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Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple is best known for making some of the world's most ubiquitous consumer devices, software, and services: the iPhone, iPad, iMac and MacBook computers, Apple TV, Apple Watch, iOS, iCloud, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and many more. Led by CEO Tim Cook since 2011, Apple is one of the largest technology companies in the world alongside Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Facebook.

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The ability to use AirPlay in hotels is technically coming to iOS 17.3.

I say “technically” because while the feature will finally be on phones updated to 17.3, we still don’t know what hotels and hotel groups will actually support it.

When Apple originally announced the feature last year IHG Hotel and Resorts confirmed it would be coming to their properties, which includes the Holiday Inn, Kimpton, and Intercontinental brands. We haven’t heard much since.

Hopefully that changes soon.


Is this iPad add-on overkill?

Take a look at Federico Viticci’s modded iPad Pro with an iPhone holder and stereo speakers, which he wrote about on MacStories.

This would be overkill for me, but I’m a boring single-monitor person on my computer. I respect Viticci’s effort.


A photo of Federico Viticci’s iPad setup.
Image: MacStories
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Apple offers Epic “extremely generous” discount on $81,560,362 legal bill.

In a January 16th filing, Apple asked the court to award it $73,404,326 in relief to cover its out-of-pocket expenses, lawyer fees, and other costs arising from Epic’s lawsuit. A bargain, if you ask Apple:

Although it would be reasonable for Apple to seek the total amount of its Losses in this matter, it has provided a 10% discount in recognition of Epic’s win on one out of ten of its claims. This 10% overall reduction is extremely generous, given the undisputed fact that the UCL claim did not constitute nearly 10% of the litigation, as this Court recognized.

Meeeoooow.


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Magic Leap’s CEO isn’t worried about competing with the Apple Vision Pro.

In an interview with Venturebeat, Ross Rosenberg claims that Apple can’t match the level of precision that Magic Leap’s tech can provide:

“What Apple has shown, as I’m sure you’ve seen, is much more about watching a streaming movie or a Facetime call, where you don’t need nearly as much accuracy. That’s a very different space.”

The augmented reality company was recently granted $590 million in additional debt relief funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as Apple readies its Vision Pro headset for launch on February 2nd.


Apple Vision Pro hands-on, again, for the first time

I know what I saw, but I’m still trying to figure out where this headset fits in real life.

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The Apple Vision Pro has passed through the FCC.

You can look through the FCC filings here. (It’s lots of tests and reports, so it may not be the most interesting reading.)

Pre-orders open on Friday ahead of the device’s launch on February 2nd.


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Apple's Watch workaround to avoid an import ban has reportedly been approved.

Word of this comes not from US Customs, but Masimo’s own lawyers in a letter published by 9to5Mac. It says the updated watches "do not contain pulse oximetry functionality," which is a step further than last month's report that Apple engineers were working on new algorithms.

It means Apple can continue importing the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 despite the patent infringement dispute — just without blood oxygen reading features enabled.


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Don’t hold your breath for Apple’s EU App Store changes to be available globally.

Writing in his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is planning on “splitting the App Store in two” to comply with the European Union’s new Digital Markets Act. One for EU countries, where it’ll have to allow third-party app stores and third-party payments, and one for “the US and everywhere else.” Expect the changes by March 7th.


Microsoft ended Friday as the world’s most valuable company.

The company’s valuation surpassed Apple during trading early Thursday, though Apple took the top spot at the end of the day. However, Microsoft won the day yesterday with a market valuation pegged at $2.89 trillion (versus Apple’s $2.87 trillion).

This all happened, as Tom Warren wrote for The Verge, against a backdrop of floppy iPhone sales and Microsoft’s aggressive moves with its Copilot AI features.


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Yeah!

Apple Music has posted the trailer for its Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show — and I have to say, it has gotten me pretty pumped for Usher’s performance.


Keep an iPhone or iPad close by if you’re ordering a Vision Pro online.

If you’re spending $3,499 to be one of the first 70,000 or so people with Apple’s Vision Pro, we can probably assume you own a recent iPhone. But just in case, 9to5Mac points out details from an Apple email explaining the online ordering process.

Despite rumors of required in-store appointments for face scanning, it looks like Apple will let you use FaceID on another device to judge the fit requirements and provide a current prescription if you need the $149 vision-correcting lenses.


Have an iPhone or iPad with Face ID nearby. When you order Apple Vision Pro, you’ll need to scan your face with an iPhone or iPad with Face ID. This helps us determine the right size Light Seal and head bands, which work together to give you a precise fit. Make sure your Apple Store app is up to date. For the face scan, you’ll need the latest version of the Apple Store app, which became available on January 11.
Apple Vision Pro pre-order instructions
Image: Apple email
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“Not too close, euroscum.”

That’s what Tim Cook’s body language says to me when meeting Europe’s top competition watchdog Margrethe Vestager who pressed the Apple CEO to open the App Store amid other concerns like Apple Music. It’s all part of her whirlwind tour with US tech CEOs ahead of the strict new Digital Markets Act taking effect on March 6th.

Other possible captions:

“Oh, so this is what a functioning government regulator looks like.”

“The only danish I want to touch comes in pastry form.”

Add yours in the comments.


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TIL Apple’s Find My app has an item limit (it’s 32).

MacRumors spotted that Apple added the figure to a support page recently, confirming an increase that has reportedly been in effect since 2022’s iOS 16. The previous limit was apparently 16. Compatible items include AirTags and other first-party headphones and accessories from Apple and Beats, and a range of third-party products.


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Al Gore and James Bell are retiring from Apple’s board of directors as Dr. Wanda Austin joins.

Gore has been on the board since 2003 while Bell has been a member since 2015. Both are leaving because “the board has a longstanding policy that directors generally may not stand for reelection after reaching age 75,” according to Apple’s press release.

Austin, the former president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, will join the company’s board.

Tim Cook:

Wanda has spent decades advancing technology on behalf of humanity, and we’re thrilled to welcome her to Apple’s board of directors. She’s an extraordinary leader, and her invaluable experience and expertise will support our mission of leaving the world better than we found it.


Special Screening of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” In Sydney With Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore

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Al Gore.
Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures,
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It’s “put MacOS on the iPad, you cowards” season.

Lenovo’s new 2-in-1 is a Windows laptop with a detachable Android tablet. They run on separate hardware. This is the least awkward way Lenovo could have done this.

Apple, on the other hand, uses the exact same chips for iPads and MacBooks and could simply make an iPad Pro that runs MacOS when the keyboard is attached. And yet!


Vision Pro launch prediction: 60k to 80k units.

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo closely follows Apple’s production plans and is saying that for the February 2nd launch day, “Apple will produce 60,000 to 80,000 units of Vision Pro,” with around 500k shipping in 2024.

We had our first Vision Pro experiences last year at WWDC, and in just a couple of weeks, everyone can decide if they’re ready to spend $3,499 for an early entry to the world of spatial computing.


Maximum Messi.

Apple’s partnership with MLSand, in turn, Lionel Messi — continues with the announcement of a new docuseries about the league, helmed by some of the minds behind Netflix’s hit Formula 1: Drive to Survive. The show will be coming to Apple TV Plus, where there’s already a series on Messi himself, though no word yet on when it’ll start streaming. If nothing else, it’s a smart way to help boost those MLS Season Pass subscriptions.


Leagues Cup 2023: Inter Miami CF v Orlando City CF
Photo by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
That’s a lot of Macs, Phil.

Apple Fellow Phil Schiller regularly rotates through five different Macs, he said in a post on Threads. I can’t say I’m that surprised, given who it is and the company he works for, but that’s still a lot of computers!

He also uses his iPad Pro “a ton” for things like reviewing photos and playing games. He’s also a Right Dock fan, which, as a Left Dock user, I can respect.


The TVs, monitors, and laptops of CES 2024

Today on The Vergecast, it’s screens all the way down.

Podcasting is in its YouTube era

Plus, Audacy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.