My daily Apple blog for Computerworld

• Soon every credit card will be like Apple Card May 24, 2019
  Apple’s plan to transform the world of credit cards in the image of Apple Card seems to have progressed further than anyone might have thought, thanks to a top-secret project with Mastercard...Innovate everything The news is that Apple, Goldman Sachs and Mastercard have been quietly working together to make similar technologies available for use by […]
• Apple tries again with MacBook Pro keyboard design May 22, 2019
  Dolly Parton described love as “like a butterfly,” but that isn’t precisely the emotion Mac users have reported on use of the butterfly keyboard design Apple puts inside its notebooks.When keys take wing These keyboards have attracted much criticism since they were introduced, so much so that Apple has attempted to redesign them twice and […]
• Apple has a chance to build a social network we can trust May 21, 2019
  Apple has never quite managed to create a social network that works, but it seems to have a better chance than ever right now.All the ingredients are there The company has all the ingredients: A platform, loyal customers, and a growing range of media services that would benefit from the kind of pester power social […]
• Interest in older iPhones declines May 20, 2019
  Recent speculation claims Apple may terminate support for some older iPhone models— including the popular iPhone SE — when it introduces iOS 13.We won’t know if this is true until WWDC, but it simply reflects consumer sentiment.People are moving on The smartphone industry is declining as consumers try to get more use out of their […]
• Do Apple devices need anti-virus software? May 16, 2019
  Apple’s devices are far better defended against malware and viruses than other platforms, but does that mean they don’t need anti-virus software?No, yes, and maybe I’ve lost track of the number of times Mac users have told me Macs don’t need virus protection because the machines are inherently more robust against such attacks.I’ve also lost […]
• Apple invests in tomorrow’s coding talent May 15, 2019
  While Apple CEO Tim Cook doesn’t think a four-year degree is necessary to be a proficient coder, he’s still prepared to invest in the nurturing next-generation engineering talent. And today Apple opened up the application process for new students to join its Developer Academy in Naples, Italy.The Naples connection The Apple Developer Academy at the […]
• The iPhone user's guide to the WhatsApp hack attack May 14, 2019
  Hackers have used a security bug inside WhatsApp to install spyware through an infected WhatsApp voice call, and Apple users are affected.What WhatsApp users need to do If you are one of the 1.5 billion people who use WhatsApp, you should immediately update both your app and your iOS software to the latest version.The app update includes […]
• Digital transformation: Why every enterprise needs to think about UI May 13, 2019
  You can throw all the money and technology you want at digital transformation, but if your end users are uncomfortable with your brand-new solutions, they will simply stop using them.Put the customer first Those are just some of the thoughts shared with me by Sam Johnson, chief customer officer at Jamf, following that company’s move […]
• Is Apple really about to kill the iPhone SE? May 10, 2019
  Apple may dramatically reduce the number of supported older iPhone models when it introduces iOS 13, a the latest rumor claims, but it isn’t yet clear on what consistent basis this decision may (or may not) be made.Closing the stable door Apple really did the right thing when it extended backward compatibility in iOS 12, […]
• No, Google, Apple's privacy is not a luxury item May 9, 2019
  Why is privacy a luxury? Possibly because surveillance capitalist firms have subsidized product prices by collecting and trading in the personal data of the people that use their products, enabling them to sell hardware cheap.The consequences of convenience The crux of Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s argument against firms such as (obviously including but never named) […]