HiTechEdge

Category: Apple

All news related to Apple.

  • WWDC: iOS 15 FaceTime and Notifications

    WWDC: iOS 15 FaceTime and Notifications

    Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage to introduce WWDC 2021, the second time the company has held the event virtually. As expected, iOS 15 quickly became the focus with Craig Federighi taking the stage.

    FaceTime

    While highlighting how important FaceTime has been as a way to help people stay in contact during the pandemic, Federighi acknowledged video conferencing can be more difficult than in-person socializing. As a result, the company is working on features to make FaceTime feel more natural.

    Spatial audio is making its way to FaceTime, improving the quality of the audio and making it sound as if you’re with the other person.

    Voice isolation is a new feature that uses machine learning to block out ambient noise and focus on your voice. Wide spectrum, is the exact opposite, letting in all the background sound.

    Grid view is a new way to handle multi-person FaceTime chats, bringing the familiar Zoom-style interface, in addition to FaceTime’s existing floating grid style.

    FaceTime Links

    FaceTime Links are a new, easy way to invite others to a FaceTime call. Simply start up FaceTime and click “Share” to send a link to those you want to invite.

    SharePlay

    SharePlay is designed to make it easy to watch TV with others via FaceTime. All articipants can pause and resume the program, as well as talk with each other and chat via Messages, all while the program is playing in the background. SharePlay supports Picture-in-Picture as well.

    Apple is also releasing SharePlay API, making it easy for developers to include their own apps. Already, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto, ESPN+ and others are on board.

    Notifications

    Notifications are getting a major upgrade, including Notification summaries. The feature allows you to schedule when you receive a summary of recent notifications. It’s also possible to select which people’s notifications are included in summaries, making it easy to keep important contacts separate so their notifications get the attention they need.

    iOS 15 will also include the ability to automatically notify others in Messages when Do Not Disturb is activated.

    iOS 15 expands on Notifications, adding the ability to have custom notifications depending on what you are currently doing. For example, users can have work notifications or personal notifications, which will only allow contacts and apps classified as such to pop up when that notification is active.

  • App Store Ecosystem Hit $643 Billion in 2020

    App Store Ecosystem Hit $643 Billion in 2020

    A new study has shown just how much the App Store ecosystem has grown, coming in at $643 billion in 2020, a 24% increase.

    While Apple’s iOS platform may lag behind Google’s Android, in terms of market share, it receives the lion’s share of money spent on mobile apps. According to an independent study by the Analysis Group, App Store sales grew 24% year over year in 2020, reaching a whopping $643 billion.

    Even more impressive, the number of small developers — defined as less than 1 million downloads and less than $1 million in earnings per year — has increased 40% since 2015. In fact, small developers now make up more than 90 percent of the App Store’s ecosystem.

    “Developers on the App Store prove every day that there is no more innovative, resilient, or dynamic marketplace on earth than the app economy,” says Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The apps we’ve relied on through the pandemic have been life-changing in so many ways — from groceries delivered to our homes, to teaching tools for parents and educators, to an imaginative and ever-expanding universe of games and entertainment. The result isn’t just incredible apps for users: it’s jobs, it’s opportunity, and it’s untold innovation that will power global economies for many years to come.”

    The study is an important validation of the App Store at a time when Apple is locked in a high-stakes legal fight with Epic over the very future of that ecosystem.

  • Apple’s M1 Chip Has an Unfixable Flaw, but There’s No Real Concern

    Apple’s M1 Chip Has an Unfixable Flaw, but There’s No Real Concern

    Apple’s new M1 chips have an unfixable vulnerability, but the developer who found it says not to worry.

    The M1 chip is based on the Arm architecture, and is the continuation of the A-series chips Apple has used in the iPhone and iPad for years. Apple has been transitioning the Mac platform to the M1, and has incorporated it in the 2021 iPad Pro as well.

    Developer Hector Martin has discovered a flaw in the M1 that allows two apps to secretly communicate with each other — all without the normal oversight the OS would provide.

    A flaw in the design of the Apple Silicon “M1” chip allows any two applications running under an OS to covertly exchange data between them, without using memory, sockets, files, or any other normal operating system features. This works between processes running as different users and under different privilege levels, creating a covert channel for surreptitious data exchange.

    To make matters worse, Martin says the bug cannot be fixed with a software update, and will require a change in the upcoming versions of the M1 and its successors.

    Despite the dire-sounding nature of the bug, Martin says the actual impact is minimal. The vulnerability cannot be used to commandeer a machine, or steal private data. The only real-world danger is that a malware program could communicate with other malware on the same computer. Of course, as Martin points out, if a computer is already compromised with malware, two instances of malware communicating are probably the least of your concerns.

    Really, nobody’s going to actually find a nefarious use for this flaw in practical circumstances. Besides, there are already a million side channels you can use for cooperative cross-process communication (e.g. cache stuff), on every system. Covert channels can’t leak data from uncooperative apps or systems.

    Actually, that one’s worth repeating: Covert channels are completely useless unless your system is already compromised.

  • Shortcuts Run Much Faster in iOS 14.6

    Shortcuts Run Much Faster in iOS 14.6

    It appears iOS/iPadOS 14.6 contains an undocumented improvement, running Shortcuts actions faster than previous versions.

    The Shortcuts app is the unsung hero of iOS and iPadOS, providing a way to automate a series of actions for increased productivity. Federico Viticci, of MacStories, is a long-time iPad proponent and has extolled the virtues of Shortcuts.

    There’s good news for iPhone and iPad power users, as it appears iOS/iPadOS runs shortcuts faster. First spotted by 9to5Mac, users on Twitter started noticing the improvement.

    9to5Mac did their own tests and confirmed Shortcuts actions are indeed faster in iOS/iPadOS 14.6 and the 14.7 beta. One test involved a shortcut with 380 actions that took 8 seconds to complete with iOS 14.5.1. Running iOS 14.6, the same shortcut only took 4 seconds to complete.

    Similarly, one user on Reddit had a shortcut containing 700 actions that now runs in a mere 13 seconds, as opposed to roughly 30 seconds pre-iOS 14.6.

  • Apple Enables 5G Updates for iPadOS

    Apple Enables 5G Updates for iPadOS

    Apple has enabled iPadOS updates over 5G, giving users the opportunity to update their iPads using their wireless data.

    In the early days of iOS, Apple did not allow users to download OS updates via their wireless plans. Instead, OS updates required a WiFi connection. As unlimited plans became the norm, Apple changed their stance, allowing OS updates over 4G LTE.

    With the iPhone 12, Apple expanded wireless OS downloads to include 5G as well. Now the company has rolled out the feature to the latest 12.9 and 11-inch iPad Pros, both of which support 5G.

    Apple currently has three different 5G data modes: Allow More Data on 5G, Standard and Low Data Mode. To update over 5G, users will need to enable the More Data mode.

    Allow More Data on 5G: Enables higher data-usage features for apps and system tasks. These include higher-quality FaceTime, high-definition content on Apple TV, Apple Music songs and videos, and iPadOS updates over cellular. This setting also allows third-party apps to use more cellular data for enhanced experiences. This is the default setting with some unlimited-data plans, depending on your carrier. This setting uses more cellular data.

    Given the high speeds 5G offers, 5G OS updates are a welcome addition to the new iPad Pros.

  • Mac Viruses and Malware Have Reached ‘Unacceptable’ Levels

    Mac Viruses and Malware Have Reached ‘Unacceptable’ Levels

    Mac viruses and malware have reached an ‘unacceptable’ level, according to testimony from Apple senior VP Craig Federighi.

    Many interesting details have emerged in the Epic vs Apple court case over the future of the latter’s App Store ecosystem. One of the most fascinating, however, is just how much the Mac is already being impacted by security threats.

    Not that long ago, the Mac had the reputation of not being affected by malware or viruses. This was due to two factors: the platform’s UNIX underpinnings and security through obscurity. Because the Mac held such a low percentage of the market, it simply wasn’t worth it for hackers to invest a lot of resources to make Mac-specific malware.

    According to Federighi, that appears to have changed in a big way. When Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers asked why the Mac could allow app installs from multiple sources, but not iOS, Federighi drew a stark contrast between the level of security and protections the two platforms offer.

    “It is regularly exploited on the Mac,” Federighi explained. “iOS has established a dramatically higher bar for customer protection. The Mac is not meeting that bar today.”

    Federighi emphasized the disparity between the number of Mac users and iOS users, and the value of their respective ecosystems, making the point that things would be far worse for iOS users if it took the same approach as the Mac.

    “And that’s despite the fact that Mac users inherently download less software and are subject to a way less economically motivated attacker base,” Federighi continued. “If you took Mac security techniques and applied them to the iOS ecosystem, with all those devices, all that value, it would get run over to a degree dramatically worse than is already happening on the Mac.”

    All of this led to the admission regarding Apple’s view of the current state of Mac malware.

    “And as I say, today, we have a level of malware on the Mac that we don’t find acceptable and is much worse than iOS,” Federighi said. “Put that same situation in place for iOS and it would be a very bad situation for our customers.”

    Federighi’s explanation is at the heart of the case Apple is making, that keeping apps operating within its ecosystem help it provide the security and protection that people are paying for when they buy an iPhone or iPad. In contrast, individuals who don’t want that protection can buy Android.

  • Apple Preparing MacBook Pro and Air Updates

    Apple Preparing MacBook Pro and Air Updates

    Apple is preparing its next round of MacBook Pro and Air updates, adding a 14 and 16-inch Pro and faster M1 processors.

    Apple introduced the new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini last November, with all of them sporting the company’s new M1 chip. Based on the same designs that have powered the iPad and iPhone for years, the M1 immediately won rave reviews for its performance and battery life.

    The company is now preparing to add a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro as soon as early summer, according to Bloomberg’sMark Gurman. In a move that’s sure to please Apple’s professional customers, the new MacBook Pros are expected to have a redesigned chassis that will include additional ports, an HDMI port and an SD slot — features that were removed from previous models in some of the company’s most unpopular moves.

    The new MacBook Pros will have 10-core chips, eight high-performance and two high-efficiency cores. The chips will be offered in two variations, differentiated by either 16 or 32 graphics cores. The chips will also support a maximum of 64GB of memory, a major upgrade over the 16GB in current M1 models.

    An updated MacBook Air is also expected as early as the end of the year, building on the success of the current M1 Air. Gurman’s sources say the MacBook Air’s chip will contain the same computing cores, although they will run faster. The graphics cores will also increase from the current 7 or 8 to 9 or 10.

    Mark Gurman is one of the most reliable Apple-watchers. If his sources are correct, the updates will bring welcome changes to Apple’s laptop lines and raise the bar for laptop performance.

  • Apple Music Adding Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio With Dolby Atmos

    Apple Music Adding Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio With Dolby Atmos

    Apple Music subscribers will soon enjoy Lossless Audio across the entire catalog, as the company also rolls out Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.

    Apple Music is one of the most popular streaming music services, and Apple is bringing some major upgrades to it. Lossless Audio ensures subscribers will hear music the way it was recorded in the studio, while Spatial Audio creates multidimensional audio experiences.

    “Apple Music is making its biggest advancement ever in sound quality,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and Beats. “Listening to a song in Dolby Atmos is like magic. The music comes from all around you and sounds incredible. Now we are bringing this truly innovative and immersive experience to our listeners with music from their favorite artists like J Balvin, Gustavo Dudamel, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Kacey Musgraves, The Weeknd, and so many more. Subscribers will also be able to listen to their music in the highest audio quality with Lossless Audio. Apple Music as we know it is about to change forever.”

    Subscribers will need to turn on Lossless Audio in Settings > Music > Audio Quality. 

    “The soul and life of the mix is sitting in the extra bits of data that are stored in the lossless file,” said Mastering Engineer Piper Payne. “As a mastering engineer, having the ability to convey the music to the listener at its highest quality is the end goal of what I work for every day.”

    Apple says Dolby Atmos tracks will automatically play on all AirPods and Beats headphones that contain an H1 or W1 chip. The latest version of the iPhone, iPad and Mac will also support the feature automatically.

    “Today marks the introduction of Dolby Atmos on Apple Music — a new music experience that is transforming how music is created by artists and enjoyed by their fans,” said Kevin Yeaman, Dolby Laboratories’ president and CEO. “We are working with Apple Music to make Dolby Atmos widely available to all musicians and anyone who loves music.”

    The new features will be available June 2021 at no extra cost.

  • Apple’s App Store Stopped $1.5 Billion in Fraud in 2020

    Apple’s App Store Stopped $1.5 Billion in Fraud in 2020

    Apple has released a report detailing its efforts to protect users, including that it stopped $1.5 billion in fraudulent App Store transactions.

    The App Store is at the heart of Apple’s case against Epic, with the latter suing to force Apple to allow alternative payment methods and app stores. Not surprisingly, Apple is touting the benefits of the App Store, and working to demonstrate how integral it is to the overall security of the iOS platform.

    In its latest report, Apple reveals some significant details regarding its efforts.

    In 2020 alone, Apple’s combination of sophisticated technology and human expertise protected customers from more than $1.5 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions, preventing the attempted theft of their money, information, and time — and kept nearly a million risky and vulnerable new apps out of their hands.

    Apple also says it blocked some 48,000 apps for having hidden or undocumented features; 150,000 apps for including spam, being copycats or misleading users; and 215,000 for privacy violations.

    The company is also tackling fraudulent app ratings.

    App Store ratings and reviews help many users make decisions about which apps to download, and developers rely on them to incorporate new features that respond to user feedback. Apple relies on a sophisticated system that combines machine learning, artificial intelligence, and human review by expert teams to moderate these ratings and reviews to help ensure accuracy and maintain trust. Since 2020, Apple has processed over 1 billion ratings and over 100 million reviews, and over 250 million ratings and reviews were removed for not meeting moderation standards.

    While the Apple vs Epic court case will continue for some time, Apple is certainly trying to make a compelling case for how the App Store works and why it’s so important to the iOS ecosystem.

  • Handheld Holographic Comms: iPhone May Get 3D Images With No Glasses

    Handheld Holographic Comms: iPhone May Get 3D Images With No Glasses

    A new patent shows the direction Apple may be taking with augmented reality, displaying 3D images without special glasses.

    It’s no secret Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers augmented reality (AR) to virtual reality (VR). He has expressed his belief that AR is more social and inclusive, keeping people connected to the world and people around them. Another advantage of AR is the lower technical requirements, although it doesn’t offer the same impressive level of immersion as VR is capable of.

    A newly-granted patent, first spotted by AppleInsider, indicates Apple may be working on addressing those issues, with an iPhone screen that will display 3D images — without the need for special glasses. Titled “Split-screen driving of electronic device displays,” the patent describes using a flat screen, such as an iPad or iPhone, to display 3D images.

    Like many tech companies, Apple files many patents, some of which never see the light of day. The patent also doesn’t show how Apple intends to overcome the challenges of creating a 3D image without glasses or headset, which work by sending separate images to each eye.

    If Apple’s plans come to fruition, however, a future iPhone may be the closest thing yet to science fiction-style, handheld hologram communicators.