Sir Apfelot newsreel, week 19 2019

Johannes Domke 10. May 2019

WhatsApp ends support for old smartphones and systems

As of New Year's Eve, the support and thus the functionality of WhatsApp on Windows phones will be discontinued. An update of the corresponding app should come again in June, but it will be over from January 1, 2020. In addition, as of February 1, 2020, support for Android 2.3.7 and older and for iOS 7 and older will be discontinued. So if you want to use WhatsApp from then on, you have to use a more up-to-date operating system on your smartphone. But that shouldn't be a problem with current versions like Android 9 and iOS 12 (or next year Android 10 and iOS 13). Source of the information: Computer IMAGE.

Chris Hughes wants Facebook empire split

Like Spiegel Online, among others berichtet, the Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes has spoken out against the digital group in its current form and power. Facebook has become too dominant, especially through the takeover and continuation of WhatsApp and Instagram. With reference to a Post The New York Times also says that a lot of people don't even notice which platforms belong to Mark Zuckerberg's empire and its data scandals. You delete your profile on Facebook in order to continue to be present on Instagram. According to Hughes, the takeovers should not have been approved by the US authorities in the first place.

Autodesk SketchBook now supports iPad Pro and Apple Pencil 2

The Autodesk SketchBook drawing and design app is a comprehensive tool for the Apple iPad. In the recently released version 5.0 there are now important innovations: the software has been adapted to the iPad Pro, for example; and there is now support for the Apple Pencil 2. The report 9to5Mac (English) and app dangers (German). There are also perspective aids with vanishing point and horizon features, a so-called curve ruler and, of course, the main advantage of the app: it is free in the basic configuration. Further information and the download of the app, which is rated very well on average you can find here.

In the event of a house search: US judge initiates the use of Touch ID to unlock the iPhone

In the past there have been repeated debates about whether and when an iPhone or the data stored on it can be made accessible to the police, public prosecutor and co. Apple not only fought against unlocking iPhones, but also built a "back door" for investigators. But none of this helps if both the iPhone and its owner are equally available. Like iTop News, among others shows, a US judge recently decided that the iPhone should also be inspected during a house search and that the suspect would have to unlock the device using Touch ID. How this will affect future procedures remains to be seen.

EU to investigate the Apple App Store at Spotify's behest

In response to a request from Spotify, the European Union is to investigate the Apple App Store with regard to the disadvantage of app developers. The berichtet MacRumors. With reference to the Financial Times it says that the EU has ordered an antitrust investigation. Spotify got this rolling because it is believed that Apple is enforcing regulations in the App Store that "deliberately limit choice and stifle innovations at the expense of the user experience". Also, and above all, the fees to Apple that occur when purchasing Spotify for a fee are mentioned. Apple argues back that Spotify only wants the benefits of a free app without being free itself.

Apple overestimates its iPhone battery life - in contrast to the competition

In einem Articles from GameStar it says with reference to the British consumer protection organization "Which?" (press report) and Forbesthat Apple advertises its iPhone models with too long battery life. That would be possible from the tests of 50 smartphone models by Which? emerge. Other large manufacturers, on the other hand, would stack deeper, so that models from Nokia, Samsung and Sony exceed the manufacturer's specifications. The GameStar report also evaluates Apple's counter-statement that Which? would not provide any details about the tests, and that this is definitely done on the website - in contrast to Apple's approach to the battery test.

Rumors about iOS 13

Apple WWDC 2019 is getting closer and closer, and with it the rumors and speculations about the new operating systems for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch and the like. "More than 18 new functions" should be available under iOS 13 according to the app and 9to5Mac give. The forecasts come from Mark Gurman (Bloomberg), who is very familiar with Apple. That should come to us:

Features that were planned for iOS 12 but have been postponed
Optimizations for the speed of the system as well as a dark mode that control center can be selected
A swipe keyboard as you know it from SwiftKey and a second screen mode (suitable for sidecar)
Revision of the health app, reminders app, screen time, books app, iMessage, cards app, painting app, home app, etc.
Merging of "Friends" and "Find My iPhone"
etc.

Rumors about macOS 10.15 and watchOS 6

Of course, there is also speculation about the operating systems that will soon be available for the Apple Mac and Apple Watch. According to MacRumors, where one also refers to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the following innovations are in the room for macOS 10.15:

Introduction of Apple's “Marzipan” for developers so that they can create iOS-macOS hybrid apps
"Apple Music" app could replace music library in iTunes, podcasts, etc.
“Friends” and “Find my iPhone” should also be merged here
There should be a screen time function for the Mac
There should be stickers and effects in iMessage
Integration of Siri Shortcuts in macOS

The following forecasts are listed for the watchOS 6 watch operating system:

Own app store with app on the watch
Apps for voice memos, books and calculators
More medical apps like “Dose” for taking medication and “Cycles” for recording menstrual cycles
In connection with the iPhone, Memoji and Animoji stickers should be supported
New display options, including a very large display (time, text, etc.) as well as support for audio books and display of the battery life of hearing aids and the like - thus expanding the target group in the senior sector

The full prospect of Gurman is from Bloomberg right here

Warren Buffet's Paper Wizard (where did the app go?)

The app "Warren Buffet's Paper Wizard" is the first iOS game that Apple published for its iPhone - if you don't count "Texas Hold'em", which was created before iOS. The free game is reminiscent of the classic "Paperboy", only from the first person perspective. A detailed article on the game I have prepared here for you. When checking the post I just saw that the game is no longer available in the German iOS App Store (does someone know what?); nevertheless you can still find them in the US version of the store.

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Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.