Apple

AppleCare+ costs about the same for cheapest MacBook and priciest Mac Pro

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Start off with a quick look at this Reddit post.

The premise is that the service fee for a repair on the cheapest Mac and the most expensive Mac are the same. Follow the headline link to jump to Apple’s official Mac service page to verify.

AppleCare+ for the cheapest Mac (the MacBook Air) is $249. AppleCare+ for that $52K monster Mac Pro configuration (with wheels) is $299.

The service fee for either is the same: $99 to repair a screen or external enclosure, $299 for other damage.

To be clear, this is not a complaint. I just found it interesting.

Apple’s 2019 Mac Pro – First impressions

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Vincent Laforet has also had a Mac Pro and associated hardware for the past two weeks. Rather than film an unboxing video and first impressions, Vincent shared his experience in a detailed blog post.

A few quotes:

In short: the Mac Pro makes post-production feel seamless. One might even say that at times the post-process can actually become delightful. And to be clear, the words “seamless” and “delightful” are seldom if ever used in conjunction with the words “post-production.”

And:

For tech geeks, this is the equivalent of punching the accelerator of a top of the line sports car.

And:

I’ve actually caught myself saying the word Gigabyte more than once when I meant Terabyte a few times when speaking with others – given how fast certain operations have become (notably with the internal ultra fast SSDs that can reach nearly 3,000 Megabytes per SECOND.) Copying several hundred gigabytes of data can take just a few minutes now – not hours (or days with slower drives or interfaces that are just 2-4 years old.)

If you have the need, the need for speed, read the whole thing.

Two Mac Pro unboxings, two weeks of real world use

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[VIDEO] A pair of excellent videos (embedded in main Loop post), shows off Apple’s massive Mac Pro packaging (recyclable, of course) and a chance to see the new shiny at work. Both Marques Brownlee and iJustine have had the machines for a few weeks now, which gives them a chance to share some real world experience.

Nikkei Asian Review interview with Tim Cook

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Nikkei Asian Review:

Cook was speaking exclusively with Nikkei in Tokyo, where he visited local Apple stores and ink supplier Seiko Advance. He also met technology developers including the self-taught 84-year-old Masako Wakamiya.

A lot of cherry-picked quotes. I’d love to see a video of the entire conversation (ping me if you run across one).

Apple shares another Shot on iPhone 11 Pro video

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[VIDEO] From the description:

In one of the toughest terrains of Saudi Arabia, see how a group of Saudi riders have taken themselves to the limit.

Captured in 4K and featuring the triple-camera system, the iPhone 11 Pro is ready for action.

Shot on iPhone 11 Pro by Henrik Hansen. Video embedded in main Loop post.

Bloomberg: Apple Card costs retailers more

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Bloomberg:

Every time a customer waves an iPhone at the register to use the new card, a retailer may feel an extra pinch on its profits.

That’s because the card, marketed by Apple and backed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc., is designated “elite,” which allows it to levy significantly higher interchange fees on each swipe or tap. Those fees aren’t paid by the consumer but by the merchant as part of the cost of accepting credit cards.

And:

Card networks tell merchants the higher costs are justified because premium cardholders also have more buying power—so they’ll spend more.

Interesting article. This is not just Apple Card, but the entire category of so-called “elite” credit cards.

MKBHD shows off the original Macintosh, with guest stars Bill Nye and iJustine

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[VIDEO] Marques Brownlee:

Everyone knows the 1984 Macintosh computer was a game changer for the tech industry. But why was this particular computer so iconic? I learn how Steve Jobs and his team took on computer giants IBM, changing personal computing forever. Living legend Bill Nye the Science Guy joins me to play Asteroids on an original Macintosh. And fellow YouTube creator and Apple expert iJustine explains why the 1984 Macintosh was able to beat its competitors.

This is just SO good. Old school!!! Video embedded in main Loop post.

Rack mount Mac Pro image in Apple’s FCC application

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Interesting to dig through the top level application for the rack mount version of the coming Mac Pro, if you like that sort of thing.

But follow the headline link to this sub-page, then scroll through the PDF to page 10 for an image of the rack mount Mac Pro in the wild. Sweet setup. Insert joke about Ikea, color choices, wheels, etc. here.

For the holidays, Apple Card gives 6% cashback on all Apple Store hardware purchases

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Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac:

The 6% cashback offer is only available on Apple hardware purchases made in-store or online. This means outright purchases of iPhone, AirPods or a new Mac for example. 6% cashback is a good promo for Apple, but if you are hunting for the best deal then you are still probably better off looking elsewhere.

Assuming the new Mac Pro is eligible, at a floor of $5,999 for the base model, that’s $359.94 cash back. No small potatoes.

Apple to speak at CES conference for first time in decades

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Bloomberg:

The company’s senior director of privacy Jane Horvath will be speaking on a “Chief Privacy Officer Roundtable” on Jan. 7, according to the CES agenda.

And:

Apple’s last major official appearance at CES was in 1992 when then Chief Executive Officer John Sculley gave a presentation at a Chicago version of the summit to introduce the failed Newton device.

Back in the day, Apple regularly appeared at conferences, highlighted by keynotes at Macworld Expo. Apple’s disappearance from Macworld and CES was a jarring change, but signified a change in controlling their message, with announcements at conferences and events that they controlled completely, including WWDC.

Apple Music Replay builds playlist from your top songs of the year

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This came out a few weeks ago, but I had some fun playing with it over the weekend.

From the Apple support article:

Apple Music Replay uses your Apple Music listening history to calculate your top songs, albums, and artists throughout the year. Apple Music Replay also uses a variety of other factors to determine the music that you’ve played this year such as:

  • Music played on any device that’s signed in to Apple Music with your Apple ID
  • Not including music played on devices that have “Use Listening History” turned off in Settings
  • Counting only music that’s available in the Apple Music catalog
  • Songs played in your library must be synced with your Apple Music subscription
  • A minimum amount of plays and time spent listening to a song, artist, or album

Interesting that this is only available on the beta Apple Music web app. You can save the playlist and share it, just like any other playlist.

How to create folders in tvOS 13

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Just in case you didn’t know you can do this, here’s the how-to on creating folders on your Apple TV. It’s intuitive, once you’ve done this in iOS.

Jeff Benjamin’s video review of the 16-inch MacBook Pro

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[VIDEO] I generally enjoy Jeff Benjamin’s video reviews, have posted a number of them here. But this one (embedded in the main Loop post) really struck me, mostly because of Jeff’s reaction to the new MacBook keyboard, and his take on the old one.

If you are not into unboxing, skip to 2:50 for the machine itself. Good stuff, Jeff, makes me want one.

iFixit, Activation Lock, and Walt Mossberg

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First things first, take a look at this article from iFixit, provocatively titled, Apple’s Activation Lock Will Make It Very Difficult to Refurbish Macs.

Every month, thousands of perfectly good iPhones are shredded instead of being put into the hands of people who could really use them. Why? Two words: Activation Lock. And Macs are its next victim.

“We receive four to six thousand locked iPhones per month,” laments Peter Schindler, founder and owner of The Wireless Alliance, a Colorado-based electronics recycler and refurbisher. Those iPhones, which could easily be refurbished and put back into circulation, “have to get parted out or scrapped,” all because of this anti-theft feature.

That’s an astonishing number. Four to six thousand locked iPhone a month? Wow!

My immediate reaction was, where do these phones come from? How is it possible that so many people didn’t take the time to wipe/unlock their phones before they turned them in. Just wondering what percentage of these phones are stolen.

From the article:

“People don’t realize that if you don’t properly reset your device, that phone is effectively bricked once you send it to me,” Schindler explains. “They’re just not thinking through the steps, or don’t connect the fact that [Find My iPhone] is a permanent, neverending lock on the phone. They think, ‘Oh, well, I turned the phone off, Find My iPhone must be turned off too.’ They don’t associate it with bricking the phone.”

And that leads to this comment from Walt Mossberg:

https://twitter.com/waltmossberg/status/1202220681523552256

My two cents: Activation Lock is not the villain here. Lack of education is the villain.

If the recycling company made unlocking the phone part of the process of accepting a phone, this would be a non-issue. Every link in the chain of getting the phone from the user to the recycler needs to push this back up the chain, make sure every phone that leaves a user’s hands is unlocked, as a matter of course.

Time Machine: How it works, or fails to

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This is a great, detailed look at Time Machine and how it has evolved over time. Especially important is how Time Machine deals with the challenges of each new macOS X release, especially with the introduction of APFS and Catalina’s Volume Groups.

If you depend on Time Machine, take a few minutes to read this.

Billie Eilish, a massive payday from Apple TV+, and last night’s great live performance

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Hollywood Reporter:

Billie Eilish’s big 2019 is culminating as she nears a deal with Apple TV+ for a documentary that comes with a $25 million price tag, according to multiple sources.

The film, which has already been shot, was directed by R.J. Cutler and produced in collaboration with Eilish’s label, Interscope Records, for a budget that one source pegs as being between $1 million and $2 million. It is expected to follow the 17-year-old singer-songwriter in the wake of the release of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, in March of this year. Cutler was granted deep access to Eilish’s private moments with family and behind-the-scenes of her public appearances.

Last night, Billie Eilish did a show at Apple’s Steve Jobs Theater, broadcast live via the Music app. Eilish expressed her appreciation for Apple several times during the show. They’ve been behind her since the beginning. I suspect this documentary will draw a wide audience.

Last night’s concert was beautifully produced, the sound and visuals crisp and clear. Eilish and her brother were engaging, clearly comfortable in the setting. Apple did a terrific job bringing this together, making it easy to watch.

I hope we see many more of these shows. If you missed last night’s performance, fire up your Music app and look around for Billie Eilish Live at the Steve Jobs Theater. It’s pretty heavily promoted, should be easy to find.

Tip: If you’re watching on your phone and don’t see the video, turn your phone sideways.

Apple Card beginning to show up on credit reports

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Joe Rossignol, MacRumors:

Goldman Sachs has confirmed that it is working with credit bureau TransUnion to begin reporting Apple Card information, informing cardholders that they will see full details on their credit report within the next five days. This includes the date the Apple Card account is opened, credit balance, payment status, and more.

In other words, like any other credit card, the way you use your Apple Card can now have an impact on your credit score.

Apple Card slowly adds aspects of “normal” credit cards. But this is a good thing. Consider that “normal” credit cards will never be tightly integrated with macOS/iOS.

My opinion, no reason not to get one. There’s no fee, and you can simply use it for the 3% discount on whatever monthly services you get, hardware purchases you make from Apple.

Mike Judge: “Steve Jobs didn’t build anything”

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Mike Judge, creator of Silicon Valley and a bunch of other shows, in a New York Post interview:

Steve Jobs didn’t build anything. The fact that an iPhone right now is what a Cray supercomputer was in 1993, and it’s all due to some hardware innovations.

This is a tiny nugget from an interesting interview. At its core, the comment is that Steve Jobs gets the credit for what was built by many other people, many of whom got little credit/publicity.

I’ve heard this argument countless times, applied to Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, etc. While there is truth to the statement that the hands that formed the iPhone, that designed all the prototypes, came up with the software keyboard and proposed those countless innovations that you hold in your hand did not belong to Steve Jobs, it is thoughtless to discount Steve’s role in changing the world.

The iPhone 11 Pro’s location data puzzler

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Krebs On Security:

One of the more curious behaviors of Apple’s new iPhone 11 Pro is that it intermittently seeks the user’s location information even when all applications and system services on the phone are individually set to never request this data. Apple says this is by design, but that response seems at odds with the company’s own privacy policy.

and:

“We do not see any actual security implications,” an Apple engineer wrote in a response to KrebsOnSecurity. “It is expected behavior that the Location Services icon appears in the status bar when Location Services is enabled. The icon appears for system services that do not have a switch in Settings” [emphasis added].

There’s been a lot of discussion since this piece dropped. At its core, there seem to be system services that use Location Services without a Settings switch to disable that usage.

Grain of salt time. Interesting that this seems to be specific to the iPhone 11 Pro, and not occurring in earlier models. Seems to me that Apple should address this with a technical note or some added verbiage in the Location Services documentation.

The Apple Curtain

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Short, interesting read on a curtain people disappear behind when they go to work for Apple.

Apple News launches daily newsletter with a dark pattern to unsubscribe

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Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac:

Apple News is expanding its mail notifications with a new ‘Good Morning’ daily newsletter. Previously, users could opt in to receive email alerts from Apple News about select featured stories. The company appears to be formalizing that into a regular daily newsletter.

Apple says it will bring top news, analysis, and fascinating features every morning, collating the ‘best stories from the most trusted sources’.

I get the idea here, good path for Apple News to solidify its relationship with subscribers. But…

Right now, there doesn’t seem to be a way to manage email notification settings inside the News app. If you are receiving Good Morning emails and would like to opt-out, or if you want to sign up, for now the easiest way is through Apple ID settings.

To opt out:

  • Go to appleid.apple.com.
  • Log in with the account associated with your email address.
  • Scroll down to the ‘Messages from Apple’ section.
  • Uncheck the box for ‘Apple News updates’.

My two cents, the lack of an unsubscribe link, or at least clear unsubscribe instructions is a mistake. Put the unsubscribe link inside the newsletter, at the bottom. Like everyone else does.

If you make it difficult to unsubscribe, you are building a false base of subscribers, and eroding your relationship with your users. And these users have taken a chance on Apple News. Treat them well.

UPDATE: Interestingly, some people are reporting an unsubscribe link at the bottom of their emails, others not seeing it. Hopefully, this is simply an error and the unsubscribe link was the intent all along.

Putin signs law making Russian apps mandatory on smartphones, computers

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Reuters:

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed legislation requiring all smartphones, computers and smart TV sets sold in the country to come pre-installed with Russian software.

And:

The law has been presented as a way to help Russian IT firms compete with foreign companies and spare consumers from having to download software upon purchasing a new device.

Seems impossible to predict the impact this will ultimately have, both in Russia and abroad. Seems like short term chaos for developers, device manufacturers, and resellers in that market, at the very least, with isolation sure to follow. Is that the goal?