Tag Archives: Apple

Opinion: Ukraine Strikes Back, Apple’s Vision Pro, The Global Cities Index

‘Editor’s Picks’ Podcast (June 12, 2023) A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist – Ukraine strikes back, why Apple’s new Vision Pro gadget matters (9:00) and the results of our new global cities index (13:35).

Ukraine strikes back

The counter-offensive is getting under way. The next few weeks will be critical

Trailed ten days early with a blood-stirring video in which Ukrainian troops asked God to bless their “sacred revenge”, Ukraine’s counter-offensive is under way. For weeks its armed forces have conducted probing and shaping operations along the 1,000km front line, looking for weaknesses and confusing the Russians.

Apple’s Vision Pro is an incredible machine. Now to find out what it is for

The Apple Vision Pro headset in a showroom on the Apple campus in Cupertino, California.

The meaning of “spatial computing”

Apple’s message is clear: after desktop and mobile computing, the next big tech era will be spatial computing—also known as augmented reality—in which computer graphics are overlaid on the world around the user.

Amoral cities are flourishing in a turbulent geopolitical era

Visitors at Jewel Changi Airport mall in Singapore

Our index ranks economic performance over the past three years

 In order to assess which are thriving in this new era, The Economist has compiled a rough-and-ready index. It scrutinises a sample of ten locations, looking at changes in four measures—population, economic growth, office vacancies and house prices—over the past three years.

Previews: The Economist Magazine – June 10, 2023

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The Economist Magazine– June 10, 2023 issue:

Ukraine strikes back


The counter-offensive is getting under way. The next few weeks will be critical

Trailed ten days early with a blood-stirring video in which Ukrainian troops asked God to bless their “sacred revenge”, Ukraine’s counter-offensive is under way. For weeks its armed forces have conducted probing and shaping operations along the 1,000km front line, looking for weaknesses and confusing the Russians. Now Ukraine is testing enemy defences with an intensity not seen for months, with attacks against the occupiers in a series of positions in the east and south. The apparent demolition of the Kakhovka dam on June 6th, if it was indeed Russian sabotage as Western military sources believe, would be clear evidence that they are already feeling the pressure.

Apple’s Vision Pro is an incredible machine. Now to find out what it is for

The meaning of “spatial computing”

No one shows off a new gadget quite like Apple. But the device that Tim Cook unveiled on June 5th was billed as something more significant. The Vision Pro, a pair of sleek glass goggles, represents “an entirely new spatial-computing platform”, said Apple’s boss, comparing its launch to that of the Macintosh and the iPhone. Apple’s message is clear: after desktop and mobile computing, the next big tech era will be spatial computing—also known as augmented reality—in which computer graphics are overlaid on the world around the user.

California’s reparations scheme is bad policy and worse politics

Democrats should ditch it in favour of ideas that Americans actually support

Augmented Reality: Apple Unveils ‘Glass Air’ Glasses

Concept Images by Kylin Wu

Yanko Design (June 2, 2023) – Augmented Reality has always been Tim Cook’s favorite buzzword, and he’s consistently pushed for Apple to have a presence in this space. It’s expected that all this will culminate in what analysts and leakers call “Reality”, Apple’s first XR headset. This cutting-edge device, expected to be unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, aims to pioneer the relatively uncharted realm of mixed-reality technology.

With a price tag of approximately $3,000, the ‘Reality’ headset has been seven years in the making, and has been apparently filled with controversy too, with a large chunk of Apple’s own employees expressing doubt and disdain. However, here’s everything we know about the Reality headset (or could it be a pair of glasses?) that’s set to launch this Monday.

The headset’s design journey has oscillated between being thick and obtrusive, like your average VR headset, to being as slim as a pair of spectacles, or realistically, a pair of chunky ski goggles. At its heart, however, lies the innovative xrOS, designed to provide an interface that echoes the familiar iOS experience. The new operating system (which is pretty much confirmed thanks to a trademark filed by Apple in New Zealand) is set to revolutionize how users interact with their devices, presenting a traditional Home Screen in an entirely new dimension filled with apps and customizable widgets.

One of the most exciting features of ‘Reality’ is its ability to merge digital elements with the real world. The xrOS software could potentially project AR app interface elements onto actual objects, creating a seamless mixed-reality overlay effect. This represents a significant leap forward in AR technology, blurring the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. According to MacRumors, the ‘Reality’ device will achieve this using “dual high-resolution 4K micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels per inch for a rich, realistic, and immersive viewing experience.” To operate the device, the user’s hands and eyes will be monitored by over a dozen optical cameras. The user can select an on-screen item by simply looking at it and activate it by making a hand gesture, such as a pinch.

READ MORE AT YANKO DESIGN

Analysis: Apple’s Supply Chain Shifts From China To India And Vietnam (WSJ)

Wall Street Journal – Apple is facing an uphill battle as it plans to shift its production out of China. Here’s why it’s difficult to replicate Foxconn’s ‘iPhone City’ in Zhengzhou and the company’s finely-tuned ecosystem in countries like India and Vietnam.

Views: The Top Television Commercials From 2022

Adweek (December 14, 2022) – These 22 Campaigns Made Creative Professionals Jealous in 2022 – From popular social ads to Super Bowl spots, these are the works that creatives loved:

Dave’s Hot Chicken: ‘Don’t Die Before You Try It
Agency: Party Land

Josh Fell, partner and CCO at Anomaly LA:

Like nearly everything coming out of the Party Land crew, this made me laugh. Not a normal laugh. A surprised laugh. An ugly laugh. The type of laugh that creeps out of the guilty part of your subconscious. A vocal acknowledgement of the fragility of existence amidst the looming specter of oblivion. A giggling acceptance of the collective unspoken—that all one can do in life is to embrace the absurdity of it all and smile. And then maybe eat some hot chicken.

Apple: ‘The Greatest
Agency: Apple’s in-house team in London

Chris Garbutt, chief creative officer and co-president, Virtue:

Apple’s “The Greatest” is the anthem for innovation addressing accessibility. Apple knows that in order to inspire its community, it has to have the courage to let the audience lead. This work does exactly that.

Ocean Spray: ‘Power Your Holidays
Agency: Orchard Creative

Paul Caiozzo, co-founder and chief creative officer, Supernatural:

One ad stood way out to me. The perfect combination of product, culture and freshness. Great, simple extensions that didn’t look to do any “heavy lifting” but rather continued the fun. Doing all of those things isn’t easy and Ocean Spray did it brilliantly.

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Headlines: Trump’s Legal Woes, The Future Of Apple iPhone, French Mustard

Donald Trump endured an FBI raid, questioning in a civil lawsuit and an adverse court ruling, all in 48 hours.

But at least in the short-term, he’s making political hay from his legal woes. Why Apple’s future increasingly rests on services rather than just hardware. And how France is coping with a mustard shortage.

Morning News: Economic Collapse In Afghanistan, Apple Lawsuit, Polluters

Economic collapse and halting international aid following the Taliban’s takeover have compounded shortages that were already deepening; we examine the unfolding disaster. 

The verdict in a blockbuster case against Apple might look like a win for the tech giant; a closer read reveals new battle lines. And the data that reveal how polluters behave when regulators are not watching.

Morning News Podcast: Remote Worker Issues, Apple Trial, Inflation

A.M. Edition for May 24. WSJ’s Vanessa Fuhrmans on how some bosses still aren’t sure remote workers are as committed as employees at the office. 

The trial of Apple and ‘Fortnite’ creator Epic Games nears an end. After paying off credit card debt, borrowers wonder what to pay off next. Peter Granitz hosts.

Reviews: Apple’s New iPad Pro, M1 Mac, AirTags & Apple TV 4K (WSJ Video)

Airtags: The size of Mentos or a Lifesaver? A redesigned super-slim iMac? Lost-item trackers called AirTags? An Apple TV remote that doesn’t suck? New iPad Pros with M1 chips? Apple announced a hodgepodge of updates at a spring event. WSJ’s Joanna Stern has the rundown. Photo Illustration: Adele Morgan