2024-12-24 21:00:34
Yesterday, the team at Lux announced that they are working on the next major release of their pro camera app, Halide, which will be dubbed Halide Mark III. The next iteration of Halide, which Lux hopes to release in 2025 will focus on three areas:
In addition to upcoming features, Lux announced a new community Discord for Halide and Kino, to collect feedback from customers and to allow them to share their interest in photography. The Discord and social media will also be where users can participate in the Halide and Kino 52-Week Challenge:
Every week you’ll get a photography challenge on our Discord. We’ll also include resources to help with the challenge — like app-specific tips. The challenge will be shared there and on our social media. Once you’ve got your shot, you can share your shots and see what the rest of the community came up with.
I love both Halide and Kino, and I’m intrigued by Lux’s new approach to development. Running a community can be challenging, but I expect the feedback Lux gets from users will be invaluable, as they work on the next big update to one of the App Store’s best camera apps.
→ Source: lux.camera
2024-12-24 01:03:28
In 2024, I came to grips with the fact that I’ll never be an E Ink-first reader. Most of my reading is web-based, and I like having all of my reading-adjacent apps available too much to use a Kindle, Boox Palma, or other reading-first device regularly.
That’s why I was immediately intrigued by the Astropad Bookcase, an iPhone accessory that makes reading on an iPhone more comfortable by approximating the ergonomics of a Kindle. The combination is heavier than a Kindle, but it’s a far superior way to read on an iPhone than any other I’ve tried. In just the two short weeks I’ve had the Bookcase, I’ve found myself using it throughout the day, from when I’m catching up on RSS over breakfast, to relaxing in the evening on the couch or in bed with stories I’ve saved in Readwise Reader.
Last weekend, I did an in-depth review and video walkthrough of the Bookcase for Club MacStories Weekly, which covers the hardware as well as the sorts of automations its embedded NFC chip makes possible. Here’s the video component of that story:
For early access to future hardware walkthroughs, the accompanying written reviews, and many other perks, you can join Club MacStories.
→ Source: club.macstories.net
2024-12-23 20:17:04
WinterFest 2024: The Festival of Artisanal Software is back with a fantastic new collection of carefully crafted software for writing, research, and thinkings.
Innovative software often comes from small teams, fired with imagination and a vision of a better way to work. There are no bundles, games, or prices that are too good to be true: just fresh software with fantastic support at great, sustainable prices.
Software artisans from around the globe have come together for this time-limited event to bring you innovative systems to assist you with everyday knowledge work. This incredible catalog of productivity software includes:
These amazing deals don’t come around often, so act today to start 2024 off with the best software available from this terrific group of developers.
Visit the WinterFest website to learn more and for links to these amazing deals, or use the coupon code Winterfest2024 at checkout.
Our thanks to Winterfest for sponsoring MacStories this week.
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Join Now2024-12-22 03:31:20
About six months ago, Josh King posted on the SBCGaming subreddit about a 3D printed iPhone game controller he’d created called the M-Con. The post was accompanied by a YouTube video walkthrough that lent credibility to the Sony PSP Go-like design, that connected to an iPhone using MagSafe-compatible magnets. Then a couple of months ago, the M-Con showed up again on the Retro Game Corps YouTube channel where Russ Crandall put the device through its paces and was impressed with the results
Now, King is back with an even more refined design and an established corporate backer to build and sell the M-Con. As Sean Hollister explains on The Verge, the backer is OhSnap, the maker of PopSocket alternatives. As Hollister explains, the M-Con:
[is] no taller or wider than an iPhone, so it should slide into a pocket. It’s got a MagSafe pattern of magnets to attach it to your magnetic ring device. You don’t have to remove it to use your phone like a phone, because the whole gamepad retracts underneath, a little like the slide-out keyboard phones (or PlayStation Phones) of old — and now, it’s mounted on a spring-loaded arm that pops out at the push of a button and also slightly angles your device towards your face.
Notably, the M-Con has gained Hall-effect thumbsticks and a pair of fold-out grips, too.
I’ve been keeping a close eye on this project for months. I’m surprised I’ve never seen another iPhone game controller like it, which is why I’ve been a little skeptical of its viability from the start. But with OhSnap onboard, the M-Con is looking more real than ever. According to Sean Hollister, the M-Con will be at CES in January. You can bet it will be one of the first booths I visit.
→ Source: theverge.com
2024-12-21 05:48:47
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Niléane has a new webcam, Chris is downing in keyboards, and everyone installs some web-ass web apps.
Sigmund and Devon share their favorite shows, films, apps, and more of the year. Then, they celebrate the show’s 150th episode by answering questions sent in by listeners and reveal their Christmas gifts for one another.
This week, Federico and John share their favorite videogames of 2024.
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to [email protected].
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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Join Now2024-12-19 23:52:54
In September, I wrote about two interoperability proceedings commenced by the European Commission (EC) against Apple. As I wrote then:
In a nutshell, the EC is unhappy with connectivity between iOS and third-party devices and plans to tell the company how to comply. The second part requires Apple to set up a process for third parties to request connectivity with iOS.
Late yesterday, the EC published two follow-up documents requesting input from EU citizens and companies on the interoperability proceedings. DMA.100203 seeks feedback on these technical aspects:
- The effectiveness of the measures in practice: if implemented, will the proposed measures result in effective interoperability with iOS for each feature
- The completeness of the measures: if anything else is needed to ensure effective interoperability for the relevant feature
- Feasibility of the measures: would there be any difficulties or obstacles in implementing each relevant proposed measure in your connected device or app
- Timelines: is the proposed timeline for Apple to implement each proposed measure achievable?
Under DMA.100204, the EC is requesting input on the following:
- Is the mapping of existing frameworks adequate to provide developers with prior information to submit a request and to obtain interoperability?
- Are the proposed timelines adequate to establish a timely and predictable process that takes into account the specificities of the varying technical needs?
- Are the proposed measures on communication and feedback allowing adequate developers’ involvement in the process?
- Are the transparency measures allowing developers to be sufficiently informed about the process and its outcome?
- Would the proposed process ensure a fair treatment of the requests and accountability for Apple’s decisions?
- Are the proposed measures adequate to ensure that the request process delivers interoperability solutions that are effective and future-proof?
The deadline for commentary on both EC requests is January 9, 2025.
In response, Apple published a document yesterday explaining how it believes Meta and other companies will “weaponize interoperability,” undermining user privacy and security. As Apple puts it (emphasis in original):
If Apple were to have to grant all of these requests, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could enable Meta to read on a user’s device all of their messages and emails, see every phone call they make or receive, track every app that they use, scan all of their photos, look at their files and calendar events, log all of their passwords, and more. This is data that Apple itself has chosen not to access in order to provide the strongest possible protection to users.
Interoperability is shaping up to be the field where the fight over opening up more of iOS and iPadOS will be fought. There are places where third-party devices, like many wearables, are at a disadvantage when connecting to iOS. However, deep system-level interoperability necessarily raises potential privacy and security concerns. This isn’t going to be an easy balance to strike, and a lot is at stake, which is why I expect these EC proceedings to be the biggest DMA story of 2025.
Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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