Porsche makes a 3.5-inch display that features Apple CarPlay.
Doug finally got his Arena Red Porsche 993 Turbo, and what’s even cooler than that is his biggest quirk and feature - a 3.5-inch Porsche-made, Apple CarPlay head unit with a touchscreen. It’s made to look period-correct for the vehicle, and a perfect solution to buying a classic car that needs a technology upgrade.
It’s not wireless CarPlay, but you can’t complain when it looks this good in a 29 year-old car.
Doug finally got his Arena Red Porsche 993 Turbo, and what’s even cooler than that is his biggest quirk and feature - a 3.5-inch Porsche-made, Apple CarPlay head unit with a touchscreen. It’s made to look period-correct for the vehicle, and a perfect solution to buying a classic car that needs a technology upgrade.
It’s not wireless CarPlay, but you can’t complain when it looks this good in a 29 year-old car.
The only constant, is change.
Apple has had a slew of changes recently, and it doesn’t surprise me all these shuffles happened in the off-season, right after they released all their new software and hardware for the year and progress can take a slower pace. Pump out the products, and then rework the org chart for the coming years, making sure the headlines don’t overshadow product marketing.
As Yoda would say:
“Pump out the products they did.”
“Reworking the org chart, they are.”
Abidur Chowdhury, Industrial Designer at Apple, who introduced the iPhone Air in the keynote event, left Apple in November for an AI startup.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s former Chief Operating Officer, has retired or is on the brink of retirement by year’s end, right after launching a groundbreaking hypertension notification feature and three new Apple Watches, only the second time since 2014.
Amar Subramanya, AI researcher at Microsoft and Google, will replace John Giannandrea - announced on Dec 1st.
Alan Dye, head of Apple UI design will start working at Meta on Dec. 31st, and will be replaced by Stephen Lemay.
Will turnover be this drastic every off-season? Who knows.
Apple has had a slew of changes recently, and it doesn’t surprise me all these shuffles happened in the off-season, right after they released all their new software and hardware for the year and progress can take a slower pace. Pump out the products, and then rework the org chart for the coming years, making sure the headlines don’t overshadow product marketing.
As Yoda would say:
“Pump out the products they did.”
“Reworking the org chart, they are.”
Abidur Chowdhury, Industrial Designer at Apple, who introduced the iPhone Air in the keynote event, left Apple in November for an AI startup.
Jeff Williams, Apple’s former Chief Operating Officer, has retired or is on the brink of retirement by year’s end, right after launching a groundbreaking hypertension notification feature and three new Apple Watches, only the second time since 2014.
Amar Subramanya, AI researcher at Microsoft and Google, will replace John Giannandrea - announced on Dec 1st.
Alan Dye, head of Apple UI design will start working at Meta on Dec. 31st, and will be replaced by Stephen Lemay.
Will turnover be this drastic every off-season? Who knows.
Apple needs to squash this 3-year old bug in watchOS 27.
Mark Gurman in his latest Power On Newsletter:
After the sweeping design overhaul of iOS 26 and the debut of Liquid Glass across its platforms, Apple is working on a Snow Leopard-style update. For iOS 27 and next year’s other major operating system updates — including macOS 27 — the company is focused on improving the software’s quality and underlying performance. […]
Aiming to improve the software, engineering teams are now combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality.
watchOS 27 wasn’t mentioned by name and doesn’t have the brunt of software complaints, but don’t worry, I’m here to speak up for the silent majority.
watchOS 27 has a few bugs here and there, but nothing major. However, there is one feature that is still broken, and calling it a bug is being kind.
You can call it a minor infestation.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about, once again, the hidden toggle that is “Swipe to Switch Watch Face.” This mess started with watchOS 10 and its retooling of all the buttons and swipes.
I’ve tooted my horn about this several times in the past, but attention to detail is what makes Apple, Apple. When I’m swiping between watch faces, literally right now, with my Apple Watch Ultra 3, the best Apple Watch on the market, it still feels clunky and looks bad when compared to a Series 3 Apple Watch, a watch that has mastered the swipe between watch faces even though it crawls at a snails pace in every other function.
In fact, watchOS 26 has worse animations than my Series 10 on watchOS 11. At least the complications didn’t disappear and reappear like they do on watchOS 26.
Take a look for yourself:
Series 3 on watchOS 8 - notice the smooth transitioning of the seconds hand when swiping between analog faces, and how the time is always correct.
Series 10 on watchOS 11 - each swipe has to load the time and complications from scratch, but complications don’t disappear and reappear.
Ultra 3 on watchOS 26 - even worse than watchOS 11, with complications disappearing and reappearing.
Swiping to switch the watch face was a core feature from the beginning of Apple Watch, and even though swiping between watch faces is a transitionary software feature that doesn’t need to be reinvented, it does need to be fixed. Liquid Glass is proof that Apple does care about these small details - they literally reinvented every transition with Liquid Glass.
Apple Watch had a great run under their now-retired COO Jeff Williams, but I think he had too much on his plate, putting these optimizations on the back burner.
In addition to serving as Apple’s COO, Williams had also been overseeing the company’s customer service and support, the design team, software and hardware engineering for the Apple Watch, and Apple’s overall health initiatives.
Recently, Bloomberg reported that some of Williams’ responsibilities would be split, with the health and fitness teams reporting to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services Eddy Cue, watchOS shifting to Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, and Apple Watch hardware engineering being handed to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus.
The tag-team combo of Federighi and Ternus leading software and hardware engineering for Apple Watch is a great sign, and I’m confident we’ll get a more optimized watchOS experience that runs as fluid as the Liquid Glass moniker it carries.
Mark Gurman in his latest Power On Newsletter:
After the sweeping design overhaul of iOS 26 and the debut of Liquid Glass across its platforms, Apple is working on a Snow Leopard-style update. For iOS 27 and next year’s other major operating system updates — including macOS 27 — the company is focused on improving the software’s quality and underlying performance. […]
Aiming to improve the software, engineering teams are now combing through Apple’s operating systems, hunting for bloat to cut, bugs to eliminate, and any opportunity to meaningfully boost performance and overall quality.
watchOS 27 wasn’t mentioned by name and doesn’t have the brunt of software complaints, but don’t worry, I’m here to speak up for the silent majority.
watchOS 27 has a few bugs here and there, but nothing major. However, there is one feature that is still broken, and calling it a bug is being kind.
You can call it a minor infestation.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about, once again, the hidden toggle that is “Swipe to Switch Watch Face.” This mess started with watchOS 10 and its retooling of all the buttons and swipes.
I’ve tooted my horn about this several times in the past, but attention to detail is what makes Apple, Apple. When I’m swiping between watch faces, literally right now, with my Apple Watch Ultra 3, the best Apple Watch on the market, it still feels clunky and looks bad when compared to a Series 3 Apple Watch, a watch that has mastered the swipe between watch faces even though it crawls at a snails pace in every other function.
In fact, watchOS 26 has worse animations than my Series 10 on watchOS 11. At least the complications didn’t disappear and reappear like they do on watchOS 26.
Take a look for yourself:
Series 3 on watchOS 8 - notice the smooth transitioning of the seconds hand when swiping between analog faces, and how the time is always correct.
Series 10 on watchOS 11 - each swipe has to load the time and complications from scratch, but complications don’t disappear and reappear.
Ultra 3 on watchOS 26 - even worse than watchOS 11, with complications disappearing and reappearing.
Swiping to switch the watch face was a core feature from the beginning of Apple Watch, and even though swiping between watch faces is a transitionary software feature that doesn’t need to be reinvented, it does need to be fixed. Liquid Glass is proof that Apple does care about these small details - they literally reinvented every transition with Liquid Glass.
Apple Watch had a great run under their now-retired COO Jeff Williams, but I think he had too much on his plate, putting these optimizations on the back burner.
In addition to serving as Apple’s COO, Williams had also been overseeing the company’s customer service and support, the design team, software and hardware engineering for the Apple Watch, and Apple’s overall health initiatives.
Recently, Bloomberg reported that some of Williams’ responsibilities would be split, with the health and fitness teams reporting to Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services Eddy Cue, watchOS shifting to Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, and Apple Watch hardware engineering being handed to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus.
The tag-team combo of Federighi and Ternus leading software and hardware engineering for Apple Watch is a great sign, and I’m confident we’ll get a more optimized watchOS experience that runs as fluid as the Liquid Glass moniker it carries.
Surveillance through smartphones.
Ben Lovejoy from 9to5Mac:
The Indian government has ordered Apple and other smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-owned “security” app on all phones before they are sold to users.
Adding fuel to the privacy fire, the government is also requiring smartphone makers to ensure that the app cannot be removed by users …
Reuters reports that those who already own iPhones won’t escape either: Apple and others are also being instructed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to push the app to existing phones via a software update. […]
Apple is likely to push back, hoping to persuade the government to agree to a less extreme policy like offering the app to users during setup and allowing wording that encourages them to install it.
However, ultimately, if negotiations are unsuccessful, it will have to comply with the law. Apple has already been forced to compromise user privacy in China by storing iCloud data on servers owned by a company directly linked to the Chinese government. Apple has also removed VPN and foreign news apps from its Chinese App Store when instructed to do so.
As with China, Apple is in a double-bind here as India is not only a growing market for the company’s products, but also an increasingly important manufacturing centre. Withdrawing from that market in order to uphold its values is not a practical option.
Saw this news story the same day I watched the Mrwhosetheboss’s North Korea video, showing the extreme control North Korea has over their citizens.
Something tells me that even though most world leaders condemn North Korea, they secretly would like to have just as much control over the people.
Ben Lovejoy from 9to5Mac:
The Indian government has ordered Apple and other smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-owned “security” app on all phones before they are sold to users.
Adding fuel to the privacy fire, the government is also requiring smartphone makers to ensure that the app cannot be removed by users …
Reuters reports that those who already own iPhones won’t escape either: Apple and others are also being instructed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to push the app to existing phones via a software update. […]
Apple is likely to push back, hoping to persuade the government to agree to a less extreme policy like offering the app to users during setup and allowing wording that encourages them to install it.
However, ultimately, if negotiations are unsuccessful, it will have to comply with the law. Apple has already been forced to compromise user privacy in China by storing iCloud data on servers owned by a company directly linked to the Chinese government. Apple has also removed VPN and foreign news apps from its Chinese App Store when instructed to do so.
As with China, Apple is in a double-bind here as India is not only a growing market for the company’s products, but also an increasingly important manufacturing centre. Withdrawing from that market in order to uphold its values is not a practical option.
Saw this news story the same day I watched the Mrwhosetheboss’s North Korea video, showing the extreme control North Korea has over their citizens.
Something tells me that even though most world leaders condemn North Korea, they secretly would like to have just as much control over the people.
iPhone Pocket hands on.
I was able to snag a Peacock colored iPhone Pocket last weekend at the Apple SoHo store. It’s funny because I really wasn’t interested in getting one, but then the lore of its rarity got to me. 📓
I was able to snag a Peacock colored iPhone Pocket last weekend at the Apple SoHo store. It’s funny because I really wasn’t interested in getting one, but then the lore of its rarity got to me. I also wanted one for practical reasons since I always carry a spare iPhone with me when traveling, and the iPhone Pocket would be perfect to keep it stored and protected. To wear it as a fashion piece was never the goal, but for those who wear purses, handbags, etc., it is a nice accessory to accent your bag and allows for more practicality.
The materials are quite premium with no visible split threads or stitches. Even when you invert the Pocket, there are no end seams anywhere. You could call it a unibody piece of cloth with no beginning or end. Very stretchy, premium, and durable. Apple describes it as a “singular 3D-knitted construction,” and now I understand.
Wallpaper from BasicAppleGuy
The process of inserting your phone inside the pocket is a bit tricky at first when trying to separate the tight pleats, but once it’s in there, it is protected well. The ribbed structure is spongy and can absorb minor shocks. Of course if you have a case you’ll be doubly protected. It’s thick, high quality, and would require a lot of force for a phone to fall out due to a tear.
People might scoff at the $149 price tag for the short size (as shown above) or $229 for the long size, but it is compatible with practically every modern iPhone that is in use today and in the future, along with other small items like AirPods, battery banks, wallets, lip balm, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if people bought it to hold their non-iPhone devices since it really is about the look and design. All they would have to do is make sure the ISSEY MIYAKE label is front and center instead of iPhone Pocket.
For the non-iPhoners, you can stick this label outward.
On the topic of price, Apple did release a leather sleeve in 2020 with the iPhone 12 lineup, and those were only compatible with one single device. The leather sleeve for iPhone 12 was $129, and didn’t sell well. You can still buy it on Amazon today, 5 years later, for as low as $10. iPhone Pocket? Sold out everywhere, and compatible for years to come.
Even when inverted, it looks great and has a crocodile-pattern look, but it only keeps its form factor this way when you put an iPhone inside.
Left to right: empty iPhone Pocket, with an iPhone placed inside, and closeup of the 3D pleats with iPhone inside.
Most fashion clothing and accessories are illogical and luxury purchases, as you can get similar quality and design for a lot cheaper. iPhone Pocket is along those lines, but slightly more justifiable since it does provide real function without looking ridiculous.
Original iPhone SE is obsolete.
Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:
Apple today added the first-generation iPhone SE to its obsolete products list, meaning the device is no longer eligible for repairs, battery replacements, or any other service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide.
Based on the chassis of the iPhone 5 and 5S, the original SE was the last phone to have what is considered by many to be the best form factor, and still the best dual-tone colored iPhone. The 17 Pro is nice, but still a step back since the dual-tone is more a byproduct of aluminum and glass not portraying color the same way.
The iPhone SE still looks ultra modern today, and damn those volume buttons need to come back.
Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:
Apple today added the first-generation iPhone SE to its obsolete products list, meaning the device is no longer eligible for repairs, battery replacements, or any other service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide.
Based on the chassis of the iPhone 5 and 5S, the original SE was the last phone to have what is considered by many to be the best form factor, and still the best dual-tone colored iPhone. The 17 Pro is nice, but still a step back since the dual-tone is more a byproduct of aluminum and glass not portraying color the same way.
The iPhone SE still looks ultra modern today, and damn those volume buttons need to come back.