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   ExtraBITS for 24 November 2014

   TidBITS Staff

   In this Thanksgiving edition of ExtraBITS, Ars Technica explains which
   networking services Continuity uses, we learn why no one can build
   things like Apple, Walt Mossberg traces the rise of the Mac, and Apple
   removes the 'free' label from apps.

   [1]Which Networking Technologies Do Continuity Services Need? -- With
   Continuity, OS X 10.10 Yosemite and iOS 8 can share all sorts of
   information, but it's difficult to know which network technologies are
   required for each service: Bluetooth, a local Wi-Fi connection, or a
   general Internet connection. Ars Technica has delved into AirDrop,
   AirPlay, Handoff, Instant Hotspot, and SMS and phone forwarding to
   tease out the networking requirements of each.

   [2]Read/post comments

   [3]Why No One Can Copy Apple's Hardware Design -- Many companies want
   to build products with the quality of Apple's, but as Ben Einstein of
   Bolt explains, that's nearly impossible to do. One reason is that Apple
   has bought up many of the machines and firms capable of such precision
   manufacturing. Besides that, Apple has mastered some of the most
   difficult manufacturing processes, such as color-matching white
   plastic, mass-scale CNC machining, and laser-drilling holes.

   [4]Read/post comments

   [5]Walt Mossberg on the Return of the Mac -- Many were shocked at the
   growth in Mac sales in Apple's fourth fiscal quarter of 2014, but not
   veteran technology journalist Walt Mossberg. He credits the second act
   of the Mac to three factors: the leadership of Steve Jobs, the rise of
   the Web, and Microsoft's many mistakes.

   [6]Read/post comments

   [7]App Store Apps Are No Longer 'Free' -- Apple has changed the 'Free'
   label on apps with no upfront cost to 'Get.' The move is likely due to
   regulatory concern over the cost of in-app purchases. While some apps
   are still truly free, many 'free' apps require in-app purchases to be
   usable.

   [8]Read/post comments

References

   1. http://arstechnica.com/apple/2014/11/continuity-in-yosemiteios-8-which-network-powers-what-service/
   2. http://tidbits.com/article/15251#comments
   3. mailto:https://medium.com/@BoltVC/no-you-cant-manufacture-that-like-apple-does-93bea02a3bbf
   4. http://tidbits.com/article/15252#comments
   5. http://recode.net/2014/11/19/the-macs-second-act-from-obscurity-to-ubiquity/
   6. http://tidbits.com/article/15250#comments
   7. http://9to5mac.com/2014/11/19/app-store-changes-free-button-to-get-likely-due-to-in-app-purchase-controversies/
   8. http://tidbits.com/article/15249#comments

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