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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 12 - 17 JUNE 2023
Hello and Welcome,
Report on the June 6th 2023 Main Meeting
This month, our President, Steve South, held the Main Meeting online via Zoom because our host, the SMSA, has the builders renovating the 1st floor of their Pitt Street building.
Steve South (AI version) at work on Zoom
The Apple announcements
The main presenter was Alex Zaharov-Reutt talking about the Apple WWDC23 conference in the Apple Park Building in Cupertino, California.
See the 2-hour Keynote address on YouTube.
There were many new Apple announcements. See a summary on the iMore webpage.
Their headline is:
Everything announced at WWDC 2023: iOS 17, Vision Pro headset, 15-inch MacBook Pro, M2 Ultra chips, and more.
The Guest Speaker was Chris Smith from TNT Radio.
His was a fascinating talk, covering time on mainstream Radio and now discussing tech information on the Worldwide online TNT Radio, covering dozens of presenters and styles.
Alex is a regular guest speaker, talking about computers and other tech topics.
It was fascinating to hear Chris's perception of the changes to the modern day with instant smartphone connections and the looming advent of Artificial Intelligence.
To test the latest AI-drawn images created by Microsoft's Edge browser, I asked for "a senior male announcer in a Radio studio with tech posters on the wall".
Chris Smith (AI version) at work at TNT Radio
Very good.
— Ed.
Meetings This Week
2023/06/13 — 18:00-20:00 — June, Tue — Programming
2023/06/17 — 14:00-16:00 — June, Sat — Web Design
Meeting Next Week
2023/06/20 — 10:00-12:00 — April, Tue — Tuesday Group
Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
First Saturday 13:00-14:00 — Penrith Group
Second Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Programming
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm. The following meetings are in July, September and November 2023.
ASCCA News:Tech News:
Apple's App Store generated US$1.1 trillion in revenue in 2022
See the iTWire article by Stephen Withers | Thursday, 01 June 2023, at 4:38 pm.
Apple has revealed the App Store generated US$1.1 trillion in total billings and sales in the App Store ecosystem in 2022. More than 90 per cent of the billings and sales went to developers and businesses without a commission being taken by Apple.
It is estimated that of that, App Store developers generated US$910 billion in total billings and sales from the sale of physical goods and services, US$109 billion from in-app advertising and US$104 billion for digital goods and services.
Apple is well known for taking a 30 per cent cut of App Store sales made by larger developers, but those who qualify for the App Store Small Business Program and earn at most US$1 million a year only pay 15 per cent.
It needs to be clarified how those commission rates can be reconciled with Apple's assertion that more than 90 per cent of total billings and sales went to developers.
While overall developer billings and sales increased by around 64 per cent between 2020 and 2022, small developers performed slightly better, with 71 per cent growth in the same period.
The App Store supports over 195 local payment methods and 44 currencies across 175 storefronts. In 2022, 54 per cent of downloads occurred in storefronts outside developers' home countries.
iOS developers have earned over US$320 billion since the App Store was launched in 2008. There are now nearly 1.8 million apps in the App Store, even though Apple rejected 1.7 million app submissions in 2022 alone for failing to meet privacy, security and quality standards.
"We've never been more hopeful about — or more inspired by — the incredible community of developers worldwide," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
"As this report shows, the App Store is a vibrant, innovative marketplace where opportunity thrives, and we're as committed as ever to investing in developers' success and the app economy's future."
Windows 10 and 11: Working with multiple "Desktops"
Firstly, right-click the Task Bar and select the "Show Task View button" (NOT Task Manager).
Then click the icon you just created, to see the various Desktops available. There will be only one if this is the first time.
Creating Desktops
It's easy to create a new Desktop. Click the "New Desktop" icon.
After creating them, you can rename them by right-clicking on one of the Desktop icons and selecting "Rename".
There's nothing worse than trying to remember the contents of "Desktop 1", "Desktop 2", "Desktop 3", etc.
You can now have several apps or "terminals" running in each Desktop without having so many in a single Desktop that you need to scroll down the list.
You can have about 24 terminals running before that becomes a problem.
Switching Desktops
Click the Task View button to see what Desktops are available, and select a Desktop.
You will see thumbnail snapshots of all the running tasks in that Desktop spread out over the "real" Desktop.
Then select one of the running tasks.
To switch back, repeat the same procedure.
I'm sure you'll agree: "It's a handy way to separate running tasks into logical sets."
Click Windows Support for the official Microsoft story.
Multiple desktops in Windows
Windows 11, Windows 10
Multiple desktops are great for keeping unrelated, ongoing projects organized or quickly switching desktops before a meeting. To create multiple desktops:
On the taskbar, select Task view > New desktop "+".
Open the apps you want to use on that desktop.
To switch to another desktop, select Task view again.
Short but sweet.
— Ed.
Fun Facts:
Whatever Happened to Two-Picture TVs?
See the How-To Geek article by SYDNEY BUTLER | @gendowasright | JUN 2, 2023, at 11:00 am EDT.
Key Takeaway: Two-picture TVs aimed to provide simultaneous viewing experiences for two viewers on a single screen. Despite the novel concept and applications for gaming, these TVs gained little popularity due to high costs, limited use cases, and the rise of alternative devices.
Watch Two-Picture TVs to play games
In the ever-evolving landscape of television technology, specific innovations capture the public imagination for a brief moment before quietly receding into the annals of tech history. One such innovation was the two-picture TV. So, what happened to this promising feature?
Two-Picture TVs: How They Work
Two-Picture TVs were designed to allow two viewers to watch different channels or sources on the same screen simultaneously. This was achieved through a feature that Sony called SimulView. Unlike traditional Picture-in-Picture (PiP), where one image was inset in a smaller frame over the main image, SimulView presented two separate, full-screen images.
The technology relied on active shutter 3D technology. The TV would rapidly alternate between two different full-screen images. When combined with specially designed glasses, each viewer would only see one image, effectively giving them their own screen.
Famous Examples
The Sony PlayStation 3D Display is the most well-known example of a two-picture TV. Released in 2011, this 24-inch display was primarily aimed at gamers. It enabled two players to game simultaneously on the same screen but viewing their own independent full-screen images. This innovative feature eliminated the need for the traditional split-screen multiplayer gaming modes and offered each player a more immersive experience.
However, Sony wasn't the only company to dabble in two-picture TV technology. Other manufacturers also introduced models with similar capabilities, although these gained less traction or fame.
Another prime example is LG's Dual Play technology, found in some of their 3D TVs, such as the LG CINEMA 3D TV This technology utilized the TV's 3D functionality to simultaneously display two separate 2D images. Each player would wear a different set of polarized glasses that would only allow them to see their specific image, turning the TV into a dual-screen display for multiplayer gaming.
Why Didn't Anyone Buy Them?
Despite the novel appeal of two-picture TVs, they didn't quite hit the mark in the consumer market for several reasons.
Firstly, the cost was a significant factor. The technology was expensive, putting it beyond the reach of many consumers. People also needed to invest in multiple pairs of special glasses, adding to the overall cost.
Secondly, the use case was relatively niche. While the feature was compelling for gamers, the general TV-viewing audience found fewer applications. Most households only needed to watch one channel at a time. This was several years after modern smartphones and modern streaming services had launched, so people could watch multiple shows simultaneously in the same room using different devices.
Could Two-Picture Tech Make a Comeback?
While the specific two-picture technology employed in TVs like the Sony PlayStation 3D Display might not make a comeback, the spirit of simultaneous content consumption is going nowhere.
For example, Samsung's Multi View feature allows users to split their TV screen into multiple sections, each displaying content from a different source. This will enable you to watch a TV show, keep an eye on a sports game, and scroll through social media, all on the same screen.
Additionally, VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) technologies offer even more personalized viewing experiences. With VR, each person can have their own immersive "screen," watching whatever they like, independent of others in the room.
Meeting Location & Disclaimer
Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
Information for Members and Visitors:
Link to — Sydney PC & Technology User Group
All Meetings, unless explicitly stated above, are held on the
1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
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