Google has postponed the introduction of a 60-minute call limit on free Google Meet users for a few more months, the company today announced in a tweet.
The limit was originally intended to come into effect at the end of March, but it will now begin on June 30.
The extension means that non-paying users of the teleconferencing service will continue to be able to host calls up to 24 hours in length (Google's definition of "unlimited") beyond the end of the month.
It's the second time Google has postponed the introduction of call limits since Meet was made available for free to all users with a Google account in April 2020.
A 60-minute limit was originally scheduled to come into effect at the end of September, but the deadline was moved to March 2021 in response to the continued impact of the global health crisis on work and relationship patterns. The Meet service was initially exclusive to paying G-Suite members.
Google Meet offers many of the features that have made Zoom so popular over the last year, including video conferencing for up to 100 participants, the option to schedule meetings, and screen-sharing capabilities.
Anyone interested in using Google Meet can download the Meet iOS app from the App Store or head to meet.google.com to use the web browser version.
In partnership with South Carolina's governor and the local community, Apple will be taking part in a $6 million investment to build eight open access Mac computer labs across the state.
Governor Henry McMaster announced the education initiative at a press conference on Tuesday, saying that the expanded access to broadband and computers will "bolster South Carolina's premier workforce training efforts by giving our communities and people access to resources they need to expand participation in our state's growing economy."
Building on previously announced projects, Apple will work with HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), the South Carolina Technical College System, and the local community directly to strategically build the new labs in places accessible to as many people as possible.
Susan Prescott, Apple's VP of worldwide developer relations and enterprise, says that Apple is a firm believer in education and that equal access to technology is a great equalizer for communities.
"At Apple, we believe education is the great equalizer, and that access to technology is key to learning and workforce opportunities today. We are proud that Apple products and curriculum have been selected by the University of South Carolina and Benedict College for their new education labs. Together, we aim to ensure all South Carolinians have the opportunity to learn, code, create, and grow in new ways."
Specifics on what Macs will be included in the labs are unknown; however, it will be open for use by staff, students, and community members regularly at no cost.
As expected, Microsoft today discontinued its Cortana mobile app. As a result, the company has ended all support for third-party Cortana skills and eliminated the Cortana app for iOS and Android devices.
For those unfamiliar with Cortana, it is Microsoft's version of Siri or Alexa, an AI-based personal assistant that can answer questions and complete small tasks. The eponymous mobile app was originally launched in November 2018, but apparently never gained a user base big enough in its short lifetime for Microsoft to consider it worth maintaining.
As explained in a Microsoft support page, from today, March 31, the mobile app is no longer supported, and reminders and lists are no longer available within the app either, although they can still be accessed through Cortana in Windows. Also, Cortana reminders, lists, and tasks are automatically synced to the Microsoft To Do app, which is available as a free download on iOS and Android.
The planned shutdown of the apps was announced in July 2020, when Microsoft said it would be shifting toward a "transformational AI-powered assistant experience" in its Microsoft 365 apps, which would involve refocusing its "areas of innovation and development."
The company has since improved Cortana's integration in Microsoft 365, such as introducing personalized, actionable briefs in Outlook for Exchange users, and adding Cortana to the Teams mobile app to do things like manage calendars, email, and join meetings.
In January 2021, Microsoft ended support for the Cortana integration in the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker, and created a Bluetooth-enabled device transition plan for Invoke owners to be able to continue listening to their favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations. In addition, speaker owners who used Cortana are also eligible for a $50 Microsoft gift card, which is redeemable up to July 31, 2021.
According to credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 13 lineup, slated for launch in the second half of the year, will feature the same wide-angle lens as the current iPhone 12 series, offering no tangible improvements to one of the three lenses on the upcoming iPhone.
In an investors note obtained by MacRumors, focused mainly on developments and changes within Apple's supply chain, Kuo says the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro will feature the same 7P wide-angle lens with a ƒ1.6 aperture as their respective iPhone 12 counterparts. The larger iPhone 13 Pro Max will have a ƒ1.5 aperture wide-angle lens, a marginal increase compared to the ƒ1.6 aperture on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Kuo states that Sunny Optical will be the new supplier for the 7P wide-angle lens, adding that mass production of the camera system could begin as soon as May. Looking more long-term, Kuo says that the demand for optical lenses for Apple devices will only significantly increase in the next few years thanks to AR and Apple Car.
We expect Sunny Optical to successfully pass the quality verification of the 7P wide-angle lens order for iPhone 13. Because iPhone 13 mini, 13, and 13 Pro share the same f1.6 7P wide-angle lens (vs. 13 Pro Max's f1.5 7P wide-angle lens), so Sunny Optical's order is the most in-demand. We estimate that Sunny Optical will ship the 7P wide-angle lens of the iPhone 13 to LG Innotek as soon as May.
While the 2021 iPhones, according to Kuo, will not have a significantly different wide-angle lens, it is rumored to pack improvements to the ultra wide lens. According to Barclays analysts, all four iPhone 13 models will include upgraded Ultra Wide lenses with a ƒ/1.8 aperture, vs. the ƒ/2.4 aperture on the iPhone 12.
Aside from the camera lens, well-connected display analyst Ross Young has predicted that the camera sensor size of both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will increase. Although Young doesn't state which of the three cameras will gain a larger sensor, a larger sensor would, in turn, have larger pixels. In other words, the sensor could collect more light, resulting in materially better image quality.
Earlier this month, Kuo reported that Apple plans to include a smaller notch and larger batteries for the entire iPhone 13 lineup. Exclusive to the higher-end Pro and Pro Max models will be a ProMotion 120Hz display, according to the analyst.
Previously, Kuo has also said the iPhone 12 Pro Max's sensor-shift image stabilization will expand to the entire iPhone 13 lineup.
Google and Apple both collect data from their users on their respective mobile operating systems, even when users are simply browsing the settings page or inserting a SIM card. Android, however, collects 20x more data from users compared to iOS, according to newly published research. A study from Douglas Leith at Trinity College, reported by Ars Technica, says that while both OSes collect data from their users regularly, Android fair exceeded the amount collected compared to Apple's iOS.
Specifically, Leith says that, for example, on device startup, Android sends around 1MB of user data back to Google, while iOS only transmits about 42KB. Sitting idle, Android sends around 1MB of user data to Google every 12 hours, compared to Apple only receiving around 52KB over the same 12 hour period.
Where Android stands out, Leith said, is in the amount of data it collects. At startup, an Android device sends Google about 1MB of data, compared with iOS sending Apple around 42KB. When idle, Android sends roughly 1MB of data to Google every 12 hours, compared with iOS sending Apple about 52KB over the same period. In the US alone, Android collectively gathers about 1.3TB of data every 12 hours. During the same period, iOS collects about 5.8GB.
While the research clearly shows that Android collects more data from users, there are significant caveats. Leith says he used a jailbroken iPhone 8 running iOS 13.6.1 for the study, meaning the data is based on an iOS version that most iPhone and iPad users are no longer currently running. On Android, Leith used a Google Pixel 2, running Android 10, released last year.
In a statement, Google calls the researched flawed, stating that the notion that Android collects more user data compared to iOS is "off by an order of magnitude."
We identified flaws in the researcher's methodology for measuring data volume and disagree with the paper's claims that an Android device shares 20 times more data than an iPhone. According to our research, these findings are off by an order of magnitude, and we shared our methodology concerns with the researcher before publication.
This research largely outlines how smartphones work. Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service schedules to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways. This report details those communications, which help ensure that iOS or Android software is up to date, services are working as intended, and that the phone is secure and running efficiently
Apple told Ars Technica that it "provides transparency and control for personal information it collects" and that the research "gets things wrong." The research is available as a PDF for those interested in learning more.
Snap is designing a new set of "Spectacles" smart glasses that have augmented reality capabilities, reports The Information. Snap has sold several versions of its Spectacles, but current options do not have AR features and are instead equipped with a camera for uploading content to social network Snapchat.
The augmented reality Spectacles will be aimed at developers and creators rather than the consumer market. Developers and creators design the AR effects on the Snapchat app, and The Information suggests that Snap is hoping developers will use the Spectacles to build out new software experiences for the glasses, with the aim of later providing the AR glasses to all users.
The glasses, which are the first to include displays, will be able to superimpose existing Snapchat lenses on the real world, allowing people to see Snapchat filters on actual objects and people. There will be two cameras capable of recording videos, similar to the current version, with that video then able to be shared on Snapchat.
Snap is planning to unveil the Spectacles at its annual developer conference that will be held in May, and the AR glasses come amid rumors that Apple is working on its own version of smart glasses with AR capabilities.
Apple has an AR/VR headset in the works that could come out as early as 2022, but the smart glasses that focus on augmented reality are not expected until at least 2023.
Uber appears to be working on an augmented reality walking directions feature designed to help Uber users find the appropriate vehicle and driver in a crowded area. Mentions of augmented reality function were discovered in the Uber iOS app code by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.
From Uber's augmented reality assisted pickup patent
"Tap to enter AR walking experience," reads the code, which also includes these snippets that give hints on how the AR directions work:
AR only available on iOS 11 and above.
Walk outside
Tilt camera up
Pan your camera
Ready, set, walk
AR walking only works when you're outdoors
Align arrows
Be Careful and stay alert of your surroundings.
Make sure you're outside and facing the street.
Using some GPS sauce. Hold on.
Uber in 2018 patented an augmented reality assisted pickup feature that matches a rider with an available driver and helps them meet up through an augmented reality control module that directs the passenger through the camera app, and it appears the feature could soon be on its way to being deployed.
There is no word on when Uber's augmented reality assisted walking feature might debut, and the company has made no formal announcement at this time. Other apps like Google Maps also offer augmented reality walking directions that overlay directional arrows on the real-world view seen through the camera.
A scam bitcoin app that was designed to look like a genuine app was accepted by Apple's App Store review team and ended up costing iPhone user Phillipe Christodoulou 17.1 bitcoin, or upwards of $600,000 at the time of the theft, reports The Washington Post.
Christodoulou wanted to check on his bitcoin balance back in February, and searched Apple's App Store for "Trezor," the company that makes the hardware device where he stored his cryptocurrency. He saw an app with the Trezor padlock logo and a green background, so he downloaded it and entered his credentials.
Unfortunately, the app was fake, and was designed to look like a legitimate app to fool bitcoin owners. Christodoulou had his total bitcoin balance stolen from him, and he's angry with Apple. "Apple doesn't deserve to get away with this," he told The Washington Post.
Apple reviews all App Store app submissions to prevent scam apps from being downloaded by iPhone users, but there are plenty of scam and copycat apps like the fake Trezor app that slip by and have major consequences for iPhone users.
Apple says the fake Trezor app got through the App Store through "a bait-and-switch." It was called Trezor and used the Trezor logo and colors, but said that it was a "cryptography" app that would encrypt iPhone files and store passwords. The developer of the fake app told Apple that it was "not involved in any cryptocurrency." After the fake Trezor app was submitted, it changed itself into a cryptocurrency wallet, which Apple was not able to detect.
Meghan DiMuzio, the executive director for the Coalition of App Fairness that counts anti-Apple companies like Epic Games as a member, said that Apple "pushes myths about user privacy and security as a shield against its anti-competitive App Store practices." She said that Apple's security standards are "inconsistently applied across apps" and "only enforced when it benefits Apple."
Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz told The Washington Post that Apple takes swift action when criminals defraud iPhone users.
User trust is at the foundation of why we created the App Store, and we have only deepened that commitment in the years since. Study after study has shown that the App Store is the most secure app marketplace in the world, and we are constantly at work to maintain that standard and to further strengthen the App Store's protections. In the limited instances when criminals defraud our users, we take swift action against these actors as well as to prevent similar violations in the future.
Apple declined to comment on how often scam apps are found, nor how often they're removed from the App Store. The company did, however, say that 6,500 apps were removed last year for "hidden or undocumented features."
Apple acknowledged that it has discovered other cryptocurrency scams on the App Store, but did not provide specific details on numbers nor whether there had been fake Trezor apps in the past. Trezor does not offer an iOS app at all, and Trezor spokesperson said that it had been notifying Apple and Google about fake Trezor apps "for years."
Apple would not provide The Washington Post with the name of the developer of the fake Trezor app, whether that developer had other apps in the App Store under other names, nor would Apple say whether the name was turned over to law enforcement officials. Apple says that it removed the fake Trezor app and banned the developer after the actual Trezor company reported it. Another fake app popped up two days later, and Apple removed that, too.
UK-based cryptocurrency regulation company Coinbase said that it has received over 7,000 inquiries about stolen crypto assets since 2019, and fake apps found in the Google Play and App Store are common complaints. In fact, five people have had cryptocurrency stolen by the fake Trezor app on iOS, with losses totaling $1.6 million.
Data from Sensor Tower suggests that the fake Trezor app was on the App Store from January 22 to February 3, and was downloaded approximately 1,000 times. The 17.1 bitcoin that Christodoulou lost are worth close to $1 million today, and Christodoulou says that he's heard nothing from Apple on the subject.
Another iPhone user who lost $14,000 worth of Ethereum and bitcoin said that an Apple representative told him Apple was not responsible for the loss from the fake Trezor app.
Apple shipped an estimated 108.9 million "smart personal audio" devices, which includes the AirPods and Beats headphones in 2020, according to new data shared today by Canalys.
That's up close to 30 percent from the 84 million device shipments in 2019, with Apple holding 25.2 percent market share. Apple dominated the competition, with Samsung, the next closest audio device manufacturer, shipping 38.3 million headphones, including its Harman subsidiaries. Xiaomi, Sony, and others also trailed Apple.
Apple saw strong growth in the fourth quarter of 2020, shipping an estimated 37.3 million wireless earbuds and headphones for 26.5 percent market share. Q4 2020 shipments were up 26.6 percent from the year-ago quarter, with Apple beating all other competitors by a wide margin.
As for "wearable band shipments," Apple was the dominant seller in the fourth quarter of 2020, shipping an estimated 14.5 million Apple Watches for 25 percent market share, marking annual growth of 49.2 percent.
Xiaomi was Apple's next closest competitor during the quarter with 8.7 million devices shipped, followed by Huawei with 6.7 million and Fitbit with 5.5 million.
Though Apple sold the most wearable bands in the fourth quarter of 2020, it was not the dominant 2020 vendor. That title goes to Xiaomi, with 37.7 million units shipped during the year.
Apple shipped an estimated 35.2 million total Apple Watches in 2020, up from 27.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Chinese brand Xiaomi sells a range of highly affordable smart bands that are much more affordable than the Apple Watch, with some priced as low as $30.
All of Canalys' data is estimated data, as Apple does not provide specific data on AirPods, Beats, and Apple Watch sales, instead offering total revenue across a number of products.
Apple's Wearables, Home, and Accessories category, which encompasses the Apple Watch and AirPods, set a new revenue record in the fourth calendar quarter of 2020, hitting $13 billion.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said that all three subgroups of the Wearables, Home, and Accessories category set new records, with Apple's wearable business reaching the size of a Fortune 120 company.
Apple is researching expanding the 2019 Mac Pro's distinctive "cheese grater" lattice design to other devices, including the iPhone and a "trashcan"-style Mac Pro, according to a newly granted patent filing.
Apple introduced an innovative milled lattice pattern on the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR in 2019, which is created by machining a spherical array into the internal and external surfaces of the aluminum. The result is a lightweight lattice pattern that maximizes airflow while creating an extremely rigid structure.
The new patent, first spotted by Patently Apple and granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is titled "Housing construction" and covers expanding the lattice pattern to other devices, such as the iPhone.
The patent explains that "recent advances in electronic devices have enabled high levels of performance," but many existing housing solutions are unable to "effectively distribute or reject heat generated by the electronic device to the surrounding environment," thereby curtailing "the levels of performance of such devices."
Apple believes that its lattice pattern presents a solution to this problem, since it increases a device's surface area for better cooling and can more effectively "conduct heat away from a component of the electronic device positioned substantially adjacent to the first surface of the body."
These enhanced levels of heat removal, as described above, can result in significant performance gains for the electronic device and can allow for the use of components or operating levels that heretofore may not have been achievable with existing three-dimensional structures.
In improving cooling, devices with the lattice pattern could push their processors to higher temperatures for better performance.
Illustrations included in the filing demonstrate how a miniaturized version of the lattice pattern could be milled directly into the iPhone's outer frame and rear.
As well as significantly improving thermals, this could also improve grip, "provide a unique and pleasing look and feel," and give "a pleasing experience when handling the device."
In some cases, a three-dimensional structure can include a relatively intricate repeating pattern that, in addition to enhancing heat removal capabilities and providing stiffness, provides a visually interesting or aesthetically pleasing effect to the user. Such a three-dimensional structure, for example when used as a housing, can also include a variety of colors on one or more regions of the housing to enhance the visual appearance and provide a pleasing aesthetic experience to the user.
Another advantage of the lattice pattern is improved structural strength without increasing the thickness or weight of components.
When used as a housing or other structural component of an electronic device, a three-dimensional structure as described herein can provide a high level of strength and stiffness to weight ratio to the device. Traditional structures often achieve enhanced stiffness or strength by thickening or enlarging certain portions of the structure, often resulting in an increase in the weight and size of the electronic device, which may not be desirable to a user. The three-dimensional structures described herein can include, for example, a matrix of passageways that serves to greatly enhance the stiffness of the three-dimensional structure, without significantly increasing the size or weight of the structure. Thus, a relatively lightweight, yet extremely strong and stiff electronic device can be produced.
Another embodiment covers embedding the lattice internally inside the iPhone to improve rigidity and strength, allowing "the electronic device to be used over a long period of time while maintaining dimensional stability."
The patent also mentions how the lattice structure "can act as shielding for the electronic device, while still allowing for air flow there through," particularly as a shield against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) noise.
In addition to the iPhone, Apple appears to have resurrected the divisive design of the 2013 Mac Pro, informally dubbed the "trashcan" Mac Pro, to demonstrate alternate embodiments for the lattice pattern.
Given that the lattice pattern debuted on the 2019 tower Mac Pro, it is interesting to see some of the latest Mac Pro's design aspects implemented on an older model.
Although reversion to the trashcan-style design may seem more likely amid the transition to Apple silicon for a next-generation Mac Pro, the machine is in fact expected to look more like the Mac mini.
While patent filings cannot be taken as solid evidence of the Apple's plans for actual consumer hardware, they can provide an interesting insight into the company's areas of research. At a minimum, this patent indicates that Apple may be planning to bring its unique lattice pattern to more devices in the future, but only time will tell.
Belkin this week updated its website with a range of new MagSafe-compatible accessories that are set to launch in the near future, adding to the number of available Belkin-branded magnetic add-ons available for Apple devices.
It's important to note that unlike Belkin's Car Vent Mount Pro and Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 MagSafe charging options, these new accessories are magnetic and work with MagSafe, but they're not officially MagSafe-branded accessories.
Along with these charging accessories, Belkin is introducing a $34.99 Magnetic Fitness Phone Mount that does not offer charging capabilities but allows an iPhone 12 to be mounted to a fitness device like an exercise bike, and the $64.99 Face Tracking Magnetic Phone Mount, a magnetic accessory that Belkin says uses face recognition tracking to rotate and adjust to shoot video content from any angle.
The Face Tracking Magnetic Phone Mount and Belkin-designed app are designed to follow a your movements while recording video to make sure you stay in the frame at all times.
There are no release dates for any of these magnetic accessories and they can't be purchased at this time, but Belkin says they're "coming soon."
Verizon is planning to shut down its 3G network at the end of 2022, effectively ending 3G support, the company announced today. Verizon has pushed back the sunsetting of its 3G network several times now, but it sounds like a concrete end date has finally been established.
We will turn off the last of the 3G CDMA network on December 31, 2022, months after our competitors have shut off their networks completely. The date will not be extended again. We're communicating this again now in order to provide customers plenty of time to complete their migration.
Verizon first announced plans to shut down its 3G network in 2016, and at that time, said that 3G would cease working on December 31, 2019. Verizon ultimately delayed until the end of 2020 to give impacted customers more time to figure out their plans, and then in January 2021, said that the network would not be shut down in the near future.
Though Verizon has kept 3G up and running, it stopped activating 3G phones in July 2018. Verizon says that it has been working with customers who still have 3G devices to transfer them over to 4G and 5G phones, and less than one percent now use the 3G network.
Verizon is encouraging customers with a 3G device to transition to a 4G device now, and as the cutoff date approaches, 3G customers could see a degradation or complete loss of service, with service centers offering "limited troubleshooting help."
Adobe has today announced the launch of a new iPad app bundle, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Fresco, Spark Post, and Creative Cloud at half price.
In a new blog post titled "Everything's coming together for mobile creativity," Adobe set out its vision for the future of creative productivity on the iPad, explaining that "The combination of an iPad and the remarkably precise Apple Pencil makes for a natural, intuitive, and familiar interface, basically mirroring the way most of us began creating, with a pencil or crayon on paper."
In the development of all successful technologies there comes a tipping point — a moment when technology, design, availability, and an understanding of the needs of the market all mature and that technology suddenly seems not only viable, but inevitable. I believe we are at that tipping point now with mobile creative tools.
To kickstart users interested in committing to mobile creativity using Adobe apps singularly on the iPad, the company is offering a new Design Mobile Bundle for iPad.
The bundle includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Fresco, Spark Post, and the Creative Cloud app, along with access to services like Adobe Fonts, Behance, and Portfolio, plus 100 GB of storage, all for $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year. This is 50 percent off the total price of the apps if subscribed to separately. Customers can download the bundle directly from the App Store.
The Apple Maps app was this week updated with new COVID-19 guidelines for airports, providing iPhone, iPad, and Mac users with a quick look at COVID-19 travel requirements and easy access to each airport's full list of guidelines.
Airport data is being provided by the Airports Council International, with the information displayed at the top of each airport card. The Airports Council International collects the COVID-19 information directly from airports.
"The recovery of air travel will rely on passenger confidence in the industry's focus on their health and welfare," said ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira. "Having this information displayed in Apple Maps will help to make this crucial data much more broadly accessible to passengers. This will help passengers to plan their journeys and be reassured that their health and safety remains a priority for the industry as we all work towards a sustained return to operations and global connectivity. Collaboration remains key to a globally coordinated recovery and we are grateful to our members for the partnership we have forged to deliver this important tool that will contribute to the rebuilding of passenger confidence in air travel."
Right now, the app appears to support a selection of airports across the U.S. and other countries, but any airport that wishes to participate can sign up through the ACI Health Measures Portal.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple supplier Foxconn today said that it expects shipments to be cut by 10 percent due to the global chip shortage, reports Nikkei. In an earnings call, Foxconn chairman Young Liu said that the first two months of the quarter were okay, but the company "started to see changes happening this month."
Foxconn did not mention Apple specifically, but it is a major Apple supplier and this perhaps suggests that the ongoing chip shortage will ultimately impact Apple. Foxconn is responsible for much of the assembly of Apple's iPhone models, but it does work with other companies like Google and Microsoft.
Apple has more resources than many other smaller companies that have already been hit by chip shortages, but it could run into trouble sourcing supplies for upcoming devices as the chip issues continue. Foxconn expects the shortage to extend into the second quarter of 2022.
Foxconn will ship 10 percent fewer products than planned, but "the impact on the orders that were secured a long time ago is rather limited," so it's not clear if and when Apple might be affected.
The ongoing chip shortage was caused by supply chain issues that arose during the global health crisis and weather-related events like the freeze in Texas that shut down Austin chip plants. As chip factories struggled to keep up with standard outputs during the pandemic, demand surged as people purchased devices for an at-home lifestyle, leading to higher prices. Electronics companies bought up all available supply, and chip makers are running at capacity.
With manufacturing capabilities limited, chip makers have focused on higher-end chips for smartphones and game consoles rather than the more affordable, less-advanced and less profitable chips used for everyday devices such as cars.
Because of this focus on higher-end manufacturing, the car industry has been most heavily impacted so far, and manufacturers like General Motors and Ford have had to slash production, but major tech companies could also be affected going forward.
Disney today announced the launch of MagicBand support for iPhone and Apple Watch in a service called "Disney MagicMobile," which uses the Wallet app.
Disney's MagicBand is a colorful wristband that guests can wear at Walt Disney World to enter the theme parks, unlock their hotel room, and buy food and merchandise. Disney announced the new MagicMobile service earlier this month, which brings a contactless way to access many MagicBand features using only an iPhone or Apple Watch.
Guests can create a Disney MagicMobile pass through the My Disney Experience app and add it to the Wallet app. The user's iPhone or Apple Watch can then be used at the same contactless access points as with a MagicBand. There is also the option to use a MagicBand alongside a MagicMobile mobile pass, so guests do not need to choose one over the other.
Guests are able to customize their MagicMobile pass by choosing from several Disney-themed designs that animate upon use, and users can also store multiple passes on a single device for families. With support for Express Mode on iPhone and Apple Watch, guests also can use their Disney MagicMobile pass without needing to wake or unlock their Apple device.
Initially, MagicMobile is exclusive to Apple devices only, but the service is expected to come to Android devices at a later date.
Apple today started accepting submissions for its annual Swift Student Challenge, a coding contest that tasks students with creating an interactive scene in the Swift Playgrounds app. Winners will receive exclusive WWDC 2021 outerwear, a customized pin set, and one year of membership in the Apple Developer Program.
To participate, students must create an interactive scene in a Swift playground that can be experienced within three minutes, and Apple encourages students to be creative. The challenge is open to students who are 13 years of age or older, or the equivalent minimum age in their jurisdiction (for example, 16 years of age in the European Union). For more information, visit the Swift Student Challenge website.
Challenge submissions are due by April 18, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, and participants will be able to check if they won by the evening of June 1, 2021 by signing in to this Apple Developer page with the Apple ID used for submission.
Just moments after announcing that WWDC 2021 will be held digitally from June 7-11, Apple has updated its Developer app across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it easier to discover content such as articles, videos, and WWDC content.
"We've made improvements to the look and feel of the Developer app across iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help you enjoy articles, videos, news and announcements, and past WWDC content," said Apple. "You can browse content more easily on iPad with a new sidebar (iPadOS 14 or later), enjoy fullscreen video content on larger Mac displays, and discover content to watch and read using the new Search area."
The release notes for the iPhone and iPad app:
• Explore a new Discover tab experience on iOS 14 with improved support for larger displays. • Navigate content using the new sidebar on iPadOS 14. • We've improved the Search tab on iOS 14, making it easier to find the content you want to watch. • We've extended login session duration. • We've fixed bugs and added various other enhancements.
The Apple Developer app will be central to the digital WWDC 2021 experience.
