shownotes_20190918

Opening
  Opening Music
    Music is Say Anything by Manda and the Marbles
News
  iPhone Event Aftermath
    Apple TV+ is only one free year per family
      No stacking, no banking
      Auto renews at $4.99/mo after the year is up.
    Apple leaker Sonny Dickson claims his sources say the iPhone 11 and 11 Pros have bilateral charging hardware, but Apple has disabled it in software.
      Kuo had said Apple cancelled the feature possible because the charging efficiency did not meet Apple’s requirements
    Not a surprise, but they have gigabit Intel LTE modems.
    Batteries appear to be up to 20-25 percent larger on the iPhone Pro models. The Max has an L shaped batter that could be a single cell.
    Geek bench scores seem to indicate ALL of this years iPhone models are shipping with 4GB of RAM
    Apple Watch Titanium IS lighter than the stainless steel model, but NOT by 45 percent
      Apple had wrong specs in the marketing and tech specs on their site and that has been corrected.
    Series 5 CPU seems to be the same S4 chip as in the Series 4
    Apple TV+ is just 99 Rupees a month, or about USD $1.40
      India only gets a 7 day free trial as opposed to a month in other markets
    U1 chips untapped potential
      Right now Apple is using it just to pinpoint other devices for AirDrop
      Rumors about that Apple “tracker”
      Can detect items down to an accuracy of 10cm and be further tuned to about 5mm
        UWB uses time-of-flight calculations to come up with an accurate distance
      Has a directional antennae, so can also detect direction and the angle of an incoming signal
      Transfer speeds up to 27 megabits per second
    Kuo expects demand to be good
      He thinks demand is ahead of expectations based on online shipping estimates following pre-orders
      In the US the iPhone 11 Pro seems to be out selling the iPhone 11. The reverse seems to be true in China.
      New colors, Midnight Green, green and purple seem to be very popular
      Though says production problems with the midnight green phone have been keeping it’s supply constrained.
      Says upgrades are being helped by the trade-ins and zero interest payment plans
      Raised his estimate for 2019 new iPhone shipments up about 5 million units to 70-75 million
    Apple has filed for a trademark on the word “Slofie”. Honestly they can have it because nobody else wants to use it.
  iPhone XR ‘saved’ Apple
    At least according to the global affiliate marketing firm Awin
    They say that model outsold the iPhone XS models at launch and has sold consistently well since
    I take issue with a few of their statements
      “Saved Apple”
      For the average consumer the price savings was “worth” the loss of features
        Many users were upgrading from something and the XR is a lot of phone
      The iPhone XR is also profitable for Apple
        Likely a BIG reason for the iPhone 11
    Their data showed Apple gained brand share against Samsung and Google in 2019.
  App Store billing grace period
    Apple has added a “grace” period for apps that require a subscription.
    The idea is that you won’t lose access to the app or services if there is a momentary issue with your payment
    You can continue to use the app and the features you paid for while things get sorted
    The grace period will vary depending on the terms of the subscription
      A six day grace period on weekly subscriptions
      16 day grace period on longer subscriptions.
    Developers will continue to get revenue without interruption if a successful payment is made within the grace period.
    Apple has expanded 3% cash back on Apple Card Apple Pay payments to Walgreens
  Apple TV+ benefits from iPhone Sales
    Goldman Sachs points out that Apple doesn’t record all revenue from iPhone sales as hardware revenue
      They treat it as a hardware / software “bundle”
    It takes the “cost” of free services offered, like iCloud, and applies that to Services revenue
    The concern is that this years free year of Apple TV+ (~USD $60) will have a significant impact on Apple’s iPhone hardware revenue numbers and that will freak out investors.
      Goldman thinks so much it could give Apple stock up to a 26% down kick.
      Stock disclosure
    Apple responded saying that they do not expect Apple TV+ to have a “material impact” on their financial results.
  Apple TV+ News
    Apple couldn’t land Bad Robot and JJ Abrams because they wanted exclusivity
      Bad Robot ultimately turned down a lot more money, reportedly $500 million, from Apple and stuck with WarnerMedia because they wanted to be able to produce shows for other services
      The reports say Apple’s terms would have also limited Abrams ability to do projects for other studios and Apple’s lack of original IP that could be adapted into shows or films.
      There were also concerns over Apple’s lack of a theatrical distribution model
      Even without an Apple exclusive deal J.J. Abrams is still working with Apple on at least three projects.
        "Little Voice," "My Glory Was I Had Such Friends," and the adaptation of the Stephen King novel "Lisey's Story."
    Disney’s Bob Iger leaves Apple’s board
      The details came out in an SEC filing, but were not a surprise
      It had been speculated this would happen once Apple announced their streaming service due to the perceived conflict of interest
        Back in April Iger said he had been careful to recuse himself at board meetings when the subject of the Apple TV+ service would come up.
      Iger had been on the board at Apple for eight years.
    New shows coming
      “El Gato Negro”, based on a Mexican comic book, coming
        Robert Rodriguez will direct and executive produce
        Diego Boneta will produce and also star in the series
      “Shantaram” is a series based on the novels by Gregory David Roberts
        The story focuses on a convict named Lin who escapes from an Australian prison and flees to the city of Bombay
        It will star Charlie Hunnam who has starred in Sons of Anarchy, King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword and Pacific Rim.
      “The Mosquito Coast” based on the novel by Paul Theroux
        Will start Justin Theroux, and no you didn’t hear that wrong. Justin is Paul’s nephew.
        Mosquito Coast was done as a movie in 80’s starring Harrison Ford, River Phoenix, and Helen Mirren
        It is the story of brilliant inventor Allie Fox takes his family to live in the Honduran jungle, determined to build a civilization
  Leaked iPad with ‘Cracker’ bump
    Again from Sonny Dickson
    Said to be a “Design mock-up”
    Lenses are not in the same position as on the iPhone 11 Pros.
    Square orientation with the flash in the lower right.
    Also no glass cover. With just a square metal frame looks like it’s just “plopped” on the back.
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    They provides the same premium network coverage you’re used to, but at a fraction of the cost because everything is online.
    They also give you all the service and features you need without all the extras you don't allowing you to cut your costs.
    Why pay for a bunch of data that you never use?
      Mint offers plans with 3, 8, or 12 gigabytes of data for as $15/mo.
      And yes that includes unlimited nationwide talk and text. And yes, hotspot
    I've been using Mint Mobile and the coverage and performance has been great.
      Not surprising since they use the T-Mobile network for its service
    You can bring your own device and you can even keep your same phone number along with all your existing contacts.
    Sign-up was SO easy.
      They sent the SIM, you activate online via their site, pop in the SIM.
      After that everything just worked. I was up and running in minutes.
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Sponsor: Masterclass
  Masterclass
    One of my favorite things about Masterclass is the amazing depth and variety of the courses taught by the masters in their fields.
      No place else do you have access to this kind of talent.
    I've been taking Neil Gaiman's course on writing so I can improve my Podcasting
      Yeah, he's teaching writing, but more than that how to engage and entertain an audience
      He had a lesson called "Rules for writers", but this was really "rules for creators"
        Things like "finish" and "send it out into the world".
        Keep creating, iterate.
      Plus his lessons, like many I've taken, feels very intimate. It's like he's speaking just to you. A classroom of one.
      My daughter put it succinctly, they are "inspiring and informative".
    The quality and presentation of the courses is the best I've ever seen and they're each unique in their style which keeps them interesting.
      Plus they are presented in small chunks, typically 10-15 minutes so I can easily fit then into my schedule
      That's made even easier by the fact I can access them on any device iPhone, iPad, Mac, and best of all my Apple TV.
    While you can get courses individually I really love having the all-access pass because here's what happens…
      You'll want one course, like Documentary Filmmaking with Ken Burns
      But if you're like me… you'll see Aaron Franklin will show you how to make Smoked Pork Ribs (I love ribs)
        I'm not kidding I watched this and learned how to trim up and prep ribs and why it's important. Something I've never even thought was part of cooking ribs
        And then I've always been fascinated with wanting to learn magic. I've tried other videos, but the Pen & Teller one was hands down the best
          They went though the concept, then teaching to a group, then detailed step by step
          Also supplemental downloadable PDF with photos and instructions.
    They have over 60 classes and they are constantly adding more, so I think it's a great investment in learning.
    Now you can have unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a [program name] listener, you’ll get $30 off!
    I highly recommend you check it out.
      Get unlimited access to EVERY MasterClass, and as a MACCAST listener, you get 15% off the Annual All-Access Pass!
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
  Ordering the iPhone 11 Pro
    Share my experience
      Paid off my existing payment plan prior to the order date since I'm handing it down and not turning it in
      Set-up and got approval for the iPhone Upgrade Program in advance
        Had to choose the option to get a new loan and get pre-approved since I wan't continuing with my existing program
        Down side is this probably dinged my credit
      On order day
        Took about a minute for the App to let me in.
        Tapped buy, FaceID for Apple Pay, order was complete.
        Start to finish in under a minute
      Went for a midnight green 256GB model
      Also ordered a new Meyer Lemon leather case since, my old case won't work with the new camera bump.
  Apple TV app not “recommended”
    I’m already discussed this, but some listener feedback this week reminded me what an issue this really is.
    Ken wrote to share his experience
      Was using the TV app to watch a series he had purchased via iTunes
      Later the next episode was in his “Up Next”, but when he played it had ads in it
      Confused he though at first Apple was injecting ads into his purchased content
      Really what happened is the TV app had linked him to a version of the show through a channel on Amazon prime
    I “get” why Apple made the changes they did when they added “Channels”, but it has completely ruined the user experience for me to the point where i no longer prefer to use the TV app
      That make me sad
    “Recommendations” for content I don’t own or don’t want to buy are completely useless.
      It’s be like them promoting a killer new feature on a phone that is NOT an iPhone and then heavily handedly trying to get me to buy it
    Apple has managed to make what might be the worst "freemium" app on iOS.
    This behavior should NOT be the default and we need
      A way to opt out of the hard up sell
      Or at least a way to have “recommended” content more clearly labeled as, “you can’t access this content without paying up first”.
    At least some sort of segregation of owned/subscribed vs. stuff you can access
    I also HATE that Amazon content doesn’t distinguish between what is available through Prime Video and what it’s a Prime Channel
      Like Showtime which is now a double whammy because it is an Apple TV Channel and an Amazon Prime Channel.
    The whole point is the TV app was supposed to “simplify and unify” the TV experience.
    Most frustrating was that it’s WAS doing that and then they broke it.
    To help you navigate this maze here’s a tip if you click on a recommended show:
      Do NOT click the big blue button that says “Play” or “Play Episode”
      Scroll down to the “How to watch” section to see where it is available and which services you might have free access to
    Or just use the services App which defeats the whole purpose of the Apple TV app, but oh well.
      No, I'm not bitter. Why?
  Apple Arcade is a winner
    I lucked out and got early beta access to Apple Arcade and it's AMAZING
    I have been sampling a handful of the 64 titles that are currently available and so far each one has been unique, innovative, well designed, visually engaging, and most of all FUN.
    The quality of ALL the titles I have tried has been top notch
    Developers not having to pressure you for in app purchases or micro transactions has really let them focus on the gameplay and the result are stunning
    I ran across one title that does have a "Store", but it uses currency you earn during gameplay to let you "buy" more levels and content. It's an in game element, reward system, that makes the game more fun. It's not oppressive and soul crushing.
    Some titles I have tried so far:
      Sayonara Wild Hearts, Patterned, Shinsekai Deep Sea, Tint, Hot Lava, Where Cards Fall, Dear Reader
    There have only been a few downsides so far
      Not all titles seem to support external game controllers, though many do
      I can see storage becoming an issue. Some title do run in the 1GB+ range for storage
    The value here is real if you are a moderate level or up game player. It also might convert some more casual players into player that play more.
    I do have a small concern at what this might do to other titles outside the Arcade?
      best case scenario is devs see that there are MANY of us who HATE IAP and freemium and are willing to PAY to play.
      worst case, it pushes games out of the App Store or to more heavily adopt the "freemium" model to compete.
    I also have concern for the developers as there seems to be a lot of unanswered questions about how they make their money
      We know up front that Apple partnered with some developers even providing funding in some cases
      Do they each share a pool of money? How is it divided? Equally? By download? By playtime?
      What happens as the number of titles grow?
      Is it sustainable?
Closing
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