Open the headline link on your iPhone or iPad (not your Mac) and start playing. This is a great way to get a sense of all the different colors and materials, cases and finishes.

Pick an iPhone, case, wallet, customize the colors, switch ’em up. Fun.

Sort of like Apple Watch Studio, but Apple Watch Studio works on the Mac. Wonder what’s different.

Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. suspended new business with iPhone assembler Pegatron Corp. after discovering labor violations at a student workers’ program, taking strong action to clean up a Chinese-based production chain long accused of worker abuse.

And:

[Apple] said it discovered several weeks ago that the Taiwanese manufacturer misclassified student workers and allowed some to work nights and overtime in violation of Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct.

And:

“The individuals at Pegatron responsible for the violations went to extraordinary lengths to evade our oversight mechanisms.”

I just checked and, for me:

• White HomePod mini shows delivery Nov 24-Dec 2
• Space Gray HomePod mini shows delivery Dec 2-Dec 9

So if you want HomePod mini in time for Xmas, get on it.

Alex Horn, The Guardian:

A billion dollars worth of bitcoins linked to the shuttered darknet market Silk Road has changed hands for the first time in seven years, prompting renewed speculation about the fate of the illicit fortune.

Almost 70,000 bitcoins stored in the account which, like all bitcoin wallets, is visible to the public, had lain untouched since April 2013. The website was shut down by an FBI raid six months after they were deposited, and they have not moved since.

Late on Tuesday night, however, the full amount less a $12 (£9) transaction fee was transferred to a new bitcoin address, records show.

This is an amazing story. If you’ve never heard of Silk Road (the online marketplace), here’s a link to the Wikipedia page. It’s a riveting read.

Silk Road’s founder, Ross Ulbricht, was sentenced to life in prison. Did he somehow move this trove? Did someone figure out a way to hack into the bitcoin wallet and move the funds? This is a pretty great story.

If this intrigues you, you should check out the book American Kingpin. It tells the story of the creation and, ultimately, the shutdown of Silk Road and it is a real page turner.

UPDATE: From this Wired story, posted later in the day [H/T Cabel Sasser]:

Today the Justice Department finally revealed where a billion-dollar tranche of the Silk Road’s treasure ended up: stolen by a mysterious hacker, and now seized by the US Treasury.

The DOJ today filed a civil forfeiture complaint over 69,370 bitcoins—and other variants of the cryptocurrency—seized on November 3 from an unnamed person who court documents refer to only as Individual X. According to the IRS’s criminal investigation unit, Individual X successfully hacked the Silk Road sometime between May of 2012 and April of 2013, stealing that abundance of drug money from the dark web site’s bitcoin addresses before Ulbricht’s downfall in October of 2013. The IRS says it has finally tracked down the hacker who stole the Silk Road’s nearly 70,000 bitcoins—now worth more than $1 billion—and allowed law enforcement to take control of those funds.

Amazing!

Emma Baccellieri, Sports Illustrated:

When MLB settled on its structure for coronavirus gameplay—in home stadiums but without fans—it knew it would need to provide a remedy for the unnatural quiet of empty ballparks.

The league found its answer in the form of 30 iPads, one for each team, loaded with various crowd reactions so that a little tapping and scrolling was all it took to play the proper noises. But an artificial crowd is as an art as much as it is a science. And it’s harder than it looks (or sounds).

The linked SI article is from back in September. I had no idea how this was done. And, frankly, I’m glad. It does take away a bit of the mystery.

But, that said, this is pretty cool. Wondering if other sports use the same approach. The NFL has famously adopted Microsoft Surface (that first season, cameras caught a lot of coaches using iPads, NFL clamped down). Wonder how they do it? Well here ya go. Don’t miss that Mac screenshot at about 1:34.

Christian Zibreg, iDownloadMac:

Apple-owned Shazam is the most popular music-identification service in the world. Starting with iOS 14.2, your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch can identify music playing around you or in apps via Shazam-powered music recognition available from the Control Center.

In a nutshell, if you’ve got the iOS or iPadOS 14.2 beta installed:

• Go to Settings > Control Center
• Tap the green + to add Music Recognition to Included Controls

Do that, and you’ll see the Shazam icon in Control Center. Tap it, it’ll do its thing.

Me, I ask Siri:

“What song is this?”

Both seem to work equally well. I’m guessing they fire up the same exact bit of code. The Control Center approach is much more subtle if you’re in a room with others. Good to have both.

Nikkei Asia:

Apple is asking suppliers to produce 2.5 million MacBook laptops powered by its in-house designed CPU by early 2021 as the California tech giant looks to rapidly cut its reliance on Intel chips, sources have told Nikkei Asia.

These initial production orders for the first MacBooks to use the Apple Silicon central processing unit are equivalent to nearly 20% of total MacBook shipments for 2019, which came in at 12.6 million units, sources briefed on the matter said.

And:

Apple has said it intends to completely cut the use of Intel’s standard CPUs, which rivals HP, Dell, Lenovo and Asustek also use for their computers, in its MacBook lineup within two years.

First bit shows that Apple expects a big wave of orders for the coming Apple Silicon Macs. Makes sense. This is a big change, and the first time in many years that we expect a truly significant performance upgrade in a new generation of Macs.

My favorite Apple product rollouts are brand new product categories (like the original iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch), significant feature introductions (like Night mode or Face ID), or significant construction changes (a modular, snap together Mac, the move to aluminum cases, or the first flat sided iPhone).

One last category that excites me is the move to an entirely new processor family. This wave has occurred twice, with the move from the Motorola 68K to PowerPC back in 1994, then the move to Intel in 2006.

To me, the coming Mac adoption of Apple Silicon will bring the biggest impact of these waves, with the unification of the product lines to Apple’s own chip designs, along with the incredible performance increase with on-chip machine learning, making highly performant AI available throughout the product line.

Like 5G, this stuff is in its infancy. Looking forward to what Apple’s got in the pipeline.

Apple:

To communicate with a Wi-Fi network, a device must identify itself to the network using a unique network address called a media access control (MAC) address. If the device always uses the same Wi-Fi MAC address across all networks, network operators and other network observers can more easily relate that address to the device’s network activity and location over time. This allows a kind of user tracking or profiling, and it applies to all devices on all Wi-Fi networks.

So if you always use your device’s actual MAC address at, say, your local Starbucks, it becomes easy to uniquely identify that device and track you.

As Android did last year, Apple has given you the ability to randomize your MAC address. Follow the headline link to learn more but here’s how to turn this on/off:

• Go to Settings > WiFi
• Tap your WiFi network
• Look for the Private Address toggle

Private Address is likely already on. If it is and you never noticed, perfect!

Since a randomized address is seen as a new network device, this might cause you to see a “new network device” alert each time you get on your home network (if you are set up to monitor such things). Apple lets you customize a network to turn private addresses on or off to address that issue.

OSXDaily:

Consider this feature to be Apple’s version of Google Maps Location History. Now, before you start worrying about your privacy, keep in mind that Apple doesn’t see or read this information, since all the data related to Significant Locations is encrypted. Plus, you have the option to remove these locations from your device and also turn this feature off, if you still have security concerns or you simply don’t want to share such information.

Significant Locations are enabled by default on iOS devices, but if you are reading this, you mighty want to turn it off and clear out that data. In this article, we’ll be discussing exactly how you can delete Significant Locations on both the iPhone and iPad.

Good to know you can delete your Significant Locations, but even if you don’t particularly care about that, worth following along just to explore this little-used branch of Settings.

Nicholas Thompson:

In April 2017, a man started hiking in a state park just north of New York City. He wanted to get away, maybe from something and maybe from everything. He didn’t bring a phone; he didn’t bring a credit card. He didn’t even really bring a name. Or at least he didn’t tell anyone he met what it was.

And:

Six months later and 600 miles south, on July 23, 2018, two hikers headed out into the Big Cypress National Preserve. The humidity was oppressive, but they trudged forward, crossing swamps, tending aching feet, and dodging the alligators and snakes. About 10 miles into their journey, they stopped to rest their feet at a place called Nobles Camp. There they saw a yellow tent and a pair of boots outside. Something smelled bad, and something seemed off. They called out, then peered through the tent’s windscreen. An emaciated, lifeless body was looking up at them. They called 911.

This is a fascinating read, a bit of escapism if you need such a thing.

Liz Shannon Miller, Collider:

Sudeikis originated the character of Ted Lasso in ads for NBC Sports, but as he explains below, the idea to make it a series really came alive when Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence came on board. I previously wrote about how he and Lawrence worked together on this project, but please below find my full interview with Sudeikis (lightly edited for clarity), in which he explains how the show made the leap from a speculative pilot based on the commercials to an enduring beacon of nice-ness — and why that matters right now more than ever.

An enduring beacon of nice-ness. Perfect description of Ted Lasso. Great read.

Follow the headline link if you want the details. Move on if you don’t want even the slightest hint of what’s said to be coming. Suffice it to say that Apple has promised new Apple-silicon Macs this year, and next week’s event is the last chance to fulfill that promise.

One particular bit that struck me (move along if you don’t want a potential spoiler):

Apple engineers are currently developing a new Mac Pro that looks like the current design at about half the size. It’s unclear if that Mac will replace the current Mac Pro or if it’s an additional model.

I have my eyes (and budget) on the highest end laptop that Apple announces next week. But if Apple goes Pro? It’d be delightful to hear about a desktop (non-iMac) in my price range. The machine I am replacing is a machine I do a lot of development on. A desktop screamer would be absolutely perfect, give me the chance to buy more power without taking out a mortgage on the house.

Excited for next week.

Wallpaper:

The 20-strong Industrial Design Group is at the core of Apple’s creative process and typically works at least two years out. This suite of products revealed in October were still at prototype stage back in 2018, long before Chief Design Officer Jony Ive stepped back from the company after 27 years. This level of foresight is essential, allowing time for the vast global mechanism of mass production, assembly and distribution to gear up for the next generation.

And:

As ever, the details go far beyond what you see on the surface — the iPhone team had to tweak the internal architecture — already a literal miracle of packaging – to accommodate the magnetic coil. The cardholder wallet is sprung so that a single card is still held as tightly as three. The passive NFC field ensures the iPhone detects when an accessory is docked, a feature demonstrated best by the sleeve which leaves a small slot for the time display. Putting away your phone will also change the display colour to match the sleeve’s.

If you appreciate design, this is a fun read. Apple and detail, partners.

Michael Potuck, 9to5Mac, digs into the new MagSafe iPhone Leather Wallet.

My biggest concern is the stickiness of the wallet. If I wedge my iPhone into a tight pocket, how hard would it be to accidentally dislodge the wallet, especially with a rear pocket?

It can definitely fall off easier than you’d hope. But I think once you get used to it, you’ll be aware of how to carefully put it in your pocket (especially with tight jeans/pants etc.) so you don’t knock it off.

So awareness is key here. No worries on demagnetizing your credit cards, but know that you’ll need to pay attention when you pick up and pocket your iPhone with wallet attached.

Here’s the official Microsoft announcement.

And here’s the official Sony announcement (from a few weeks ago).

Gruber, from this Daring Fireball post:

Xbox users who aren’t already subscribed to Apple TV+ will be able to do so right on their Xbox. I’m curious if that’s a thing where Microsoft gets a cut of the subscription — I’m guessing no, because I can’t see why Netflix would go for that.

Giant towers of commerce, all built on exclusive ecosystems, with tendrils working their way across battle lines into opposing camps, all built on foundations of control and exclusion. If anti-trust breaks one of those foundational building blocks, watch out.

Deadline:

Oscar winner Christopher Walken is set as a lead alongside Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman, Jen Tullock, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower and John Turturro in Severance, Apple’s upcoming workplace thriller drama directed by and executive produced by Ben Stiller.

That’s a helluva cast. And Ben Stiller as exec producer, one of the few humans on the planet involved in multiple billion dollar movie franchises. Mix in Christopher Walken, and this’ll be worth watching, no matter the plot.

To attract folks like this, Apple TV+ has to have achieved a certain level of critical mass, of gravitas. And doing this in a single year is remarkable.

Intercom lets you use one Apple device to send a message to most of the other Apple devices in your house. Here’s a nice look at this feature in action:

Intercom from HomePod to Apple Watch and viceversa (iOS 14.2 b4, watchOS 7.1 b3, HomePod 14.2 beta) pic.twitter.com/JXBVqSUdZH

— domenico panacea (@domenicopanacea) October 21, 2020

Note that the Apple Watch gets a notification and a play button to hear the audio. Not sure why Intercom does not (at least not yet) support the Mac. Seems like Apple could send a notification to any Mac on the current network with a play button, just as they did with Apple Watch. This a “waiting for Big Sur” thing? Or some limitation with macOS?

MacRumors Forum:

For a very long time, it has not been possible to change your Apple ID email address if it was an iCloud email address, say from iCloud to Gmail.

I’ve just discovered it’s now possible, you can change your email to any email address you want – and back again. I note Apple’s Support pages have also quietly removed any reference to this (now removed) limitation.

This is one of those things that I’d normally try to test/verify before I post but, for obvious reasons, no easy way for me to do that. But I do recall this limitation, and other folks have stepped up to say they were able to make this change.

This is a great, detailed list from Juli Clover, MacRumors. It’s got all the existing Apple TV+ content, but follows that surprisingly extensive list with all the shows/movies that are announced/in the works.

Jim and I used mentioned this list on this past Friday’s Dalrymple Report, thought it was worth posting here.

Lory Gil, iMore:

Coming soon to iOS 14.2, alongside iPhone 12 Pro, and soon iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple is introducing another amazing new accessibility technology that makes fantastic use of the LiDAR scanner. It’s called People Detection, and it is astounding.

And:

People Detection uses People Occlusion in ARKit and the LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as the iPad Pro. The LiDAR scanner measures the distance from the device to objects within 15 feet, in real-time. Then combining this data with People Occlusion with ARKit to determine if there are any people in the field of view and then gives continuous feedback about how far away that person is.

Important distinction: The iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max support People Detection, the iPhone 12 and mini do not.

Read the rest of Lory’s post for details.

From this post by Stephen Aquino:

The goal is to help the visually impaired understand their surroundings—examples include knowing how many people there are in the checkout line at the grocery store, how close one is standing to the end of the platform at the subway station, and finding an empty seat at a table.

And:

Users can set a minimum distance for alerts—say, six feet for the aforementioned social distancing—as well as having an option to use haptic feedback to deliver those notifications. There also is audible feedback; if a person is wearing one AirPod, they will be notified when they’re in close proximity of a person or whatnot. People Detection is fully compatible with VoiceOver, Apple’s screen-reader technology.

If you are exploring Apple One bundles, this is worth a look. Lots of good iCloud advice, including what happens if the iCloud storage included in Apple One is more than your current plan, and what to do if you use one Apple ID for iCloud storage and one for Apple Media subscriptions.

UPDATE: Apple One bundles are rolling out. I signed up for Premier and my existing Apple Music subscription stayed live, with the note that it will automatically roll into my bundle at the end of the free monthly bundle trial.

Here’s a link to Apple’s official Apple One bundle page. And here’s my tweet with the Apple One bundle pricing.

In the meantime, I’ve been asking folks for their bundle questions, scroll down for the list. If you have a question, or know the answer to one of these, please ping me on Twitter. I’ll try to keep the list updated as I get more questions/answers.

• If I already paid for a year of Apple Music (or any service covered by a bundle), will that payment be applied to the bundle cost?

• If I am in the middle of a free trial and upgrade to a bundle, will that impact the bundle pricing?

• Can you verify that Apple One Premier is only available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia (places where News+ is available)?

• Can you verify that I can raise my default bundle storage by adding more storage to my bundle? If so, is there any space limit?

[Per Craig Grannell, Apple One storage caps at 4TB]

• How will Apple handle the case where a bundle storage is less space than what I already have? For example, if I have 200GB and move to the Individual bundle’s 50GB, will Apple prompt me to add additional storage before I switch. My concern is that I don’t lose what’s stored in my 200GB if I do things in the wrong order and momentarily drop to 50GB.

[Per Craig Grannell, Apple One bundle storage is added to existing storage, so this is not an issue. Add the bundle, then remove extra storage as you like.]

• If I get the Premier bundle, will Fitness+ be automatically added when available?

Russ Frushtick, Vulture:

On each of these trips, something has followed me no matter where I go. Something I never asked for. Every time I get into the car, it’s there. It appears, unsolicited, to spoil the beauty of the winding roads surrounding Minnewaska State Park. On a quiet, early morning drive to the farmers’ market, it returns. It is legion. It is …

U2’s 2014 album Songs of Innocence.

This is a great anecdote, worth your time. If you’ve ever popped in the car and had your iOS device autoplay the same song again and again, because Bluetooth, you will definitely relate.

And possibly learn something useful.

[Via Michael Tsai’s blog]