This episode of the Maccast is brought to you by Zocdoc, more on them later in the show.
Opening
News
Apple Q2 not outstanding, but OK
Apple announced it’s 2Q 2023 earnings this past week and not suprisingly compared to the past the numbers were a bit lower
Still there were some highlights
For the quarter they had a net revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion
That profit was down just a tad from the $25.01 billion they did in Q2 last year.
Revenue by product category
iPhone: $51.33 billion, up 2 percent year over year
Mac: $7.17 billion, down 31 percent and the lowest numbers for Mac since 2020
iPad: $6.67 billion, down 13 percent and also the lowest numbers for iPad since 2020
Wearables, Home, and Accessories: $8.76 billion
Services: $20.91 billion, was the big winner for the quarter up 5 percent and setting an all time record.
Apple subscriptions are now getting close to 1 billion subscribers
Saving with Apple proves popular
The 4.15% interest rate seems to have enticed a lot of Apple fans to sign up, myself included
Forbes reported that after just four days of the Goldman Sachs high yield interest rate Apple Savings accounts being available to Apple Card users there had been over USD $1B in deposits
240,000 accounts by the end of the launch week suggesting an average savings balance of about $4K
Tim Cook commented on the recent Apple earnings call that the response to the new Apple Card Savings feature has been “incredible”
Apple and Google agree on tracker spec
Normally Apple and Google are worlds apart when it comes to the subject of tracking
This week though the two companies are in agreement submitting a new proposed industry specification around personal device trackers like Apple’s AirTag
It an initiative to help make the devices safer and to reduce unwanted tracking.
The proposal was submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards organization and will be subject to a comment period over the next three months
The spec, if adopted, would allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across platforms including iOS and Android.
iPhone 15 Pro Max periscope lens
We continue to get reports that at least some new iPhone 15 features will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically advanced camera features like the periscope telephoto lens
This is a technique that places the lenses stacked inside the device in a “folded” (think 90 degree angle to the external lens and sensor) using mirrors to allow you to get greater optical telephoto range without needing a large external lens
We continue to get leaks that claim Apple will offer an up to 5-6x optical zoom (though other devices go as high as 10x) on this years iPhone 15, but that the feature will be exclusive to the Pro Max model.
We also are starting to see some cool mock ups of the rumored “ultra-thin” bezels that might be a feature on the Pro models as well. They are surprisingly thin, if true.
On Apple Watch 9, Mark Gurman made a comment in his recent newsletter that Apple will finally Apple feature a “new processor” on Apple Watch. The first new one sine 2020
He says possibly based on an A15 design
Could mean a lot more performance for Apple Watch this year.
iPad editing dreams come true
Apple has finally announced version of their Pro video and audio editing apps coming to iPad
Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro will arrive on iPad later this month, but you’ll have to buy a subscription if you want to use them
Apple says the iPad versions will, “bring all-new touch interfaces that allow users to enhance their workflows with the immediacy and intuitiveness of multi-touch”
Some key and exciting features
Final Cut Pro
a digital jog wheel to navigate the Magnetic Timeline
Live drawing to draw directly on top of video content using an Apple Pencil
Support for the new “hover” features on Apple Pencil to do things like skim and preview footage.
A Scene Removal Mask that uses Machine learning so you can do background removal without green screen
A Pro camera mode for shooting video directly in Final Cut Pro
Logic Pro
Support multi-touch gestures for editing and playing software instruments
Apple Pencil support for making accurate edits and navigating your tracks
Capture audio directly to the app
Each app will cost USD 4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, with a one-month free trial.
If you want FinalCut you’ll need at least an M1 iPad or newer. Logic Pro requires an A12 Bionic iPad or newer.
The apps will be available for purchase on the Apple Store starting Tuesday May, 23rd.
Mark Gurman already tweeted the speculation that because the upcoming rumored Apple Headset will supposedly be able to run iPadOS app there is a possibility for versions of these apps that could run on the headset.
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For the Music app specifically… I like to swipe up that small UI at the bottom and use the the “Lyrics” view
The lock screen also has pretty good sized buttons.
You could try using guided access to limit what you can click on while doing your workout
Settings > Accessibility
Enable Guided Access, near the bottom
Once on, you triple click the side button while in the app you want to limit to enable guided access
Then you draw around areas you want to disable access to
When you start, if you have not already, it will make you set a guided access passcode
Do NOT forget this as you’ll need it to disable guided access
You can also in the settings allow ending guided access with FaceID.
Once you’re done
Triple click the side button to end guided access
Will need to enter the passcode or use FaceID
Now you can end the session or adjust options.
AI is cool, but be cautious
I have to be honest and say that I have not messed around too much with AI Chatbots like GPT Chat yet.
I know a lot of you are diving in full stop.
I have seen some of the amazing stuff being done with audio and video, including AI voices that sound very close to the original person.
McAfee’s research found that voice-cloning tools deliver up to 95% accuracy.
Maybe someday I can get an AIBot to take over the Maccast when I decide to retire (just kidding, or am I?)
But seriously… like it’s always been technology can be used for good and evil.
Be careful out there because we’re starting to see this tech used for sophisticated scams.
What can you do to stay safe?
Use your common sense.
We all have that “spidy-sense” that goes off when something feels “off” or “weird”. If you feel that it’s OK to question things and be suspicious. It might just save you from being scammed.
Be careful who has access to your voice and images / video (might be too late for some of us)
Limit your social media to people you know
If in doubt ask a question, that is not publicly known, that only the person you are speaking with would know
Pick and set a “safe-word” or “codeword” that you can ask the person for.
