Twitter:
After a year of touring ballparks across the US, Hailey Dawson (@hailey’s_hand) finally completed her mission of throwing out the first pitch for every MLB team. With the help of the UNLV engineering department, Hailey had customized, 3D-printed prosthetics for each throw.
I’ve been following this story all summer and am so happy she reached her goal.
Kabir Chibber, writing for Quartz, culled two Steve Jobs anecdotes, one from the Wired Oral History of Infinite Loop, and the other from Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography.
But what I really loved about the Quartz post was that image of Steve from 1999, clutching a brand new (what I believe to be) iBook 3G, with a big, proud smile on his face. There’s something so genuine about that smile, a real sense of pride and accomplishment.
Follow these steps:
This is an interesting tool, but it makes a specific point. The iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone XS Max are almost identical in size (the Max is actually just a smidge smaller), but the Max has a much, much larger screen, even taking the notch into account.
Enjoy.
Check this tweet from Speedsmart.net. In particular, take a look at this image:
For each carrier, the top part of the image is the download (top) and upload (bottom) speed of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max (I read this as, both models have identical speeds).
Below that set of bars is a smaller set which show the speeds for the iPhone X. These are tremendous speed increases. I’d love to see some verification of these tests from other iPhone X and iPhone XS users, but if these results are accurate, and mobile speed is an issue for you, that’s a compelling reason to upgrade.
The headline overstates this a bit, but even so, this is absolutely worth knowing.
Chris Smith, BGR:
When Apple unveiled the new iPhones last week, it revealed that all of them support a feature called “Express Cards with power reserve,” without really explaining what it was.
It’s a brand new iPhone feature that will let you use the NFC chip even when the battery life is dead. It might not sound like a big deal, but if you’re using your iPhone to pay for transit, or get access to your building, then it really is.
The details are laid out in Apple’s iOS Security Guide:
If iOS isn’t running because iPhone needs to be charged, there may still be enough power in the battery to support Express Card transactions.
Supported iPhone devices automatically support this feature with:
- A transit card designated as the Express Transit card
- Student ID cards with Express Mode turned on
Pressing the side button displays the low battery icon as well as text indicating Express Cards are available to use. The NFC controller performs express card transactions under the same conditions as when iOS is running, except that transactions are indicated with only haptic notification. No visible notification is shown.
This feature isn’t available when a standard user initiated shutdown is performed.
The idea of being able to use your Student ID to get back in your dorm room when your phone is dead is a brilliant little detail. I’m guessing there are other NFC use cases that apply here as well.
Yesterday, we posted a link to some gorgeous shots taken by former White House Photographer Pete Souza. In the post, we referenced “Austin Mann’s Petapixel post”.
Here’s a link to the Petapixel post, with some gorgeous shots, dripping with color. Both galleries really do the new iPhone XS camera justice. A worthy upgrade, especially if you are using an iPhone short of the iPhone X or iPhone 8 Plus.
Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac:
When Touch ID debuted with the iPhone 5s, the home button became cryptographically paired with the display and logic board. Replacing an iPhone screen and digitiser without going through Apple’s proprietary calibration process would result in an iPhone with a new screen, but non-functional fingerprint sensor. The same is true with the Face ID biometric system introduced with iPhone X.
And:
Until today, Apple has needed to distribute bulky repair equipment to its own Apple Store repair centers and authorized resellers to affirm that the 3D Touch system is working correctly.
And:
Apple has now managed to achieve all the calibration steps using software alone, dropping the need for dedicated physical hardware to be installed at repair locations.
Makes me curious how they solved this problem. The good news is, screen repairs are now going to be much easier to schedule, with a much faster turnaround.
Daily Mail:
Former White House Photographer Pete Souza has released the first images taken using the new phone, showing off its new camera capabilities.
He took these shots exclusively for Dailymail.com around Washington DC, and any editing was done on the phone using Apple’s tools.
‘Smart phones have turned everyone into a photographer but they haven’t necessarily turned everyone into a “good” photographer,’ he told Dailymail.com
Several Twitterers are pointing to Austin Mann’s Petapixel post with images shot on the new iPhone but, to me, Mann’s shots are “just” the typical ones any tourist would take and don’t show off the capabilities of the new iPhone. Souza shows a wide variety of shots that do a great job of showing the range of the iPhone X s.
Apple:
Shortcuts in iOS 12 let you get things done with your apps, with just a tap or by asking Siri. In addition to running shortcuts available on your iOS device, you can use the Shortcuts app to create custom shortcuts, simplifying everyday tasks by combining steps across multiple apps.
I wasn’t a beta user of iOS 12 so I’m looking forward to digging in to what Shortcuts can do for me.
Macworld:
If you already have the Workflow app, you just need to open the App Store and hit the Updates section. Shortcuts comes as an update to Workflow, and replaces that app.
If you don’t have it yet, you’re missing out on one of the best parts of iOS 12! Just click Shortcuts from the App Store to grab it and get started unlocking the real potential of Siri.
The app obviously requires iOS 12 so don’t bother to download until you’ve upgraded.
Ipswich Star:
A tormented mother living in Bramford Road with her two young children has been woken on an almost nightly basis by a tinny, distant rendition of ‘It’s Raining, It’s Pouring’.
She said the threatening undertone of the song had left her frightened and questioning whether she was imagining things. After months of torment, she finally reported the unusual complaint to Ipswich Borough Council. The team sprang into action. They joined the woman at the scene and went out to investigate this ongoing mystery.
Months!? She listened to that creepy sound for months!? I know about the British “stiff upper lip” but this is ridiculous. I would have reported that the first night I heard it.
My thanks to Bare Bones Software for sponsoring The Loop this week. I’ve been using BBEdit since 1995, so I know first hand that it can handle any job I throw at it.
BBEdit is crafted and continuously refined in response to meet the needs of writers, web authors, and software developers, providing an abundance of high-performance features for editing, searching, and manipulation of text. All in all, BBEdit is a powerful editor with an interface that stays out of your way, and well worth checking out.
BBEdit 12 is 64-bit ready. Download and try it today!
The Guardian:
For a growing number of users – and mental health experts – the very positivity of Instagram is precisely the problem. The site encourages its users to present an upbeat, attractive image that others may find at best misleading and at worse harmful. If Facebook demonstrates that everyone is boring and Twitter proves that everyone is awful, Instagram makes you worry that everyone is perfect – except you.
“On the face of it, Instagram can look very friendly,” says the RSPH’s Niamh McDade. “But that endless scrolling without much interaction doesn’t really lead to much of a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. You also don’t really have control over what you’re seeing. And you quite often see images that claim to be showing you reality, yet aren’t. That’s especially damaging to young men and women.”
Much like Twitter and Facebook, Instagram is what you make of it. I don’t see any of these “feel good” posts because I don’t follow those kinds of Instagrammers.
Two Bit History:
There are two stories here. The first is a story about a vision of the web’s future that never quite came to fruition. The second is a story about how a collaborative effort to improve a popular standard devolved into one of the most contentious forks in the history of open-source software development.
The future once looked so bright for RSS. What happened? Was its downfall inevitable, or was it precipitated by the bitter infighting that thwarted the development of a single RSS standard?
I am still a big fan of RSS. I don’t know if it’s “dead” or not but it’s a shame it’s not more popular.
Macstories:
iOS 12, available today for the same range of devices that supported iOS 11, feels like a reaction to changes that have occurred around Apple and consumer technology over the past year.
It’s important to understand the context in which iOS 12 is launching today, for events of the past year may have directly shaped Apple’s vision for this update.
This will be the first of many reviews of iOS 12, available today.
This is a marketing piece from Apple, showing off the iPhone X?. Note that the headline on Apple’s YouTube page uses iPhone XS. Capital S, not lower-case. As I said in this post, I do think Apple will settle on iPhone Xs, with a lower-case s.
That aside, the video embedded below is a bit of fun, with the real payoff (at least for me), in that last planetary bodies slo-mo shot. Pretty good for a phone camera.
Apple:
You can use two cellular plans with your iPhone Xs or iPhone Xs Max, a nano-SIM, and an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Here’s how to set up and use a cellular plan using an eSIM.
Follow the headline link to the Apple knowledge base article (big hat tip to Loop follower and furniture maker J. Leko) and dig in.
Side note: The new iPhone branding is all over the place. In this post, it’s “Xs”. On Apple’s front page, it’s “X?”, and on a variety of other pages, it’s “XS”. I think Apple is going for “X?” and, if typing the s-in-a-square is not practical, “Xs”. I suspect the “XS” was inadvertent and will slowly disappear.
iOS 12 is coming later today. If you haven’t already, follow the advice in Dave Smith’s headline and back up your device before you dive into the new shiny.
One comment on the iCloud backup process. I believe the proper path is:
Enjoy iOS 12.
Michael Steeber, 9to5Mac:
Ahead of next Friday’s iPhone and Apple Watch launches, Apple is rolling out fresh new artwork and eye-popping displays to its retail stores. Vivid graphic panels promote the upcoming iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and Apple Watch Series 4, while feature bays showcasing Apple services, apps, and third-party accessories are headlined by unique new molded iconography.
“Eye-popping”. Love that. Follow the link, check out the pictures in Michael’s post. They truly do look gorgeous. Worth a trip to my local Apple Store to check these out in person.
From this 9to5Mac article, last week:
Apple has seemingly updated its website today, removing all mentions of AirPower except in one place. Looking at the AirPods product page, Apple mentions the optional wireless charging case, noting that it is currently unavailable. The charging case is placed on what appears to be the AirPower mat, along with the iPhone X.
Previously, the iPhone X’s product page mentioned AirPower, noting that it would be available sometime in 2018. However, with the introduction of iPhone XS and iPhone XR, Apple has removed that reference since iPhone X is no longer being sold.
Now, add this quote from the wrap-up at the end of John Gruber’s Thoughts and Observations on Apple’s iPhone XS/XR and Series 4 Apple Watch Introductory Event, posted Saturday:
I wrote about AirPower’s absence earlier this week. What I’ve heard, third-hand but from multiple little birdies, is that AirPower really is well and truly fucked. Something about the multi-coil design getting too hot — way too hot. There are engineers who looked at AirPower’s design and said it could never work, thermally, and now those same engineers have that “told you so” smug look on their faces. Last year Apple was apparently swayed by arguments that they could figure out a way to make it not get hot. They were, clearly, wrong. I think they’ve either had to go completely back to the drawing board and start over with an entirely different design, or they’ve decided to give up and they just don’t want to say so.
I can only imagine this whole AirPower experience is a lesson learned for the powers-that-be at Apple. Engineering is a complex thing, and not every engineering problem can be solved, as least not in a timely fashion. Pre-announcing product requires a certain hubris and, ultimately, can lead down a rabbit hole of unmet expectations.
Lesson learned is, ultimately, a good thing.
Side note, John Gruber’s event writeup is chock-full of interesting nuggets and well worth your time. I especially like the section on capitalization, and the confusion of “XS/XR” vs “Xs/Xr”, not to mention those little squares. Great stuff.
Horace Dediu, Asymco:
I think Lisa Jackson’s presentation at the September 2018 iPhone launch event was perhaps the most interesting and most profound.
Lisa Jackson is Apple’s Vice President Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. Here’s a link to her Apple Leadership page.
At the Apple Event, Lisa laid out three things Apple will have to do to “eliminate the need to mine new materials from the Earth”.
This second point is the focus of Apple’s strategy shift, and of Horace’s excellent article.
More from the article:
One premise of investing in durable goods hardware companies is that value depends on frequency of upgrades. If products are not replaced frequently they do not generate revenues and the company selling them ends up growing very slowly if at all.
And this is the core of the matter. Apple cannot continue to grow their device sales forever. The market saturates, and the only way to succeed in a saturated market is via planned obsolescent. In other words, they’d have to purposely build phones designed to last for a very limited time.
Yet, Apple seems focused on doing the opposite. They are releasing iOS 12 today, and have worked hard to make sure this latest OS runs on older phones, as far back as 2013’s iPhone 5s.
Why would Apple do this? Here’s why:
Fundamentally, Apple is betting on having customers not selling them products.
And:
An iPhone at $1200 may be less expensive than an iPhone at $600 if the $1200 version lasts twice as long as is used twice as much each day. The $1200 phone delivers 4x the utility at twice the price, making it half the price. By making more durable products, both in terms of hardware and software, the customer base is satisfied and preserved.
And if Apple can keep its base satisfied, they can continue to grow the services part of their business. And that’s key.
Terrific, insightful piece by Horace Dediu, read the whole thing.
DP Review:
All phones sport the industry’s most color accurate, wide color gamut (P3) displays which, combined with best-in-class color management built into the OS, ensures accurate display of photos and videos. When you go to print or share an image online, you can rest assured that color rendition will be consistent.
At first sight the new cameras aren’t much different from last year’s iPhone X but improvements have been made in terms of hardware, software and features. On the following pages we take a closer look.
Apple continues to up the camera phone game with these improvements and additions to the hardware and software on these latest models.
Apple has posted two videos (I don’t know if these are full fledged TV ads) on their YouTube site showing off the new bigger iPhones.
Wired:
Twenty-five years ago, the computer revolution’s marquee company was in decline. Back then, it was just settling into shiny new headquarters, a campus of six buildings that formed a different kind of ring. Called Infinite Loop, the name is a reference to a well-known programming error—code that gets stuck in an endless repetition—though no one seems to know who applied it. Infinite Loop was the place where Apple’s leaders and engineers pulled off a historic turnaround, and it will always be the source of stories and legends—many of them untold. Until now.
I visited the Infinite Loop campus on several occasions and really enjoyed every visit I had there.
CNET:
Though his tweets went viral, and though he did chat with Apple Support, the company didn’t delete or actively “remove” the movies that disappeared from Dr. Anders Gonçalves da Silva’s iTunes library and his devices. It seems to have been a more complicated mix-up, based on the fact that da Silva moved his residence from one country to another.
Most importantly: Apple tells CNET that it won’t delete your movies, either. At least, not ones you’ve downloaded.
As is usual with stories like these, the facts come out a few days later but only after the sturm un drang.
The Ringer:
The path from the hallowed 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Predator to Friday’s Shane Black–directed The Predator—the sixth movie in the series, counting a ludicrous two-flick hookup with the Alien franchise—is fraught with chaos, wild-eyed diversions, grody overindulgence, and geysers of blood both red and fluorescent green. Sometimes these films are gross, and sometimes they are super gross. They get relatively little critical respect and always make money. Each dangles the tantalizing threat of total apocalypse, and each, to some tightly controlled degree, delivers.
If I ever had a movie franchise guilty pleasure, the Predator movies would qualify. Citizen Kane they ain’t.
We have talked and deep-dived on the potential of eSIM across different connected things from automotive to drones, to IoT and smartphones. The move that the industry (not all operators though) was waiting for, when someone like Apple integrates eSIM in smartphones is finally arriving; though Google was the first major player to add in last year’s Pixel series, but a very tiny scale.
Apple showed a first glimpse of it with iPads and then Apple Watch. The iPhone wasn’t going to escape the grand plan Apple has for eSIM and the stronghold it looks to have over end-to-end customer experience and profit from it at every stage.
All the new fall range of iPhones, both Xs series and Xr have integrated eSIM (except China SKUs). Some thoughts on this development.
There’s a lot of interesting supposition in this post.
Vox:
The Dutch have wielrenners, or “wheel runners” — the sporty cyclists — and they have a fietser, which is just “someone on a bike.” When you talk to somebody in the Netherlands about what makes biking so special, most of them will say, “What are you even talking about? It’s no different than when I get on the train or go for a walk.” You’re no more a cyclist than you are a pedestrian or a driver or a public transit user.
The Dutch built environment treats people who ride bikes normally, everyday fietsers, with respect and dignity and gives them a wholly separate space to cycle.
The difference in attitude between bicycle riders in Europe in general and Holland specifically is in marked contrast to bikers in North America where they are often seen as an inconvenience to cars.
Reddit:
I’m an Emergency Physician and read/interpret ECGs on a daily basis. I wanted to talk about the Apple Watch’s new ECG feature as there are a lot of misconceptions about this new function. Apple Watch’s new ECG feature is pretty neat and a lot of people here are understandably excited about it, but it does have limitations.
The new Apple Watch looks like a great tool, but it is not meant to be a medical grade device and not a substitute for medical and professional evaluation in the case of symptoms. Even if your Apple Watch ECG appears totally normal that does not necessarily mean you do not have atrial fibrillation or other cardiac abnormalities.
I’m by no means an expert in this kind of thing but this seems like good, common sense information. Any doctors in the audience who can confirm or refute any of the statements made in this Reddit post?
Vancouver Courier:
A proposal to stop observing daylight saving time in British Columbia was narrowly approved by Union of B.C. Municipalities delegates Sept. 14.
The resolution said daylight saving time and the resulting time changes twice a year no longer serves a purpose and affects people’s health when time changes.
It may just be my imagination but I’m seeing more and more discussion about this recently. It will still take many years before getting rid of daylight saving time is a widespread talking point but its time may be coming to an end (see what I did there?).