Every time an app I rely on exposes its mortality, I realize that all the software I rely on is made by people. And some of it is made by a very small group of people, or even largely a single person. And it gives me pause, because whether that person decides to stop development or retires or is hit by the proverbial bus, the result is the same: That tool is probably going to fade away.
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Nothing lasts forever. That’s the truth whether we like it or not—so we might as well be optimistic about it. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens.
But imagine installing just one app that does almost everything - from buying a pizza, hailing a taxi, chatting to your friends and even booking a massage.
It does exist and it's known as a super-app.
To promote the debut of "The Snoopy Show" on Apple TV+, Apple has handed over its website to characters from the show. Ranging from a regular promotional still, to having "Charlie Brown" characters interacting with Apple's usual product displays, the promotion has taken over the entire front page of Apple.com.
The real standout of CorelDraw Graphics Suite 2020 isn’t a single new thing, but rather how artificial intelligence has been implemented across several features.
If you want a great way to collect historical run data and analyze performance from Apple Watch runs, checkout Tempo for iPhone and Apple Watch. The app will process your existing run data so you don’t have to start from scratch, and it sure beats pen and paper as a run keeper journal.
Calming nighttime routines are often essential for kid's sleep patterns, too, because they help establish healthy sleep hygiene habits early on. And these apps, which include meditations, bedtime stories, and soothing sounds just for children, can help kids learn how to self-soothe and wind down for the night.
The new AirPods Max Leather Case from Pad & Quill gives users another alternative to Apple’s infamous Smart Case. It features a low-power magnet array to put the over-ear headphones into low-power mode when not in use, as well as a nylon interior, storage compartment, and more.
Apple has now reversed course and upped the credit, and will now be providing developers with $500 to put toward an M1 Mac or any other Apple product. The time limit to spend the credit has also been increased, with Apple giving developers until the end of the year to use it.
They cover a lot of ringtones, including the familiar “Opening” ringtone, the classic “Marimba” ringtone, and even the twangy “Strum” ringtone.
The slides paint two pictures: Yes, Apple has work to do in this transition, and the touchscreen, multi-display support, and limited port selection need to be fixed. But the fact that Intel went through putting these slides together also shows that it sees a formidable opponent worth comparing its chips against, suggesting a competitive future for notebooks.
“This could be one of the most important acquisitions in the history of Sundance,” said a film-world veteran who, like many that attended the festival, was as shocked by the size of the deal as they were passionate in keeping their feelings about it anonymous. “Or it could be one of its most spectacular failures.”
It’s unclear if -- or when -- discussions between Apple and Hyundai might resume. There are only a handful of global automakers with the capacity and capability to mass manufacture vehicles, and it’s unclear how many of them would be interested in collaborating with Apple.
Yes, software does not last forever. Some day, the developers will have move on. Some day, the software will not run on any non-obsoleted versions of your favorite operating system. Some day, the server part of the software will be shut down.
Some of my strategies on choosing to rely on:
Choose software that seems to be regularly updated. Apple's App Store make this easy to figure out.
Avoid anything from Google. They seems to be always in a great hurry to lose interest in things they've built.
Avoid software that only works if the developer's server is still running. I've switched to using local feeds that sync over my iCloud for all my RSS need. I'm now looking to do the same for my podcast listening needs.
No, all these will not prevent software you're using from dying. Risk mitigation, not elimination.
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Thanks for reading.