HiTechEdge

Tag: AppleInsider

  • Apple Risks Angering Users With Push Notifications About Emmys

    Apple Risks Angering Users With Push Notifications About Emmys

    Apple has risked drawing the ire of some users with unsolicited push notifications regarding the Emmys.

    Ted Lasso, an Apple TV+ exclusive, has racked up an impressive number of Emmy nominations. Not surprisingly, Apple wants people to know and issued a press release for that purpose.

    As AppleInsider points out, however, the company followed that up a day later with push notifications alerting users. The notifications included invitations “to see why Ted Lasso and more Apple Originals are up for awards.”

    Given Apple’s focus on privacy and protecting user rights, it’s not a good look for the company to send unsolicited, and potentially unwanted, push notifications — even for the purpose of celebrating a major accomplishment.

  • Apple Extends Trade-In Program to Include LG Smartphones

    Apple Extends Trade-In Program to Include LG Smartphones

    Apple is expanding its trade-in program to include four LG smartphones at a time when the latter is shutting down its smartphone business.

    LG announced in April it would shut down its smartphone business by July 31. Once one of the leading smartphone manufacturers, the company fell behind Apple, Samsung, Huawei and others. LG explored a number of options before finally settling on shutting the division down.

    First spotted by AppleInsider, Apple has added four additional LG smartphones to the trade-in program.

    • LG V60 ThinQ 5G, up to $180
    • LG V50 ThinQ 5G, up to $125
    • LG V40 ThinQ, up to $65
    • LG G8 ThinQ, up to $70

    Apple is clearly looking to capitalize on LG’s exit from the smartphone business. The trade-in deals may help the company pick up some LG customers.

  • Google’s Play Store Privacy Changes Won’t Match Apple

    Google’s Play Store Privacy Changes Won’t Match Apple

    Proposed privacy changes for Android developers will fall short of the protections Apple offers, according to new reports.

    Google made headlines when it informed developers it would be changing how privacy is handled. Developers will soon be required to disclose the security features their apps offer, whether an app adheres to Google’s Families policy, if the app’s safety section has been independently verified and if data collection is optional or required.

    Despite offering significant improvements over the current privacy protections, Google’s level of protection will still fall short of Apple’s recent moves, according to AppleInsider.

    In particular, Google wants advertisers to continue to be able to target ads, as well as quantify how effective those ads are. In contrast, Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) is specifically aimed at preventing advertising’s from tracking users.

    According to AppleInsider, two Google employees say the company is working to improve privacy, but dragging its feet at the same time. The company clearly has more to lose than Apple, since it makes the bulk of its income from advertising. In contrast, Apple makes the bulk of its money from hardware and paid services, meaning it doesn’t treat people’s data as the product.

  • Amazon May Purchase MGM to Boost Its Media Content

    Amazon May Purchase MGM to Boost Its Media Content

    Amazon is considering purchasing MGM in an effort to boost its already impressive TV offerings.

    Amazon Prime is one of the leading TV streaming platforms, with some 200 million subscribers. The platform has an impressive list of original content, including Bosch, The Man in the High Castle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and more.

    According to The Information, via AppleInsider, Amazon is considering acquiring MGM in a bid to further its media library. MGM owns Epix and has a large library of film and TV franchises, such as James Bond, The Handmaid’s Tale, Fargo, Shark Tank and others.

    It is unclear how far along the discussions are, so it’s possible nothing will happen. Should a deal be reached, however, it could give Amazon a significant advantage in an increasingly competitive streaming TV market.

  • Handheld Holographic Comms: iPhone May Get 3D Images With No Glasses

    Handheld Holographic Comms: iPhone May Get 3D Images With No Glasses

    A new patent shows the direction Apple may be taking with augmented reality, displaying 3D images without special glasses.

    It’s no secret Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers augmented reality (AR) to virtual reality (VR). He has expressed his belief that AR is more social and inclusive, keeping people connected to the world and people around them. Another advantage of AR is the lower technical requirements, although it doesn’t offer the same impressive level of immersion as VR is capable of.

    A newly-granted patent, first spotted by AppleInsider, indicates Apple may be working on addressing those issues, with an iPhone screen that will display 3D images — without the need for special glasses. Titled “Split-screen driving of electronic device displays,” the patent describes using a flat screen, such as an iPad or iPhone, to display 3D images.

    Like many tech companies, Apple files many patents, some of which never see the light of day. The patent also doesn’t show how Apple intends to overcome the challenges of creating a 3D image without glasses or headset, which work by sending separate images to each eye.

    If Apple’s plans come to fruition, however, a future iPhone may be the closest thing yet to science fiction-style, handheld hologram communicators.