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jeremyburge · 2 years

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Why eSIM is my new best friend

Data roaming fees are my enemy.

Alternative title: How and why to install an eSIM to save money on data roaming fees when overseas. Especially useful if you have an iPhone 14 with no SIM Tray.

I’ll keep this brief. People travelling overseas often fall into two categories:

1. Pay whatever your phone carrier lots of $$ for data roaming 🤑💸 2. Buy a local SIM card at the airport or downtown after arriving 🤓🏙

The first is easy, but costly. The second is sensible, but can be time consuming.

There’s a much better option that now exists; and middle-ground that is easy enough, and cheap enough, that you should consider.

As of 2022, every new iPhone and lots of medium or high end Android phones support my new best friend:

3. eSIM. Buy data online, in-app, before even arriving at your overseas destination. Keep your SIM in the slot. No payment to my enemy (data roaming fees) 🤩🤳

There’s lots of ways to do this, but if you’re reading now from the departure lounge of an airport or train station and want to dive right in, here’s my recommendation:

Search the App Store or Google Play Store for the Airalo app

Choose your data pack (1GB for $5 USD or 10GB for $18USD)

Follow instructions to install

Activate eSIM when you’ve arrived at your destination

🌟 Optional Bonus: receive a $3 USD sign-up credit by using this link to register, or type my referral code in the app: JEREMY0461

I also get a $3 credit when you use this link, but that’s not why I’m recommending this to you. There are lots of ways to buy eSIMs (in other apps, or in stores using printed QR codes), but personally this is the best I’ve used so far.

If there’s apps or services you find easier or cheaper, do let me know!

Airalo accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or regular credit card payment.

The best part of using an eSIM when travelling? You can leave your regular SIM in your phone, using it for phone calls (if you wish), iMessage, or any other service.

No more forcing your SIM behind your phone case so you don’t lose it when you get back home.

With Airalo’s signup referral credit, you can buy a 1GB pack for $2 USD to test the service out before committing to a larger purchase.

Eventually, every SIM will be an eSIM. But for now, they’re a great option for the efficient traveller, especially when your enemies are after you.

My notes on eSIM use using Airalo

📲 Installing an eSIM takes more steps than a physical SIM, especially as it’s a second line. While apps like Airalo give great instructions, this could be simplified in future.

💵 A rate of $18 USD for 10GB in most countries is much cheaper than many data roaming rates, but won’t beat a local SIM for value in some countries.

🇪🇺 UK residents, having recently lost much of their free EU roaming due to Brexit, still often get up to 20GB free EU roaming on some plans. However once that runs out, this is a nice way to top up.

🛫 I recently visited Turkey and found the ability to buy an eSIM before even landing in the country to be useful. If you start running low on data, you can buy more before the current pack runs out. It is seamless.

🤷 For reasons unknown to me, Apple has a built-in interface to buy eSIM plans on iPad, but not iPhone. I have found Airalo much more reliable than Apple’s iPad option, and non-existent iPhone option.

👽 I haven’t tested Airalo on Android, but see no reason it shouldn’t work the same way.

🪧 You won’t recognise the name of any of these providers. The names and brands are made up, as best as I can tell, by Airalo.

🔄 Tapping any Airalo eSIM option will outline which network it will connect you to. For example, visitors to the UK will be assigned O2, but only on the 4G spectrum. This is normal, where carriers like to keep their latest-and-greatest networks for their own customers, not resellers of their network (known as MVNOs). As such, if you need a specific network for speed or coverage reasons, this might not suit you.

📶 You can leave both your physical SIM and eSIM active at the same time, and even get two status bars showing both lines. It’s the default option, having both lines active.

🪫 I did notice a small amount of additional battery drain from leaving both active. My decision was to simply disable my physical SIM while overseas (who needs phone calls anyway, right?)

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Here’s how it looks when you have two active SIMs running at the same time. For instance, your SIM (or eSIM) from home open for SMS, and your local Airalo eSIM for data:

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Below is a guide to every step of the Airalo eSIM setup on iPhone.

Step by Step

For full context, here are the exact screens I encountered when buying and setting up my Airalo eSIM in Turkey for the first time, with 10GB data.

You’ll note that iOS provides options to choose which line to use for calls, iMessage, or data. The defaults effectively route data over the eSIM, and everything else

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Step 1: Check out

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Step 2: Order confirmation

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Step 3: A button appears to install the eSIM after purchase

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Step 4: a few pages of tips provided by Airalo

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Step 5: More instructions reiterating the previous visual guide. Tap “Install eSIM” to continue and actually get this data on the road!

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Step 6: iOS prompts the eSIM installation

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Step 7: this screen seems a bit redundant and could be merged with the previous one.

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Step 8: You could label your SIMS “home” and “away” or anything you’ll remember later on. This would likely be more important if you could install more than on eSIM at a time.

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Step 9: Which number do you want to use for calls or messages? Defaults to your physical SIM, with it presumed you’ll use the eSIM just for the data

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Step 10: the important step! You’ll want to use the eSIM for data. If setting up before you arrive in your destination, leave this on your normal SIM, and change in Settings once you land.

These eSIMs will only work in the country specified at purchase.

There’s not much more I can add here. eSIM is great for travel. Airalo is great. There’s likely going to be more good apps and ways to do this in future, but for now it’s my recommendation.

If you use this link to register your account, you will receive a $3 USD sign-up credit, or you can just type my referral code in the app: JEREMY0461. Or if you have a friend using Airalo, ask them for their referral code and they will get the $3 instead!

Happy roaming.

#esim #ios #dualsim #iphone #android #travel #data roaming #app tip

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govindhtech · 2 days

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Microsoft Mobile Game Store Rivals Apple & Google play store

Yes, it is correct! This July, Microsoft will make its debut in the mobile game store market. Microsoft studio games like Candy Crush Saga will launch on their own shop. It will be web-based, thus no app is needed. With this move, the company intends to compete with mobile gaming leaders Apples App Store and Google Play Store. Microsoft wants users to join with the promise of more games and cheaper in-game purchases. This follows recent regulatory reforms that enable businesses to avoid the fees imposed by Apple and Google on purchases made through respective app stores.

Microsoft mobile game store Here’s additional information about the opening of Microsoft’s mobile game store:

Date of Launch: July 2024 [Various sources] Platform: Browser-based and web-based [many sources] First Offerings: Titles developed by Microsoft, such as Candy Crush Saga and maybe Call of Duty: Transportable upcoming Plans: Allow other publishers to access the shop [many sources] The goal of the launch was to compete with the Google Play Store and Apple App Store by providing a cheaper option than their respective costs [various sources]. This action follows the Digital Markets Act of the European Union, which permits businesses to establish their own app stores in order to avoid paying fees to Apple and Google. Though its success is still unknown, Microsoft store has the potential to significantly impact the mobile gaming industry. A mobile game store may have the following features

A large selection of games: This is the most important aspect of any gaming business. The store should have several strategic, RPG, puzzle, simulation, and other games. User-friendly interface: The store must be easy to use. Users should easily browse new releases, read reviews, and find games. Secure payment methods: The shop should accept PayPal, debit cards, and credit cards for safe payment. App purchases: Many mobile games let players buy virtual money, power-ups, and characters. It should be simple and safe for customers to make these purchases at the business. Reviews and ratings: Before downloading a game, users ought to be able to read reviews and ratings. This can assist users in choosing games to play with knowledge. Social features: Users can connect with friends and check what games they are playing in certain mobile game store. Finding new games to play and competing with friends can be enjoyable with this. Cloud saves: This feature lets players store their game progress online. This implies that even if users switch devices, they can continue where they left off. Microsoft store mobile games

Parents can limit their kids’ games and features with parental controls. This can help parents ensure their kids play age-appropriate games. Some mobile games can be played offline. This is useful for folks without permanent internet access. Play free games: Many free mobile games store offer in-app purchases. Playing a game this way before buying it is great. Demos: Before downloading a game, consumers can test it out at certain game stores’ demo sections. Pre-registration: Customers can sign up in advance for upcoming games at certain gaming retailers. By doing this, you may let them know when the game is out. Customer service: In the event that customers run into any issues, the store ought to provide customer service. Mobile game stores primarily fall into two categories Authorized Retailers: These are run by the operating system developer of your phone and come pre-installed. Play Store is the official Android app store: There are thousands of premium, free, and freemium games with in-app purchases. Downloads require a Google account. App Store is the official iPad and iPhone app store: Like Google Play, it offers free, premium, and freemium games. Any download requires an Apple ID. Independent businesses not directly tied to a phone’s OS are called third-party stores.

Game store mobile app Popular third-party app store for Android smartphones is called Aptiode. provides a greater assortment of programmes than the Google Play Store, some of which might not adhere to Google’s publishing standards. There’s a greater chance of infection when downloading from third-party retailers, so proceed with caution.

The scene for is getting more competitive as Microsoft joins the fray with well-known heavyweights like Apple and Google. Gamers may profit from this rivalry by having access to a greater selection of games, possibly at a reduced price, and increased innovation in the stores.

In addition, Microsoft’s web-based strategy might provide greater accessibility and flexibility than conventional app store downloads. When July rolls around, it will be interesting to watch how this affects the market and what new options gamers have.

Game store mobile app Development Game store mobile app will determine how much it will cost to construct a mobile gaming shop.

Development costs include hiring designers, programmers, and testers to build the business. This can cost tens of thousands of dollars for a basic store or millions for a complex one with many features. Infrastructure costs include servers and other business-related equipment and software. How many users you expect may influence this. App store fees: Google and Apple charge for app store listings. These fees may take up 30% of in-app purchase revenue. Microsoft mobile game store pricing The following extra variables may also have an impact on the price of creating a mobile gaming store.

A mobile game store might cost $50,000 to $1 million or more to create. The store’s complexity and size: Obviously, developing a larger, more feature-rich store will be more expensive than developing a smaller, less feature-rich one. Location of the development team: Developers in more expensive nations will demand a premium over developers in less expensive nations. Experience of the development team: More seasoned developers will bill more than less seasoned developers. Microsoft mobile game store Release date

Microsoft plans to open its mobile gaming shop on the web in July 2024.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

#MobileGameStore #GameStore #Microsoft #ApplesAppStore #GooglePlayStore #android #smartphone #game #technology #technews #news #govindhtech

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swayaminfotech · 26 days

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Top 7 iOS app development tips

1. Plan the process

A mobile app development company may begin the process by ignoring the planning phase. Most developers start with direct code, with no plan. Developing an application is difficult, and developers may skip a phase without achieving results.

Before beginning the coding process, the developers must select a development guide and architecture. For iOS App Development Services, it is best to use a model view controller design. The design aids in the understanding of various UI, software, and data components. Additionally, it keeps the app ready for improvements.

2. Create documentation

Adequate documentation is critical for an iOS app's success. Furthermore, appropriate documentation covers all of the system's components. An overview of the product results will keep you in the loop about the development process.

Code documentation is an important source of knowledge for developers, assisting them in key applications. At times, company logins in a system can take time to grasp. Documentation is a realistic option that simplifies the process. It is a practical way to generate support documents.

3. Follow app store rules

Marketing is linked with applications. Before starting to code, developers should think about promoting their applications. Furthermore, the appearance is an important aspect of your mobile app.

If not in an aesthetic fashion, then you must adhere to all of the apps' aesthetic requirements. The advantage here is that it increases the likelihood of the app being announced in the app store.

And if you don't follow all of the app store guidelines, you'll spend a lot of money developing something that will never be released or distributed in the app store market. Apple's guidelines encompass performance, safety, and legal requirements.

4. Think about security from the beginning

Mobile apps offer a way of storing data across several mobile devices, and app owners' primary worry is security. Furthermore, app data should not be used to facilitate the activities of hackers and scammers.

If your application involves personal information or accepts online payments, considering security from the start is even more important. Well-coded programs and security features can assist in avoiding hack assaults and detecting theft.

5. Consider compatibility

Compatibility is the most essential part of iOS App Development Services. However, it is worth noting that iPhones ranging from 6 to 13 are upgraded to different versions of iOS. Also, if you want to make your software accessible to a wide range of consumers, consider backward adaptation. Backward compatibility means the software will work in all previous versions of iOS.

6. Use Xcode

Developers must create iOS applications with settings. Regardless of your codes and functions, improper settings will impair the app's functionality.

There are other options for iOS platforms, but Xcode is the most popular. Most importantly, Xcode is the only iOS programming environment supported by Apple. In short, it is the primary setting for developers. Furthermore, it is an excellent option for a native iOS application. You can acquire ready-made documentation that is free for Xcode.

7. Start with MVP

Working on fewer requests is a good idea because it lets your programme handle a few things. Furthermore, it is more beneficial than the standard edition of the application.

Start with MVP to make it more active, and you'll get feedback in no moment. The repetition feature increases its viability and flexibility. Furthermore, using a minimum viable product is less expensive than developing an entire programme. With the proper analysis, you may contemplate the app's future.

8. Keep accessibility in mind.

Accessibility should not be limited to a specific population. Consider universal accessibility when developing an iOS application. Consider designing an application for a bigger audience. Furthermore, accessibility can help you develop better iOS apps.

Conclusion

There are guidelines for software integration, architecture, and project management. If you follow the iOS App Development Services principles, your app will perform better. As a mobile app development Company, you must plan strategically and utilise the greatest knowledge and methods for app development.

#swayaminfotech #mobileappdevelopment #mobileapplicationdevelopment #ios application development #ios app developers #ios app design #ios application development company #ios app development

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vicky9582 · 1 month

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How to Order ONIC SIM Online Step by Step Guide

Onic Sim Online Online, launched in 2023, is a novel mobile telecom service situated in Pakistan. It stands out as a trailblazing provider offering SIM cards and mobile plans managed exclusively through the ONIC application. Onic Sim is a venture under the ownership of Pak Telecom Mobile Limited, an affiliate of the Government of Pakistan. Step-by-Step Instructions for Ordering ONIC Sim Online

To make an online order, simply follow these straightforward steps:

Visit the official ONIC Pakistan website

Explore ONIC Sim Pakistan’s user-friendly website to discover a diverse range of packages tailored to meet your specific needs. Designed for easy navigation, their website ensures a seamless user experience, simplifying your search for the perfect package.

Browse and Select Your Perfect Package

Discover the perfect plan tailored to your requirements by exploring our diverse range of options. Whether you prioritize ample talk time, generous data allowances, or a balanced combination of both, we have the ideal plan waiting for you.

Please fill out the Online Order Form in its entirety.

After reaching a decision, proceed to the Online Order Form, designed for simplicity and efficiency. To facilitate smooth and prompt delivery, furnish all necessary details along with an accurate delivery address. Registration using the same email ID linked to your Google Play Store account is required.

Choose Your Preferred Payment Method

We suggestion a variety of fee choices to provide to your suitability. Select the one that suits you best, and proceed with your transaction confidently, knowing it’s secure.

Relax and Take Pleasure

Enjoy this relaxing moment while you anticipate the arrival of your ONIC Sim card. Thanks to their efficient delivery process, you’ll soon have your Sim card delivered right to your chosen location.

Price of a new SIM card

For the price of just PKR 300, the plan includes the following terms:

Validity: 30 days

Data: 30GB

Minutes: 500 (all networks)

SMS: 1000 (all networks)

Plan Price: Rs.300/-

Physical SIM Price: Free

Biometric Verification during delivery: Free

Delivery Cities: Karachi, Lahore

Delivery: Free

Introducing Our Latest SIM Packages

This network provides a wide range of daily, weekly, and monthly packages for calls, internet, and SMS. Furthermore, its new SIM packages are affordable and come with attractive incentives, specifically designed for promotional purposes.

The app is accessible solely to residents of Karachi and Lahore.

Access to the app is limited to Android phones.

Features such as E-sim and Keep Your Number are currently unavailable.

The email address used for signing up on ONIC and Google Play must match.

Only debit and credit card payments are accepted during the beta version testing phase.

Upgrade to ONIC App Beta Version

An invitation for beta testing the app on Apple iPhones via Test Flight will soon be dispatched to iOS users. When juxtaposed with Ufone’s pricing of Rs. 2500/- and Jazz’s hefty Rs. 5000/- charge, which lacks transferability, our offering emerges as the most cost-effective eSIM option in Pakistan upon the activation of the eSIM feature within the app. Furthermore, we’ve successfully tested the functionality of a non-PTA phone’s physical ONIC SIM.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ONIC SIM:

1. What is a ONIC SIM?

A ONIC SIM is a SIM card issued by the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) for Pakistani expatriates. It allows them to stay connected with their homeland while abroad.

2. How can I get a ONIC SIM?

Pakistani expatriates can apply for a ONIC SIM through the OPF office in their respective country of residence. The process usually involves providing necessary documents and fulfilling certain criteria set by the OPF.

3. What are the benefits of a ONIC SIM?

ONIC SIM offers various benefits, including affordable call rates to Pakistan, access to local Pakistani networks, and special packages tailored for expatriates.

4. Can I use a ONIC SIM in any phone?

Generally, ONIC SIM cards are compatible with unlocked GSM phones. However, it’s essential to ensure that your device supports the frequencies used by Pakistani mobile networks.

5. Is a ONIC SIM different from a regular SIM card?

Yes, a ONIC SIM is specifically designed for Pakistani expatriates and offers unique features and benefits tailored to their needs, such as discounted international calling rates and special packages.

6. Can I use a ONIC SIM in Pakistan?

Yes,

Conclusion

In conclusion, ONIC Pakistan offers a seamless online ordering process for their SIM cards, tailored to meet the diverse needs of Pakistani expatriates. With user-friendly navigation and a variety of packages, customers can easily find the perfect plan for them. The affordability, convenience of delivery, and range of services make ONIC SIM cards a compelling option for staying connected with Pakistan, whether abroad or within the country.Flick Radar

#Flick Radar #Tech News #Fashion #Lifestyle #Travel #Business #Sports #Politics #Recipes #Onic SIM #mobile network #esim

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inovetix · 2 months

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Jump Right In: How to Get Started Building Your First Mobile App

Want to build the next big mobile app? Getting started in mobile software development services may seem intimidating, but with the right guidance, anyone can bring their app ideas to life.

This comprehensive guide reveals the key steps for beginners to launch a successful mobile dev career.

Choose Your Platform(s)

The first decision is which platform(s) you want to build for. The two largest are:

iOS - Best for those who own Macs and want to build iPhone/iPad apps

Android - Best for those without Apple devices, with more global users

You could also consider cross-platform tools like React Native so you only have to write code once for multiple platforms. Assess your resources and where you can reach the most users.

Master the Basics

Every mobile dev must know the core languages and frameworks for their chosen platform.

For iOS, that's Swift and Xcode. For Android, it's Java/Kotlin and Android Studio.

Spend ample time learning app anatomy, interface design, data storage, APIs, testing, debugging, optimization, and deployment.

Online courses, documentation, and example projects will fast-track your skills.

Plan Your First App

Cloning popular apps is a great way for beginners to familiarize themselves with the dev environment. Social media, gaming, weather, and messaging are just some categories ripe for imitation.

But try putting your own twist on it with unique features. And don't just recreate the code - understand how and why it works!

Start Building

There's no substitute for hands-on coding. As a beginner, you'll likely encounter bugs, bottlenecks, and blocks that feel daunting.

Push past the sticking points by applying troubleshooting tactics, and debugging tools, and asking the developer community for help.

Expect an iterative process of testing new features, gathering user feedback, fixing issues, and shipping updates. Embrace this as an invaluable chance to elevate your skills.

Expand to Advanced Topics

Once you feel more capable, get out of your comfort zone and explore advanced offerings like:

Augmented reality

Artificial intelligence

Internet of Things connectivity

3D graphics

Payment integration

These complex capabilities will help your app stand apart while future-proofing your development abilities.

By following these key steps - choosing platforms, learning foundations, planning projects, staying persistent through development, and expanding your skill set - any beginner has a path to crafting their very own mobile apps.

Don't let inexperience deter you from bringing bold ideas to app stores worldwide.

What first steps are you taking to build mobile apps? Share your motivations and progress by leaving a comment!

#mobile software development services #software development services #mobile apps development services #mobile apps development

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helpfulpostsonline · 3 months

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iFuture Offers on iPhone 15: Save Big with Exclusive Deals

Introduction:

The highly anticipated iPhone 15 from iFuture has finally arrived, and it brings with it a slew of exciting offers and discounts that are sure to delight Apple enthusiasts. From affordable pricing starting at just Rs 66,990 or Rs 2,958 per month to cashback offers and lucrative exchange deals, iFuture is making it easier than ever for you to own the latest iPhone. In this article, we'll dive into the exclusive offers on iPhone 15, explore the discounts available, and address some common queries with our FAQs.

1. Affordable Pricing: iFuture understands the value of offering premium technology at reasonable prices. The iPhone 15 is available at a starting price of Rs 66,990, or you can opt for convenient monthly payments starting at just Rs 2,958. This ensures that cutting-edge technology is accessible to a wider audience without compromising on quality.

2. Cashback Bonanza with HDFC Bank: As a part of the launch celebration, iFuture has partnered with HDFC Bank to offer an incredible Rs 4,000 cashback on iPhone 15 purchases made using HDFC Bank cards. This exclusive cashback deal is a fantastic way to maximize savings while upgrading to the latest iPhone.

3. Exchange Offers up to Rs 6,000: Looking to trade in your old device for the iPhone 15? iFuture has got you covered with exchange offers of up to Rs 6,000. This allows you to make the most of your existing device's value and further reduce the cost of owning the latest iPhone.

4. Exclusive Words for Added Emphasis:

Explore the unbeatable offers on iPhone 15.

Avail Apple iPhone 15 discount offers and save big on your purchase.

Dive into the world of iFuture's Apple iPhone 15 offers and discover unmatched value.

FAQs:

Q1: How can I avail of the monthly payment option for the iPhone 15? A: To opt for the monthly payment option, you can visit the iFuture store or check our official website. The installment plans are designed to make the iPhone 15 more affordable for everyone.

Q2: Is the Rs 4,000 cashback applicable to all HDFC Bank cards? A: Yes, the Rs 4,000 cashback offer is valid on all HDFC Bank credit and debit cards, providing a substantial discount for our valued customers.

Q3: Can I combine the cashback offer with the exchange offer? A: Absolutely, You can combine the Rs 4,000 HDFC Bank cashback with the exchange offer of up to Rs 6,000, maximizing your savings and ensuring you get the best deal on the iPhone 15.

Conclusion:

With iFuture's irresistible offers on the iPhone 15, now is the perfect time to upgrade your smartphone and experience the latest in Apple technology. From affordable pricing to cashback deals and exchange offers, iFuture is committed to making the iPhone 15 accessible to all. Don't miss out on these exclusive deals – head to your nearest iFuture store or visit our website to grab the latest iPhone at unbeatable prices.

#offers on iphone 15 #iphone 15 offers #Apple iphone 15 Discount offers

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daveg65 · 4 months

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290 - iOS 17.3 Stolen Device Projection is a Must - With Guest Mike Potter, Jeff Gamet, and Ben Roethig

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by guest Mike Potter, Jeff Gamet, and Ben Roethig. Apple must comply with EU with side loading and open browsers with WebKit as well as outside payments for the Digital Markets Act starting with iOS 17.4 Beta. iOS 17.3 is released with Stolen Device Protection and security fixes a must upgrade. Rumors on the possible New iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air Models Likely to Launch in March or April 2024. Plus much more.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com

 Direct Link to Audio

Links to our Show

Give us a review on Apple Podcasts! CLICK HERE we would really appreciate it!

Click this link Buy me a Coffee to support the show we would really appreciate it. intouchwithios.com/coffee

Another way to support the show is to become a Patreon member patreon.com/intouchwithios

Website: In Touch With iOS

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Topics

Beta this week: iOS 17.4 Beta 1 was released today as we record. Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to Developers

iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Changes - MacRumors

Apple Seeds First Beta of tvOS 17.4 to Developers

iOS 17.4 Beta Adds New Emoji: Shaking Head, Lime, Phoenix, Brown Mushroom and More

Apple Now Allowing Non-WebKit Engines in EU, Offering More Options for Changing Default Browser

Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union

Apple Details How It Plans to Comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act

Apple Introduces Transcripts for Podcasts

iOS 17.3 was released to the public which we will review next. But:iOS 17.3 is finally here. We review some of the key features and stress why it's very important to upgrade because of security fixes and updates including Stolen Device Protection feature.

iOS 17.3 and macOS Sonoma 14.3 Patch WebKit Vulnerability That May Have Been Exploited

Apple Releases iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 With Stolen Device Protection, Collaborative Apple Music Playlists and More

iOS 17.3 Features: What's New in iOS 17.3

How to use Stolen Device Protection

Apple Releases watchOS 10.3 With New Watch Face

Apple Releases tvOS 17.3

Apple Releases HomePod 17.3 Software

MacOS Sonoma 14.3 update. Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.3 With Collaborative Apple Music Playlists

News

Apple Music Classical Now Available on CarPlay [Removed]

Apple Re-Adds Access to iTunes TV Show and Movie Wishlists in iOS 17.3

Rumor: New iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air Models Likely to Launch in March or April

Apple Received 13 Academy Award Nominations for Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon - MacRumors

Netflix dropping Basic ads-free tier, forcing users to choose a more profitable tier. We talk about bundles and Hulu Disney+

X for iOS Adds Support for Passkeys, Allowing for More Secure Logins

Firmware update released for first-generation AirPods Pro

Apple Now Allows Game Streaming Apps on App Store Worldwide

Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastadon @daveg65, and the show @intouchwithios

Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s managing editor, and Smile’s TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet as well as Twitter and Instagram as @jgamet His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

Ben Roethig Former Associate Editor of GeekBeat.TV and host of the Tech Hangout and Deconstruct with Patrice Mac user since the mid 90s. Tech support specialist. Twitter @benroethig Website: https://roethigtech.blogspot.com

About our Guest

Mike Potter is the organizer of Macstock Conference: and the host of the For Mac Eyes Only Podcast. You can reach him on Mastodon: https://tooting.ninja/@formaceyesonly https://tooting.ninja/@macstockexpo

Here is our latest Episode!

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papriakter240 · 4 months

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For entrepreneurs who are “digging for gold” in large models, do labor pains come earlier than dividends?

According to data released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, as of early October 2023, the number of large AI models disclosed in the country has reached 238.

Although there is no clear standard for the number of parameters of large models in the academic world, many models with billions of parameters cannot be compared with GPT4. The explosive growth of domestic large models undoubtedly reveals an established fact: it is the same as every time the trend appears there are always people rushing in, trying to take a chance in the new wave of entrepreneurship.

Just like Kai-fu Lee, chairman of Sinovation Ventures, said: AI large models are a historical opportunity that cannot be missed. Because HE Tuber this will be the biggest platform revolution in history. It will be 10 times or more bigger than Windows and Android. It will rewrite every application, reconstruct human work, and use the ingenuity of creative people. Magnified 10 times or more...

In order not to miss the "once-in-a-century" historical opportunity, a "Battle of Hundreds of Models" is taking place. But the question is: Is the current battlefield of large models really an opportunity for entrepreneurs?

1. “Plug-in” is more like a transition

The popularity of large models is the result of the superposition of many factors. Among them, there are two iconic events that have impressed most people: one is the popularity of ChatGPT, with the number of monthly active users exceeding 100 million in two months. ; The other is the metaphor of Nvidia CEO Huang Renxun, who believes that "the iPhone moment of AI has arrived."

Calm down and think about it, these two events have a distinct mobile Internet flavor. Monthly activity is regarded as a criterion for the success or failure of a product, and the explosive growth of a certain product is regarded as a barometer of the activation of market demand. It is not known whether this logic is reasonable, but it has deeply affected the construction of large-scale business models.

As a result, many large models are building their own "application centers." OpenAI has launched the ChatGPT plug-in. Paying users can call the plug-in to solve certain needs. Currently, there are nearly 1,000 plug-ins on ChatGPT. Domestic Baidu is also actively planning and releasing the Wenxinyiyan plug-in ecological platform "Lingjing Matrix" and plans to provide Tens of billions of traffic, 100 million yuan in funds and other incentives to support the plug-in ecosystem.

The reason is not difficult to understand.

Whether it is Apple, which stands at the top of the mobile Internet, or Android manufacturers, which are firmly in the top five in terms of shipments, they have all established a monetization model for the application market, and derived a variety of profit methods such as advertising rankings, payment sharing, and game interoperability. Even super APPs like WeChat implement similar mechanisms through small programs.

At this stage, operating a "plug-in ecosystem" like a mobile phone manufacturer may be the best option for large model platforms at the moment, and developers are also happy to see the results.

Just like the traffic dividend generated by the mobile Internet, it has irrigated large and small applications. If large models can grow along the trajectory of the mobile Internet, there is a high probability that it will bring a new round of dividends. Developing plug-ins for large model platforms may gain traffic tilt from the platform, gain access to the era of large models, and even subvert the inherent market structure through "dimensionality reduction strikes".

The question is, can the large model platform become the entrance to capture user habits? In the era of the Internet and mobile Internet, the word portal is frequently mentioned, which can be subdivided into four dimensions: content, application, operating system, and hardware. It serves as the first point of contact for users to obtain information and solve problems.

The current challenge is that it is generally believed that general large models will become oligopolistic, with only two or three companies left in the end. It is like a big gamble for developers to choose which large model plug-in ecosystem to join. After all, the number of visits to ChatGPT has been declining for three consecutive months, and chatbot applications with similar functions are still emerging one after another. Before most users form a habit, it is impossible to say which big model will be the final winner.

If we zoom in further, the chatbot may not be the ultimate application of the large model, but more like an enlightenment product.

For example, Huawei has integrated large models with its voice assistant Xiaoyi. It is not ruled out that more and more smartphone, smart speaker, and smart home manufacturers have the same plan. Voice assistants have gradually become the mainstream way for people to wake up large models; and for example, some The Agent advocated by people is an intelligent agent that can independently understand, plan and make decisions, and perform complex tasks, and automatically help its owner handle some tedious process tasks.

No matter which case it is, it means that the plug-in is just a transition. All the user needs is to connect to a certain service and does not need to know which plug-in the service comes from. Calling a plug-in first to obtain the interaction of a certain capability is destined to be a product of the primary stage of a large model.

2. Are vertical large models a gold mine?

And that seems to be the case. Whether it is ChatGPT or similar products, the main contributors to plug-ins are concentrated in independent developers and small teams with a small number of people. Those products with tens of millions of users and massive data do not seem to be very interested in the window of opportunity behind plug-ins.

After all, the leader of the plug-in ecosystem is the general large model. The role of plug-ins can be classified into the category of AI+, with the purpose of expanding the diverse capabilities of large models. To borrow the perspective of He Junjie, senior vice president of Baidu Group: "If the big model is a smart brain, then the plug-in is the hands and feet of the big model."

A typical example is the document processing plug-in, which calls the capabilities of the large model to process the user's documents, and then completes tasks such as summarization, Q&A, and creation based on the documents. Plug-ins play the role of tools after all, and the fate of tool products is generally not optimistic: they received a lot of traffic during the trend, but most tools failed to take the path of monetization. After the trend passed, they had to buy traffic to maintain growth.

Ambitious developers are not willing to make plug-ins and "parasites" of general-purpose large models, and are aiming at more attractive options:

One is to develop independent applications based on the capabilities of large models, or to access the APIs of large model manufacturers for your own applications, thereby improving the service capabilities of the product; the other is to train and apply based on general large models or open source large models. Model for vertical scenes. It is said that there are already 115 large AI models in Beijing, of which 103 are vertical large models.

The challenge of the former is that the current products are mainly focused on conversational and painting products, and are mainly based on To C scenarios. However, C-end users still mainly engage in chatting and entertainment, and have not yet produced real productivity, resulting in a generally low willingness to pay. At the same time, there is also the phenomenon of product homogeneity. Take chat products as an example. Early products are generally based on public corpus. If it is difficult to generate valuable data from users’ questions, differentiation will be impossible.

To B has gradually become a tacit option in the industry.

The capabilities of large models sound great, but most companies cannot use them because general large models cannot solve vertical problems well. For B-side enterprises, they can instill their professional knowledge in the service industry into large models for further training and fine-tuning. After training, they can conduct private deployment locally and then solve corresponding vertical problems.

This provides ample room for imagination for large vertical models, and is also a track where entrepreneurs gather. B-side enterprises have relatively clear scenarios and have accumulated massive amounts of data, which can not only provide data for large model training, but also provide a testing ground for large model effects.

What is relatively less optimistic is that at this stage, only a few scenarios, led by finance, are willing to pay for large models, and many industries are still waiting and watching. Take large financial models as an example. Currently, companies that have released large financial models include Ant Group, Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley, Lemonade, Zurich Insurance, Du Xiaoman, Mizuho Financial Group, etc. They either have massive financial data or have self-developed large models. Background, none of them are entrepreneurs who broke into the market with passion.

In short, the greater the imagination of a large model, the more companies want to find opportunities in it, and there are not many windows of opportunity left for entrepreneurs. Moreover, there is an unavoidable question: Do entrepreneurs have the capital to make trial and error in the process of competing with big manufacturers? There are millions of roads leading to the big model, which also means millions of dead ends.

3. Entrepreneurs’ “unbearable pain”

The first and foremost issue is compliance. China introduced large model registration requirements in early July, and the model of relying on API interfaces to obtain overseas large model capabilities was challenged. As a result, teams that had accessed OpenAI for application at the beginning of the year were in trouble to varying degrees.

For example, an online design platform was one of the first products in China to launch AI drawings, and built a community ecosystem around AI drawings. But in early September, this platform suddenly announced "website maintenance". Until more than a month later, it was still in the status of "website upgrade under way." In large-model industries where new things emerge every day, early first-mover advantages are inevitably dying out over time.

The biggest difference from the previous "turbulence" is that in the face of the dawn of large models, entrepreneurs are very excited, but supervision is very rational. In order to prevent the large model market from repeating the situation of barbaric growth and preventing large models from getting out of control, relevant policies and regulations Intensive introduction.

Not long ago, 10 departments including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Education jointly issued the "Technology Ethics Review Measures (Trial)", which clearly mentioned that: the design, implementation, and application of algorithms, models, and systems must comply with fairness, justice, transparency, and The principles of reliability and controllability are in line with relevant national requirements, ethical risk assessment and emergency response plans are reasonable, and user rights protection measures are comprehensive and appropriate.

Almost at the same time, the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee issued the "Basic Requirements for Generative Artificial Intelligence Service Security" (draft for comments), which involves many aspects such as corpus security, model security, security measures, and security assessment.

Among them, among the corpus security requirements, it is not only clearly stated that the source of corpus can be traced, including open source corpus and self-collected corpus, but also that a blacklist of corpus sources should be established, and data from blacklist sources should not be used for training. "A security assessment should be conducted on each source of corpus. If the content of a single source of corpus contains more than 5% of illegal and harmful information, the source should be added to the blacklist."

In other words, in the context of tightening supervision, what awaits developers is not just filing issues, but systemic compliance requirements. Whether it is an application layer developer who calls large model APIs to innovate, or a large vertical model who wants to take a share of the vertical field, the option of "running blindly" has disappeared, and potential compliance and security risks must be dealt with carefully.

If a developer switches the large model based on a non-compliant general large model training product to meet compliance requirements, the data needs to be reprocessed. Because the training data of different large models are different, the developer needs to clean the data again. Preprocessing and annotation; need to be based on new model training and tuning, including training algorithms, hyperparameters, and repeated experiments and adjustments; during model deployment and application, different deployment platforms and frameworks must also be considered

The large-scale development of vertical large models requires more potential risks to be dealt with. As mentioned in the "Basic Requirements for the Security of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services", the input data in pre-training, optimization training and other links are included in the category of "training corpus". In the past, the solution of relying on collecting overseas data for training was no longer feasible. It is necessary to spend more energy on data collection, cleaning, and annotation. Data affects the "IQ" of large models, and also affects the life and death of large vertical models.

Compared with the abundant resources of giants, large model entrepreneurs will face more and more challenges. The current stage is compliance, and the next stage may be profitability.

4. Write at the end

Use one sentence to describe the entrepreneurs in the big model era: On the surface, there are flowers and brocades, but in fact, the fire is cooking, and it only takes half a year to go from rushing to hitting the wall.

Maybe there is no shortage of opportunities in the era of large models, but every track will not be a smooth road, and there is no shortage of opportunities to break out of unicorns. The proportion is destined to be a narrow escape. The result is likely to be the same as gold rushes time and time again. Only a few people will find gold, and the water sellers will quietly make a fortune.

#HETuber #Music #Gaming #Entertainment #Sports #Science And Technology

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moscheamara · 4 months

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What are the Key Considerations When Selecting an iOS App Development Company?

The mobile app market is continuously growing, especially the iOS app market. And Apple’s yearly announcements indicate the reasons. The announcements suggest that:-

Apple provides almost 2.2 million applications in the App Store

The company releases around 2540 apps every day on the App Store.

Hence, iPhone apps are people’s favorite. Businesses want to capture their profitable share in this app market. Besides the facts mentioned above, many other factors, like a massive global market, fast, secure, and accessible data moving, safe payment transactions, a ready-made customer base, etc., encourage businesses to hire an iOS developer and invest in the apps based on this technology.

The Top Considerations While Choosing an iOS App Development Company

But, building a successful iOS application requires careful planning, attention to detail, and strategic thinking. Likewise, choosing an iOS app development company requires you to pay attention to various considerations that involve checking the experience and expertise of the company and app developers, examining their skills, reviewing their portfolios and references, and many more. Let’s discuss this in detail.

Check the Expertise & Experience

While choosing an iOS app development company, it is essential to learn about the expertise and experience of your technological partner. Depending on your project goals and ideas, hire iOS developers with vast experience building iOS applications. Your chosen iOS app development company should be well-versed in various mobile app development approaches. Such a company can help you pick the right tech stack based on the success of its clients and experience.

Knowing about the domain expertise of your hired iOS developers is another significant thing you can do. Choose the one with a deep understanding of your business and support you with app development and updates, maintenance, and distribution.

Go through the Portfolio and References

Exploring the reviews is one of the most reliable ways to verify the experience and reputation of the company. The ratings and feedback that various clients have provided help you understand the excellence and expertise of the iOS app development company you are searching for. You can find several sources to look for the reviews and portfolios of the companies. Some of them are GoodFirms, TechReviewer, or Clutch.

Aside, check the case studies and success stories that can prove a track record of companies in delivering iOS-based applications. Besides, you can ask the iOS app development company to share the contacts of some clients who have taken services from it.

The Pricing of iOS App Development

iOS app development involves the expertise of various professionals and encompasses many stages. Its development cost depends on multiple factors like choice of platform, features, functionality, design, technologies, etc. You may ask your technological partner to provide a detailed breakdown of their app development process while comparing project costs and estimating the application. It will help you and the chosen company to remain transparent. Ensure the iOS app development cost comprises UX/UI, business analysis, app maintenance, QA testing, and development.

Communication Channels

Transparent and clear communication between the parties plays a significant role in ensuring success. IOS app development involves various team members, such as UI/UX designers, PMs, BAs, QA specialists, and software developers. Excellent communication among these team members ensures outstanding performance and smooth collaboration.

Apart from this, effective project management heavily relies on various communication tools. For example, using the right project & task management and cloud storage tools elevate productivity. Likewise, conference and chat apps allow team members to attend online meetings and data sharing to make the process smooth.

Know About the Team Working on the Project

While choosing an iOS app development company, always try to meet every team member and talk with them about your project. Talking with them helps you know about their professional expertise and experience in the relevant field.

Ask About After Launch Service & Sign the Contract

You must hire iOS developers who can provide support after launching the application. Once you are sure that the iOS app development company you have chosen will provide you with support and maintenance after the application launch, you can sign a contract with them.

Conclusion

At last, there are various factors to consider when hiring an iOS app development service provider. From understanding your project goals to assessing the company’s ability and reputation and researching its team member’s capabilities, these primary considerations will help you make the best decision and hire iOS app developers. Make sure to do your part of the research with diligence to find an experienced team of iOS app developers.

Read here: How iPhone Application Development Benefits Your Business to Grow Globally

#appdevelopment #ios app developers #iosappdevelopment

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imobileculture · 4 months

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Unlock Freedom: Exploring iPhone 7 Unlocked Prices for Ultimate Flexibility

Let's delve into the prices of unlocked iPhone 7 models, highlighting the advantages of choosing an unlocked device.

Competitive Pricing for Unlocked iPhone 7:

The iPhone 7, known for its sleek design and advanced features, is available at competitive prices in the unlocked category. Purchasing an unlocked device eliminates the constraints of carrier-specific contracts, allowing consumers to shop around for the best deals and explore various purchasing options.

Freedom to Choose Your Carrier:

One of the primary benefits of investing in an iphone 7 unlocked price is the freedom to choose your preferred carrier. Unlocked devices are not tied to a specific network, enabling users to select a carrier that offers the best coverage, plans, and services to suit their individual needs. This flexibility empowers users to switch carriers at any time without being bound by contractual obligations.

International Travel Convenience:

Unlocked iPhones are ideal companions for international travelers. With an unlocked device, users can easily insert a local SIM card at their destination, avoiding exorbitant roaming charges. This cost-effective solution ensures seamless connectivity abroad, allowing users to stay connected without the hassle of relying on expensive international plans.

Resale Value and Versatility:

Investing in an unlocked iPhone 7 enhances its resale value and versatility. Unlocked devices are in high demand in the pre-owned market, as they cater to a broader audience. When it comes time to upgrade or switch to a newer model, having an unlocked iPhone 7 ensures that the device retains its value and appeal to a wide range of potential buyers.

No Carrier Bloatware or Restrictions:

Unlocked iPhones offer a clean and bloatware-free experience. Unlike carrier-locked devices that often come with pre-installed carrier-specific applications and restrictions, unlocked iPhones provide a more streamlined user experience. Users have the freedom to customize their device without the limitations imposed by carrier restrictions.

Flexible Payment Options:

When exploring unlocked iPhone 7 prices, users may find more flexibility in payment options. Unlocked devices are often available for outright purchase or through financing plans that suit different budgetary preferences. This flexibility in payment options allows users to choose a method that aligns with their financial preferences and circumstances.

Seamless Software Updates:

Unlocked iPhones receive software updates directly from Apple without delay. Users do not have to wait for carrier-specific approvals, ensuring that their device remains up-to-date with the latest features, security patches, and improvements. This seamless update process contributes to a consistently optimized and secure user experience.

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fahrni · 4 months

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Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

We’re expecting a snow and sleet event this morning. As I was composing this post it started raining around 6:30AM and it’s below freezing. Here’s hoping we don’t lose power and have frozen roads later. 🥶

I hope you enjoy the links.

Colleen Long • The Associated Press

President Joe Biden will stress democracy is still a ‘sacred cause’ in a speech near Valley Forge

If TFG wins we may become an authoritarian nation. Kiss freedoms we’ve come to expect — like the horrible reversal of Roe v. Wade — to become the norm. I’d expect to see jailed political rivals and journalists. The Justice Department and Military will become law enforcement. With the law being his Orangeness.

No thank you.

Brynn Tannehill • The New Republic

The Polls Prove It: Many Republicans Love Fascism

So, yeah, fascism is the new GOP policy and Republicans across the nation love it.

That’s sickening.

Slashdot

Niklaus Wirth, Inventor of Pascal, Dies At 89

I never learned Pascal but know plenty of developers who made their career using it. 🪦

Casey Newton • Platformer

On Tuesday, I told subscribers that we are considering leaving the platform based on the company’s recent statement that it would not demonetize or remove openly Nazi accounts.

Bravo Casey! I wasn’t planning on linking to any Substack content but I had to break that rule for this piece. Casey is planning on doing something about Substack’s horrible position by, potentially, taking his publication and subscribers elsewhere. That’s very brave given it’s how he makes his living! ❤️

Now, if we can get other writers to follow that would be amazing.

BBC

Japan earthquake: Nearly 250 missing as hope for survivors fades

Our world has become such a mess the tragedy unfolding in Japan doesn’t even register as big news, at least that’s how it feels to me.

Kyle Orland • Ars Technica

34 years later, a 13-year-old hits the NES Tetris “kill screen”

Great explainer video of how the true Tetris Kill Screen was finally reached.

Also, I had no idea Tetris was still such a big deal. Silly me, of course it is! 🧱

Ashur Cabrera

I thought I’d be sharing photos of pintxos and more Basque lettering from Donostia-San Sebastián, and diving into our early experiences of living abroad.

My friend Ashur had planned a big adventure that didn’t quite work out as planned. It’s a worthwhile read and proves things don’t always go as planned.

David McCabe and Tripp Mickle • The New York Times

The Justice Department is in the late stages of an investigation into Apple and could file a sweeping antitrust case taking aim at the company’s strategies to protect the dominance of the iPhone as soon as the first half of this year, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

Some of the things the Justice Department are interested in seen really strange to me. Like allowing access to the Messages Service. Why should Google, or whoever else, be given the keys to access Messages backend services? Apple created and runs that service. It’s not built on a free to use, government backed, open-to-the-public utility. It’s paid for and maintained by Apple.

Now, if by access the government means Apple has to open it up as a paid service, I could see that. Perhaps Google agrees to take on some of the cost burden, based on usage, or pay Apple some huge fee so Android users have full access to Messages with a native messaging app built by Google. That wouldn’t be so bad. Another alternative is for Apple to build a Messages app for Android and sell access to the service as a monthly subscription. Hey, Apple, that means more service revenue! 😁

The whole App Store payment kerfuffle is something a lot of developers would like to see changed. I think most developers don’t want to pay Apple 15-30% of their potential revenue. That can be a lot of cheese for many Indie developers. There are some things Apple could change to help the situation, like allowing developers to actually tell users to visit their website to sign up or subscribe to their service. E.G. Amazon and Netflix cannot tell new users, through their app UI, to visit their website to get started. For a company who prides themselves on simplicity and great user experience sure do make it difficult for third-party apps to be easy to use.

Anywho, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the Justice Department taking action against Apple and fallout from it.

Dave Winer • Scripting News

So at the beginning of a new year, I’m going to remind myself that I’m too old and not paid well enough (I’m not paid at all, heh) to do another year of this kind of work. I should be making writing and reading tools work better on the web. That’s my mission.

Dave has been an innovator all his adult life. Whether it was scripting on the Mac and Windows or creating widely used technology like RSS and podcasting. Since he sold weblogs.com and left UserLand he’s continued to build writing tools of various kinds. His latest venture is FeedLand. It’s a feed reader and more. I can personally see it as a mechanism to follow and find excellent podcasts for a podcast player. Yes, it has an API that could be used for such things and it has full search capability. Bet you didn’t see that use case coming!

Anywho, I hope you get some rest, Dave, and have a wonderful 2024 making the web a better place for writers.

Keep digging!

Tim Kellogg

Back in the ’00s you would download a feed reader and subscribe to feeds. This felt a lot like an early version of social media. Google Reader was killed in 2013, which was largely seen as the death of RSS. I think social media generally replaced RSS because it took far fewer technical skills to setup a Facebook account versus an RSS-enabled blog.

This is interesting because it uses Mastodon as a feed reader. That’s not a bad idea, really. It’s such a good idea to have a timeline based reader I made one! 😁

All the stuff Tim says about Facebook and other social media platforms is 100% accurate. Those platforms stood in for blogs because of their low barrier to entry. Quite honestly I’m surprised Facebook never embraced blogging as a true feature of its platform, complete with all the expected bells and whistles, and that includes RSS and posts that don’t require a Facebook login to read them.

Anil Dash

Well, things changed a little bit in tech of late. Often, the power shifts in the tech world because of a dramatic new invention that solves an old problem a whole lot better. But in the current era, when most of what’s getting funded and hyped up are just various attempts to undermine workers and control consumers, we’re instead seeing lots of major players lose power because their signature offerings have gotten so much worse.

There was a time, not that long ago, folks said things like “RSS is dead” or asked “Is RSS dead?” First off, it’s just a technology, so it can’t actually die. Second, its web fabric and has been since its inception. It’s boring stuff — this is not a dig or insult, it’s a compliment. It’s as boring as HTML or CSS. I’d imagine it’s been used for all sorts of stuff beyond blogs over its history and it’ll probably be around for as long as we have a web to browse.

Sure social media, or microblogging, took center stage for a while. My own blogging slowed for a long period of time because I started posting little blurbs of text to Twitter instead of my blog.

Now I do that with a combination of Mastodon and Micro.blog. Short posts go to Mastodon and Micro.blog and long posts, like this one, go to my blog with a link on many services including Mastodon, Micro.blog, Blue Sky, and Tumblr.

My blog is at the center. It’s my content, I own it.

Matt Birchler

Here’s an uncomfortable question: when do I stop blogging?

I always find this question odd. I figure I’ll stop when, or if, I just stop one day. I suppose folks who do it professionally have to think about stuff like this, especially if they have subscribers and/or advertisers.

Maybe when the day comes that you’d like to stop doing it for a living you just let folks know you’re going to blog about whatever you’d like and do it for fun?

I’ve been blogging since February 2001 and still love it.

Rain Noe • Core77

A Handsome Aluminum and Ultem Smartphone Case

I want one of these. Guess I need to buy an iPhone 14 or 15 Pro? Having an updated iPhone would also open the door to a whole lot of cases I love at Cotton Bureau. 😃

Chance Miller, Benjamin Mayo, Ben Lovejoy, and Ben Schoon • 9to5Mac

The iPhone is the device that pushed the mobile industry away from physical keyboards, but nothing can truly replace that tactile experience. Launching next month, “Clicks” aims to add a physical keyboard to your iPhone with support for keyboard shortcuts and backlighting too.

In 2013 Ryan Seacrest was part of an effort to bring a physical keyboard to the iPhone. It was called Typo and I never heard much about it beyond the initial announcement. I could’ve sworn it was earlier than 2013, but my memory sometimes fails me.

Anyway, I hope these folks are wildly successful. Good luck y’all!

Richard Devine • Windows Central

The best holiday gift was Mac losing out to Windows, at least according to these stats

It’s obvious some Windows users and pundits still have an inferiority complex when it comes to the Mac. It’s surprising.

I’m an old, long time, Windows developer and I owe a lot to the platform. I spent around 20 years writing code for Windows and I still believe it to be an amazing platform for users and developers. But I switched to the Mac full time in 2006 and have grown to enjoy it every bit as much as Windows.

It’s perfectly fine to love using a different operating system or prefer coding for one over the other. Let people have fun and enjoy what they love doing. ❤️

Here’s hoping 2024 isn’t a complete shit show. 🤣

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laurentgiret · 5 months

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Apple is reportedly planning to open up access to the iPhone’s NFC chips to other mobile payments providers in Europe to appease regulators.

#apple #apple pay

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govindhtech · 3 months

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iOS 18: What to Expect from Apple’s Game-Changing Update

Apple ios 18

Apple is focusing on iOS 18, which may boost iPhone sales in 2019. The situation was so urgent that Apple had to halt development on all of its next software versions for a week to fix bugs. Apple is unfazed and plans major iOS features.

ios 18 release date

iOS 18, the upcoming major update for your iPhone, is going to change the game! Bloomberg claims that Apple is developing the biggest software update ever. The greatest benefit is that everyone can get it by year’s end when the iPhone 16 is released. WWDC 2024 in June will unveil all the exciting new features. Great things are on the horizon!

iOS 18 features

Introducing iMessage in iOS 18, a revolutionary messaging app

Fantastic news! Apple has officially announced that the iOS 18 update will bring about a significant update for iMessage. It will now support the RCS protocol, enabling extremely smooth messaging between iOS and Android devices. Multimedia files, audio messages, and other things can be easily shared. The catch is that, despite this wonderful update, texts from Android users will still appear as green bubbles, which will continue to fuel the ongoing debate between blue and green bubbles.

The Power Boost for Siri: AI Developments

Apple is attempting to enhance Siri’s capabilities with generative AI that mimics ChatGPT, which is an exciting development. There were rumors that Apple was developing a generative AI model of its own, but a new report from 9 to 5Mac indicates that they may use OpenAI’s GPT technology which is comparable to Copilot for future AI features on iPhones. Prepare for generative AI in the music and note apps as well as AI-powered photo and video editing, influenced by the newest features from Samsung and Google.

Apple updates

Not only that, but Apple is also introducing app sideloading to Europe with the iOS 17.4 update. There’s talk that iOS 18 could go global. Should this occur, downloading a third-party app store from Apple’s App Store would be necessary to access both signed and unsigned apps. This is a significant departure from Apple’s previous policy, which prohibited sideloading without jailbreaking your iPhone. Apple users are in for an exciting future!

Apple software

We have exciting news! The iOS 18 update may include a third-party app subscription payment gateway. This might result in a sizable reduction in purchase or subscription fees possibly as much as 30% less. Well-known companies like Epic and Spotify have already entered the market and are creating iPhone payment gateways. This feature may launch in Europe at first, but the iOS 18 update may bring it to other regions.

iOS enhancements

ios 18 update

Not only that, but the iOS 17.4 update will free developers from having to rely on Apple’s WebKit, a core web browser framework, to build their web browsers. Companies like Opera are getting ready to release web browsers with AI capabilities that resemble desktop browsing. And what do you know? This protocol may be widely adopted by iOS 18, allowing third-party developers to create unique web browsers free from the standard WebKit restrictions. Ahead for iOS users are exciting times!

Users of iPhones are expected to have a revolutionary experience with the upcoming release of iOS 18. Working together with market leaders Epic and Spotify to introduce third-party payment gateways guarantees a more flexible and reasonably priced approach to app subscriptions. Concurrently, the widespread acceptance of app sideloading marks the beginning of a new era of liberty and personalization, freeing users from earlier constraints.

iOS 18 is more than just an update; it’s a big step forward that offers a customized digital experience and conforms to user preferences. Get ready for an iPhone that can intelligently adjust to your needs in the future, making every interaction more enjoyable and personalized.

Find out how iOS 18 could transform app subscriptions by integrating third-party payment gateways, which would result in lower fees. Leading this shift are businesses like Epic and Spotify. Explore the huge global change that occurs when iOS 18 allows for widespread app sideloading, which may make it easier to download and install third-party apps on iPhones.

FAQS

iOS 18 Price

Similar to previous iPhone OS upgrades, iOS 18 will be offered without charge.

What are the features of iOS 18?

AI-enhanced Siri is one of the new features in iOS 18, which suggests Apple is emulating Google and Microsoft, who both have AI-based chatbots. AI might be able to assist with Apple Music playlists and iPhone troubleshooting in iOS 18.

Is iPhone 11 eligible for iOS 18?

Generally speaking, iOS 18 will be released for iPhone models 11 and above. All things considered, however, the lower bracket is a little enigmatic.

Which iPhones will get iOS 18?

iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone SE