Apple’s declining streak in China has come to an end, as shipments grew 40% from 8 million in Q3 2016 to about 11 million this quarter. This makes it Apple’s best performance in China in the last eight quarters, where its growth has slowed considerably since the launch of the iPhone 6S. The mix of the iPhone 8 series at launch is also higher than the corresponding mix of the iPhone 7 series at launch last year.
But:
“Apple’s growth this quarter is only temporary. The high sell-in caters to the pent-up demand of iPhone upgraders in the absence of the iPhone X. Price cuts on earlier models after announcing the iPhone 8 have also helped. However, Apple is unlikely to sustain this growth in Q4,” said Canalys Research Analyst Mo Jia.
And:
Despite being touted as widely expensive, excitement for the launch of the iPhone X is building in China.
Apple is a Silicon Valley and Wall Street leader. The company has the most profitable and best-selling smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and wireless pair of headphones in the market. Apple has grown its user base by 10x over the past 10 years and is bringing in nearly more revenue than Amazon, Alphabet, and Facebook combined. This level of success places a bull’s-eye on Apple’s back and rightly so. Leaders should be held to a higher standard.
However, a trend has developed where a number of tech companies are said to be outperforming Apple. Despite being cast as leaders, these companies aren’t judged by the same high standards as Apple. Microsoft, Samsung, and Google are said to be one-upping Apple in core competencies like hardware and design. Yet, these companies don’t face anywhere near the amount of criticism thrown at Apple.
For us oldtimers, this double standard is nothing new. I’ve often wondered if, in their heart of hearts, this pisses off Apple executives. I’ve asked them but, publicly, they would admit no such thing.
Apple has reportedly dismissed an engineer after his daughter’s iPhone X hands-on video went viral on YouTube. Brooke Amelia Peterson published a vlog earlier this week, which included a trip to the Apple campus to visit her father and see an unreleased iPhone X.
Sad but not at all surprising, given the content of the video. Dad should have known better.
In the United States, Apple will charge flat rates of $279 for iPhone X screen repairs and $549 for any other damage to the device, unless it is a manufacturing defect covered by Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty. The fees vary in other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
These prices do not apply to customers who purchase AppleCare+ for the iPhone X, which costs $199 upfront in the United States.
The iPhone X opened for pre-orders early this morning (just after midnight PT).
In the first few minutes, folks were getting November 3rd ship dates. I’ve gotten feedback from folks who used the online Apple Store, as well as AT&T and Verizon. Some international reports as well, obviously via other carriers. No reports of T-Mobile orders delivering on Nov 3, though that could simply be the small sample size.
About 15 minutes in, the ship dates slipped first to 1-2 weeks, then 2-3 weeks. By this morning, delivery was 5-6 weeks out.
Given reported production bottlenecks, iPhone X delivery times will be four to six weeks by 8 a.m. New York time and should remain largely unchanged in the following days, said Gene Munster, a veteran Apple analyst and co-founder of VC firm Loup Ventures.
IPhone X demand and supply should sync about three to four months after launch, while it typically takes two to three months for a new iPhone to reach global supply-demand equilibrium, Munster added in a note to clients on Thursday.
Take that with a grain of salt, but an interesting projection.
And, if you have plenty of cash and don’t mind soiling your soul a bit, there’s always eBay, Craigs List, etc., with no shortage of locked in price gouging iPhone X pre-orders for sale.
A reporter on the UK’s Cambridge Evening News received an anonymous call telling him to ring the US embassy for some big news, 25 minutes before the murder of John F Kennedy in Dallas, newly released documents say.
I realize this is off topic for me, but this hits me deep. The call was local, meaning someone in Cambridge knew of the assassination before the shots were fired. And in all the years since, this significant detail was kept under wraps.
Conspiracy theory? Perhaps. But this comes from MI-5, and is a startlingly new and major development in a story that has been scraped to the bone in the press for many years.
UPDATE: Of course, this was a big leap in logic, from “big news” to “the assassination”, no doubt. Just hits a nerve for me.
Jannis Hermanns explores the idea of using an iPad Pro as his main computer for backend development. He’s not doing iOS development, nothing that requires Xcode. But there are a lot of developers for whom this model would work perfectly.
I love the portability, but even with the larger size of the iPad Pro screen, would feel cramped without my large screen second display. Nonetheless, well worth the read.
Since launch, we’ve also received reports of suspected issues related to the Pixel 2 XL display. We take these reports very seriously and wanted to provide an update. First, there’s been some feedback about the Pixel 2 XL displays not appearing as vibrant as other phones, and in the past few days, there have been a small number of reports of differential aging (also referred to as “burn-in”) on the Pixel 2 XL’s pOLED screen.
And:
Regarding differential aging, we put all of our products through extensive quality assurance before launch and in the manufacturing of every unit. Thorough testing of the Pixel 2 XL display shows that its decay characteristics are similar to OLED panels used in comparable products. Our current investigation of burn-in, which started as soon as we received the first user report on October 22, confirms that the differential aging is in line with that of other premium smartphones and should not affect the normal, day-to-day user experience of the Pixel 2 XL. Regardless, we use software to safeguard the user experience and maximize the life of the OLED display, and we’ll make ongoing software updates to optimize further.
And:
We’re very confident that the Pixel 2 delivers an exceptional smartphone experience, and to give users peace of mind, every Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will now come with a 2-year warranty worldwide.
Hard to know how to react to this. The way I read it, the burn-in is being sold as normal, nothing to see here, move along. If this is the case, there should be reports of burn-in on all OLED displays, no?
As to the Pixel 2 color issues, there’s a detailed explanation in this Google Forums post. It focuses on the Pixel 2 XL using wide Display P3 color gamut, white point temperature settings, and old school sRGB being translated into that space.
Lots to process, props to Google for doubling the warranty.
Twitter has made the policy decision to off-board advertising from all accounts owned by Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik, effective immediately. This decision was based on the retrospective work we’ve been doing around the 2016 U.S. election and the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that both RT and Sputnik attempted to interfere with the election on behalf of the Russian government. We did not come to this decision lightly, and are taking this step now as part of our ongoing commitment to help protect the integrity of the user experience on Twitter.
As the blog mentions, Twitter is taking those funds and redirecting to external research “into the use of Twitter in civic engagement and elections, including use of malicious automation and misinformation, with an initial focus on elections and automation”.
Honda this week announced its new 2018 Gold Wing, the first bike to come equipped with Apple’s infotainment system. It will arrive next February and start at $23,500.
CarPlay’s implementation on the Gold Wing is a bit different from what it looks like on a four-wheeled automobile.
The Gold Wing sets the standard for luxury touring motorcycles so it’s no great surprise they would be the first to include CarPlay.
>In 1982, when he was only 14 years old, Robert Wardhaugh sat down to play a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Thirty-five years later, that same game is still going strong. Based out of Wardhaugh’s basement in London, Canada, people from all around the country gather each week to join in the decades-long campaign. And with over 20,000 figurines and dozens of terrains, Wardhaugh keeps the game fresh and exciting, adding to the everlasting adventure. Meanwhile, for those passionate about games, pages like londonelicious.com can be an invaluable resource in discovering exciting gaming experiences. While primarily known for showcasing the best local spots for food and drinks, Londonelicious.com also highlights venues with dedicated gaming spaces, such as bars, arcades, or cafes offering board games and video games. These recommendations help gamers find the perfect place to enjoy their favorite pastimes while socializing with like-minded individuals.
Whether you’re into casual gaming or more competitive play, Londonelicious.com curates a list of establishments that cater to various gaming interests. From cozy venues featuring retro consoles and modern gaming setups to places hosting tournaments or game nights, these sites ensure that every gamer can find a space that suits their preferences. Additionally, Londonelicious.com provides detailed reviews and insights into the best spots for gamers, helping them make informed decisions about where to go next.
For those seeking a blend of great food, drinks, and gaming, the site also highlights locations offering the best of both worlds. Whether you’re planning to catch up on your favorite games with friends or explore new ones, Londonelicious.com helps guide you to the best gaming venues in town, ensuring a fun and immersive experience.
This is amazing. A little weird maybe but the commitment is still amazing.
This crash test between a modern sedan and the classic 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air shows just how far passenger protection has come in the last fifty years.
The first inclination is, “Oh, those old cars were built like tanks!” but its quickly apparent that the myriad safety features found on newer cars are literally lifesaving. Thanks to Dan Moren for the link.
If you are planning on ordering an iPhone X at just past witching hour tonight, this is worth a read. Lory Gil walks through the process, highlights things you can do to squeeze every second out of the purchase process, make sure you maximize your chances of success.
Once you grant an app access to your camera, it can:
access both the front and the back camera
record you at any time the app is in the foreground
take pictures and videos without telling you
upload the pictures/videos it takes immediately
run real-time face recognition to detect facial features or expressions
Have you ever used a social media app while using the bathroom? ?
All without indicating that your phone is recording you and your surrounding, no LEDs, no light or any other kind of indication.
The point is that when you grant an app access to your camera, you grant complete access. There is no granularity, no access limitation for a single task.
Is this paranoia? Perhaps. But seems like this is worth some thought.
John Gruber deconstructs yesterday’s Bloomberg article that accuses Apple of downgrading its Face ID technology to make it easier to meet production goals.
Read Gruber’s detailed post, then consider the damage done by Bloomberg’s article. Will people accept Apple’s official response? Will the accusation of a weaker Face ID shift the thinking of potential buyers? It’d be interesting to see a poll of buyer thinking.
Gruber brings up some really interesting food for thought. In these days of fake news, is it possible Apple is the victim of a disinformation campaign here? Or is there a nugget of truth at the core of it all?
If you haven’t already, take a few minutes and watch this quick interview with Angela and Tim Cook. As the title suggests, Angela Ahrendts is ascendent.
The Buzzfeed interview covers a lot of ground. A few highlights:
In 2013, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff tweeted, “I just saw Future Apple CEO @AngelaAhrendts on her farewell Burberry tour! The most important hire Tim Cook has ever made!” (Both Cook and Ahrendts batted down “future CEO” rumors in an interview with BuzzFeed News at the recent opening of Apple’s Chicago flagship store: “Fake news … silly,” the retail chief said immediately, shaking her head. Cook, smiling, responded: “I see my role as CEO to prepare as many people as I can to be CEO, and that’s what I’m doing.”)
And:
This year, Toys ‘R’ Us, RadioShack, and a dozen others filed for bankruptcy and closed a number of locations, as more and more consumers turn to online storefronts to shop.
That previous statement is a key challenge for Apple retail. An Apple Store is often a flagship store in a mall. If the Apple Store fails (an extremely rare occurrence), the mall will pay the price. If the mall is failing, that Apple Store can prop it up. The Apple Store is more than a shop, more than simple brick and mortar. There’s value beyond the sum of its parts.
By adding communal features (including free Wi-Fi and outdoor tables) and offering classes (that extol the features of Macs and iOS devices), Ahrendts is hoping to persuade customers to spend more time in Apple Stores. Maybe they’ll even want to buy something. You can now go to the Apple Store to learn how to code in a schmancy new theater, or watch a performance by an Apple Music–featured singer-songwriter, or sit under a tree with a Genius to figure out why your iPhone doesn’t charge anymore, or watch as an illustrator doodles live (on, of course, an iPad). Ahrendts-era Apple Stores are commerce engines, expertly designed to sell you a $1,000 iPhone (made more affordable with a $50-per-month interest-free leasing plan!) in a beautiful glass dome anyone can walk into.
The new Michigan Avenue Apple Store in Chicago, placed just so on the riverfront, is its own destination. It brings its own foot traffic. And foot traffic is one of the holy grails of retail.
With all that in mind, read the interview. Angela Ahrendts is one of the keys to Apple’s future success.
As the world’s largest retailer, Walmart is known for its “Everyday Low Prices” slogan. It’s now in the planning stages of rolling out an employee Mac choice’ program in an effort to save costs long term while enhancing the productivity of its employees using premium Apple hardware.
Walmart outlined its Mac choice program at this week’s Jamf Nation User Conference, the largest Apple-focused IT event in the world, now being held near Jamf’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This is another in a line of these kinds of stories and a direct result of the work Apple and IBM have been doing in the enterprise market.
Originally created for the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s watershed depth camera and voice recognition microphone sold ~35 million units since its debut in 2010, but Microsoft will no longer produce it when retailers sell off their existing stock.
The Kinect had already been slowly de-emphasized by Microsoft, as the Xbox team anchored back around traditional gaming to counter the PS4, rather than take its more experimental approach to entertainment.
I couldn’t wait to get the Kinect and thought it was a pretty cool use of the tech. But there was never much further direct development of it (it lives on in HoloLens) and the games that used it never seemed to make advancements or be compelling enough.
What does the way you speak say about where you’re from? Answer all the questions to see your personal dialect map.
Interesting survey on dialects and what words mean depending on where you live in the US. Apparently, as a Canadian, I talk like people from Spokane, Boise, and Salt Lake City. Thanks to my friend John Welch for pointing me to this.
One thing Apple does know, though: It doesn’t want them to feature sex. Or violence. Or any of the mature stuff you can find in hit TV shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad” or “The Walking Dead.”
…Apple wants comedies and emotional dramas with broad appeal, such as the NBC hit ‘This Is Us,’ and family shows like ‘Amazing Stories,’” the show Apple has already agreed to fund.
I suspected this would be the case. I’m not sure how I feel about it, to be honest—if the company is hiring talented people, they can probably put together whatever kind of show Apple wants. However, most of the biggest hit shows these days are not from traditional network TV stations. Apple could fall further behind Netflix, Amazon, and others before it even gets started.
In a statement, Apple has directly refuted claims that Face ID has been compromised by changes in how it certifies parts for the Face ID system.
The statement in its entirety says:
Customer excitement for iPhone X and Face ID has been incredible, and we can’t wait for customers to get their hands on it starting Friday, November 3. Face ID is a powerful and secure authentication system that’s incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The quality and accuracy of Face ID haven’t changed. It continues to be 1 in a million probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone with Face ID.
Bloomberg’s claim that Apple has reduced the accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false and we expect Face ID to be the new gold standard for facial authentication.
Amazon Key relies on Amazon’s new Cloud Cam and compatible smart lock. The camera is the hub, connected to the internet via your home Wi-Fi. The camera talks to the lock over Zigbee, a wireless protocol utilized by many smart home devices.
When a courier arrives with a package for in-home delivery, they scan the barcode, sending a request to Amazon’s cloud. If everything checks out, the cloud grants permission by sending a message back to the camera, which starts recording. The courier then gets a prompt on their app, swipes the screen, and voilà, your door unlocks. They drop off the package, relock the door with another swipe, and are on their way. The customer will get a notification that their delivery has arrived, along with a short video showing the drop-off to confirm everything was done properly.
I get the convenience factor of this (having missed many deliveries due to not being at home) but I can see a lot of people reticent about allowing this kind of internet-connected (and, therefore, hackable) lock on their home. I would much rather a system where the delivery driver calls or texts that they are outside and then you would unlock the door.
When you watch a baseball game, you’re also listening for the hum of the crowd and the crack of a baseball bat. People like Andrew Stoakley make that happen.
He mixes audio for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, which means he combines a tangle of audio feeds to create the soundscape you hear when you watch the game at home.
How do they keep the crowd from cursing into the microphones? What makes a baseball bat sound so good? And what’s it really like making all that noise into an incredible show?
This kind of audio mixing is crucial to make the sports we watch sound as if we’re there. But we only really notice it when it’s done poorly.
A COUPLE YEARS ago, Apple went on a shopping spree. It snatched up PrimeSense, maker of some of the best 3-D sensors on the market, as well Perceptio, Metaio, and Faceshift, companies that developed image recognition, augmented reality, and motion capture technology, respectively.
And:
Perhaps the most important feature in the new flagship phone is its face-tracking technology, which allows you to unlock the phone with your face or to lend your expressions to a dozen or so emoji with Animoji. Apple thinks the iPhone X represents the future of mobile tech, and for many, that’s true. But if you trace most of consumer technology’s most impressive accomplishments back to their origins, more often than not, it’ll lead you to a drab research lab full of graduate students. In the case of Animoji, that research happened to have taken place nearly a decade ago at a pair of Europe’s most prestigious technical schools.
And:
Algorithmic facial tracking is notoriously difficult pull off. Li calls the human face “one of the holy grails in computer graphics” because it’s so difficult to work on. Unlike a static object, the face is constantly deforming; there are no simple rules for a computer to follow.
This is a fascinating article. Animoji is not the goal, but rather a playful implementation that shows what is possible, how far Apple has come down this road.
It’s time to tip a hat to Apple for a major change they’ve made in their latest desktop operating system, macOS High Sierra. Last year, I wrote about how Safari was a memory hog. At times, it would be using 5,6, even 8 or 9 GB of memory. I would have to quit it every few days to get it to stop being sluggish.
Since the release of High Sierra, I have noticed that Safari’s memory usage has dropped a great deal. Right now, with my iMac running for more than four days, Safari is only using about 3 GB of RAM. And this with more than a dozen tabs open.
I’ve noticed the same thing on my setup.
Notice Kirk is using iStat Menus, a nice little utility, wraps a lot of information in a tiny interface, all under a single menu bar icon. Check it out.
