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Markdown Now Has a UTI in Apple's Version 27 OSes
18 days ago
- John Gruber highlights Day One, a journaling app with a 4.8 rating.
- Apple's developer beta introduces a new UTI for Markdown: net.daringfireball.markdown, conforming to public.utf8-plain-text.
- Gruber updates his recommendation to public.utf8-plain-text, reflecting the now-universal UTF-8 support.
Apple to increase spend with Broadcom to produce billions more U.S. chips
17 days ago
- Apple announced a new multiyear agreement with Broadcom to produce custom silicon and wireless connectivity technologies, exceeding $30 billion.
- The agreement will result in over 15 billion U.S.-made chips and support hundreds of American jobs, expanding Broadcom's Fort Collins facility with a $1.5 billion investment.
- This partnership is part of Apple's American Manufacturing Program and aligns with its plan to invest $600 billion in the U.S. economy over four years.
Old Icons
14 days ago
- Discusses the historical design of early Mac application icons, which were 32×32 pixels and limited to black and white.
- Highlights the original MacWrite and MacPaint icons as examples, featuring tilted rectangles with hands to indicate action-oriented apps.
- Explains that document icons were upright rectangles with dog-eared corners and no hands, differentiating them from app icons.
- Mentions other Apple app icons like MacDraw and HyperCard, noting deviations such as HyperCard's stack of rectangles.
- Describes how third-party software (e.g., Aldus PageMaker, QuarkXPress) followed similar design patterns with variations.
- Notes the THINK Pascal editor/compiler icon innovated by using hands on a keyboard generating a flowchart.
- Observes that as users became more familiar with Macs, icon design constraints loosened, with Apple and others abandoning strict patterns.
- References the ResEdit icon as an example of Apple's whimsical design during that era.
- Connects modern complaints about 'squircle jail' to historical icon elements that 'stick out,' like hands from tilted rectangles.
European Court: Apple Can Not Shirk Off Its Interoperability Requirements
10 days ago
- The European Union's General Court ruled against Apple, affirming its obligations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), including interoperability requirements.
- The decision is seen as a win for developers, users, and researchers in Europe, promoting more app distribution choices and reducing barriers to studying Apple's OSes.
- Apple argued that interoperability compromises security, but the court and advocates contend that security and interoperability can coexist with proper implementation.
- The court rejected Apple's arguments against its 'gatekeeper' designation, stating that the App Store constitutes a core platform service across devices regardless of OS variations.
- Apple's claim that iMessage should not be classified as a number-independent interpersonal communication service was deemed inadmissible, as it did not affect its DMA obligations.
Apple sues OpenAI after ex-engineer allegedly used bug to steal trade secrets
9 days ago
- Apple filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging conspiracy with former employees to steal confidential information.
- A former Apple employee, Chang Liu, accessed Apple servers after termination due to an authentication bug, downloading sensitive files on unreleased products.
- Apple claims Liu failed to report the bug and instead used it to access confidential hardware files and mocked the company in internal messages.
- The bug was quickly fixed by Apple, and investigations suggest it was not widely exploited by other affected users.
Apple's Vision Pro Tool Contains Traces of Defunct Game Engine 'The Machinery'
9 days ago
- Apple's Reality Composer Pro 3 beta contains code references to 'The Machinery,' a defunct game development project.
- The code includes over 40 mentions and matches aspects of The Machinery's project structure, asset management, and database architecture.
- The Machinery was known for its innovative 'The Truth' database-driven system, which aligns with features in Reality Composer Pro like reusable prototypes and live editing.
- Tricia Gray, co-founder of Our Machinery (the company behind The Machinery), now works on Apple's spatial computing developer tools team.
- It is unclear whether Apple licensed, acquired, or inherited the technology, but the code suggests The Machinery's ideas have been integrated into Apple's toolset.
Apple Fixes Hide My Email Vulnerability After 404 Media Coverage
4 days ago
- Apple fixed a vulnerability in its Hide My Email feature that allowed revealing users' real email addresses, after being aware of the issue for over a year.
- The fix was deployed on July 3, 2026, shortly after 404 Media reported the vulnerability, despite Apple knowing about it since June 2025.
- A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple seeking refunds of subscription costs and an injunction over the company's handling of the vulnerability.
- The exploit worked by sending a targeted user a message that was rejected as spam, which leaked the real email address in email logs.
- Even after the fix, the risk may persist because past email logs could still contain leaked addresses, potentially affecting users who created Hide My Email addresses before July 7, 2026.
Apple will soon offer iPhones, Macs, etc., on a subscription basis
3 days ago
- Apple will launch a deal with Klarna next week, allowing US customers to spread out device costs up to three years.
- This brings Apple closer to a full subscription model for hardware, software, and services, though AppleCare requires extra payment.
- Some products are excluded from the arrangement, including MacBook Neo, Apple Watch SE, entry-level iPad, and iPhone 16.
- The Klarna arrangement comes as Apple faces AI-driven memory price inflation, aiming to make products available to cash-strapped consumers.
- IDC analyst notes the scheme helps protect the upgrade cycle as prices rise, with iPhone price increases expected in September.
- Apple has invested in convincing customers of subscription payments, with over 1 billion paid subscriptions and 2.5 billion devices installed base.
- The products are effectively leased, giving Apple a stronger grip on end-of-life devices for refurbishment, resale, and recycling.
- The partnership with Klarna helps manage risk, as Apple abandoned its own buy-now, pay-later scheme due to rising bank rates.
iOS 27 code suggests Apple could restrict leased devices after missed payments
2 days ago
- Apple is reportedly launching an 'Apple Upgrade' leasing program in the US, partnering with Klarna for financing, covering iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches.
- iOS 27 beta code reveals a system called 'App Managed Features' that can restrict access to most apps when lease payments are missed, placing the device in 'Restricted Mode'.
- A fixed allowlist of apps remains accessible in Restricted Mode, including Phone, Settings, Wallet, and others, while critical alert apps like Messages may be allowed at the provider's discretion.
- The financing provider decides when to lock the device based on its own policies, and there is no fixed number of missed payments triggering the restriction.
- A new 'Partner Finance Lock' activation lock prevents users from erasing, reselling, or stripping a restricted device for parts.
- The code is present in the iOS 27 beta but not in iOS 26.6 RC, suggesting the feature may launch later or be added to a future iOS 26.6 release.
How Apple's Hide My Email exploit worked and why you're still at risk
2 days ago
- Apple's Hide My Email service leaked users' actual email addresses in bounce error messages when emails were rejected as spam or due to other errors like deleted accounts.
- The vulnerability was reported in June 2025 but took over a year to fix, with multiple unsuccessful fix attempts until July 2026.
- Leaked email addresses were stored in third-party email logs (e.g., Mailgun), creating long-term privacy risks even after the bug was fixed.
- The exploit was simple: send a spammy email to a Hide My Email address and find the hidden email in the 550 or 552 error response.
- Apple did not notify users during the year-long vulnerability period, and only fixed it after public disclosure by 404 Media in July 2026.
- Users are advised to assume their email was leaked, deactivate old Hide My Email addresses, and consider using alternative aliasing services.
Micron urges White House to reject Apple's blacklist memory plan
8 hours ago
- Apple petitioned the Trump administration to buy Mac RAM chips from blacklisted Chinese supplier CXMT.
- Micron opposed Apple's request, warning it would destabilize the U.S. tech industry.
- Micron argued that allowing sales from blacklisted Chinese companies could harm U.S. manufacturing, similar to China's impact on steel.
- CXMT is on the Chinese Military Company Blacklist due to alleged PLA links, posing national security risks.
- Apple risks losing Defense Department sales if it uses CXMT components, and future Entity List sanctions could disrupt supply.
- Micron proposed building more domestic plants faster to alleviate memory pressure, with a $250 billion investment plan.
- Apple accused Micron of price gouging with 80% gross profit margins and insufficient reinvestment in capacity.
- Micron blamed Apple and others for squeezing suppliers during downturns, contributing to current shortages.
- President Trump faces a choice between Apple's short-term fix and Micron's long-term U.S. manufacturing investment.
Creative Focus
21 hours ago
- Apple's 50-year history includes a period of losing creative focus by spreading too thin.
- Tim Cook emphasizes the importance of saying no to thousands of projects to focus on the few that truly matter.
- Creative focus requires accepting rejection of many ideas to harness energy for key projects, and it's done right when it feels painful.
- Some projects are experiments, while others form the foundation of Apple's product portfolio; balancing them is the art of creative focus.
- Having limited time and energy means you cannot work on every inspired idea, and spreading yourself too thin reduces the quality of each project.
- The process of selecting which ideas to focus on is an art in itself, as leadership involves finding the fastest path, not necessarily the straightest one.
- Creative focus leads to abundance by prioritizing: deciding you cannot do everything allows you to do anything.

Hasty Briefsbeta

apple

Markdown Now Has a UTI in Apple's Version 27 OSes

Apple to increase spend with Broadcom to produce billions more U.S. chips

Old Icons

European Court: Apple Can Not Shirk Off Its Interoperability Requirements

Apple sues OpenAI after ex-engineer allegedly used bug to steal trade secrets

Apple's Vision Pro Tool Contains Traces of Defunct Game Engine 'The Machinery'

Apple Fixes Hide My Email Vulnerability After 404 Media Coverage

Apple will soon offer iPhones, Macs, etc., on a subscription basis

iOS 27 code suggests Apple could restrict leased devices after missed payments

How Apple's Hide My Email exploit worked and why you're still at risk

Micron urges White House to reject Apple's blacklist memory plan

Creative Focus