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The Evolution-of-Health Edition Thursday, June 17, 2021

With iOS 15, Apple Reveals Just How Far Health Has Come — And How Much Further It Can Go, by Darrell Etherington, TechCrunch

I spoke with Apple Vice President of Technology Kevin Lynch who actually demonstrated the Apple Watch for the first time on the world stage during Apple’s September 2014 keynote event. Lynch has seen Apple Watch grow considerably during his time at the company, but he’s also been integral to the evolution of the its health initiatives. He explained how it became what it is today and provided some hints as to where it might go in the future.

Apple‘s Tim Cook: Sideloading Is “Not In The Best Interests Of The User”, by Samuel Axon, Ars Technica

"As I look at the tech regulations that's being discussed, I think there are good parts of it and then I think there are parts of it that are not in the best interests of the user," he said.

As an example of the latter, he said "the current DMA language that is being discussed would force sideloading on the iPhone."

Apple Launches 2021 Back To School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac Or iPad Purchase, by Sami Fathi, MacRumors

Apple today launched its seasonal back-to-school sale for the upcoming school year in the United States and Canada, offering students free AirPods alongside purchases of select Macs and iPad models.

Stuff

The Ultrathin New iMac Lost A Lot More Than Size, by Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post

Turning computers into appliances can simplify them: You don’t need to know about what’s going on if it just works.

But Apple’s appliance mind-set is also self-serving, because it means we have to keep buying new stuff.

Tripsy App Updated With Routes And macOS Version For The First Time, by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac

[Tripsy] helps users plan trips by organizing things like flights, places to visit, and even suggested itineraries in some cities around the world. This week, Tripsy was updated with routes within the app and also a macOS version for the first time.

Zens’ Latest Battery Pack Can Create A Wireless Charging Sandwich, by Jon Porter, The Verge

Although you could theoretically use it to charge two Qi-compatible phones, the intended use case appears to be charging an iPhone along with an accessory like a pair of AirPods.

Profoto Camera App Review: The Future Of iPhone Photography?, by Illya Ovchar, PetaPixel

Lighting, being a core aspect of photography, is naturally a focus for many photographers, so Profoto introduced a new technology, AirX, that lets photographers sync flash to their phones directly.

Develop

Apple’s New MusicKit API Lets Developers Offer Apple Music Trials, And Rewards Them With A Payout, by José Adorno, 9to5Mac

With a new MusicKit API, developers will be able to offer Apple Music trials and receive rewards for new subscribers through a referral program starting with iOS 15.

Notes

He Warned Apple About The Risks In China. Then They Became Reality., by Jack Nicas, New York Times

China’s new leader, Xi Jinping, was leaning on Western companies to strengthen his grip on the country. Mr. Guthrie realized that few companies were bigger targets, or more vulnerable, than Apple. It assembled nearly every Apple device in China and had made the region its No. 2 sales market.

So Mr. Guthrie began touring the company with a slide show and lecture to ring the alarm. Apple, he said, had no Plan B.

Bottom of the Page

I sure hope Apple doesn't abandon the iPhone mini form factor for future phones, but there are rumors that Apple is going to do one more round of iPhone mini this year and that's it for the line.

I especially like the iPhone mini's lighter weight foremost, but the smaller dimension is also a nice bonus. It will be a shame if a company as big as Apple now cannot manufacture different phones for different preferences.

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Thanks for reading.