Apple’s FaceTime software has encountered a strange bug lately that has surprised iPhone owners and Apple alike. The bug was first detected by a 14-year-old gamer who was getting a group FaceTime together to play Fortnite with his friends. The boy’s mother attempted to warn Apple of this error around January 19th, though the bug wasn’t widely known until the 28th.
Apple FaceTime Bug
The Bug
The bug itself is rather unnerving. Essentially, it occurs when someone starts a Group FaceTime. Whether or not the recipients of the call answer it, their conversations will be audible to those on the call.
This is disturbing for a number of reasons. Primarily, it’s an issue when you consider how someone could simply call your device for a Group FaceTime and then just leave the line open and listen to your conversations. Essentially, the bug allowed any FaceTime-enabled device to become a listening device.
Discovery
Michele Thompson’s son, a 14-year-old boy, discovered the bug. Thompson then replicated the results herself a few times to make sure the bug was replicable. Upon discovering that it was, Thompson set about trying to inform Apple of the security breach.
Thompson expressed frustration with how difficult it was to raise awareness of this issue with Apple. Finally, she even resorted to tweeting Apple CEO Tim Cook and warned him that this would be made public shortly. However, she felt bad about the Tweet later and deleted it.
Apple’s Response
Apple responded to the discovery of the bug (eventually) by having Group FaceTime disabled. The Group FaceTime functionality was added in October 2018, so security bugs like this were expected to occur in some capacity. This particular bug, however, is a bit distressing.
Any bug that results in the device becoming a security breach is a major issue. Apple has promised to re-launch the software when the security breach has been patched. Hopefully this time the software doesn’t offer a window straight into user’s private conversations.
While Apple continues smartphone dominance with the iPhone X line, they’ve been struggling with their laptops recently. Competitors like Microsoft have been out-performing them for the past few years. Is the MacBook Air 2018 poised to change that, or will it fall flat?
MacBook Air 2018 Review
Design
At first glance this is very clearly a new beast than previous generations. It’s incredibly thin and light and stows away in a bag very easily. It’s a bit bigger than the 12-inch MacBook Pro, oddly, though it’s a bit smaller than the 13-inch model. It’s something of an in-between of those two laptops in more ways than one.
The screen is big and gorgeous, as you’d expect from any Apple product. The bezels around the screen have been pulled back significantly, making this a much more modern-looking device. The keyboard is a bit shallower than the previous MacBook Air but it still feels fine for typing.
Performance
This is an upgraded machine from its previous incarnation in many ways. Notably, this version is sporting an 8th-Gen i5 processor, more RAM options and generally more power. It’s not quite as mighty as the 13-inch MacBook but it’s much more portable. Likewise, it blows the 12-inch MacBook out of the water but it’s a bit bulkier than that device.
For most common tasks this is going to be an excellent productivity machine. If you want a device from which you can type up assignments, listen to music, do research and watch YouTube, you won’t be disappointed. Photo and video editing are a dream, as usual for Macs. Professionals, college students and entrepreneurs alike will find this device plenty powerful enough for most tasks.
Bottom Line
This is an excellent entry into the MacBook line. Acting as a midpoint between the 12-inch and 13-inch designs, the MacBook Air 2018 comes in a full $100 cheaper than either of those devices. It retails for $1200, though you can likely find it on sale for up to $100 less in some places. All in all, this is a great productivity laptop with a good balance of portability, power and sleek design that will impress any Mac fans.
It’s no secret that Apple makes some of the best smartphones, hands down. They also charge some serious dough for their elite smartphones. That changes on Black Friday, though: the company is offering some great discounts on several of their top-of-the-line smartphones. You can’t mess these Black Friday iPhone deals!
Black Friday iPhone Deals
Walmart Deal
Walmart’s offering a very straightforward deal on iPhones. If you buy an iPhone X, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus and activate it you get a $400 Walmart gift card. You have to activate through Verizon, AT&T or Sprint to get the gift card. Essentially, you’ll pay full price for the iPhone but you get to spend another $400 in Walmart for your trouble.
Alternatively, if you want this year’s models, you can go through the same process for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max or iPhone XR and get a $300 gift card. Not quite as much, but you’re getting a much newer phone in the deal!
Target Deal
Target is offering a similar deal to Walmart. After buying an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max and activating with Sprint, AT&T or Verizon you get a $250 gift card. This isn’t quite as good of a deal as Walmart but Target can often offer a different array of things than Walmart can. Some of Target’s other Black Friday sales might even make this the deal you opt to go with.
T-Mobile Deal
T-Mobile is offering straight-up free iPhones. If you trade-in your old phone and open a new line on your existing bill you can get a free iPhone XR, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus. If those aren’t your thing, you can get $750 off the iPhone X, XS or XS Max. These savings come in the form of bill credits over a 24-month period.
This deal is notable as it’s the counterpoint to the Target and Walmart offers. While those offers require you activate the phone through Verizon, AT&T or Sprint, T-Mobile is offering a much better deal over a 24-month period. Their deal simply doesn’t take place as immediately as the other two on this list.
Apple is always up to some fantastic things, Making headlines and straight surprising us with out of the box ideas. Apple News is plentiful and fascinating so here is a quick look at a few things Apple is up to today. Also it help as you are reading these to do so in Walter Cronkite’s voice. We have a situation developing, Im dubbing this The Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century.
The Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century First Shots Fire
Last March Apple CEO Tim Cook criticized Facebook in an MSNBC interview for being a service that traffics “in your personal life.” This is now the true first shots fired will what will be know as the Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century. In those comments made back in March, Cook dismissed a question asking him what he would do if he were in Zuckerberg’s shoes dealing with the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal by saying, “I wouldn’t be in this situation.” These Comments natuallry enraged Old Zucks. He shot back then by saying he found Cook’s comments to be “extremely glib,” and that “I think it’s important that we don’t all get Stockholm syndrome and let the companies that work hard to charge you more convince you that they actually care more about you. Because that sounds ridiculous to me.”.
Fast forward to today, Zuckerberg ordered his management team to only use Android phones. A retaliatory move in an effort to take a shot back at Apple for Cooks comments. A war has begun, We will follow this with great interest.
The Western Front
Now we take you to the Western Front of the Great Apple Tech War of the 21rst Century. Apple and Qualcomm have been in a heated dispute for the last two years, and now Apple is taking another small jab at the company by opening up jobs that seem to be designed to grab employees from the chipmaking giant. Apple has opened 10 job listings this month for chipmaking positions in San Diego. That’s where Qualcomm is based, and according to the report, Apple has never searched for chip engineers there before. It also suggests that Apple could be opening up another regional office for chip designers.
We know already Apple is gearing up to cut Intel out from their Mac lines. Poaching the talent from Qualcomm is the tactical move. Qualcomm will strike back, I don’t know how or when. This aggression will not stand, and you can be sure of this.
The Final Thought
While we are just watching these conflicts begin to erupt, erupt they most definitely will. We have seen the intensely intriguing battle with Samsung already take place in . Still the best highlight from that on going war is the dump trucks of nickels delivered to Apples Cupertino HQ. The next move will be two companies forming an alliance. It won’t be to long before we see this.
Its coming, Black Friday is coming. Are you prepared? It is that time of the year. Jump out and get ahead of your Christmas shopping or score a deal on all those Apple products you have needed and wanted but been waiting for the right time on. This year due to the last day of the month falling on a Thursday, That means this year Black Friday is on November 23 2018. However, the deals onslaught will begin well before that, likely on Thanksgiving itself. Well baby birds I’ve scoured the internet and found some of the best Apple deals for black friday. Here are the big retailer’s Apple Black Friday Deals.
Walmart’s Apple Black Friday Deals
Savings on Apple products are available through Walmart’s pre-Black Friday Early Access Pass.
WalMart has initiated a fire sale for iPhones on Straight talk for black friday.
Straight Talk iPhone 7 Plus with Free $45 Airtime: Available for $449; save up to $45 when you buy this bundle.
Straight Talk iPhone 8 Plus with Free $55 Airtime: Save up to $55 and grab the iPhone 8 for $599.
Straight Talk iPhone X with Free $55 Airtime: Available for $899, save up to 6 percent when you purchase this bundle. Plus, get free shipping.
Best Buy’s Apple Black Friday Deals
Best Buy is going the way of the blockbuster, its making its slow decent in to nostalgia. Take advantage and shop there while they are still open. This very well could be their last christmas. While they have a lot of great black friday deals set up, they are lacking in the Apple department. The retailer is offering deals on various Apple televisions.
Beats by Dr. Dre Pill+ Speaker: Save $100 and buy the Bluetooth speaker for $129.99.
Apple TV 32GB with SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Controller: The latest model is $20 off; now $179.98.
Apple TV 4K 32GB with SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Controller: The latest 4K model is $30 off; now $199.98.
Apple TV 32GB & Sideclick Universal Remote Attachment Package: The 4th Generation model is $10 off; now $169.98.
Apple TV 4K 64GB with SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Controller: The latest model is $20 off; now $229.98.
Check Out: Walmart Is Making Holiday Shopping Even Easier With These Clever Tech Upgrades
Target’s Apple Black Friday Deals
Target is giving you a chance to snag free gift cards when you activate select iPhones.
Score a $250 Target gift card with qualified activation for iPhone Xs or iPhone XS Max on Verizon, Sprint or AT&T.
Get a free $150 Target gift card with qualified activation for iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8 or iPhone X.
Don’t Miss: The Best Black Friday Deals From Target, Costco and 16 Other Major Retailers
The iPad Pro 2018 is here, and the reviews are rolling in. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the new iPad is actually worth the price tag. Well, we’ve got the roundup you’ve been looking for! From new features to returning peripherals, here’s what to expect from the iPad Pro 2018!
iPad Pro 2018 Review
Digital Trends
The Specs
First things first: the iPad Pro 2018 is an absolute beast from a technical standpoint. Much like the iPhone X set a new bar for smartphones in 2017, the iPad Pro is really the bar for tablets. The A12 Bionic chip that powers the tablet is a marvel, multitasking and running at blistering speeds. The massive, gorgeous AMOLED screen really has to be seen to be believed. If you haven’t seen the newest generation of Apple screens you won’t understand just how gorgeous this display is.
The 2018 iPad Pro also sports the front-facing, depth-sensing equipment to power Face ID. There’s no home button and no fingerprint scanner, so your only option for biometric scanning is Apple’s excellent Face ID. It works great in landscape or portrait mode, in high or low light and in whatever surroundings. If you’ve used the iPhone X, you know what to expect here. Really, this iteration of the iPad could have been named the iPad X.
The presence of that depth-sensing front-facing camera array also means that Memoji and Animoji both work on this iPad. Really, if you just think of this as a giant iPhone X, you won’t be far from the truth.
Design
And, much like the iPhone X, this iPad has hardly any bezels. The screen is huge compared to the body, leaving a scant amount of excess around the edges of the screen. In fact, the 12-inch model is noticeably smaller in profile than the 2017 version with the same screen size. This design is clean and attractive and really fits the iPad’s existing design ethos. While the sleek, rounded lines of the iPhone line might look odd at this scale at first, they really grow on you.
Aside from these minor touches, however, the iPad Pro hasn’t changed too much. The lack of a home button does make the device much cleaner in appearance. It’s easy to tell that this is a new era of Apple product design at a glance. Again, the comparisons to the iPhone X come easily. That goes for the lack of a headphone jack, too, sadly.
That’s right: there’s no proper headphone jack. The only port on this year’s iPad is a USB-C port. We were surprised to see that there was no Lightning port this time, but that’s a good thing. It makes finding conversion dongles much easier. It also means you’ll need to invest in Bluetooth or USB-C headphones for use with this device. Which is sort of a bummer.
Peripherals
The star of the show here, much like with the Microsoft Surface line, is the Pencil. The Apple Pencil was an excellent addition to the iPad ecosystem and remains a must-have. For whatever baffling reason, though, the Pencil from previous hardware generations doesn’t work on the 2018 iPad. What’s harder to believe, though, is that the new Pencil doesn’t even work on older iPads. This wouldn’t be as big a deal if the Pencil came with the iPad, but it doesn’t. In fact, it’s priced at a rather steep $129.
That said, this new Pencil is awesome. It has more drag on the screen, which makes it feel like a real pencil. It magnetically snaps on the side of the iPad, which is also how it charges. It reminds us a lot of the Surface line of tablets and how its pen snaps on. It works wonders for artists.
The folio keyboard is back, and, like the Pencil, costs a lot. It also doesn’t come with the iPad, and it starts at $179 for the 11-inch iPad. The 12-inch model costs a staggering $199. That means you’ll be spending a lot on an iPad, given that the 11-inch model starts at $799 and the 12-inch starts at $999.
Bottom Line
This year’s iPad line is absolutely astonishing from a tech perspective. The question remains, however, if this awesome tech is fully worth the high price tag. The iOS ecosystem is a bit stifling and doesn’t lend itself well to replacing full-scale laptops. The lack of a mouse makes editing text a bit of a pain, and that goes double considering the keyboard “trackpad” experience is so hit-and-miss.
Maybe Apple will deliver with more robust apps to help make the iPad a bit more attractive as a Mac alternative. As it stands, however, the iPad is only really a good investment for creatives who really want to draw on an Apple-branded tablet. Until then, it’s a bit too expensive for the casual user.
Apple is having another event this month to introduce new products and provide updates. This is the follow up event to the iPhone XS event early last September. We are expecting even more great new products and some updates to our favorites, Let’s talk about the New Mac Mini.
The event has come to be known as “There’s more in the making” so you know something special will be unveiled. Apple sent out unique and individualized invitations and the event is always a must attend for the tech world. We will bring you all the updates and juicy details from the event. Already we got a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with 1TB storage and which under the right circumstances can drive a 5K external monitor.
Tim Cook then made reference to a “small but mighty computer our users are waiting for” was obviously that this was the Mac mini. Macs are expensive. As if to reinforce this universal maxim, the last remaining bastion of Apple affordability evaporated into the crisp fall air today above New York City, where Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled a brand-new Mac mini.
The original Mac mini might have been the first Mac sold under $500 but don’t expect the same price for the new Mac mini. The Mac Min is Apples entry level computer. It is sold as just the computer with no peripherals or monitor.
The new Mac mini adorable desktop PC starts at $800 but promises it’s “five times faster” and with “60 percent faster graphics” than its predecessor. What’s under the hood ready to deliver that?
The New Mac Mini
It starts with a quad core chip, but you can upgrade to six cores. Similarly, the entry level Mac Mini has a relatively scant 8GB of RAM and 128GB of flash storage. You can upgrade all the way up to 64GB RAM, and a 2TB solid state drive. Apple retained the rounded square exterior of the Mac mini. Including the user-accessible bottom and a lineup of ports on the back. Mac mini’s small but vocal user base was clearly heard as Apple took a lot of their considerations to heart. Memory consists of two user-upgradable SO-DIMM slots and the flat body design makes it a great choice for server farms.
Apple says the RAM in the new Mac mini is socketed SO-DIMM and that means that within limits, you will be able to buy more memory at any time. It has to be compatible and it can’t exceed the Mac mini’s 64GB ceiling, but it doesn’t have to be from Apple and that is always a rather gigantic savings.
Options
If you need extra processing muscle for apps like Adobe Photoshop. You will gravitate toward a model with a 3.6GHz, hexa-core Core i7 processor, with all other specs remaining the same. Meanwhile, those with large multimedia collections that require a roomier hard drive can instead opt for a 256GB SSD and a 3GHz hexa-core Core i5.
It is built with decent power. It comes with a quad or six-core i3, i5 or i7 processor, paired with an Intel UHD Graphics 630 videocard. RAM options start at 8 GB and go up to 64 GB DDR4 memory. While storage begins with a 128 GB SSD and go up to a 2 TB SSD. For connectivity, there are four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB 3 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port. Plus a 3.5 mm jack, with adapters sold separately for things like Thunderbolt 2 or VGA.
On the back we found several Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI, USB-A, audio out. A Gigabit Ethernet port that can be upgraded at purchase to a 10-gig port. What we found most impressive was a stack of five Mac Minis, connected over Ethernet. They were running tasks assigned by Final Cut, Logic, and Xcode. All this while the primary machine carried on with its normal tasks.
The Final Thought
Apple touted the Mac Mini’s performance on Tuesday. Noting that it was up to five times faster than the previous generation. You can order it today, and it’ll get to your doorstep on November 7.
Apple Is live in an Event. This is the follow up event to the iPhone event early last September. We are expecting a lot of great new products and some updates to of favorites. Throughout the event today I will bring you a few updates with the details of the event. This event is come to be know as “There’s more in the making”. Apple sent out unique and individualized invitations last week. Lets take a look at what we got coming out. First up a new MacBook Air.
First up we have a new MacBook air. This is long overdue and been waiting for a refresh. Starting at $1,199, the MacBook Air features a 13.3-inch display with borders that are 50 percent narrower, and you get 4 million pixels of resolution. The FaceTime HD camera is still there at the top of the display, and you can conduct group FaceTime calls.
The new Air is 17 percent smaller in terms of volume and it’s 15.6 mm thin and it weighs 2.75 pounds, compared to 3 pounds for the previous Air. That’s a quarter pound lighter than the previous Air. Apple says that the body is made of 100 percent recycled aluminum.
Apple has included a Touch ID button on the keyboard, complete with Apple’s T2 security chip.
New MacBook Air Quick Speck Look
T2 chip for Touch ID and Hey Siri support
FaceTime HD camera
Three-mic array for better voice recognition
3rd-gen butterfly keyboard
Force Touch trackpad
eGPU and 5K display support
8th-gen Intel dual-core i5 processor
Up to 16GB 2333MHz memory
Up to 1.5TB SSD
2.75 pounds
Made from 100 percent recycled aluminum
17 percent smaller
The Final Though
With its processor that’s three generations behind and thick bezels around its low-res 1,440×900-pixel display, the 13-inch MacBook Air was last updated 2017 and hasn’t really changed physically since the first model in 2008. It is, however, the cheapest Apple laptop starting at $999 and frequently found for less. It was time and I like what they have done. Pre-Orders start today and will be available the 7th
I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. I’m going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today’s throwback is the legendary, Apple Lisa.
The Apple Lisa
The machine named after Steve Jobs out-of-wedlock daughter was the first commercial computer to offer a graphics user interface. Breaking free from the text-command paradigm and initiating a more user-friendly, point-and-click experience.
Apple Lisa’s $1,000 price tag and slow OS killed its vibe on the consumer market, even though it still commanded a number of advanced features that became conducive to the future of computing. On that checklist: co-op multitasking, protected memory, data corruption protection, built-in screen saver, and much more.
Released in January 1983, the Lisa featured a rather advanced hardware at the time, it was equipped with a 16/32-bit Motorola 68000 CPU, 1MB of RAM (expandable to 2MB), two 871K floppy drives, and an integrated 12” monochrome monitor with a resolution of 720 X 364 pixels, an optional external 5MB hard disk, and an input device almost never seen before: a box-shaped single button mouse.
Lisa’s Software The real story with the Lisa was the software it ran. The Lisa operating system included features like protected memory. This was absent from the Macintosh operating system until the launch of Mac OS X eighteen years later. Under the hood, it ran on a file system that supported hierarchal directories, making it ideal for organizing files on the Lisa’s internal hard drive.
Lisa had two main modes. The first, named The Apple Lisa Office System, included seven GUI applications for users. LisaWrite, LisaCalc, LisaDraw, LisaGraph, LisaProject, LisaList, and LisaTerminal.
The FInal Thought
I wish I could get my hands on an original Lisa, but I have not been able to locate one. There are only 20 to 100 Lisa 1s left in the world. A rare, seldomly turned on original lisa is being auctioned off starting at $55,000. The Apple Lisa was a passion tech project from a man who’s passion projects yielded a monumental advancement of mankind. Unfortunately it was not a massive success, but it did spawn many that followed. There is a little bit of Lisa in all the Apple products we have loved since.
Apple is always up to some fantastic things, Making headlines and straight surprising us with out of the box ideas. Apple News is plentiful and fascinating so here is a quick look at a few things Apple is up to today. Also it help as you are reading these to do so in Walter Cronkite’s voice.
In Italy
Italy’s anti-trust watchdog said on Wednesday it was fining Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd 5 million euros each following complaints they used software updates to slow down their mobile phones. WE know that that is not the case, once they update software it increases the power usage for the new features and functionality. It is not the software that is slowing down the phone, it is the lack of power needed to run the software, make sense? Apple was also smacked with an additional 5 million euro fine for failing to give clients clear information about how to maintain or eventually replace handset batteries.
Mac Updates
WE found 3 new device registrations in Europe this past week. Apple has registered the devices with the EU ahead of the Oct. 30 Event. The three new Mac models likely relate to new versions of the Mac Mini and iMac. We are expecting a significant spec update to the Mac Mini, which has not seen any attention in 1469 days, and at least processor bumps to the rest of the Mac line.
The new cheap laptop is still a complete head scratcher. The rumor mill is divided on what to expect. No one knows exactly what the product looks like, and how much it will cost. Personally I think it is safe to assume a 13-inch Retina display in a design similar to the current 12-inch MacBook, although probably not as razor-thin or small for cost reasons.
Apple TV Service
We are hearing some chatter that Apple is planning to launch a subscription TV service. We don’t have a lot of details just yet but it appears the service will roll out to over 100 countries. It would, presumably, compete with the likes of Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Sling TV and YouTube TV. We can expect the service in the first half of 2019 in the US. It will, however, be available only to owners of Apple devices. Apple will be airing original programing with this service as well. This could get interesting.
The Final Apple News Thought
Everyday these guys are innovating, mesmerizing or out right improving the world for all of human kind. For a quick Apple news update come back to goodfind.guru. Check out what they will be doing next.
In Italy
Mac Updates
Apple TV Service