All indications are that we are getting close to a time period when more folks will be leaving their homes again, many of whom will start to report to work. Of course, this greatly increases the risk of more folks being exposed to the coronavirus. Fortunately, we are also very close to the time when Apple and Google will make available the software required for public health authorities to release official apps that will notify you if you were potentially exposed to someone with the coronavirus because your iPhone/Android and their iPhone/Android were recently in close proximity. It is currently unclear where these apps will be available. For example, the NHS in the UK initially said that it was going to offer its own system which centralized the collection of data, but Natasha Lomas of TechCrunch reports that, according to the Financial Times, UK may be rethinking that decision. As Jeffrey Goldberg of 1Password explains, a cornerstone of the Apple/Google approach is that it is decentralized to protect the privacy of folks who are using the apps. For example, the apps will not result in any single government database that tracks where users were located. When the apps are available, we now know a little more about what they will look like; Russell Brandom of The Verge reports that Apple released some sample screenshots. I hope that these exposure notification apps are available soon. Along with other measures, like encouraging everyone to wear a mask in public, it can help to save lives. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- In the latest episode of the AppStories podcast, available here on the MacStories website, Federico Viticci interviews Apple VP Craig Federighi to discuss the fantastic new pointer support in iPadOS. It’s a great interview.
- Federighi also talked to Matthew Panzrino of TechCrunch to discuss the new iPad cursor, resulting in this article.
- Although most Apple Stores around the world are currently closed, Apple has launched a new hub for its online store which tries to mimic the features of a normal Apple Store, like shopping assistance, a genius bar, and even a Today at Apple section — which features a number of high-quality videos recorded by Apple Store employees in their homes showing you how to do lots of different things with your Apple devices.
- If you are like me, your appearances in video conferences have vastly increased due to COVID-19. If you don’t like the built-in camera on your computer, you can use your iPhone’s high-quality camera as a webcam. Tim Brookes of How-To Geek explains how to do so.
- My favorite show (so far) on Apple TV+ is For All Mankind. Former Astronaut Garrett Reisman, who is a technical adviser on the show, provides a guided tour of the lunar base featured in the series in this interesting video.
- John Moltz wrote a humorous review of the new iPhone SE.
- And finally, Apple CEO Tim Cook was the commencement speaker at the Ohio State graduation this week. Of course, the event had to be virtual due to COVID-19, so Cook gave a recorded address. It’s a great, well-written speech, and I recommend it: