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[sultrysandy]

Apple responds to Senate concerns about COVID-19 app privacy

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Apple last week responded to a letter from several Democratic senators who inquired about the data privacy policies of the company's COVID-19 screening tools.

Apple's COVID-19 app.



On April 3, Senators Bob Menendez, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Richard Blumenthal in a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed concern over how confidential health data is handled in Apple's coronavirus app and website.

In a letter dated Thursday, Timothy Powderly, Apple's senior director of government affairs, responded to some of those questions and outlined the privacy protections baked into the COVID-19 screening app and website. The app and website were created in partnership with the CDC, FEMA and the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

For example, Apple says that it doesn't collect any information other than non-personally identifiable app usage and crash data. That data is then kept only as long as necessary to "support the operation of the COVID-19 website and app." It also pledged not to share or resell any data collected with third parties, or use it for commercial purposes.

Because end users are the ones inputting data into the systems, the tools aren't governed under HIPAA guidelines. Any user-inputted data sent through the portal is encrypted during transport. Apple also said that the app and website are accessible to people with disabilities.

In the letter, Apple added that it "drew upon its engineering and clinical resources" to develop the tools at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bloomberg reported on Apple's response earlier today.

The Apple COVID-19 app and website launched in late March and contain tools that let users assess coronavirus risk, symptoms and recent exposures. The app was updated on Thursday with a new state guideline portal, as well as self-care and emergency tips.
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[sultrysandy]

Coronavirus: Apple tool how well people are social distancing

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Apple is gathering data from Apple Maps to show how well people are social distancing



Apple on Tuesday launched a new tool that shows how well people are following social distancing guidelines. It gathers anonymous data from Apple Maps and works similarly to what Google is doing to show trends from Google Maps.

You can plug in a city or a region and see a graph of how much people are moving in that area. It’s tailored specifically for health-care professionals and the government, so they can download information and see if people are staying indoors or are moving about more freely than recommended.

Apple said it generates the information for its new Covid-19 Mobility Tool by “counting the number of requests made to Apple Maps for directions.”

Here’s an example from the new tool, which shows a drop-off in requests for driving, walking and transit directions in New York City since March:

Apple Mobility Trends chart



“The data sets are then compared to reflect a change in volume of people driving, walking or taking public transit around the world,” Apple said in a release. “Data availability in a particular city, country, or region is subject to a number of factors, including minimum thresholds for direction requests made per day.”

Apple said the information it gathers isn’t tied to any Apple ID, so it doesn’t know what each individual person is doing. It said it will update the information daily so that governments, health-care professionals and the public have the most recent data available.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple unveils new iPhone SE priced at just $399

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After years of rumors, Apple has finally launched the 2020 iPhone SE, with the new model offering a much-needed specifications bump while still maintaining the affordability of the namesake.

Apple's iPhone SE for 2020



The follow-up to the 2016 iPhone SE, or perhaps the iPhone 8, the new 2020 iPhone SE continues the trend of providing flagship-level processing power in a small form-factor, and great value package. For the latest iteration, Apple has opted for a 4.7-inch LCD display, which is still small when compared to the iPhone 11 and other current models, but it is slightly larger than the original iPhone SE 4-inch screen.

Another element borrowed from the original is the reuse of older design ideas seen in previous iPhone models, with the new iPhone SE borrowing concepts and design elements from the iPhone 8. Chief among the borrowed elements is the use of a physical home button and Touch ID, which have been eliminated from main iPhone releases over the years in favor of an edge-to-edge display with Face ID.

In reusing the iPhone 8 design, Apple has once again used a metal chassis with a visible external band around the outside, with a glass back to enable wireless charging.

Color options for the 2020 iPhone SE



Inside the iPhone SE is an A13 Bionic processor, the same used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro lines, along with 3 gigabytes of memory. This is, again, similar to how the original model used the A9 with M9 motion co-processor, the latest A-series processor available at the time of its launch.

Connectivity is 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, with Bluetooth 5.0. LTE antennae are 2x2 MIMO, and the device is dual-SIM.

For the camera, Apple has opted for a single wide-angle 12-megapixel sensor and lens combination, rather than moving to a dual or triple-camera setup.

The new iPhone SE — Apple - 00:57 - yputube


Apple claims similar battery life to the iPhone 8. Specifically, the company notes local video playback of up to 13 hours, streaming video playback of up to 8 hours, and up to 40 hours of audio playback.

"The first iPhone SE was a hit with many customers who loved its unique combination of small size, high-end performance and affordable price; the new second-generation iPhone SE builds on that great idea and improves on it in every way — including our best-ever single-camera system for great photos and videos — while still being very affordable," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPhone SE features the industry-leading performance of A13 Bionic that enables great battery life, takes stunning Portrait mode and Smart HDR photos, shoots amazing videos with stereo audio, is great for games and super fast web surfing, and is built with the same industry-leading security features our customers expect. We can't wait to get iPhone SE into customers' hands."

Pre-orders for the iPhone SE begin on April 17, with shipments starting on April 24. The iPhone SE 2 is priced at $399 for the 64-gigabyte capacity model. Three colors are available, with the phone shipping in black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED.
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[astuffedshirt_perv]

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After years of rumors, Apple has finally launched the 2020 iPhone SE, with the new model offering a much-needed specifications bump while still maintaining the affordability of the namesake.

Yay yay yay yay yay!

 

[sultrysandy]

Yay yay yay yay yay!

So you mean as in The Beatles? As in, "She loves you?"

Or Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally?

Oh, you mean the low price of the SE

Sorry, trying to share a bit of levity.

 

[sultrysandy]

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Apple now sells five iPhones — here’s how to pick the right iPhone for you



Apple sells five different iPhones right now, including the iPhone SE, the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Here’s a breakdown of what each offers so you can figure out what the best iPhone is for you to buy.



Apple announced the iPhone SE on Wednesday. It starts at $399, making it the most affordable in Apple’s family of iPhones, behind the next most expensive, the $599 iPhone XR.

But with the new model and some of the old ones being discontinued, you may be a bit confused when trying to figure out which is the best one for you.

Here’s a look at all the iPhones Apple sells: the iPhone SE, the iPhone XR, the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. For the sake of organization, will go from lowest price to most expensive. Don’t let the prices fool you, though. The iPhone SE, while more affordable, is not a bad phone. You’ll see in this breakdown.



iPhone SE

The iPhone SE, Apple’s newest iPhone, is best if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a smaller screen.

It starts at $399 for 64GB of storage and moves up in price to $449 for 128GB of storage and $549 for 256GB of storage. It's recommended people buy the mid-range 128GB model. Pre-orders for the iPhone SE begin on Friday and it will arrive by April 24.

The iPhone SE borrows the design of the iPhone 8, but packs in updated stuff, like the A13 processor that’s found in the more expensive iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. That means you get pretty much the same performance for demanding apps and games as the much more expensive iPhone 11, which starts at $699.

The iPhone SE has the smallest screen of any iPhone Apple sells, at 4.7 inches, which is more in line with Apple’s older phones, like the iPhone 6, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. It still has features you’ll want, like wireless charging, fast charging with an 18W power cord ($29 and not included), a solid wide-angle camera and more.

You don’t get Face ID, Apple’s facial recognition platform, but you still have a home button and Touch ID for unlocking your phone and buying stuff with your fingerprint.

And, sorry folks, no headphone jack here or in any of the iPhones Apple sells.



iPhone XR

The 6.1-inch iPhone XR is a sort of in-between phone, and if at all possible, it’s a better deal to just spend the extra $100 for the iPhone 11.

The $599 iPhone XR is the last available version of the iPhone X family (that’s a roman numeral 10, not the letter X), which was launched in 2018. Apple still sells it as an attractive lower-cost phone that offers some of the stuff you’ll find in higher-end iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models.

That includes Face ID, if unlocking the phone using your face is important to you, and a larger screen that’s nicer for watching movies. It starts at $599 with 64GB of storage and is also available with 128GB of storage for $649.

On the inside, it’s got an A12 processor that’s slightly older and less powerful than the one in the $399 iPhone SE, or in Apple’s iPhone 11 lineup. You probably won’t notice the performance hit, but know that you’re not getting the most advanced technology with the XR.



iPhone 11

The 6.1-inch iPhone 11 might be the best iPhone for most people.

It might be tough to justify spending a lot of money for a new phone given the uncertainty in the economy right now, which is why folks should buy the iPhone SE if they’re on a budget, but the iPhone 11 is still a better phone. It starts at $699 for 64GB of storage, but a 128GB model will set you back $749 and the 256GB option costs $849.

For that price, you get great battery life, a second ultra-wide camera lens that’s a lot of fun to use for capturing more of a scene, stereo speakers, Face ID and Apple’s latest A13 Bionic processor. It just doesn’t have as fancy a display, or some of the other aesthetic refinements such as steel accents, as you’ll find in Apple’s more expensive iPhones. At a time when people are concerned about losing their jobs, you should either buy this or the new iPhone SE.



iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are for people who want everything Apple can stuff into a smartphone.

They’re the best of the bunch, with prices that reflect that. They have pretty much identical features save for price and screen size.

Both iPhone 11 Pro models give you the brightest and most colorful screen Apple offers. The phones have an extra camera sensor for 2x optical zoom, in addition to ultra wide and wide angle sensors. They have a nicer finish, with steel borders instead of aluminum like on Apple’s other phones, which I like since they add a premium touch. And they have great battery life and better water resistance than the iPhone XR and iPhone SE, so you can worry less if your phone falls in the pool.

The iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch screen, making it compelling for folks who think the iPhone SE is too small and the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 are too large. It starts at $999.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max has the biggest display Apple sells, at 6.5 inches, and starts at $1,099. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a personal favorite, because with having all the bells and whistles.



New phones likely in the fall

Right now, given the current economic situation and fears of job loss, it’s certainly hard for me to recommend you spend any money on a phone. Keep in mind that Apple releases new high-end phones every fall, so if you buy any phone except for the SE now, it might seem out of date in a few months anyway. If your phone works fine and you’re happy with it, keep it.

But lots of people want new ones, and that’s why it’s pretty smart of Apple to launch the iPhone SE right now. At $399, it’s the phone most people on a budget should buy.

If you can’t wait for a new phone and can spend a bit more, get the iPhone 11. And if you’re in a good financial position and want the very best of everything Apple can pack into a phone, then the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max are your best bets.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple’s AirPods and wireless charging case are down to a new low on Amazon

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A nice drop on the latest Apple AirPods, as a pair that comes with Apple's Qi wireless charging case is currently down to $150 at Amazon. That's about $50 off Apple's standard going rate, $20 off its typical street price on Amazon, and the lowest price seen on Amazon to date. By comparison, a new pair of AirPods without the wireless charging case is $10 cheaper as of this writing, while the case itself costs $69 independently.

Chances are you know where you stand on AirPods at this point. If you prioritize stellar audio quality, noise isolation, and a long shelf life in your headphones, it's probably safe to say these aren't for you. But Apple's true wireless earbuds have become exceedingly popular for being lightweight in the ear and dead simple to use with other iOS devices. The newest model here furthers that and includes Apple's H1 wireless chip, which helps with wireless connectivity and allows for hands-free control of the Siri voice assistant. Make sure you own a Qi wireless charger to actually make use of its wireless-charging capabilities. But if you've already bought one for a newer iPhone, this spares you from having another cable sprout up on your desk.

Apple's AirPods (left) and AirPods Pro. Enlarge - 2,500px × 1,667px



Apple AirPods (latest gen) with Wireless Charging Case true wireless earbuds for $149.98 at Amazon (normally $170).

Apple AirPods Pro true wireless noise-cancelling earphones for $234.98 at Amazon (normally $249).
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[sultrysandy]

Apple Music's web browser-based player launches

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Following a months-long beta period, Apple this week launched an Apple Music streaming player for the web, enabling subscriber access to content libraries and curated playlists without a dedicated app.

Apple Music web player user interface.



Apple Music's web browser-based player launches


Following a months-long beta period, Apple this week launched an Apple Music streaming player for the web, enabling subscriber access to content libraries and curated playlists without a dedicated app.

Apple Music

Apple Music web player user interface.


Apple Music's web player initially debuted as a beta website in September, offering up the usual assortment of playlists, saved tracks and collections, albums, radio mixes and more directly from a browser.

This week, with the "beta" prefix removed from the music.apple.com site, the service officially launched as a public-facing product.

Visiting Apple Music on the web presents an experience similar to that of the Music app on Mac, complete with For You, Browse and Radio tabs arranged in an interactive sidebar. An option to open the Music app appears as a link at the bottom of the column, reading "Open in Music" on Safari and "Open in iTunes" on other browsers like Chrome.

Users visiting the site for the first time are presented an option to sign up for Apple Music's free trial offer, a process that is handled through the dedicated Music app or iTunes.

Existing subscribers can sign in using an Apple ID. Interestingly, authenticating an Apple ID grants access to "Apple Music players on this and other sites," suggesting Apple is working on future integrations beyond music.apple.com.

Once signed in, subscribers can play full songs and add them to their Apple Music library. Playlists and collections are also accessible through the web interface, as are songs, albums and artists added to Library on another platform.

Playing music brings up a user interface identical to that of the Music app on Mac, with playback controls, a scrub bar with album art, and a volume slider. When playing a track, users can add it to their library, add the track to Play Next or Play Later, "Love" or "Unlove," and "Suggest less like this." Common media attributes like track lists, song playback time, publication information and other data are displayed in the main playback window.

Apple continues to build out Apple Music's feature set as it competes with market leader Spotify. Beyond the web player, the upcoming iOS 13.4.5 update is expected to deliver new social media sharing options and integrations, a first for the streaming service.
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[sultrysandy]

How Apple went from bust to five million colorful iMacs sold

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It's the machine that saved Apple, but today as the iMac is just one part of a hugely successful product lineup, it's easy to forget just how crucial it was. But back on April 19, 2001, Apple reminded us with the news that it had sold its five millionth iMac.

The Apple II was the most important computer Apple ever made. The Mac was the most world-changing. But it was the iMac that was the best. This machine took the innovation Apple had done before, it took the company's ethos of strong design and a complete appliance-like tool, and it shouted about it all.

Where the Mac had literally said "Hello," the iMac figuratively said, "look at me." And people listened. The iMac was announced by Steve Jobs on May 6, 1998, but it didn't go on sale in the US until August 15 that year. Two weeks later, it was released in Europe and Japan.

Two years, eight months, and four days later on April 19, 2001, Apple announced that it had shipped its five millionth iMac. That makes approximately 5,112 iMacs sold every day. It's one iMac every 1.183 seconds.

No wonder it saved the company.

Even before anyone could actually buy an iMac, though, there were signs that demand would be high. In a rare 1998 interview on Fox Business, shown the day before the iMac went on sale, Steve Jobs was asked whether Apple had enough iMacs to meet that demand.

"Yeah, I don't know," said Jobs. "I mean, we're making a lot of them, but we're going to find out... what the real demand is and it could exceed... lots."

Steve Jobs TV interview about iMac launch (1998) - 4:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g5WBG2I_38&feature=youtu.be




Origins of the iMac


The part of Steve Jobs's May 1998 presentation where he reveals the iMac is well known, but if you watch the fuller show, you see more context. He champions the machine as he always does, and he somehow makes it sound both magical and inevitable, that only Apple could have made this yet all computers should always be like this.

However, that spiel comes after he has taken some time to address the state of Apple as a whole. He skips over some details, he doesn't mention anything about his replacing Gil Amelio or Apple having bought NeXT, but he is at pains to show that Apple is strong again.

"It's been ten months since the new management team took over at Apple," he said. "People have been working really hard. You can see a lot of cars in the parking lot some nights and the weekends. And because of their hard work, I'm really pleased to report to you today that Apple is back on track."

He then promises he'll be announcing some great new products, and he teases that he'll reveal Apple's entire product strategy. But first, he spends just over four minutes showing slides about Apple's finances.

It's not the most exciting segment and the numbers are paltry compared to today, but as he so often did, he was really setting the stage.

With this detail, he was working to put a line under all the years where Apple was within an inch of going out of business. He wanted to separate the new Apple from this so that he also separated it from the concomitant problem that nobody buys from a company that's about to die.

Steve Jobs introduces the iMac - 1998 - 26:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiWd8ujtK5k&feature=youtu.be



This speech, followed by the unveiling of the iMac itself, was remarkable. No one advised against buying the iMac because Apple might close. Instead, everyone talked about the revival of Apple, and of this great machine



Great reception


"These words are being created on the coolest-looking personal computer I've ever used," wrote Wall Mossberg in the Wall Street Journal. "It's... the boldest Macintosh model Apple has rolled out since the 1980s."

Apple could not have recovered if the iMac hadn't delivered all that it did, but Jobs's comparatively boring financial presentation was also key to the whole party.



One millionth iMac


It's interesting to see Jobs on stage being, for him, briefly a little dull, and also on news shows being faltering enough to say sales could exceed "lots." But if his reward for that work was the success of the iMac, it does seem that this success also ignited his more showman-like side.

About one year after this launch, it looked to Apple as if it were well on track to sell its one-millionth iMac. Jobs wanted to go big.

According to Ken Segall, ad agency executive who is credited with the name "iMac," Steve Jobs wanted to channel Willy Wonka.

"Steve wanted to put a golden certificate... inside the box of one iMac, and publicize that face," Segall wrote in his book, Insanely Simple. "Whoever opened the lucky iMac box would be refunded the purchase price and be flown to Cupertino, where he or she (and, presumably, the accompanying family) would be taken on a tour of the Apple campus."

Jobs had a team designing a prototype golden certificate —only Apple prototypes certificates —but he also wanted to be the one to meet the winner. Except he wanted to be dressed as Willy Wonka. "Yes," writes Segall, "complete with top hat and tails."



Segall was not as taken with the idea as Jobs was, and says that it died. "Fortunately, the legal issues were restrictive," he explains. "For one, California regulations required that this be classified as a sweepstakes."

That would mean it had to be possible to win this iMac and the trip to Cupertino without making any purchase. So the winner could well be some random person who had no interest in Apple and wouldn't go all fanboy or girl for the cameras.

Apple did not mark the one millionth iMac sale at all. Nor the two millionth, three, or four. But on the date of the five millionth, it did put out a comparatively modest press release.



Five million sold


"Simply put, the iMac has redefined the consumer and education computer, ushering in several industry firsts including USB, FireWire, desktop movies, wireless networking, quiet fan-less operation and world-class design," said Jobs in the release.

The rest of the release gushed about how the "iMac offers a great all-in-one design that is fun and easy to use," while its "easy setup" means Apple is "delivering exciting solutions."

There's no comment from Jony Ive, who designed the iMac, and intentionally no mention of how this is the computer that saved Apple. Apple didn't need saving, thank you very much, and that part of its history was being erased.

"I look forward to shipping our ten millionth iMac in a few years," concluded Jobs in the release.



What happened next


There is no question that Apple has exceeded ten million iMac sales, but not only has Apple stopped making press releases about its sales numbers, it's steadily stopped reporting any detailed figures at all. We do know that by the end of 2004, they'd sold 8.7 million iMacs.

If we presume that figure is up to December 31, 2004, then that's six years, four months, and 16 days since the iMac went on sale. That works out to an average now of 2,330 iMacs every day, or one about every 3.9 seconds.

That's obviously quite a decline from the speed of the first five million iMacs, but it's still phenomenal —and by 2004, Apple was deep into its iPod phase. The iMac was far less crucial than it had been, even as it was still bringing in a lot of money.

After 2004, Apple stopped reporting iMac sales per se, but it continued detailing desktop Mac sales, of which the iMac was presumably the majority. There was the Mac mini after 2005, there were regular PowerMacs throughout this period, but it's reasonable to guess that the iMac's broad appeal made it the most successful desktop Mac at this time.

Today the iMac is still going well. Yet if Apple were to release any figures, the iMac would be small next to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and impossibly tiny next to the iPhone. But that's more a sign of those other devices and their extraordinary, unimaginable success.

None of which they would have had if it weren't for the iMac.
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[sultrysandy]

What you don't get with the new iPhone SE

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Apple's new low-cost 2020 iPhone SE second generation is a remarkably good value for all it gives you. But, to get to that $399 price point, you forego many key features that distinguish the iPhone range.

The iPhone SE (right) is exceptional, but it doesn't have the Face ID, cameras, or screen quality of other models



The new iPhone SE has one particular killer feature that you will come back to again and again as you compare it to other iPhones. It's cheaper. If you're buying brand new and direct from Apple, the iPhone SE is $200 less than its cheapest rival.

That is such a significant difference that it must make the iPhone SE the only iPhone some people can afford. Even if you can comfortably stretch to a more expensive iPhone, too, then this price difference is enough that it's got to make you weigh up what is really worth your money and what is not.

For although the new iPhone SE is an extremely attractive combination of features as well as price, it does not have every feature you may be used to in an iPhone. And these missing features could either make you consider a more expensive model, or they could contribute to your deciding that you'll stay with whichever iPhone you already have.


You don't get TrueDepth and Face ID


Touch ID is as impressive today on the new iPhone SE as it was when it debuted on the iPhone 5S back in 2013. It's fast, secure, and as well as quickly unlocking your phone, it lets you quickly pay for goods or services with Apple Pay.

This technology is seven years old, though, and as of the launch of the iPhone SE, precisely one iPhone in the entire range has it. All of the rest of Apple's current lineup uses Face ID and for the most part, that is better. Much better.

Face ID is more secure, harder to hack, and since the original generation of it in the iPhone X, has become faster than Touch ID. Right now with the coronavirus we are having the issue that faces with a mask can't reliably be recognized, but in general use, glancing at your iPhone has become much faster than pressing your thumb onto a button and waiting.

Plus, there are people who find that Touch ID is unreliable. That can be because of the cases that their employers require them to use, it can be because your finger is damp or sweaty. Whatever the reason, Touch ID can frustrate people who don't find any difficulty with Face ID.

So for convenience, speed, and security, Face ID is a strong reason to buy a different iPhone. Your choices are the iPhone XR starting at $599, the iPhone 11 at $699, iPhone 11 Pro at $999, and iPhone 11 Pro Max at $1,099.

To save you counting, those prices range from $200 to $700 more than an iPhone SE. In other words, for the price of an iPhone 11 Pro, you could buy two iPhone SE models and have change enough over to get a case.



Screen size


This is one area where the iPhone SE, as good as it is, is lacking whichever way you look at it. If you're someone who loves the older, smaller, 4-inch display, then the 4.7-inch one of the iPhone SE is more of a difference than it sounds. It's the difference between being able to work the phone entirely with one hand, and not.

Then if you do like larger screens, as so many people do, then have to see the 4.7-inch iPhone SE display as being paltry. Both the iPhone XR and the iPhone 11 have 6.1-inch screens, while the iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch one.

Even those don't really compare to the larger models, or what used be known as the Plus ones. The current iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch screen —and that's now your only choice for a larger form factor. The iPhone SE has really only replaced the iPhone 8, but its launch saw the larger iPhone 8 Plus vanish too.

The iPhone 8 Plus was actually bigger, physically, than the iPhone 11 Pro Max, but it's perhaps not a great loss to the lineup because that larger case held a comparatively smaller screen. The iPhone 8 Plus had a 5.5-inch display in a chassis that was slightly bigger than the iPhone 11 Pro Max with its 6.1-inch one.



That old iPhone 8 Plus was also substantially bigger than the iPhone 11 Pro, running to 6.24-inches by 3.07-inches compared to the newer iPhone's 5.67-inches by 2.81-inches.

The reason that even the 11 Pro can have a smaller chassis yet a larger screen is down to how the newer phones have an almost edge to edge display. The iPhone 8 Plus, and the new iPhone SE, both have old-style thick bezels around the screen.

You can still buy an iPhone 8 Plus from resellers where it will typically cost around $499, or about $600 less than the only other large-scale model, the iPhone 11 Pro Max.



Screen resolution


The iPhone SE is repeatedly said to be the old iPhone 8 with new internal hardware, but actually its screen goes back much further than that. In terms of physical size, resolution and technology, the screen in the 2020 iPhone SE is almost the same as that of the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S from 2014/15. The sole difference is that the iPhone SE's version supports True Tone so it alters color levels depending on your surroundings.

In the six years since the iPhone 6, though, displays have moved on. They're edge to edge, or nearly, and instead of the old LCD display panel, many of them use OLED. This technology provides a better black and overall an improved contrast.

It's not as if the difference is even close. Where the iPhone SE has a contrast ratio of 1,400:1, the iPhone 11 Pro provides 2,000,000:1. No question, the screens on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are better than that on the iPhone SE. They're also brighter on the iPhone 11 Pro, at 800 nits instead of 625 nits on the iPhone SE.

As clear as these differences are when either you hold the iPhones next to each other, or you downgrade, there's no other way you'd even see the SE screen as a problem. It is clear, bright, and sharp, and if the other models are clearer, brighter, and sharper, that doesn't make the iPhone SE screen unusably poor.



Cameras are an issue


This is another area where there's no comparison whatsoever. The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max come with a triple camera system on the rear, and all three are lenses are excellent. They're 12MP and provide seamless switching between their Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto cameras.

The iPhone SE has one camera on the back. It is a 12MP camera, and it is Wide, but it's one camera and that's your lot.

Except that of course all iPhones also have a front-facing camera. Here the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are better than the iPhone SE, or any other model for that matter. The front or selfie camera on an iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max is a 12MP one that's as capable of shooting 4K video as the rear cameras.

With the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, and exclusively with these phones, you can shoot videos equally well from front and back. If you're making a YouTube video where you're talking to the camera, this is a difference that means you can watch yourself on the phone screen to make sure you are framed correctly throughout. It means you can use a Teleprompter app right there with the selfie lens.

For the iPhone SE, you get just a 7MP front or selfie camera. It's fine. We've had worse. But the difference is noticeable, and this camera is really just for video calls.

That said, the iPhone SE does improve dramatically on the old iPhone 8. Its camera includes portrait lighting effects previously not seen on this size of phone.



Where Apple expects you to come from


Apple has long maintained a comparison page on its website where you can select up to three iPhone models and read the basic specifications of each to compare. With the launch of the iPhone SE, though, it has gone further and created a dedicated Why Upgrade page to comparing that new phone with certain others.

As well as a side by side listing of specifications, this comparison page explains what differences you'll actually feel. So, for instance, if you choose to compare the new SE to a iPhone 8, it will first tell you that there is a difference in the processor.

The iPhone SE has an Apple A13 Bionic chip which, the comparison explains, means the phone is "much faster when launching apps, exploring AR, or sword-fighting on motorcycles." It then lists specifics, saying that the speed of the A13 Bionic processor is between 1.4 and 2 times that of the A11 Bionic in the iPhone 8.

Nobody's going to trade in an iPhone 11 Pro Max for an iPhone SE. But you could very well be undecided between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 11, or the iPhone XR. Fortunately, we can help you out, though.



Upgrading doesn't always mean improving


Just as Apple is assuming you're upgrading from an old iPhone, we're making a similar presumption. And there is one last feature that might mean you instead choose to stay with whatever you've got.

For with the introduction of the iPhone SE, and the dropping of the iPhone 8, every model in Apple's current line up uses Haptic Touch. We've lamented before about Apple abandoning the older 3D Touch, but it's never coming back, and the only way you'll have it is if you hold on to an older iPhone.

Yet as much as we can rip apart the new iPhone SE for what it doesn't have, and what other iPhones do, ultimately your buying choice is always going to be a compromise. As well as picking a model you can afford, there are issues over what features matter to you.

And while the iPhone SE starts at just $399, it's not going to be a hit just because it's the cheapest iPhone available. The iPhone SE is going to be a hit because it's a truly superb combination of price and performance.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple celebrates Earth Day with new App Store stories

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It's Earth Day, and Apple is celebrating by highlighting apps that celebrate and protect our planet, helping you to get back to nature, and give back to the environment.

Apple Arcade title Beyond Blue



Apple designed this year's Earth Day app stories to give readers a way to get involved in Earth Day —especially crucial as COVID-19 and social distancing have postponed many Earth Day celebrations.

Lend a Hand From Home starts by stating, "There's so much we can do, wherever we are." The apps showcased in the story help reduce environmental impact on the planet.

Ecosia



For example, Ecosia is a search engine that invests its ad revenue toward planting trees to reduce carbon dioxide.

And Poshmark and thredUP allow the especially thrifty to buy and sell their gently used clothes to counteract the massive amount of pollution caused by the "fast fashion" industry.



The story titled Reconnect with Nature aims to "bring the wonders of the world to you."

Seek by iNaturalist employs image recognition technology to identify plants, animals, and fungi, encouraging you to learn about the flora and fauna in your own backyard.

The Explorers



The Explorers was created by videographers and photographers hoping to create a visual inventory of every plant on Earth, which provides countless hours of exploration right in the palm of your hand.

Explore the Deep Blue Sea focuses on Beyond Blue, a newly released Apple Arcade title that encourages deep-sea exploration and problem solving. It's a narrative-driven exploration game that takes the player into the depths of our oceans. Interact with the ocean in a personal way using groundbreaking technology to see, hear, and discover the mysteries of the deep.
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[sultrysandy]

Two Apple Mail vulnerabilities being used to target iPhone, iPad users

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Security researchers have discovered a pair of zero-day vulnerabilities in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad that they have found in the wild, and being used by attackers.

Researchers have found two zero-day vulnerabilities in Mail that were actively used to attack users.



San Francisco-based cybersecurity firm ZecOps said that they came across the two flaws in the default iOS and iPadOS Mail app while running routine digital forensics on customer devices. After further investigation, they found evidence of targeted attacks, which they outlined in a report on Wednesday.

The vulnerabilities allow an attacker to run remote code by exploiting Apple's MobileMail and Mailid processes in iOS 12 and iOS 13, respectively, through the use of a specially crafted email. And, if triggered properly, a user wouldn't know that they were being hacked.

Variants of the flaw stretch back to at least iOS 6, the researchers said. Because the vulnerabilities were used to attack users before Apple could issue a patch, they're considered zero-day attacks, which is significant because iOS zero-days are extremely rare and often quite expensive.

By themselves, the flaws don't pose too much of a risk to users — they only allow an attacker to leak, modify or delete emails. But combined with another kernel attack, such as the unpatchable Checkm8 exploit, the vulnerabilities could allow a bad actor root access to a specifically targeted device.

At least one of the flaws can be triggered remotely without any user interaction — an attack known as a "zero-click." ZecOps added that the second vulnerability was likely discovered by accident while attempting to leverage the zero-click. The vulnerability impacting iOS 13 is the zero-click. While the iOS 12 flaw does require users to actually tap on an email, that requirement doesn't apply to attackers who send messages from a mail server that they control.

An example of a failed attack. Succesful ones wouldn't show an error message.



In its report, ZecOps found that a number of its customers were targeted, including employees at a Fortune 500 company in North America, a journalist in Europe and a VIP in Germany. Interestingly, while there was evidence that the flaws were executed on targeted devices, the emails themselves weren't present. That suggests that the attackers deleted the emails to cover their tracks.

The researchers believe that the attackers were working for a nation-state that had purchased the attacks from a third party, adding that at least one "hacker-for-hire" organization was selling exploits that use email as the main vector.

On the other hand, security researchers who spoke to Motherboard said that the flaw was relatively unpolished compared to other hacks, meaning that sophisticated attackers would probably deem it too risky to use against "high value targets."

Still, ZecOps notes that attacks using the exploits are likely to increase in frequency since they're now publicly disclosed. The researchers said bad actors will "attack as many devices as possible," meaning that normal users could end up targeted. That becomes more dangerous if the exploits were leveraged by cybercriminals with access to additional vulnerabilities.

The vulnerabilities only impact the native Mail application, and not third-party apps. To mitigate the attacks, ZecOps recommends that users stop using Mail on iOS and iPadOS until a patch is issued. MacOS is unaffected.

ZecOps said it alerted Apple to the vulnerabilities in February. Both of the flaws have since been patched in the latest beta releases of iOS 13, and a fix is set to arrive in the next publicly available iOS update in iOS and iPadOS 13.4.5
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[sultrysandy]

iOS 13 notification 'text bomb' crashes iPhone, iPad

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A new so-called "text bomb," a string of characters that could crash iOS devices if received in a notification, has surfaced online.

A new "text bomb" could crash your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch if it appears in an incoming notification.





Messaging bugs like these show up every now and then. Typically, they're messages of specific characters that can crash an iOS or iPadOS device when received, forcing a device restart.

This specific "text bomb" appears to consist of the Italian flag emoji and a specific Sindhi language character, and impacts all current versions of iOS and iPadOS 13. Reports indicate that the bug only causes crashes if it appears in an incoming notification.

According to information on Reddit, this specific malformed message first started making the rounds on Telegram, but it has also appeared on Twitter. It isn't clear which specific messaging apps the bug impacts, though the fact that it only crashes an iOS device when appearing in a notification suggests that it could be app-agnostic.

Notification-based "text bombs" can be particularly annoying, as they can cause iOS or iPadOS to get stuck in a "re-spring" loop.

A similar bug involving a character in the Telugu language caused a stir back in 2018 when it circulated around the internet.

As with the Telugu bug, it's likely that Apple will issue a fix in an upcoming version of iOS. In the meantime, users who are particularly worried about their devices crashing may want to disable notifications for messaging apps until the problem is resolved. Disabling message previews in notifications may also mitigate impact.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple says iOS Mail vulnerabilities do not pose immediate threat, patch coming

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Apple on Thursday responded to reports concerning the discovery of two zero-day vulnerabilities found in its Mail app for iOS, saying the unpatched flaws do not pose an immediate threat to users.

On Wednesday, security firm ZecOps published a report claiming the discovery of two previously unknown Mail vulnerabilities that, if exploited, allow attackers to remotely access, modify or delete user emails.

As detailed by ZecOps, attackers can exploit the iOS bug by sending specially crafted emails that trigger faults, enabling them to run remote code. While the attack requires a user to click on the malicious email in iOS 12, it becomes a zero-click, or unassisted, vector when Mail is opened in the background in iOS 13.

In existence since iOS 6, the flaws have been triggered in the wild as part of targeted attacks, including individuals from a Fortune 500 company, an executive in Japan, a VIP in Germany, managed security service providers in Saudi Arabia and Israel, and a European journalist, ZecOps said.

Apple on Thursday denied the severity of the situation in a statement to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who subsequently shared the company's official response in a tweet.

Apple take all reports of security threats seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the researcher's report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users. The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers.

Apple went on to say it values input from independent security researchers who help make iOS safe and will in the future credit the person who discovered the vulnerability. The company typically issues a security update with each software release to detail patched bugs and identify the security researchers or research groups who discovered them.

According to ZecOps, Apple's latest iOS 13.4.5 beta release patches the reported vulnerabilities.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple Card outage stopping customers from paying bills

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An Apple Pay outage on Saturday is affecting a number of users of Apple Card, preventing some from being able to pay their bill or perform other functions, with Apple working to fix the issue.

According to the Apple System Status page, an issue was raised for Apple Pay, the company's mobile payments platform, directly affecting customers of Apple Card. The issue, which is listed as commencing at 1:45pm BST (8:45am Eastern) has affected "some users" of the service, stopping them from conducting a number of important tasks surrounding the card.

The status page update, explains some users "may not be able to pay their Apple Card bill." Other affected features include the ability to lock and unlock their physical card, being able to request a new or replacement physical card, or to request a new card number.

It is unclear how long it will take for Apple to fix the problem, nor exactly how many people are affected. It also doesn't seem to have impacted other Apple Pay users, with the problem restricted to just Apple Card functions.

Given the usual timescales for downtime events, it is probable Apple will fix the issue within a few hours of being raised.
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[sultrysandy]

.
An Apple Pay outage on Saturday is affecting a number of users of Apple Card, preventing some from being able to pay their bill or perform other functions, with Apple working to fix the issue.

According to the Apple System Status page, an issue was raised for Apple Pay, the company's mobile payments platform, directly affecting customers of Apple Card. The issue, which is listed as commencing at 1:45pm BST (8:45am Eastern) has affected "some users" of the service, stopping them from conducting a number of important tasks surrounding the card.

The status page update, explains some users "may not be able to pay their Apple Card bill." Other affected features include the ability to lock and unlock their physical card, being able to request a new or replacement physical card, or to request a new card number.

It is unclear how long it will take for Apple to fix the problem, nor exactly how many people are affected. It also doesn't seem to have impacted other Apple Pay users, with the problem restricted to just Apple Card functions.

Given the usual timescales for downtime events, it is probable Apple will fix the issue within a few hours of being raised.
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Update: An update at 12:11pm Eastern on the System Status page shows the issue was resolved.


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[sultrysandy]

Original Apple Watch designer shares interesting facts about its development

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On the five-year anniversary of the first Apple Watch, Imran Chaudhri, one of the original device's designers, has shared a few facts and tidbits about the development of the wearable.

The Apple Watch has come a long way since its initial iteration in 2015.



Imran Chaudhri, an Apple alumnus who now serves as the co-founder of a stealth startup called Humane, shared a handful of "fun facts" about the original Apple Watch and some elements of its interface in a Twitter thread on April 24.

For example, Chaudhri posted a reproduction of the original sketch for the Apple Watch's home screen, and added some details about the interface.

here's a reproduction of my original sketch for the home screen. the shape of the circular icon was driven by the clock that lived in the centre of what i originally called the dock. the crown gave the home screen a dimensionality, allowing you to scrub through layers of the ui. pic.twitter.com/w2QITncvHl
— Imran Chaudhri (@imranchaudhri) April 24, 2020

Additionally, the former Apple designer said that his first Apple watch prototype was actually a sixth-generation iPod nano strapped to a watch band. Chaudhri used that prototype to show off Siri and the Notification Center on a wrist-worn platform.

my first prototype was built on a 6th gen nano strapped to this band. i had just wrapped up ios5 and took it down to show the ID team what notification centre and siri was - and what it could be in the future. i never got to share it with steve. we lost him right after ios5. pic.twitter.com/j4JJYNIgIu
— Imran Chaudhri (@imranchaudhri) April 24, 2020

A few other interesting tidbits about the Apple Watch's original development process.

• Digital Touch was initially called "electronic touch," or E.T. Chaudhri said he called it that because of its "potential as a new form of emotional connections."
  
  
• Similarly, the drawing "ink" of the Digital Touch feature was inspired by Chaudhri's "graffiti days" —The "ephemera was designed to communicate transmission while making it guilt free."
  
  
• Apple's various loop-based straps were inspired by the velcro Speedmaster straps worn by Apollo-era astronauts, and were meant to be uncomplicated.
  
  
• The butterflies used in one of the Motion faces were not harmed during animation process since they were already dead. Chaudhri got to keep the blue one.
  
  
• The Solar watch face was created as a way for Muslims observing Ramadan to "quickly see the position of the sun and for all to understand the sun's relationship to time," Chaudhri said.

Apple's flagship wearable has come a long way since the original, released in 2015. Current rumors also suggest that an upcoming version of the Apple Watch could include new features like blood oxygen detection, built-in sleep tracking and larger, improved batteries.
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[sultrysandy]

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Two weeks ago saw a headline "Zoom CFO Kelly Steckelberg said the company is currently focused on keeping the platform running reliably for free. And if you remember all my Zoom posts, I was screaming at my screen. At the same time a big problem in my other threads turned ugly and this was pushed on the back burner.


And last week a rumor that began swirling around not long after the iPad was released ten years ago, hit mainstream media. Apple is making a big change to their Macs possibly as soon as this Autumn. Thought a high level explanation about Macs, macOS, and apps work together and will be changed. And belive me, I am not an engineer.


Then yesterday someone made an idol comment "Aren’t you glad you don’t pay for the service (meaning Literotica), and ties to Zoom being free.



Okay, that's what happened, now you're going to determine what happens with this thread. Don't know who visits this thread, what devices you use, how you use them, or your knowledge.


I'll ask the question. will use Literotica as the example, are you interested how websites make money? And it's not advertising or subscriptions. If people don't post will show there's no interest and I"ll let the thread collapse. Don't mean one or two people either. I spend a lot of time and effort posting, but to to be honest, don't get anything out of this thread.


You might know the answer how web sites do this, but it's not in the Bill of Rights, you do not have it, and it's worse than you imagine.



So you're not worried, Laurel is actually pretty good.

I consistently come across web sites that try to put Mark Zuckerburg to shame.




Facebook and Google on the other hand are the biggest slime balls in my opinion. Microsoft (starting with Windows 10 fiasco) and Twitter have been getting worse

Old media: newspapers, magazines, radio, and television websites are nightmares.


It will also tie on about the Google Pixel laptops posted nearly two months ago #248. Also Android and Samsung.


May even touch: cell phone providers, cable and internet companies, SMART devices, IoT (Internet of Things) the cloud, the list goes on.



Will check this thread Monday morning and a few times during the day if there's interest in this, or even the thread.

Sandy

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[Stillrandy]

Sandy, I enjoy reading this thread, even though my Apple related devices are only an iPad and iPhone. Your posts are informative and interesting and this thread is in my Subscribed list.

You are uncommonly tolerant of the malcontents around Literotica and I have often hoped you would just put them on Ignore and breathe easier.

As our mutual hero SJ once said:
"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

I hope you will continue to keep this thread (and your other ones), but if you decide otherwise, just know you have one fan.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

I enjoy your posts of news. generally. But alas my ability to buy new Apple hardware is more sharply constrained than my interest in said hardware. This thread is also a good reference for apple users who encounter problems

 

[sultrysandy]

I enjoy your posts of news. generally. But alas my ability to buy new Apple hardware is more sharply constrained than my interest in said hardware. This thread is also a good reference for apple users who encounter problems

Agree, when Apple raised prices 20% across the board couple of years ago was a bad business decision. However, last week I read Apple is reportedly planning on releasing a new 23-inch iMac and an 11-inch iPad Air in 2020 as part of a broader lineup of more affordable devices in 2020.

Sandy, I enjoy reading this thread, even though my Apple related devices are only an iPad and iPhone. Your posts are informative and interesting and this thread is in my Subscribed list.

You are uncommonly tolerant of the malcontents around Literotica and I have often hoped you would just put them on Ignore and breathe easier.

Sharing information was one of the original ideas when launching this thread.

Ignoring people at Lit causing problems sets a precedent, allows them to get away doing whatever they want, then they believe what they did is acceptable. It’s no different than raising a child. However a child doesn’t do it hiding behind their anonymity giving them Internet Muscles.





Want to show and also share something.


Not surprisingly, since made my last post until 10 AM EST Today, more than seventy people viewed this thread, also approximate daily, yet only two posted.






The Bill of Rights contains our freedom of speech, denies the government the authority to infringe on our right to bear arms, but it does not mention our right to privacy. And we do not have it, especially on the web.


The adage goes, "If you're not paying for a service, you're the product, not the customer,"


Traffic cams record our vehicles on the road, cameras record us in retail locations, cable companies record how their service is used, cellphone service providers also collect your location.

Microsoft Windows 10 and Google's Android record what you do. How about the so called the free apps you download? They collect your info and phone home with it.

Or websites you visit pay for web servers to run the software, electricity to run servers and air conditioning to cool servers (remember your dad saying he doesn't own the lectric company? you'd shit seeing these bills), software to run the website, internet (you think your bill is high for your home, imagine for thousands of users to connect) And contrary to popular belief, do you think Laurel, Manu, all of the admins, and mods are spending their time out of the kindness and generoistty of their heart?






When you access a website, web browser you're using sends info needed, User Agent.


Had to test a few websites that aren't attempting to load a bunch of crap (third-party cookies, web trackers. j a v s c i p t s, et cetera).


This website is safe to use.

You can copy and paste into your web browser, or click the link

http://www.supportdetails.net/


This is the simplest way info is collected on visitors. It is then sold to Data Analytics firms.


This alone is not tied to your: actual name, where you live, social security number, et cetera.



If you don't know:

A user agent identifies the browser and operating system to the web server. The web server can use this information to serve different web pages to different web browsers and different operating systems. For example, a website could send
mobile pages to mobile browsers, modern pages to modern browsers, and so on.


IP address is assigned by ISP. It is commonly dynamic, meaning it can change, but not static, remains the same, as for a business.


You've heard of (Web) Cookies themselves aren't harmful. The danger lies in their ability to track individuals' browsing histories. But these are different than Flash cookies, (LSO, local shared object, and aren't removed when quitting your browser)



Have to type j a v a s c r i p t with spaces between the letters of Lit edits replacing with asterisks. It was originally used to add functionality to websites, then alter began to be used maliciously. Lit uses one for functionality, and another for google-analytics.com. J a v a s c r i p t is how I started in privacy, security, and malware.


And there are other things not in User Agent.





You think this is bad, can tell you a few problems Laurel has had

Two years ago I was contacting Laurel once and twice a day as bots were not only creating accounts and making posts. Then more then three times a day when they also began creating threads.


Last year I found that Literotica had been cloned and hosted in Africa. When I looked into it, you should've seen the shit those fuckers were attempting to load onto my Macs.


Post if I'm missing something, if something is incorrect, or want more info



However only Stillrandy and astuffedshirt_perv showed and interest, and others only want to lurk.




Don't know if, or even when, will do a next post, since I"m expecting another round of problems in GLBT shortly, including my threads being closed or removed.
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[sultrysandy]

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Huh, I think that was one of the better posts in this thread, and views were double the daily average, yet no one has a thing to say.



Want to show you what I mean some crap when visiting a website.


While looking for a for a website to display your User Agent, then testing them, came across this one.


While just loading the initial page, privacy.net wanted to load connections to twenty eight different websites (showing I was there). And this is before any web trackers, site analytics, social media trackers, j a v a s c r i p t s, et cetera.

 

[sultrysandy]

Apple's second quarter 2020 earnings report

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Interesting, views remain fifty percent higher yet everyone still has mutism

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook (left) and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri (right).



Apple's second fiscal quarter of 2020 earnings


Apple posted quarterly revenue of $58.3 billion, an increase of 1% from the year-ago quarter. The company also posted and quarterly earnings per diluted share of $2.55, up 4 percent.

"Despite COVID-19's unprecedented global impact, we're proud to report that Apple grew for the quarter, driven by an all-time record in Services and a quarterly record for Wearables," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "In this difficult environment, our users are depending on Apple products in renewed ways to stay connected, informed, creative, and productive. We feel motivated and inspired to not only keep meeting these needs in innovative ways, but to continue giving back to support the global response, from the tens of millions of face masks and custom-built face shields we've sent to medical professionals around the world, to the millions we've donated to organizations like Global Citizen and America's Food Fund."

Apple hardware sales decreased from $46.6 billion in the year-ago quarter to $45.0 billion in the second fiscal quarter of 2020. However, services revenue increased to $13.3 billion, versus $11.5 billion a year ago.

Apple's 2Q 2020 quarterly revenue and net profit



Sales in the Americas were relatively flat in the quarter, with Apple generating $25.5 billion versus $25.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. China sales were down $800 million, and European sales were up to $14.3 billion versus $13.1 billion a year ago.

Apple also increased the cash dividend to $0.82 per share, an increase of 6%. Furthermore, the company has authorized an increase of $50 billion to the existing share repurchase program.

Apple revenue by business segment for Apple's second business quarter of 2020






disclosure -
I've invested in AAPL and it is not currently in my investment portfolio.

I've been a Mac user much earlier than was able to first invest early 2000's.
(and at the time It was a great stock to trade)
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[Stillrandy]

Mark of a well run company in that it holds its own or even prospers in very difficult times. Had not realized so much of their revenue was iPhone. Thanks.

 

[sultrysandy]

Businesses and education are turning to Apple during coronavirus

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Working on putting together two posts about Apple cash and Steve Jobs pay.stock, would like to post the first today. But in the meantime


Apple says that it is seeing businesses from creative professionals, to health care, and education, adopting Apple hardware such as Apple Watch, and software including Final Cut Pro X.

iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard Folio



As part of its second quarter earnings call, Apple described how the coronavirus outbreak has prompted businesses and education to adopt its hardware and software products at a rapid clip.

"At this time of social distance of shuttered schools and gathering places of delayed plans and new ways of socializing," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, "we have seen significant evidence that our products have taken a renewed importance for our customers. Teachers and students around the world are relying on our technology to teach, learn, and stay connected with each other."

"Since early March we've seen unprecedented demand for our pro apps from students, enthusiasts, and creative professionals," he said. "These folks are keeping us all entertained and inspired as we stay at home, and to help them do it, we made Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X available for free for 90 days for everyone. And the reaction has been overwhelming, driving software downloads and usage to record levels."

Cook also gave examples of iPad adoption, which he described as "our largest educational iPad deployment ever."

"We are in the process of deploying major orders of iPads to school systems, working to keep learning going strong at a distance," he said, "including tens of thousands in Ontario, Canada, Glasgow, Scotland, and Puerto Rico. A hundred thousand to the city of Los Angeles and three hundred fifty thousand [iPads] to New York City."

He added that health businesses aare utilizing the Apple Watch. "Doctors and medical professionals are making even greater use of Apple Watch [too]," he said, "and other health features to communicate with patients and to treat them safely from a distance when necessary."

Cook said that he expects this increased use to continue even after the COVID-19 outbreak. "I think many people are finding that they can learn remotely, and so I suspect that trend will accelerate some," he said.

"I think that's probably also true about working remotely, in some areas, in some jobs," he continued. "And so I think we have significant solutions and products for all of those groups."
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