O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: resources

  • Apple purchases DarwinAI, adds company’s resources to own development efforts

    Apple purchases DarwinAI, adds company’s resources to own development efforts

    Every so often, Apple goes shopping for businesses or technologies it believes will be useful down the road.

    The company acquired Canada-based DarwinAI earlier this year as part of an effort to build out its AI team. DarwinAI created AI technology for inspecting components during the manufacturing process, and it also had a focus on making smaller and more efficient AI systems.

    According to Bloomberg, DarwinAI’s website and social media accounts were taken offline following Apple’s purchase of the company, and dozens of former DarwinAI employees have joined Apple’s AI division. AI researcher Alexander Wong, who helped build DarwinAI, is now a director in Apple’s AI group.

    Apple recently confirmed the acquisition with the statement that it typically gives when questioned about purchases. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time” but does not discuss its purpose or plans.

    Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised that Apple will “break new ground” in generative AI in 2024. “We believe it will unlock transformative opportunities for our users,” said Cook.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Apple launches support page for Apple Vision Pro app developers, explains how to submit apps to the upcoming storefront

    Apple launches support page for Apple Vision Pro app developers, explains how to submit apps to the upcoming storefront

    If you’re a developer looking to write apps for the new Vision Pro headset, the Apple Vision Pro App Store is open to submit apps to, Apple having created and launched a dedicated support page explaining to developers how they should prepare and submit apps to the Apple Vision Pro App Store.

    Following its confirmation that the Vision Pro will be available starting February 2, Apple on Monday informed developers how they can submit apps for inclusion in the mixed reality headset’s version of the App Store.

    The page, titled “Submit your apps to the App Store for the Apple Vision Pro,” is a straightforward guide to what developers should do to get their apps available to download and use on the headset.

    Since introducing the Vision Pro headset at WWDC 23 last June, Apple has insisted that apps written for the iPhone and iPad can run on the Vision Pro with only minimal changes required. The first section under Prepare Your App, Compatible iPad and iPhone apps, reiterates this, adding compatible apps will be automatically published to the App Store for Apple Vision Pro.

    The page also describes the use of Xcode 15.2 to create new apps for visionOS as well as testing apps, complete with links to compatibility checklists.

    There’s also a mention about universal purchases, so that app purchases and subscriptions can work across multiple platforms, not just the Apple Vision Pro.

    The second major section, entitled “Create Your Product Page,” details the elements that developers should include in the App Store listings, including how best to take screenshots and app previews. It warns developers to convey the surroundings of the user accurately, to have a clear environment, and if necessary, to use a system Environment by using Apple Design Templates and the Simulator.

    Finally, the guide mentions submitting the app via App Store Connect for review and approval before it is published in the store.

    If you’ve had a chance to look the page over, please let us know what you make of it in the comments.

    Via AppleInsider and developer.apple.com

  • Rumor: Apple devoting additional resources to higher-end iPhone 14 models, scaling back base-model iPhone 14 production

    Rumor: Apple devoting additional resources to higher-end iPhone 14 models, scaling back base-model iPhone 14 production

    You might have an easier time buying the higher-end iPhone 14 as opposed to the base models.

    Per ITHome, Foxconn, one of Apple’s largest suppliers, has been instructed to dismantle at least five production lines that were previously making the ‌iPhone 14‌ in Zhengzhou, China. Based on the report, it’s unclear if this includes just the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 14‌ or also the larger 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus.

    The update comes from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who this week stated that Apple is ramping up production of the iPhone 14 Pro and moving production resources away from the ‌iPhone 14‌ and into the iPhone 14 Pro to keep up.

    Over on Apple’s website, the higher-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max configurations remain estimated to ship out in weeks for new order, while the base model iPhone 14 is available without delay. The ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus, arriving to customers on Friday, October 7, faces no delay on Apple’s website.

    The base model iPhone 14 offers the same design and display as the iPhone 13, but is power by the same chip found in the iPhone 13 Pro and offers newer camera features. The 6.7-inch ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌ Plus is a larger version with a bigger battery, replacing the previous “mini” size from the iPhone 12 and 13 lineups.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and ITHome

  • Analyst: Apple has moved some of its Apple Watch Series 8 production to Vietnam, seems on track for September launch

    Analyst: Apple has moved some of its Apple Watch Series 8 production to Vietnam, seems on track for September launch

    Apple appears to be taking advantage of having moved some of its MacBoo And Apple Watch production resources to Vietnam.

    The company seems to be ramping up already-existing production of its Apple Watch Series 8 units ahead of the anticipated September launch.

    According to tweets by noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Luxshare ICT already has production lines in both China and Vietnam. The company happens to be one of Apple’s largest suppliers for various products. Kuo has stated that the Vietnamese company has already been producing a fair share of the Apple Watch Series 7 supply.

    Kuo also went on to that that as much as 70 percent of the Apple Watch models could be produced in Vietnam. The Apple Watch Series 8, expected to launch Sept. 7 alongside with the iPhone 14, should account for most of these units.

    Apple’s supply chain for most of its products was seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns in China as well as other issues. Given that the U.S. government and China disagree on various geopolitical issues, this has strained trade relations between the two parties. Apple, in turn, appears to have been looking for and found other suppliers within the region, beginning with Vietnam. Aside from Vietnam, Apple also assembles iPhones in both India and Brazil.

    Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 products at a media event in September.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and @mingchikuo

  • Safari-get.com URL leads to new malware strain for macOS-based machines

    You’re going to need to be a little more careful when surfing the Web on your Mac.

    For the past few weeks, people have been tricked into visiting a phony website embedded with malware that can freeze Macs, according to a report this week by the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes.

    The new malware, which can be activated by visiting safari-get.com, can trigger two sets of actions depending on the version of the computers’ operating systems.

    In one case, the malware causes the computer’s Apple email client to create a deluge of draft emails that contain the words “Warning! Virus Detected!” in the email subject line. Although the emails don’t get actually get delivered to anyone, the sudden flood of draft emails hogs the computer’s resources, thus causing the computer to freeze.

    (more…)