Tim Cook to Discuss Ongoing FBI Battle on Tonight’s Episode of ‘World News Tonight’

ABC World News Tonight anchor David Muir recently sat down with Apple CEO Tim Cook for an interview airing tonight that covers Apple’s ongoing dispute with the FBI.

In the interview, Cook will outline the reasons why Apple is objecting to the court order that would require it to help the FBI break into the iPhone owned by Syed Farook, one of the shooters in the December attack in San Bernardino, California.

Over the past two weeks, Apple and the United States government have been embroiled in a monumental dispute over privacy and encryption, stemming from the FBI’s request that Apple develop new software to help it hack the passcode on Farook’s iPhone 5c. Apple has refused to do so, saying the request sets a “dangerous precedent” that could lead to an overall weakening of encryption policies that endangers the privacy of tens of millions of American citizens.

Opposing this order is not something we take lightly. We feel we must speak up in the face of what we see as an overreach by the U.S. government.

We are challenging the FBI’s demands with the deepest respect for American democracy and a love of our country. We believe it would be in the best interest of everyone to step back and consider the implications.

Since the request was made public, Apple and the FBI have engaged in a very public sparring match. The FBI called Apple’s refusal a “marketing strategy,” while Apple shared details on an Apple ID password change that may have prevented the FBI from obtaining the desired information through an iCloud backup.

The interview will air on World News Tonight at 6:30 Eastern Time. Shortly after, the full show will be available on ABCNews.com.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: Tim Cook, Apple-FBI
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Netflix for iOS Updated With 3D Touch Support, iPad Pro Optimization

Netflix today updated its iOS app to add support for Apple’s latest devices, the iPhone 6s and the iPad Pro. The app now includes a layout that’s been optimized for the 12.9-inch screen of the iPad Pro for an improved look that offers more content at a glance.

3D Touch support is available in the form of Peek and Pop gestures, providing more information about movies and television shows from the main browsing screen. 3D Touch support does not extend to Home screen Quick Actions.

Other new features in today’s update include episode auto-play and recommendation features on the iPhone, an improved Kids experience on the iPad, and Arabic support on devices running iOS 9 and later.

What’s New
– Post-Play experience (episode auto-play/recommendations) now on iPhone
– iPad Pro optimized layout
– 3D Touch support
– Improved Kids experience on iPad
– Arabic support for devices running iOS 9 and later
– Performance improvements

Netflix can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Netflix
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StarTech’s Dual-Monitor Thunderbolt 2 Docking Station Features Two DisplayPorts

StarTech’s latest Dual-Monitor Docking Station debuted in December, with a feature that sets it apart from other docking stations: dual DisplayPort 1.2 connections.

The Docking Station has a Falcon Ridge quad-channel Thunderbolt 2 controller for 20GB/s data transfer speeds. It can power two 2560 x 1600 displays through its DisplayPort connections, allowing for a dual-monitor setup that doesn’t require a Thunderbolt-equipped display. It can also power a single 4K display (DisplayPort or Thunderbolt) or a DisplayPort display alongside a Thunderbolt display with a 4K resolution on the DisplayPort monitor.

This Thunderbolt 2 dock lets you connect two displays to your laptop using common DisplayPort monitors. Traditional Thunderbolt docks require that at least one of your monitors is a Thunderbolt display for dual video, which means you might need to spend extra time and money on the additional display. Because it offers two DisplayPort connections, the dock makes it easy to create a highly productive dual-video workstation, with no additional costs or inconveniences.

Along with two DisplayPorts, there are two Thunderbolt 2 connections, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and four USB 3.0 ports (one of which is Battery Charging Specification 1.2 compliant for charging devices when not connected to a laptop). It supports 5.1 digital optical audio output, line input, and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, plus an eSATA port for connecting external storage devices. Up to 12 peripherals can be connected at one time and Thunderbolt daisy chaining is supported.

The Dual-Monitor Docking Station can be purchased from StarTech for $347.99, but it’s also available from Newegg at the much lower price of $290.
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Latest iOS 9.3 Beta Unbricks iPhones Affected by ‘January 1, 1970’ Date Bug

The most recent beta of iOS 9.3, provided to developers and public beta testers earlier this week, fixes a bug that caused 64-bit iPhones and iPads to be disabled or “bricked” when the date was set to January 1, 1970.

Discovered in mid-February, the “1970” bug occurs whenever an iOS device’s date is manually set to 1970, resulting in a continuous reboot cycle. Speculation has suggested the reboot loop is the result of an integer underflow that causes the iPhone to reset the date to the maximum value, a huge number that iOS devices may be unable to process.

With iOS 9.3 beta 4, the date on the iPhone or iPad can’t be set beyond December 31, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. ET, which equates to 1/1/01 at 12:00 a.m. GMT. That effectively puts an end to the 1970 bug, which was used to trick some people into bricking their devices.

The beta also introduces a fix for devices that had been disabled by the bug. As explained on the MacRumors forums, devices stuck in boot loops were able to be restored to working order through a restore using iOS 9.3 beta 4.

This update fixed the 1970 date bug. Had two retail units stuck in boot loops do to some pricks setting the date to 1970 and restoring in DFU mode did not help. But restorting to this BETA update made both devices go back to normal.

Previously, there was no clear fix for devices that had been affected by the bug aside from disconnecting the battery, requiring users to go to the Genius Bar at an Apple retail store or attempt risky self-repairs. Apple promised a fix in an “upcoming software update,” which appears to be iOS 9.3.

iOS 9.3 is currently only available to developers and public beta testers, but we may be nearing the end of the beta testing period. Apple has said the software will debut in the spring, and it’s likely we will see it launch to the public following the company’s rumored March 15 event where it is expected to introduce the iPhone 5se, the iPad Air 3, and new Apple Watch bands.

Related Roundup: iOS 9
Tag: iOS 9.3
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Design Drawings Suggest iPhone 5se Will Look Almost Identical to iPhone 5s

Multiple rumors about the iPhone 5se have suggested the device will resemble the iPhone 5s, but its exact design has been difficult to nail down because the same rumors have also pointed towards a curved iPhone 6-style display, hinting at two design styles that don’t mix well.

Case maker’s design drawings and schematics shared today by 9to5Mac and OnLeaks (via iGen.fr) give us a clearer picture of what the iPhone 5se may look like, depicting a design nearly identical to that of the iPhone 5s.

The iPhone 5se’s dimensions are essentially the same as the dimensions of the iPhone 5s, measuring in at approximately 123.8mm tall, 58.6mm wide, and 7.6mm thick. In 9to5Mac’s rendering, created from information obtained from a case maker, the power button has been moved to the side of the device, while OnLeak’s schematic still has a power button at the top of the phone.

There’s also conflicting information provided about the camera. The schematic depicts a protruding rear camera with a pill-shaped flash, while 9to5Mac says the iPhone 5se camera matches the camera of the iPhone 5s. It is unclear which is correct, but both agree on the general design of the device.

As for rumors of an iPhone 6-style curved cover glass, the iPhone 5se is said to have a display that curves slightly at the edges, but the curve isn’t as dramatic as on Apple’s newer devices.

In line with our sources have been saying since January, the case maker tells us that the edges of the device and the front glass panel are slightly curved around the edges, but not as curved as the sides of the iPhone 6 and 6s. Schematics shown on website iGeneration also show these curves, but do not show the relocated power switch.

The iPhone 5se will reportedly come in standard iPhone colors — Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, and Gold — which will make it nearly indistinguishable from an iPhone 5s at a distance. Its similarity to an iPhone 5s may explain why we have yet to see part leaks for the device despite its imminent launch date.

Case makers often put a lot of time and resources into nailing down the design of products ahead of their launch because being first to market with accessories for a new iOS device can be quite lucrative. Design drawings and schematics aren’t accurate 100 percent of the time, but they often provide a clear look at upcoming product designs.

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 5se at an event that’s planned for March 15, with a launch set to take place just a few days later on March 18. Other features rumored for the iPhone 5se include an A9 processor, an improved camera, and NFC to enable Apple Pay.

Related Roundups: iPhone 5se, iPhone 6c
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Apple Shares Videos From Apple TV Tech Talks on Building Apps for tvOS

Starting in December, Apple hosted a series of Apple TV Tech Talks for developers interested in creating apps for the new fourth-generation Apple TV. Hosted by “Apple experts,” the Tech Talks took place in a number of cities around the world, including Toronto, Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle, Cupertino, Berlin, London, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Not all developers were able to attend as Apple distributed tickets via a lottery system, but as of today, the videos from the Tech Talks are available on Apple’s developer website.

There are 11 Tech Talk sessions available, covering the following topics:

• Session 1: Kickoff
• Session 2: Designing for Apple TV
• Session 3: Focus-Driven Interfaces with UIKit
• Session 4: Siri Remote and Game Controllers
• Session 5: On-Demand Resources and Data Storage
• Session 6: Media Playback
• Session 7: Introduction to TVMLKit
• Session 8: Best Practices for Designing tvOS Apps
• Session 9: Tuning Your tvOS App
• Session 10: The Top Shelf
• Session 11: App Store Distribution and Marketing

Each video is approximately a half hour long, with some that are as short as 20 minutes and others as long as 40 minutes. All the videos are accompanied by developer resources and full transcripts of what was covered in the session. Anyone interested in watching the videos can do so on Apple’s developer website.
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Apple Working on Security Measures to Make iOS Devices ‘It Can’t Hack’

Amid a monumental dispute with the United States government over an order to hack into the iPhone 5c of San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, The New York Times says Apple has already begun work on implementing stronger security measures “even it can’t hack” to protect iOS devices.

The FBI has asked Apple to help it brute force the passcode on Farook’s iPhone by creating a version of iOS that would both disable passcode security features and allow passcodes to be entered electronically. The new security measures Apple is working on would prevent the government from using similar passcode bypassing techniques to access iOS devices in the future.

Apple has announced its intentions to challenge the order that would force it to help the FBI, calling the software the FBI wants “too dangerous to create.” The company has also said that such software could be used to “unlock any iPhone” available today, including its most recent devices. If Apple loses the fight against the FBI and is forced to create the software in question, stronger security would ensure it could not go on to be used again.

Apple and other technology companies believe that the order to hack into the iPhone sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to a weakening of overall device encryption, something the government has denied while also pursing other court orders that would require Apple to help law enforcement extract data from 12 other encrypted iPhones.

Earlier this week, Apple called on the U.S. government to drop the case and form a commission or panel of experts on intelligence, technology, and civil liberties to discuss the implications of what the FBI is asking on national security, privacy, and personal freedoms.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Apple-FBI
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Apple CEO Tim Cook: FBI’s Backdoor Would Be ‘Software Equivalent of Cancer’

Apple CEO Tim Cook today spoke with ABC News anchor David Muir, explaining Apple’s decision to object to the court order that would require it to help the FBI break into the iPhone owned by Syed Farook, one of the shooters in the December attack in San Bernardino, California.

In the interview, Cook reiterated much of what he wrote in the open letter where he announced Apple’s plans to stand against the government and oppose the order to create a backdoor into iOS devices.

According to Cook, the software the FBI wants to use to brute force the passcode on Farook’s iPhone would be “the equivalent of cancer” that has the potential to put hundreds of millions of Apple’s customers at risk.

The only way to get information — at least currently, the only way we know — would be to write a piece of software that we view as sort of the software equivalent of cancer. We think it’s bad news to write. We would never write it. We have never written it. And that is what is at stake here.

He went on to say that the fulfilling the FBI’s request could set a precedent that eventually leads to weaker smartphone encryption. “If a court can ask us to write this piece of software, think about what else they could ask us to write,” said Cook. “I don’t know where this stops. But I do know this is not what should be happening in this country.”

Cook says Apple has cooperated fully with the FBI, giving all of the information that it could provide. He said opposing the government “doesn’t feel right” and that it’s a “very uncomfortable position.” He also expressed deep sympathy for the families impacted by the attack and said he wished the FBI had contacted Apple before changing the Apple ID password on the phone, making it impossible to get an additional iCloud backup. According to Cook, Apple first heard about the FBI’s initial filing from the press.

“We gave everything we had. We don’t know that there’s any information on the phone. We don’t know whether there is or there isn’t. And the FBI doesn’t know. What we do know is we passed all of the information that we have on the phone and to get additional information on it or at least what the FBI would like us to do now would expose hundreds of millions of people to issues.””

Cook explained that Apple is not just protecting the data on one phone, it’s protecting the data on the devices of all of its customers. He says if Apple knew a way to get the information on the phone that would not expose millions of customers to issues, the company would do it. “This is about the future,” he said. “As people understand what is at stake here, an increasing number support us.”

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: Tim Cook, Apple-FBI
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Apple Supplier Foxconn to Acquire Sharp for $6.2 Billion [Updated]

In late January it was reported that Apple supplier Foxconn made a $5.3 billion bid to purchase Japanese electronics maker Sharp. Today, Sharp has decided to accept an updated $6.2 billion takeover offer from Foxconn, reports Nikkei Asian Review.

Sharp intends to restructure its operations under the umbrella of Foxconn, although arrangements of the purchase have not yet been revealed. Sharp was facing either a buyout offer from Foxconn or support from the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, a state-backed fund that offered a roughly $2.7 billion injection and a $1.8 billion credit line.

Currently, Sharp supplies Apple with LCD displays for iPhones in addition to being a leading television maker and selling audio equipment, home appliances and more. The company has fallen on hard times recently, incurring a net loss of nearly $1.9 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2015. It also must repay $4.3 billion it had borrowed by March; Foxconn reportedly was willing to take on the debt.

It’s unclear what Foxconn’s plans for Sharp are, but the company could sell Foxconn-made electronics under the Sharp brand. The acquisition’s impact on Apple may only be near-term, as Apple is rumored to be turning to Japan Display, LG and Samsung for OLED displays in iPhones as early as 2018.

Update: Shortly after the its acquisition of Sharp was announced, Foxconn put the deal on hold after “discovering previously undisclosed liabilities.” Foxconn said it would not sign off on the deal until terms had been clarified. At issue is hundreds of billions of yen in liabilities which Sharp will need to resolve before the deal is finalized.

Tags: Foxconn, Sharp
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‘Assassin’s Creed Identity’ Released on iOS Worldwide

Ubisoft yesterday released Assassin’s Creed Identity for iPhone and iPad worldwide, following news of its highly anticipated official launch earlier this month.

The popular action role-playing game lets you create, customize, and play as Assassins during the Italian Renaissance, with story missions and quests set in the Coliseum, Florence, and other key locations of the era. The game features three classes of assassin, open sandbox levels, and various customization options.

And in a first for the franchise on iOS, Identity also allows full freedom of movement, which means players can run, jump and climb their way around the game world as they take on quests and explore various locations.

While the Assassin’s Creed brand has been on mobile in several iterations before, Identity is the first “true” Assassin’s Creed mobile game to mimic the play style of the popular console and PC games.

However, it has had something of a stuttered release until now, initially appearing in the New Zealand and Australian App Stores in September 2014 before disappearing last month. MacRumors’ sister site TouchArcade explains:

The saga began when Identity soft-launched in select countries way back in September of 2014. The game was built around quick missions that felt conducive to mobile play but it was the first Assassin’s Creed game on iOS to be built around the more traiditional open-world mechanics of the long-running console and PC game series. It was also a very free to play game with all the trappings that comes with, which just didn’t jive well with the type of game that it was.

Assassin’s Creed Identity remained in soft-launch all the way up until late last month, when it disappeared from the App Store without warning. Just a few days later it was announced that Assassin’s Creed Identity had been reconfigured as a paid title and would at long last be officially launching on February 25th.

Optimized for iPhone 5, iPad 3 and newer devices running iOS 7.0 or later, Assassin’s Creed: Identity is available on the App Store for $4.99.

You can learn more about Assassin’s Creed and other iOS games at TouchArcade.

Tags: App Store, TouchArcade
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