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TransUnion has sent letters to consumers alerting them to a recent data breach that compromised their personal and financial information.
On Monday, TransUnion reported a data breach with the Massachusetts Attorney General. It currently isn’t known how many people were affected in the breach.
According toJDSupra, TransUnion said that the breach resulted in names, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers and driver’s license numbers being compromised.
TransUnion has sent letters to all affected parties with instructions to help protect themselves from identity theft and fraud.
TransUnion is one of the largest consumer credit reporting agencies, collating information from more than a billion users globally and 200 million files in the United States alone.
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Apple has tapped a former Facebook executive to head up its online services, website, and customer support infrastructure.
It was first learned in late October that Apple’s Chief Information Officer, Mary Demby, would retiring after three decades. At the time, it wasn’t clear who would replace her.
Now, it seems the tech giant has figured out who will step into the role — Timothy Campos.
Campos held the same role for six years at Facebook, now Meta, from 2010 until 2016. As Bloombergpoints out, he also co-founded Woven, a calendar app that was acquired by Slack in 2021.
He had posted on his LinkedIn profile that he is “getting ready for something new” but did not disclose the position. According to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for Apple confirmed the new hire.
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A new report suggests that Apple may start producing its mixed-reality headset as early as March 2023 and that it could be officially announced the following month.
In May, it was reported that Apple had shown its upcoming mixed-reality headset to members of its board of directors.
Now, a report from DigiTimesspotted byMacRumors suggests that the device will enter production in the first quarter of 2023. The device could be unveiled as soon as April of the same year.
The first run is anticipated to be limited, with rough estimates at about 0.7 million units for the year. Allegedly, Pegatron will be the exclusive partner for the final assembly.
The production date falls in line with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo‘s predicted timeline, who said that he believed Apple could introduce the device somewhere between January and the second quarter of 2023.
Kuo also believes that the headset will be capable of switching seamlessly between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
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A new report alleges that Foxconn downplayed the severity of its recent COVID-19 outbreak and that its actions led to a stricter lockdown.
Foxconn’s factory in Zhengzhou was hit by a COVID outbreak in late October. At the time, a spokesperson for the Apple supplier said the impact was controllable, and conditions at the factory were stable.
On Monday, November 7, The Wall Street Journalpublished a report based on interviews from over two dozen Foxconn workers and their relatives, and the company’s announcements on its WeChat account.
One employee said the quarantine started on October 7, as she and her coworkers were told they couldn’t leave their production unit. They stayed there for 27 hours and were moved to another block of dorms, and Foxconn started its close-loop management system soon after.
The iPhone manufacturer didn’t reveal the number of COVID cases it found. Instead, on its WeChat account, it shared stories from recovered patients. The company reportedly likened it to a cold, sharing statements from medical experts who downplayed the dangers of catching the virus.
“I don’t know how many positive cases were detected each day, but I saw people around me slowly disappearing,” said a quality-control worker.
By late October, some workers suspected that Foxconn was more focused on keeping production running than on enforcing strict pandemic protocols, according to a production-line manager.
As employees returned to work after a quarantine, some people didn’t believe they had all tested negative. Instead, an unsubstantiated rumor claimed it was part of a plan to mix COVID patients with healthy people to promote herd immunity.
On October 28, workers started abandoning the factory using buses from the government to take them home. Foxconn offered to raise bonuses fivefold for people who changed their minds and returned to work.
“Calm down and return to work. It’s better than going home to a quarantine,” a loudspeaker reportedly announced.
A lockdown at Foxconn started on Wednesday, November 2, and is currently scheduled to last until November 9.
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Lead times for the iPhone 14 Pro models have stabilized after increasing due to the Zhengzhou factory’s COVID issues, an availability tracker states, while demand for the iPhone 14 models are “modest” in comparison.
In the ninth week of the Apple Product Availability Tracker conducted by JP Morgan analysts, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max still have lengthy lead times. After growing by approximately a week in the week 8 results, the two models have seen their availabilities freeze at 31 days each, the same as the previous results.
JP Morgan says the lead times are a “likely indication of the challenges related to an ongoing COVID outbreak in China, particularly in the area around Foxconn’s major iPhone factory.”
The issues are significant enough to prompt Apple to publish a rare Sunday press release, advising of lower production of its Pro model iPhones at the facility.
The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus demands continue to “remain modest,” with the overall global timescales now down to 2 days apiece from 3 days one week prior.
Relative to the iPhone 13 series, the lead times are shorter for the base iPhone 14 model, while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are in-line with their year-ago counterparts.
For the US tracker, lead times are largely unchanged, at 3 days and 32 days for the non-Pro and Pro models respectively. Relative to the iPhone 13 generation, the iPhone 13 and mini would’ve been around 10 days at this point in the cycle.
In China, the base iPhone 14 lead time increased from 2 days one week ago to 4 days, with the iPhone 14 Plus lead times shifting from 2 days to 3 days. Even so, overall lead times for the base models are still “less favorable relative to demand last year,” which saw lead times of around a week.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max lead times in China continue to track for 29 days.
In Europe, Germany lead times for the Pro models moderated “slightly” to 32 days from 34 days a week ago. In the UK, the Pro lead times remained stable at 29 days.
The iPhone 14 and Plus tracked to 1 day in Germany, down from 5 days, whereas deliveries for the models in the UK stayed at 1 day.
The AirPods Pro Gen 2 had its lead times expand slightly, rising from 2 days last week to 4 days.
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The Twelve South HiRise 3 is a three-device charger that solves a specific problem with most MagSafe chargers but doesn’t bear Apple’s MFi approval.
When we were first introduced to the third-generation HiRise from Twelve South, we didn’t expect to like it. The HiRise family has proud legacy, and we weren’t sure this latest incarnation would hold up.
Our first reaction from the PR images painted a picture of a plastic charger that lacked any MFi certifications. By all appearances, it didn’t have the Apple backing and premium materials we typically see from Twelve South.
After using the device for a bit, we’ve come around on the HiRise 3. While it isn’t the fastest charger out there, it’s a great desktop or nightstand companion with helpful design choices.
Sleek Apple-like design
With the HiRise 3 in our hands, we were smitten with its very clean design with purposeful lines. On our white model, it feels like a tray at the Apple Store, with matte-white edges, a soft-touch finish, and a light grey top.
Twelve South HiRise 3 can power three devices
That light grey surface looks unassuming, but it acts as one of the three chargers. It is a charging pad for powering up your AirPods, a second phone, or another Qi-enabled accessory.
A metal pole holds the iPhone and Apple Watch chargers in the air with minimal seams. The whole device looks polished and like something you’d find sitting as at an Apple device demo station.
Top down view of the HiRise 3
One big differentiator between the HiRise and other MagSafe chargers is the charging surface. Twelve South opted for a very large, flat surface to hold your iPhone.
The idea is that as you try to interact with your phone, it is more stable. Think along the lines of a 6am alarm going off and you’re trying to smack that snooze button for a few more minutes of shut-eye.
Charging three devices
Most MagSafe chargers have a small contact surface, so when you press on the bottom or edges, it can come free of the magnet. Our nightstand has a glass top, and since we often use our phone with a case, a tumble will wake you up very quickly — trust us.
The flat surface holds the phone well, even with the several cases we tried, and provides additional support no matter where you press on your phone.
HiRise 3 watch charger
On top is the Apple Watch puck which blends neatly into the surface. It has just a small bump and the same matte finish as the rest.
Charging power for three devices
Twelve South says you need a 20W charger to adequately power all three devices on the HiRise 3. You can supply your own, but Twelve South would love it if you considered the PlugBug Slim.
AirPods charging
The lower charging pad is capable of 5W of power, whether used with a set of AirPods or another iPhone. The Apple Watch puck can charge at up to 3W, and the iPhone charger is capable of 10W.
This feels a bit disingenuous though. We realize Qi chargers come at standard rates, but unlike other Qi chargers that could also charge Android devices, the HiRise 3 is limited just to iPhones. And iPhones can only charge at up to 7.5W via Qi.
By advertising the Qi charger as a 10W charger when it is physically only capable of charging iPhones, unassuming users may be expecting a much faster charger than they’re getting.
USB-C input
It isn’t a 100 percent fabrication, but Twelve South doesn’t acknowledge anywhere on the product page that iPhones are currently limited to 7.5W.
Our biggest gripe with the HiRise 3 is that because it isn’t MFi-certified, it lacks superior charging speeds. It doesn’t support fast charging on the Apple Watch Series 7, and it doesn’t support 15W of charging via MagSafe.
Should you buy the Twelve South HiRise 3?
Neither the Apple Watch nor the iPhone charger are Apple-certified and can’t offer the fastest speeds possible. That doesn’t mean they’re unsafe though.
Qi chargers are still commonplace and perfectly fine to use with your iPhone. Apple enforces rigid standards on MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers, and Twelve South had to skip certification to get the design it was looking for.
Apple Watch charging
Real MagSafe and Apple Watch devices need to use Apple’s supplied pucks and it several limits the design decisions you make. We love the flat, nearly seamless look of the HiRise 3 and it wouldn’t be that way if Apple had its say.
We also appreciate how sturdy the charger is while still supporting the MagSafe magnets on the latest iPhones. As long as you’re ok with the limited charging speeds for your watch and phone, this device will look great in your home or office.
Rear view
Twelve South did something different, and we applaud it for that. This charger isn’t going to be for everyone, but it is unique, stylish, and effective at charging your daily devices.
Twelve South HiRise 3 Pros
Sleek appearance with Apple-like design
Smooth lines and solid feel
Standard USB-C power
Charges three devices at once
Large, solid surface for charging iPhone others lack
Magnetically holds iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 devices
Amazon’s Early Black Friday deals are heating up, with savings up to $500 off in-stock 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
Amazon’s MacBook Pro sale offers discounts of $400 to $500 off retail 14-inch and 16-inch configurations, with units in stock and ready to ship before Black Friday. In the case of the 1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 Pro chip, the $1,999 bargain provides the lowest price we’ve ever seen on the premium spec in your choice of Silver or Space Gray.
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This week Matter finally became official with the announcement of many launch devices and additional information on the future of the unifying smart home standard.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance gathered the media in Amsterdam, revealing new information about its future roadmap and highlighting devices from many partner brands.
It included hands-on demos showing previously inoperable devices playing nice with one another. With Matter, a Google smart speaker will be able to control an Eve light switch, which was previously impossible as Eve has always been a HomeKit-exclusive brand.
This amounted to an impressive start for the emerging standard. Here’s how the launch will work, when you’ll be able to start using Matter products, and what the future of the standard looks like.
Launch
Announced at the media event, the CSA says more than 190 products have completed Matter certification or are in the queue to be certified. This is up from the initial 130 devices that were expected.
The CSA also touted that there were more than 4,400 downloads of the Matter specifications and 2,500 downloads of the official SDK, all signs of intense interest from both member and non-member smart home manufacturers.
Many brands have announced forthcoming firmware updates. Eve, Signify, Brilliant, Amazon, Samsung, Level, and many more plan on rolling out firmware updates to existing products, requiring no additional purchase.
Eve Motion will soon get Matter support
Eve may be the first company to deliver a Matter accessory, with the Eve Motion and Eve Door & Window getting updated on December 12.
Other companies have opted to release new hardware products. Nanoleaf has a new Essentials line coming in early 2023 to support Matter over Thread and promised additional announcements at CES 2023.
Apple has already brought Matter support to its platforms with iOS 16.1. As soon as Matter products are updated or hit store shelves, you can add them to the Home app.
What’s next
The CSA told AppleInsider that it plans to release new versions of Matter on a bi-annual basis — roughly every six months. That means the next iteration of Matter could arrive as soon as March.
Roborock S7 MaxV robotic vacuum cleaner
These subsequent Matter updates will contain performance improvements, new functionality, and support for additional devices. The initial slate of device categories isn’t huge and includes primarily device types already supported by Apple HomeKit.
New categories, though, will be more exciting. The CSA confirmed that future device categories include:
Cameras
Robot vacuums
Appliances
Wi-Fi access points
Energy managment
Closure sensors
Environmental sensors & controls
Smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide detectors
Ambient motion and presence sensing
All of the above device categories above have yet to be confirmed for the next iteration of Matter next year. However, HomeKit users will be excited to see new device categories, such as robo vacs and home appliances — two popular categories Apple has failed to natively support.
Between the heightened interest at launch, the full support of Apple, and a rapid release schedule for future updates, Matter is poised to reshape the smart home space even if the initial launch lacks fanfare for HomeKit users.
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Apple will source its modems from Qualcomm for the upcoming iPhone line rather than using its custom 5G modem as initially expected.
As analysts have predicted, Qualcomm will remain a supplier of modems to Apple — at least through the next iPhone lineup.
According toBloomberg, Qualcomm has informed its investors that it will continue to provide modems for the “vast majority” of iPhones released in 2023.
Initially, Qualcomm anticipated that it would only need to supply 20% of modems.
Apple has been working on creating its own modem for use in its hardware for several years, hoping to gain more control over how the component functions and to reduce costs. However, it doesn’t seem that 2023 will be the year Apple makes the switch.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted that Apple would fall short of the goal in January. His survey of the supply chain indicated that Apple’s modem development “may have failed,” resulting in Qualcomm remaining as the “exclusive supplier for 5G chips of 2H23 new iPhones.”
