Facebook owner fined $1.3 billion, Apple Watch screen green problem after updating to watchOS 9.5, Apple ramps up hiring of AI experts, bans its employees from using ChatGPT, and other exciting news on the sidelines…

News on the sidelines Week Mar 5 - Mar 11


Apple is now selling refurbished 2023 Mac mini models

Apple has introduced refurbished models of the latest 2 Mac mini M2023 processor in its online store, offering discounts for the first time. Prices start at $509 for the version with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, which is a $90 drop from the original price. It comes with M2 chip only and M2 Pro options are not available at this time. Discounts range from around 15% off, and the discount increases with higher-end devices. Mac mini M2 was released in January 2023, and features internal upgrades but no external changes. Refurbished products undergo extensive testing and come with the AppleCare + warranty and a 14-day return period just like new devices.


iOS 17 will bring upgrades to Wallet, Find My, SharePlay, and AirPlay

iOS 17

The iOS 17 update will bring improvements to many apps and features. It is reported that the wallet application will undergo major changes, and Apple plans to improve location services in the Find My application, but no further details have been shared. Also receiving upgrades and improvements will be SharePlay, a feature that allows users to watch content with others during FaceTime calls. Apple is also improving AirPlay. The company has reportedly been in talks with hotels and other places to make it easier to stream AirPlay content to TVs and devices that don't own it.


Apple starts selling a temperature-controlled travel mug

Apple has started selling Ember's Travel Mug 2+ in her online store At $199.95. The temperature controlled mug now supports the Find My app, allowing users to track its location and beep if it is somewhere. The Travel Mug 2+ will keep beverages at your desired temperature for up to three hours or all day when placed on the charging base. It can be connected to the iPhone via Bluetooth and controlled through it Ember app, which has built-in touch controls.


Apple's latest ad campaign takes a playful look at health data privacy

Apple has launched a new ad campaign focused on health data privacy. The campaign features a humorous advertisement done by actress Jane Lynch. Apple aims to address the growing concern of sharing personal health information online. The company emphasizes built-in privacy protections across its devices and services to assure users that their health data remains safe within the Apple system. Apple highlights four pillars of privacy, including data minimization, on-device processing, transparency, control, and security. The campaign will be run globally through various media channels, and Apple has published a white paper providing an overview of how the Health app and HealthKit protect users' privacy.


iPhone 15 supports 15W fast wireless charging

iPhone 15 models will support 15W fast wireless charging with any third-party charger not certified by MagSafe, according to a rumor from China123. This differs from previous iPhone models, which required a certified MagSafe or MFM charger to achieve 15W fast wireless charging, and only support 7.5W with standard Qi chargers. These rumors are plausible because Apple contributes to the Qi2 wireless standard, which includes a magnetic energy profile similar to the MagSafe1. The Qi2 standard will allow devices to be better compatible with chargers for faster and more efficient charging. Qi2 chargers are expected to be available by the end of 2023. iPhone 15 models will also feature a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but may only support fast charging and data transfer with MFi-certified accessories.


The design finalists for the 2023 Apple Design Award have been revealed ahead of WWDC

Apple has announced the finalists for this year's Apple Design Awards, which honor the best apps and games from the Apple developer community. Winners will be announced on June 5 on the Apple developer website and app, after a ceremony during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. The finalists will be divided into six categories: Inclusiveness, Joy and Fun, Interactivity, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Developers invited to Apple Park on June 5 will be able to attend the ceremony and receive a special shield. WWDC 2023 will kick off with a keynote on June 5 at 10 am Pacific time, equivalent to 8 pm Cairo time.


Apple announces the WWDC 2023 conference schedule

Apple has announced the schedule for the Worldwide Developers Conference WWDC 2023, which will be held from June 5 to June 9. The main event will be on June 5, it will start with the keynote at 10 am Pacific time and 8 pm Cairo time, where Apple will reveal its latest software and some of its products, then the State of the Union platform after that, where it will show its new tools and technologies to developers, and then announce the Apple Awards To design the best applications and games of the year. WWDC 2023 will be mostly online, with videos of the session available for free on the Apple Developer app and website. Some developers and the media were invited to a special day at Al Park on June 5 to watch the keynote together and interact with Apple teams.


Apple bans its employees from using ChatGPT

Apple has reportedly banned its employees from using ChatGPT and other third-party AI tools due to concerns about potential leaks of confidential data. Apple is developing similar technology of its own and aims to protect its information. GitHub's Copilot, a code writing tool, was also banned. Other companies, including Samsung, JPMorgan Chase and Verizon, have applied similar restrictions to AI tools to protect sensitive data. OpenAI has already provided a private ChatGPT service to Morgan Stanley, while Microsoft is developing a business-oriented version of ChatGPT to address privacy concerns. Apple's specific AI efforts remain undisclosed at this time.

In addition, Apple recently approved an application for ChatGPT for the iPhone, but has prevented its employees from using it or using similar utilities due to security concerns.

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The company is rumored to be re-evaluating its AI efforts and testing generative AI concepts that could power Siri in the future.


Apple ramps up hiring of generative AI experts

Apple is increasing its focus on artificial intelligence, especially generative, and has begun hiring experts. The company has posted job listings looking for machine learning professionals who are passionate about building autonomous systems. Positions are available in various departments, including Integrated System Experience, NLP Input Experience, Machine Learning R&D, and Technology Development Group. One specific role mentioned is a visual generative modeling research engineer, which includes working on visual generative modeling for applications such as computational photography, photo and video editing, XNUMXD shape and motion reconstruction, and avatar creation.


Complaint of green color on Apple Watch after watchOS 9.5 update

Some Apple Watch users have reported an issue with the green color on the watch screen after updating to watchOS 9.5. The issue appears to mostly affect Apple Watch 8 and earlier models, with earlier models being affected the most. The green color can be seen on the passcode entry screen, Control Center, and when you pull down notifications. Reports indicate that a smaller number of Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Ultra models are affected. While some users claim that Apple added the color on purpose, most users find it unattractive and inconsistent with the usual OLED screen quality. The cause of the issue is not clear, but it is believed to be a software issue rather than a hardware issue since it started appearing after the watchOS update. Restarting the clock fixed the issue for some users. In the past, Apple has addressed similar color issues on the iPhone by issuing updates, so it's possible that a future watchOS update, perhaps watchOS 9.6, could fix that issue as well.


Miscellaneous news

◉ According to the Taiwanese research company TrendForce, Apple's mixed reality glasses will primarily target developers, and shipments are expected to be less than one hundred thousand units this year at a price of $3000, unlike several expectations that ranged between 7 and 10 million units in the first year as it was Remember Apple, but later reduced it to 3 million units. Other analysts' estimates ranged from 1.5 to XNUMX million units, and some said otherwise.

◉ Two weeks before the developer conference, the Swift Student Challenge winners have started receiving their prizes, which include a sweatshirt, AirPods Pro, and pins. Each winner also receives a congratulatory message from Apple, in recognition of their outstanding coding skills and creativity.

◉ Apple signed a multi-year, multi-billion dollar deal with US technology company Broadcom to use 5G and wireless components for its devices. The components include FBAR filters, which are part of the radio frequency system that connects devices to mobile networks. Components will be designed and manufactured in the United States. The deal is part of Apple's commitment to invest $430 billion in the US economy over five years.

◉ Apple releases the first public beta for iOS 16.6, iPadOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5 updates.

◉ It is rumored that the Apple glasses contain 4K micro-OLED screens, dual M2 processors, 12 optical cameras, and an external power source. It is likely aimed at beginning developers and professionals, and may cost around $3000.

◉ The owner of Facebook Meta has been fined $1.3 billion by European Union regulators for transferring user data to the United States without adequate protection. Meta has also been ordered to stop data transfers and processing within six months. Mita said she would appeal the decision and the fine, describing it as flawed and unjustified.

◉ Apple may secretly apply for trademarks related to its mixed reality glasses, such as xrProOS and xrOS, using shell companies in different countries. The operating system of the glasses is expected to be called xrOS, and the device may be called Reality Pro.


This is not all the news that is on the sidelines, but we have brought you the most important of them, and it is not necessary for the non-specialist to occupy himself with all the incoming and outgoing. And help you with it, and if it robbed you of your life and got busy with it, there is no need for it.

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