331 Posts under Mango Paper
∞ Apple may label iOS 18 artificial intelligence features as a beta preview
Benjamin Mayo writes for 9to5mac:
In the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s newsletter for Bloomberg, he reports that Apple’s highly-anticipated AI features for iOS 18 and its other operating systems may be released with a ‘beta’ or ‘preview’ designation.
This is perhaps another sign that Apple was caught off-guard by the AI revolution, and its planned features for this cycle aren’t yet reliable or good enough to launch unqualified, without a beta label.
Apple may be playing catch up, but I don't think labeling upcoming AI features as beta preview is a signal for that. None of the competitors' AI features today are up to Apple's standards, and that's just the reality.
∞ Mini ponds are 'tiny universes' of biodiversity for gardens and windowsills
Katherine Latham writes for BBC:
Back in our garden, we were visiting our mini ponds daily, excited to see what might have made its home there. We practiced patience – as Thomas advised – which was difficult as at first the ponds grew thick with algae. But then, in just a few days, the waters cleared again. In week two, we were somewhat surprised to find aquatic life – water fleas and mosquito larvae darting about under the surface.
On the Sunday afternoon of week three, I heard squeals of delight and my children came sprinting in from the garden unable to contain their excitement. They had found a fully grown common frog, which they affectionately named "Froggo". Now, we are on tenterhooks, waiting to see if we get any frogspawn.
I always wanted a pond in our garden. I should start executing on my idea real soon.
∞ Google Gets the Message, Launches Gmail
Happy 20th birthday, Gmail!
Sure Apple, we now have https://apps.apple.com/us/vision.
But how about actually show all the categories available and give us the ability to browse non-featured apps?
There is still no way to find Mango 5Star 🤷🏻♂️
Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama
From Bird Studio's statement today:
Dear Friends and Partners,
We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. He was in age of 68.
Akira Toriyama's work has been a significant part of my childhood. May your soul rest in peace.
Update on 2024-03-10: App Store published a story remembering Akira Toriyama with a collection of apps and games featuring his works and characters: https://apps.apple.com/story/id1734943876.
Mango Is the King of Fruit - Phil
A great quote from Somebody Feed Phil.
I'm in total agreement with Phil. Also, his smile is so infectious!
∞ Analysis: Clean Energy Was Top Driver of China’s Economic Growth in 2023
Lauri Myllyvirta and Qi Qin from CREA wrote a guest post for CarbonBrief:
Solar power, along with manufacturing capacity for solar panels, EVs and batteries, were the main focus of China’s clean-energy investments in 2023, the analysis shows.
Without the growth from clean-energy sectors, China’s GDP would have missed the government’s growth target of “around 5%”, rising by only 3.0% instead of 5.2%.
I went back to China last year for a month. I saw so, so many EVs.
∞ Hospitals owned by private equity are harming patients, reports find
Beth Mole writes for Ars Technica,
Private equity firms are increasingly buying hospitals across the US, and when they do, patients suffer, according to two separate reports. Specifically, the equity firms cut corners, slash services, lay off staff, lower quality of care, take on substantial debt, and reduce charity care, leading to lower ratings and more medical errors, the reports collectively find.
We need more reports like this, and more media attention.
∞ Just Do What You're Excited About
Simon Peng from his Robot Fan Club newsletter,
The other way I find I can motivate myself to start is by looking for inspiration not in other people's work, but in the people themselves.
This is very true for me. I'm often motivated by other people. This effect doesn't last long for me though, and I have to consistently remind myself about other people's existence to keep the motivation up.
To me, the lesson here is to be inspired by excitement. Be inspired by the ability people have to be energized into action.
There's a place in our lives for being moved to create by the profundity of great works of art, but more often I feel people hold great works up as an excuse not to make something. They'll fall short. They'll fail. They don't know where to start.
Instead, look at all the things people do in spite of these feelings and embrace that bold rejection of the box that you're in. Often we put ourselves in that box to help us articulate who we are to others. Often we put ourselves there to help explain who we are to ourselves. But we're always more than that. We're people. We can do whatever we want. So shouldn't we do what excites us?
Maybe excitement is the key here? Tonight, I'm very excited to get a visionOS build for Mango 5Star. And I'm just doing that.
What excites you?
∞ Distributing apps in the U.S. that provide an external purchase link
After Supreme Court refused to consider Apple's (and Epic's) appeals today, Apple published its guideline for apps in the U.S. that provide external purchase links:
In addition to using Apple’s convenient, safe, and secure in-app purchase system, apps on the App Store in the United States that offer in-app purchases can also use the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (US) to include a link to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services. To use the entitlement, you’ll need to submit a request, enable the entitlement in Xcode, and use required StoreKit APIs. Apple will review your app to ensure it complies with the terms and conditions of the entitlement, as well as the App Store Review Guidelines and the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
Among other things, the following screen will be shown to the user each time the app calls the StoreKit External Purchase Link API:
Apple is so good at following the text of the ruling.
What's more,
Apple is charging a commission on digital purchases initiated within seven days from link out, as described below. This will not capture all transactions that Apple has facilitated through the App Store, but is a reasonable means to account for the substantial value Apple provides developers, including in facilitating linked transactions.
Apple’s commission will be 27% on proceeds you earn from sales (“transactions“) to the user for digital goods or services on your website after a link out (i.e., they tap “Continue” on the system disclosure sheet), provided that the sale was initiated within seven days and the digital goods or services can be used in an app. This includes (a) any applicable taxes and (b) any adjustments for refunds, reversals and chargebacks. For auto-renewing subscriptions, (i) a sale initiated, including with a free trial or offer, within seven days after a link out is a transaction; and (ii) each subsequent auto-renewal after the subscription is initiated is also a transaction.]
L.O.L. How would any developer actually adopt this?
This is not surprising though. This is so modern-day Apple.