button and when your iPhone actually snaps the picture.

When you’re ready to get ready, tap the shutter icon to begin the countdown. Of course, you might want to take advantage of some of the other available tools while you have the menu open.

During the countdown, your iPhone flash will go off several times before taking the picture. When your iPhone does take the picture, it will do so in a 10-shot burst. You can go through those images to pick the one you like most.

Tags: Camera app, featured, iOS, Photography

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 05:38:43 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUp1ggZOY_Zh-11cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoHO5fsQUXDgcb1naedg1wr

Here’s what you can do if you find that your HomePod is stuck while configuring. While this can often be a rather easy solution, it really depends on the situation. For example, there is a rather peculiar instance where users are having a lot of trouble configuring a HomePod that needs to be setup alongside additional HomePods. What you will need to do depends largely on your situation, and how and why your HomePod is having an issue configuring.

With that in mind, I’m going to explain this peculiar situation, while also provide some solutions, even if the multiple HomePod-situation doesn’t necessarily apply to you. While having the device around a household can be particularly handy, it isn’t that beneficial if it spends most of its time trying to configure itself. Let’s take a look at some potential causes and solutions.

Why is My HomePod Stuck While Configuring?

There can be a couple of reasons why a HomePod is stuck in the configuration process. Fortunately, if you are only using one, the solution can be pretty simple. However, there seems to be a large issue with a HomePod attempting to configure itself continuously if it is running 16.0, and there are other devices in the household running 16.3. While there is no official reasoning as to why this is occurring, many suspect it has something to do with how 16.3 operates.

Therefor, if you are running just a single HomePod and find that it is getting stuck while configuring, the solution is likely an easy one. I would suggest trying the tips earlier in the article before diving into the more serious solutions at the end. However, if you are connecting a HomePod that is on 16.0 alongside another HomePod that is on 16.3, you might have a bit of work to do.

Try Unplugging the HomePod if it is Stuck Configuring

While this seems to be an issue for many people, there seems to be a multitude of solutions that are working for users. One of the easiest seems to be simply unplugging the endlessly configuring HomePod, waiting 10 seconds, and then plugging it back in so that it can recalibrate.

While this is likely the easiest solution, not everyone seems to be having luck with getting it to work. Though this is likely the first thing you should try, don’t be surprised if you need to try something else.

Try Changing Your iCloud/Apple ID Region

Some users are also reporting that changing their iCloud/Apple ID region fixes the issue. This may cause something within the 16.0 software to configure properly, at the very least, this is a fast solution to check.

From a web browser, you can easily change your Apple ID region by following these steps:

1. Sign-in to your Apple ID on Apple’s website.
2. Choose Personal Information.
3. Click Country / Region and make your selection.
   

You can then see if your HomePod configures properly, or will at least attempt to update to 16.3. If you’re not having luck, changing your region back to what it once was only takes repeating the above steps. If this doesn’t work, there is another solution a user can try, though this one is a bit more time consuming.

Create a Temporary Home Within the HomePod App

If you’re having issues with your HomePod being stuck in the configuring status within the Home app, then creating a temporary home within the Home App can be a solution. However, be warned that it may take awhile to connect your HomePod to the temporary home.

Remove the HomePod from the Home App

First thing you will need to do is remove the HomePod from the Home within your Home app.

1. From the Home app, select the your HomePod icon.
2. Then, either navigate to the Settings icon, of scroll down and select HomePod settings.
3. Choose Reset HomePod.
4. Then select Remove Accessory.

Reset the HomePod

On this is finished, you can then reset the HomePod through the following steps.

1. Unplug your HomePod from the power source for 10 seconds.
2. Wait 10 seconds, and then plug the device back in.
3. Give it another 10 seconds. Then, using your finger, touch the top of the HomePod and wait.
4. The white light on the top of the HomePod will turn red. Keep holding down your finger.
5. Siri will then inform you that HomePod is about to reset. After you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

Create a Temporary Home in the Home App

After this, you will then be able to add the HomePod to the test Home. It may take some time for the HomePod to configure. Once the process is complete, you will be able to update the firmware to version 16.3 from the software section within the Home app.

Update to 16.3

To get the 16.3 update, all you need to do is open the Home app and select the More button (the three dots), then go to Home Settings > Software Update. An update will more than likely be available for you, and you can follow the prompts from there.

From here, you’ll need to remove the HomePod from the temporary Home. Follow the same steps listed above, and then you will need to Reconfigure your HomePod to your original Home. Again, follow the same steps listed above.

What to do if Your HomePod is Stuck Configuring

While Apple will hopefully soon address this issue, the major configuring problem seems to only be happening to those that are using two or more HomePods. While this obviously isn’t an ideal scenario, those that are only using one HomePod are likely not to experience this issue.

However, if you do find that your HomePod is stuck on the configuring screen, there’s at least a couple of different things that you can try. While some of the processes may take a tad longer than the others, it seems that so long as you can get both of the HomePods onto 16.3 then you are a good to go. Of course, if you find that your HomePod isn’t responding at all, you may want to take a look at some of these solutions.

Tags: Apple, featured, HomePod

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 01:55:09 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUoHO5fsQUXDgcb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqpsS6Jgrmz9ilmFkX7M1Jw

Crazy numbers from Counterpoint Research, South Korea’s open for Apple Pay, and the Kremlin has it out for iPhone.

Report: Premium Smartphones Owned 2022 (and Apple Owned Premium Smartphones)

Two crazy data points from Counterpoint Research: No. 1 — Sales of premium smartphones (that’s phones costing $600 or more) made up more than half of global smartphone revenue in 2022. No. 2 — Apple’s share of global premium smartphones in 2022 was 75%. 

On the first point: Counterpoint says premium smartphone sales climbed 1% in 2022, though smartphones as a whole dropped 12%. It sounds like a total haves and have-nots thing. Quoting Counterpoint:

Despite the tough market conditions in 2022, affluent consumers were more immune to the macroeconomic difficulties than customers from the lower end. Consequently, sales in the premium market grew, while those in the entry and mid-tier segments declined. 

In fairness, that’s only part of the equation. Counterpoint argues that more buyers who can are willing to spend more on premium models. That’s partly due to the more central role smartphones play in people’s lives and partly due to knowing they can hold on to premium phones for a longer stretch. The way the firm sees it, that kind of thinking “is one of the reasons the $1,000 and above price segment was the fastest growing (38% YoY) in 2022.”

Focusing in on Apple — Sales of iPhone models over $600 grew 6% in Counterpoint’s estimation. That gave the Cupertino-company three-quarters of the world’s premium smartphone share. When is that figure a depressing one? When one considers what might have been. “Apple could have grown more,” notes Counterpoint, “if not for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max supply disruption during the peak holiday season in 2022.”

iPhone’s dominance of the premium space seems unlikely to give way any time soon. “The stickiness of the iOS ecosystem” plus “Apple’s aspirational brand value and step-by-step expansion” are likely to stand it in good stead. That said, Counterpoint thinks iPhone may cede some ground this year with premium, foldable Android phones anticipated in 2023.

Report: Apple Pay Goes Live in South Korea

An event five or six years in the making. After a plan that reportedly began in 2017, a piece from MacRumors says Apple Pay has finally gone live in South Korea. 

In fairness to Apple, the company moved fairly quickly once it was allowed to move at all. According to the report, the Cupertino-company:

…was unable to be registered as an electronic financial business operator because regulators were investigating whether ‌Apple Pay‌ violated local regulations and laws.

That hurdle was cleared in the early part of February, and now — here we are. Or, there they are. 

The question now: Will Apple Pay adoption open a flood or a trickle? A number of reports, including one from The Korea Times, point to a lack of NFC in point-of-sale terminals. According to that report:

…the service still faces significant challenges in Korea due to the limited number of stores equipped with NFC terminals. Currently, below ten percent of the credit card member stores in Korea are equipped with the necessary infrastructure…

That said, we may want to check back in a few weeks. The same piece from The Korea Times says: 

Several major retailers in Korea, including convenience stores and supermarkets such as Lotte Mart, Homeplus, and Costco, have already prepared to adopt the new Apple Pay service. Additionally, some department stores and coffee chains, such as Ediya and Mega Coffee, are reportedly in the process of preparing to adopt the NFC terminals.

Etymology and Kremlinology: Russia Tells Govt. Officials to Ditch iPhones/Smartphones

One wonders whether “iPhone” is like “Xerox” or “Kleenex” in Russia. Has the use of the term “iPhone” replaced the term “smartphone” the way “Xerox” has replaced “photocopy” or “Kleenex” has replaced “tissue?” 

9to5Mac ran a piece Monday, the headline of which said (in part), “Russia bans officials from using iPhones.” That cites a Reuters report, which cites a report from the Russian paper Kommersant. Apparently, the concern is the 2024 presidential election (the one in Russia) and worries about spying (in Russia). According to Reuters, the directive comes “because of concerns that the devices are vulnerable to Western intelligence agencies.”

Mr. Kettle, I have Mr. Pot on line two…

To my question about iPhone and Xerox and Kleenex (oh, my!), the piece has an unnamed Russian official saying, “It’s all over for the iPhone: either throw it away or give it to the children…” 

Disposable — apparently something else iPhone and Kleenex have in common in Russia. As for the more thorough of the bunch, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted in the piece saying:

Smartphones should not be used for official business. Any smartphone has a fairly transparent mechanism, no matter what operating system it has – Android or iOS. Naturally, they are not used for official purposes.

Or won’t be. MacRumors says affected individuals have until April 1 to ditch their smartphones.

Apple and Hello Sunshine Nab Rights to Novel ‘Maybe Next Time’

Apple TV+ and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine seem to have another production in the works. Deadline says the two have won in competition for the rights to the latest book from Cesca Major, Maybe Next Time. 

If you’ve not heard of it, don’t feel too bad. The piece says the book was published two-weeks ago today here in the states. It comes out in the U.K. in a little over a week. As for what it’s about, Deadline says:

There is a Groundhog Day element to this one, as a woman relives the same day over, trying to keep her family and career from imploding as she attempts to save her husband’s life.

As it stands now, this will be a one-shot for Apple and Hello Sunshine. While Witherspoon’s production company has guided such Apple TV+ series as “The Last Thing He Told Me,” “My Kind of Country,” “Truth Be Told,” and “The Morning Show,” Deadline says Maybe Next Timeis being “developed as an Apple Original Film from Apple Studios…”

For Sale: 10-Year Apple Plaque Signed by Steve Jobs

And finally today, another piece of Apple history is up for sale — available at a buy-it-now price. 9to5Mac says “an award plaque signed by [Steve] Jobs and presented to an Apple employee in 2000” is up for purchase. 

According to the site, the “rare goods website Moments in Time” is selling the plaque. 9to5Mac says what’s being offered:

…is a 10-year award plaque presented by Apple to former marketing executive Suzanne Lindbergh in 2000. It includes a special note celebrating the 10-year anniversary milestone, with an actual Steve Jobs autograph at the bottom.

Jobs was notoriously stingy with his signature, which is what makes this plaque both rare and pricey. While Moments in Time says the price is only available on request, it seems TMZ did ask, and they don’t mind sharing.  

$95,000 is the reported price. But hey — no accidentally paying more than that in the heat of bidding battle. 

Today on The Mac Observer’s Daily Observations Podcast

TMO Managing editor Jeff Butts and I will go a bit deeper in those Counterpoint smartphone numbers — Plus a little bit more on the Kremlin’s smartphone ban. That’s all today on the Daily Observations Podcast from The Mac Observer.

Tags: Apple, Apple TV+, iPhone

]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2023 17:47:57 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqpsS6Jgrmz9ilmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqpsS6Jgrmz9pVjH6qdYdAk

One common problem encountered after updating to iOS 16 is that photos stopped downloading in iMessage. This can be pretty annoying, especially for those who send photos to their contacts through the service. This has led many to ask things like “Why aren’t pictures sent to my iPhone not downloading?” and “Why aren’t images working on iPhone messages?” This guide will answer those questions and walk you through the various fixes for pictures not downloading in iMessage after updating to iOS 16 and even earlier versions.

How to View Pictures on iMessage

You can normally view pictures sent to you via iMessage in the message thread itself. However, if the thread has been going on for quite some time, it could be pretty tedious to scroll through it to look for a particular picture. But there is a quicker way of viewing all the photos that were sent on that particular iMessage thread. See the steps on how to view pictures on iMessage below

From here, you can tap on a particular picture, then tap the share icon to view several options that you can do with the picture. You can either send, share or save the photo to your Photos Library.

Ideally, pictures sent through iMessage can be easily viewed within the message thread. However, there may be times when the issue of pictures not downloading in iMessage might come up. If that happens to you, there are some troubleshooting tips that you can do to make it work.

Reasons Why iMessage Could Not Download Pictures

There are several reasons why pictures might not download in Messages. One of them could be that your iPhone is running low on storage and can’t accommodate the pictures. Another reason could be that the photos were accidentally deleted while you were clearing space on your device.

It’s also possible that the iMessage service is simply unavailable. Other reasons why pictures are not downloading in iMessage include iCloud settings errors, intermittent internet connections, and iOS update failure, among others.

How to Fix the Issue When Pictures Are Not Downloading in iMessage

Follow the troubleshooting tips below to fix the problem of pictures not downloading in iMessage.

Reload iMessage

When updating to the latest version of iOS, apps may need to be restarted to work properly. So, you should refresh iMessage by following the steps below.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Messages > Send & Receive.
3. Sign out of your Apple ID.
4. After a few seconds, sign in to your Apple ID again.

If this method does not resolve the issue at hand, try the next tip.

Reset Network Settings

To fix the error of pictures not downloading in iMessage, you can try resetting your iPhone’s network settings.

• Go to Settings.
• Tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset > Reset Network Settings.
• Enter your iPhone passcode.
• Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.
• Go to Settings again.
• Tap Wi-Fi, then select your network and enter the password.
• Open iMessage to reload all its content, including pictures.

Clean Up Your iPhone’s Storage

A lack of storage space on your iPhone may also cause pictures not to load in iMessage. To fix this, you should delete apps and files that you no longer need.

Check Your iPhone’s IMessage Settings

One of the reasons why you can pictures are not downloading in iMessage is iMessage may be disabled. Follow the steps below to check on this.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Messages, then toggle on iMessage.

Bonus Tip: Restoring Deleted Photos on Your iPhone

Another reason why pictures are not loading in iMessage is that they were already deleted from your iPhone, accidentally or otherwise. To make these pictures appear in iMessage again, you may need to restore your iPhone from an iCloud or iTunes backup.

A third option is to use a data recovery tool. This could restore deleted pictures but you do have to decide as soon as possible whether you are going to use such a tool or not.

Hopefully, the above-mentioned troubleshooting tips will resolve the issue of pictures not downloading in iMessage on your iPhone..

Tags: featured, iMessage, pictures

]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2023 17:38:56 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUqpsS6Jgrmz9pVjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/qYhKZOEEgUpQTxK_m5CzJClmFkX7M1Jw

Having two teenage kids in the family exposed me to Japanese manga and anime. Yes, I’ve watched the whole series of “Attack on Titan” and surprisingly liked it. But I never read the manga version of that popular series. Anyway, if you’re unlike me and you’re into reading manga, you’re probably looking for Tachyomi, one of the most popular manga readers around, on the iOS App Store. Unfortunately, it’s not available there.

While there are workarounds that allow you to install Tachyomi iOS on your device, but these involve side-loading the app from a third-party app store. This is undesirable for many who want to stick with the relatively safer official App Store. That means your best bet for reading digital versions of manga is to use an alternative reader. I’ve listed here some of the best alternatives to Tachyomi that are available on the iOS App Store to help you choose the best one to use for reading manga.

What is Tachyomi and Why is Tachiyomi Not Available on the iOS App Store?

Android users are lucky enough that the developers of Tachyomi manga reader decided to make the app available for the Android platform. This made manga fans who are iOS users jealous, wishing that Tachiyomi would become available on iOS as well. Unfortunately, according to the developers of Tachyomi, it would prove too challenging to port the manga reader to iOS. Therefore, it’s available only on Android.

The Tachyomi manga reader has gained a massive following ever since Japanese anime and manga gained so much popularity not only in Asian countries but also in the U.S. and European countries. As a manga reader, Tachyomi is free and open-source with various features that give fans a delightful experience reading their favorite manga story. Additionally, Tachyomi has a massive database of manga, some of which aren’t even available elsewhere on the internet. No wonder fans have declared it the best manga reader.

5 Best Tachyomi App Alternatives for iOS

There are several other manga readers already available on the iOS App Store. I’ve listed five of them below to help you choose one to use for reading your favorite manga.

VIZ Manga

From VIZ Media, the number one destination for American manga fans, the VIZ Manga reader app is one the better Tachyomi alternatives on iOS. It has a vast catalog of mainstream manga coming straight from Japan. It features weekly chapter updates and new series added regularly.

One essential feature of VIZ Manga is that it lets you read a free preview before buying the manga. If you’re a fan or familiar with popular anime series such as One Punch Man, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures and more, you can find their manga versions in VIZ Manga.

Availability: Free, offers in-app purchases.

Pros

• A free preview before purchasing is a plus.
• The swipe gesture for turning pages works seamlessly.
• Auto-rotate while reading.

Cons

• Lacks search and genre options.
• Lack of settings menu.

Manga Zone – Manga Books Reader

Another good alternative to the Tachyomi manga reader on iOS is Manga Zone. It also has a pretty good collection of manga ranging from the latest releases to old classics. When it comes to user interface and design, Manga Zone excels, with a clean layout and a very nice format.

Users also say that the manga featured in Manga Zone are complete in terms of chapters and some mangas even come with extra volumes. It’s worth trying out.

Availability: Free, Offers in-app purchases.

Pros

• The download feature is a plus.
• Lets you go back to the manga you previously read and keep track of what you are currently reading.
• Seamless interface including swipe features.

Cons

• Ads can get quite annoying.
• Limited advanced search features.

Manga Viewer – CBZ (CBR) Reader

Manga Viewer is another great iOS alternative to the Tachyomi manga reader. It has a vast collection of titles and lets you read and download without limits. But one thing that sets Manga Viewer aside from other Tachyomi alternatives on iOS is the fact that it allows you to stream manga from different libraries simultaneously.

If you’re a manga fan you surely know about mangahere, mangafox, mangareader, batoto, and many others. These are popular libraries of manga collections. Additionally, Manga Viewer also lets you filter manga by title, author name, rank, and genre so that you can easily find the title that you’re looking for.

Availability: Free, Offers in-app purchases.

Pros

• Features mainstream manga as well as some that are not.
• Remembers where you left off when reading a manga series.

Cons

• Its library is hard to navigate.
• Takes too much storage.

MangaBAT – Manga Rock Pro

MangaBAT – Manga Rock Pro is also a popular and widely used manga reader. It has a good collection of titles that contain high-resolution graphics. MangaBAT’s interface is highly customizable. It allows you to choose the direction you wish to read the manga.

You can also pick up from where you left off when reading since MangaBAT marks what you have and haven’t read yet. Some users say that MangaBAT never crashes, making it a highly stable and reliable manga reader.

Availability: Free, Offers in-app purchases.

Pros

• Very easy-to-use interface.
• Allows you to store gift cards in the app.
• Lets you view deals and coupons.

Cons

• The user interface is not enticing.
• Deal details don’t contain photos.
• Deals lack important information.

Manga Storm CBR

Finally, I’ve saved the best for last. Manga Storm is quite possibly the most popular and widely used iOS alternatives to Tachyomi. MangaStorm has a vast collection of manga coming from popular websites. These include MangaEden, MangaHere, MangaTown, and a whole lot more. Manga Reader is a pretty stable app and its load time is fast and smooth.

One feature that you will appreciate in Manga Storm is the zoom capability. This allows you to zoom in on pages to read them easily. Additionally, Manga Storm automatically saves your reading progress on every chapter of the book you are currently reading. Manga Storm is available for free and allows you to access pretty much everything. But there is a limit on what you can download at a time. If you pay for the premium version, that limit goes away.

Availability: Free, Offers in-app purchases.

Pros

• Loaded with basic and advanced tools.
• Supports a variety of file types.
• Allows you to read in the Cloud or offline.

Cons

• Not all features are available on the free version.

Final Words: Choosing the Best Tachyomi iOS Alternative

When it comes to deciding which manga reader to use as an alternative to Tachyomi on iOS, Manga Storm stands out from the rest. The fact that it has a premium version makes it a more robust and feature-packed manga reader. But I’m not saying that the other Tachyomi alternatives for iOS aren’t that good.

All of them are pretty stable manga readers with a considerably comprehensive collection of titles. It’s up to you to decide which one to get. The only letdown about these apps as compared to Tachyomi is that you can’t add extensions, since that capability enhances your reading experiences through more features and additional manga collections.

Tags: ebooks, featured, iOS Apps

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