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MobileDevPro

  • AirTag Firmware Update Addresses Stalking Concerns

    AirTag Firmware Update Addresses Stalking Concerns

    Apple has issued multiple AirTag updates in the past two months, but has just released details on exactly what the updates entailed.

    AirTag Firmware Update 2.0.24, released in November, is of particular importance since it endeavors to address issues with stalking. AirTags have become the tool of choice for many stalkers due to their small size, and Apple has already been sued over their use. In at least two cases where AirTags were used for stalking, the cases ended in the victims being murdered.

    With AirTag Firmware Update 2.0.24, Apple is trying to make it easier for individuals to determine when an unknown AirTag is in their vicinity. The company detailed the following changes:

    Enables Precision Finding to help locate an unknown AirTag detected moving with you.

    If your iPhone is awake, a notification alerts you when an AirTag that’s separated from its owner is traveling with you and emitting a sound to indicate it has been moved.

    Both features require iOS 16.2 and an iPhone that supports Ultra Wideband.

  • New 15.5-Inch MacBook Air Could Arrive Early Next Year

    New 15.5-Inch MacBook Air Could Arrive Early Next Year

    Apple’s most popular laptop could be getting a major upgrade, with a 15.5-inch version believed to be arriving early next year.

    The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular laptop and one of its most popular computers. The device has a long history of striking the right balance of performance, weight, and battery life at a price point most consumers can readily afford.

    According to AppleInsider, quoting a paywalled tweet by analyst Ross Young, Apple is prepping a major upgrade that will see a 15.5-inch screen option. The new size would be a major upgrade from the current 13.6-inch model.

    If the rumor is true, Apple will likely have another major hit on its hands.

  • Apple Watch Version of Microsoft Authenticator Discontinued

    Apple Watch Version of Microsoft Authenticator Discontinued

    Microsoft is pulling the plug on Microsoft Authenticator for Apple Watch, sunsetting the app in January 2023.

    Microsoft Authenticator is the company’s app for handling two-factor authentication. While the company first released an Apple Watch version in 2018, Microsoft announced in a support page that the app has reach end-of-life:

    In the upcoming Authenticator release in January 2023 for iOS, there will be no companion app for watchOS due to it being incompatible with Authenticator security features. This means you won’t be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. We therefore recommend that you delete Authenticator from your Apple Watch. This change only impacts Apple Watch, so you will still be able to use Authenticator on your other devices.

  • The Walled Garden Cracks: Apple to Allow Third-Party App Stores

    The Walled Garden Cracks: Apple to Allow Third-Party App Stores

    Apple’s walled garden is finally beginning to open, with the company preparing to allow third-party app stores to comply with EU legislation.

    Apple famously maintains control of its iOS ecosystem, forcing developers to use its App Store as the primary means of distributing apps. Despite attempts to force Apple to allow third-party app stores, or other means of side-loading apps, the company has so far refused to bow to the pressure.

    A new report by Bloomberg, however, indicates the EU’s latest regulation may finally force the company to open up. Apple’s software engineers are reportedly already at work trying to make the necessary changes to iOS in time for the 2024 deadline.

    The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is one of the most comprehensive attempts to reign in Big Tech’s power and influence. The bill is aimed at “gatekeeper” companies that control entire platforms, putting Apple and Google squarely in the crosshairs.

    The DMA is designed to level the playing field for smaller companies, preventing gatekeepers from preferring their own apps and services over third-party options. The DMA would also force platforms to ensure their services, such as messaging services, “open up and interoperate with smaller messaging platforms, if they so request.”

    While the DMA only impacts the EU, it’s only a matter of time before other jurisdictions follow the EU’s playbook and pass similar regulation. As a result, the DMA represents the first crack in Apple’s walled garden, a crack that will likely bust it wide open.

  • Microsoft May Build ‘Super App’ to Fight Apple/Google Search Deal

    Microsoft May Build ‘Super App’ to Fight Apple/Google Search Deal

    Microsoft is reportedly looking to build a “super app” in an effort to fight Apple and Google’s search deal and mobile dominance.

    Apple and Google have the two dominant mobile operating systems in iOS and Android. Further extending their mobile domination, the two companies have a search deal worth billions that sees Google as the default search engine on Apple’s devices.

    Microsoft appears ready to tackle Apple and Google’s duopoly, according to AppleInsider, with the company looking to create a mobile app that would combine the company’s various services into a single all-in-one solution. The company is evidently taking inspiration from Tencent’s strategy of creating all-in-one apps that meet a wide array of needs.

    It’s still not certain if Microsoft will proceed with the strategy, but AI reports that CEO Satya Nadella is pushing the company to improve Bing and make it better integrate with the company’s other services as a possible first step toward the “super app.”

  • Foxconn Issues Accelerate Apple’s Plans to Diversify iPhone Production

    Foxconn Issues Accelerate Apple’s Plans to Diversify iPhone Production

    Apple is stepping up its plans to diversify its iPhone production, moving more manufacturing out of China.

    Apple has long been dependent on China for the production of its products, with Foxconn building the iPhone. Unfortunately, Foxconn has experienced a wave of protests at iPhone City, its facility in Zhengzhou.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, Foxconn’s issues have resulted in Apple looking to accelerate its attempts to move some production outside of China. The company was already looking to move at least a quarter of its production to India, but this latest development has underscored the need to have diversified manufacturing.

    “In the past, people didn’t pay attention to concentration risks,” Alan Yeung, a former US executive for Foxconn, told WSJ. “Free trade was the norm and things were very predictable. Now we’ve entered a new world.”

  • Sunbird Promises to Bring iMessage to Android

    Sunbird Promises to Bring iMessage to Android

    Sunbird is a promising Android messaging app that plans to bring iMessage to Android phones, ending the green vs blue bubble debate.

    Messaging is one of the biggest compatibility issue between Android and iOS. Apple’s devices use iMessage, which provides a wealth of features, such as group administration, read receipts, file sharing, encryption, and more. Unfortunately, when iOS users text Android users, Apple’s devices fall back to plain SMS text messages instead of the newer RCS messages that duplicate iMessage’s features.

    Sunbird aims to address the issue with a new app that will allow Android users to send and receive iMessages as if they were on an iPhone. The solution is much simpler than competing options that require a Mac server to act as an intermediary.

    In addition to bridging the green vs blue bubble divide, Sunbird plans to add full support for traditional SMS, as well as other popular messaging services and apps, such as Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp. This will make Sunbird a one-stop-shop for all messaging on Android.

    Google has long been a proponent of Apple adopting RCS as its fallback protocol, making the argument that it would have no impact on communication between Apple devices. It would only be used when an Apple user texts an Android users, and would offer the same safety features iMessage provides.

    Despite the common sense sanity of Google’s argument, Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated the company has no intention of supporting RCS, telling people who ask to ‘get an iPhone.’ Hopefully, Sunbird can solve the issue once and for all.

    In the meantime, users who want to sign up can use this link:

    https://sunbirdapp.com/?r=jestl

    Disclaimer: This link will give the author referrals, bumping his position in the waitlist with a view to gain earlier access for review purposes.

  • Rust Is Paying Off in Android, Cutting Memory Safety Vulnerabilities

    Rust Is Paying Off in Android, Cutting Memory Safety Vulnerabilities

    Google’s decision to include Rust support in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is paying off with less vulnerabilities.

    Rust is a relatively new programming language, one that places an emphasis on memory safety, security, and performance. Google made the decision to support Rust in Android in early 2021, a decision that is already paying off.

    According to 9to5Google, Google says there has been a considerable drop in the number of memory safety vulnerabilities, going from 223 in 2019 to 85 in 2022. Such vulnerabilities now comprise just 35% of known vulnerabilities in Android, as opposed to 76% four years ago. As a result, Google says “2022 is the first year where memory safety vulnerabilities do not represent a majority of Android’s vulnerabilities.”

    Rust has been gaining traction because of its memory safety features. The NSA recently advocated for the use of Rust and similar languages in an effort to cut down on software vulnerabilities. Similarly, the language has been added to the Linux kernel, making it only the second language supported, behind C.

  • Samsung May Be Prepping Self Repair Assistant App

    Samsung’s self repair plans may be coming into sharper focus, with a reported Self Repair Assistant app in the works.

    First spotted by SamMobile, Samsung has filed for a trademark that indicates its intention to release a mobile app to assit in self repair efforts. The outlet describes the application:

    The trademark filing describes “Self Repair Assistant” as a “computer application software for mobile phones for self-installation and self-maintenance of smartwatches, tablets, mobile phones, and earbuds.” It’s supposed to provide “consultancy and information services relating to self-installation and self-repair” of various mobile device types.

    Self repair options have become increasingly important as the right to repair movement has gained steam. Samsung, Microsoft, and Apple have all committed to self repair, but Samsung seems to be the first to be creating an app to facilitate the process.

  • Apple’s Change to AirDrop Is Hurting Chinese Protests

    Apple’s Change to AirDrop Is Hurting Chinese Protests

    China is experiencing some of its most widespread protests in years, but protesters do not have access to a tool they have come to rely on.

    Apple’s AirDrop is a file transfer tool that uses Bluetooth to make a direct connection between two devices. As such, it provides a relatively private way to transfer files and information. AirDrop has multiple settings that allow it to be turned off, only accept files from saved Contacts, and accept files from Everyone. The latter setting is especially useful in a civil unrest scenario.

    According to Quartz, Apple made a change in iOS 16 just weeks ago that limits the amount of time AirDrop can be set to accept files from Everyone to just 10 minutes. Interestingly, the change was only made to phones in mainland China.

    Apple has said it plans to make the change to AirDrop the default worldwide next year. As Quartz points out, however, the timing and China-focused scope of the change is incredibly suspicious, given it happened just before mass protests.

    It is increasingly looking like Apple may have rushed the feature change to the Chinese market at the behest of the government, in an effort by Beijing to maintain control. Last month’s Bridge Man protest, photos of which spread via AirDrop, may well have given the government enough of a reason to force Apple’s hand and once again rope it into its program of squashing dissent.

  • Workers at the Main iPhone Factory Engage in Violent Protests

    Workers at the Main iPhone Factory Engage in Violent Protests

    iPhone shipments are set to take another hit as workers at supplier Foxconn’s main factory engage in violent protests.

    Apple is heavily reliant on Foxconn for the manufacture of its iPhone, with Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant one of the single biggest components in that supply chain. The Zhengzhou area is responsible for such a large portion of iPhone production that it is often referred to as “iPhone City.” iPhone City has already had its share of production issues, most recently being subjected to new COVID restrictions amid a rise in cases.

    According to CNN, violent protests broke out at iPhone City, stemming from what appears to be a broken promise to new workers. Foxconn launched a major recruitment drive, promising a 3,000 yuan bonus after the first 30 days, with a second 3,000 yuan bonus after the first 60 days.

    New workers who were hired, however, are reporting they were told on arrival they would not receive their first bonus until March 15, long after the promised 30 days.

    “The new recruits had to work more days to get the bonus they were promised, so they felt cheated,” the worker told CNN.

    For its part, Foxconn blamed the confusion on “a technical error (that) occurred during the onboarding process.”

    “We apologize for an input error in the computer system and guarantee that the actual pay is the same as agreed,” the company said.

    In the meantime, the protests became bad enough that Foxconn promised workers 8.000 yuan if they would quit, along with another 2,000 yuan once they board outgoing buses.

    While the problem appears to be on its way toward a resolution, the protests will likely result in further delays in iPhone production.

  • Elon Musk’s Next Business Could Be An iPhone Competitor

    Elon Musk’s Next Business Could Be An iPhone Competitor

    Elon Musk is already eyeing his next business, threatening to make an iPhone and Android competitor if Twitter is removed from app stores.

    Twitter is in the midst of a massive upheaval following Musk’s buyout of the company. The tech mogul has slashed the moderation team, leading to reports of increased hate speech on the platform. The situation has caused some to wonder what would happen of Twitter’s issues eventually lead to it being removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

    Musk has weighed in with his plans:

    It’s hard to imagine what a Musk-owned phone would be like. Despite his companies’ innovations, they are hardly consumer-friendly. For example, Tesla’s paid over-the-air updates are credited with being the inspiration for other automakers locking built-in vehicle features behind paywalls, something is easily the most consumer-unfriendly, greedy behavior in the industry.

    With the cellphone industry having a well-established practice of offering free upgrades, and finally moving toward right to repair, it’s disconcerting to think of how much damage Musk could do with his own phone.

  • 565 Palm Pilot Apps Are Now Available via Your Web Browser

    565 Palm Pilot Apps Are Now Available via Your Web Browser

    The Internet Archive has helped resurrect 565 Palm Pilot apps, all of which can be run in your web browser.

    Palm was once one of the leading personal digital assistant (PDA) and smartphone makers, before eventually succumbing to Microsoft, Blackberry, and Apple. Despite its demise, the Palm ecosystem was responsible for a variety of popular apps, including some that served as precursors to many modern ones.

    According to The Verge, The Internet Archive has brought back a massive collection of those apps, including Space Trader, Dope Wars, SFCave, and more.

    Users interested in taking a look at a piece of history can get started here.

  • iFixit Billboard Pressures NY Governor Over First Right to Repair Bill

    iFixit is putting pressure on New York Governor Kathy Hochul with a billboard asking her to sign the nation’s first right to repair law.

    New York’s state legislature became the first in the US to pass a right to repair bill, which it did with overwhelming support. The bill finished making its way through the legislature roughly six months ago, but Gov. Hochul has yet to sign the bill into law.

    According to PIRG, iFixit is taking a direct approach, putting up a billboard in Albany calling on the governor to sign the bill. The bill must make its way to the governor by the end of the year, and be signed by January 10 in order to become law.

    It’s unclear why Gov. Hochul has not signed the bill, although increased opposition by manufacturers may be a major factor.

  • UK Regulators Investigating Apple and Google’s ‘Mobile Duopoly’

    UK Regulators Investigating Apple and Google’s ‘Mobile Duopoly’

    The UK is launching a market investigation into Apple and Google’s dominance in the mobile market, especially cloud gaming and web browsing.

    Apple and Google have an undisputed duopoly in the mobile market. Blackberry, Palm, Nokia, Microsoft Windows, and others have all fallen by the wayside, unable to compete with Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the companies’ duopoly following complaints from developers “that the status quo is harming their businesses, holding back innovation, and adding unnecessary costs.”

    A market investigation is an in-depth investigation that will look at the state of the market and see if competition is being negatively impacted. The CMA has the authority to impose rules on how a business operates, or can even force a company to sell off some of its businesses if they are deemed anti-competitive.

    “We want to make sure that UK consumers get the best new mobile data services, and that UK developers can invest in innovative new apps,” said Sarah Cardell, interim Chief Executive of the CMA.

    “Many UK businesses and web developers tell us they feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and Google,” Cardell added. “When the new Digital Markets regime is in place, it’s likely to address these sorts of issues. In the meantime, we are using our existing powers to tackle problems where we can. We plan to investigate whether the concerns we have heard are justified and, if so, identify steps to improve competition and innovation in these sectors.”

  • DuckDuckGo Android App Now Offers Some of the Best Privacy Protection

    DuckDuckGo Android App Now Offers Some of the Best Privacy Protection

    DuckDuckGo (DDG) has opened its App Tracking Protection beta to all Android users, providing some of the most capable privacy protection.

    App Tracking Protection acts as a local VPN on an Android device. Rather than creating a network connection, like a typical VPN, the feature acts as a VPN only in the sense that it forces all apps to route their network requests through it. This allows App Tracking Protection to block tracking attempts, even giving users a report of how many times an app has tried tracking them.

    DDG is quick to point out, however, that no data is sent to the company:

    App Tracking Protection uses a local “VPN connection,” which means that it works its magic right on your smartphone and without sending app data to DuckDuckGo or other remote servers. That is, App Tracking Protection does not route your app data through external companies (including ours).

    The need for App Tracking Protection quickly becomes apparent when considering the sheer volume of tracking users are subjected to:

    The average Android user has 35 apps on their phone. Through our testing, we’ve found that a phone with 35 apps can experience between 1,000-2,000 tracking attempts every day and contact 70+ different tracking companies.

    At WPN, we have been using DDG’s App Tracking Protection since it was in closed beta and have been consistently impressed with the results. In fact, this writer will not run an Android-based phone without App Tracking Protection installed.

    Many, including DDG, will compare App Tracking Protection to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) iOS feature. In some ways, however, DDG’s solution is superior. Some of the largest app makers, and some of the most egregious privacy abusers, have been bypassing ATT. It seems that Apple may even be turning a blind eye to their activity because of how big they are.

    In contrast, DDG’s solution gives the users true control. There are some apps for which App Tracking Protection is disabled by default since there are known issues. However, the user has the option to enable protection for those apps anyway and deal with any compatibility issues.

    In short, we can’t recommend App Tracking Protection enough. ALL Android users should immediately download the DuckDuckGo app and enable the feature in Settings.

  • Apple Plans to Purchase Chips From TSMC’s Arizona Plant

    Apple Plans to Purchase Chips From TSMC’s Arizona Plant

    Apple CEO Tim Cook has reportedly said the company will purchase chips from a plant in Arizona, a major step toward supply chain diversification.

    Apple relies on TSMC exclusively for the manufacture of its custom silicon. While Apple has relied on TSMC for its iPhone and iPad chips for years, the company announced its plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to its own custom silicon, chips TSMC continues to manufacture.

    According to Bloomberg, Cook has said Apple will source chips from TSMC’s new factory:

    “We’ve already made a decision to be buying out of a plant in Arizona, and this plant in Arizona starts up in ’24, so we’ve got about two years ahead of us on that one, maybe a little less,” Cook said.

    As CNBC points out, TSMC recently announced it was going to establish a second factory in Arizona to meet “strong customer demand.”

    Given the importance of TSMC’s role in Apple’s products, it’s not surprising Apple would be moving to source chips from the US plant. Taiwan is in a precarious position, with the threat of invasion by China.

    Apple is not the only company looking to diversify its supply lines away from Taiwan. MediaTek recently signaled it would be open to moving some manufacturing away from the island.

  • Apple Faces Class Action Suit Over Data Collection Despite Settings

    Apple Faces Class Action Suit Over Data Collection Despite Settings

    Apple is in the hot seat following reports it ignores its own privacy settings and collects a massive amount of user data.

    Google and Meta are usually the ones in the news for collecting large quantities of user data without permission. Apple is the latest company facing those allegations following a Gizmodo report citing researchers’ claims that Apple’s own apps collect user data, even when the iPhone Analytics setting is turned off.

    According to the report, when iPhone Analytics is turned off, Apple promises it will “disable the sharing of Device Analytics altogether.” Unfortunately, Apple appears to do the exact opposite, collecting data from the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, Books, and Stocks. What’s more, there is simply no privacy setting that turns off the mass collection of data.

    Read more: Apple’s Privacy Hypocrisy: The $15 Billion Google Deal

    “The level of detail is shocking for a company like Apple,” researcher Tommy Mysk told Gizmodo.

    Gizmodo outlines exactly what information the App Store is collecting:

    The App Store appeared to harvest information about every single thing you did in real time, including what you tapped on, which apps you search for, what ads you saw, and how long you looked at a given app and how you found it. The app sent details about you and your device as well, including ID numbers, what kind of phone you’re using, your screen resolution, your keyboard languages, how you’re connected to the internet—notably, the kind of information commonly used for device fingerprinting.

    Again, it’s important to note that absolutely no setting or preference inhibits Apple’s data collection.

    See also: Apple is the Biggest Beneficiary of Its Privacy Crackdown

    The response has been — understandably — swift and severe, with Apple facing a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in California, citing a violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act. Not surprisingly, the lawsuit points out Apple’s claims to respect user privacy, a point it has built much of its marketing around.

    “Privacy is one of the main issues that Apple uses to set its products apart from competitors,” said plaintiff Elliot Libman, available on Bloomberg Law. “But Apple’s privacy guarantees are completely illusory.”

    Cracks have been showing in Apple’s facade of respecting user privacy, but this may be the most damning evidence yet that the company may not be as different from its rivals as it likes to claim.

  • Google Agrees to Record-Breaking Privacy Settlement With 40 States

    Google Agrees to Record-Breaking Privacy Settlement With 40 States

    Google has agreed to a record-breaking settlement in a privacy suit brought by 40 states over how the company tracks users.

    The attorneys general of 40 states sued the company for misleading its customers. Google was accused of tracking users even when they had expressly disabled tracking. According to The New York Times, the company has agreed to a $391.5 million settlement, the largest privacy settlement in history.

    “For years, Google prioritized profit over the privacy of people who use Google products and services,” said Ellen Rosenblum, the Oregon attorney general, who led the case along with Nebraska. “Consumers thought they had turned ‘off’ their location tracking features on Google, but the company continued to secretly record their movements and use that information for advertisers.”

    For its part, Google claims the behavior in question had been addressed years earlier.

    “Consistent with improvements we’ve made in recent years, we have settled this investigation, which was based on outdated product policies that we changed years ago,” said company spokesman José Castañeda.

    While this lawsuit may be settled, it doesn’t end Google’s privacy troubles. The company also faces lawsuits by Indiana, Texas, and Washington DC. The company also recently settled another location tracking lawsuit with Arizona to the tune of $85 million.

  • MediaTek Opens the Door to a Move Away From Taiwan

    MediaTek Opens the Door to a Move Away From Taiwan

    MediaTek, one of the world’s leading smartphone chipmakers, is open to the possibility of moving away from Taiwan, at least ‘incrementally.’

    MediaTek is a Taiwanese firm that designs semiconductors for some of the world’s most popular smartphones. The company relies heavily on TSMC to manufacture the chips, making its supply chain heavily dependent on its home country of Taiwan.

    According to Reuters, the increasing tensions between the US and China are forcing MediaTek and other companies to consider diversifying their supply chains.

    “Very large (equipment manufacturers) will require their chip suppliers to have multiple sources, like from Taiwan and from U.S., or from Germany or from Europe,” said Rick Tsai, MediaTek Inc Chief Executive. “I think in those cases, we will have to find multiple sources for the same chip if the business warrants that.”

    While TSMC may manufacture MediaTek’s most advanced chips, the company does rely on others for its less advanced designs. MediaTek has struck a deal with Intel to expand the use of its foundries and plans to make use of TSMC’s Arizona foundry once it’s operational. At the same time, Tsai warned TSMC’s US production would not be able to fully meet demand and replace the role Taiwan plays.

    “But is that going to be enough? No. Not by far,” he said.

  • Microsoft Commits to More Self-Repair Options

    Microsoft is continuing its commitment to providing customers self-repair options, with the Surface Pro 9 marking a major change.

    Companies across the industry are slowly embracing self-repair options amid pushback from customers and legislators alike. While Microsoft is one of the companies that has expressed commitment to the trend, iFixit says the new Surface Pro 9 may be a real turning point.

    Whereas previous Surface models received a score of 1 out of 10, the Surface Pro 9 receives a “respectable 7 out of 10.” The device lost points because spare parts are not yet available, and the computer doesn’t ship with service manuals. Nonetheless, iFixit walked away impressed with the overall repairability.

    “Without a doubt, this Surface is the most repairable we’ve seen from the product line yet, and it’s evident that the company had to undertake significant design changes to achieve these gains,” writes iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari.

    What’s more, Microsoft issued a statement to iFixit doubling down on its commitment to self-repair, including a deal with a national retailer.

    “We are currently working with a major US retailer to build out our authorized repair network and bring repair options closer to our customers. This will become available in early 2023.”