∞ Apple Weighs Letting Users Switch Default iPhone Apps to Rivals
Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg:
The technology giant is discussing whether to let users choose third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile devices, replacing the company’s Safari browser and Mail app, according to people familiar with the matter. Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple hasn’t allowed users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services. That has made it difficult for some developers to compete, and has raised concerns from lawmakers probing potential antitrust violations in the technology industry.
Let me check, what apps do I need an alternative default? Mail, Maps, Calendar, Calculator, Reminder, Camera, Weather, Photos, Notes, News. 10 freaking apps.
I also just realized that, the Keyboard effectively already allows alternative default. Files app too.
(News is special here because RSS URLs are forced to be opened by it, 🖕 Apple News.)
Doraemon and Costumes of Tang Dynasty
Zi De Guqin Studio presents the Doraemon theme song in costumes of Tang Dynasty. It can’t get any better.
∞ Apples Releases Swift Playgrounds for the Mac, Powered by Catalyst
Apples just released Swift Playgrounds for the Mac. And yes, it's powered by Catalyst. Now, I am 👀 at you, Shortcuts team.
∞ A Quick History of Why Asians Wear Surgical Masks in Public
Jeff Yang, writing for Quartz:
The bottom line is that in East Asia, the predilection toward using face-coverings to prevent exposure to bad air is something that predates the germ theory of disease, and extends into the very foundations of East Asian culture. In recent years, however, mask-wearing has become rooted in new and increasingly postmodern rationales.
Studies have found that among many young Japanese, masks have evolved into social firewalls; perfectly healthy teens now wear them, along with audio headsets, to signal a lack of desire to communicate with those around them. This is particularly true for young women seeking to avoid harassment on public transit, who also appreciate the relative anonymity the masks provide.
Masks are even becoming an element of East Asian style: In Japan, surgical masks bearing chic designs or the images of cute licensed characters can be purchased in every corner drugstore, while last month at China Fashion Week, designer Yin Peng unveiled a line of “smog couture” clothese paired with a variety of masks, from Vader-esque ventilators to whole-head riot-gear rebreathers.
This is so different in western where you only wear masks when you are actually sick to protect others. You will have different perceptions when seeing people wearing a mask on the street.
∞ Canada Wins, U.S. Loses In Global Fight For High-Tech Workers
Toronto saw the biggest growth in technology jobs of any North American city over the past five years, outpacing San Francisco, New York and Seattle. Vancouver also made the top five.
This trend will only continue for a while.
∞ Outrage as Italian Conservatoire Bans All “Oriental” Students Over CoronaVirus Fears
Maddy Shaw Roberts from Classic FM:
Since the newsletter was sent to Santa Cecilia’s teachers, another music institute in Como has told students returning from China after Chinese New Year to stay at home for 14 days.
This is the right move.
The message (translated from Italian), signed by director Roberto Giuliani, reads: “Dear colleagues, because of the well-known events relating to the Chinese epidemic, the lessons of oriental students (Chinese, Korean, Japanese etc.) are suspended, as well as others who have come from the countries concerned.
This is simply racism.
∞ Cyrus Vance Jr.: They Get Into My Phone All The Time
William D. Cohan writing for Fast Company:
Vance is skeptical that Apple doesn’t have a secret backdoor. “They get into my phone all the time because they upgrade my operating systems and they send me messages,” he says.
Vance is the district attorney of New York county. Never underestimate one’s ability to understand tech.
∞ A Surprise Up Up Down Down Episode
Up Up Down Down is one of my favorite podcasts. It's hosted by Allen Pike and Nigel Brooke. Each episode covers one interesting topic with a guest. Sadly it went hiatus three years ago. But I still appreciate their deep insights in the game dev world today.
Yesterday they released a surprise episode, covering Two Spies, a turn-based spy game made by themselves.
If you haven’t heard Up Up Down Down yet, every single episode is worth listening to even today, or ten, twenty years later.
I have an increasing desire to build a Twitter app around the idea of “Two-twitter-app lifestyle” (the other being the official app).
∞ European Mac Pros Are Assembled in China
Joe Rossignol, writing for MacRumors:
As suspected, it appears the new Mac Pro is only assembled in Texas for orders placed in the United States, Canada, and other countries in the Americas. French blog MacGeneration has confirmed that a new Mac Pro delivered to a customer in France today has fine print indicating it was assembled in China.