Will AppleCare One cover a non-US iPhone, even if you live in the US?
If you have a non-US iPhone set to the US region and live in the US, you will have to call Apple Support in order to get AppleCare One coverage. My Canadian iPhone 16 Pro Max tells me I need to contact Apple for an in-store or remote assessment in order to determine eligibility. I already have AppleCare+ on the device and my other devices that have AppleCare+ can be transferred to AppleCare One, so my gut tells me the error is because my model is not a US model. As for my iPhone 13 mini, the battery health is at 79%, so that doesn’t qualify.
Instead of calling Apple, I decided to go to my nearest Apple Store to do an in-store assessment, but the Genius (not trying to be sarcastic) wasn’t able to do the right diagnostic test to make it AppleCare One eligible. I wasn’t going to switch from my current AppleCare+ to AppleCare One, but I just wanted to see if it would even be possible to do on a non-US device.
They told me to call Apple Support since they have more robust remote diagnostic tools, so we will see how that goes in the future.
If you have a non-US iPhone set to the US region and live in the US, you will have to call Apple Support in order to get AppleCare One coverage. My Canadian iPhone 16 Pro Max tells me I need to contact Apple for an in-store or remote assessment in order to determine eligibility. I already have AppleCare+ on the device and my other devices that have AppleCare+ can be transferred to AppleCare One, so my gut tells me the error is because my model is not a US model. As for my iPhone 13 mini, the battery health is at 79%, so that doesn’t qualify.
Instead of calling Apple, I decided to go to my nearest Apple Store to do an in-store assessment, but the Genius (not trying to be sarcastic) wasn’t able to do the right diagnostic test to make it AppleCare One eligible. I wasn’t going to switch from my current AppleCare+ to AppleCare One, but I just wanted to see if it would even be possible to do on a non-US device.
They told me to call Apple Support since they have more robust remote diagnostic tools, so we will see how that goes in the future.
Google Pixel 10 lineup launches with its own version of MagSafe called Pixelsnap, and even throws in the “A” word for good measure.
The Pixel 10 devices are just the second set of Android devices to have official Qi2 magnets built into the device. The only other device?
The HMD Skyline.
What I’m trying to say is, the Pixel 10 devices are the first Android devices that actually matter, with Qi2 magnets.
Per Android Authority:
Every Pixel 10 model supports Qi2 charging. The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro top out at 15W with Qi2-certified chargers when paired with a 20W or higher USB-C adapter. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the first foldable with Qi2 wireless charging built in, also supports Pixelsnap charging at up to 15W.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL steps things up with Qi2.2 support, hitting 25W when used with a Qi2.2-certified charger and a 35W or higher adapter. Google says its own Pixelsnap Charger and Charger with Stand can hit that top speed.
The branding is very specific to the Pixel devices, so other manufacturers are going to have to come up with their own fancy name if they decide to go this route. I think this is a huge win for the Android community because I think it will force the big giants like Samsung to implement their own built-in magnets.
In shocking fashion, Adrienne Lofton from Google even mentioned the “A” word, and said all Pixel devices are compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories. This caught Jimmy Fallon by surprise, and even I was a bit shocked they mentioned Apple. I mean they had to since everyone knows Apple pioneered this feature and everyone would ask that question.
Reminds me of the moment when Phil Schiller introduced Microsoft on stage during the first ever iPad Pro event.
The Pixel 10 devices are just the second set of Android devices to have official Qi2 magnets built into the device. The only other device?
The HMD Skyline.
What I’m trying to say is, the Pixel 10 devices are the first Android devices that actually matter, with Qi2 magnets.
Per Android Authority:
Every Pixel 10 model supports Qi2 charging. The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro top out at 15W with Qi2-certified chargers when paired with a 20W or higher USB-C adapter. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the first foldable with Qi2 wireless charging built in, also supports Pixelsnap charging at up to 15W.
The Pixel 10 Pro XL steps things up with Qi2.2 support, hitting 25W when used with a Qi2.2-certified charger and a 35W or higher adapter. Google says its own Pixelsnap Charger and Charger with Stand can hit that top speed.
The branding is very specific to the Pixel devices, so other manufacturers are going to have to come up with their own fancy name if they decide to go this route. I think this is a huge win for the Android community because I think it will force the big giants like Samsung to implement their own built-in magnets.
In shocking fashion, Adrienne Lofton from Google even mentioned the “A” word, and said all Pixel devices are compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories. This caught Jimmy Fallon by surprise, and even I was a bit shocked they mentioned Apple. I mean they had to since everyone knows Apple pioneered this feature and everyone would ask that question.
Reminds me of the moment when Phil Schiller introduced Microsoft on stage during the first ever iPad Pro event.
Google’s “Made by Google ‘25” event had signs for the live audience to clap when an “applause” sign comes on during the event.
Andru Edwards on X:
At this Made by Google event they are asking MEDIA AND PRESS to clap when an “applause” sign comes on during the event. This is kind of wild.
The thing is, I bet there’s be almost as much applause without a cue to ask people to clap, because there are a lot of genuinely great/impressive things Google is announcing today.
Andru has been at Apple events, and he describes briefly what goes on there:
The people clapping at Apple events are generally the Apple employees - the teams that worked on the features. The media is busy typing/recording/posting. And there are no applause signs.
That being said, I have to give Google props for at least doing a live event, even if it’s hard to tell whether or not the audience is genuinely interested when they cheer.
Andru Edwards on X:
At this Made by Google event they are asking MEDIA AND PRESS to clap when an “applause” sign comes on during the event. This is kind of wild.
The thing is, I bet there’s be almost as much applause without a cue to ask people to clap, because there are a lot of genuinely great/impressive things Google is announcing today.
Andru has been at Apple events, and he describes briefly what goes on there:
The people clapping at Apple events are generally the Apple employees - the teams that worked on the features. The media is busy typing/recording/posting. And there are no applause signs.
That being said, I have to give Google props for at least doing a live event, even if it’s hard to tell whether or not the audience is genuinely interested when they cheer.
Is choosing an iPhone getting too complicated?
I like reading other people’s iPhone stories, and Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs tells his iPhone journey over the years. I’ll have a more in-depth post later on about my journey, but for now, he brings up a good point at the end:
People have long said the iPad line-up is confusing, with too many overlapping options. I feel the iPhone is heading the same way. But perhaps that’s the nature of a maturing product line – what started as a simple choice has evolved into something that can truly fit different needs and preferences. For someone like me who’s been upgrading annually for years, maybe it’s time to embrace the complexity rather than long for the simplicity of the past. After all, having options means there’s likely a perfect iPhone out there for everyone – even if finding it requires a bit more thought than just picking a colour.
I like reading other people’s iPhone stories, and Imthaz over at Volatile Inputs tells his iPhone journey over the years. I’ll have a more in-depth post later on about my journey, but for now, he brings up a good point at the end:
People have long said the iPad line-up is confusing, with too many overlapping options. I feel the iPhone is heading the same way. But perhaps that’s the nature of a maturing product line – what started as a simple choice has evolved into something that can truly fit different needs and preferences. For someone like me who’s been upgrading annually for years, maybe it’s time to embrace the complexity rather than long for the simplicity of the past. After all, having options means there’s likely a perfect iPhone out there for everyone – even if finding it requires a bit more thought than just picking a colour.
How to fix the blank Control Center bug in watchOS 26.
If you’re having the blank Control Center icons issue, simply enter Low Power Mode via Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Launch the Control Center to see your icon labels back in place. Now exit Low Power Mode.
You can also do this through the Control Center itself by tapping the invisible battery percentage logo and selecting Low Power Mode. Dismiss the Control Center and then relaunch it to see your icon labels. Now you can exit Low Power Mode.
You will have to do this every time you reboot the watch.
If you’re having the blank Control Center icons issue, simply enter Low Power Mode via Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Launch the Control Center to see your icon labels back in place. Now exit Low Power Mode.
You can also do this through the Control Center itself by tapping the invisible battery percentage logo and selecting Low Power Mode. Dismiss the Control Center and then relaunch it to see your icon labels. Now you can exit Low Power Mode.
You will have to do this every time you reboot the watch.
A sleeper update that only the staunchest Apple Watch user will notice.
If you’re one of the cool kids who knows how to swipe to switch watch faces, watchOS 26 beta 6 fixes a pet peeve that even Apple developers were getting tired of.
The large widget size on the Modular watch face would always be triggered when swiping from either side, constantly opening up that app even though all you wanted to do was switch to the next watch face. This happened about 90% of the time, but now it happens 0% of the time. This is more of an issue with Apple Watches that have slimmer bezels (think Apple Watch Series 7 and later).
It took them a while to fix this issue, and hopefully they can start fixing another glaring issue that made Apple hide the ability to swipe to switch watch faces in the first place.
If you’re one of the cool kids who knows how to swipe to switch watch faces, watchOS 26 beta 6 fixes a pet peeve that even Apple developers were getting tired of.
The large widget size on the Modular watch face would always be triggered when swiping from either side, constantly opening up that app even though all you wanted to do was switch to the next watch face. This happened about 90% of the time, but now it happens 0% of the time. This is more of an issue with Apple Watches that have slimmer bezels (think Apple Watch Series 7 and later).
It took them a while to fix this issue, and hopefully they can start fixing another glaring issue that made Apple hide the ability to swipe to switch watch faces in the first place.
Blood Oxygen feature returns on Apple Watch - what this could mean for future health metrics.
Apple Newsroom:
Apple will introduce a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update coming later today.
Users with these models in the U.S. who currently do not have the Blood Oxygen feature will have access to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.
There will be no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor to Apple Watch units purchased outside of the U.S.
You won’t get measurements directly on your watch; you will have to go to your iPhone’s Health app to view the data. Still better than nothing, but it begs the question:
Is this a precursor to improved health features in the near future?
For one, sleep apnea detection could be more accurate with this new information. From a post I wrote back in January:
If you look at Apple’s study, sensitivity for severe sleep apnea had a sensitivity of 89.1%, while sensitivity for moderate sleep apnea was 43.4%, giving an average score of 66.3%. What that actually means is the Apple Watch is best at detecting severe sleep apnea 89% of the time. It is not that great at determining moderate sleep apnea at only 43%.
Apple would rather underdiagnose people than give false positives, which is still better than no diagnosis at all. They were able to get this far with just the accelerometer sensor:
“The Sleep Apnea Notification Feature is a software-based medical device that analyzes Breathing Disturbance data collected nightly by the Apple Watch accelerometer sensor.”
I wonder how much better the Apple Watch could have been at detecting Sleep Apnea if they included Blood Oxygen data, which is another key component in diagnosing sleep apnea. To perform another study at this scale would take years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple’s sleep apnea detection gets better sensitivity with more crucial data points like blood oxygen levels once the battle with Masimo ends.
Who knows, maybe Apple has two sets of data when they did the study, one with just the accelerometer and one with both the accelerometer and blood oxygen sensor.
Apple Newsroom:
Apple will introduce a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature for some Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users through an iPhone and Apple Watch software update coming later today.
Users with these models in the U.S. who currently do not have the Blood Oxygen feature will have access to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1. Following this update, sensor data from the Blood Oxygen app on Apple Watch will be measured and calculated on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. This update was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling.
There will be no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the original Blood Oxygen feature, nor to Apple Watch units purchased outside of the U.S.
You won’t get measurements directly on your watch; you will have to go to your iPhone’s Health app to view the data. Still better than nothing, but it begs the question:
Is this a precursor to improved health features in the near future?
For one, sleep apnea detection could be more accurate with this new information. From a post I wrote back in January:
If you look at Apple’s study, sensitivity for severe sleep apnea had a sensitivity of 89.1%, while sensitivity for moderate sleep apnea was 43.4%, giving an average score of 66.3%. What that actually means is the Apple Watch is best at detecting severe sleep apnea 89% of the time. It is not that great at determining moderate sleep apnea at only 43%.
Apple would rather underdiagnose people than give false positives, which is still better than no diagnosis at all. They were able to get this far with just the accelerometer sensor:
“The Sleep Apnea Notification Feature is a software-based medical device that analyzes Breathing Disturbance data collected nightly by the Apple Watch accelerometer sensor.”
I wonder how much better the Apple Watch could have been at detecting Sleep Apnea if they included Blood Oxygen data, which is another key component in diagnosing sleep apnea. To perform another study at this scale would take years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple’s sleep apnea detection gets better sensitivity with more crucial data points like blood oxygen levels once the battle with Masimo ends.
Who knows, maybe Apple has two sets of data when they did the study, one with just the accelerometer and one with both the accelerometer and blood oxygen sensor.
Small but helpful update to Smart Stack in watchOS 26 - now gone.
Me a few days ago:
New quality of life update - you can click on the date in Smart Stack to enter your calendar. Now you can free up a widget if you had a dedicated “Your Schedule” widget set up.
Yesterday, Developer beta 6 got rid of this feature. Hopefully it’s a bug and we get it back. It adds more utility and is a no-brainer to keep that function.
Me a few days ago:
New quality of life update - you can click on the date in Smart Stack to enter your calendar. Now you can free up a widget if you had a dedicated “Your Schedule” widget set up.
Yesterday, Developer beta 6 got rid of this feature. Hopefully it’s a bug and we get it back. It adds more utility and is a no-brainer to keep that function.
Wired reviews the best hearing aids, and it’s no surprise which ones are the best dual-purpose hearing aid/Bluetooth earbuds.
It’s no surprise that the best hearing aids cost thousands of dollars, with the top rated one being the Jabra Enhance Select 300 at a whopping $1,700 a pair, which is cheap compared to the Edge AI RIC RT’s $4,000 asking price. The best budget hearing aid? The JLab Hear at $100 that also doubles as wireless earbuds.
The overall best hearing aid and Bluetooth earbuds combo? AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. They’re always on sale for $169, making them an excellent value with a low barrier of entry.
Here is Wired’s take:
OTC hearing aids have been around for more than three years now, but it might be Apple that really kickstarts this market into gear, now that hearing aid features are available on its AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A software update is all you need to turn your existing earbuds into hearing aids, giving them a second job of helping you hear better, even when you’re not streaming.
All the expected features common to OTC hearing aids are here and more, including the ability to upload an existing audiogram to tune them to your specific needs. The units quickly and effectively shift between hearing aid mode and streaming mode, and—unique to Apple—iOS now automatically applies your hearing aid settings to streaming media, which can make a difference to the clarity of dialog and other sounds. For the most part, they do the job as intended.
Mind you, AirPods Pro 2 aren’t perfect as hearing aids, and they may not be the best choice for everyone. There’s a lingering hiss and some audio artifacts that need to be ironed out, and the built-in hearing test feature needs some work. With just six hours of battery life (plus 24 more in the case), they aren’t a great solution for people who need uninterrupted hearing help all day long. But the big news is that, at $249, Apple is now producing some of the least expensive products in the category, a position in which it rarely finds itself. As a first step toward investigating a solution for hearing loss, the price alone makes them worth strong consideration, presuming that you have an iPhone.
Also, former MythBuster Adam Savage who personally uses AirPods Pro as hearing aids had this to say:
I think Apple turning the AirPod Pros into a substitute hearing aid is one of the best sub-features I've seen out of this consumer product in a long time. Having been a very public hearing aid wearer for 15 years, I have been sent a lot of people’s versions of earbud-hearing-aids and I’ll, I’m not naming any names but everything I have tried sucked. Everything I have tried had a very bad user experience in the calibration, in the testing, in the integration. These (the AirPods Pro 2) were really really just as advertised by Apple, straightforward, simple to understand, fast to execute, and awesome to use […]
If you have people in your life who need hearing aids, this might be a great gateway drug to hearing aids, given that it is a lot less expensive and it carries a lot less of the, stigma of hearing aids. One of the rhetorical flourishes I gave people a few years ago that a lot of folks have told me worked on people in their lives, is to explain that no one who ever got hearing aids thought to themselves, “well that was a bad idea.”
It’s no surprise that the best hearing aids cost thousands of dollars, with the top rated one being the Jabra Enhance Select 300 at a whopping $1,700 a pair, which is cheap compared to the Edge AI RIC RT’s $4,000 asking price. The best budget hearing aid? The JLab Hear at $100 that also doubles as wireless earbuds.
The overall best hearing aid and Bluetooth earbuds combo? AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. They’re always on sale for $169, making them an excellent value with a low barrier of entry.
Here is Wired’s take:
OTC hearing aids have been around for more than three years now, but it might be Apple that really kickstarts this market into gear, now that hearing aid features are available on its AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds (8/10, WIRED Recommends). A software update is all you need to turn your existing earbuds into hearing aids, giving them a second job of helping you hear better, even when you’re not streaming.
All the expected features common to OTC hearing aids are here and more, including the ability to upload an existing audiogram to tune them to your specific needs. The units quickly and effectively shift between hearing aid mode and streaming mode, and—unique to Apple—iOS now automatically applies your hearing aid settings to streaming media, which can make a difference to the clarity of dialog and other sounds. For the most part, they do the job as intended.
Mind you, AirPods Pro 2 aren’t perfect as hearing aids, and they may not be the best choice for everyone. There’s a lingering hiss and some audio artifacts that need to be ironed out, and the built-in hearing test feature needs some work. With just six hours of battery life (plus 24 more in the case), they aren’t a great solution for people who need uninterrupted hearing help all day long. But the big news is that, at $249, Apple is now producing some of the least expensive products in the category, a position in which it rarely finds itself. As a first step toward investigating a solution for hearing loss, the price alone makes them worth strong consideration, presuming that you have an iPhone.
Also, former MythBuster Adam Savage who personally uses AirPods Pro as hearing aids had this to say:
I think Apple turning the AirPod Pros into a substitute hearing aid is one of the best sub-features I've seen out of this consumer product in a long time. Having been a very public hearing aid wearer for 15 years, I have been sent a lot of people’s versions of earbud-hearing-aids and I’ll, I’m not naming any names but everything I have tried sucked. Everything I have tried had a very bad user experience in the calibration, in the testing, in the integration. These (the AirPods Pro 2) were really really just as advertised by Apple, straightforward, simple to understand, fast to execute, and awesome to use […]
If you have people in your life who need hearing aids, this might be a great gateway drug to hearing aids, given that it is a lot less expensive and it carries a lot less of the, stigma of hearing aids. One of the rhetorical flourishes I gave people a few years ago that a lot of folks have told me worked on people in their lives, is to explain that no one who ever got hearing aids thought to themselves, “well that was a bad idea.”
REEVUS water bottle is great for workouts
I was too lazy to go upstairs and try to find my iPad for working out, so I decided to just use my iPhone and prop it up with the MagSafe compatible lid on the REEVUS water bottle and get the job done. I knew I would get side tracked if I went upstairs so I just had to grind it out on the small screen. 📓
I was too lazy to go upstairs and try to find my iPad for working out, so I decided to just use my iPhone and prop it up with the MagSafe compatible lid on the REEVUS water bottle and get the job done. I knew I would get side tracked if I went upstairs so I just had to grind it out on the small screen.
Quick access to water without having to open a lid.
Cap stays clean + phone stays in place = happy runner.
Small but helpful update to Smart Stack in watchOS 26.
New quality of life update - you can click on the date in Smart Stack to enter your calendar. Now you can free up a widget if you had a dedicated “Your Schedule” widget set up.
You can also click on the time to go back to your watch face.
New quality of life update - you can click on the date in Smart Stack to enter your calendar. Now you can free up a widget if you had a dedicated “Your Schedule” widget set up.
You can also click on the time to go back to your watch face.
Taiwan’s TSMC chip technology leak is a bigger deal than you think.
Bloomberg (paywalled article):
Taiwan prosecutors arrested six people suspected of stealing trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., opening an investigation into a potential breach of national security involving a global tech industry linchpin.
The chipmaker to Nvidia Corp. reported a number of former and current staff to authorities on suspicion they illegally obtained core technology. A total of six people were arrested, with two posting bail and one released afterwards, said Taiwan High Prosecutors Office spokesman John Nieh. Prosecutors searched the homes of some staff between July 25 and July 28, the agency said in a statement. It’s now trying to find out if data had been leaked to other parties.
TSMC is the world’s most advanced maker of semiconductors, from Nvidia AI accelerators to Apple Inc. iPhone processors. The case coincides with a quickening race by the likes of Meta Platforms Inc.and DeepSeek to develop artificial intelligence in the post-ChatGPT era, which requires billions of dollars in servers and datacenters.
On Tuesday, the Nikkei reported that TSMC fired several employees suspected of trying to obtain critical information on 2-nanometer chip development. That next-generation semiconductor process is entering mass production in the second half of this year.
TSMC is more than just a chip maker. They’re literally responsible for running the global economy. China believes Taiwan is part of China, and are very eager to seek “reunification” with the island, calling it sacred territory.
An excerpt from Apple in China by Patrick McGee:
When on October 1, 2024, the Communist Party celebrated seventy-five years of ruling China, Xi reiterated his desire to "reunify" with the island democracy, saying "Taiwan is China's sacred territory" and that the two are connected by blood. "It's an irreversible trend, a cause of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people," he told thousands of supporters. "No one can stop the march of history.”
Any military action would immediately threaten TSMC, which is responsible for making at least 80 percent of the world's most advanced chips. In war games involving an invasion of Taiwan by China, Taiwan's semiconductor industry doesn't survive. "It would go out of business on day one of the war," according to Chris Miller, author of Chip War. "The moment fighting starts, TSMC facilities would stop producing. It would never be reopened." Such a cessation in production would have disastrous effects on the world economy. Avril Haines, US director of national intel-ligence, estimates that if Taiwan were prevented from exporting chips, the global loss would be "somewhere between $600 billion to more than $1 trillion, on an annual basis, for the first several years." Indeed, the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has credibly called TSMC "the only corporation... in history that could cause a global depression if it were forced to halt production." For Apple alone, the impact would be the equivalent of a meteor strike.
According to the article, China is still manufacturing 7-nanometer chips while TSMC is working on more efficient 2-nanometer chips.
The headline sounds like another routine stolen trade secrets scandal, but it’s more cutthroat than that (pun intended).
They don’t call it the Chip Wars for nothing.
Bloomberg (paywalled article):
Taiwan prosecutors arrested six people suspected of stealing trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., opening an investigation into a potential breach of national security involving a global tech industry linchpin.
The chipmaker to Nvidia Corp. reported a number of former and current staff to authorities on suspicion they illegally obtained core technology. A total of six people were arrested, with two posting bail and one released afterwards, said Taiwan High Prosecutors Office spokesman John Nieh. Prosecutors searched the homes of some staff between July 25 and July 28, the agency said in a statement. It’s now trying to find out if data had been leaked to other parties.
TSMC is the world’s most advanced maker of semiconductors, from Nvidia AI accelerators to Apple Inc. iPhone processors. The case coincides with a quickening race by the likes of Meta Platforms Inc.and DeepSeek to develop artificial intelligence in the post-ChatGPT era, which requires billions of dollars in servers and datacenters.
On Tuesday, the Nikkei reported that TSMC fired several employees suspected of trying to obtain critical information on 2-nanometer chip development. That next-generation semiconductor process is entering mass production in the second half of this year.
TSMC is more than just a chip maker. They’re literally responsible for running the global economy. China believes Taiwan is part of China, and are very eager to seek “reunification” with the island, calling it sacred territory.
An excerpt from Apple in China by Patrick McGee:
When on October 1, 2024, the Communist Party celebrated seventy-five years of ruling China, Xi reiterated his desire to "reunify" with the island democracy, saying "Taiwan is China's sacred territory" and that the two are connected by blood. "It's an irreversible trend, a cause of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people," he told thousands of supporters. "No one can stop the march of history.”
Any military action would immediately threaten TSMC, which is responsible for making at least 80 percent of the world's most advanced chips. In war games involving an invasion of Taiwan by China, Taiwan's semiconductor industry doesn't survive. "It would go out of business on day one of the war," according to Chris Miller, author of Chip War. "The moment fighting starts, TSMC facilities would stop producing. It would never be reopened." Such a cessation in production would have disastrous effects on the world economy. Avril Haines, US director of national intel-ligence, estimates that if Taiwan were prevented from exporting chips, the global loss would be "somewhere between $600 billion to more than $1 trillion, on an annual basis, for the first several years." Indeed, the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has credibly called TSMC "the only corporation... in history that could cause a global depression if it were forced to halt production." For Apple alone, the impact would be the equivalent of a meteor strike.
According to the article, China is still manufacturing 7-nanometer chips while TSMC is working on more efficient 2-nanometer chips.
The headline sounds like another routine stolen trade secrets scandal, but it’s more cutthroat than that (pun intended).
They don’t call it the Chip Wars for nothing.
A little easter egg in the new Mail icon.
Just caught it today, thinking I had a scratch on my phone. It’s technically there on the Apple Watch, but it’s so small you can’t read it. 📓
Just caught it today, thinking I had a scratch on my phone. It’s technically there on the Apple Watch, but it’s so small you can’t read it.
Apple Park, California, 95014
Icon placement needs to be unique for each wallpaper on iOS.
Icon customization has improved over the last few iterations of iOS. You can customize each of the following attributes:
Icon size
Truly placing icons anywhere on your Home Screen
Icon color (default, dark, clear, tinted)
When you switch wallpapers, your icon size and color can be different for each, but your icon placement always stays the same. It would be nice to have custom icon placement for each wallpaper so you can actually see the people or objects in the background.
I can see my daughter clearly in this photo, but I can’t see my future ride.
Icon customization has improved over the last few iterations of iOS. You can customize each of the following attributes:
Icon size
Truly placing icons anywhere on your Home Screen
Icon color (default, dark, clear, tinted)
When you switch wallpapers, your icon size and color can be different for each, but your icon placement always stays the same. It would be nice to have custom icon placement for each wallpaper so you can actually see the people or objects in the background.
I can see my daughter clearly, but I can’t see my future ride since icon placement for each wallpaper is not customizable, yet.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 regains its title (barely) for the biggest Apple Watch display size.
Juli Clover from MacRumors:
The latest iOS 26 beta includes imagery that confirms Apple's work on a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra, which is set to come out this fall. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found an Apple Watch image with a resolution that does not correspond to any current Apple Watch models.
The image suggests that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 could have a slightly larger display size, with a display resolution of 422 x 514. The current Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 410 x 502 resolution.
Apple Watch Series 10 in 46mm has a resolution of 416 x 496, making it the current king of displays.
The math doesn’t lie:
Series 10 in 46mm: 416 by 496 pixels; 1220 sq mm display area; 331 PPI
Ultra 2 49mm: 410 by 502 pixels; 1185 sq mm display area; 335 PPI
Ultra 3 (rumored resolution): 422 x 514 pixels; 1246 sq mm display area; 335 PPI
It’s no surprise that Apple Watch Ultra 3 should have the biggest display, and it will if this rumor is true. Not by much, but it’s perfect for the marketing team:
“Ultra Watch, Ultra display. The biggest display ever on Apple Watch, in an all-new 50mm titanium case.”
Juli Clover from MacRumors:
The latest iOS 26 beta includes imagery that confirms Apple's work on a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra, which is set to come out this fall. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found an Apple Watch image with a resolution that does not correspond to any current Apple Watch models.
The image suggests that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3 could have a slightly larger display size, with a display resolution of 422 x 514. The current Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 410 x 502 resolution.
Apple Watch Series 10 in 46mm has a resolution of 416 x 496, making it the current king of displays.
The math doesn’t lie:
Series 10 in 46mm: 416 by 496 pixels; 1220 sq mm display area; 331 PPI
Ultra 2 49mm: 410 by 502 pixels; 1185 sq mm display area; 335 PPI
Ultra 3 (rumored resolution): 422 x 514 pixels; 1246 sq mm display area; 335 PPI
It’s no surprise that Apple Watch Ultra 3 should have the biggest display, and it will if this rumor is true. Not by much, but it’s perfect for the marketing team:
“Ultra Watch, Ultra display. The biggest display ever on Apple Watch, in an all-new 50mm titanium case.”
Apple Watch needs to have Continuity with iPad, but iPadOS is holding it back.
I love running on my treadmill and watching videos on my iPad, and that setup is perfect to project my Apple Watch metrics onto the iPad. It makes perfect sense, and would allow me to be more intentional with my running instead of repeatedly looking at my watch.
This feature already exists on the iPhone when I noticed my biking workouts project real-time metrics onto the Lock Screen and the Fitness app. Gym equipment also connects with Apple Watch, giving you more accurate information.
There is a general lack of compatibility (or Continuity per Apple lingo), between iPad and Apple Watch, even at this turning point where all of Apple’s platforms have now unified their naming scheme. Apple Watch is already intimately linked to the iPhone, and provides crucially convenient features for Mac users such as Apple Pay and Auto Unlock with Apple Watch. I use both of these Mac features on my 12-year-old, 2013 MacBook Pro, and it still works flawlessly.
The iPad doesn’t have a true clamshell mode, so it would need to be updated before Auto Unlock with Apple Watch and Apple Pay could be a feature. Hopefully we can see an update in iPadOS 27 for more Continuity features starting with these two, and yes, projecting workout metrics to the iPad screen.
I love running on my treadmill and watching videos on my iPad, and that setup is perfect to project my Apple Watch metrics onto the iPad. It makes perfect sense, and would allow me to be more intentional with my running instead of repeatedly looking at my watch.
This feature already exists on the iPhone when I noticed my biking workouts project real-time metrics onto the Lock Screen and the Fitness app. Gym equipment also connects with Apple Watch, giving you more accurate information.
There is a general lack of compatibility (or Continuity per Apple lingo), between iPad and Apple Watch, even at this turning point where all of Apple’s platforms have now unified their naming scheme. Apple Watch is already intimately linked to the iPhone, and provides crucially convenient features for Mac users such as Apple Pay and Auto Unlock with Apple Watch. I use both of these Mac features on my 12-year-old, 2013 MacBook Pro, and it still works flawlessly.
The iPad doesn’t have a true clamshell mode, so it would need to be updated before Auto Unlock with Apple Watch and Apple Pay could be a feature. Hopefully we can see an update in iPadOS 27 for more Continuity features starting with these two, and yes, projecting workout metrics to the iPad screen.
The new Skechers sneakers with a hidden AirTag compartment won’t work like you think it will, but it could get rid of your parental clinginess.
Great summary of how AirTags work, and how they’re not good for pinpoint accuracy (via Jake Peterson from Lifehacker):
Contrary to popular belief, AirTags are not homing beacons that can update their location 24/7. Alone, these tags have no way of updating their location. They lack a GPS chip, or any way to communicate with the internet themselves. Instead, they rely on other devices to update their location for them.
Any Apple device connected to Apple's Find My network can update the location of your AirTag when it comes within Bluetooth range of the tracker. The whole system is passive and anonymous, so no one, not even Apple, knows which devices update the location of your AirTag. But it works: If you leave an item with an AirTag on a bus, for example, anyone on the bus with an iPhone can, unbeknownst to them, refresh your AirTag's location.
The magic behind how AirTags work is also the reason why they're not reliable for live tracking. Without another internet-connected Find My device within Bluetooth range, your AirTag won't be able to update its location. If your kid isn't within Bluetooth range of another person with such a Find My device, for example, you won't see their latest location—just the last known location where they were within range of a Find My device.
But even when they are in range, AirTags tend to be pretty sporadic in how often they refresh their location. As Lifehacker deputy editor Joel Cunningham discovered, sometimes locations wouldn't update for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Occasionally, the AirTag wouldn't update its location at all. So much for tracking.
I tried using an AirTag for tracking my son a couple of years ago (9 years old at the time) when he went on solo bike rides, but its performance was less than stellar to say the least exactly for the reasons stated above.
I was using it wrong.
Biking in the countryside didn’t bring enough Bluetooth traffic to get a reliable approximation of his location. A cheap iPhone SE 2nd gen is infinitely better and is our current solution.
I still think this idea has other benefits, especially for parents who are hesitant to let their kids be on their own and explore the world by themselves as they get older.
The AirTag (as poorly as it performed), removed a psychological barrier from us (mainly my wife), and made it ok to let our kids go out on their own and be kids. No direct supervision and an opportunity to experience life on their own.
Kudos for Skechers for trying. Who knows, maybe Skechers has some inside scoop on the next generation of AirTags having full GPS support?
Great summary of how AirTags work, and how they’re not good for pinpoint accuracy (via Jake Peterson from Lifehacker):
Contrary to popular belief, AirTags are not homing beacons that can update their location 24/7. Alone, these tags have no way of updating their location. They lack a GPS chip, or any way to communicate with the internet themselves. Instead, they rely on other devices to update their location for them.
Any Apple device connected to Apple's Find My network can update the location of your AirTag when it comes within Bluetooth range of the tracker. The whole system is passive and anonymous, so no one, not even Apple, knows which devices update the location of your AirTag. But it works: If you leave an item with an AirTag on a bus, for example, anyone on the bus with an iPhone can, unbeknownst to them, refresh your AirTag's location.
The magic behind how AirTags work is also the reason why they're not reliable for live tracking. Without another internet-connected Find My device within Bluetooth range, your AirTag won't be able to update its location. If your kid isn't within Bluetooth range of another person with such a Find My device, for example, you won't see their latest location—just the last known location where they were within range of a Find My device.
But even when they are in range, AirTags tend to be pretty sporadic in how often they refresh their location. As Lifehacker deputy editor Joel Cunningham discovered, sometimes locations wouldn't update for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Occasionally, the AirTag wouldn't update its location at all. So much for tracking.
I tried using an AirTag for tracking my son a couple of years ago (9 years old at the time) when he went on solo bike rides, but its performance was less than stellar to say the least exactly for the reasons stated above.
I was using it wrong.
Biking in the countryside didn’t bring enough Bluetooth traffic to get a reliable approximation of his location. A cheap iPhone SE 2nd gen is infinitely better and is our current solution.
I still think this idea has other benefits, especially for parents who are hesitant to let their kids be on their own and explore the world by themselves as they get older.
The AirTag (as poorly as it performed), removed a psychological barrier from us (mainly my wife), and made it ok to let our kids go out on their own and be kids. No direct supervision and an opportunity to experience life on their own.
Kudos for Skechers for trying. Who knows, maybe Skechers has some inside scoop on the next generation of AirTags having full GPS support?
Amazon’s app lets you save your returns to the Wallet app.
Not sure when this update was rolled out, but it’s a heck of a lot easier now to keep track of your Amazon returns. I started two returns recently, and I was given the option to add the barcode into the Wallet app.
No more random screenshots with barcodes scattered in my Photo Library.
Not sure when this update was rolled out, but it’s a heck of a lot easier now to keep track of your Amazon returns. I started two returns recently, and I was given the option to add the barcode into the Wallet app.
No more random screenshots with barcodes scattered in my Photo Library.
Comparing icons: iOS 18 vs iOS 26
9to5Mac has a nice comparison showing the updated icons. Of course all the new icons have Liquid Glass inspiration, but the Clock icon is by far the best upgrade we get.
9to5Mac has a nice comparison showing the updated icons. Of course all the new icons have Liquid Glass inspiration, but the Clock icon is by far the best upgrade we get.
Does AppleCare+ or AppleCare One cover damage, theft, or loss to Hermés bands?
I’ve got bad news for you.
If you damage your expensive, overpriced Hermés watch band, don’t expect Apple to replace it for you under AppleCare (per the fine print):
For Apple Watch, the band that is covered for accidental damage and defects in material or workmanship under your plan is the band that came in the same box as the covered Apple Watch. Apple Watch Hermès bands, other than the Hermès Sport Band supplied in the same box as the covered Apple Watch, are not covered. Any replacement band will be an Apple-branded band in a style, material, and color that is subject to Apple’s discretion.
What if someone steals your watch, or the more likely scenario, you lose it?
For any covered Apple Watch theft or loss incidents, including those involving Nike and Hermès watch bands, the replacement band will be an Apple-branded band, which may differ in band style, material, and/or color from the band lost with the covered Apple Watch, subject to Apple’s discretion. Theft or loss claims cannot be made for watch bands only; bands are covered only when the Apple Watch is lost or stolen.
Even though Apple will replace the band at their discretion, you could still end up on top and negotiate your replacement band. Talking to Apple customer service over the phone is the best way to negotiate, and they might be able to slide you a Titanium Milanese or Link Bracelet since the cheapest Hermés band you could lose is $349.
I was able to return my Vision Pro after the 14 day period, and even got them to refund me for my Jet Black Apple Watch since the replacement they sent was worse.
Just do yourself a (huge) favor - don’t lose your $999 Grand H band.
I’ve got bad news for you.
If you damage your expensive, overpriced Hermés watch band, don’t expect Apple to replace it for you under AppleCare (per the fine print):
For Apple Watch, the band that is covered for accidental damage and defects in material or workmanship under your plan is the band that came in the same box as the covered Apple Watch. Apple Watch Hermès bands, other than the Hermès Sport Band supplied in the same box as the covered Apple Watch, are not covered. Any replacement band will be an Apple-branded band in a style, material, and color that is subject to Apple’s discretion.
What if someone steals your watch, or the more likely scenario, you lose it?
For any covered Apple Watch theft or loss incidents, including those involving Nike and Hermès watch bands, the replacement band will be an Apple-branded band, which may differ in band style, material, and/or color from the band lost with the covered Apple Watch, subject to Apple’s discretion. Theft or loss claims cannot be made for watch bands only; bands are covered only when the Apple Watch is lost or stolen.
Even though Apple will replace the band at their discretion, you could still end up on top and negotiate your replacement band. Talking to Apple customer service over the phone is the best way to negotiate, and they might be able to slide you a Titanium Milanese or Link Bracelet since the cheapest Hermés band you could lose is $349.
I was able to return my Vision Pro after the 14 day period, and even got them to refund me for my Jet Black Apple Watch since the replacement they sent was worse.
Just do yourself a (huge) favor - don’t lose your $999 Grand H band.