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Apple is Getting Served
The iPhone 15 is already facing trouble, and it hasn't even been released yet.
Good morning! āļø *Tim Cook voice*
Appleās USB-C debacle takes a turn, major security threats to be aware of, Apple & Google partner up, and much more.
Estimated reading time: 4.2 minutes
š Poll
Last week, I asked how often you use Siri..
As bad as Siri is, I still use it daily for basic tasks
Here were some of my favorite replies:
āSheās so dumb itās sad. I feel bad for Siri, thatās why I talk to her.ā š¤£
āApple Music works very well with Siri and also to get the weather. And while Google Assistant is more capable, Siriās voice synthesizers are very true to life, unlike Googleās.ā I honestly havenāt used Google Assistant in years so I forgot what it sounds like. Give me ChatGPT over both of them, though.
āI use it mostly to control my home devices, to set reminders & send messages. I donāt use it for any knowledge based requests because Siri is really bad for that kinda stuff.ā Yep. I find the main benefit of using Siri is related to system apps. Nothing more
This week: Do you prefer Lightning or USB-C for charging Apple products - and why? More on this subject later..
USB-C or Lightning? |
š² Quick Tip
Save $$ on Subscriptions
I strongly dislike App devs who are deceptive with their subscription pricing. Hereās how to see the truth:
Go to Settings > Tap on Profile Pic to access iCloud settings
Go to Subscriptions
Tap on the app you have an active subscription for
Tap āsee all plansā
You will now see all plans, some of which were likely hidden when you were prompted to sign up
š£ļø Apple + Google = ??
Apple & Google have jointly submitted a new industry specification to help combat the misuse of AirTags and Bluetooth item trackers.
AirTag-like āunwanted trackingā alerts will be coming to 3rd party item trackers in future versions of iOS and Android
Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the feature
Speaking of Google, they also just announced support for Passkeys!
PassKeys were implemented in iOS 16 and provide a more secure way to access your accounts because you donāt actually use a password. You login with Face ID or Touch ID
Passkeys are resistant to attacks like phishing
Google just added this. Go to your Google account > Create a passkey
Passkeys on iOS and macOS sync with iCloud Keychain
Creating a Passkey for my Gmail account
Iād recommend everyone with a Google account to set this up ASAP. It makes signing in much faster and increases security for your account. Letās fully eliminate the password!
šØ Security Threats
If I had to sum this week up in one word it would be: security. Hereās why:
Apple released their first public Rapid Security Response Update for those running iOS 16.4.1
This patches security vulnerabilities without needing to install a full software update
But that wasnāt all - AirPods were affected also.
AirPods & Beats were vulnerable to a bug that would allow hackers to āgain access to your headphonesā
This was patched in the April AirPods firmware update, and for Beats, it was just patched this week
macOS got in on the action too.. in a much more nefarious way.
A new malware called Atomic is for sale on the black market
Itās designed to steal iCloud keychain passwords, credit card info, crypto, and documents
Hereās how it works: A .dmg file is used to get the malware on a victim's machine, and once the user installs it, a fake password prompt is displayed to obtain the system password
It then instantly starts accessing your sensitive information and sends it to a remote server
Fake password prompt
To protect yourself:
Only permit the installation of files from trusted sources that allow āApp Storeā or āApp Store and identified developersā
Use biometric authentication whenever possible
Avoid opening questionable links in emails
Keep your Mac up-to-date with the latest updates & patches
Itās just important to know that macOS is not invincible from malware or spyware. Stay safe out there.
š„ø The USB-C Debacle Deepens
9to5Mac
The EU is already threatening Apple, and they havenāt even released the new iPhone 15 yet! Hereās why:
Apple is expected to add USB-C accessories to its Made for iPhone program and will in turn restrict charging & data speeds for non-MFi cables.
A European Commissioner sent Apple a letter warning them that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU
The commissioner called this restriction āunacceptableā
The law goes into effect in Dec. 2024, so technically Apple has 2 more iPhones that they can do whatever they want with (in theory)
So this is an ongoing battle and we will be hearing a lot more about this.
But I have to know.. do you think Apple should be allowed to do this? Vote below!
Should Apple Be Allowed to Restrict Charging Speeds?(for non-MFi cables) |
šµ Apple Earnings
Apple earnings, graphed
Apple just this week announced their Q2 2023 earnings.
Revenue: $94.8B ($92.96B estimated)
iPhone sales: $51.33 billion ($48.84 billion estimated)
Mac: $7.17 billion ($7.80 billion estimated)
iPad: $6.67 billion ($6.69 billion estimated)
Wearables, Home, and Accessories: $8.76 billion ($8.43 billion estimated)
Services: $20.91 billion ($20.97 billion estimated)
As for mass layoffs, Tim Cook says no sir! Calling it a ālast resortā and that itās ānot currently being talked about.ā
Well done, Apple. Overall quarter revenue was only down 3% year over year, despite the difficult economy.
š Thereās Still Hope for CarPlay
Last week, we discussed that GM was the latest auto maker to ditch CarPlay. And now, Ford has addressed their stance on CarPlay.
70% of our Ford customers in the U.S. are Apple customers. Why would I go to an Apple customer and say good luck?
CarPlay users rejoice! Especially those who planned to purchase a Ford vehicle in the future.
š° Quick News Bites
š¶ Now Playing
Podcasts:
Music:
ODESZA - All We Need (ODESZA VIP Remix) (electronic)
Labrinth - The Feels (pop)
Mike Dean x The Weeknd - Artificial Intelligence (no genre)
ILLENIUM - Nothing Ever After (with Motionless In White) (rock)
š«¶ Reader Love
This made my day. Much appreciated Maxwell!
I lowkey hate reading also š¤£
š Want To Support?
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Until next week, āļø
- Brandon
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