Year: 2018

Apple Confirms that 2018 MacBook Pro does have ‘Membrane’ inside keyboard

Dan Uff July 19, 2018 0

Web site MacRumors.com has obtained another Apple internal document from 'multiple reliable sources' that confirms the company did put a membrane around and inside the MacBook's keys to try and cut down on dust and debris from getting inside. The internal documents are for Canadian, European, and United States MacBook Pro Service Readiness Guide.

The document for the European and Canadian version outlines the following:

Keyboard and Keycaps
The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. The procedure for the space bar replacement has also changed from the previous model. Repair documentation and service videos will be available when keycap parts begin shipping.

While the U.S. version of this Service Readiness Guide does not mention the membrane, it contains a link to a separate internal document titled "Butterfly Mechanism Keycap Replacement MacBook Pro (2018)" that does:

Caution:The keyboard has a membrane under the keycaps to prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism. Be careful not to tear the membrane. A torn membrane will result in a top case replacement.

MacRumors has reached out to Apple for comment. No word as of yet.

Verizon Blocking older iPhone Activation’s – Only Supporting iPhone 6 and up

CompuScoop Staff July 18, 2018 2

Verizon is making a controversial change to its activation process, according to a new report from CNET. Going forward and effective immediately, the carrier says it will no longer activate phones that do not operate on the 4G network with VoLTE capabilities.

In a statement, Verizon explains that this move is part of its efforts to transition away from its older 3G CDMA network and focus more on 4G LTE and the its future 5G technology.

“For several years we’ve been publicly saying that our 3G CDMA network will remain available through the end of 2019. Virtually all traffic on our network is on our 4G LTE network.

“To facilitate a smooth transition to 4G LTE capable products and services, we are no longer allowing devices that are not 4G LTE capable with VoLTE to be activated on our network.”

This move by Verizon will obviously not affect users with the latest iPhone models, but it does throw a wrench in the plans of those who purchase older iPhone models as first-time devices for kids or those looking to buy on a budget. This is further complicated by the fact that the iPhone 5s — still a supported device by Apple — runs the current iOS 11 software and will run iOS 12 when it is released later this year.

Source: 9to5Mac.com

Web Site Sharecuts is creating an online community for iOS 12’s Siri Shortcuts

Dan Uff July 17, 2018 1

“With the upcoming release of iOS 12, Apple is introducing a new app called Shortcuts that will allow users to build custom voice commands for Siri that can be used to kick off a variety of actions in apps,” Sarah Perez reports for TechCrunch. ” While some apps will directly prompt users to add a Shortcut to Siri, the new Shortcuts app will offer more shortcut suggestions to try, plus the ability to create your own shortcuts and workflows.”

“Now, there’s a new resource for shortcut fans, too – Sharecuts, a directory of shortcuts created and shared by the community. The site is still very much in the early stages,” Perez reports. “Plus, iOS 12 is still in beta testing itself, and the Shortcuts app can only be installed by developers who request access via an invite. But by the time iOS 12 releases to the public later this fall, Sharecuts’ directory will be filled out and a lot more functional.”

“The premise, explains Sharecuts’ creator Guilherme Rambo, was to make an easily accessible place where people could share their shortcuts with one another, discover those others have shared, and suggest improvements to existing shortcuts,” Perez reports. “It’s written in Swift and open-sourced on GitHub so others can contribute.”

Read more in the full article here.