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New 27-inch iMac, AirTag anti-stalking, iMessage debacle on the AppleInsider podcast

On this week's episode of the AppleInsider Podcast, your hosts discuss the coming 27-inch iMac Pro update, what to do if you see AirTag 'Item Detected Near You' notifications, and go in-depth on the iMessage lock-in debacle.

Early this year we expect Apple to release the long-awaited Apple Silicon 27-inch iMac. Rumors conflict on whether it will be a "Pro" machine with mini-LED display and ProMotion or a consumer-level update lacking those features. We discuss what to expect and highlight new renders published on AppleInsider.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple's VR Headset will use the same 96W charger as current MacBook Pro models. These rumors come on the heels of Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claiming this VR headset would be released later this year.

Various reports have claimed AirTag is being used for nefarious purposes like stalking and car theft. We discuss the anti-stalking features of AirTag and what to do if you see the 'Item Detected Near You' notification.

The conversation around iMessage lock-in has heated up as Google vice president Hiroshi Lockheimer

called out Apple for platform lock-in. Your hosts dive into the details of RCS, specifically carrier support in the US and the messaging landscape internationally.

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3 Comments

d-rey 3 Years · 11 comments

My tired, morning eyes read the headline as ‘27-inch AirTag’. Yep, that would definitely be an anti-stalking approach. 

brian.on.android 2 Years · 27 comments

One correction about iMessage on Android. Apple technically could create an Android iMessage app that has good enough feature parity with Android largely because Android does not have the same restrictions on apps that iOS does.

This is to say it’s possible for Apple to create an Android app that can choose to send messages of iMessage for iMessage users and regular SMS for everyone else because Android allows 3rd party apps access to SMS. Of course mileage would vary for iMessage apps but that’s another story. There are apps like Textra that function as 3rd party SMS apps. MightyText is another good example that enabled access to SMS from your phone over the web.

Another option that Apple could take to alleviate some of the complaints is to allow 3rd party apps access to SMS on iOS. But yea… they won’t because… security.