Apple’s upcoming MacBook Air with M2 processor finally has a shipping date. After a bit longer wait than usual, the new $1,199 laptop will begin shipping on July 15th, with preorders opening on July 8th at 8AM ET.
The truth is, the iPhone mini is just too good a product–and a size–for Apple to ignore completely. I’m still sad that it’s apparently not popular enough to merit a new version every year, but I can’t believe it’s gone for good. In the meantime, I’ll be holding on to my iPhone 13 mini–and waiting on the mini’s inevitable return.
Imagine an online world where what users want matters, and interoperability reigns. Friends could choose whichever messaging app they like and seamlessly chat cross-app. Any pre-installed app could be deleted on any device. Businesses could finally access their Facebook data, and smaller tech companies could be better positioned to compete with giants. Big Tech could even face consequences for not preventing the theft of personal info.
There is no word on what’s new with the Apple TV Siri Remote, but it likely includes minor bug fixes and performance improvements.
At its core, Pestle is a recipe manager, but it also integrates with Reminders to create shopping lists, offers a way to discover new dishes, and integrates meal planning, making it a well-rounded solution. The app also features a modern design that works well in the kitchen and some clever details like hands-free voice control for moving between recipe steps while cooking, making it worth a closer look.
One of the simplest joys in life is going out to dinner with friends. That is, of course, until the bill comes. All conversation now must turn to how much money each person owes for the loaded potato wedges and fried pickles the table shared. You’re in the mood for merriment, not complicated math. Of the many great technological advancements of the past decade are a handful of apps dedicated to solving this problem—by seamlessly splitting the bill for you. By using any of these free services, you’ll never again have to tediously figure out who pays how much for what exactly.
Throughout the pandemic, in-person and analog services have rapidly fallen to digital alternatives. Many restaurants and bars have left physical menus behind in favor of QR codes, apps, and webforms. At Walt Disney World in Florida, an app-based chatbot is telling people to visit long-closed restaurants. While the digital divide has been excluding economically disadvantaged and elderly people for years, its rapid expansion is creating a new problem: The technology is often terrible.
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The replacement of in-person services with digital alternatives is becoming an ever-growing inconvenience for those on the wrong side of the digital divide. An estimated 2.9 billion people—37 percent of the world’s population—have never used the internet, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations’ IT agency.
I do like my iPhone 12 mini. Yes, the not-so-great-battery version. The chief reason is that it is light(er). The smaller footprint is a good side-effect.
Apple invited a lot of criticism for going after thin-and-light for many of its products. And the critics are right that there are people who do not necessary want thin-and-light. But I do hope Apple continues to innovate in the weight-and-dimension department, because for some of the devices -- iPhone, primarily -- I do like thin and light.
The rumors are probably right that Apple will not have a mini version of iPhone 14. So, my wishlist is for Apple to have two sizes of the next iPhone SE: regular, and mini. Thin, light, and inexpensive. Too much to ask for?
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Thanks for reading.