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The Forgetful-Defaults Edition Thursday, October 22, 2020

Hands-On With The HomePod's New Intercom Feature, Alarms, And Siri Tricks, by John Voorhees, MacStories

Most of the new features are related to the HomePod. Although proximity-based features are exclusive to the HomePod mini, which features Apple’s U1 Ultra Wideband chip, some of the other functionality revealed last week is available on all HomePod models.

Apple Introduces Option To Download iOS Updates Over 5G On iPhone 12 Models, by Joe Rossignol, MacRumors

Apple says this mode also enables higher-quality video and FaceTime calls, and allows third-party apps to use more cellular data for enhanced experiences, when connected to 5G networks.

iOS 14 Will Forget That A Third-party App Is The Default, If The App Is Updated, by Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsider

One of the most long-awaited features of iOS 14 was the ability to replace certain default apps such as Apple Mail, with third-party alternatives. Now, following initial problems, a new issue has emerged where iOS will automatically reset the choice of mail app if that third-party one is updated.

Stuff

Some iPhone 12 Cases Are Shipping Without Speaker Holes, by Mike Peterson, AppleInsider

Some of Apple's iPhone 12 cases appear to be shipping out to customers without speaker holes on the bottom, according to user reports.

Foursquare Develops Whispering Apple AirPod App With Far-Reaching Impacts For Ad Industry, by Laurie Sullivan, MediaPost

Marsbot for AirPods launched in the Apple App Store on Tuesday. It’s a virtual assistant that whispers local recommendations and other snippets into the wearer’s headphones or earbuds, with no voice search required.

The whisper could include information about a place, an object, a building, some street art, or even a person. It pauses a podcast or lowers the music while it whispers something, but it will never interrupt a phone call.

The New York Times Launches Its Own Widget For iOS 14, by Joe Wituschek, iMore

The publication says that the widget will feature two headlines that will update automatically as new stories are published throughout each day.

Develop

How To Compete Against Tech Goliaths Like Apple, Google, And Microsoft, by Amir Salihefendic, Medium

Over a decade ago, I started building a task management app as a personal side project. Today it helps over 25 million people stay organized and productive. Todoist is proof that a small startup can become a market leader even as Apple, Google, and Microsoft preinstall free alternatives. Here, seven core principles for successfully competing against the tech Goliaths.

Notes

Apple Lobbies For Lower Taxes To Boost U.S. Chip Production, by Mark Gurman, Bloomberg

Apple Inc. has been lobbying the U.S. government on tax breaks to support domestic chip production, suggesting the iPhone maker is keen to move more of its supply chain to the U.S.

Bottom of the Page

Will the next HomePod be just like the HomePod mini, except better speakers and less expensive than the current HomePod? Or are there anything else up Apple's sleeves?

The HomePod is an interesting platform. Too bad it is still so limiting.

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I wish I can sleep all day and all night, and only wake up to, maybe, eat and use the facilities.

Actually, what I really do wish is to be able to sleep through the night. Some nights, whoever grants wishes grant this particular wish of mine. Recently, yet again, this wish was not granted.

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Thanks for reading.