Week 1, May 2023
“The enterprise that does not innovate ages and declines. And in a period of rapid change such as the present — the decline will be fast.” — Peter Drucker
● AI voice scams are becoming more prevalent and can be extremely convincing. Now we’ve got an in-depth report that digs into how AI voice cloning works, how common the scams are, the likelihood of falling for one, the average cost, plus how to prevent and protect against AI voice scams.
2. 8 important ways to check passwords and improve security, do you know them all?
● As hacking tools become more and more powerful, it’s more crucial than ever to maintain good password habits — or fix weak spots. World Password Day is a good reminder to share best security practices with friends or family or see if you’re on top of everything yourself. Here are 8 important ways to check passwords and improve security.
3. Apple trade-in values updated, with mix of increases and decreases
● Apple trade-in values certainly don’t match what you’ll get from selling privately, but they do offer a safe and painless way to upgrade to a new device. The company has today updated the amounts offered, with a mix of increases and decreases.
4. ‘Apple Music Live’ returning next week with exclusive performance by Ed Sheeran
● Apple Music Live, the popular live performance series from Apple, is returning for a second season next week. Apple says it’s teaming up with Ed Sheeran for a live performance at Eventim Apollo in London, available exclusively via Apple Music.
5. iPhone achieves new record average selling price, closing in on $1,000
● Following up after revealing the most popular iPhones for 2023, CIRP is out today with its latest report that shows Apple has hit a new record for the iPhone’s average selling price in a normally challenging quarter. Here’s the new high.
6. New Apple Maps features being tested in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Slovakia
● Following last month’s rollout of the new Apple Maps features coming to Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia, Apple is now testing them in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Slovakia.
7. Reddit adds rich previews for content shared in iMessage and Instagram Stories
● Popular social network Reddit announced on Tuesday a major update to its iOS and Android app. Users will now find more options to share Reddit content with other platforms, such as iMessage and Instagram.
8. Here’s where you can use your iPhone as your digital driver’s license or ID in 2023
● Apple announced plans to turn the iPhone into your driver’s license in 2021. Plane tickets, movie passes, and credit cards were already digital. Now it was time to digitize government-issued identification cards. So far, very few U.S. states let you add your driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet. However, there are more states without Wallet support where your iPhone can still become your driver’s license.
9. Apple releases new firmware for all AirPods models, MagSafe charger, and more
● Apple has launched new firmware for eight of its products today. That includes all of its AirPods models (except gen 1), Beats Fit Pro, PowerBeats Pro, and its official MagSafe charger. Here’s what to look out for to know if you’re running the latest updates.
10. Microsoft aiming to challenge Apple Silicon with custom ARM chips
● It looks like Microsoft is working to catch up with Apple by working on its own custom silicon and preparing Windows 12 to be optimized for the new ARM chips.
11. Apple Pay now available in Guatemala and El Salvador following expansion to South Korea
● Earlier this year, Apple expanded its Apple Pay payments service to South Korea in partnership with Hyundai Card. Now the company is rolling out Apple Pay in Guatemala and El Salvador in partnership with local banks. Read on as we detail more about how to use Apple Pay in these countries.
12. These are the best CarPlay apps for iPhone
● CarPlay is Apple’s feature that brings communication and entertainment functions to the built-in screen in your car using iPhone apps. The feature appears on a lot of aftermarket displays and new cars that you can buy today.
13. Uber Eats Rolling Out Support for Tracking Orders on iPhone’s Lock Screen and Dynamic Island
● Uber Eats has started rolling out Live Activities support around the world, allowing iPhone users to easily track their order on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. The feature is available to a small percentage of users in the latest version of the Uber Eats app, and it will be available more widely within the next week or so.
● The Steve Jobs Archive was formally introduced last fall, and in April the organization announced its first published work, Make Something Wonderful. While only available as a downloadable ebook to the general public, Apple and Disney employees were gifted physical copies… and we were able to get our hands on one.
15. Study reveals top 20 most used passwords; 83% can be cracked in a second
● Ahead of World Password Day on May 4, NordPass has released a report showing that “password habits die hard” with a list of the most used passwords in the US and 29 other countries.
16. M2 iPad Pro vs M1 iPad Pro: What’s different?
● The latest iPad Pro with the M2 chip takes performance another step forward, but what has changed from the previous iPad Pro when it comes to real-world use? Follow along for an in-depth look at the M2 iPad Pro vs M1 iPad Pro to help you decide the best choice.
17. Mac: How to scan for malware and remove it with free and paid tools
● Macs are more protected from malicious software like viruses, Trojans, adware, etc. than Windows and Linux. However, they aren’t immune, and more and more malware is being designed specifically for Mac. Whether you just want to do a checkup or think your (or someone else’s) machine might be affected, here’s a look at 7 solid malware/virus scanner Mac tools including free and paid options.
18. Apple’s high-yield savings account reportedly drew $1 billion in deposits in just four days
● Apple Card Savings Account debuted two weeks ago, and it seems to be off to a hot start. A new report from Forbes today says that Apple Card Savings Account attracted nearly $1 billion in deposits in just the first four days.
19. Apple releases first public Rapid Security Response update for iOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1
● Apple appears to be rolling out its first-ever public Rapid Security Response update to iOS 16.4.1 users.
20. Apple’s Safari is once again the world’s second most used desktop web browser
● New data shows that Apple’s web browser has again overtaken Edge and is back in second place in the ranking of the world’s most-used desktop web browsers.
