Ben Lovejoy, writing for 9 to 5 Mac:
A popular Quran app has been removed from Apple’s Chinese App Store at the request of the government, according to a new report today.
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could install apps from outside of the App Store so it wasn’t the single point of failure for censorship?
➝ Source: 9to5mac.com
Ben Lovejoy, on the upcoming Mac Pro:
So yes, Apple has promised that it will be the best machine in the line-up, meaning that by definition it has to have a higher spec than the iMac Pro. But perhaps not massively so. What you’ll really be buying with the Mac Pro is two things.
First, configuration options. Four USB-C ports is good, but as the standard takes off, there will be pros who’ll want more – and you’ll be able to add them. Up to 4TB fast SSD is very nice, but again, AV pros will want more, and they’ll be able to add it without having to hang them off the outside of the machine. And so forth. Unlike the iMac, you won’t be buying a sealed unit.
Second, longevity. The iMac Pro will be a stonking spec when it launches, but of course technology never stands still. A blindingly-fast machine today will look distinctly pedestrian a few years down the line. With a modular format, you should be able to simply slot in new components as they become available – including, I’m sure, CPU and GPU.
Ben Lovejoy, writing for 9 to 5 Mac:
iPhone-ticker reports that Ikea is updating its TRÅDFRI smart lights to be compatible with HomeKit, Amazon Echo and Google Home. The site says that the company will ‘retrofit’ the functionality, suggesting that compatibility will apply to existing products.
The existing product line is limited to white bulbs, but once you’ve bought the gateway for $79.99 (which includes two bulbs), you can add smart bulbs at prices ranging from $11.99 for a 1000-lumen E28 bulb, through $14.99 for a 400-lumen E12, $17.99 for a 980-lumen E27 to a $19.99 G10 spotlight. Dimmers and motion sensors are also available at similarly affordable pricing.
I’ve been waiting for the price of smart home products to drop before jumping wallet-first into the category. I’m not thrilled about having to spend $80 on the gateway, but $12 for each subsequent bulb seems like a pretty killer deal.
