Hello Reader,

I hope April went well for you and you're not too impacted by the global events happening right now.

Fun fact: On May 6, 1998, Steve Jobs unveiled the original iMac, also known as the "Bondi Blue," at the Flint Center Theater. The iMac was positioned as a computer for the Internet age, aiming to bring back the simplicity of the original Macintosh from 14 years prior. Despite a delayed release, the iMac garnered significant attention, with 150,000 pre-orders received. Its colorful design set it apart from other computers and even influenced the design of non-computer products. This launch marked a turning point for Apple, leading to their eventual status as the most valuable company in the world.

Upcoming iPad Event

Apple’s upcoming “Let Loose” event on Tuesday May 7 is generating a lot of excitement with the anticipation of new iPads, the first since late 2022.

Tech pundits believe that we might also see a new Apple Pencil with advanced gesture capabilities.

The event will be streamed live from 7 a.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. in Luxembourg), available globally on Apple.com and YouTube.

I won't be able to watch it live because I'll be facilitating an Excel training session for a client, however I'll catch the replay on Tuesday evening.

Apple ID Issues

On April 27, 2024, a widespread issue affected numerous Apple ID users who were unexpectedly logged out of their devices including iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, and HomePods.

The immediate remedy required users to reset their passwords and subsequently log back into all their devices.

Importantly, this situation did not seem to be due to a cybersecurity attack as there were no triggered security alerts like two-factor authentication.

As of now, Apple has not provided any comments regarding this incident.

Additionally, no ongoing issues were reported on the iCloud status page, despite the broad user impact.

Luckily, neither I nor anyone in my family have been hit by that.

App Updates

Pages, Keynote and Numbers version 14.0

Apple has updated its iWork suite — Pages, Keynote, and Numbers — with new features that enhance user experience on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

The version 14.0 release includes improvements that make these apps more intuitive and efficient for various productivity tasks.

As alternatives to Microsoft Office, these apps offer a simple, effective design for non-corporate users without requiring a subscription.

Having said, I recently tried to convert an Excel file into a Numbers document and the latter complained that it couldn’t deal with some functions and converted those cells into a fixed number instead.

Pixelmator Pro 3.5.8

The latest update to Pixelmator Pro, version 3.5.8, now allows users to edit text directly within PDF files.

This new feature increases the software’s utility for those who often work with PDFs, providing a straightforward way to adjust text without needing to convert or reformat the documents.

If you’re already a Pixelmator Pro user (like me) and you don’t already have a simple way to edit PDF, I’d recommend to give this new feature a try.

From my side, I’m already using Nitro PDF Pro (formerly known as PDF Pen Pro) to edit PDFs including adding form fields automatically.

On a side note, Nitro PDF Pro is among the 240+ apps available through a subscription service called SetApp.

Before discovering Setapp, I was losing a significant amount time managing software licences and subscriptions.

On top of that, every time I wanted to upgrade the operating system of my Mac, I needed to check every vendor to see if the version I had was supported natively and if I needed to purchase an upgrade licence or not.

At one point, I said to myself: "Enough is enough. There must be a better way!".

And indeed, there is, it's called Setapp.

It takes away the pain of looking up, comparing, buying, and managing separate apps.

If you're tired of that too, then you ought to give Setapp a try.

They offer 3 plans, each allowing you to install applications on a different number of devices:

• 1 Mac for $9.99/month
• 1 Mac and 4 iOS devices for $12.99/month
• 4 Macs and 4 iOS devices for $14.99/month

I've chosen the latter to be able to install apps on my iMac, Macbook Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPad Air 4.

Normally, you can try Setapp only for 7 days, but I made a deal with them so that you can test it free for a full 30 days, using my affiliate link.

After clicking on this button:

1. you'll access a page where the 'macpreneur' promo code will be pre-populated
2. you'll just need to click on the 'Continue' button
3. you'll have three signup options:
   • your Apple ID or
   • your Google account or
   • your name, email address and the password of your choice

After that, simply download the Setapp app on your Mac and start exploring the various apps available in its catalog.

Here are all the apps that I've installed on my iMac and that make my life much easier:

If you're doing a lot of Zoom meetings, you should try 'In Your Face'.

This app will literally fill your Mac screen with a reminder about any upcoming online meeting, giving you the ability to join it or snooze the reminder for a set amount of time.

I love it!

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ Series Updates and Releases:

“For All Mankind” enthusiasts have exciting news to celebrate, as Apple TV+ has announced a fifth season and a spin-off called “Star City.”

This development promises to expand the show’s universe with more in-depth storytelling.

In addition, fans of “Ted Lasso” can look forward to a complete series Blu-ray box set, perfect for those who prefer owning a physical copy of the series in high-definition.

New Movies and Streaming Successes:

Apple TV+ is enhancing its film collection, adding a variety of new movies to its service—a bonus for subscribers who are cinema enthusiasts.

Notably, the movie “Argylle” quickly climbed to the top of the streaming charts following its release, cementing Apple TV+’s status as a strong player in the streaming industry with its continuous delivery of popular and high-quality films.

Awards

The Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses” and “Silo” have been recognized with awards from the UK’s BAFTA, underscoring the platform’s dedication to producing content that earns critical acclaim.

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Artificial Intelligence

Apple

Apple is making significant strides in AI technology, with new models that outperform industry leaders like GPT-4 in contextual data parsing, setting potential new standards for AI performance.

These advancements include the introduction of four OpenELMs (open-source models) to enhance the development of large language models (LLMs), aimed at increasing the accuracy and reliability of future AI applications.

On the strategic front, Apple is deepening its integration of AI across its products and services.

This includes acquiring a French company to improve AI processing on iPhones—enabling more AI functions to be handled on-device for greater speed and privacy—and developing custom silicon for AI servers to bolster infrastructure.

Additionally, Apple is renewing collaboration talks with OpenAI to integrate generative AI into iOS 18, which could introduce innovative AI-driven features to iPhone users.

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OpenAI

OpenAI has updated its offerings to improve user accessibility and global engagement.

ChatGPT is now available without the need for an account, enhancing accessibility for users who prefer not to register.

Moreover, Dall-E now allows users to modify images generated through ChatGPT, adding a customization feature.

Expanding its reach, OpenAI has opened a new hub in Tokyo and launched a GPT-4 model optimized for Japanese, aimed at enhancing AI interactions for Japanese speakers.

Additionally, insights from the creators of a short film powered by AI Sora have shed light on the technology’s strengths and limitations in video content production, reflecting the evolving capabilities and challenges in AI-driven media.

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Google

Google is actively enhancing its Workspace suite with new AI-driven features designed to streamline productivity and enhance security.

They’ve introduced an AI Meetings and Messaging add-on, which facilitates smarter and more efficient communication and scheduling directly within Google Workspace.

Additionally, a new AI Security add-on aims to bolster the security framework by utilizing advanced AI to detect and mitigate potential threats more effectively.

Furthermore, Google Photos is expanding its AI-powered editing tools to iPhone users starting May 15, allowing for sophisticated image adjustments previously available only on other platforms.

At the Google Cloud Next event, Google announced a significant push into generative AI, indicating a strategic focus on integrating more advanced AI capabilities across its cloud services.

This move underscores Google’s commitment to leading in AI innovation, enhancing tools for both individual and enterprise users.

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Microsoft

Microsoft is enhancing its AI initiatives with two key developments.

First, they have opened a new AI hub in London, led by scientist Jordan Hoffmann, to boost AI research and development.

Second, they’ve launched Phi-3, a compact AI model designed for local operation on devices like the iPhone 14.

This model enables powerful AI capabilities right on users’ devices, increasing efficiency and reducing reliance on cloud connectivity.

These actions highlight Microsoft’s commitment to global AI technology expansion and making AI more accessible on consumer devices.

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Meta

Meta has introduced Meta Llama 3, touted as the most capable openly available large language model (LLM) to date, designed to enhance the capabilities of developers and researchers with advanced AI tools.

In addition, Meta has launched Meta AI, an AI assistant that, despite some criticism, offers a no-cost AI assistance option for users.

Furthermore, Meta has incorporated AI into its Ray-Ban glasses, adding features like video calls, which represents a significant step in merging stylish wearable technology with practical AI functionalities.

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Adobe

Adobe has recently unveiled a range of AI-powered enhancements across its software portfolio.

In Adobe Premiere Pro, new AI tools now enable users to add or remove objects from videos easily and extend clips, offering more flexibility and creativity in video editing.

For mobile users, Adobe Express on iOS incorporates Firefly, an AI that simplifies creating complex images, catering to users on the go.

Additionally, Adobe Photoshop has introduced Firefly Image 3, aimed at enhancing AI workflows, thereby significantly increasing efficiency and creativity in photo editing.

​Next training in Luxembourg

The next session of my training “Smartphones are hard to hack: Myth or Reality?” will take place on May 23rd.

At the end of this training, participants will get:

• A better appreciation about how vulnerable their smartphone really is
• Awareness of how their smartphone could get compromised
• Easy mitigations to quickly reduce the risk of their smartphone getting hacked

It will take place at the Digital Learning Hub (DLH) facility in Belval (near Esch-sur-Alzette).

For more info, visit: https://dlh.lu/product/smartphones-are-hard-to-hack-myth-or-reality-5/​

Enrolment closes on May 15th, and there's a limited number of seats available.

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I would appreciate it if you could check it out and spread the word to your family, friends, and colleagues.​

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Have a great day!
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PS: May I ask you another favour? If you like this Newsflash, please forward it to someone you know who might like it too. Later on, he or she can subscribe to get it automatically by email via the following link: https://easyte.ch/newsflash-en​