Digital zoom has gotten better recently by using computational tricks to fill in the gaps, but even so, I’d rather stick with good old-fashioned optics. In any case, that’s not what Apple’s doing here — this crop to 2x uses all 12 megapixels at the center of the sensor, so you’re getting a full-resolution image, just without the pixel binning tricks that are available when the full width of the 48-megapixel sensor is used. It doesn’t need to fill in any missing information, because it’s all just there.
Bloomberg Intelligence estimates it would take about eight years to move just 10% of Apple’s production capacity out of China, where roughly 98% of the company’s iPhones have been made. Scores of local component suppliers -- not to mention modern and efficient transport, communication and electricity supplies -- make it particularly difficult to get out of the world’s second-largest economy.
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Apple’s exposure to China is also notably bigger than many others. Amazon.com Inc., HP Inc., Microsoft Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc. also depend on China to produce hardware for servers, storage and networking products, but the extent of their dependence is far below that of Apple.
As noted on Reddit, first-generation AirPods Pro owners who also have the AirPods beta software will now see an “Adaptive Transparency” toggle in the AirPods section of the Settings app. The 5A304A beta firmware is required to see the setting.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook announced the Cupertino company will be donating to “relief efforts on the ground” due to those affected by Hurricane Ian as the storm pummels Florida. As usual, Apple did not disclose how much it will donate.
As Foss Patents points out, Apple charges 30% of the price paid by end users, which includes value added tax (VAT), making it 10% higher than the amount on which Google bases its 30% commission, which doesn’t include VAT. Apple is therefore collecting 33% (30% of 110%), not the headline 30% rate.
But at long last, the USB-IF has finally made things better, with a simplified set of USB logos!
At the same time, however, a somewhat hidden aspect of USB4 cables comes to the fore with the announcement of an upcoming 80 Gbps version of USB4. Yes, it’s the return of having to worry about the distinction between passive and active cables—or is it?
I must be some sort of secret hoarder, because I always find deleting things quite an anxious experience. And at work today, I have to go in and delete a whole bunch of stuff in AWS. I think I am going to need all of the weekend to recoup.
On the other hand, over at Google...
(I have not sign up for any new Google services since Google Reader.)
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Thanks for reading.