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C’mon Apple, stop making me choose between avoiding Coronavirus and easily unlocking my iPhone in China

Corona virus Face ID trouble China

It’s tough out there, people. Thousands have been infected with the novel Coronavirus in China, millions are under lockdown, airplanes are grounded, and borders tightened. It’s like we’ve gone back to the bubonic plague — or more accurately, gone back to the iPhone 5s!

Let me explain… I know it’s not too common for people to be out and about wearing masks in public in the United States, but it’s fairly common over here in Asia. The thinking behind it is actually to prevent you, the mask-wearer, from spreading your diseased germs to other, healthy, happy people. So if you show up in Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur or Taipei or any other Asian city and begin sneezing without a mask on, there’s a good chance you’ll get a nasty side-eye from a local.

The Coronavirus, obviously, is different: doctors are recommending people wear masks to prevent coming into contact with the “novel” virus, thus keeping yourself safe. But the masks cover a huge portion of your face (even a big face, like mine) basically invalidating Face ID. I know, I know, this sounds very trivial, and it is. But trivial and annoying have long conspired together to cause great anger and frustration.


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Coronavirus threatens production of iPhone 9/SE 2, iPhone 11, AirPods

Coronavirus threatens production of iPhone 9/SE 2

It’s being reported that the current outbreak of a SARS-like coronavirus in China threatens production of the budget iPhone Apple is expected to launch in the next couple of months, variously referred to as the iPhone 9 and iPhone SE 2.

China is instigating quarantine measures and travel restrictions intended to curb the spread of the virus, along with some workers being told to stay at home, and experts say that Apple’s supply chain is almost certain to be effected …


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