Originally published at: https://appletalk.com.au/2019/08/friday-morning-news090819/
IFixit reports that Apple’s latest iPhones contain a software lock that prevent genuine Apple batteries from being correctly recognised by the device. Genuine battery replacements performed by unauthorised third parties will always display a "service" battery health message, with a warning saying that the iPhone was unable to verify that the device has a genuine Apple battery. This issue only affects the iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR, but it’s still another way Apple are discouraging third-party repairs, forcing consumers to pay Apple to repair their devices for them.
A lot of it has to do with "right to repair" legislation currently being deliberated over in the US. Apple, being one of the largest tech companies in the world, has become a prime target for those that say they should be able to repair their own devices, without having to pay Apple themselves, or a third-party that has been given Apple’s blessing to repair their devices. For its part, Apple says that it only wants its customers to always have the confidence that their device will be repaired safely and correctly.
The fifth public betas of iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and tvOS 13 are now available, following on from the release of the sixth developer beta yesterday. MacRumors covers the changes this time around, with a new Control Center toggle for Dark Mode, updated folder transparency on the home screen, new splash screens showing what’s new in each of the core apps, updated privacy policies, and more.
Over at The Next Web, a writer says the Apple Card is the product that killed the Apple fan in them. Many of Apple’s previous products have been things that somehow enrich the lives of those that possess them, whether that’s being able to FaceTime with your parents in another country, or automatically having your best photos built into short video moments that all happens on-device. They call Apple Card Apple’s first exploitative product, which seems a little too "credit cards are evil" for me, but I can see where they’re coming from. There’s a line, and with the Apple Card, Apple may have crossed it.
A new research paper sets out to find out if the iPhone and Apple Watch can detect early signs of dementia. The idea is that sensor and activity information can give us insights into physiological and behavioural changes that may be indicative of the cognitive impairment normally associated with dementia and other age-related attributes. That seems like an extremely long bow to draw, but it’s theoretically possible that you could, over long periods of time, pick up on subtle shifts in behaviour that are more than just becoming fatter and slower with age.
Apple subsidiary FileMaker has rebranded to Claris. While FileMaker’s name isn’t changing, the parent company is now Claris International, which better reflects the company’s mission to "empower problem-solvers with smart solutions for their business". FileMaker is impressive in that the product itself has remained profitable for 80 straight quarters, with a number of upcoming investments in AI, AR, and more set to grow Claris even more.
Once upon a time there was Mastered for iTunes, music tracks that were optimised for digital distribution from their high-resolution originals. Now, Apple Music is combining those Mastered for iTunes tracks and making them available in one place. These Apple Digital Masters are the successors for Mastered for iTunes tracks, with over 70% of both the US Top 100 and global top 100 tracks created under this program.
If you don’t have the time or the patience to take your butterfly keyboard to Apple to get it repaired (for what may not be the first time), Unshaky is a new Mac app that will attempt to address one of the most common issues: the dreaded double key press. There’s a great diagram of which key presses are blocked by the app and how it all works, and you can get it for free or even compile it from source to make sure it’s not doing anything nefarious with your keypress data.
The latest Shot on iPhone videos come with a twist: they’re all ASMR videos. They’re truly auditory experiences, coming in at 6-10+ minutes, with each featuring a different distinctive soundscape. I didn’t think we’d ever see ASMR Apple ads, but here we are.
Journey is now out on iOS, following a surprise release earlier this week. The original PS3 title from Thatgamecompany was widely praised in 2012 for the whimsical gameplay, multiplayer interactions, and immersive world, and now you can pick it up and play on your iPhone or iPad for just $7.99.