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[sultrysandy]

Apple refreshes 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard

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Still working on the first of the other two posts, but in the meantime






Following a year of speculation and rumors, Apple has released a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard, and up to 10th generation Intel processors.

Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro for 2020



The new 13-inch MacBook Pro uses Apple's refreshed Magic Keyboard that debuted on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Touch Bar is also used across the lineup, as it was on the previous model that it replaced. As with that 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has a physical escape key.

Keyboard on the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro, including physical escape key



The 13-inch MacBook Pro lineup now offers up to 10th-generation quad-core Intel Core processors with Turbo Boost speeds of up to 4.1GHz. Apple claims that customers upgrading from a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a dual-core processor will see up to 2.8 times faster performance.

Like with the relatively minor Mac mini refresh in March, the 13-inch MacBook Pro now comes with double the storage of the previous generation, with standard storage starting at 256GB ranging to 4TB.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro screen is the same as the previous model, at a resolution of 2560 x 1600, at 227 pixels per inch, 500 nits brightness, with wide color support and True Tone technology. The video chipset on the eighth-generation Intel chip models are the Iris Plus Graphics 645, with the tenth-generation models utilizing the more powerful Intel Iris Plus Graphics integrated set.

The eighth generation models support one external display at 5K running at 60Hz. or two external 4K displays at 60Hz. The new Intel Iris Plus graphics on the tenth generation models enables users to connect to the Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution.

As with the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro, the new 13-inch MacBook pro has two Thunderbolt 3 ports on lower-end eighth generation models, with four on the highest-end, supplemented by a single headphone jack. Wireless communications are provided by 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Configurations start at $1299 with an eighth generation i5 1.4GHz quad-core processor with Turbo Boost speed up to 3.9GHz, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, and an eighth generation i7 model is available as well. A 2.0Ghz quad-core 10th generation i7 model with turbo speeds up to 3.8GHz, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage retails for $1799.

A fully maxed-out configuration with a 10th generation 2.3GHz quad-core i7 processor with turbo boost to 4.1GHz, 32GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage sells for $3599.

Orders have already started for the new model, and the earliest orders will start arriving "later this week" according to Apple.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple issues $8B bond sale as debt market nears all-time low

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I know this might not make sense why is Apple Inc issuing debt with how successful the company has been (see Apple's 5 Most Profitable Lines of Business) I'm working on getting one of the other two posts done today, which will shed light why they do it.



Apple on Monday launched its latest debt deal to fund corporate operations like share buybacks and dividends, with reports claiming the offering stands at $8 billion.

The debt deal is Apple's first offering of bonds since September 2019.



The Cupertino tech giant plans to issue notes that mature in 2023, 2025, 2030 and 2050, according to a preliminary prospectus issued to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Securities, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley are listed as underwriters on the debt deal.

Citing a source at a financial institution, Apple is looking to sell $8 billion in debt as 10 year yields hovers near an all-time low of 0.637%.

Apple is offering $2 billion in 0.75% notes set to mature in 3 years, $2.25 billion in 1.125% notes due in 5 years, $1.75 billion in 1.65% notes maturing in 10 years, and $2.5 billion in 2.65% notes due in 30 years.

Apple in its filing did not specify how much it is trying to raise but said that the proceeds would be used for general corporate purchases, including share buybacks, dividends, working capital, acquisitions and to repay debt.

The company last offered bonds in September 2019, also for general corporate purchases.






Apple's 5 Most Profitable Lines of Business

iPhone - first fiscal quarter of 2020 ending on December 28, 2019, iPhone sales were $55.96 billion

Services segment posted revenue of $46.3 billion in the fiscal year 2019 and $12.72 billion for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2020

Apple’s personal computer business, built around the Mac, generated sales of $25.7 billion in fiscal year 2019.

As of the fourth quarter of 2019, the iPad held a 36.5 % share of the global tablet market. In the fiscal year 2019, iPad sales came in at $21.3 billion.

Apple’s Wearables, Home and Accessories segment is made up of devices such as AirPods, Apple Watch, and HomePods. The segment posted $24.5 billion in sales in the fiscal year 2019.
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[sultrysandy]

When the iMac changed Apple and the world

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As you can tell, haven't completed the other posts. Hell, still trying to do National Nurses Day posts.

One post being being their annual cash on hand. Reason I posted about Apple debt offering is that they're sitting on so much cash. They're borrowing near zero percent and if earning five percent (I don't know) it's a major profit stream. Here are the balances for the last business day in September the past three years.

source:
Investor Relations - SEC Filings, Form-10K
https://investor.apple.com/sec-filings/default.aspx






On May 6, 1998, the newly returned Steve Jobs launched the first major consumer product of his second era at Apple. The original iMac was an instant success which changed the trajectory of Apple forever.

Steve Jobs launching the very first iMac back in 1998



"Today, I'm incredibly pleased to introduce iMac, our consumer product," Jobs said on stage at Macworld that day in 1998. "iMac comes from the marriage of the excitement of the Internet with the simplicity of Macintosh."

"Even though this is a full-blooded Macintosh," he continued, "we are targeting this for the #1 use consumers tell us they want a computer for, which is to get on the Internet, simply and fast." Jobs went on to tout the product, which was released right before the start of the following school year, to the education market.



"We think iMac's gonna be a really big deal"

Steve Jobs introduces the iMac - 1998
https://youtu.be/BiWd8ujtK5k



In the presentation, Jobs compared the iMac to the other computer products on the market at the time, which he derided as slow, with "crummy displays," and a lack of networking. "And," he said, "these things are ug-ly." Referring to the iMac, Jobs went on to state that "the back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys'."

Jobs even brought out Phil Schiller for a "showdown" between the iMac and the "hot new Compaq Presario 4540," which the Apple product won decisively.



Selling the iMac


The connectivity, ease of use, and look at the product were the subject of a series of TV commercials for the product, starring actor Jeff Goldblum:

Apple commercial - Jeff Goldblum
https://youtu.be/jzj7STruKgQ



The first iMac was priced at $1,299. It sported a G3 233-MHz processor, a 15-inch display and- perhaps most significantly- a colorful, curvy, translucent, all-in-one look that was hugely unconventional at the time. It was the first major project for Jony Ive, after he became Senior Vice President of Industrial Design in 1997.

"This one is incredibly sweet. This $1,299 product is faster than the fastest Pentium II you can buy. The market's never had a consumer computer this powerful and cool-looking," Jobs said in an interview the week of the launch with Lou Dobbs of the financial news network CNNFN. "We have been working hard on fashion, which is very important in the consumer market."

Beige
https://youtu.be/WQQZn7epHAI



That sales job worked. The iMac was the best-selling computer of the 1998 holiday season.

Jobs also said in that Dobbs interview that "Apple will be working on strengthening its brand name," and compared Apple to Nike, Disney and Sony. And it appears to have worked: In 2017, Interbrand named Apple the year's most valuable brand, for the fifth year in a row.

iMac featuring Jeff Goldblum (1998 commercials)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXtXsUqhHiI&feature=youtu.be



Moving forward


The iMac design changed various times in the ensuing years. In 1999, Apple began offering the iMac in different colors. The G4 arrived in 2002, with a unique "dome" design, with the G3 discontinued that year.

The G5 followed in 2004 with yet another form factor —a single slab with a chin.

The next big change to the line came with the arrival of the first Intel-based iMacs in 2006 that retained the form of the iMac G5. The first aluminum iMacs hit the market in 2007.

To this day, the name "iMac" is used by Apple for its thin, unibody desktop computers. The most recent innovations in the line have included the 5k iMac, which debuted in 2014, and the iMac Pro, which arrived last December.



At the movies



The keynote at which the iMac was introduced was dramatized in the 2015 movie "Steve Jobs," written by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Danny Boyle, and adapted from Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Jobs.

However, that scene, like most of that film, took a significant amount of dramatic license, as enumerated at the time by Fast Company: Jobs did not reconcile with his daughter Lisa on the day of the iMac launch, nor did he get into a shouting match that day with Steve Wozniak, nor was Jobs a "multi-billionaire" as of 1998.



The Significance of the iMac



The iMac was, in many ways, the logical evolution of the original compact Macintosh that arrived in 1984. While somewhat radical in its design, the iMac represented something of a step forward design-wise.

In between, Apple had tried quite a few all-in-one Mac computers during Jobs' years away, including the 500 Series Performa line, and the ill-fated Macintosh TV. But the company wouldn't put it all together until the arrival of the iMac.

The iMac's introduction is an important moment in Apple history. It came a year after Jobs returned to Apple following the company's purchase of his company NeXT; at the time of the keynote he was still interim CEO. The computer's success helped reverse of a decade of struggles for the company, leading into the the company's huge run of growth after the turn of the millennium.

It also helped set a template for a long run of products, designed by Ive's team, that caught the eye with beautiful design. Apple touted the intro event as "Back on Track," and it certainly was, even though it would take several years for Apple to return to major profitability.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 review

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Apple finally fixed the keyboards on all of its laptops — and the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is great

The 2020 MacBook Air, the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro and the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. All with great keyboards.



Apple announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro earlier this week. It’s a big upgrade for several reasons, but the most important change is the new Magic Keyboard. It means that Apple no longer sells any laptops with its older and unreliable butterfly keyboard, which made its debut in 2015.

If you’re unfamiliar with the saga, here’s a quick refresher: Butterfly keys were prone to getting gunked up and either repeating each press or not registering a tap at all. It didn’t affect everyone’s MacBooks, but it happened enough that people noticed.

So, Apple started to replace that design beginning with a new “Magic Keyboard” that made its debut on the 16-inch MacBook Pro last year, the new MacBook Air this year and, lastly, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro have been testing for the past couple of days.

It’s a great laptop, and it’s finally safe to buy all of Apple’s laptops again without worrying about some having better keyboards than others. But, they’re all great for different reasons. The MacBook Air is thin and light, the 13-inch MacBook Pro adds more power, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro has a huge screen and the most muscle of the bunch. And they all have keyboards that work.

Here’s what you need to know about the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.



What’s good

13-inch MacBook Pro 2020



First, Apple doubled the storage in its 13-inch MacBook Pros, just as it did with the MacBook Air. So now you get a 256 GB hard drive instead of a 128 GB drive in the entry-level $1,299 model and 512 GB instead of 256 GB in some higher-end options.

The look and feel of the 13-inch MacBook Pro is relatively unchanged, save for the new keyboard and (yes!) the dedicated Escape key on the top-left. It still has the huge, wonderful glass track pad that Apple’s other laptops have, and the still-beautiful aluminum design.

The screen looks great with the same color accuracy that people who edit videos and photos appreciate. And there’s still a touch bar above the keyboard that looks cool and works well — changing to provide menu options depending on the app you’re in.

Touch bar on the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro



It brings up Spotify music controls when in that app, or photos that can be quickly move through when Apple Photos is open. It’s not as useful in the browser, where you can access bookmarks or a URL bar. Some people prefer hardware function keys (the F keys) and hate the touch bar. Regardless, you can’t buy a MacBook Pro without it, so might as well get used to it.

The speakers sound solid, too, but they’re not nearly as full sounding as what you get from Apple’s super high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro. Still, they’re better than what are on a similarly priced HP laptop sitting on my desk. And Apple’s microphones are great, too, with the ability to cut out background noise so you sound as clear as possible on a call. They’re so good that you'll usually switch to using the MacBook Pro’s mics instead of the ones on AirPods during calls.

The Magic Keyboard on the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro



And, not to beat on it too much, but you'll love typing on the keyboard. The spacing is just right, the arrow keys are easy to reach and have way fewer typos than on the older butterfly design. You can really feel the keys push down while typing and that it’s quiet. It also doesn’t feel as sticky as the keys on other laptops (like on HP.) Think it’s the best keyboard you can buy on a laptop right now.

Depending on the model you buy, there are either two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports. (The model tested has two on each side.)



There’s also plenty of power in the MacBook Pro. Apple sent its higher-end $1,799 with the newer Intel 10th generation processor and four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports to test. The entry-level model has eighth-generation chips that Apple says are still more powerful than what you get in a MacBook Air, but wasn’t able to test that version in time for the review.

13-inch MacBook Pro 2020



Most of the testing on the more expensive model, which was able to handle running the main display and two 23-inch monitors with plenty of tabs open, music playing and more. The same situation felt a bit sluggish on Apple’s more affordable MacBook Air.

The $1,799 model also has four Thunderbolt ports, instead of just two in the cheaper versions. That lets you plug in and and charge an external keyboard or mouse, or my iPhone, without having to use a dock or unplug a monitor.

Still testing battery life, but Apple promises 10 hours of web surfing. That typically is mostly true if you have the screen dimmed down below the top brightness and use Safari instead of Google Chrome. But, you should be able to get through most of a workday as long as you’re not slamming it with power-heavy tasks like video editing. If you are, plug it in.

The 2020 MacBook Air on the left versus the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro on the right.



One more thing still want to point out: Sort of always assumed the 13-inch MacBook Pro is much bigger than the MacBook Air.

2020 MacBook Air on top, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro on bottom.



It really isn’t. It measures just about the same, just thicker across the whole body instead of tapering to a thin design, and weighs 3.1 pounds compared with 2.8 pounds for the MacBook Air. But like the added power here.



What’s bad



One thing that stood out compared with the MacBook Air is that the fans can get pretty loud at times. While editing photos for a story while on a Slack video call with colleagues (and running two external screens) and the fans were blowing loud enough that it was sometimes hard to hear people on the call. It’s not overwhelming, but you notice it. And this is by design, since the fans need to spin to keep the processor cool and the computer running.

2020 13-inch MacBook Pro



Also, Apple still includes a 720p webcam while other companies, like Microsoft, have moved on to much better 5-megapixel sensors. That wasn’t always a huge deal, but it’s much more noticeable now that we’re all home doing video chats. Really wish Apple would boost the camera quality.



Should you buy it?



The 13-inch MacBook Pro is probably my new favorite MacBook. It’s perfect if you want a lightweight workhorse that can do some photo and video editing, run several external displays at the same time and run lots of apps without slowing down.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro that starts at $2,399 has better speakers and dedicated graphics for more powerful editing, but it’s a lot bigger and heavier. Then there’s the $999 MacBook Air, which is the best MacBook for most people — it’s fine for running lots of apps and generally doing most things outside of video editing.

2020 MacBook Air on the left, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro on the right.



The 13-inch MacBook Pro sits right between the two, in price and capability. It has the power to hook up to a bunch of screens and can run everything you need when while at your desk, and that it’s not much heavier than a MacBook Air when you carry it in a backpack.

But here’s what what you should do: If you’re thinking of buying the 13-inch MacBook Pro, you should probably get the $1,799 model if you can afford it. It has newer and faster 10th-generation Intel processors, 512 GB of storage, twice the memory (and it’s faster memory, too) and four Thunderbolt 3 ports instead of just two.

It’s a big bump in price, but I think this is the one if you’re coming from an older MacBook Pro.
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[sultrysandy]

Apple to reopen stores in US starting next week

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• Apple will reopen stores in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska starting next week.
  
  
• The stores will have temperature checks and will only permit a limited number of people in the store at one time.
  
  
• Apple’s stores outside of China have been closed since the middle of March.

Apple will reopen some stores in the United States next week, with temperature checks and a limited number of customers in the location at one time.

The vast majority of Apple’s stores outside of China have been closed since March in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, a few locations have reopened in countries such as South Korea, Australia and Germany.

Apple’s stores are a key demand driver for the company’s products. Reopening them is a sign that operations for the company are slowly getting back to normal during what Apple CEO Tim Cook called the “most challenging global environment” the company has ever experienced.

“We’re excited to begin reopening stores in the US next week, starting with some stores in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska,” an Apple representative said in a statement. “Our team is constantly monitoring local heath data and government guidance, and as soon as we can safely open our stores, we will.”

Apple has only six stores in those states, and did not confirm that all of them are opening next week. Overall, Apple has 510 stores globally and 271 stores in the U.S.

Apple said that the primary focus of the stores will be fixing products and that it will put safety procedures in place to protect staff and customers from the coronavirus, including temperature checks for employees and customers, social distancing and face coverings for employees.

“Our new social distance protocol allows for a limited number of visitors in the store at one time so there may be a delay for walk-in customers. We recommend, where possible, customers buy online for contactless delivery or in-store pick up,” Apple said in a statement.

Although Apple’s stores in the United States have been closed since the middle of March, the company reported a slight increase in total revenue in the quarter ended in March. The company also said that overall retail sales -- including online sales -- hit a record during the quarter.

“What we saw in this quarter was the online store had a phenomenal quarter,” Cook said in April. “The growth was literally off the charts. And so I care more about the combination of the two than I do one in particular.”






Sandy note - Already have another post how Apple Retail stores will look very different in the US when they reopen, but wanted to get this first post done.
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[Macdaddy23]

I love Macintosh but the new machines they want you to go to the Genius Bar to get the HD changed. You can change the SSD HD yourself so why go to the Genius Bar unless the motherboard is screwed up?

 

[sultrysandy]

I love Macintosh but the new machines they want you to go to the Genius Bar to get the HD changed. You can change the SSD HD yourself so why go to the Genius Bar unless the motherboard is screwed up?

I should seek professional help. Saw your name and what popped into my mind is:


News Flash!

A man was arrested at the local Apple Store for saying to the women at the Genius Bar, "Who's you Mac Daddy?"


And with Apples cash stockpile ambulance chasers and shysters would fill up the store worse than Christmas season
(I"m Catholic, we also don't say Winter break, and still say Easter not Spring Break. Can imagine my inbox now for not being PC. And I don't meant Windows either RINSHOT)



Anyways, besides the twenty percent price hikes, what pissed me off is starting a few years ago, Apple closed up Macs and users couldn't replace RAM, SSD, or HD, forcing you to go to the Genius Bar.


From what I been seeing past months is reversal in their policy. We'll have to wait and see.
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[Stillrandy]

I should seek professional help. Saw your name and what popped into my mind is:
News Flash!
A man was arrested at the local Apple Store for saying to the women at the Genius Bar, "Who's you Mac Daddy?"
And with Apples cash stockpile ambulance chasers and shysters would fill up the store worse than Christmas season
(I"m Catholic, we also don't say Winter break, and still say Easter not Spring Break. Can imagine my inbox now for not being PC. And I don't meant Windows either RINSHOT)
Anyways, besides the twenty percent price hikes, what pissed me off is starting a few years ago, Apple closed up Macs and users couldn't replace RAM, SSD, or HD, forcing you to go to the Genius Bar.
From what I been seeing past months is reversal in their policy. We'll have to wait and see.
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Sandy, glad to see you still have a sense of humor in the midst of this covid insanity.

 

[sultrysandy]

Sandy, glad to see you still have a sense of humor in the midst of this covid insanity.

Covid insanity? It's one damn thing after another: Vaping lung illness outbreak (appears most people already forgot about that), Trump administration declaring trade war and tariffs with the rest of the world (which are still in place), coronavirus. What's next besides Murder Hornets and election bullshit?






And belive I've a strong sense of humor

 

[sultrysandy]

Apple Retail stores will look very different in the US when they reopen

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Apple's upcoming reopening of some U.S.-based retail locations will be based around guidelines that the company developed for and refined at its open South Korea Apple Store.

Apple Stores like this one, pre-coronavirus will look quite different when they reopen, with tweaked product displays and new social distancing guidelines.



The Cupertino tech giant on Friday announced that they would cautiously kick its retail reopening process with select U.S. stores in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska the week of May 11. In mid-April, Apple reopened its sole brick-and-mortar location in South Korea.

Using that location as a testing ground, the company has reportedly developed an instructional video with coronavirus and social distancing guideline that it's now sending to other retail employees. That video outlines a set of strict practices that Apple Store staffers will be required to follow to ensure reopening is done safely.

Precautions include temperature checking both employees and customers, holding socially distanced daily briefings for staffers, and providing and encouraging the use of hand sanitizer by customers. Apple Stores will also be instructed to limit the number of people allowed inside of them, forming lines with shoppers at least two meters apart.

Guidelines also extend to how products are displayed, with fewer products per table positioned in a way to keep customers from standing too closely to each other.

Apple Store staffers themselves will also take precautions, including limiting movement by communicating through the Talk app, working at alternating workstations, and wearing face masks at all times.

Employees will also use a "relay system" to get products and repaired devices from a stockroom to customers without too much employee movement. The backrooms at Apple locations will also see most of their communal areas rearranged to encourage social distancing.

Stores that reopen will operate with reduced hours at first, though it isn't clear what the new schedule will be.

Apple Stores have been shuttered across the globe — except for those in China — since March 14. In an internal memo from March, Apple's chief of retail and people Deirdre O'Brien said that the company would evaluate whether to reopen offices and stores on a city-by-city basis, evaluating local guidelines before proceeding.
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[sultrysandy]

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How to choose between the new 13-inch MacBook Pro versus the 16-inch MacBook Pro

Don't pull the trigger on buying a fully-loaded 13-inch MacBook Pro just yet. At the higher end, there are cases where a 16-inch MacBook Pro will be a much better value.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro sits exactly in the middle of Apple's laptop lineup, yet for at least the next short while, it somehow manages to muddy your choices too. Or rather, it does for a significant group of people and their needs.

If your buying decision could solely be on performance or physical differences like size and weight, then your choice could be easy. If either a 16-inch MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air is the right machine for you, the odds are that you know it.

Equally, then, if you knew you sometimes need more power, but not all the time, then the new 13-inch MacBook Pro ought to be the clear winner.

But you have to consider price, too, and right now, two issues affect whether the 13-inch MacBook Pro is your best choice. The first is that to get anything more than the performance you did from last year's model, you have to buy the higher-end versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

That means the price is going to be higher, and enough so that you're heading toward the retail pricing of a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple sells the 16-inch MacBook Pro starting at $2,399, compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro's entry price of $1,299. That's over a thousand dollars difference so clearly these machines are priced to attract different audiences.

It used to be that you could assume the base model of any Apple device was actually inadequate, that you would have to go for some kind of update at least. We're so used to this that it makes the 16-inch model feel even more expensive.

This time, however, it isn't entirely true. While you can make a case for spending more, the performance and features you get for the entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro are good.

To be fair, now that its minimum SSD size has been doubled, the lowest-price new 13-inch MacBook Pro is perfectly adequate right out of the box.

That new 13-inch machine, though, is pretty much last year's model with better storage and the improved keyboard. If that's not enough for your needs, or if you want even a little more power, you are looking at the higher-priced versions.

You're really looking at the 13-inch MacBook Pro models that come with newer processors and faster RAM. You're having to consider the 13-inch MacBook Pro versions that start at either $1,799 or $1,999.

The difference between $1,999 and $2,399 is still significant, even if it's less than half the thousand dollar gap it first appeared to be.

And right now, that gap is regularly much smaller. That 16-inch MacBook Pro has been out just long enough that you can regularly get it for $250 less than Apple sells it. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is also marked down, but with discounts of up to $120 off.

We're not saying everyone should leap to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but when the realistic, real-world price difference is only about $100, you've got to consider it.


What you want for your money

This doesn't just apply at the top of the 13-inch MacBook Pro line and the very bottom of the 16-inch model. It applies when you need more power.

If you are looking at the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, then it will be because of the newer, faster processors. It will be because of the faster RAM. So it will really be about performance.

At pretty much all levels of price/performance, a discounted 16-inch MacBook Pro is going to come in closer to the price of a high-end 13-inch model. But the closeness is starker the higher your budget is.

The most RAM a 13-inch MacBook Pro can have is 32GB, and the largest storage is 4TB. Processors are always more difficult to compare directly, but the fastest that this model can be bought with is a 2.3GHz quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i7. If you select the top version of each of these, your 13-inch MacBook Pro will retail you $3,599.

While deals will always change, AppleInsider does track them — try out our own constantly updated price guide yourself — and we've pretty consistently seen $200 discounts.

Given that, a 16-inch MacBook Pro with 32GB RAM, 4TB storage, and 2.6GHz 8-core 9th generation Intel Core i9 processor, can be bought for $3,712. The closest equivalent Apple currently has — the same specifications bar a 2.4GHz processor — will cost you $4,399 direct from the Apple Store.

The difference between $3,599 and $4,399 is again enough to make you dismiss moving up to a 16-inch MacBook. But the difference between Apple's $3,599 for a 13-inch model and the $3,712 we've seen the 16-inch for is again barely more than a hundred bucks in the difference.

We're not saying that's a casual difference and certainly even if you're in the market for a $3,599 machine you might not be for a $3,712 one.


Your mileage makes a difference

Remember that our examples are just that, examples. Discounts vary, both up and down day to day and sometimes hour to hour. Your ideal configuration may well be less high powered than we've chosen here.

It remains, though, that for less of a price difference than you might imagine, or that Apple might want you to think about, you can get a lot more. Not quite everything is canted in favor of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, though.

If price and performance could somehow be taken out of the decision, for instance, the 16-inch MacBook Pro would offer a much better screen than the 13-inch model. However, it would be at the cost of a much bigger chassis.

The difference between a 13-inch and 16-inch model is enough that the bigger one, as light as it is, is much closer to what used to be called luggable. It's quite likely that many of them will be bought to sit on a desk and never travel — in which case a desktop Mac becomes better value and an entirely different discussion.


What you get for your money

If the physical size of the 16-inch MacBook Pro is not an issue, then the screen will be, just in a very positive way. That extra screen area means on the smaller machine you get 2,560 by 1,600 at 227 ppi. On the larger, you get 3,027 by 1,920 at 226 ppi.

The two screens are equally bright at 500 nits, but they are not equal in how they are driven. The 16-inch MacBook Pro includes a separate, discrete GPU, where the 13-inch model does not.

Add in that the processor is faster on the 16-inch model, and the result is going to be an appreciable speed difference when you're doing intensive tasks such as rendering video.

Photography work is also clearly better on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, given the screen size and the separate graphics processor. But audio is better on the bigger machine too.


How to make your choice

It sounds as though we're building up to recommending the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and we are not. In every way, it is the better machine — but that does not mea, it's the better choice.

That issue of the sheer size of the two machines is a, forgive the pun, big one. A 13-inch MacBook Pro is simply far more conveniently and easily portable than the 16-inch model. If you have the better machine, but you never take it with you, you don't really have it.

Then, too, while this price gap is less because of the discounts, it's still a gap and the 13-inch model is still cheaper. Sometimes that difference is not by much at all, but it is always by some.

Perhaps what we're really building to, is that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is not the dead-center of the lineup at all. It's actually two different machines, with a high-end one that abuts the 16-inch model.

And a low-end one that abuts the MacBook Air.

Consequently, if you're in the market for a MacBook Air, there are advantages to you spending a little extra and getting a lot more with the low-end 13-inch MacBook Pro. Yet if you're in the market for a higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, there are many advantages to spending a little extra and buying the 16-inch model.


This will change

If there weren't consistent discounts on the 16-inch MacBook Pro then this wouldn't be an issue. A $300 price difference is bigger than a $100 one. Then the 13-inch MacBook Pro is going to get regular discounts soon enough, so the price difference will widen again that way.

And of course, both machines are going to get updated some time. The 16-inch model is slightly older so it's surely going to see a refresh soon. But then there is the issue that so many signs said the 13-inch MacBook Pro would be updated to a 14.1-inch one.

If that is still going to happen, we can't know when. All you can go by is what is available now and what those products cost right now.

So for right now, if you need a higher-end MacBook Pro, don't rule out that 16-inch model as being too expensive.

 

[sultrysandy]

.
Software 'bug broker' Zerodium to stop buying iOS exploits due to oversupply

A private company that buys software security bugs and exploits from hackers has said that it will stop rewarding developers of several types of iOS exploits because it simply has too many of them.

Zerodium is a well-known cybersecurity firm that pays to acquire exploits from third-party security researchers. In many cases, Zerodium's payouts are much, much higher than Apple's official bug bounty program.

We will NOT be acquiring any new Apple iOS LPE, Safari RCE, or sandbox escapes for the next 2 to 3 months due to a high number of submissions related to these vectors.
Prices for iOS one-click chains (e.g. via Safari) without persistence will likely drop in the near future.
— Zerodium (@Zerodium) May 13, 2020

The company on Wednesday that it'll pressing pause on acquiring any more local privilege escalation, remote code execution or sandbox escape exploits "for the next two to three months due to a high number of submissions." Additionally, the company said that prices for certain types of iOS Safari one-click vulnerabilities will probably drop in the near future.

In a subsequent tweet, Zerodium founder Chaouki Bekrar said that iOS security is "f— cked," adding that the lack of persistence and a security mechanism called pointer authentication codes are the only two things keeping iOS's security from "going to zero."

iOS Security is fucked. Only PAC and non-persistence are holding it from going to zero...but we're seeing many exploits bypassing PAC, and there are a few persistence exploits (0days) working with all iPhones/iPads. Let's hope iOS 14 will be better.https://t . c o/39Kd3OQwy1
— Chaouki Bekrar (@cBekrar) May 13, 2020

(sandy note - remove space from "t . c o" if you want to view that post)



Part of that is likely because of global lockdowns and the fact that security researchers have more time on their hands. Another factor could be that iOS 13 was unusually buggy — a fact that led Apple software chief Craig Federighi to overhaul the development process for the next version of iOS.

"Let's hope iOS 14 is better," Bekrar said.

This isn't the first time that Zerodium has seen a glut of iOS exploit submissions. In September 2019, the company said that, for the first time, it would pay more for Android exploits than iOS ones due to an oversupply.
.

 

[sultrysandy]

Apple details retail changes in global store reopening plans

.
Apple has published details of how it intends to open up its stores to the public in a letter from retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, one that explains the iPhone maker's approach to reopening its stores and some of the extra measures its retail outlets will take in a few locations.

In a letter published on Sunday, O'Brien recounts Apple's response to COVID-19 so far, including its sourcing of more than 30 million masks and creation of over 10 million face shields, the design of software to help check for symptoms, and partnerships with US producers to deploy more than a million testing kits per week.

Part of its response was to close nearly all of its retail outlets globally. So far, Apple has been able to open up nearly 100 stores, with more planned for the future.

The letter attempts to share about how Apple is "carrying forward our commitment to care," including how it is affecting its decision-making, steps to keep stores safe, and how stores will look differently to its customers.

For store opening, Apple is "confident we can safely return to serving customers from our stores," with decisions on reopenings made using a variety of data, including local cases, near and long-term trends, and official guidance. "These are not decisions we rush into - and a store opening in no way means that we won't take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant," writes O'Brien.

Customers can check if their local store is reopening via the Find a Store search tool, and when they turn up at the outlet, O'Brien warns "you'll find yourself with plenty of space." Stores will have limited occupancy, with a renewed focus on "one-to-one, personalized service at the Genius Bar and throughout the store."

Face coverings will be required for both staff members and customers, with Apple providing masks if customers don't bring their own. Temperature checks and health questions will be made at the door, including screening for people who may have symptoms like a cough or fever, or who may have been exposed to someone infected with the virus.

"Throughout the day, we're conducting enhanced deep cleanings that place special emphasis on all surfaces, display products, and highly trafficked areas," the retail chief adds.

For many stores, there will be the opportunity to take advantage of curbside pick-up and drop-off, including shipping products to a store for collection if a home delivery is inconvenient. "And you can continue to find the same excellent standard of customer service and support online and over the phone to help you with any questions you might have."

The letter signs off by looking to the future, with O'Brien reminding the reader "The response to COVID-19 is still ongoing, and we recognize that the road back will have its twists and turns. But whatever challenges lie ahead, COVID-19 has only reinforced our faith in people - in our teams, in our customers, in our communities."

The letter then offers thanks for support in the coronavirus response, "whether that's volunteering, donating, sharing gratitude for our medical workers, or maintaining social distance to protect the health of our communities."
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[sultrysandy]

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New Grayshift spyware lets police surreptitiously snatch iPhone passcodes

Mobile forensics firm Grayshift is marketing a software tool that can reveal a user's iPhone passcode without cracking the device, according to a new report.

Grayshift is known for its flagship GrayKey product, a digital forensics tool that can bypass the encryption on an iPhone. Though it's been tested against even the latest iPhone models, the process it uses can take days, if not weeks to complete.

Now, NBC News reports that Grayshift has developed a tracking software called Hide UI that can reveal an iPhone user's passcode to law enforcement much more quickly.

The Hide UI tool is a piece of spyware that can be installed on an iPhone via GrayKey. Once it's on a user's device, it "hides" itself, but continues to track user input. If a user types in their passcode while Hide UI is active, the software can log it and use it to bypass encryption later.

That, of course, requires the device to be put back in the hands of a user or suspect. Law enforcement officials told NBC that using Hide UI typically entails a bit of social engineering.

Some examples include telling a suspect they can call their lawyer or delete phone contacts. Once they tap their passcode in, Hide UI saves it in a text file the next time the iPhone is plugged into a GrayKey.

According to NBC, Hide UI has been a feature of GrayKey for about a year, but required non-disclosure agreements signed by law enforcement officials have kept its existence concealed until now.

The secrecy surrounding the tool has raised concerns among civil liberties activists and lawyers, specifically the potential for it to be used without a warrant.

Law enforcement officials who spoke with NBC maintained that they've never used Hide UI without a warrant. At least one source also added that the software was "buggy," and it was usually easier to just compel suspects to hand over their passcodes.

Grayshift doesn't publicly list Hide UI as a feature, but does refer to some "advanced features" in its GrayKey marketing materials. NBC reports that Hide UI and other intelligence-gathering tools aren't explained to police departments until they sign NDAs.

In at least one NDA, Grayshift even required law enforcement to notify them if technical details were likely to be revealed through judicial processes. The advanced notice would give Grayshift an opportunity to "obtain a protective order or otherwise oppose the disclosure."

Lance Northcutt, a Chicago-based attorney, called that "pretty shocking," and told NBC that it suggests the interests of Grayshift could be interfering with due process.

News of the Hide UI feature comes just hours after the FBI revealed that it was able to unlock two iPhones belonging to the gunman in the Pensacola mass shooting, even after Justice Department officials called on Apple to help with the process. Before that, U.S. law enforcement entities have long been able to crack iPhones without Apple's help.

Attorney General William Barr maintains that Apple's strong encryption is problematic, and that a "legislative solution" is required for police agencies to be able to do their job. Apple, for its part, has been steadfast in refusing to build a backdoor for law enforcement into its products.
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[sultrysandy]

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Apple rejects 'false claims' by Justice Department regarding Pensacola investigation

Apple on Monday responded to accusations by the U.S. Justice Department that it didn't do enough to unlock the Pensacola shooter's iPhones, decrying "false claims" made by the Department of Justice.

During a Department of Justice press conference on Monday, Attorney General William Barr said that the FBI was able to unlock two phones connected to the shooting with "no thanks to Apple." Barr continued the volley, reiterating the Justice Department's stance that national security "cannot remain in the hands of big corporations who put dollars over lawful access and public safety."

Apple did give assistance to the investigation, and provided data stored in iCloud. But, the Cupertino tech giant refused to crack the encryption of its systems — a position it has adhered to for many years.

Hours after the Justice Department press conference, Apple provided additional clarity and details about its stance in a statement.

The terrorist attack on members of the US armed services at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida was a devastating and heinous act. Apple responded to the FBI's first requests for information just hours after the attack on December 6, 2019 and continued to support law enforcement during their investigation. We provided every piece of information available to us, including iCloud backups, account information and transactional data for multiple accounts, and we lent continuous and ongoing technical and investigative support to FBI offices in Jacksonville, Pensacola and New York over the months since.

On this and many thousands of other cases, we continue to work around-the-clock with the FBI and other investigators who keep Americans safe and bring criminals to justice. As a proud American company, we consider supporting law enforcement's important work our responsibility. The false claims made about our company are an excuse to weaken encryption and other security measures that protect millions of users and our national security.

It is because we take our responsibility to national security so seriously that we do not believe in the creation of a backdoor — one which will make every device vulnerable to bad actors who threaten our national security and the data security of our customers. There is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys, and the American people do not have to choose between weakening encryption and effective investigations.

Customers count on Apple to keep their information secure and one of the ways in which we do so is by using strong encryption across our devices and servers. We sell the same iPhone everywhere, we don't store customers' passcodes and we don't have the capacity to unlock passcode-protected devices. In data centers, we deploy strong hardware and software security protections to keep information safe and to ensure there are no backdoors into our systems. All of these practices apply equally to our operations in every country in the world.

Apple has remained steadfast on protecting its encryption protocols for years. In 2016, the company famously refused to comply with a court order to help the FBI build a backdoor into its devices.

The FBI was eventually able to crack the device encryption it needed to then. And Monday's announcement reveals that the Bureau was able to do so again without Apple's help.

In fact, a source at the FBI reportedly told cybersecurity reporter Thomas Brewster that the agency chose the "wrong battle with Pensacola," since they've long been able to break into iPhone 5 and iPhone 7 devices.

There are several third-party security companies that build tools that can break into locked iPhones, iuncluding Cellebrite and GrayKey. Those devices typically take advantage of system vulnerabilities using exploits unknown to Apple.

Earlier in May, bug broker Zerodium said that it had a glut of iOS exploits available and was pausing submissions of new ones.

Despite the fact that federal agencies can already break into iPhones, Barr and the Justice Department are continuing to push for an entryway into Apple's smartphones. On Monday, the Attorney General called for a "legislative solution."
.

 

[LincolnDuncan]

Never mind. I figured it out all by myself

 

[sultrysandy]

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Apple releases iOS 12.4.7, iOS 13.5, iPadOS 13.5, tvOS 13.4.5 updates

Apple has released updates for its operating systems bringing them to iOS 13.5, iPadOS 13.5, tvOS 13.4.5, and iOS 12.4.7 — updates that chiefly include changes relating to COVID-19 Exposure Notification.

Released on Monday, the updates for iPadOS and iOS can be installed by entering the Settings app, selecting General, Software Update, then selecting to install the update, while users with automatic updates will encounter a streamlined process. The Apple TV can be updated by going to the Settings App and selecting Software Updates, then Update Software.

Apple released watchOS 6.2.5 earlier than the other operating systems, on May 18.

The new versions arrive after four rounds of beta testing for iOS 13.5, iPadOS 13.5, macOS 10.15.5, and tvOS 13.4.5, while watchOS 6.2.5 went through five builds before the final release. The original betas for iOS and iPadOS were actually numbered version 13.4.5, but were renamed to 13.5 by the third round.

For iOS and iPadOS, the update to 13.5 largely centers around COVID-19. One feature change in the betas involved software hooks required for the Exposure Notification API, which would allow contact tracing apps to provide notifications to users.

Another change related to Face ID, and how it handled the addition of face masks to facial recognition attempts. When a face mask covering the bottom half of the face is detected, Face ID will automaticaly skip the retrying and timeout process in favor of prompting for a passcode, saving users time from not needing to wait for the code entry screen.

The update also includes an update to the HomePod. Version 13.4.5 of the HomePod OS includes improvements to stability and performance, according to Apple.
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[sultrysandy]

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Apple releases fifth beta of macOS Catalina 10.15.5

Following the release of iOS 13.5, iPadOS 13.5, and others to the public, Apple has issued a fifth beta of its macOS Catalina 10.15.5.

The newest build can be downloaded via an over-the-air update on devices running the beta software. The release notes still make no mention of the battery management feature added to macOS. The feature remains rudimentary, and doesn't provide the user with as much information as a third-party utility can, but it is a move in the right direction.

Apple does note that large data transfers to RAID volumes no longer cause the Finder to lock up.

Given the proximity to WWDC 2020, it is likely that there won't be any major introductions outside of coronavirus-related functionality in these releases, effectively making them maintenance releases.
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[sultrysandy]

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Contact tracing app vetted by Apple found to share data with Foursquare and Google

North Dakota's Care19 app, one of the first digital coronavirus contact tracing solutions to hit market in the U.S., contradicts its own privacy policy to share user information with third party companies like Foursquare and Google, according to a study released on Thursday.

A review of Care19 by privacy software specialist Jumbo Privacy found the app [URL="https://www.fastcompany.com/90508044/north-dakotas-covid-19-app-has-been-sending-data-to-foursquare-and-google"]sends location data[/URL] and other personal information to outside parties, reports Fast Company.

Developed by ProudCrowd, which markets a location-based social networking app for North Dakota State University sports fans, Care19 promises participant anonymity by assigning and tracking random user IDs. The system logs locations where a user spent 10 minutes or more, information that can be correlated with contact tracing data provided on a voluntary basis to the North Dakota Department of Health.

The app's privacy policy notes "location data is private to you and is stored securely on ProudCrowd, LLC servers," and will not be shared with third-parties "unless you consent or ProudCrowd is compelled under federal regulations," the report said.

However, Jumbo found user ID numbers, phone IDs and what appears to be location data transmitted to Foursquare. Phone advertising identifiers are sent to servers associated with Google's Firebase service, while the assigned random ID and phone name — which by default typically includes a user's first name — is sent to software diagnostics firm Bugfender.

"The Care19 application user interface clearly calls out the usage of Foursquare on our Nearby Places' screen, per the terms of our Foursquare agreement," ProudCrowd said in a statement. "However, our privacy policy does not currently explicitly mention this usage. We will be working with our state partners to be more explicit in our privacy policy. It is important to note that our agreement with Foursquare does not allow them to collect Care19 data or use it in any form, beyond simply determining nearby businesses and returning that to us."

In an email to Fast Company, ProudCrowd founder Tim Brookins said Care19's Foursquare integration was a mistake that will soon be rectified. Brookins characterized the error as "fairly benign, as Foursquare doesn't actually collect our sent data."

While Care19 does not rely on the recently released Apple-Google Exposure Notification API, Apple was involved in the vetting of the app, reports The Washington Post. Apple is currently investigating Jumbo's claims and will work with ProudCrowd to bring the app in compliance with its rules.

Ironically, a North Dakota public health authority official was among a handful of experts who last week criticized Apple and Google's cross-platform Exposure Notification system as being too restrictive for general adoption. In an article published by The Post, critics of the Apple-Google solution, including developers of contact tracing apps, said the Exposure Notification API incorporates data sharing restrictions that are detrimental to contact tracing operations.

"Every minute that ticks by, maybe someone else is getting infected, so we want to be able to use everything we can," said Vern Dosch, contact tracing liaison for North Dakota. "I get it. They have a brand to protect. I just wish they would have led with their jaw."

Apple and Google's systems deny access to geolocation data, anonymize user equipment and restrict apps from storing data on a centralized server, among other safeguards. If a PHA's app does not meet Apple-Google standards, it is not granted access to the API and is thus prohibited from processing tasks in the background.

North Dakota initially built its app with hopes of integrating Exposure Notification technology, but the privacy restrictions prompted the team to start over and create two separate apps: one for contact tracing teams and another that integrates the Exposure Notification API.

It is unclear if North Dakota will roll out a new version of the Care19 app with the Exposure Notification API baked in, but the state is one of three to announce support of the Apple-Google initiative. On Thursday, Alabama and South Carolina also signed on as early adopters of the technology, reports AL.com.

"(We've) joined hands with these two global giants in hopes of helping our people learn when and where they may have gotten exposed to this virus," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said. "Hopefully, this will become an important tool in the tool kit to slow the spread of coronavirus by using what almost every Alabamians has in their pocket ... a cell phone."

After a brief beta testing period, Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API went live on Wednesday with the release of iOS 13.5. Contact tracing apps that take advantage of the framework should see release in the coming days or weeks.
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[sultrysandy]

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Judge rules that viewing an iPhone lock screen qualifies as a search

A Seattle-based District Judge has ruled that law enforcement agencies may not look at a phone's lock screen without a warrant as it violates Fourth Amendment rights.

Law enforcement agencies must get a warrant before they attempt to unlock your phone, obtain data from the manufacturer, or come in possession of any information from the carrier. Now, for the same reasons, they may need to get one before they even look at a suspect's lock screen.

Joseph Sam was arrested in May 2019 and indicted on charges related to robbery and assault. He claims that during the arrest, one of the officers hit the power button to bring up the phone's lock screen — though it's unclear whether or not the officer attempted to unlock it.

A year later, the FBI had obtained the phone as a piece of evidence against Sam. They turned on the phone and took a photograph of the lock screen, which displayed "Streezy" on it. Sam's lawyers then filed a motion to argue that the evidence should not be admissible, as it was obtained without a warrant.

The judge overseeing the case, District Judge John Coughenour, agreed. In his ruling, he determined that the police looking at the phone during the arrest and the FBI later looking at the phone were two separate incidents. While the police looking at his phone may have been okay, the FBI taking a photograph of it was not.

The reason is that police are given more liberties during a lawful arrest — turning on the phone may be allowed as part of an effort to inventory the suspect's personal effects. Because there was no way to see how the police handled the phone, there is not enough evidence to rule their actions unlawful.

However, when the FBI took possession of the phone, their intentions were clear. When the police took a picture of the lock screen, it qualified as unlawful search, violating Sam's Fourth Amendment rights.

The government's attorneys argued that lock screens are not private. The counter-argument was that a lock screen is specifically designed to be viewed by everyone who isn't the owner when they try to access the phone, and there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

Judge Coughenour did not agree.

"When the Government gains evidence by physically intruding on a constitutionally protected area— as the FBI did here— it is 'unnecessary to consider' whether the government also violated the defendant's reasonable expectation of privacy," he wrote.

A suspect cannot be compelled to give the passcode to unlock their phone, as it is considered testimonial and is subsequently protected under the Fifth Amendment. Whether or not a suspect can be compelled to use a biometric feature — such as TouchID or FaceID — is another matter.

In 2016, a woman was compelled to use her fingerprint to unlock an iPhone confiscated from a property owned by an Armenian Power gang member, one who at the time was in prison for unrelated charges.

In 2019, a Federal Judge ruled that police cannot force a person to unlock their phone with a biometric feature, as it would violate both Fourth and Fifth amendments.





Would've enjoyed being a fly on the wall when US AG William Barr learned of this ruling.
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[sultrysandy]

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Apple, other tech companies condemn warrantless browser searches

A coalition of tech companies, including a group that represents Apple, is calling on Congress to protect user browser history from warrantless searches.

In May, an amendment to the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act that would require the Justice Department to obtain a warrant before searching someone's browsing and search histories failed in the U.S. Senate by one vote. Now, as the U.S. House of Representatives considers the act, tech companies are asking House leaders to add those protections to the bill.

On Friday, Mozilla, Reddit and Twitter penned a letter to House leaders urging them to explicitly prohibit warrantless collection of internet search and browsing data.

In addition to the entities named above, advocacy group Reform Government Surveillance signed on to the letter. The group represents major tech companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Facebook.

A group of more than 50 civil liberties organizations also signed a letter on May 18 to House leaders to adopt warrantless search protections.

The USA Freedom Reauthorization Act would reauthorize key surveillance laws in the U.S., including some that date back to the USA Patriot Act in 2001.
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[sultrysandy]

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Apple's stock has fully recovered after the coronavirus earnings warning



At Tuesday's NASDAQ opening, Apple's stock price has recovered all of the losses it suffered since the company announced it would miss its guidance over coronavirus issues in February.

Apple issued a statement on on February 17 warning that it anticipated missing its guidance for the next quarter, citing the ongoing outbreak the COVID-19 coronavirus. Shortly after the announcement was made, the share price tumbled a short distance, from $324 at the end of the trading day to just above $315 near the start of trading the following day.

A deeper impact was felt for the next month, dropping the stock to a low of $229.24. The stock resumed a generally upward trajectory in late March. Though it was slow to return to the trillion-dollar level, it managed to do so in April.

The rebound of the share price is one indicator in the market's faith in Apple's revenue, despite the ongoing epidemic. Shortly after the guidance changes, analysts offered their takes on the earnings miss announcement, with the general theme being the suggestion it was a short-term problem with no long-term concerns for the company.

The immediate drop of 2.5% of the share value was considerably less than felt after a similar announcement of missed earnings in early 2019. In that notice, which related to lower than anticipated revenue, the drop was a far larger 8.6% at the start of trading, and even went down further after markets opened for the day. However, the magnitude of that drop as compared to the coronavirus hit when all was said and done was much less.

In the time since the guidance correction, Apple has opened up multiple retail stores in China, and across the world that it had closed in February as a preventative measure. Stores are serving customers with limited business hours, temperature checks performed on visitors, and maximum occupancy limits.

Retail is only part of the equation, as the coronavirus caused temporary issues for Apple's manufacturing, due to the vast majority of its supply chain existing in China and surrounding areas.

Reports from February suggested suppliers in the iPhone chain were operating at between 30% and 50% of capacity, in part due to temporary factory closures and the quarantining of staff, though there were assurances from major assembly partner Foxconn that the virus wouldn't majorly impact current production plans.

A few months later, Apple is slowly opening its retail outlets to customers in other countries, while CEO Tim Cook told analysts during the Q2 financial results production resumed back at typical levels by the end of March. Cook also expressed confidence in the iPhone maker's ability to bounce back from the pandemic, due to its continuing investment in its future.

In the Q2 2020 results, Apple revealed overall revenue was up 1% year-on-year at $58.3 billion, though this is below its original forecast range of $63 billion to $67 billion. While iPhone, iPad, and Mac revenue were all down from one year ago, the "Wearables, Home, and Accessories" category rose by $1.2 billion to $6.3 billion, and Services continued its highly-reliable growth trend to $13.4 billion.






These were captured approciamtel12:00 PM EDT today.

The top graph is Apple Inc. and for comparison/reference the bottom is the S^P 500

 

[sultrysandy]

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Apple releases macOS Catalina 10.15.5 with new battery health management feature

Apple finished its round of platform updates this week with macOS Catalina 10.15.5, which brings new battery health management features and bug fixes to the operating system.

After four beta periods, Apple released the macOS update with battery health management. The feature is meant to extend battery hardware lifetime by managing how it is charged.

The new battery management system is a rudimentary version of what is found on iOS. The Energy Saver control panel gains a new, simple dialog box that allows users to toggle the feature on and off. When turned on, the MacBook will detect if and when it spends most of its time on a charger, then charge only as necessary.

By controlling how fast the MacBook charges, and to what percent it reaches when plugged in, the software can elongate the chemical life of the battery. Otherwise the MacBook would charge to 100% as fast as possible every time it was plugged in, causing wear on the battery.

Other tweaks include FaceTime prominence preference, which can be toggled to suppress enlargement of video tiles when a participant speaks, calibration fine-tuning for Pro Display XDR and a host of bug fixes.



Bug fixes and performance improvements include:

• Fixes an issue that may prevent Reminders from sending notifications for recurring reminders
  
  
• Addresses an issue that may prevent password entry on the login screen
  
  
• Fixes an issue where System Preferences would continue to show a notification badge even after installing an update
  
  
• Resolves an issue where the built-in camera may not be detected when trying to use it after using a video conferencing app
  
  
• Addresses an issue for Mac computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip where internal speakers may not appear as a sound output device in Sound preferences
  
  
• Fixes a stability issue with uploading and downloading media files from iCloud Photo Library while your Mac is asleep
  
  
• Resolves a stability issue when transferring large amounts of data to RAID volumes
  
  
• Fixes an issue where the Reduce Motion Accessibility preference did not reduce the speed of animations in a FaceTime group call

Apple's other software platforms iOS and iPadOS were also updated this week to add exposure notification features.
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[LWulf]

Youtube has a video where payette forward suggest what to turn off to restrict how much apple can access your phone

 

[sultrysandy]

Youtube has a video where payette forward suggest what to turn off to restrict how much apple can access your phone

At 6:33, not only what Apple can access, but what you're iPhone is sharing with app developers..

And something else they say a few times, helps increase time between recharging the battery.
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