shownotes_20230226

Opening
News
  What’s coming with iPhone 15
    Reiteration of the rumors of smaller bezels this time from Twitter user ShrimpApplePro, but only on the iPhone 15 Pro?
    Also said bezels will be curved at the frame?
    All models to get the Dynamic Island this year.
    And 9to5 Mac believes the smaller bezels will allow the 6.1-inch models to increase their display size to 6.2-inches.
    MacRumors also posted about a CAD from a leaker known as "Ice Universe” that shows the iPhone 15 Max model this year might be slightly thicker, roughly 5 percent, which would result in a less pronounced camera bump on that model.
    A different Twitter leaker, Unknownz21, posted what MacRumors says is a leaked image of the iPhone 15 Pro with a USB-C port.
      It also seems to show the curved edges on the front glass and back titanium casing
    TrendForce claims Apple is planning improvements to the amount and speed of the RAM in the iPhone 15 models
      For the Pro it seems they might get a bump from the 6GB of RAM we have in the iPhone 14 up to 8GB. The non-Pro models would remain at 6GB, but might get the faster LPDDR5 RAM
    Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 15 Pro models could get an improved LiDAR sensor from Sony that uses less power and will offer improved performance.
    Color for this years Pro model could be “deep red” (“dark sienna”), and Apple is testing a bright blue ("picton blue”) and bright pink ("telemagenta”) for the the base iPhone 15 models (look like magenta and cyan to me)
    It’s believed the iPhone 15 Pro chip will be the A17 Bionic and it would be the first to use TSMC’s 3nm process. MacRumors heard that Apple has reportedly locked up 100 percent of TSMCs 3nm production capacity for their own chips.
    Apple might be facing challenges in moving some iPhone part production to India from China
      A Financial Times report says a recent run of iPhone casings from an Indian production facility only about 50 percent met Apple’s standards to be shipped out for assembly
      Apple’s goal number for Chinese manufacturers is zero.
      Illustrates that moving manufacturing takes a lot more than just switching the country where products are produced.
      Estimates are it will likely take about three years for other countries to adapt to meet Apple’s high standards.
      Luckily Apple is not delusional about it. They hope to get about 25 percent of production to India by 2025 and 50 percent by 2028
  The next MacBook Air
    We continue to hear rumors that a 15-inch version of the M2 MacBook Air is on the way.
    This time MacRumors tells us that DigiTimes see it arriving on the second quarter of this year.
    That would be a timeframe with WWDC in it, and since Apple announced the 13-inch M2 there last year, it seems like the new model might come then as well.
    Display analyst Ross Young also said this week that panel production for the 15-inch MacBook Air had started this month.
    While we’re waiting on an M-Series Mac Pro
      9to5mac has found a new “ComputeModule” device class in Apple’s iOS 16.4 developer disk image in the Xcode 16.4 beta release last week
      This seems to be a new device class that runs iOS and oh, there are at least two separate Compute Modules 13,1 and 13,3
      9to5 hopes a compute module might be the key to expandable graphics in the age of Apple Silicon that has integrated GPUs, also possibly other expandable components for PRO Macs
      Say M3 Ultra compute modules?
      All speculative of course, but I like their thinking.
  Are you the next Apple TV+ director
    Apple has announced their [Apple Studio Directors Program](https://joinapple.avature.net/applestudiosdirectorsprogram/) and are taking applicants
    “The Apple Studios Directors Program is an inclusive initiative focused on expanding opportunities for mid-career directors across the US. Our goal is to identify innovative and diverse visionaries and give them a front row seat to Apple Studios productions and opportunities to network. Successful participants will be positioned to direct content for Apple TV+.”
    Apple’s site says, “Successful participants will be positioned to direct content for Apple TV+.”
    It’s a six-month program offers masterclasses and they will be choosing three candidates to participate
    Wonder if they’ll give you a Ridley Scott budget for your first show?
      Probably not considering a report this week that says Scott got $50 million just for the pilot episode of his new Apple TV+ show.
      The series is a crime drama called “Sinking Spring” and is based on the Dennis Tafoya book “Dope Thief”
    A CNBC report says that Apple, and Amazon, are both very interested in making a bid for the right to at least some NBA streaming content
      Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery own the NBA rights until the end of the 2024-2025 season
  AR/VR Headset delayed
    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman now says that Apple delayed the release of their AR /VR headset by two months.
    The speculation is Apple wanted to do and April event, but issue with the hand and eye controls have prompted them to wait.
      Specifically that “air typing” is “finicky”. Sounds like you will be able to pair and iPhone and use the on-screen keyboard for text input.
    Gurman also said in a later newsletter post that setup of the headset “won’t require an iPhone” (can download directly from iCloud), but you will have the option to transfer your data directly from an iPhone or iPad to the headset.
    Now it’s believed they could try an announce at WWDC, but there are no guarantees though Gurman is pretty confident we’ll see the headset before the end of the year.
    Even before the announcement happens MacRumors says Nikkei Asia has a report that Foxconn is already working on a second gen version for Apple
      One that is “more affordable” than the rumored $3000 - $5000 USD price tag of v1
      Though not sure I’d call, the price of a high-end Mac, “more” affordable.
    Ming-Chi Kuo thinks gen-two will come in both high-end and low-end versions
      Kuo’s comments seem to support the theory that Foxconn will be the manufacturer of the “lower cost” model with Luxshare and Pegatron collaborating to produce the higher end devices.
      And launched in 2025
    Whatever happens DigitTimes says suppliers of AR headset component are expecting a surge in demand after Apple announced their product.
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
  Additional UPS tip
    Last time I covered some info on uninterruptible power supplies.
    Got some great feedback and other tips for selecting a UPS, like this one from Robert
      Play clip
    Don made the case for getting UPSes. He has three from CyberPower
      One that is a simulated sine-wave version for his network gear
      Two pure sine-wave models for his Macs
      In a recent bad Buffalo storm over Christmas they had over two dozen outages of various lengths and were able to have uninterrupted computer use the whole time.
  What is XProtect?
    Got an email from Rick who found a [Macworld article](https://www.macworld.com/article/1523542/macos-xprotect-2166-exploits-update.html) about a recent XProtect update
    The version was 2166 and when Rick checked he noticed his system had not automatically applied the update
    To check your XProtect version:
      Open System Information… Applications > Utilities > System Information
        Choose the “Information” tab under the “Software” section.
        Reverse sort by “name” or scroll to the bottom of the list
        Look for “XProtectPlistConfigData” entries and there should be one that is version “2166”
        Using this list you can also sort by date to see all the software updates applied to your system.
        I had one app hat was updated in 2020 that had Chinese characters, which looked concerning.
          Using “Translate” (Select to text right click and translate) it was called “The bear’s paw”? I copied the text and Googled it and saw it was related to “Markdown” and realized it was “Bear” app.
    If you don’t see it then you might have auto security updates turned off
      In macOS Ventura
        System Preferences > General > Software Update
        Click the “i” icon next to “Automatic Updates”
        Make sure “Install Security Responses and System Files” is checked “on”.
    Some people don’t like the concept of software auto updating and installing without their knowledge and might disable this feature (which is on by default)
    Apple lists what this setting updates in [this support article](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207005)
      Examples:
        Core Services Application Configuration Data: Blocks incompatible apps from being launched
        Gatekeeper Configuration Data: Helps protect your Mac from apps created by unidentified developers
        Updated fonts
        Firmware updates for built-in trackpads and external trackpads, mice, keyboards, and displays
        Updated information to help automatically block incompatible kernel extensions (kexts)
    So what is XProtect and why do you want it?
      It’s Apple’s built-in anti-virus protection. It provides signature-based detection and removal of malware.
      See [this Apple Support article](https://support.apple.com/guide/security/protecting-against-malware-sec469d47bd8/web) for more details
      XProtectPlistConfigData: Prevents known malware from running
      XProtect is based on [YARA](https://www.varonis.com/blog/yara-rules) rules. These define variables that contain patterns found in a sample of malware. If some or all of the conditions are met, depending on the rule, then it can be used to successfully identify a piece of malware.
      XProtect automatically detects and blocks the execution of known malware.
      XProtect check for malware when:
        An app is first launched
        An app has been changed (in the file system)
        XProtect signatures are updated
      If it finds a malicious app it will alert you and give you the option to remove the app
      If you do happen to get infected, XProtect can also provide remediation. Cleaning up and removing infections based on updated information. It will NOT auto reboot your Mac.
      If Apple’s system detects a new piece of Malware the following may happen:
        Any associated Developer ID certificates are revoked.
        Notarization revocation tickets are issued for all files (apps and associated files).
        XProtect signatures are developed and released.
    There are some other protections in macOS, including Gatekeeper and Notarization
      For apps to be distributed developer have to submit them to Apple for “notarization” and that is checked by the system. If the app is missing it notarization or that is modified from what Apple issued the app will be blocked by Gatekeeper.
      This is the security setting “Allow applications downloaded from” > “App Store and Identified Developers”
        You CAN bypass this by right clicking an “un-notarized” app and choosing “Open”. Not advised unless you are absolutely sure about the security of the app.
  Safari focus thief
    Received and interesting email from Martin
    “Annoying problem with Safari stealing attention after Ventura upgrade”
    Pointed to a [MacRumors](https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/safari-brings-itself-to-the-front.2363799/) tread where a number of people were experiencing this annoyance
    Basically, while working in other apps, Safari will suddenly steal focus and come to by the front most window.
    I personally had never experienced this.
    In looking at that forum thread and doing some of my own research I noticed a number of people mentioning this issue when they had ESPN.com open in Safari in the background.
    So I tested it and after several minutes of running in the background, “boom” Safari font and center.
    What appears to be happening is ESPN.com has a infinite scroll and that seems to periodically auto-refresh and then steal the window focus.
    I’m a web developer and I’m not 100% sure how they are doing this…
  No pickup for you!
    Tim is in New Hampshire wanted to get a new Mac mini M2 pro with 1 TB of SSD storage and pick it up in-store
    When he went to make the purchase on Apple’s site there were no ship for in-store pickup options at any of the location in his state
    But it would allow him to ship to stores in nearby states for pickup.
    His state offers no sales tax which is why he wanted it shipped there.
    What he discovered, according to the people at his local Apple store, is that because the state offers no sales tax they had to stop accepting in-store pickup.
    Folks from local neighboring states were ordering on-line and picking up in-store in New Hampshire to avoid sales tax
    According to the employees the other states were upset about the loss of tax revenue and it was also causing extra work for the Apple employees
    Tim says, why not “simply charge the State sales tax based on the persons home address”?
    The way most tax laws work it’s typically based on the shipping address.
      Some states are “origin-based” sales tax state and some are “destination-based” sales tax states.
      11 out of 50
        some states are “origin-based” sales tax state and some are “destination-based” sales tax states.
        Arizona, California, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia
Closing
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