Welcome to issue #4 of the Dithering Digest Weekly Roundup! I am a little bit later getting it published this week thanks to some contractors severing the fibre line to my house. I will be hot-spotting for the next few days and have two very unhappy children who cannot get on Roblox!
Kick back and enjoy these articles we think will pique your geek interest. Don’t forget the joke at the end!
Apple to allow side loading apps in next update?
Interesting article that suggests Apple are building the ability to side load apps into iOS 17.2. It looks like the features might be geo-locked so they will only turn it on in countries where the legislation forces them to, but the fact they are building this suggests they know they will ultimately lose this battle.
I can see both sides of this. Apple want to keep the platform secure for novice users, but power users want more control over their devices. It is a difficult balance but I hope that Apple will come up with a clever solution that can keep both camps happy.
🔗 https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/10/ios-17-2-sideload-apps/
Apple to support RCS messaging protocol
In another surprising move Apple have agreed to add support for the RCS messaging protocol that Android has recently implemented. RCS will supersede SMS as a more full featured messaging system that has the potential for more secure messaging if encryption is enabled, but it is not enforced by the spec. Apple had held off because of this but it looks like they have had a change of heart!
🔗 https://sixcolors.com/link/2023/11/apple-will-add-rcs-support-to-messages/
USA massive secret telecomms surveillance program
This is pretty incredible stuff. The United States has had a secret surveillance program running that tracks over a trillion (yes, with a T) phone records every year. Not just the records of suspects, but they can also track the calls of anyone the suspect has contacted. And by doing some statistical trickery on the massive database they can detect new burner phones of suspects within hours! Clever but also a little terrifying.
🔗 https://www.wired.com/story/hemisphere-das-white-house-surveillance-trillions-us-call-records/
OpenAI drama
What a week for OpenAI! They just finished an incredible developer conference and released ChatGPT 4.0, new API rates, Custom GPTs etc and then 2 days later, seemingly without warning the board fired the CEO. Then he was hired by Microsoft. Then the OpenAI employees (95% of them) revolted and demanded the resignation of the board. Now he is back at OpenAI and a new board! I sense a Netflix documentary in the works…..
🔗 https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/11/22/sam_altman_openai_return/
14 Best Apple Watch Complications
Great article listing some of the best and most useful Apple Watch complications. I have to admit, I don’t use my watch to even half of its potential so I plan to implement some of these and see what sticks.
I do use Things and HeartWatch but I can see a few of the others helping me out.
🔗 https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-apple-watch-complications/
How to win an interstellar war (VIDEO)
This is a fantastic video from the always entertaining Kurzegesagt channel. Their videos are both educational and fun, and incredibly well researched. Every one of them is a treat. Enjoy this one on how you could build weapons capable of interstellar destruction!
Computer Joke of the Week
I told you this was going to be a thing!
An Apple store near where I live got robbed.
$25k worth of merchandise was stolen. The police said that they will get both computers back.
See you all next week! Stay safe and keep dithering!
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