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The Icicle-Fingers Edition Thursday, December 1, 2022

Apple Supporting World AIDS Day With Apple Store Window Displays And Special Watch Faces To Download, by Benjamin Mayo, 9to5Mac

Apple Watch users can show their support by downloading a selection of special red-themed watch face configurations. Apple retail will also be promoting PRODUCT(RED) in the stores, with new window displays. As usual, a portion of every PRODUCT(RED) Apple product sold goes to the (RED) Global Fund.

The Apple Watch Action Button’s Sole Purpose Is To Do Your Bidding, by Victoria Song, The Verge

For me, the worst part about running in cold weather isn’t the freezing wind, black ice, or the fact that my face feels like it’s been stabbed with one thousand needles. It’s the 10 seconds spent shivering as my icicle fingers navigate through menus to launch an Apple Watch workout. Ten seconds isn’t much, but it’s enough for the cold to seep into your bones because you’re not moving. That’s why I was stoked for the Apple Watch Ultra and one of its key new features: the Action Button.

Crash Detection

Apple Releases iOS 16.1.2 With Crash Detection Improvements For iPhone 14 Users, by Filipe Espósito, 9to5Mac

It’s unclear how exactly Apple is improving Crash Detection with iOS 16.1.2, but since the feature is based on algorithms to detect potential car crashes, Apple is probably tweaking the system to make those algorithms more accurate.

Dispatchers Get Accidental 911 Calls From Skiers Because Of iPhone Crash Technology, by Shelby Lofton, KSLTV.com

Summit County dispatchers are seeing an uptick in accidental emergency calls from skiers. The technology is designed to detect severe car crashes, but it’s often accidentally activated at ski resorts.

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“We do not want you to turn the feature off,” Butterfield said. “We would rather have you be safe. We don’t mind taking that call because if something really did happen, we want to be able to get to you.”

Stuff

Apple Accessibility Video Highlights Voice Control, Sound Recognition, Door Detection, And More, by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac

The fast-moving, upbeat ad packs in a lot of demonstrations in a video lasting just 2m 20s. It really drives home the power of accessibility features to allow as many people as possible to live independent lives.

Beats Flex Get A Leopard-Print Design In New Collaboration With Wacko Maria, by Eric Slivka, MacRumors

Apple’s Beats brand today announced a new collaboration with Japanese designers Wacko Maria for limited-edition Beats Flex earphones featuring a leopard-print design with a dual-color cable.

Belkin Launches AirPods Cleaning Kit, Claims To Remove Earwax Plus Restore Acoustic Performance, by Michael Potuck, 9to5Mac

Belkin has launched an intriguing AirPods Cleaning Kit this week. Designed for gen 1, 2, or 3 of Apple’s hit earphones, the kit includes a solution that the company says not only removes earwax but also brings “your high-quality audio back.”

Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station Review: Room For An iPad But A Bit Expensive, by Andrew Orr, AppleInsider

Multi-device chargers generally focus on smaller products such as iPhones, Apple Watch, and AirPods. But the new 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station from Zens has a place to charge an iPad, a welcome addition that could make it the sole charger for a room or household.

The modular part of the charger means that the Apple Watch charging attachment can magnetically connect and disconnect on either side of the central station. Zens also sells other modular chargers separately.

Review: Twelve South HoverBar Tower Makes iPad Convenient To Use Almost Anywhere, by Michael Potuck, 9to5Mac

Twelve South delivered a hit with its HoverBar Duo stand for iPad and iPhone and the evolution of the series has begun with the HoverBar Tower. I’ve been testing out the new floor stand for iPad that offers the flexibility to put the tablet in the right position for pretty much any use case.

Notes

Apple TV Isn't Ready For Prime Time, by Jason Snell, Macworld

Sports are a great motivator to get many of them to learn. The big issue is that I’m not sure Apple’s TV platform is ready for them to arrive.

Bottom of the Page

I've always wanted a dedicated Play/Pause button on my iPhone. But I'll be satisfied with an Action button.

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Welcome back, Kottke. I missed you.

And here's wishing you a healthy life.

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Thanks for reading.