If you are an avid podcast listener, you might be wondering what Apple’s first-party Podcasts app has to offer. In this blog post, we will explore some of the features and benefits of using Apple Podcasts as your primary podcast player.
Apple Podcasts is a free app that comes pre-installed on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. It lets you access millions of podcasts from various genres and categories, as well as exclusive shows from Apple Podcasts Subscriptions. You can also create your own custom stations and playlists, download episodes for offline listening, sync your progress across devices, and more.
Here are some of the reasons why you might want to use Apple Podcasts as your podcast app of choice:
You can enjoy a seamless listening experience across all your Apple devices. Whether you are at home, in the car, or on the go, you can easily pick up where you left off on any device. You can also use Siri to control playback, search for podcasts, and get recommendations.
You can discover new podcasts and content with personalized recommendations based on your listening history and preferences. You can also browse curated collections and charts, or explore by genre, topic, or region.
You can access exclusive and original shows from Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, a new service that lets you subscribe to channels or individual shows from your favorite creators. You can get ad-free listening, bonus content, early access, and more. You can also try free trials and share your subscriptions with up to six family members.
You can support your favorite podcasters with Apple Podcasts Connect, a platform that lets podcasters manage their shows, analytics, and monetization. You can also leave ratings and reviews, or send feedback directly to the podcasters.
You can customize your listening experience with various settings and options. You can adjust the playback speed, skip silences, enable Smart Play to automatically play the next best episode, enable CarPlay to listen in your car, and more.
Apple Podcasts is a powerful and versatile app that offers a lot of features and benefits for podcast listeners. If you are looking for a simple and convenient way to enjoy podcasts on your Apple devices, you might want to give it a try.
If you are a fan of the Apple watch, you may have noticed that one of the features that was announced with much fanfare last year, the Watch Blood Oxygen app, is no longer available on the latest models. What happened to this app that promised to measure your blood oxygen level and alert you to potential health issues?
The official answer from Apple is that the app was removed due to “technical limitations” and that they are working on a solution to bring it back in the future. However, some experts and users have speculated that there may be other reasons behind this decision.
One possible reason is that the app was not very accurate or reliable. Several tests and reviews have shown that the app often gave inconsistent or erroneous readings, especially when compared to other devices that measure blood oxygen level. Some users also reported that the app failed to work at all or gave them false alarms.
Another possible reason is that the app was not approved by the FDA or other regulatory agencies. Although Apple claimed that the app was not intended for medical purposes, some users may have relied on it for diagnosing or monitoring their health conditions, such as COVID-19, asthma, or sleep apnea. This could expose Apple to legal risks or liabilities if the app caused harm or misled users.
A third possible reason is that the app was not profitable or popular enough for Apple. The app was only available on the Apple Watch Series 6, which had a higher price tag than other models. It also required users to wear the watch snugly on their wrist and keep their arm still for 15 seconds to get a reading. These factors may have deterred some potential buyers or users from using the app.
Whatever the reason, it seems that Apple has decided to remove the Watch Blood Oxygen app from its current lineup of watches, at least for now. Whether they will bring it back in the future remains to be seen. In the meantime, if you are looking for a way to measure your blood oxygen level, you may want to consider other options, such as a pulse oximeter or a smart ring.
Apple is one of the most successful and profitable tech companies in the world, but it is not immune to the challenges and uncertainties of the global economy. Recently, the company announced that it was cutting some roles within its corporate retail division, which is responsible for the building and upkeep of Apple retail stores around the world.
The news came as a surprise to many, as Apple had not been hit by the wave of layoffs that swept across the tech industry since last year. Big tech peers such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet have eliminated tens of thousands of jobs in recent months, citing reasons such as overhiring, shifting business priorities, slowing growth and recession fears.
So why is Apple laying off workers now? According to reports, the company is framing the layoffs as a way to improve its store maintenance and operations, rather than as a cost-cutting measure. It is unclear how many people will be affected by the layoffs, but it is likely a very small number compared to Apple’s global workforce of 164,000 employees as of September 2023.
Apple has not revealed any details about which roles or locations will be impacted by the layoffs, but it has given the affected employees until the end of the week to apply for new roles within the company. Apple has also stated that it will continue to hire for certain positions within its retail division, as well as other areas of its business.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has previously stated that layoffs are a last resort for the company, and that he will find other ways to manage costs instead of letting go of workers. He has not ruled out the possibility of layoffs entirely, but for now, Apple has managed to avoid them for most of its teams.
Apple’s decision to lay off some workers may seem contradictory to its strong financial performance and reputation as an employer of choice. However, it may also reflect the company’s prudence and adaptability in a changing and competitive market. Apple has not expanded its workforce as quickly as its competitors during the pandemic, avoiding overhiring and overspending. It has also slowed down hiring and spending for some of its teams last year, in response to the overall economic uncertainty.
Apple may also be preparing for future challenges and opportunities, such as launching new products, entering new markets, or facing new regulations. By streamlining its retail division, Apple may be able to focus more on its core products and services, such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud and Apple Pay.
Apple’s layoffs may be unfortunate for those who are affected, but they may not be indicative of a larger problem or trend for the company. Apple may still be one of the most resilient and innovative tech companies in the world, and one of the best places to work for.
I absolutely love the Apple Watch Ultra. It is great and not too big as I was anticipating it to be. One major cool thing I found with the Ultra is the flipped action button. This is how theverge.com describes it; “The Apple Watch action button’s sole purpose is to do your bidding”, and I agree with them. Another interesting quote from theverge.com states: “Other smartwatches let you program hotkeys, but the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra can also trigger custom Shortcuts.”
What is Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra
The Action Button is a programmable physical button that’s exclusive to the Ultra. Unlike the digital crown or side button, it isn’t hard coded to do any one thing. Instead, you can program it to do anything you want.
Apple placed the button on the side of the watch opposite the digital crown, right next to the speaker grille. And it’s designed to be hard to miss: It’s incredibly orange. It’s incredibly orange, an internationally recognized orange, which is used by the aerospace industry to visually distinguish objects from their surroundings. The choice suggests that the button ought to stand out and is meant for adventurous people. If you are an adventurous person like me then, the Ultra is for you.
Who must get the Ultra
Apple Watch Ultra is aimed at athletes, sports enthusiasts, and adventurous guys that need more battery life and more sport-specific performance from their devices. Built for adventure, exploration, and endurance. It is a bit big though, thus, if your hands are as tiny as mine.
Ultra Specifications
The watch is 49mm, which is 4mm larger than the 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 being sold alongside it. It sports three built-in microphones to improve sound quality, and a beamforming algorithm that captures voice while reducing ambient background sounds even when it’s noisy outdoors. The is an 86-decibel siren available for drawing help if needed, with two SOS patterns.
It lasts for up to 36 hours on a single charge, and with a new low-power setting, battery life can last for up to 60 hours for multi-day adventuring. The battery lasts long enough for users to complete a long-course triathlon that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full 26.2-mile marathon.
The Watch Ultra features dual-frequency GPS, integrating both the L1 and L5 frequencies, plus it has new positioning algorithms. It provides the most accurate GPS of any Apple Watch, which means it also offers precise distance, pace, and route data for training and competing. the Apple Watch Ultra can withstand a wider temperature range
For water sports, the Apple Watch Ultra can hold up to kitesurfing, wakeboarding, and recreational scuba diving, activities not recommended for the standard Apple Watch models.
I promise you, you will love the Apple Watch Ultra.
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