O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: News

  • Apple Pencil with USB-C port now available on select European Apple refurbished storefronts

    Apple Pencil with USB-C port now available on select European Apple refurbished storefronts

    A good deal’s a good deal.

    Apple on Monday added its lower-cost Apple Pencil with a USB-C port to the online storefronts of its refurbished stores in select European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

    The refurbished unit is discounted by 15 percent in each country.

    The Apple Pencil with a USB-C port was originally released in November 2023, and has a similar design to the Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro models, but features a USB-C port hidden under a sliding cap for charging and pairing with a USB-C cable. It attaches magnetically to any iPad with a USB-C port but does not support wireless charging or pairing. The stylus also lacks pressure sensitivity and a double-tap gesture for switching between drawing tools.

    Apple has stated that its refurbished products undergo full functionality testing as well as a thorough cleaning process and inspection. The units are also repackaged in a plainer white box with a refurbished label than the new commercial units.

    Apple says its refurbished products undergo full functionality testing and are subject to a thorough cleaning process and inspection. The refurbished Apple Pencils are repackaged in a plainer white box with a refurbished label.

    Availability of the refurbished USB-C Apple Pencil will likely extend to the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries within the next few weeks.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • Apple signs off on Epic Games Store app for the EU

    Apple signs off on Epic Games Store app for the EU

    Following years of legal entanglements between Apple and Epic Games, things are changing.

    Apple on Friday stated that the company has approved the third-party Epic Games Store in the European Union. The new storefront allows Epic to launch its alternative app marketplace in those countries. According to Reuters, ‌Epic Games‌ had submitted the ‌Epic Games‌ Store to Apple for notarization earlier this week.

    Earlier on Friday, Epic had stated that Apple had twice rejected the Epic Games Store app last week, with Apple reportedly claiming that an “Install” button and “in-app purchases” labels were too similar to Apple’s own elements for the App Store. Epic argued that the rejection was “arbitrary, obstructive, and in violation of the DMA [Digital Markets Act]” and that it was reporting the issue to the European Commission. Still, it appears Apple has relented and approved Epic’s previously rejected submission.

    The legal battle between Apple and Epic Games had waged for years concerning Apple’s closed App Store ecosystem, and Epic’s desire to launch its marketplace in the EU under Apple’s new policies driven by the Digital Markets Act.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Reuters

  • ChatGPT Mac App saved plain text chats to local files, updated version resolves the issue

    ChatGPT Mac App saved plain text chats to local files, updated version resolves the issue

    If you downloaded and began playing around with the ChatGPT app for Mac recently, you might want to download the update.

    According to The Verge, developer Pedro José Pereira Vieito noted that the app was locally storing users’ conversations with the chatbot in unencrypted plain text.

    “I was curious about why OpenAI opted out of using the app sandbox protections and ended up checking where they stored the app data,” said Pereira Vieito.

    That led Pereira Vieito to develop “ChatGPTStealer,” a simple app to demonstrate how easy it is to load the chats in a text window outside of the ChatGPT app. After successfully trying out the app for himself, Peters said he was also able to see the text of conversations on his computer just by changing the file name, indicating the extent of the privacy risk.

    The ChatGPT Mac app is currently available solely through OpenAI’s website, meaning it has not been obligated to follow Apple’s sandboxing requirements that apply to software distributed via the Mac App Store. The oversight basically meant any other running app or process could potentially access the ChatGPT conversations without prompting the user for permission.

    The Verge later contacted OpenAI about the issue, wherein company spokesperson Taya Christianson offered the following comment:

    “We are aware of this issue and have shipped a new version of the application which encrypts these conversations. We’re committed to providing a helpful user experience while maintaining our high security standards as our technology evolves.”

    After downloading the update (v1.2024.171), Pereira Vieito’s app no longer works, and Peters said he was no longer able to see his conversations with the chatbot in plain text.

    As such, be sure to snag the new version and please let us know about your ChatGPT experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors, @pvieito, and The Verge

  • Happy Fourth of July from O’Grady’s PowerPage!!!

    Happy Fourth of July from O’Grady’s PowerPage!!!

    It’s the Fourth of July here in the United States, and with that in mind, the staff of O’Grady’s PowerPage will be taking the day to celebrate the holiday.

    Have a safe and happy Fourth with friends and family, enjoy some amazing food, catch the fireworks, and we’ll be back tomorrow with all the Mac, mobile, iPhone, iPad, and other news, features, and rumors we can get our hands on. Stay safe, enjoy the day, and we’ll be back tomorrow!

  • djay Pro reaches version 5.2, takes home Apple Design Award

    djay Pro reaches version 5.2, takes home Apple Design Award

    On Tuesday, Algoriddim, winner of the 2024 Apple Design Award, released djay Pro 5.2, a significant update to its DJ software.

    The extensive update list include the following:

    • Introducing the new light mode: a stunning all-white user interface option (on macOS)
    • Introducing Neural Mix 2.0 on Windows powered by AudioShake: supreme quality/ speed now available on ARM64 based PCs (on Windows)
    • Added support for ARM64 (on Windows)
    • Support for Reloop Mixtour Pro, designed in collaboration with DJ & producer Laidback Luke
    • Support for Phase, native plug-and-play via USB/HID (macOS, Windows)
    • Support for Hercules DJControl Inpulse T7
    • Support for Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX10, DDJ-REV5, XDJ-RX3, PLX-CRS12
    • Support for AlphaTheta Omnis Duo
    • Support for RANE FOUR (macOS, Windows)
    • Support for Denon Prime Go, SC LIVE 2, SC LIVE 4
    • Support for Numark Mixstream Pro
    • Crossfader FX is now available on external mixers and all DJ controllers
    • New “Drum Cut” Crossfader FX: ideal for seamlessly mixing and scratching tracks without clashing harmonies
    • Loop adjust mode: dynamically adjust loop in and out points using waveforms or jog wheels on various DJ controllers (via Loop In/Out Move actions)
    • Streaming integration: Beatport and Beatsource now available (Android)
    • New Hardware View Mode: Optimized for portrait orientation use with external controllers (on iPhone/iPad)
    • Neural Mix multi-track waveforms: now available across all waveform views (on iPhone/iPad)
    • Dynamic Watch Folders: Auto-import files from specified Finder locations to My Collection (on macOS)
    • Added support for importing crates into My Collection (on macOS)
    • New Sync Setting: option to automatically reset tempo when turning sync off.
    • Keyboard Shortcuts: New “Open Format DJ” set (on macOS)
    • Video Transition: New Cut50 transition
    • FX BPM Tapping: support for tapping FX BPM on various DJ controllers

    A video walkthrough can be found here:

    dJay Pro 5.2 retails for $49.99 for new users and requires

    If you’ve had a chance to try day Pro 5.2, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via Digital DJ Tips