Technology in Japan

Today, I am traveling to Japan on a study abroad trip. My hope is to post less news and more things about Japan and technology. This is a short post because my plane’s WiFi didn’t work and I want to get this out before midnight.

iOS 11.4 Finds Slight Workaround for GrayKey

Found by Elcomsoft, the iOS 11.4 beta has an interesting workaround for GrayKey, the box that can unlock an iPhone. After seven days of not being unlocked or being connected to a paired computer, the iOS device will limit its Lightning port's capabilities. It will only be able to charge, with no data through the port being allowed until the iOS device is charged. This puts a time limit on how long GrayKey has to unlock the iOS device. This is a clever workaround. I think seven days is a bit generous given how often people use their phones. 

The Apple Heart Study

I felt like I never went over this, so here it is now. The Apple Heart Study is a new study conducted by Apple and Stanford medicine to help accelerate discovery in heart science. This is achieved by monitoring heart rates of consenting participants wearing Apple Watches. That's a lot of data from a lot of people. Mainly, it can detect irregular heart rates and notify users. Early detection can help a lot. The more people who join, the more data, and thus, the more potential for new discoveries or early detections. You must be 22 years old or older, be a U.S. citizen, have an Apple Watch Series 1 or later (with watchOS 4 or later), and have an iPhone 5s or later (with iOS 11 or later). You can join by downloading the Apple Heart Study app [Direct Link].

iPhone X App Support

Apple is informing developers that all app updates submitted after July 2018 (no specific date was given) must be built with the iOS 11 SDK and support the iPhone X's larger display. Recently, all new apps submitted had to be built for the iPhone X, but this date only applies to updates. This is normal, and ensures that developers are taking advantage of the latest technologies. For those who use outdated apps on their iPhone X, hopefully this enforcement will either update or get rid of any apps that aren't optimized.

Twenty Years of iMac

The iMac revolutionized desktop computing. It was an all-in-one computer for just about everyone. And today, even with the popularity of laptops and mobile devices, it still acts as one of the best desktops one can get. Today, the iMac line of desktops turned twenty years old. Tim Cook tweeted about the anniversary to commemorate it. The embedded video is definitely worth a watch.

20 years ago today, Steve introduced the world to iMac. It set Apple on a new course and forever changed the way people look at computers. pic.twitter.com/GbKno7YBHl

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 6, 2018

iPhone X was the World's Most Popular Phone

According to Strategy Analytics, the iPhone X was the world's most popular smartphone last quarter. This comes after news that the iPhone X underwhelmed Apple. If this is accurate, that's great news for Apple. Despite this, I still think the price needs to go down, which I'm fairly confident it will. I see more and more iPhone X models in the wild. Hopefully this also encourages developers to ensure their apps work well on the iPhone X.

HTC's Teaser Image

HTC recently shared a teaser photo for a new phone that they will be revealing soon. Looking below, the teaser actually is made up of iPhone 6 parts [Source: Anandtech]. This confused many and led to speculation. HTC responded by telling CNET that this was to represent how their competitors "inelegantly cram" their parts into their phones. Yeah, I'm sure about that. It's pretty common knowledge today that Apple is the one company that cares about how the inside of their products look, even when you're not supposed to see it. Ironically, HTC made the news a few years ago because of how similar one of their phones looked to the iPhone 6. In the end, HTC managed to make headlines for their teaser because of this detail, and they probably got the publicity they wanted.

Twitter Password Bug

Twitter is suggesting to its users that they change their passwords due to a bug that stored passwords in plain text on Twitter's internal servers. Before anyone freaks out, this is a precautionary step. There is no reason to believe your password is compromised. The password never left Twitter's internal servers. That being said, changing your password on Twitter and any account that used the same password is a helpful way to ensure security.

Apple's Repair Policy

There's been a bit of news going on lately in regards to Apple's repair policies. Particularly when YouTuber Linus Tech Tips was refused service for his iMac Pro. Personally, I think these claims are way overinflated. I think the first thing to address is the iMac Pro story. Linus Tech Tips took apart the iMac Pro and dropped the display, which is what cause the need for repairs. This is when Apple denied service because unauthorized modification voids the warranty and prohibits Apple from servicing it. This has been controversial, however, it is important to understand the consequences that can and will occur if Apple opens the flood gates to "unauthorized modification." First off, modifying an Apple product in the first place significantly increases the failure rate for the product, whether it be mechanical, physical, or even software related. To ask Apple to help you out of a ditch like this requires a much broader spectrum for Apple to be able to reliably repair. In addition, they would have to account for replacing modified parts with their genuine parts. Because modification is so case-by-case, Apple has to take much more into account, which would likely cause lower repair quality and removal of modifications. It makes sense that if you modify your product, you take responsibility for it, even if the repair is not related to your modification. Apple's goal is to keep the consumer from worrying about the internals of their products, but when the consumer modifies the product, they should acknowledge that they must take responsibility for any issue that arises.

Tim Cook on iPhone X Sales

During Apple's earnings call, Tim Cook elaborated on iPhone X's sales numbers. While he didn't provide any concrete data, he mentioned the phone is doing well. He did admit sales weren't what he wanted, making a football analogy. He said that the iPhone X is a "Super Bowl winner" that Apple wanted to win by a few more points. Cook also mentions that the iPhone X sold better than both iPhone 8 models each week.

A Day Made of Glass in 2018

About seven years ago, Corning posted the video below. The video shows off a concept called "A Day Made of Glass," where glass technology can be utilized to create a cohesive and immersive experience throughout your day. I would watch this thinking it was the future. However, it seems we're getting closer to this than ever. While the full glass technology isn't on our horizon, the functionality depicted is possible. With assistants like Alexa and smart appliances in our homes, we've already setup the framework for this type of functionality. Even our phones have edge-to-edge displays. Not everything in the video will be what Corning predicted, like 3D TVs and non-self driving cars, but it's nice to look back on. Be sure to check out the video below.

T-Mobile and Sprint

T-Mobile and Sprint have finally agreed on terms that would allow them to merge. A lot of their marketing on this revolves around 5G rollout. Their combined power in the industry would allow them to roll out 5G quick and easy. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how it will play out. I don't think it will revolutionize anything, but I'd like to see LTE become much more affordable and obtainable, especially with regards to throttling. 

The Need to Lower iPhone Prices

iPhone X was way over-stocked in the post holiday season. The phone that brought so much change while serving as a culmination of ten years of iPhone has hit a roadblock. The main barrier in iPhone X is clearly the price. I think Apple's headed in the right direction with the LCD model that's rumored to come out this year, as well as the iPhone 8 line, but I think they're not understanding their audience. Normal people want an iPhone at a normal price. They likely don't care about LCD vs. OLED. A larger display might not mean much. In addition, the lineup is too confusing. I remember when the iPhone lineup was simple. If you ask what the newest iPhones were, you would hear the the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X are the newest models. Why is there no iPhone 9? What makes the iPhone X so special? A lot of unnecessary confusion is brought to the consumer. They may be confused as to why the iPhone X is so expensive, especially if they don't understand OLED technology. Apple needs to cleanup their lineup this year. Make the iPhone X-style display standard, but don't force OLED technology and cut prices. Make a more legitimate reason to upgrade to the high-end model than just OLED and Animoji.

Apple's VR Headset

Apple has been very clear about its interest with AR for iOS and VR for macOS. However, the VR industry is very non-consumer-friendly. It requires too much work and preparation from the consumer. Apple wants to change this [Source: CNET]. It would have two 8K displays (one for each eye) and be tethered to a "box" instead of a computer. It doesn't require external sensors either. It would work with AR and VR. This sounds very cool. Simplifying VR is a huge unique feature, but Apple needs to make the rest of their ecosystem play nice, which I'm sure Apple can do. Apple needs to make their computers work better with games if they want to create a respected VR platform. Macs are notoriously bad for gaming today. Also, I think AR features should work without the box if possible. Think VR is console gaming and AR is the handheld. AR works much better on the go, for things like navigation, and VR is great for immersion, like watching a movie. If these could look stylish enough to wear in public, we could have something cool on our hands. Granted, we don't know many specifics, like pricing, but it's still a cool idea. 

AirPort Officially Discontinued

AirPort products were officially discontinued by Apple today, meaning any remaining stock will be the last we'll see of it [Source: iMore]. AirPort products were wireless routers made by Apple. The AirPort Time Capsule supported wireless Time Machine backup and the AirPort Express supported AirPlay. I can understand why Apple would want to discontinue this line, since it wasn't integral to Apple's main ecosystem, but I feel like if they expanded it with more unique features and advertised it more, it could've sold better. I would like it if they made them into iBeacons, so you could automate HomeKit devices when you're near one. Regardless, it's clear Apple wants to move onto bigger and better things.

Sonos and AirPlay 2

We've heard little from Apple on the status on AirPlay 2. It's a nice idea, but we haven't actually seen it in action for the most part. Sonos has confirmed that some of their speakers will support AirPlay 2 [SourcE: Mac Observer]. Any Sonos speaker with touch controls will have AirPlay 2 support. Speakers without support can gain support if they are paired with a compatible Sonos speaker that is compatible with AirPlay 2. Hopefully this means that AirPlay 2 functionality isn't too far off.

Amazon Delivery to your Car

Amazon Key was a weird concept. It requires a double take from most people. It allowed whoever was delivering your package to enter your house (given it has a compatible smart lock) and place your package in your home. There were precautions taken to ensure to reduce the risk of malicious intent. However, now Amazon Key is expanding to your car. Select Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Volvo cars will be able to be unlocked by Amazon Key so you can choose to have your package delivered to your car. To check this out for yourself, download the Amazon Key app from the Apple App Store [Direct Link].

iPhone X Satisfaction Rates

According to John Gruber, the iPhone X has a 97 percent satisfaction rate. However, breaking down this data further reveals something interesting. Looking feature by feature, there are great ratings across the board, with almost every feature above 80 percent satisfaction. All but two: Portrait Selfies and Siri. Portrait Selfies comes in at a fair 60 percent, but Siri is at 20 percent. I believe this is another sign to Apple to get Siri up to snuff with its competition. With Alexa, I don't have to memorize every feature. I can ask it, and I typically get a response, especially with trivial questions. With Siri, my commands are scripted. I ask things I know I'll get a response to. Anything from that will return a Bing search. In iOS 12, I'd love to see Siri finally catch up with its competitors.

Why the iPhone SE 2 is Imminent

Aside from rumors, I believe there is a logistical reason to believe that the iPhone SE 2 will launch very soon. The iPhone 6s will no longer be available to purchase this year. As the last iPhone to sport a headphone jack, and with Apple embracing a wireless future, I could see Apple releasing a new iPhone SE 2 without a headphone jack. This would cause all iPhones sold by Apple to have no headphone jack. This ultimately creates a standard that accessories must adhere to, like the Square credit card reader for example, which uses the headphone jack. A May launch seems very fitting if rumors hold true. 

iOS 11 App Store Fostering App Downloads

iOS 11 introduced a revamped App Store, with curated articles and app collections. According to TechCrunch, apps featured as "App of the Day" or "Game of the Day" by the new App Store may see a download boost by up to 800 percent. Developer stories and app lists increase downloads by up to 240 percent. Overall, it's nice to see how the new App Store can help increase downloads for developers.

Image Credit: Sensor Tower