'Far out' = 🛰?

August 26, 2022

We have dueling satellite stories today.

The first one is about a rumor that Apple will offer free texting via satellite in the iPhone 14 -- hence the "far out" tagline for the September 7 Apple event.

The service reportedly will work worldwide, no matter where you are, but will require new chips and may possibly be limited to the iPhone Pro models.

The second story is about Elon Musk teaming up with T-Mobile to offer satellite phone service that will work with any phone currently on the Un-carrier's network -- no special chip or modems needed.

Now that's far out.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

iPhone 14 users may never be out of contact as long as they’re outdoors. Apple’s upcoming handset will be able to exchange texts via satellites in low-Earth orbit, according to an expert in satellite communications. And the service will be free. Apple might even have hinted about this feature in the invite to its September 7 event.

You won’t need an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 for satellite connectivity. SpaceX and T-Mobile plan to bring cell connectivity everywhere in the United States using satellites. And the service won’t require your phone to have satellite connectivity or any special chip.

There’s no reason the Mac mini has to take up unnecessary desk space. Apple can and should build the entire computer into the keyboard. The result would minimize clutter, making it an ideal computer for anyone living in tight quarters. And it would be quite portable. It’s completely possible with tech Apple has now. Here’s how.

You might not need the latest, greatest computer if you just need a laptop to get the job done. So, whether you’re looking for a travel computer that you aren’t afraid to toss in a bag, or need a budget laptop that can get you through the school year, buying refurbished MacBooks is the way to go. One example is this refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air that’s been marked down to just $250.

Apple TV+ thriller Five Days at Memorial enters its tragic endgame this week, with the Coast Guard forcing everyone out of the hospital. That means some patients will be left alone to die by themselves after Hurricane Katrina’s onslaught. Extraordinary measures must be taken — some ethical, some not.

Getting a new case is much cheaper than getting a new iPhone. And this week, it’s cheaper still. You can grab any of 41 different cases for iPhone 13, 12 and 11 for 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store. Check out some of the options.

Apple’s powerful new M2 MacBook Pro is down to $1,199 on Amazon after a $100 discount. Considering the machine launched just a couple of months ago, this is a great deal.

The new noise-canceling earbuds came out Thursday alongside their sibling Space Q45 over-ear headphones. Upon release, both products made a lot of noise about strong active noise cancellation and massive battery life. And like the headphones, which I already reviewed, the earbuds don’t disappoint.

On August 26, 1991, Fortune published the first joint interview with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, in which they debated the role of computers.

Who says you need an external display in your computer setup? Some people get by just fine without some big, expensive monitor and whatever hub and cables it might require. Instead, they rely on their devices’ built-in screens. The owner of today’s featured setup takes advantage of Universal Control, which helps him work seamlessly across an M2 MacBook Air and an M1 iPad Air mounted on stands.

Tweets o' the day

One more thing ...

"Nobody is going to read your book, I'm not going to read your book. But I'll look at the cover — and I don't want it to be ugly." -- Steve Jobs to author Adam Lashinsky

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