Apple recently launched the latest version of its operating system, iOS 14.5, which features the much-anticipatedapp tracking transparencyfunction, bolstering the tech giant’sprivacy credentials. But iOS 14.5 also introduced support for the newApple AirTag, which risks doing the opposite. For the uninitiated, an AirTag is a small device (similar to aTile) that can be attached to personal items such as keys, wallets or luggage. The tag periodically sends messages that can be used to track its location, letting you find any lost or missing items with the help of an app....

The AirTags are an extremely first-generation Apple product. In other words they’re well-designed, exciting, and… flawed. Did I want one as soon as I saw them? Of course. But am I confused about how it fits into my daily life? You betcha. So far, so Apple. I’ve now been using Apple’s trackers for over a month and while I’m impressed with the technical capabilities of them, I’ve yet to find a compelling reason to buy them....

Ming-Chi Kuo, the usually-reliable Apple analyst, is at it again with another prediction years in advance. According to Kuo, Apple may be planning to release its foldable iPhone in 2023. As reported byMacRumors, Kuo claims that the foldable iPhone might sport an “8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display.” Kuo estimates that the company expects to sell 15-20 million folding units in 2023 “based on Apple’s requested capacity plan.” Interestingly, Kuo notes that he expects Apple will adopt a fancier “silver nanowire” touchscreen because existing capacitive technology does not support more than one fold or rollable designs (Apple actually already used this technology in the HomePod)....

In a surprisingly coordinated announcement, both Amazon Music and Apple Music announced they were making lossless audio a free upgrade. In two fell swoops, premium audio services like Tidal and Deezer are likely being forced to re-evaluate their pricing structure, and the folks at Spotify are likely rethinking the price of their upcoming HiFi tier. Appleannouncedit was bringing lossless to Apple Music in June, starting at CD Quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) and going all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz....

Apple and Android developers have found themselves the target of a new round of patent infringement claims, this time from US-based company Macrosolve, which will seek monies owed from any developer whose apps “collect data for questionnaires and puts them online”. The Guardian reportsthat Macrosolve has already sued ten app development companies for infringingpatent 7,822,816, entitled “system and method for data management”, which was filed in August 2003 and awarded in October 2010....