Sunday digest. Here are all the most interesting things of the week that you might have missed.

On your day off, I suggest you remember what interesting and important things happened over the past work week in order to keep abreast of what is happening in the world of gadgets and technology, and also discuss this news with friends.

So we collected all the most interesting things over the past six days, what was written about and what was discussed on the pages of iPhones.ru.

This week, several well-known applications disappeared from the App Store, Elon Musk was invited to Russia, a new law for domestic sites regarding authorization came into force, long-awaited cars from the future went on sale, film makers pleased us with a number of trailers for projects that many are looking forward to.

Read about this and much more in our digest:

1. Is MacBook Air on M1 still top? Got it figured out

New Apple laptops are produced with enviable regularity, becoming more powerful and productive with each new revision. But this doesn’t mean you have to upgrade to the latest MacBook.

For example, at the end of November, the first MacBook with M1 processors lasted for three years. Back in 2020, users (and we too) wondered: how many years later will even these MacBooks, separated from the release cycle of Intel processors, begin to become obsolete and noticeably “slow down”?

They told us how the MacBook Air imagined itself in terms of configuration in 2023. (Spoiler: I feel great, I can use it without fear).

2. What did you listen to in 2023? Apple will show

Apple has launched a “My Year” site on Apple Music featuring a selection of your favorite songs from 2023. Here you can view statistics on your listening for the entire past year: favorite artists, most listened to songs, favorite albums, genres, which playlists set the mood and much more.

Spend a few minutes viewing Stories with personal results of the year. You can also view unlocked achievements, such as listening to an album lasting 25 thousand minutes.

Post screenshots of your most listened to album or track in our Telegram. Let’s see what iPhones.ru readers are listening to 🙂

3. Useful applications have disappeared from the App Store and Google Play.

Apple and Google have removed bank apps from their stores that were recently approved by the US.

The applications Pochta Bank, Home Bank, Russian Standard, Absolute and the All-Russian Regional Development Bank have disappeared from Google Play. They can no longer be downloaded, nor are they available in the shopping section.

The Russian Standard and Home Bank applications are still available for download in the App Store, but they may disappear at any time.

Also this week, Russian Railways, Citydrive and Sbermarket applications were removed from the App Store. They can no longer be found through search, but they may still be on your shopping list. Previously downloaded versions continue to work.

Finally, the Moscow State Services application (mos.ru) unexpectedly disappeared from Google Play. You can still download it from the App Store, please note.

4. Fake Telegram in the Xiaomi app store.

Users of the Xiaomi GetApps app store discovered a competing version of Telegram that pretends to be the original one.

GetApps has only one Telegram with reviews and screenshots. Somehow, the attackers managed to replace the installation file with a phishing version.

Complaints about fake Telegram on GetApps appeared back in September of this year, but since then Xiaomi has not taken any action, so people still continue to maintain the conservative version.

Users who installed Telegram from GetApps are advised to immediately delete it and download Telegram from Google Play or from the official website of the messenger.

5. A critical Bluetooth vulnerability has been found. All gadgets are at risk

Bleeping Computers reports that two serious vulnerabilities have been discovered in Bluetooth to intercept connections.

These flaws are architectural, meaning they affect Bluetooth at a fundamental level. The issue is tracked under CVE-2023-24023 and is dependent on the Bluetooth Core Specification 4.2 through 5.4.

There is no solution to the problem yet. To minimize risks, it is recommended to turn off Bluetooth in public places unless necessary.

6. Results of the annual App Store Award

Apple has published the list of winners of the annual App Store Award.

The company named 14 leaders in various categories of games and applications. The main application of the year, recognized by AllTrails, is Honkai: Star Rail (our review).

We collected all the finalists in materials with links. Download and use. True, not all applications are available in the Russian App Store.

On topic: Apple announced the winners of the App Store Award

7. Say goodbye to Sign in with Apple ID

Russian sites must remove login buttons using Google and Apple ID from December 1, 2023. We did the same thing on iPhones.ru for users from Russia.

We are a Russian site, and therefore we must comply with the laws of the Russian Federation if we want to continue working in Russia. There can be no “no” here; the time for discussing issues has ended with the adoption of the law.

Disabling the Sign in with Apple ID button does not mean your accounts will be deleted or disabled.

If you entered into force a new law and used exactly this method of authorization, you signed two passes to the site under your previous account.

8. Various interesting things

📍 The Russian Association “Digital Transport and Logistics” invited Elon Musk and Google co-founder Sergey Brin to a forum in Moscow on digital transport and logistics, which was planned for December 19.

Among the topics announced for discussion are the development and implementation of digital technologies in the field of transport, unmanned vehicles, infrastructure requirements, technical and legal regulations.

Musk and Brin have not yet responded to the invitation.

The US, UK and 16 other countries support an agreement that commits them to steps to make AI “safe by design”.

The initiative is purely about how hackers can take advantage of artificial intelligence systems. It does not address the much larger question of how artificial intelligence systems themselves can take their rightful place for humanity.

📍 In iOS 17.2 beta 4, a long-awaited option has appeared – the ability to change the default sound code.

This type of application uses most standard and additional applications. The corresponding setting is located in the Settings → Sounds, tactile signals → Default notifications menu.

📍On November 30, Tesla held an event during which it announced the completion of delivery of the first 10 Cybertruck pre-orders for employees.

Immediately with this company, sales were opened to everyone and the final prices of the serial version of the electric pickup were announced. The final cost of the “electric train” is a little depressing: in 2019, Elon Musk promised a base price of $39,990, but now it has risen to $60,990. The basic version will appear only in 2025.

All models will be produced in natural colors, there will be no paints. However, you can order a black film coating for $6,500. Reviews of the miracle truck almost immediately appeared on the Internet, collecting all the most interesting things in a separate article.

📍Google Maps has changed the color palette of maps for the first time in several years, and many users are unhappy with this innovation. Roads are now gray instead of yellow, ponds are turquoise instead of dark blue. The parks are painted mint instead of green.

Along with users, former Google Maps designer Elizabeth Laraki is also dissatisfied with this range of colors. She believes Google should focus less on the map’s appearance and more on the app’s interface, which has become too clunky.

📍 New trailers for long-awaited projects: the Fallout series and the fourth season of The Boys.

There’s no need for words here, just check out the trailer once:

Trailer two:

The release of the series based on the cult game will take place around 2024; the exact release date of the new season of “The Boys” is still unknown.

By the way, next week they promise the first trailer for GTA 6. We are waiting, and you?

📍Designer Basic Apple Guy has released a beautiful wallpaper that shows the insides of the iPhone 15 Pro.

Only 7 pieces. They only have flowers, there are two versions – for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. There are links, download and love.

That’s what this week was like. Enjoy your holiday and see you in the next Sunday digest.