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The Saw-No-Danger Edition Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Lufthansa Says Passengers Can’t Use Apple AirTags To Track Checked Bags, by Daniel Victor, New York Times

The airline has not issued a specific policy prohibiting baggage trackers. Rather, it says it is at the mercy of the rules. On Tuesday, the airline said it was “in close contact with the respective institutions to find a solution as quickly as possible.” It also indicated its own examination saw no danger from their use.

[...]

An F.A.A. advisory from 2017 allows devices to use low-powered wireless communication like Bluetooth on board planes in the United States. In a statement on Monday, the Transportation Security Administration confirmed Apple’s view that “tracking devices are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags.”

On Tuesday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said that its regulation “does not in itself ban or allow devices such as the Apple AirTags.” But the E.A.S.A. seemed to kick the matter back to Lufthansa, saying, “It is the responsibility of operators to prohibit the use of devices which could adversely affect the flight safety or the aircraft’s systems.”

Stuff

What Does SOS In The iPhone Status Bar Mean?, by Adam Engst, TidBITS

It turns out that SOS in the status bar is how Apple now indicates that the phone isn’t connected to a cellular network but can still make emergency calls. You may also see “SOS Only” where the carrier name usually goes. This feature works in Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Holiday Peanuts Specials Will Not Air On PBS This Year, Streaming Exclusively On Apple TV+ Alongside New Festive Originals, by Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac

For the last two years, Apple allowed PBS to air the iconic Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas Peanuts specials. This year, they are Apple exclusive however. Apple will stream them for free for everyone — no subscription needed — for a limited time.

Apple's Worst Product Has Now Become One Of Its Best, by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNet

But over the past few years, I've noticed that Apple charging cables have radically improved.

And I know this because I've been testing them.

VirtualBox 7.0 Adds First ARM Mac Client, Full Encryption, Windows 11 TPM, by Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica

Nearly four years after its last major release, VirtualBox 7.0 arrives with a host of new features. Chief among them are Windows 11 support via TPM, EFI Secure Boot support, full encryption for virtual machines, and a few Linux niceties.

Develop

'Ask Apple' Launches As The Company's Newest Support Series For Developers, by Michael Potuck, 9to5Mac

A new resource featuring interactive Q&A’s and one-on-ones for developers has launched today called “Ask Apple.” Coming as an extension to its Tech Talks and Meet with App Store Experts, the company is aiming to “provide developers with even more opportunities to connect directly with Apple experts for insight, support, and feedback.”

Notes

Apple Is Quietly Pushing A TV Ad Product With Media Agencies, by Michael Bürgi, Ronan Shields and Seb Joseph, Digiday

Apple, Digiday has learned, is preparing a more serious push into monetizing its original video content with an ad play, according to several media agency sources that held separate exploratory discussions with the digital giant.

What If Apple Made An E-Bike?, by Ira Boudway, Bloomberg

But building a car is harder than it sounds. The odds of any company selling a self-driving passenger vehicle in 2025 are close to zilch, and anything less than that puts Apple in an already crowded marketplace. It’s a no-win situation that has churned through executives in Cupertino.

In the meantime, e-bikes have been booming, with plenty of room left to grow. There is no feasible path to net zero emissions that does not include a proliferation of light electric vehicles. And this presents Apple with the chance to do something it hasn’t done since the iPhone: make a category-defining product that also rewires how people relate to time and space.

Bottom of the Page

I still believe Apple should make a self-driving wheelchair. It is probably more achievable than a self-driving car, and it will have greater impact on making humankind better.

Of course, my mind also goes to the 'wheelchairs' in Wall-E. And that is… not that great.

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Thanks for reading.