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Tag: U.S.

  • “CHIPS-plus” bipartisan chip manufacturing bill clears U.S. Senate, set for House vote later this month

    “CHIPS-plus” bipartisan chip manufacturing bill clears U.S. Senate, set for House vote later this month

    A bipartisan bill to boost U.S. chip manufacturing and effectiveness, dubbed “CHIPS-plus,” has cleared a key Senate hurdle and is set to go up for a final vote before July ends.

    The vote passed 64-32 and the bill will provide around $52 billion in funding for U.S. companies making semiconductors and computer chips. It also includes a provision offering a tax credit for investments in domestic chip production.

    The bill will also provide funding to bolster innovation and the development of other U.S. technologies.

    Should the bill clear the Senate, it will go before the U.S. House of Representatives. Supporters of the legislation, which is bipartisan, hope that it will be passed in Congress and sent to President Joe Biden’s desk before the August recess.

    Proponents of the bill have stated that its U.S. economic and national security interest. President Biden has referred to the ongoing global chip shortage, which began with the COVID-19 pandemic, a national security issue and stated that the bill could help mitigate it.

    The bill, however, is a stripped-down version of a broader piece of legislation that has been sitting in Congress for months.

    “America invented the semiconductor. It’s time to bring it home,” Biden said at a White House meeting Monday afternoon.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and CNBC

  • WWDC: iOS 16 to incorporate Bluetooth-based eSIM transfer feature

    WWDC: iOS 16 to incorporate Bluetooth-based eSIM transfer feature

    This should come in handy.

    Apple’s forthcoming iOS 16 operating system will offer a feature that allows an eSIM to be transferred between iPhones via Bluetooth while setting up cellular service.

    The featuring, which is found in the iOS 16 Settings app, can be enabled by tapping on “Set up eSIM” brings up an option to transfer an eSIM and its associated phone number from another iPhone via Bluetooth. To transfer an eSIM from another iPhone, Apple says to make sure the other iPhone is nearby, unlocked, has Bluetooth turned on, and is running iOS 16 or later.

    The feature appears to be available in multiple countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, but will only be possible via Bluetooth by carriers that support the feature. Since iOS 16 is currently in its beta development stage, carrier support may be limited at present.

    Users can also use the traditional method of setting up an eSIM by scanning a QR code provided by a carrier.

    An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from a carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. A single eSIM is available on the iPhone XS and newer, while all four iPhone 13 models support dual eSIMs.

    The first developer beta of iOS 16 was seeded to the developer community this week and a public beta should be released in July. Apple has said that iOS 16 will be released this fall, at which point the new eSIM transfer feature should be available to all users.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • WWDC: Apple Pay Later purchase option to debut with iOS 16

    WWDC: Apple Pay Later purchase option to debut with iOS 16

    Over at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple on Monday, announced that the company will be introducing a “buy now pay later” feature known as “Apple Pay Later” purchase option into iOS 16.

    The plan will allow U.S.-based users to spread the cost of a purchase into four payments over six weeks without interest or fees. While users can add most credit cards to your iPhone wallet, they’ll need to link a debit card as a repayment method when setting up a loan with Apple Pay Later.The feature forms part of a range of new iPhone features, including the ability to edit iMessages and a feature intended to help people in abusive relationships.

    The option is currently being explored by an assortment of news outlets, and it’s thought that Apple can see an upside to this by increasing its overall marketshare as well as receiving retailer fees for offering this service.

    A public iOS 16 beta is expected in July.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via BBC and The Points Guy

  • Apple reinstating mask policy for about 100 U.S. retail locations as COVID-19 numbers climb again

    Apple reinstating mask policy for about 100 U.S. retail locations as COVID-19 numbers climb again

    These are the breaks that come with an ongoing pandemic.

    Apple is reinstating its mask mandate for employees of about 100 of its brick-and-mortar retail locations throughout the U.S. in response to a national rise in cases.

    Although retail staff members at those locations will be required to mask up, customers will not. However, Apple is still recommending customers wear a mask.

    Apple lifted its customer mask mandate across its U.S. stores back in February. In March, it also began lifting its requirements for employees in both retail and corporate settings.

    The U.S. has seen a steady rise in COVID-19 cases, the spike being driven by more infectious subvariants of the Omicron variant like BA.2, BA.2.12, and BA.2.12.1. Per the New York Times, the U.S. is seeing 90,423 cases a day, up 60 percent from two weeks prior.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available, and please stay safe out there.

    Via AppleInsider, @markgurman, and The New York Times

  • 2019 iPod touch completely sold out on Apple’s U.S. online store, some stock still remains through other retailers

    2019 iPod touch completely sold out on Apple’s U.S. online store, some stock still remains through other retailers

    This is why you sometimes have to shop quickly.

    Following news that Apple is discontinuing its 2019 iPod touch and bringing and end to its iPod product line, the official Apple U.S. online storefront has sold out of all 2019 iPod touch units in every color and capacity. Some stock stills remains in Canada, Brazil, and the UK.

    Certain Authorized Apple Resellers still have a limited supply of the product. Target has several 32GB models available in select colors, while Walmart has 32GB and 128GB options. Furthermore, Amazon and B&H Video also have limited inventory.

    Users hoping to get ahold of the final iPod touch may want to act fast through the remaining retailers.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer