WWDC 2022 guests will be the first to see the new Developer Center at Apple Park
Apple today confirmed that it will invite a small number of developers to attend WWDC 2022 in Apple Park for the first time since 2019. In-person events had been suspended due to the pandemic. In addition to meeting with Apple employees, guests will also have the opportunity to visit the new Developer Center at Apple Park.
The information was revealed through the WWDC 2022 webpage, which highlights that developers invited to attend the event will be the first to explore the “all-new Developer Center.”
We’re hosting a special all-day experience at Apple Park on June 6 to kick off WWDC22. Gather with others in the developer community to watch the keynote and State of the Union videos alongside Apple engineers and experts, explore the all-new Developer Center, and so much more. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.
While details about the Developer Center are unknown, Apple Fellow Phil Schiller teased the project last year during the Apple vs. Epic Games trial. The Apple Park was the location Schiller stated that Apple would be building a new Developer Center.
In 2010, Apple launched the “Compatibility Labs” program for developers so that they could pay to spend a day inside the company’s campus with access to hardware and engineering support to test their apps. It’s likely that the Developer Center will be a similar space for developers to get help from Apple engineers and designers at any time, not just during WWDC.
It’s worth noting that while some people will attend WWDC 2022 in person, the event will still be held online with all sessions, labs, and lounges pre-recorded. Registration to join the event at Apple Park begins on May 9, while the WWDC 2022 Opening Keynote will take place on June 6.
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Google’s Pixel foldable will have 5. 8-inch outer screen
Google’s foldable Pixel phone will have a smaller outer display and a similar-sized inner display to the Galaxy Z Fold4, per industry insider Ross Young. The Pixel Notepad, as rumor claims it will be called, will have a 5. 8-inch outer display, wider and shorter than the Galaxy Z Fold4’s 6. 19-inch expected screen.
Since the two foldables are rumored to have similar-sized folding displays, this means that the Pixel Notepad will have a wider aspect ratio than the Fold. This is corroborated by an earlier leak.
Z Fold 4 and Google foldable will have similar sized foldable displays, but the Google cover display will be quite a bit smaller at 5.8″. This should mean it will have a wider aspect ratio than the Samsung 6. 19″ Fold 4. You can hear more from our next conference.
Young doesn’t share when we can expect Google’s first foldable, but a reasonable guess is around the Pixel 7’s fall launch. Google’s first foldable was widely expected sometime in 2021 before Google reportedly quit on it.
But now the Pixel Fold (now called the Notepad) is back. It’s expected to cost $1,400, have a Find N-esque body type – wide and short, rather than narrow and tall lie the ongoing Galaxy Z Fold3. It will most likely use a Tensor chip but resort to older Pixel camera hardware, namely the 12. 2MP IMX363 sensor from the Pixel 2 through 3, 4, and 5 series, a 12MP IMX386 ultrawide sensor, and two 8MP IMX355s for selfies.
The inner selfie could use an elaborate hideaway mechanism, like the one shown below, from a patent Google won.
Apple patent describes iPad keyboard accessory that triggers macOS-like UI
There have been many rumors about Apple’s upcoming MacBook/iPad hybrid. The US Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple a new patent today. This raises suspicion. According to Patently Apple, this new patent involves a hinged iPad keyboard accessory with an iPad using a macOS-like interface.
This keyboard would provide more flexibility for users with multiple installation modes. This keyboard can also be used to attach an iPad with macOS-like interface magnetically.
The patent also suggests the keyboard’s hinge may magnetically support the Apple Pencil. The patent suggests that the hinge could support other accessories such as a projector or camera. It’s possible the iPad’s form factor will also be updated with this accessory.
Noted in the patent, the accessory has both a base portion and a coupling mechanism; the base portion could include a keyboard with a set of electromechanical keys. The coupling mechanism could be on the side of the keyboard or on the base portion of the iPad.
It seems that Apple may be considering creating a MacBook/iPad hybrid. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has recently expressed his opinion on Apple’s iPadOS Pro concept that includes multiple Mac-like options. While most people don’t use their iPad as a Mac, some power users disagree.
The iPadOS experience is lacking in many ways, so it would be great to see MacOS on the iPad. With iPadOS 16 expected to arrive this year, there is quite a long wish list of items we at 9to5Mac hope to see unveiled soon.
Do you think we will ever see a MacBook/iPad hybrid?
Only time will tell if this patent comes to fruition. More Macs will be announced at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which takes place in June.
AT&T increasing prices for wireless plans, here’s who will be impacted
AT&T will increase the price of some legacy plans for first time since years. According to a new report from Bloomberg, the pricing for single-line individual plans will increase by $6 per month, while the prices for family plans will increase to $12 per month. The price increases, however, apply only to older plans, not the carrier’s newest Unlimited plans.
AT&T price increase on the way
AT&T announced the price increases in a statement. It said that customers should consider changing to older plans, which are often available at lower monthly costs. This marks the third time that AT&T has raised prices for legacy plans in the last three years.
Again, the price increases do not apply to the company’s latest lineup of Unlimited plans, which start at $85 per month for individuals. Prices for family plans are determined by the number of people. Instead, the price rises are directed at those who do not have Unlimited.
“We are encouraging our customers to explore our newer plans which offer many additional features, more flexibility for each line on their account and, in many cases, a lower monthly cost,” the carrier said Tuesday in an emailed response to questions.
AT&T have been alerting investors about inflationary pressures. On an earnings call last month, Chief Executive Officer John Stankey said rising wages could add about $1 billion to the company’s overhead this year.
Employees at AT&T retail stores were notified of this change this week, with instructions to tell customers to “call the company’s consumer service line for help on choosing new plans.”
9to5Mac’s Take
AT&T believes that customers who are affected by price hikes will choose to either pay more for convenience or upgrade to an Unlimited plan. Whether or not the strategy works remains to be seen, but most users are historically quite loyal to their carriers.
Bloomberg notes that the COVID-19 pandemic led to “record low churn rates” for the wireless industry,” though churn rates have always been relatively low for these companies due to enticing promotions for free devices and long-term payment plan discounts.
Many customers who might consider switching may also be locked into AT&T’s ecosystem because of a device payment plan of some sort. These customers would need to clear the balance remaining on their phones before they could switch or unlock their phone.
Are you an AT&T subscriber affected by these price increases? Are you planning to switch carriers? Let us know down in the comments.
‘After Steve’ book review and tidbits: Forstall friction, Apple Car origin, Jony’s exit
After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul, the new book by WSJ turned NYT technology reporter Tripp Mickle, and is out today. 9to5Mac received an advanced copy for review. The pages divide the time of the reader between following the careers and origins of Apple’s two top decision-makers of recent years, Jony Ive and Tim Cook. This includes much of what is already documented publicly. New details around Scott Forstall’s last year at Apple, the origin of the Apple Watch, and telling moments during the early development of the fabled Apple Car project complement the narrative enough to keep the attention of the most tuned-in Apple observers.
After Steve revisits much of the last decade at Apple, mostly spanning 2011 to 2019, from the period when co-founder Steve Jobs resigned as CEO to the moment design chief Jony Ive formally left the company. This narrative tracks Tim Cook’s time as Apple CEO, during which Apple exploded in its value despite the fact that Steve Jobs was a persistent worry.
The challenge for After Steve is making the subject matter interesting enough to revisit so soon (although the passage of time will alleviate this burden). The question of what will happen to Apple after the death of Steve Jobs worries a lot fewer people now than it did in 2011.
It is also hard to write an Apple book today that doesn’t include some well-covered background. Reading about the early days of Jony Ive’s time at Apple or the few details we know about Tim Cook’s early life can feel repetitious for anyone already versed in these characters. Still, newcomers will appreciate the completion provided by details about Ive’s early interactions with Steve Jobs and Tim Cook’s affinity for Auburn college football.
Mickle also sprinkles in new reporting around both key points in the timeline and trivial moments throughout that the narrative keeps your attention without feeling entirely retold.
For example, Mickle writes iPhone software chief Scott Forstall was “apoplectic” when he determined that it was hardware and not software that caused a prototype iPhone 4 to drop calls before “Antennagate” became a public fiasco:
The most difficult clash was with Ive. In 2010, Apple was in the final stages of producing the iPhone 4. A prototype issued to Forstall repeatedly dropped calls while he was on the phone. Forstall feared the problem might be software-related and called staff to find out. Forstall realized that the issue was due to the design of his phone. I wanted an iPhone that was slimmer and lighter. This was achieved by wrapping the antenna made of metal around the edge. Forstall seemed apoplectic. He blasted the flawed design in conversations with Jobs and complained that it had been hidden from his software team. I was furious at his criticism.
Forstall was also no fan of the original idea for Apple Watch, Jony’s first product idea after the death of Steve Jobs, according to Mickle:
The engineer behind the iPhone’s operating system worried that strapping a miniature computer to people’s wrists would distract them from everyday life. He feared that it would amplify an unintended consequence of the iPhone, a device so engrossing that it consumed attention, disrupted conversation, and endangered drivers. A watch could make it more difficult to manage the constant interruptions of everyday life, as notifications would be moved from pockets and purses to wrists. Though he didn’t rule out a watch, he said it should have capabilities beyond those already available on an iPhone. He advised caution.
Forstall’s doubt irritated Ive.
According to the book, Forstall instead favored developing a product around television.
Forstall, whose staff was involved in the presentation, championed the idea of creating a system that would pull TV channels into a single place so that people could search for shows with their voice. It would show people shows they have watched often and suggest similar programs. Apple would need TV networks to purchase into the system for it to be successful. This was a long process and out of Apple’s control. With the external pressure mounting, it fell to Tim Cook to decide on Apple’s next move: Ive’s watch project or Forstall’s TV effort.
Forstall was fired by Tim Cook in early Apple CEO tenure. Jony was promoted to software design. How “friction With Forstall” would have become a meme if “friction With Jony Ive” had been allowed to breath.
With Forstall out and Jony in, reality gives way for other interesting stories around Jony Ive, the Apple Watch, and the Apple Car project.
The book includes stories of Ive adapting an iPod nano with an EKG to demonstrate what a potential Apple Watch product could do, a bizarre Apple Car demonstration in 2015, and even an awkward detail where the photographer behind Jony Ive’s Apple product design book was asked by Apple to repay up to $20 million after an audit pointed to over billing for his services.
Apple Car development reportedly continues to this day, of course, but this was the state of things seven years ago, according to After Steve:
One day in the fall of 2015, Ive met Tim Cook in Sunnyvale to show him how he envisioned the car working. The vehicle could be controlled by voice and passengers could climb into it and tell Siri what they want. They sank in to the seats of the lounge-like interior cabin prototype and entered it. Outside, an actor performed as Siri and read from a script that had been written for the fanciful demonstration. As the imaginary car sped forward, Ive pretended to peer out its window. He asked Siri “Hey Siri, where was the restaurant that we just passed?” The actor outside responded. The executives had a few more exchanges. Ive looked satisfied as though the future was bigger than what he had imagined, and he left the car. The engineers watching him seemed to be unaware of his actions. Some were worried that the project would not move fast enough, but they weren’t near the destination.
The format of the book shifts between chapters detailing Jony Ive’s experience and the actions taken by Tim Cook. These two paths may cross at times but they are also interconnected. The lack of intersection can be used to describe an actuality in which Tim Cook permitted Jony Ive not to leave Apple.
Also covered are the times Jony attempted to quit the company earlier and his known history of being promoted to part-time, awkward returns, and eventual departure. Cook’s tale is more stable and less fascinating. This is partly due to Cook’s private and stateman-like nature as an Apple executive, although Cook’s great biography has yet to be published.
What’s missing is any mention about the really interesting story of what actually happened behind the scenes at Apple in the butterfly keyboard era for MacBooks. Despite the designer’s insistence on perfect, it’s certainly true that certain Apple hardware took design directions that favored form over function during his later years at the company.
The book captures the criticism that Ive received a salary too high, particularly while being distracted by my desire to leave. But someone could still write an entire book about the state of Mac in Jony’s final years, and the critically-acclaimed recovery.
As for the subtitle, How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul, the former is factually captured while the latter claim is arguably editorial and left open for debate. The book contains a lot of evidence that Cook led the company from an environment that was characterized by spirit to one that is focused on financial success.
The editorializing in After Steve is light enough to be digestible even by those who cringe at its subtitle. After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul by Tripp Mickle is out today.
Twitter Circle now official, Instagram Close Friends’-like feature rolling out to some users
Twitter Circle has been released to some users. The company made an official statement about this feature. The “alternative timeline” for Trusted Friends that was originally developed a year ago, is finally being implemented.
According to Twitter Saftey’s post, “some tweets are for everyone and others are just for people you’ve picked.”
We are now testing Twitter Circle, which lets you add up to 150 people who can see your Tweets when you want to share with a smaller crowd.
Twitter Circle is pretty much a version of Instagram’s Close Friends feature, in which you can select some users that can see more of your personal stories.
The company claims that this function is available for “some” of its customers starting immediately. If you have it, Twitter will explain how it works:
Add your people: you can choose up to 150 of them to include in your Twitter Circle;
Tweet to only them: go on – share those thoughts. Only your Circle can see and reply to them;
Change things up anytime: want to edit your Twitter Circle? Go for it. You won’t get notified by anyone if they are removed.
After editing your list, users will notice a green bubble when typing a tweet. Users can decide whether they want it to only be visible to a select few or all users.
Circle’s tweets will also appear differently in the timeline, so other users will know they’re part of this selection. Users can like tweets but cannot retweet them.
Do you have this feature available on your account? Are you excited to try it out? Please leave your comments below.
Some Tweets are for everyone & others are just for people you’ve picked.
We’re now testing Twitter Circle, which lets you add up to 150 people who can see your Tweets when you want to share with a smaller crowd.
Overwatch 2 beta will get more heroes, maps, and reworks, Blizzard says
Overwatch 2‘s PvP beta is still in its early stages, and more content is coming before the full game launches. Blizzard explains that this includes maps and new features as well as additional heroes. Regular balance adjustments are also planned with a primary focus on the support team.
While there’s no word on when new heroes (beyond Sojourn) or maps may arrive, Blizzard shared some of its plans regarding immediate priorities. Since they have lost their off-tank, support heroes will receive additional buffs and be more open for flanking. That may also mean reworked abilities, something that the support side of Overwatch didn’t get in Overwatch 2‘s beta.
” We have clearly heard that both damage and tank players think there is more content in the Beta. “Longer term, we believe the most effective way to tackle this issue is to add exciting new support heroes to the game, and that is part of our plans. In the near term, our hero design team is also experimenting with significant, but shorter lead time, ideas including new and refreshed abilities for some existing support heroes.”
Blizzard also touched on changes to Overwatch’s scoreboard, and explained why it retired the medal and “fire” system in Overwatch 2‘s beta in favor of more granular player statistics.
“These statistics include eliminations, assists, deaths, damage, damage mitigated, and healing,” Blizzard said. “The information will be presented in a new layout that mirrors other competitive games and sports. We want to provide players with an overall more accurate view of the game. Our team believes providing accurate feedback and encouragement can improve everyone’s gameplay experience!”
Blizzard quickly noted that beta testing is still in progress and elements such as menu screens, scoreboards and heroes with new, improved looks and golden guns system, aren’t yet fully implemented. According to the developer, there will be “a substantial amount of overall polishing and refinement in the form [and] bug fixings”
Elon Musk compares Apple’s App Store tax to having a 30% fee for using the internet, ‘definitely not ok’
Elon Musk is the man of the hour and has been tweeting as much these last few weeks as possible – possibly in connection to his purchase Twitter. In his latest tweet, Musk is once again attacking Apple’s App Store fees to developers. This time, he compares it to having a “30% tax on the internet.”
Apple’s store is like having a 30% tax on the Internet. .
is not allowed.
Interesting, or not? Epic’s Tim Sweeney also reposted the above post.
This is not the first time that Elon Musk makes it clear that the App Store fees are a problem in his opinion. In July of 2021, he called it a “de facto global tax on the internet.” At the time, Musk corroborated with the Epic Games debate on whether Apple should open its App Store to offer alternate ways to take payment for digital goods or let users choose from different stores.
I think we want to emphasize that our goal is to support the advent of sustainable energy. This isn’t about creating a barrier and using it to oppress our rivals.
Musk was also asked about Tesla’s supply chain during the call, leading him again to bring up Apple. Musk explained that while Apple’s batteries use 100% cobalt, Tesla’s use is much lower:
Apple uses I think almost 100% cobalt in their batteries and cell phones and laptops, but Tesla uses no cobalt in the iron-phosphate packs, and almost none in the nickel-based chemistries,” Musk said. “On on a weighted-average basis we might use 2% cobalt compared to say, Apple’s 100% cobalt. It’s not an important factor.
9to5Mac’s Take
While Elon Musk’s tweet will not have any impact on Apple, it is important to remember that Apple continues to face legal challenges from big techs and politicians around the globe to get rid of its alleged “monopoly .”
“.
9to5Mac‘s Ben Lovejoy wrote an interesting article on this matter, saying how Apple could finally handle all of these situations if the company wanted. You can read it here.
Related:
Elon Musk wanted to be Apple CEO, but Tim Cook dropped an F bomb on that idea [U: Musk denies]
Apple’s store is like having a 30% tax on the Internet. .
Elden Ring is harder with a modded Fisher-Price toy controller
Elden Ring is hard enough as is. But it’s even more difficult when you play through with a toy controller meant for kids. Self described as a “builder of bizarre controllers,” streamer Rudeism shared that he had created a fully functional controller using a Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Game & Learn Controller on April 30. Later, he shared video of himself using the controller for Elden Ring HTML1.
Rudeism first got the idea to make it from a Wario64 tweet that shared a sale for a colorful Fisher-Price controller as a joke, saying it was “perfect for Elden Ring.” The toy is aimed at kids as young as six months old and is advertised as providing “hands-on learning for your little gamer.”
The modded controller can be used as an Xbox controller and has all the same features. You will learn your and to become Elden Lord. Rudeism uploaded a video showing the controller using Elden Ring . As he press buttons, Rudeism’s energetic voice explained the colours of each button.
here’s the Fisher Price Xbox controller in action!
let me know what games you’d like to see me play with it
Rudeism explains to Polygon via Twitter the process he used. The first step was to connect an Arduino to an existing circuit board. He then programed the Arduino so that it could function as an Xbox controller. Later he replaced the thumbstick, added some extra switches for the shoulders, and “then stuffed everything back in.” According to him, the hardest part was getting all the parts to fit inside. Rudeism told Polygon that it took about two weeks total to make the controller.
The controller is clearly missing a few buttons common to regular video game controllers; one of the biggest missing components being a second thumbstick. Instead of two thumbsticks, there is a yellow switch on the bottom controller that can be toggled to switch the controller between left and right thumbstick.
Rudeism said that, oddly enough, the controller works surprisingly well for FromSoftware games: “I’m gonna experiment with a few games to see what works and what doesn’t, but for now, I know that I’m going to use it to beat Elden Ring.” He also posted a clip of playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and chained tricks together with ease.
As for future plans, he’s just going to keep tinkering with it. People have already reached out to see if he takes commissions. He told Polygon, “I’m not quite at that stage yet, I’m still working on the quality of my builds, but I think this one was a huge step in the right direction!”
A week after releasing watchOS 8. 6 beta 3 to developers, Apple is now seeding the fourth test version of the upcoming operating system for the Apple Watch. Here’s everything new coming with watchOS 8. 6 beta 4.
Today’s build is 19T5570a. Most of the news related to this version regards Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, which are the features also available with iOS 15. 5 beta 4. These are the :
updates
Physical Apple Card now called “Titanium Card” in Wallet settings
Apple Pay rebranded as “Apple Cash” in the Messages app
iTunes Pass rebranded as “Apple Account Card” in the Wallet app
As analyzed by 9to5Mac, iTunes Pass will become a new card called the “Apple Account Card.” This card will be displayed in the Wallet app just like the Apple Card and the Apple Cash card. Instead of showing a QR code when you shop at Apple Stores, users will be able complete your purchase with Apple Pay.
Different from watchOS 8. 5, watchOS 8. 6 feels like a small update, since we are getting near WWDC 2022 keynote. The current version of the Apple Watch operating system offers a handful of new features, including 37 new emojis.
It also offers :
The ability to authorize Apple TV purchases and subscriptions;
COVID-19 vaccination cards in Apple Wallet, which now supports the EU Digital COVID Certificate format;
Updates to irregular rhythm notifications designed to improve atrial fibrillation identification (available in the United States, Chile, Hong Kong, South Africa, and many regions where the feature is available);
Audio hints in Fitness+ provide you with audio commentary of visually demonstrated moves during workouts.
watchOS 8. 6 beta 4 is available alongside the fourth beta version of iOS 15. 5, iPadOS 15. 5, tvOS 15. 5, and macOS 12.4.
Let us know if you notice any differences in Apple’s new betas today in the comments or by tweeting to.
