Leaked images and specifications of the Google Pixel Fold phone, and WhatsApp allows chat transfer to another iPhone without iCloud, and Apple may soon start selling refurbished MacBook Pro and Mac mini devices for this year, and the New York Police recommend that car owners in New York City use AirTags, and news Other exciting in On the Sidelines…

News on the sidelines Week Mar 5 - Mar 11

A 15-inch MacBook Air in stock ahead of the WWDC launch

New reports say that the private supply chain has begun stocking the rumored 15-inch MacBook Air ahead of its expected announcement at WWDC in June. Sources expect total MacBook shipments to decline slightly in 2023 due to a slow start to the year. The 15-inch MacBook Air is expected to be powered by an M2 chip with multiple GPU configurations and there may not be any design changes other than a larger screen size. And if new MacBooks with 3nm chips are released in the second half of 2023, sources believe that MacBook shipments could improve, but it's unclear when the M3 chip will appear given the yield issues faced by chip maker TSMC.

Google announces support for account passkeys

Google has introduced a new way to sign in to your Google account called passkeys. Passkeys are an alternative to passwords and are more secure and easy to use. With passkeys, you can sign in to apps and websites with your fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock PIN, instead of typing a password. Passkeys resist phishing attacks and are more secure than one-time SMS codes. To create a passkey, you can log into your Google account and choose the “Create a passkey” option. Traditional passwords and two-step verification will still work with Google accounts, but passkeys are an additional option you can use to sign in. Passkeys are available on all major platforms and are supported by other companies, such as PayPal, Best Buy, and eBay.

WhatsApp allows users to transfer chats to another iPhone without using iCloud

WhatsApp is testing a new feature called “Transfer Chats to iPhone,” which will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud. Currently, iPhone users are only allowed to migrate their chat history and media to another iPhone using a Chat Backup already uploaded to iCloud. The new feature will allow users to transfer their chat history by scanning a QR code on their old iPhone to automatically transfer the chat history to the new device. The new built-in service offers an advantage for users who are limited to 5GB of free iCloud storage. The feature is currently available to some beta testers and is expected to roll out to more users in the coming days. The news comes on the heels of parent company Meta's announcement of multi-device sign-in support for WhatsApp, which will allow users to sign into the same account on up to four phones.

Microsoft plans to release ChatGPT focused on privacy

Microsoft plans to release a privacy-focused version of its ChatGPT language model, which will run on dedicated cloud servers, keeping customer data separate from other users. The move seeks to attract companies that have avoided using chatbots due to concerns that sensitive information might be disclosed. The service may cost up to 10 times more than the current ChatGPT service.

Apple plans to expand the spam tracking alert

Apple and Google jointly proposed industry specifications to prevent misuse Bluetooth trackers. And they plan to expand spam alerts on all third-party trackers in future versions of iOS and Android. Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, which has been submitted to the IETF for a three-month comment period, a period of time during which interested parties can provide feedback, suggestions or criticism. Currently, iOS alerts users with a push notification if an unknown AirTag is detected moving with someone over time, and they can take steps to find and disable the AirTag if necessary.

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Leaked images and specifications of the Google Pixel Fold phone

New marketing images of the Google Pixel Fold phone have been leaked, along with detailed specifications, ahead of its expected official reveal later this month. The device looks similar to the Samsung Z Fold 4, with a 5.8-inch OLED outer cover and a 7.6-inch OLED main screen that opens like a book, both with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixelfold will be powered by a Google Tensor G2 chip and a Titan M2 security processor, and has 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. The device will come with a 48MP main camera and a 4821mAh battery that can last up to 24 hours.

Google plans to market it as having the "most durable hinge" on a foldable smartphone, and it's expected to be priced around $1700.

NYPD encourages car owners to use AirTags

The NYPD recommends that car owners in New York City use AirTags to help prevent car thefts. This approach can be effective in recovering stolen cars. The NYPD released a video instructing car owners to purchase an AirTag and stash it in their vehicle to make it easier for officers to locate them in the event of a theft. The video shows an example of how the Find My app can be used to track a stolen AirTag-equipped vehicle, leading to the arrest of the thief. The initiative was sparked by a TikTok video showing how a vulnerability in Hyundai and Kia cars was exploited, which led to an increase in car thefts in certain areas of New York City. And Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city will provide 500 free AirTags to car owners in areas that have seen a significant increase in car thefts.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple is offering Apple Card users 6% cash back per day on their purchases of Nike, up from the usual 3% for the month of May. Offer is available on up to $500 in merchandise purchased with Apple Pay through the Nike website, Nike US stores, or the Nike app. New Apple Card customers can get $75 back in cash if they spend $75 or more at Nike within the first 30 days of getting the card. Daily Cash can be used for Apple Cash purchases, transferred to a bank account, or deposited into a new Apple Card savings account. The Apple Card is currently only available in the United States.

◉ Apple will add Thunderbolt Display and the first generation of iPad Air to the list of old products on May 31. This means that they will no longer be eligible for repairs or other device services at Apple Stores or authorized service providers. The Thunderbolt, introduced in 2011, featured a 27-inch display, 1440p resolution, 720p camera, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port. The original iPad Air was launched in 2013 with a 9.7-inch screen and an A7 chip. Apple considers the product technically obsolete after more than seven years.

◉ Apple has released a new firmware update named 5E135 for the original AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max. There are no feedback on the new update, but it is expected to include performance improvements and bug fixes. To update, you need to connect your AirPods to your iOS device, put them in the case, plug them into a power source, and then pair them with your iPhone or iPad. The firmware will be installed via Wi-Fi after a short period of time.

◉ The legal dispute between Apple and Massimo has ended and the jury was unable to reach a final decision. At issue was whether Apple illegally employed Masimo employees and stole trade secrets to develop the Apple Watch. The jury was split, with six jurors wanting to decide in favor of Apple, and one juror being strong in favor of Massimo, resulting in a deadlock. Massimo plans to continue pursuing the plagiarism case, which means they will do the case again before a new jury.

◉ Apple has added a “2023” tab to the refurbished Macs page, hinting that it may soon start selling refurbished models of the MacBook Pro and Mac mini that were released earlier this year. The latest MacBook Pro models feature the M2 Pro or M2 Max chipset, delivering faster graphics processing and performance, up to 96GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 6E, HDMI 2.1 and an additional hour of battery life. The new Mac mini can also be configured with M2 chips and Thunderbolt 4 ports. Refurbished Macs are typically 15% off compared to brand-new models and come with a one-year limited warranty and AppleCare+ coverage.

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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