News on the sidelines the week March 26 - April 1

Stricter guidelines to prevent leaks, announcement of iPhone 12 durability, refusal to update PortonVPN application due to Myanmar events, new AirPods launch soon, replacement of Google and Samsung phones for new iPhones, significant growth in iPhone shipments to the Gulf, Xiaomi reveals a base Wireless charging capable of charging three devices simultaneously, an application on the Apple Store that causes the theft of six hundred thousand dollars, a request to hire Steve Jobs for 222,400 dollars, and other exciting news on the sidelines ...

Apple applies stricter security guidelines in factories to prevent leaks

Apple recently updated its security guidelines for its manufacturing partners, implementing stricter measures in factories to prevent leaks. Among the changes mentioned in the report:

Apple's manufacturing partners can no longer collect biometric data such as fingerprints or face scans of Apple employees who visit their facilities. However, the new rule does not apply to factory workers, which leads to double-standard charges.

◉ Apple's manufacturing partners should conduct criminal background checks on all assembly line workers working on unreleased Apple products, rather than just some employees, and those with criminal records should be barred from entering areas where development or assembly is taking place. Apple products that have not been released.

Apple is upgrading its computer system installed in some factories to determine how long parts must remain in a production plant before moving to another station. If in transit a sensitive component takes an unusually long time to reach its destination, security alarms will be triggered.

◉ Factory guards at checkpoints must keep detailed records of the movement of workers carrying sensitive parts from one area to another.

◉ Visitors to the factory are now required to present an ID card issued by a government agency.

◉ Factory security cameras are now required to capture all four sides of transport vehicles when parked in facilities.

◉ Video records showing destruction of prototypes and defective parts must now be kept for at least 180 days.

Old iCloud links for sharing shortcuts suddenly stop working

Sharing shortcuts via iCloud appears to be severely affected by an issue that prevents old links from working, making it impossible to add shared shortcuts from links created a while ago. It appears that the links created within the last week are unaffected and will continue to work properly.

When trying to add a shortcut from an affected iCloud link, users receive an error message in the Shortcuts app that says “Shortcut Not Found.” The shortcut link may be invalid, or it may have been deleted. This issue was reported in a timely manner on various platforms.

Apple has now made a statement showing that it is aware of the problem and is working to restore previously shared shortcuts, and the issue has already been fixed.

Apple shares an ad highlighting the durability of the iPhone 12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t72nquFeCQQ

Apple has shared a new advertisement focused on the durability of the iPhone 12, highlighting the Ceramic Shield screen, which is supposed to be stronger than any standard smartphone glass.

All iPhone 12 models feature OLED screens with ceramic shield technology, which Apple says provides four times better anti-drop protection than previous iPhone models.

Made by the famous Corning Company, the ceramic shield material is by incorporating nano ceramic crystals into the glass to improve the durability. Although the ceramic shield appears to be able to withstand drops and is more durable than previous iPhones, it is still prone to scratching.

Apple refuses to update PortonVPN due to Myanmar events

In a March 23 post, Proton founder Andy Yen wrote that Apple rejected critical security updates for its VPN app, on the same day that the United Nations recommended people in Myanmar to use ProtonMail, an encrypted email app also developed by Proton. Yen claimed that ProtonVPN subscriptions rose to 250 times the previous daily rate in the days following the coup, making ProtonVPN an essential tool for people on the ground, and accused Apple of providing profits on human rights by blocking updates.

ProtonMail isn't the only Proton app used by activists and protesters in Myanmar. Myanmar residents have also turned to ProtonVPN to get around the internet blocking, searching for accurate news to stay safe, and reporting the killings.

Apple responded to that, that it did not reject the update and that it was supportive of freedoms and only requested a change of wording in the description of the ProtonVPN application. This is not having a schedule for updating applications, then Apple agreed on March 19 and made the update available to the public directly.

Proton VPN: Fast & Secure

Free⁺

Developer	Proton AG

The new AirPods are expected to launch in the third quarter as production begins

ASE Technology, the Taiwanese supplier, has begun production of optical sensors for the next-generation AirPods slated for release in the third quarter of 2021. There are no further details at this time, but the timeframe is consistent with information shared by analyst Kuo, who claimed earlier this month That the third generation AirPods will go into mass production in the third quarter of the year. The quarter runs from July through September.

Kuo previously said that the third-generation AirPods will be released in the first half of 2021, and a series of leaked images and renderings have made it seem like a launch is imminent, but that appears to be no longer the case.

The design of the third-generation AirPods is expected to be similar to that of the AirPods Pro, including the shorter legs, but without silicone ear tips or active noise cancellation, allowing for a lower price. The second-generation AirPods sell for $ 159 with a wired charging case or $ 199 with a wireless charging case, while the AirPods Pro are $ 249.

New patent "extendable feet" to improve MacBook Pro cooling

In a new patent titled "Extensible Feet" for the MacBook Pro, it moves to raise the back of the device, by at least 3.8 millimeters, which greatly increases the airflow underneath the device.

The file explains how to attach a hinge to the MacBook Pro screen with extendable feet with the cover open, which works automatically or separately. The patent application states that feet can be an "efficient way to cool the device" without taking up internal space with large components such as fans, ensuring that the MacBook remains thin and lightweight while at the same time incorporating many high-performance features.

Apple acquires most AI companies from 2016 to 2020

Apple is the leading acquirer of companies in the field of artificial intelligence, from 2016 to 2020, Apple acquired the largest number of artificial intelligence companies, outperforming Accenture, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, all of whom also obtained a large number of acquisitions of artificial intelligence .

Over the past several years, Apple has acquired companies like Emotient, Turi, Glimpse, RealFace, Shazam, SensoMotoric, Silk Labs, Drive.ai, Laserlike, SpectralEdge, Voysis, XNOR.ai and more, all with the goal of improving AI and machine learning capabilities. For its products and services.

Apple does not publish all of its acquisitions publicly, so it is possible that there have been other AI companies that Apple has purchased and not announced.

Apple accepts to exchange Google and Samsung phones for a new iPhone

Apple now allows customers to exchange Google Pixel 4a, Pixel 5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 phones to get credit up to $ 350 for Pixel 5 to buy new Apple products, Pixel 4a with a value of up to $ 180, and Note 20 for $ 425. Apple has also updated the maximum exchange value for almost all other Android smartphones.

Apple determines the value of a replacement product based on its condition, such as whether it has scratches or otherwise, and whether it is working properly.

IPhone 12 Pro Max is one of the best smartphones for 2021

This is according to new smartphone rankings shared by Consumer Reports. With a faster A14 processor, OLED screen, advanced camera technology, and 5G connectivity, it was one of the best phones, as Consumer Reports recommended it over other phones because of the longer battery life, bigger screen, and 2.5x zoom camera.

On the flip side, the Max version is noticeably heavier than its peers and can be difficult to use with one hand.

Other top smartphones on the list include the Samsung Galaxy Note Ultra as the best Android phone, then the OnePlus Nord phone, which won the "Best Budget Phone" and "Best All-Day Battery Phone" awards.

Consumer Reports ranks the best smartphones in the market according to a number of criteria.

IPhone shipments to the Gulf states witnessed double-digit growth in the fourth quarter of 2020

In the fourth quarter of 2020, Apple witnessed an increase in iPhone shipments in the Gulf countries by 55% compared to the previous quarter, thanks to the launch of the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 11 group last year, according to.

Overall, the region witnessed a growth in smartphone shipments of 2.3% in the fourth quarter of the year compared to the third quarter, reaching a total of 2.26 million units. Specifically, Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly half of all smartphones shipped in the region for the fourth quarter. However, it saw an overall decrease in shipments compared to the previous quarter. The UAE accounted for 26.1% of smartphone shipments to the region in this quarter and witnessed an overall growth compared to the third quarter.

On a quarterly basis, Apple saw a marked increase of 55% in iPhone shipments, due to iPhones 12 and 11. Were it not for the supply chain shortfall, iPhone shipments would have increased even more this quarter.

Apple comes in a next stage behind Samsung as the latter is the leading smartphone manufacturer in the region. Samsung accounts for 42% of the market share of the GCC countries, 3% less than it was in the previous quarter. Apple saw its market share increase 7% to 23% in the final quarter of the year.

Xiaomi unveils a wireless charging pad capable of charging three devices simultaneously

At its product launch event, Xiaomi announced a wireless charging pad capable of charging three devices, each of up to 20 watts, simultaneously, for a total of 60 watts across the base.

Xiaomi says the charging pad includes 19 wireless charging coils, enabling devices to be charged wherever they are placed on the pad.

The charging dock will charge any device that supports Qi wireless charging, including iPhones and the latest AirPods. The charging dock bears striking similarities to Apple's AirPower charging dock that was canceled due to its inability to meet high quality standards.

The Xiaomi Wireless Charging Pad will sell for $ 90.

The Bitcoin scam app on the Apple Store stole six hundred thousand dollars

A fraudulent Bitcoin app that was designed to look like a legitimate app was accepted by the App Store Review Team and ended up stealing 17.1 Bitcoin for an iPhone user, or more than six hundred thousand dollars at the time of the theft, now the value is close to a million dollars!

Cristodolo wanted to check his bitcoin balance last February, and he searched the "App Store" for the "Trezor" app where he stored his cryptocurrency. He saw an app with the Trezor lock logo and design, so he downloaded it and entered his credentials, but the app was fake and all his credit was stolen and he wanted to sue Apple about it.

Apple prohibits this type of fraudulent applications, and says that the fake Trezor application has passed through the "App Store" through a "bait-and-switch", which is a form of fraud. It was called Trezor and used the Trezor logo and colors, and it said it was an "encryption" application that would encrypt iPhone files and store passwords. But it appears that after introducing the fake Trezor app, it has changed itself into a cryptocurrency wallet, which Apple was unable to detect.

Miscellaneous news

◉ A job application filled out by Steve Jobs in 1973 sold for $ 222 at a month-long London auction. Jobs filled out the application hoping to secure a job after dropping out of Reed College, which he had enrolled for six months. A year later in 400, Jobs joined Atari as a technician and later joined with Steve Wozniak to create Apple in 1974.

◉ In a new rumor, AirTags will be slightly larger than a 50-cent coin and about three times thick.

◉ A rare prototype of the Leica camera designed by Johnny Ive and celebrity designer Mark Newson is sold at auction in June. The camera starts at $ 118000 and is estimated to sell for $ 235000 to $ 295000.

◉ The number of eSIMs installed in devices will increase from 1.2 billion in 2021 to 3.4 billion in 2025, thanks mostly to Apple and Google devices, an increase of 180% by 2025, and with up to 94% of eSIM installations .

◉ Last Monday, both the App Store suffered from a service outage, and Apple said that the App Store services may be slow or unavailable for some users. Other services like iCloud Drive, iCloud Mail, and iMessage have also been listed as experiencing issues, as some users are unable to access Apple services. All outages were addressed before the situation escalated on the various communication platforms.

◉ The sources indicated that TSMC is expected to start production of the Apple A15 chip with 4 nm technology that will run the upcoming iPhone 13 series by the end of May.

◉ Apple, HP, and Honeywell are pressing a bill that would require electronic manufacturers to provide hardware diagrams, hardware parts, and instructions to third-party repair shops to fix devices.

◉ Google announced many new features coming to Google Maps for iOS and Android this year, including the all-new “Live View” mode that uses AR to navigate malls and airports.

◉ Just moments after the announcement of the WWDC 2021 digital conference from June 7 to 11, Apple updated the developer app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it easier to discover content such as articles, videos, and WWDC content.

Apple Developer

Free⁺

Developer	Apple

◉ Apple has begun accepting applications for the annual Swift Student Challenge, a coding competition designed to create an interactive scene in the Swift Playgrounds app. Winners will receive exclusive WWDC 2021 outerwear, a custom button set, and one year of Apple Developer Program membership.

◉ Apple supplier Foxconn said it expects to cut shipments by 10% due to the global chip shortage. In the earnings call, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said that the first two months of the quarter were fine, but that the company “is beginning to see changes taking place this month including the continued shortage of chips that will ultimately affect Apple.”

◉ Apple Maps was updated this week with new airport COVID-19 guidelines, providing Apple device users with a quick look at travel requirements in the light of COVID-19 and easy access to the complete list of instructions for each airport.

Verizon has announced that it plans to shut down its 3G network at the end of 2022, effectively ending 3G support. Verizon has postponed its 3G network shutdown several times, but the expiration date appears to have finally been set.

◉ As expected, Microsoft has discontinued the Cortana mobile app. As a result, the company ended all support for third-party Cortana and removed the Cortana app for iOS and Android devices.

◉ Apple announced that more than 110 of its manufacturing partners around the world have committed to using 100% renewable energy for their Apple-related production and that these commitments will prevent more than 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, which is equivalent to the exhaust of more than 3.4 million cars. Out of the way every year.

◉ Apple announced that it will announce its second-quarter earnings results for fiscal year 2021 on Wednesday, April 28, followed by a conference call with Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestre to discuss the results in more detail.

◉ Apple has released the sixth beta of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 upcoming updates for developers, macOS Big Sur 11.3 update, watchOS 7.4 update, tvOS 14.5 update,

Sources:

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