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List of Companies Owned by Apple infographic

It’s a common misconception that Apple was started in Steve Jobs’ parent’s garage. They did eventually expand into the garage, but their first base of operations was actually a bedroom. Don’t believe me? Read the very first paragraph of Owen W. Linzmayer’s 1999 book entitled “Apple Confidential: The Real Story of Apple Computer, Inc.” Regardless of where it truly started, what’s important is where it has gone. So far, it has become one of the biggest companies in the world, and where it’s going is anyone’s guess. I’d venture to guess it will continue to grow by quite a bit before it slows down. 

List of Companies Owned by Apple infographic



As a result of the agreement between Apple and the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), the third-party iOS app store marketplace AltStore PAL is now live in the EU. The store has been developed by Riley Testut and Shane Gill to accommodate apps that can be self-hosted by developers on their own servers.

 

To install the app store, an annual subscription fee of €1.50 (plus tax) must be paid, which covers Apple’s Core Technology Fee (CTF). During the installation process, Apple confirms with the user multiple times if they wish to proceed with installing a third-party app, before it finally lets them get through.

 

AltStore PAL is bringing with it two apps, both developed by Testut himself: the Delta game emulator and a clipboard manager app ‘Clip’. The Delta app is simultaneously also making way to the App Store outside of the EU. According to Testut, AltStore PAL is also open to submissions from third-party developers.

 

Third-Party App Store for iPhone ‘AltStore PAL’ Goes Live in the EU along with Two Apps



The Delta game emulator is the first game emulator that is available for free on the App Store for the first time. It'll enable iOS users to enjoy the gaming experience on their iPhones almost like a pseudo Nintendo DS or GBA.



The app can be accessed on the App Store in several countries outside the EU, and in the EU, it is making debut with the newly launched third-party AltStore PAL app marketplace. According to Riley Testut, developer of the Delta emulator, both the app versions work the same. Other Nintendo emulators, including a wide range from the original Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64, are also expected to arrive to the App Store. 

 

On-screen buttons in the app change their layout and appearance to match the emulated system. Users can also put up extra buttons for different functions such as quick save states and fast-forward, as well as customize their layout.

 

The Delta app supports Bluetooth controllers like Xbox One Series S or PS5 controllers; and multiplayer for the NES, SNES, N64, and AirPlay streaming too. It also works with some of Nintendo’s non-typical input methods, like the gyroscope and microphone controls.

 

Delta offers some additional touches as well, like automatic grabbing of the box art for the games and the ability to customize the art using its built-in database or even custom images. Users can also import controller skins and customize them.

 

Delta was first released as a 1.0 version in 2019, which means that it has been updated and improved multiple times through the years. This will likely make the app one of the most enhanced emulation experiences on the iPhone.

Nintendo’s Delta Game Emulator becomes the First Emulator to Go Live on the App Store



Game emulators that have long been banned from iOS can finally bring their titles to the App Store, thanks to a latest update by Apple. According to Apple, the company is making its App Store restrictions more flexible and letting in retro game emulators.

 

Game emulators can now join the App Store globally where they can offer downloadable games. Apple, however, made it clear that the games must comply with all of its applicable laws, which means that games providing pirated titles will eventually be banned. This new update will also reduce the hassle for iPhone users for the search of alternate ways to access the games, like relying on third-party app stores.

Apple Announces New Rules for Retro Game Emulators and Music Streaming Apps



A report from Bloomberg states that Apple has advanced the internal testing of new generative AI integrations for its Xcode programming software, and will be making them available to third-party developers this year. 

 

Additionally, Apple is reported to be exploring generative AI in consumer-facing products; such as automatic playlists in Apple Music, slideshows in Keynote, and AI chatbot / search features for Spotlight search.

 

Apple’s revamped AI-powered code completion tool is similar to Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot, according to Bloomberg’s report. It applies a large language model (LLM) to predict and complete code strings, as well as generate code to test apps.

Apple is Reportedly Furthering Development of its AI-powered Code Completion Tool



Apple’s research department is pitching a prototype of a new generative AI animation tool ‘Keyframer,’ that enables adding motion to 2D images with prompts.

 

Apple is keen on exploring large language models (LLMs) in animation for their potential, just like in text and image generation. Earlier, Apple introduced Human Gaussian Splats (HUGS) that creates animation-ready human avatars from video clips, and MGIE that edits images using text prompts, among its latest generative AI projects

 

In a research paper that the company published last week, it explains that Keyframer is powered by OpenAI’s GPT4 model and collects data in the form of Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG) files. It then produces a CSS code that animates the image based on a text-based prompt. These prompts can be anything that describe how the animation must look like, e.g. “make the frog jump.”

 

Apple Introduces New Generative AI innovation ‘Keyframer’ that Animates Images



Apple is reportedly launching a new security feature that it has been testing as part of the iOS 17.3 which will be out next week. The feature, called ‘Stolen Device Protection’ is designed to strengthen the iPhone’s protection against hijack attempts to steal user’s Apple ID and any financial information on their device.

 


More specifically, the feature would prevent the thief from breaking into an iPhone via user’s passcode. Instead, Face ID or Touch ID will be required to unlock the device, and the thief may even have to wait about an hour to make any changes to the user’s data. This means that getting access to sensitive information or wiping out the phone data would be a difficult task.

Apple’s ‘Stolen Device Protection’ Option is Reportedly Rolling Out with the Upcoming iOS 17.3



Apple is briefly halting sales of its Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models December 21 onwards. The event that has resulted in this move is a conflict between the company itself and medical device maker Masimo over its SpO2 sensor technology.

 

Apple is therefore taking necessary measures to protect itself from any potential consequences from the ITC import ban that affects the flagship Series 9 and Ultra 2 models. The ITC ban is concerned with the sales of the Series 9 and Ultra 2 within the US only, therefore the watches will still be available for purchase in other regions.

 

Masimo filed two distinct cases against Apple: one with the US District Court in the Central District of California and the other with the ITC. In the latter, Masimo argues that Apple committed a breach of its pulse oximetry tech. The current import ban is a result of the latter.

Apple is Under Fire for Allegedly Breaching Masimo’s Pulse Oximetry Tech



The new Android iMessage app ‘Beeper Mini’ that became the first and only easy solution for Android users to communicate with Apple users via iMessage, recently started experiencing technical problems in just less than a week since its launch. More and more users started reporting being unable to send and receive their iMessages in the app. It is speculated that Apple may be responsible for Beeper Mini’s dysfunction.

 

Beeper Mini was developed as a result of massive efforts that went into figuring out the entire process of how to register a phone number with iMessage, send messages directly to Apple’s servers, and have messages sent back to the device natively inside the app. The toughest part of it, according to CEO of Beeper Mini, Eric Migicovsky, was cracking Apple’s code that detects if the connected device is a legitimate Apple product.

Apple Might Have Stopped the Android App for iMessages from Working

Which Brands Have the Most Loyal Customers?

Companies are always looking into new ways to learn more about their customers so that they can in turn increase their sales. The research team at Qualtrics has released a new infographic that looks at which brands have the most loyal customers out there, basing it on the top 25 brand keys loyalty leaders from 2019 to 2023.

Which Brands Have the Most Loyal Customers? #Infographic

 


Apple seems to have stopped offering customer support on X, as some users have noticed that they are redirected to the company’s general support page when they attempt sending a direct message to the Apple Support account on X.

 

To all queries forwarded to the company’s customer support via X, the account responds with an automated reply which prompts the user to continue the conversation “in another support channel.” Additionally, the message includes a link to Apple’s relevant support page.  

 

Apple Support’s account has also been observed to have changed its profile description from “available every day to answer your questions,” to “we’re here to provide tips, tricks and helpful information when you need it most.”

Apple Support’s X Account is No Longer Offering Help to Customers Directly on X



Apple is bringing new features to its Mac devices, as a result of its latest release of macOS Sonoma or macOS 14.0 – the latest Mac software update. The features included in this version are desktop widgets, new screen savers, improved video conferencing and Safari browsing, as well as enhanced gaming performance, and more.

 

The widgets in macOS Sonoma are interactive and can be placed on the desktop directly as they blend with a Mac’s wallpaper. Users can use these widgets to engage with a number of tasks such as completing reminders, playing or pausing media, accessing home controls, etc. Moreover, users can even add their iPhone widgets to their Mac desktop.

 

The new screen savers in macOS Sonoma show beautifully captured videos in slow motion of stunning locations around the world. These screen savers flawlessly transition to become the desktop wallpaper once a user is logged in.

Apple Launches macOS Sonoma, the Latest OS Update for Macs Packed with Interesting and Handy Features



Carrot Weather, the app that delivers weather updates and forecasts in a witty and humorous manner, has been updated with new features in alignment with the iOS 17 and watchOS 10 software updates. These include new weather widgets, a new interface, a voice impersonation feature, and a next-hour radar feature. The latest version of the app, 5.12, is available for download on the App Store.


The new widgets of the app can now be added to the iPad lock screen, iPhone StandBy mode display, and Apple Watch Smart Stack. The voice impersonation feature is designed with the ability to mimic a user’s own voice or a celebrity’s voice when providing weather updates. This feature is supported by Apple’s new Personal Voice accessibility feature in iOS 17.

Carrot Weather App is Bringing New Features in its Latest Version for iOS 17 and watchOS 10

20 Awesome Things to Do With Your Apple Watch

The marvel of wearable technology has never been more evident than in the sleek design and multifunctionality of the Apple Watch. No longer just a timepiece, this compact device has reshaped how we integrate technology into our daily lives, and has untapped potential many of us barely scratch the surface of.

20 Awesome Things to Do With Your Apple Watch #Infographic



Apple’s iPhone 15 event ‘Wonderlust’ is set to happen on the 12th of September, live at 1PM ET / 10AM PT.  It could be streamed on both Apple’s official website as well as its YouTube channel.

 

One of the major additions to the iPhone 15 lineup is a USB-C charger in place of the Lightning connector. The USB-C ports for the premium models would be USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 at minimum, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models would support USB 2.0. Either way, all iPhone 15 models will support faster charging rates of up to 35W. Apple might release updated AirPods with a USB-C charging case too.

 

As for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, there is reportedly going to be additions of a titanium frame, thinner bezels, an action button, as well as a higher price. The new action button will be similar to the one on the Apple Watch Ultra, as a replacement for the mute button and will provide other functions too, like assigning shortcuts to apps and settings. There may be some new colour additions too, including a titan grey in place of the gold finish, a dark blue, while the base iPhone 15 is speculated to arrive in black, green, blue, yellow, and pink. There is also a rumour that the iPhone 15 Pro Max may be renamed to iPhone 15 Ultra.

New Products and Features Expected to be Seen in Apple’s Upcoming iPhone 15 Event



Apple is launching new subscription analytics tools on Apple Podcasts Connect that are meant to show creators specific details of how their listeners engage with premium subscriptions. Creators will also be able to obtain insights from marketing tools provided by Linkfire to help grow their audience. 

 

From the Overview tab within the updated Analytics tab, creators will be able to gather the following information:

-         -  Number of listeners that have started a free trial.

-         -  Number of paid subscriptions.

-         - Percentage of listeners who convert from a free trial to a paid subscription.

-         - Estimated proceeds generated from subscriptions.

-         - Breakdowns of subscriptions by country or region and subscription status (monthly or annual plans).

 

These analytics can also be viewed separately for various time periods, like the last 30 days, previous month, etc.

Apple Podcasts Launches ‘Subscription Analytics’ and New Marketing Tools Powered by Linkfire for Creators



Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 models are rumoured to be supporting charging up to 35W - an 8W increase compared to the maximum charging speed of the latest iPhone, the iPhone 14, which supports a charging speed of 27W.

 

A similar speculation was made last year that suggested that the iPhone 15 models would come with USB-C resulting in faster charging speeds.

 

iPhone 15 Rumoured to Support a USB-C Charger and Faster Charging Speed



In commemoration of the Apple Watch’s 10th  debut anniversary, Apple is reportedly working on a major redesign for the upcoming Apple Watch X. The device, however, is not expected to come out this year at least.

 

As for the next line-up of the Apple Watch series 9 arriving this September alongside the new iPhone, there will be a minor upgrade, possibly a faster processor. For every annual launch of a new Apple Watch, Apple has strictly persisted to introducing minor upgrades only, except when it launched the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple is Reportedly Preparing a Major Redesign for the Apple Watch



Apple has released a new ‘Discovery Station’ on Apple Music, designed to help users find music similar to their taste that they haven’t listened to or added to their playlist before. Previously in testing, Discovery Station is currently available to almost all users on Apple Music’s mobile, desktop, and web apps, around the world.

 

The station can be accessed from ‘Listen Now’ below the ‘Stations for You’ section. According to some reviews, Discovery Station seems to be doing a good job at recommending the kind of music that people would expect to find for themselves.

Apple Music Now Offers a New ‘Discovery Station’ for Subscribers



Ahead of the 2024 product lineup release, Apple is reported to be testing a new computer: a Mac Mini powered by the company’s latest M3 chip. The report has been shared by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, who specifies that Apple may be testing an eight-core CPU and a 10-core GPU Mac with 24GB RAM that’s running macOS Sonoma 14.1. 

 

Gurman further emphasizes that any M3-powered iMacs are not likely to arrive before the first fiscal quarter of 2024, which starts in October. Additionally, the 13-inch MacBooks, namely MacBook Air and MacBook pro, are expected to receive M3-equipped updates during the same time frame too.

Apple Reported to be Testing a New M3-Powered Mac Mini

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