Apple has introduced a new URI scheme in iOS 17.4 to allow EU users to download and install alternative marketplace apps from websites. Once an authorized browser invokes the special URI scheme marketplace-kit, it hands off the installation request to a MarketplaceKit process that starts communicating with the marketplace back-end servers to finally install the app. As part of the installation flow, the MarketplaceKit process sends a unique client_id identifier to the marketplace back-end. Both Safari and the MarketplaceKit process allow any website to make a call to the marketplace-kit URI scheme of a particular marketplace. As a result, multiple websites can trigger the MarketplaceKit process to send the same unique identifier client_id to the same marketplace back-end. This way a malicious marketplace can track users across different websites.
Apple has not stated the cause of the problem, but posters on social media and the Apple Support Community think the cause is a toggle in iOS called Attention Aware Features. With this feature on, the iPhone checks if the user is paying attention to the iPhone before “dimming the display, expanding a notification when locked, or lowering the volume of some alerts.” Turning this off seems to fix the alarm problem.
Apple has spent the last year trying to convince gamers that they can get a console-like, triple-A experience on the latest iPhones. The newest test of that promise will be Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Mirage, which now has a release date and pricing information.
Apple's Beats brand today is announcing an update to its most popular line of headphones with the new Beats Solo 4. The on-ear headphones have been re-engineered inside and out to deliver upgraded performance and fit while featuring even longer battery life compared to the previous generation.
The Apple-owned brand is also introducing the $79.99 Solo Buds, which now serve as its entry-level wireless earbuds. They deliver “big Beats sound in the smallest case we’ve ever made,” the company said in its press release. Again, there’s no ANC to be found here — apparently, a Beats product must have “Pro” in its name for that — though Beats claims the Solo Buds provide a good amount of noise isolation to help mitigate ambient noise.
The omission of noise cancellation on the Solo 4 could be a real obstacle for some, but I don’t think it’ll be enough to dampen their appeal to the masses who’ve been cycling through Beats products for so many years now. Even if you’re buying largely for the cool factor, at least these on-ear headphones are now platform-agnostic, more comfortable, and more versatile since you can just plug in if you manage to run through that 50-hour battery life.
With iOS 17.5, Apple is adding a "Repair State" feature that is designed to allow an iPhone to be sent in for service without deactivating Find My and Activation Lock. The fourth iOS 17.5 beta that came out today adds a "Remove This Device" option for all devices in Find My, and using it with an iPhone puts that iPhone into the new Repair State.
There is no word on what features, fixes, or updates might be included in the new firmware, and Apple does not offer release notes for Apple Pencil software releases.
“Trying” is a simple show, and that’s arguably its biggest strength. It’s not a twisting thriller or an emotionally-taxing drama, but rather it’s a feel-good comedy without a cynical bone in its body.
Shawn Hickman has always pitched Sofa as a downtime organizer instead of a media tracker, which makes more sense now than ever before. It’s an app that makes it easy to decide what to watch, read, play, or listen to next.
TikTok may be routing around the App Store to save money on commissions. According to new findings, the ByteDance-owned social video app is presenting some of its users with a link to a website for purchasing the coins used for tipping digital creators. Typically, these coins are bought via in-app purchase, which requires a 30% commission paid to Apple.
The feature may be hidden from most users, either by design or because it’s only shown to users in a specific group, like testers or high spenders. In any event, those who do have access to the new option are seeing a screen that encourages them to “recharge” — that is, buy more coins — via tiktok.com. Although these screenshots were discovered within the iOS app by TechCrunch tipster David Tesler, it’s not clear how many TikTok users are seeing them or when or how they’re being shown.
Wasn't there some rumors out there that the next version of AirPods (the non-pro version) will have some form of noise cancelling feature? I sure hope that is true without any significant price increase. I've grew to really love this feature on my AirPods Pro.
The other feature that I really love is the Announce Notifications. I hope Apple will also make this feature available on non-AirPods earphones -- at least, just the announcement part without the listening for replies by Siri.
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Thanks for reading.