by MacNN Staff
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
Steve Wilkinson Senior User Joined: Dec 19, 2001
re: Jobs death and the 'new' Apple - I think the question is more around whether Jobs would have been able to keep Apple culture more in line with their history under such rapid growth, rather than (as it appears) the typical-tech-industry-wisdom-types taking over, bringing Apple practices more in line with the Apple of the mid-90s (just at the top of the mountain this time, instead of struggling up the foothills).
Also, aside from maybe the Mac Pro, hardware isn't really where Apple is struggling. While I'd maybe like to see Apple add some more flexible machines (i.e.: a new Mac Pro and something between the mini and Mac Pro, like a headless iMac), their hardware lineup is pretty darn impressive as is. (outside a few niche areas, which I think Apple would be wise to serve)
re: Lose an old-time Mac user
I'm just not sure why everyone thinks this has to be an all-or-nothing thing. Can't Apple be wildly successful with their new segment of customers (the consumer folks) while also supporting we old-time artists, creatives, and pro users? I've heard no convincing argument as to why not, other than.... pie chart! (Again, that might be nailing the problem at Apple, but it doesn't explain why other than Apple is stupid now, which isn't exactly comforting.)
And, doesn't anyone think that Apple losing the creatives (which were once seen as the life-force of the company) will have any impact on the future of the company? Consumers are a kind of fickle bunch... I'd want my eggs in more than one basket.
Regarding the 'bad quarter' and upcoming projections, I think we can chalk that up to a global economic slowdown, maybe even crisis, not anything specifically Apple.
But, I was a big intrigued by the thermal management discussion. Do you guys think these newer machines would fare better under constant load than the machines of the past? I guess they produce less heat, but also seem to have less cooling capabilities. For example, the MacBook Pros of the 2000s weren't able to handle it. (Mike, a mini might be the best capable outside the Pro from what I've seen.) I've just seen too many Macs with shortened lives due 24x7 constant load (a couple of them mine) that I'm kind of gun-shy now. (ex: I run Folding@home on my iMac, but limit it to 2 cores so it only takes up about 50% CPU.)
Mike Wuerthele Managing Editor Joined: Jul 19, 2012
The latest i-series processors have a much lower TDP, and consequently, less heat, than relatives from not all that long ago. The cooling solutions haven't changed much, if at all, and are designed for the heat loads on the older machines.
Steve Wilkinson Senior User Joined: Dec 19, 2001
Originally Posted by Mike Wuerthele
The latest i-series processors have a much lower TDP, and consequently, less heat, than relatives from not all that long ago. The cooling solutions haven't changed much, if at all, and are designed for the heat loads on the older machines.
Yea, I know the power consumption and heat have been rapidly dropping... but hadn't realized the cooling systems haven't likewise scaled down. I suppose on the same exact systems that haven't had a major redesign, but I was thinking of newer design moves like MacBook Pro -> MacBook Air -> MacBook. I'd think each move has less cooling capability to go with the TDP reduction.
My problems were primarily with MacBook Pros. I used to do renderings with them, and was a major participant in Folding@home. ( I've since scaled that back out of necessity, but still have nearly 10M points for Team MacOS X Team Mac OS X - Folding@home IMO, a very worthy cause if you've got some extra CPU cycles. )
Mike Wuerthele Managing Editor Joined: Jul 19, 2012
There are some common sense things, here, though. If you've got a fanless machine like the new MacBook, maybe FAH isn't your best choice.
The CD/C2D machines were engineered hot. The newer machines get warm, but nothing like that, even under load.
Steve Wilkinson Senior User Joined: Dec 19, 2001
Originally Posted by Mike Wuerthele
There are some common sense things, here, though. If you've got a fanless machine like the new MacBook, maybe FAH isn't your best choice.
The CD/C2D machines were engineered hot. The newer machines get warm, but nothing like that, even under load.
For sure... but I guess to me, that's the difference between 'Pro' and non-pro. If I buy a Mac Pro, I expect, no DEMAND, that it would be able to run F@H at 100% across all CPUs and/or GPUs, 24x7, for many years. Or, my rendering jobs, or video encoding, etc.
If I can't do such things on non-pro machines, I think it would be good if what I could do were made clear for each product type. One would *think* that it should automatically scale back in some way to save itself if someone should do so, but you're right that this wasn't the case for the CD/C2D machines (at least laptops... even the Pro ones). Hopefully, as you said, it's better now.
But, there's nothing stopping someone from buying a MacBook and ripping a Blu-Ray to MP4, which would put the CPU cores at 100% for probably a day or more or some other similar activity a more typical end-user might try. So, hopefully it is taken into account in the design, even if it isn't typical.
For me, even though I don't *currently* do a lot of this stuff (or often need to), I want that capability. I suppose the mini is currently my best bet aside from the Pro. About the only time I run my iMac like that is for video encoding, which often does push it to 100% for like 5 or 6 hours at a time (more if I queue stuff up). So far, so good... but I can't say I'm not a bit nervous about it. (gun shy!) :err: