CultCast #305 - How HomeKit got SUPERCHARGED in iOS 11 💪🏼

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This week: live in the home of the future, today!  We’ll tell you how with iOS 11’s huge improvements in the Home app and HomeKit.  Plus: there’s a new Apple ID phishing scam you need to know about; there’s been a disappointing development with Apple’s AR glasses; we have to talk about the hundreds of new emoji coming at you in iOS 11.1; and we’ve got a svelte iPhone 8 case, a MacBook Pro sleeve made from real sheep, and a new power brick that’ll charge your MacBook, iPhone, Nintendo Switch—EVERYTHING—in an all new under review.
 
This episode supported by
CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.
 
The Cult of Mac watch store has the best straps in the biz!  Save 20% off any order with code CultCast at checkout.
 
Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.
 
On the show this week
 
9 beautifully minimalist cases for your iPhone 8 & 8 Plus (and 7/7Plus)
 
Why you shouldn’t trust Apple ID prompts in third-party apps
  • A savvy developer named Felix Krause has discovered it is shockingly easy for an iOS app developer to phish your Apple ID and password with a  fake authentication prompt that looks exactly the a real one.
  • He posted pictures of a real and fake prompt this week and they look identical.
  • Worse, developers can add this code after their app has been approved by Apple.
  • How to tell the difference:
    • The app will close and the popup will disappear with it. This means it was a phishing attempt.
    • The app and popup remain on screen. This means it is a genuine system dialog and can be trusted.
 
Apple is now selling its latest MacBook Pro at a discount
  • Apple has updated its online Apple store to start offering refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar, marking the first time this year’s Touch Bar-equipped models have been available to buy refurbished.
  • Apple typically sells refurbished models for around 15 percent off the full retail price
 
Apple CEO Tim Cook: Technology Doesn't Exist to do AR Smart Glasses 'In a Quality Way’ 
  • Apple CEO Tim Cook recently sat down for a wide ranging interview with The Independent
  • When questioned about the topic, he said the technology to create a pair of augmented reality smart glasses "in a quality way" does not exist today.
  • "But today I can tell you the technology itself doesn't exist to do that in a quality way. The display technology required, as well as putting enough stuff around your face - there's huge challenges with that.
  • "The field of view, the quality of the display itself, it's not there yet.”
  • "We want to be the best and give people a great experience," he said. "But now anything you would see on the market any time soon would not be something any of us would be satisfied with. Nor do I think the vast majority of people would be satisfied.”
 
Apple drops iOS 11.1 beta 2 with dozens new emoji
  • Apple unleashed hundreds of new emoji on developers today with the release of iOS 11.1 beta 2.
  • The new emoji also have new faces, clothes, sports, food, dinosaurs and other mystical characters.
  • Monocle face
  • Mind blow face
  • Mer-people
  • Wizards
  • Draculas
  • Chinese food takeout container
  • Elves, fairies, genie
  • Dinosaurs
 
Inside iOS 11: HomeKit gains multi-person geofencing, conditional triggers
  • HomeKit and the Home app will boggle your gourd.  They’re WAY more powerful now that in iOS 10.
  • Multi-person geofencing.  Actions can be triggered when one person comes or goes, or when a group of people in the same HomeKit group does.
    • Turn on lights when first person gets home
    • Turn off heat when last person leaves
  • Support for conditional triggers
    • Lighting will come on with someone comes home, but only after sunset
    • AC will turn on when someone comes home, but only if the temperature is above a threshold that you set.
  • Airplay 2 speakers are now supported, so you could set your speakers to start playing music in the morning or when you get home.
  • Time-based event triggers (i.e. turn the lights off at 5:30, or turn them on 30 minutes after sunrise)
  • Day of the week reoccurrence, so you can set things differently for different days of the way, or on the weekends
  • Home occupancy gate (i.e. only run something if you’re at home)
  • Timers (auto off after 1-60 minutes)
 
Now you can control sprinklers, faucets, and Airplay 2 speakers in addition to:
  • security devices
  • garage doors
  • fans
  • lights
  • outlets
  • air purifiers
  • locks
  • humidifiers
  • doorbells
  • cameras
  • air conditioners
  • window shades
  • and thermostats
  • Finally, Apple is really pushing for better adoption of HomeKit; manufacturers can now add HomeKit compatibility to their non-HomeKit accessories due to Apple’s relaxed licensing terms.  Vendors are no longer required to use a dedicated encryption chip—all HomeKit authorization can go through software, which means Nest could add HomeKit compatibility with a software update.
 
Under review
 
Woolnut laptop sleeve
 
Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL
 
Spigen Liquid Air Armor iPhone 8 Plus

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