Category: Apple Insider

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

We’ve heard a couple of stories of people using Apple’s item tracker to recover lost luggage — but now one AirTag owner has used the device to track his wallet as it traveled to 35 cities.

John Lewis had contacted American Airlines regarding a wallet he lost in late January. When American Airlines responded, it said the crew had thoroughly cleaned the plane and could not find it.

Lewis chronicled his story on Twitter, as spotted by People.

At the time of writing, American Airlines has not returned Lewis’ wallet. However, the airline has since reached out to him via Twitter.

In August 2022, a couple watched as their lost luggage toured Portugal without them, but thanks to AirTag, was able to recover it five days later.

Apple’s AirTag

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

Apple has been clear about whether or not you should use an AirTag to track a pet — and the answer is no. While attaching an AirTag to a pet’s collar sounds like a good idea in practice, it would only help find them while inside the home network. If they ran away and got picked up by someone, the person finding the pet would need an updated iPhone or iPad nearby to ping the Find My network.

Even if they had an Android device to tap the AirTag for more information, they’d have to know that it was a capability in the first place.

So, while there have been times when an AirTag has helped return a lost dog, that doesn’t mean it’s a particularly good idea.

Still, that hasn’t stopped countless numbers of accessory makers from creating AirTag-compatible collars, harnesses, and clips for doing just that. And it certainly has not prevented many well-intentioned pet owners from attaching an AirTag to their pets, either.

The Wall Street Journal has highlighted stories that exemplify why you shouldn’t put an AirTag on your dog’s collar.

One owner mentioned he had lost an AirTag that he’d previously attached to the collar of his dog Sophie. When he triggered the AirTag sound alert, he tracked the beeping to the stomach of his foster dog, Sassy.

Eventually, he got Sassy to throw the tracker up, and after purchasing a new AirTag holder, he reattached it to Sophie’s collar.

Another couple had attached an AirTag to their dog, Rose, who proceeded to chew the device and ingest bits of metal and plastic while they were out of the house.

A trip to the vet showed that Rose had indeed eaten parts of the AirTag. Fortunately, the battery had not been ingested. The owner admitted that she’d thought it was a great idea without realizing the potential drawbacks.

Another owner wasn’t so lucky. When her six-month-old puppy, Luna, ingested an AirTag, she took her to the vet. Unfortunately, after failing to get Luna to vomit the AirTag out, the animal hospital had no choice but to attempt surgery.

Unfortunately for Luna, the surgeon was unable to locate the AirTag and sent her home. Six weeks later, Luna eventually vomited up the AirTag on her own.

And it’s not just Apple who warns against using AirTags to track your dog, either. Vets have warned pet owners against using AirTags to keep tabs on their pets.

Because AirTags contain batteries, there’s a significant risk that they could leak and cause organ damage. The dangers of battery leaks increase if the battery has been damaged by chewing or if it sits in the dog’s stomach for a long time.

Instead of putting an AirTag or other item tracker on your dog, it’s better to get your dog microchipped, as most dog shelters and veterinarian offices can scan them to bring up your contact information. Also, be sure to keep your dog licensed and keep their dog tags on their collar or harness at all times.

It’s also wise to practice preventative measures to avoid a dog escaping in the first place. Always keep your dog on a leash when not in fenced areas, and ensure everyone in your home knows to leave doors closed tightly when coming in and out of the house.

If you absolutely must use an AirTag to track your dog, ensure that you purchase a collar that holds the AirTag flush. Do not hang an AirTag from the collar where it could come loose or be pulled off by another dog.

[Mati Mango/Pexels]

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has put out a call for smartphone owners to be cautious about crash detection features in smartphones and other devices, due to an influx of automated attempts to call for help in situations when it’s not needed.

The problem has been an issue for the Fire Department of Kita-Alps Nagano, which covers five municipalities in Nagano Prefecture, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun on Sunday. Between December 16 and January 23, 919 emergency calls were made, but 134 were false calls, with most triggered by Crash Detection within a skiing area.

Gujo City Fire Department in Gifu Prefecture had 351 emergency calls from January 1 to January 23, but 135 of the calls were similarly false alarms.

Under normal use, Crash Detection may determine a user’s fall or collision while skiing or snowboarding to be the equivalent of a crash, triggering a countdown that results in a call to emergency services. However, users may not necessarily be able to react to alerts preceding the call in time, so they can’t stop the call before it is placed.

Calls are also placed to the iPhone to follow-up an automated alert, but if there’s no response, there’s no option but to answer the call.

While it is possible to turn off the feature, one firefighter explained that since it’s an effective feature in cases where a serious accident actually occurs, “we can’t ask users to turn it off.”

An agency official asks the public to inform the local fire department of the mistake if their iPhone makes a false emergency call.

Crash Detection is a problem in other ski-related areas too, including in Utah and Colorado. Off the slopes, the feature has also been triggered by other events, including riding a rollercoaster.

BRAW Toolbox for Blackmagic

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

BRAW Toolbox lets Mac users import their Blackmagic RAW files directly into Final Cut Pro without transcoding. The extension prepares all footage before import so users can change the RAW metadata and transfer it from different BRAW video clips.

Users can also save presets for specific metadata attributes. After importing to Final Cut Pro, the RAW metadata can still be modified at any time, and categories such as the ISO, Exposure, Color Temperature, and Tint are available to keyframe.

BRAW Toolbox comes with a Metadata View that allows users to view every piece of BRAW Metadata directly within the Final Cut Pro Inspector.

BRAW Toolbox lets Mac users import their Blackmagic RAW files directly into Final Cut Pro without transcoding

Other features include automatic Decode Quality options for HD and UltraHD projects and the ability to work at a low-quality Decode Quality where a “Global Setting” option will force Full Quality before export.

Blackmagic Design engineers released its own RAW codec in 2018 to solve problems with traditional video codecs. While these codecs are faster, quality is damaged because of the limitation to 10 bits and the 4:2:2 video filter that’s used, which reduces color detail.

The BRAW codec moves part of the de-mosaic processing from the computer’s CPU into the camera, resulting in efficient encoding for a new high-performance RAW experience. It uses noise management, sensor profiling, and new edge reconstruction algorithms to produce high-quality cinematic images with depth, crisp details, and image separation.

BRAW Toolbox is available on the Mac App Store for $79.99. However, for the first week of the launch, it will be available for 50% off. There will be no free trial, and will only be available as a one-time payment.

App Store prices to

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

The countries that will see price increases include:

• Columbia
• Egypt
• Hungary
• Nigeria
• Norway
• South Africa
• United Kingdom

Apple notes that it periodically updates prices in the App Store to “help ensure prices for apps and inapp purchases stay equalized across all storefronts.”

While several countries are seeing price increases, prices in Uzbekistan will decrease to reflect the reduction of the value-added tax rate.

The company also notes that Ireland, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Zimbabwe will not see price increases, but proceeds will be adjusted to reflect local tax changes.

Additionally, proceeds will increase for local developers selling in Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

Apple previously announced that it will provide developers with 900 price points as well as new App Store pricing tools. The change is set to roll out in spring 2023.

2023 Macs are on sale.

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

The exclusive deals are courtesy of Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama, a trusted retailer that has been in business since 1974. Simply head over to Adorama.com and enter promo code APINSIDER during Step 3 of checkout to redeem the discount.

Apple’s entire 2023 lineup of Mac mini desktops and MacBook Pro laptops is eligible for exclusive savings, with prices dipping to as low as $549 with the coupon.

We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite configurations and deals, but 100s of additional offers can be found in our Mac Price Guide.

• M2 (8C CPU, 10C GPU), 8GB, 256GB: Reg. $599, now $549* ($50 off)
• M2 (8C CPU, 10C GPU), 8GB, 512GB: Reg. $799, now $699* ($100 off)
• M2 (8C CPU, 10C GPU), 24GB, 512GB: Reg. $799, now $1,149* ($50 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16C GPU), 16GB, 512GB: Reg. $1,299, now $1,199* ($100 off)

*Price with coupon code APINSIDER.

• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16C GPU), 16GB, 512GB, Space Gray: Reg. $1,999, now $1,849* ($150 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16C GPU), 16GB, 512GB, Silver: Reg. $1,999, now $1,849* ($150 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16-core GPU), 16GB, 1TB, Space Gray: Reg. $2,199, now $2,099* ($100 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16-core GPU), 32GB, 512GB: Reg. $2,399, now $2,299* ($100 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16-core GPU), 32GB, 1TB: Reg. $2,599, now $2,449 ($150 off)
• M2 Pro (10C CPU, 16-core GPU), 32GB, 4TB: Reg. $3,599, now $3,399* ($200 off)
• M2 Pro (12C CPU, 19C GPU), 16GB, 1TB, Space Gray: Reg. $2,499, now $2,349* ($150 off)
• M2 Pro (12C CPU, 19C GPU), 16GB, 1TB, Silver: Reg. $2,499, now $2,349* ($150 off)
• M2 Max (12C CPU, 30C GPU), 32GB, 1TB, Space Gray: Reg. $3,099, now $2,849* ($250 off)
• M2 Max (12C CPU, 30C GPU), 32GB, 1TB, Silver: Reg. $3,099, now $2,849* ($250 off off)
• M2 Max (12C CPU, 30C GPU), 32GB, 4TB: Reg. $4,099, now $3,849* ($250 off off)

*Price with promo code APINSIDER.

• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 16GB, 512GB, Space Gray: Reg. $2,499, now $2,339* ($160 off)
• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 16GB, 512GB, Silver: Reg. $2,499, now $2,339* ($160 off)
• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 16GB, 1TB, Space Gray: Reg. $2,699, now $2,499* ($200 off)
• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 16GB, 1TB, Silver: Reg. $2,699, now $2,499* ($200 off)
• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 16GB, 4TB: Reg. $3,699, now $3,499 ($200 off)
• M2 Pro (19C GPU), 32GB, 1TB: Reg. $3,099, now $2,899 ($200 off)
• M2 Max (30C GPU), 64GB, 1TB: Reg. $3,699, now $3,499* ($300 off)
• M2 Max (38C GPU), 32GB, 1TB, Space Gray: Reg. $3,499, now $3,199* ($300 off)
• M2 Max (38C GPU), 32GB, 1TB, Silver: Reg. $3,499, now $3,199* ($300 off)
• M2 Max (30C GPU), 96GB, 1TB: Reg. $4,299, now $4,049* ($250 off)

*Price with discount code APINSIDER.

To redeem the APINSIDER code at Adorama, simply follow the steps below.

1. Shop through this pricing link and add the 2023 Mac to your cart.
2. Proceed to checkout and when you get to step 3 (Payment), look for a link with a gift icon that says: “Do you have a gift card or promo code?”
   
   
3. Click that link to bring up the coupon code field and enter APINSIDER. Here’s what it looks like:
   
   

There are plenty of additional sales going on, discounting Apple Watches, software and more. Here’s a sampling of our top picks, with hundreds of exclusive bargains available in the AppleInsider Apple Price Guide.

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley shared a research note, seen by MacRumors, that posits Apple will add Wi-Fi 6E support to its upcoming iPhone 15 lineup.

Currently, it’s yet to be determined whether support will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Wi-Fi 6E works on the same 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands that Wi-Fi 6 does but also works over the 6GHz band. This enables faster wireless speeds and less signal interference. To use the 6Ghz band, devices must be connected to a Wi-Fi 6E router.

The iPhone 14 lineup features standard Wi-Fi 6, despite previous rumors suggesting that it would see an upgrade.

The iPhone 15 is anticipated to release at the 2023 fall Apple Event, and analysts have already begun making predictions for Apple’s next generation of smartphones.

Some believe the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will feature a 3-stacked sensor and 48-megapixel wide lens, the same as the iPhone 14 Pro models.

Regarding the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, some analysts expect that Apple will add a 12-megapixel periscope lens geared toward improved optical zoom.

Both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are anticipated to have an A17 chip built with TSMC’s 3-nanometer technology, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a new titanium frame.

Apple has, so far, avoided announcing mass layoffs.

AppleInsider may earn an affiliate commission on purchases made through links on our site.

Following Meta’s 11,000 job cut warning in November, the layoffs at tech giants has seen thousands go out of work. Microsoft is axing 10,000 employees, Google’s doing the same for 12,000 employees, and Amazon’s set to lay off 18,000.

In a profile in the Wall Street Journal, it is proposed that Apple has yet to join the rest of the group with a major layoffs round, due to a combination of a resilient business and a slower rate of hiring.

From September 2019 to September 2022, Apple’s headcount grew 20% to 164,000 full-time employees. By comparison, rivals turned up the heat on hiring, with Microsoft swelling by 53%, Alphabet by 57%, and Meta by 94% during the same general period.

Apple isn’t immune to the market, with its December quarter thought to be rougher than usual due to manufacturing issues in China. Meanwhile, in its retail channels outside of Apple Stores, such as at Best Buy locations, non-seasonal employees are being given a thirty-day notice about their rights relating to a layoff.

As for its more direct workforce, there is still an expectation that Apple will try to reduce its headcount. According to senior research analyst Tom Forte of D.A. Davidson & Co, reductions could be made simply through employee attrition, namely not replacing workers who decide to leave.

There is also the possibility that Apple could make cuts or changes to employee perks. It already doesn’t provide free lunches to employees located on its corporate campus, something offered by Google and Meta to their workforces, but other benefit areas could face cost-reductions.

The last time Apple performed a mass layoff was in 1997, at the time of co-founder Steve Jobs’ return to the organization. At that time, approximately 4,100 employees were axed to cut costs.