Quick Takes: Apple Hires a Latin TV Head, New Owner of Reserve Strap Plans to Sue Apple, and More

[MacRumors]

In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest Apple news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.

Friday, March 2

Apple announces hiring of Sony TV's Angélica Guerra as Head of Latin American Programming: Guerra oversaw Sony Picture Television's production business across Latin America, including Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil. She will report to Morgan Wandell, Apple's head of international creative development.

Commentary: Apple has poached several Sony executives, including Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who run the company's new Worldwide Video Programming division. Apple has already placed orders for over 10 original series with well-known actors and producers such as Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg.

Apple hasn't revealed how it plans to distribute its original content, but it will soon. The company could launch a streaming service like Netflix, or it could release the series through its TV app or iTunes. In the past, episodes of Apple's "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" and "Planet of the Apps" were exclusive to Apple Music.

Microsoft releases Soundscape: The app for iPhone uses 3D audio technology to enhance a person's surroundings, helping people with blindness or low vision to explore unfamiliar areas. An audio beacon can be placed on a point of interest, which users hear as they move around.

Soundscape provides information about your surroundings with synthesized binaural audio, creating the effect of 3D sound. It can run in the background in conjunction with navigation or other applications to provide you with additional context about the environment. Your phone, in hand or in pocket, tracks movement using location and activity sensors, and lets you move toward a self-set audio beacon.

Commentary: This is a great example of how technology can improve accessibility. Microsoft still encourages users with vision loss to continue to place their basic awareness of their surroundings and mobility skills as a priority.

California Highway Patrol to use decoy buses in hopes of catching Apple and Google shuttle attackers: A $10,000 reward is also being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible.

Photo Credit: Teamsters Joint Council 7​

Commentary: Unmarked coach buses have been attacked by pellet guns at least 20 times recently while transporting Apple and Google employees along the Interstate 280, between San Francisco and the South Bay, where each company is headquartered. Hopefully these efforts will help catch the perpetrators.

Apple has stopped signing iOS 11.2.5: It is no longer possible to downgrade an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to software versions older than the latest iOS 11.2.6 update, which fixed a system crashing bug related to a Telugu character.

WiseWear plans to sue Apple over illegal restraint of trade: The technology startup filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Wednesday. The company blames part of its demise on Apple, which made changes that prevented the Reserve Strap charging band from working with the Apple Watch's diagnostic port.

Commentary: WiseWear acquired the original company behind the Reserve Strap last year, well after orders were suspended due to the changes in watchOS, so it's hard to see them having a strong case should they proceed.

For more Apple news and rumors coverage, visit our Front Page, Mac Blog, and iOS Blog. Also visit our forums to join in the discussion.

Article Link: Quick Takes: Apple Hires a Latin TV Head, New Owner of Reserve Strap Plans to Sue Apple, and More

 

[bryan1andersons]

Can I just say, Macrumors, that I really love the format of these posts you've been doing lately. I like how they're grouped and some reason it makes it feel like way more content than if it was several different posts

 

[StevieD100]

Using the Service/Diagnostic port
If Apple published the specs to the Diagnostic port then there might be a case to answer. Otherwise, it is use of an interface that Apple is free to change whenever they deem fit.
IANAL etc.
TBH, I'd never base a business on something where I could have the rug removed from underneath me at a moments notice. It might be that others are not a cautious as me.

 

[SkoshOfSean]

The date of acquisition is irrelevant. The only relevant matter is whether the original company has/had a cause of action. However, its complain looks pretty weak.

 

[Blackstick]

They formed a business on a technicality or oversight. Not exactly sound...

 

[AngerDanger]

Can I just say, Macrumors, that I really love the format of these posts you've been doing lately. I like how they're grouped and some reason it makes it feel like way more content than if it was several different posts

Yeah, they sort of remind me of early 2000s MacRumors articles that were all really short, except they've been grouped together, preventing an influx of "slow news day" comments that people didn't seem to make as much in the past.

In 2001, this was the longest an MR article would get:

Unrelated: that iPod thing sounds pretty cool.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Why are they broadcasting the tactical details of the CHP operation? It's like: "Hey vandals, guess how we're going to catch you? We're going to BLAH BLAH BLAH!"

Like just keep your mouths shut until they're caught.

 

[2010mini]

Love the new news format. When will you support Apple News?

 

[I7guy]

Can I just say, Macrumors, that I really love the format of these posts you've been doing lately. I like how they're grouped and some reason it makes it feel like way more content than if it was several different posts

I was thinking the same thing. I like this quick take format. Good job MacRumors.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Soundscape looks like a very innovative app for those in need. Well done.

Looks like Wisewear is throwing whatever is handy at the wall hoping something sticks.

 

[deanthedev]

Using the Service/Diagnostic port
If Apple published the specs to the Diagnostic port then there might be a case to answer. Otherwise, it is use of an interface that Apple is free to change whenever they deem fit.
IANAL etc.
TBH, I'd never base a business on something where I could have the rug removed from underneath me at a moments notice. It might be that others are not a cautious as me.

This x1000. They were using a port that Apple has clearly not designated as being user accessible or made part of the MFi program.

 

[macduke]

You can't just use some undocumented hidden port on a device that is against the software terms of use and expect it to work going forward. I'm sure Apple's lawyers have all the language airtight on that. I'm pretty sure that everybody except them thought their entire business model was on shaky ground when the news was first posted about them.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

WiseWear plans to sue Apple over illegal restraint of trade: The technology startup filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Wednesday. The company blames part of its demise on Apple, which made changes that prevented the Reserve Strap charging band from working with the Apple Watch's diagnostic port.

​

Commentary: WiseWear acquired the original company behind the Reserve Strap last year, well after orders were suspended due to the changes in watchOS, so it's hard to see them having a strong case should they proceed.

Heh. Partly blame Apple. The other 99.9% is on them for buying technology that required access to a port that Apple never officially gave the public, developers, or Made for Apple Watch partners access to. Sounds like WiseWear is spending good money after bad on this suit.

 

[corebeliefs]

Was it a good idea to announce that decoy buses are being used?

 

[Fixey]

Using the Service/Diagnostic port
If Apple published the specs to the Diagnostic port then there might be a case to answer. Otherwise, it is use of an interface that Apple is free to change whenever they deem fit.
IANAL etc.
TBH, I'd never base a business on something where I could have the rug removed from underneath me at a moments notice. It might be that others are not a cautious as me.

Totally agree, not the smartest thing to do, base a product around something that is not meant to be used by the public or third party manufacturer, how dum were they palm face slap

 

[44267547]

Wisewear as a company is disgruntled their bands never fluorished, which they filed for Chapter 11 and now there out seeking money from Apple for something they have no grounds on. Their Products never flourished because there is not a large enough of a market that would want specific bands of what they are offering and they likely have very little marketing, which most consumers did not know of.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

The WiseWear lawsuit is hilarious. "They won't let us use something that wasn't intended for the use we want to make of it and it's their fault we went out of business." Good freakin' luck with that. Judge is going to shut that one down for sure.

 

[DeepIn2U]

In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest Apple news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.

Friday, March 2

Apple announces hiring of Sony TV's Angélica Guerra as Head of Latin American Programming: Guerra oversaw Sony Picture Television's production business across Latin America, including Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil. She will report to Morgan Wandell, Apple's head of international creative development.

Commentary: Apple has poached several Sony executives, including Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who run the company's new Worldwide Video Programming division. Apple has already placed orders for over 10 original series with well-known actors and producers such as Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg.

Apple hasn't revealed how it plans to distribute its original content, but it will soon. The company could launch a streaming service like Netflix, or it could release the series through its TV app or iTunes. In the past, episodes of Apple's "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" and "Planet of the Apps" were exclusive to Apple Music.

Microsoft releases Soundscape: The app for iPhone uses 3D audio technology to enhance a person's surroundings, helping people with blindness or low vision to explore unfamiliar areas. An audio beacon can be placed on a point of interest, which users hear as they move around.

Commentary: This is a great example of how technology can improve accessibility. Microsoft still encourages users with vision loss to continue to place their basic awareness of their surroundings and mobility skills as a priority.

BRAVO Apple ... putting money and trust where your mouth (advertisement, announcements and legal marketing) is! Congratulation Angelica Guerra for your new role. Bring us something fantastic.


Microsoft Soundscape: Absolutely incredible technology. THIS in my mind is where AI can have the BEST, most tangible and quickest results for implementation. There are over 60'000 young students that are classified as fully blind and need to attend special schools for at least 1 term a year in the USA alone.

Accessibility advancements unfortunately does not get a lot of attention on the boards here and it's sad really. We're all just a virus away from all going blind (to an extreme) and we take something we all have for granted (all of us seeing people of the world).

Imagine ... just imaging what the big 5 technology companies could accomplish for the entire globe for the sight impaired if they pooled their resources, shared open sourced their API's (privately) and shared their advancements. Would that be a moral and all in all tangible good benefit for the world and each technology company? ALL could still have rights to their techologies, revenues/profits and yet STILL benefit their own employees and clients/consumers the world over. I'd argue the R&D being done by each company doesn't readily translate into an appreciable revenue to make any note of. So why not combine their knowledge an resources!? Technically it could advance their own end user UI's by huge bounds.

Voice Control and Audible feedback
Gesture control

These 2 areas could incredible rapidly advance and become so much more accurate. Just knowing that gesture controls could significantly advance because the end user really cannot see any visual queues or error response that a gesture recognition for action or command failed would be huge!

 

[RumorConsumer]

Was it a good idea to announce that decoy buses are being used?

my thoughts exactly

 

[Rainshadow]

Accessibility advancements unfortunately does not get a lot of attention on the boards here and it's sad really. We're all just a virus away from all going blind (to an extreme) and we take something we all have for granted (all of us seeing people of the world).

Imagine ... just imaging what the big 5 technology companies could accomplish for the entire globe for the sight impaired if they pooled their resources, shared open sourced their API's (privately) and shared their advancements. Would that be a moral and all in all tangible good benefit for the world and each technology company? ALL could still have rights to their techologies, revenues/profits and yet STILL benefit their own employees and clients/consumers the world over. I'd argue the R&D being done by each company doesn't readily translate into an appreciable revenue to make any note of. So why not combine their knowledge an resources!? Technically it could advance their own end user UI's by huge bounds.

Voice Control and Audible feedback
Gesture control

These 2 areas could incredible rapidly advance and become so much more accurate. Just knowing that gesture controls could significantly advance because the end user really cannot see any visual queues or error response that a gesture recognition for action or command failed would be huge!

Very pie in the sky. With that logic, why not share every patent and idea? Some people think that’s a good idea. I think that the competition is good. The gesture control, audio feedback, voice control aspects of accessibility are NOT just for the impaired. Those technologies are part of the fabric of each operating system. Sharing them would decrease the competition between companies to (for example) make a better voice assistant, or simplify gesture control.

It would be a quick advancement at first (as all companies level off and achieve a standard), and then entire markets would stagnate. One company would never spend money on something another company would benefit from. Why would you invest $100,000 in some technology that your competitors would then get for free? These are companies that need to make money. These accessibility features are too broad and incorporated into other NON accessibility technologies that it would be unsustainable and ultimately detrimental to advancements in accessibility in the long run.

 

[lowendlinux]

Very pie in the sky. With that logic, why not share every patent and idea? Some people think that’s a good idea. I think that the competition is good. The gesture control, audio feedback, voice control aspects of accessibility are NOT just for the impaired. Those technologies are part of the fabric of each operating system. Sharing them would decrease the competition between companies to (for example) make a better voice assistant, or simplify gesture control.

It would be a quick advancement at first (as all companies level off and achieve a standard), and then entire markets would stagnate. One company would never spend money on something another company would benefit from. Why would you invest $100,000 in some technology that your competitors would then get for free? These are companies that need to make money. These accessibility features are too broad and incorporated into other NON accessibility technologies that it would be unsustainable and ultimately detrimental to advancements in accessibility in the long run.

Yet large companies spend millions a year to write open source software

 

[Braderunner]

Remember the people who started up websites to buy and sell the "extra" band they thought was going to come with the Watch?
This is no different. They assumed the service port could be used as a charging port.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

 

[ackmondual]

Truly no way to downgrade from ios11.2.5! I know some folks who wanted to hold on to some games, but aren't comfy with purchasing used or older model iPads due to this.

Why are they broadcasting the tactical details of the CHP operation? It's like: "Hey vandals, guess how we're going to catch you? We're going to BLAH BLAH BLAH!"

Like just keep your mouths shut until they're caught.

It's probably part of the plan Would the vandals even be able to tell which are the decoys and which ones aren't? If that's the case, they'd need to consider they could get caught when shooting at ANY of those buses.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Instead of focusing on Latin America programming...maybe Apple should focus on its core markets...Where they have no tangible content/programming.

 

[myscrnnm]

Hope that lawsuit gets thrown out. If Apple never advertised that diagnostic port as a feature, there should be no guarantee to anyone, whether an end user or developer, that it will continue to be accessible.