Places and Things

Google updates Gmail and other iOS apps for the first time in months Google has updated the Gmail iOS app for the first time in months, along with Meet, Sheets, Docs, Calendar and Tasks. Aside from Tasks now supporting widgets on iOS 14, these are minor updates centered around bug fixes and performance improvements. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/google-ios-apps-update-gmail-meet-sheets-docs-calendar-tasks-200335624.html

Apple has reopened all of its US retail stores for the first time in nearly a year Every Apple Store location in the US has reopened as of today, roughly two weeks prior to the anniversary of the first store closures due to the coronavirus pandemic that began on March 13th, 2020. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/1/22307723/apple-stores-reopened-us-retail-open

Apple eclipses Samsung as top smartphone vendor for the first time in four years, says Gartner The introduction of Apple Inc.’s iPhone 12 family helped the smartphone giant overtake Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. as the top smartphone vendor in the holiday quarter, according to Gartner, marking Apple’s first time holding down the top position in four years. Apple AAPL, -2.98% had a 20. Continue Reading . . . https://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-eclipses-samsung-as-top-smartphone-vendor-for-the-first-time-in-four-years-says-gartner-11614008750

30K Macs are infected with ‘Silver Sparrow’ virus and no one knows why Macs and viruses aren’t all that common, but the one that was recently discovered by researchers is even less so. Continue Reading . . . https://www.macworld.com/article/3608621/30k-macs-are-infected-with-silver-sparrow-virus-and-no-one-knows-why.html

Stacked widgets and a new look for the lock screen may be coming to Android 12 It’s been a big couple of weeks for Android fans. First came the leaks. Then Google officially made its Android 12 developer preview available, allowing curious folks to dig in and see what the company has actually been working on. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/19/22291296/android-12-developer-preview-ui-changes-widget-stacks-lock-screen-notifications

iOS 14.5 lets you set Spotify and others as Siri’s default music service iOS 14.5 looks like it will be packed with features, including the ability to use your Apple Watch to unlock an iPhone with Face ID while you’re wearing a mask and support for next-gen console controllers. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/8/22272460/apple-ios-14-5-default-music-streaming-service-siri-spotify

Intel tries to take down Apple's M1 chip with a flurry of benchmarks If it wasn’t already clear that Intel is anxious about Apple’s M1 chip, it is now. PC World and Tom’s Hardware report that Intel has shared a legion of benchmarks claiming to show that 11th-generation Core i7 laptop processors are faster than the M1. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/intel-benchmarks-vs-apple-m1-chip-233650560.html

iOS 14.5 tries to solve Face ID’s mask problem with your Apple Watch Apple’s latest iPhones stuck with Face ID as the singular method of biometric authentication in an era when people are wearing face masks everywhere they go. This inevitably means having to enter your passcode constantly throughout the day. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/1/22260639/apple-watch-iphone-unlocked-ios-14-5-app-tracking

Apple surpasses $100 billion in quarterly revenue for first time in its history Apple today reported its fiscal Q1 2021 earnings, which cover the final calendar quarter of 2020 and the holiday sales season. That means this is the first time we’re getting a real indication of how the new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max are faring with consumers. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/27/22252663/apple-q1-2021-earnings-iphone-12-mac-sales

AirPods Max teardown makes Sony and Bose headphones look ‘like toys’ iFixit’s long in the making AirPods Max teardown is finally complete, giving an exhaustive look at the internals of Apple’s debut over-ear headphones and an idea of how easy they are to repair. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2021/1/19/22238632/ifixit-airpod-max-teardown-repair-screws-adhesive-sony-bose-headphones

Apple is again extending TV Plus trials to July According to 9to5Mac, Apple will be extending its free year-long trials of its TV Plus service to customers until July 2021. The trials were originally included with the purchase of any Apple device (e.g., an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV) and were initially set to last until November 1st, 2020. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/15/22233276/apple-free-tv-plus-service-trials-extended

Apple’s first major racial equity investments include a Detroit developer center and HBCU tech hub Apple is announcing the next big investments to come out of its $100 million commitment to racial equity and justice today: the launch of an Apple Developer Academy in Detroit; founding support for an Atlanta tech hub for historically Black colleges and universities; and new grants, scholarships, an Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/13/22228580/apple-detroit-developer-academy-equity-center-hbcu-tech-hub

Apple Card's new web portal lets you pay your balance on a PC You’ll no longer have to be entirely dependent on the Wallet app for your Apple Card transactions. The tech giant has launched a web portal for its credit card, giving you a way to pay your balance online even if you don’t have or have lost access to your phone. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/apple-cards-new-web-portal-lets-you-pay-your-balance-on-a-pc-043100907.html

Tim Cook's Response to Facebook Is the Best Example of Emotional Intelligence I've Ever Seen When Apple announced in June that it would start requiring apps to ask for permission before tracking users, it was applauded by privacy advocates. Continue Reading . . . https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/tim-cooks-response-to-facebook-is-best-example-of-emotional-intelligence-ive-ever-seen.html

AirPods Max review: Expensive headphones with untapped potential The AirPods Max weren’t exactly a well-kept secret. Rumors that Apple was working on a set of high-end over-ear headphones have been making the rounds since 2018. In fact, we pretty much knew what they would look like and how they would be built. Continue Reading . . . https://www.engadget.com/airpods-max-review-143019326.html

AirPods Max Color Comparison! UNBOXING EVERY COLOR! + FIRST IMPRESSIONS Today I'm Unboxing Every AirPods Max Color Apple had in stock and giving you all my first impression and honest talk! In this video I put the AirPods Max sound quality, mic quality, active noise cancellation, and spacial audio to the test. Subscribe and Comment "I Joined The Squad" To Officially Be Continue Reading . . . https://youtube.com/watch?v=nvZ9OBN4HMU&feature=share

iOS 14.3 RC now available, here are the new features - 9to5Mac The Release Candidate version of iOS 14.3 is now available to developers and public beta users. In addition to many of the changes we’ve already reported, iOS 14.3 RC includes changes to the TV app, the Health app, and more. With today’s release of iOS 14. Continue Reading . . . https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/08/ios-14-3-release-candidate-features/

Apple officially announces AirPods Max for $549, order from today Apple’s long-rumored over-ear headphones are officially here. AirPods Max feature an over-ear design, deep integration with the rest of Apple’s ecosystem, the H1 chip, and more. They are available to order today for $549, though the order page is not yet live on Apple’s website. Continue Reading . . . https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/08/airpods-max-announced-price-features/

Here are the 5 best MacOS Big Sur features, and how to use them Apple's latest Mac operating system, MacOS Big Sur, is now available for download. The new OS, also called MacOS 11, is full of new and redesigned features that make for a better user experience, including updates to Safari, Messages and Maps.  Continue Reading . . . https://www.cnet.com/how-to/here-are-the-5-best-macos-big-sur-features-and-how-to-use-them/

Apple HomeKit’s adaptive lighting starts rolling out for Philips Hue bulbs Philips Hue bulbs can now adjust their lighting automatically throughout the day when used with HomeKit thanks to an update which adds support for Apple’s new Adaptive Lighting feature. Continue Reading . . . https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/12/21562177/philips-hue-adaptive-lighting-homekit-ios-14-white-and-color-ambiance