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Hold on! Apple's iPhone 13 – illegal for 40% of the world's population due to satellite connectivity?! – PhoneArena

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Satellite phones offer call and text-based communication. The service is transmitted exclusively via satellites through different networks like Globalstar, Iridium, Inmarsat. If you want to find out how different satellite networks work, and how the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 are going to ulitize them, head to this story.
Unlike traditional satellite phones, when it comes to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, satellite connectivity is (initially) expected to boil down to emergency calls. If you have an iPhone, you’d probably know there’s an SOS option when you hold down the power and one of the volume buttons. Apple’s plan is to make this “Emergency SOS” feature work through satellite connection (not exclusively). 

As per the most recent report coming from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 satellite features will only be available in select markets. This is an insightful, yet vague reveal, so let’s try and elaborate on it. Would Apple’s satellite-connected iPhone 13 be available only in the US, or perhaps would it be optional according to the market? What if it’s illegal? Spoiler: Yes, it might be.

iPhone 13 satellite connection: Keeping you always connected in case of an emergency 

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Apple has a chance to disrupt the market and bring another unique and exclusive feature to the end-user thanks to the customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip with support for satellite connectivity. Bear in mind, this chip wasn’t supposed to be featured on phones until at least 2022. 

  • Of course, it’s going to be absolutely wonderful to have a satellite connection on your iPhone in case you decide to climb a mountain, sail in the open ocean, or simply find yourself in an emergency due to a natural disaster that limits cell service and Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Also, the iPhone 13’s satellite connection capabilities might be way more affordable than those of traditional satellite phones when it comes to plans and outgoing calls/texts. Of course, we are only speculating, but if satellite connectivity is about to reach smartphones (even if it’s for emergency calls/texts), it’s likely that Apple will bring the price of satellite communication down, which will be amazing for the end-user.
  • The iPhone 13 would literally always connected. This has never happened before, so it’s a bigger deal than you might think. If you can’t rely on Wi-Fi, there’s 5G/4G; if you can’t rely on 5G, there are satellites. Again – remember, this feature is said to be for emergencies only – at least in the beginning. Furthermore, satellite connection isn’t nearly as fast as 5G or Wi-Fi, so you won’t be able to do much more than texting/calling.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 satellite connection: Potential challenges for Apple’s satphone plans

Is owning a satellite iPhone legal?

You might be wondering: “Why is Apple limiting satellite connection to just emergency texts/calls?” Well, for starters, Cupertino is probably testing the ground, before deciding to commit… fully. However, another, much better reason is that it might be… illegal.

In case you didn’t know, satellite phones are either fully banned or permission for their use isn’t easily obtainable in (at least) 14 countries, which you’ll find listed below. We’ve gone and done the maths for you – that’s roughly 3.25 billion of the world’s population (7.8 billion), which is just over 41% of people who might not be able to take advantage of the iPhone 13’s satellite connection at launch (for one reason or another).
In fact, if Apple decides to make the feature US-only (we’ll talk about that below), even less people will be able to take advantage of it. The thing is, even if you are a US citizen, who bought an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14, its satellite-related features might very well be a problem, if you travel in any of these countries:

  • Bangladesh
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Chad
  • China
  • Cuba
  • Ethiopia
  • India
  • Nicaragua
  • North Korea (What a shock!)
  • Russia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Turkmenistan
  • South Sudan

So, is there a solution? Probably. However, Tim Cook will be skating on thin ice…

Option 1: Perhaps Apple will have to make this feature optional. As of now, the only smartphone that can connect to satellites (Thuraya X5) lets you toggle the feature on/off just like 4G/5G or Wi-Fi. This still doesn’t make the iPhone a non-satellite phone though.

Option 2: Another “solution” might be that Apple will ship iPhone 13 models without Qualcomm’s X60 baseband chip for satellite connection in some of the countries where satellite phones are banned, illegal, or simply likely to cause trouble for the owner. That’s especially crucial for India and China, which are important markets for Apple, but yet very strict on satellite phone use.

Option 3: As hinted above, another option is that like many new features, satellite calls/texts might be exclusive to the US at launch. This is going to be a pilot study for the domestic market, and while it’s unfortunate that people in other parts of the world might not get it, it would be understandable, if Apple has to go with it. A big hint that this might be exactly what will happen is that Apple’s satellite network partner for this venture is Globalstar.

NOTE: Globalstar’s coverage satellite coverage is strongly focused on the US, Europe, Australia and parts of South America. So, Apple’s decision to partner with Globalstar wouldn’t be a coincidence.  Literally every single country listed above (except Nicaragua) that forbid owning a satellite phone is not located in the North America, Europe, South America, or Australia (duh!).

What if satellite iPhones fall into the wrong hands?

If Apple were to open the satellite network for a wider variety of use case scenarios, another challenge might be potential abuse of the features, if the iPhones fall into the wrong hands. Now, disclaimer: this is very much theoretical, but terrorist organizations might be able to take advantage of a widespread satellite network of iPhones. The iPhone is a phone pretty much anyone can get ahold of. Therefore, Cupertino’s decision to limit satellite texts/calls to emergencies seems to be the right one.

If you happen to be abroad or even in the US, there are going to be external factors that might affect your ability to use a satellite connection on your iPhone. If the government decides to shut the network down, you are out of luck. For example, back in 2013, the army in Nigeria announced a ban on satellite phones and had to shut down all communication networks in the northern state of Borno due to terrorist attacks in the area.
In another case from 2018, Indian police seized the satellite phones of four German officials who didn’t declare the devices on arrival. The satphones were given to the Germans by their company. However, satellite phones are banned for foreign nationals in India.

In the end…

The easiest way to find out if you are allowed to use a satellite phone or if your provider supports it as a feature (it often needs to be exclusively enabled on demand) is to contact your embassy in the foreign country where you plan to travel to, or just check government websites.

Calling your provider will also help. In the case of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, you might not need to go through any of this, because the feature will (initially) be limited to emergency taxts/calls.

We are extremely curious to see how Apple plans to handle these technical, political, and socio-cultural aspects of launching a mainstream smartphone that’s capable of satellite connection.

In the end, we don’t want to make it sound more serious than it is – the satellite texts (perhaps at some point calls too) will only be utilized in emergency situations when they hit the iPhone, which is expected to happen in 2022.

iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are set to become official on September 14. According to Bloomberg, although Qualcomm’s modified X60 modem will indeed be in the iPhone 13, Apple might hold on until next year to actually enable satellite connectivity, when the iPhone 14 will become a thing as well. It’s another “future-proofing” step from Apple, and we aren’t surprised at all.

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Take-Two Interactive to Acquire 'Borderlands' Developer Gearbox From Embracer Group for $460 Million – Yahoo Canada Sports

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Take-Two Interactive has acquired video game developer Gearbox, the maker of the “Borderlands” franchise, from Embracer Group for $460 million.

Per Take Two, the company “expects the transaction to deepen its successful relationship with Gearbox Entertainment and to provide increased financial benefits through a fully integrated operational structure.”

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As part of the deal, Take-Two will acquire Gearbox IP, including “Borderlands” and “Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands” franchises, games published by Take-Two’s 2K Games, as well as “Homeworld,” “Risk of Rain,” “Brothers in Arms” and “Duke Nukem.”

Currently, Gearbox has six “key interactive entertainment projects in various stages of development,” per Take-Two, which includes five sequels, two from “Borderlands” and “Homeworld” universes, and at least one “exciting new intellectual property,” all of which have been acquired in the sale.

Take-Two’s purchase of Gearbox is expected to close in June, pending regulatory approval. Upon completion, Gearbox will operate as a studio within 2K, continuing to be led by Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford and his management team.

Former Gearbox owner Embracer, a Swedish gaming conglomerate who snapped up the rights to “Lord of the Rings” two years ago, has undergone a severe restructuring program over the past year, which has seen the company shut down or dispose of dozens of games studios and titles and lay off hundreds of staff, resulting in aftershocks that have reverberated throughout the games industry.

The sale of Gearbox marks the latest insistence of Embracer unloading assets, following the company divesting Saber Interactive.

“Our acquisition of Gearbox is an exciting moment for Take-Two and will strengthen our industry-leading creative talent and portfolio of owned intellectual property, including the iconic Borderlands franchise,” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said. “This combination enhances the financial profile of our existing projects with Gearbox and unlocks the opportunity for us to drive increased long-term growth by leveraging the full resources of Take-Two across all of Gearbox’s exciting initiatives.”

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An OLED iPad Pro and the first big-screen iPad Air will reportedly arrive in May – Engadget

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Apple will finally launch new iPads in early May, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Expected are a new iPad Pro with an OLED display and a faster iPad Air, including a 12.9-inch model for the first time in that lineup. The details of the upcoming iPad models have been consistent, circulating through the rumor mill since last year.

The new iPad Pro models will reportedly add OLED displays (offering deeper blacks and richer colors) and run on the new M3 chip, already found in several Macs. The new tablets are said to launch alongside a redesigned Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Other than a white color option, the latter has remained unchanged since its arrival four years ago.

Meanwhile, the iPad Air will supposedly run on a new processor. Bloomberg didn’t specify which, but — considering the current model uses the M1, and Apple likely wants to reserve the M3 for the more expensive Pro — the M2 sounds like a safe bet. The 12.9-inch screen option would mark the first time the iPad Air line has offered a display larger than 10.9 inches. Although Apple will charge more for that model than the smaller sibling expected alongside it, that would be the cheapest way yet to get a supersized iPad screen.

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Gurman said early this month that the new tablets would launch alongside the M3 MacBook Air, but the laptop arrived without any iPads in tow. He now reports that Apple’s release schedule was pushed back to finish working on the devices’ software and ironing out the kinks from the “complex new manufacturing techniques” they require.

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Ashleigh Oakridge offers boutique-style condos with concrete construction – Vancouver Sun

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Peterson Group’s latest project will be chock-full of amenities and have timeless interiors

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It may not sound exciting to say the big selling points for a new condominium project are that it’s concrete construction and four storeys. But start thinking in terms of getting all the benefits of concrete-tower construction in a sophisticated, boutique-style building of only 34 to 35 units, chock-full of amenities, situated on a quiet, tree-lined Vancouver street and the appeal is obvious—especially to those downsizing in the neighbourhood.

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“That on its own really sets it apart because if you want to be in a boutique setting, you don’t love the idea of highrises, and you want a concrete home type, there aren’t many options. It’s highly unique,” explains Barrett Sprowson, vice-president of sales and project marketing at Peterson Group, the developer of the Ashleigh Oakridge project, which will be composed of three buildings when completed.

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Two of the three buildings, the Berkley and the Alma, will be constructed first, with the Cambridge following later. Each one will have its own curb appeal, but all are designed to integrate into the neighbourhood, hence the plan to maintain the existing trees. The wellness amenities of sauna, steam room, cold and hot plunge pools and fully-equipped fitness room are centrally located in the Berkley for all the residents’ use. All three buildings have their own rooftop amenities that feature an indoor-outdoor flow from an expansive entertainment and co-workspace to patio lounging, dining, fire pits, communal gardens and children’s play area.

The interiors at Ashleigh Oakridge will feature classic styling with design-forward touches.
The interiors at Ashleigh Oakridge will feature classic styling with design-forward touches. Photo by Supplied by Peterson Group

The interiors of the homes, which Sprowson says offer generous, well-laid-out floorplans, feature numerous elevated design details that complement a classic esthetic. His personal favourite is the pot filler over the gas cooktop in the kitchen. “There’s not too many times you run into that, and there’s a little feature that’s practical, helpful and useful but is also tricky and expensive to do,” he says.

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The interior design team at Ste. Marie Studio framed their overall concept around the idea of classic styling accented with design-forward touches.

“We looked at it through the lens of a single-family home and wanting it to feel really timeless,” says Craig Stanghetta, founder and creative director of Ste. Marie Studio. “We don’t want it to feel that it doesn’t have a little bit of risk. There’s a little bit of risk in terms of some brushed metal accents.”

Their use of a bold marble for the kitchen backsplashes makes a dramatic visual statement, but though striking, the pattern is a classic marble, not one heavily veined, and one that would be at home in a Paris apartment or a New York brownstone, Stanghetta observes. In the larger homes, they’ve used it to wrap the islands. “They become a big feature, but in some of these other ones, we’re using the manufactured stone in those areas and letting the backsplash be the big design gesture,” Stanghetta says.

The wellness amenities will include sauna, steam room, cold and hot plunge pools and a fully-equipped fitness room.
The wellness amenities will include sauna, steam room, cold and hot plunge pools and a fully-equipped fitness room. Photo by Supplied by Peterson Group

In the smaller units where the backsplashes are marble, but quartz is used on the counter and island surfaces, the team introduced a dining table-island combination that works for multiple uses—kitchen prep, home office or dining—and the generous bank of wall storage available in the L-shaped configuration allowed for this unique style of island.

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“I think we just acknowledged that sometimes people are prioritizing different things, and if you’re in a one-bedroom living scenario, then we want the flexibility to choose your own adventure with that piece of furniture,” Stanghetta explains.

The appliance package is Miele and features built-in coffee makers, gas ranges, speed ovens, wall ovens and, in some units, wine fridges. There are also sleek can lights over the islands and open shelving for personalizing the space. Sprowson notes that the full-height pantries also boost the kitchens’ functionality and that, though expected when downsizing from a single-family home, they’re often not an option in condo living.

“It’s also a striking kitchen. You look at the marble backsplash and the marble countertop with the waterfall edge, and you’ve got all the functionality, but it’s also, dare I say, very pretty to look at,” he says.

When complete, each building at Ashleigh Oakridge will have rooftop amenities that include an entertainment and co-workspace, patio lounging, dining, fire pits, communal gardens and children's play area.
When complete, each building at Ashleigh Oakridge will have rooftop amenities that include an entertainment and co-workspace, patio lounging, dining, fire pits, communal gardens and children’s play area. Photo by Supplied by Peterson Group

The bathrooms reflect that same mix of functionality and sophisticated styling, with details like flattering sconce lighting and wall-mount toilets. Stanghetta says the floating shelf under the medicine cabinet creates a “nice balance of high-functional storage but then these clean lines that also give you a more fully designed and realized space.”

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He notes that the double vanities in the larger bathrooms have an oversized countertop, a beautiful detail that works with the timeless design concept: attention to detail that will last. The combination of timelessness with contemporary accents creates interiors that reflect the project’s overall vision.

The development is ideally situated to allow residents to be central to everything while enjoying a quiet location.

“This is a viable option for anyone who wants concrete, a good amount of space, decent amenities, all the walkability and proximity to Oakridge and all the cool stuff that’s on the Cambie corridor,” Stanghetta observes.

Ashleigh Oakridge

Project Address: 5080 Ash Street, Vancouver

Project Scope: A development of three, four-storey, concrete, boutique buildings offering one, two and three-bedroom homes that range from 590 to 1,800 square feet. Each building features rooftop amenities and a shared wellness and fitness centre in the Berkley building.

Developers: Peterson Group

Architects: GBL Architects

Prices: Starting in the low $800,000s

Sales centre: Ashleigh PC 2094 W 43rd Ave, Vancouver

Sales centre hours: Open daily (Except Friday), noon to 5 p.m.

Sales phone: 604-476-429

Website: ashleighoakridge.com

Occupancy date: Estimated completion summer 2028

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    HAVAN announces finalists for its annual Awards for Housing Excellence

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