Tim Cook: NSA ‘Would Have to Cart Us Out in a Box’ for Access to Servers [Mac Blog]

As part of its publicity push ahead of its interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook tonight, ABC News has posted an excerpt of Cook’s discussion with ABC News reporter David Muir.

In the clip, Cook discusses the NSA’s surveillance operations and says that the Government does not have any direct access to Apple’s servers and that “they would have to cart us out in a box” for that to happen.

DAVID MUIR: “What is your biggest concern — with the surveillance program here in this country?”

TIM COOK: “I’ve been pushing very, very hard to open the books and be totally transparent. Much of what has been said isn’t true; there is no back door. The government doesn’t have access to our servers. They would have to cart us out in a box for that. And that just will not happen. We feel that — strongly about it. But I do want to be transparent, because I think transparency would help put everything in perspective.”

DAVID MUIR: “Do you think Americans, Tim, would be more at ease if you could tell them more?”

TIM COOK: “I do.”

This morning, ABC ran a longer preview of the interview during Good Morning America and the full piece will air tonight at 6:30 PM Eastern on World News with Diane Sawyer.

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.

Commemorative Posters at Apple Campus List All Former and Current Apple Employees

Apple has debuted a number of posters at its Cupertino Headquarters to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Macintosh, with every employee who has ever worked for Apple listed in the order of their badge numbers. Some employees have already located their names, including Engineering Project Manager Michael Jurewitz.

There I am! #30YearsOfMac pic.twitter.com/gQ9P1UP1CU

— Michael Jurewitz (@Jury) January 24, 2014

There are reportedly more than ten giant posters in the art installation, with tens of thousands of Apple employees named.

(Poster image courtesy @Jury)

Apple Password Management Ranked Most Secure Out of 100 E-Commerce Websites [iOS Blog]

In a comprehensive study of the password security policies of 100 e-commerce websites, Apple was the only site to receive a perfect score of 100.

Conducted by password-management company Dashlane (via Ars Technica), the Personal Data Security in E-Commerce Security Roundup [PDF] examined the password policies at various sites using 24 different criteria like acceptance of weak passwords and whether or not entry is blocked after failed attempts.

The roundup assesses the password policies of the top 100 e-commerce sites in the US by examining 24 different password criteria that Dashlane has identified as important to online security, and awarding or docking points depending upon whether a site meets a criterion or not. Each criterion is given a +/- point value, leading to a possible total score between –100 and 100 for each site.

While Apple was the only company to earn a score of 100, other companies, like Microsoft, Newegg, and Target also received high scores while Major League Baseball, Toys R Us and Aeropostale received some of the lowest scores.

The study revealed that 55 percent of online retailers accepted weak passwords like “password” or “123456″ and 51 percent made no attempt to block entry after 10 incorrect password entries. 61 percent did not provide advice on how to create a strong password, and 93 percent did not provide an on-screen password strength assessement.

Apple, however, met and exceeded all criteria as the company has notoriously stringent password rules to encourage its users to create strong passwords.

Some retailers may argue that such requirements impede user convenience, but companies such as Apple, arguably the most famous brand on the list, have shown that it is possible to be both secure and successful. In every category we tested, Apple implemented the 4 simple policies and procedures we recommend above. These policies resulted in the company being awarded the only perfect score in the study.

When a new Apple ID account is created, users must have an password with at least eight characters, one lower case letter, one capital letter, and one number. The password cannot contain multiple identical consecutive characters, it can’t be a common password, and it can’t be the same as the account name.

Apple will also rate passwords as weak, moderate, or strong and it asks users to create security questions as well. When logging into with an Apple ID, three attempts at entering the wrong password will prompt a password reset via security questions or email authentication.

As noted by Ars Technica, while the study looks at several aspects of password management, it does avoid some important criteria such as whether sites allow password entry through unencrypted HTTP password connections or allow resets via security questions.

iPhone with Sapphire Display Glass Reportedly in Trial Production

Earlier this week, an Apple patent application highlighted Apple’s interest in potentially using sapphire as a display glass cover on future iPhones, and according to a new report [Google Translate] from Taiwan’s Apple Daily, the company’s assembly partner Foxconn has begun trial production on just such a device with an initial run of 100 units.

Furnaces for sapphire glass production
The report notes that while it is a small number of devices, the production does mark a significant step in experimentation with the material on a broader scale for Apple. The report also claims that Apple’s sapphire suppliers Synopsys and Bern Optics have made significant investments in cutting machines and other equipment recently, fueling speculation that Apple is ramping up its sapphire usage. MacRumors has also heard unconfirmed word that Apple has been working with Swiss company Meyer Burger Technologies to obtain new sapphire cutting machines. Sapphire is currently used to protect the cameras on recent iPhones and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5s, but expanding its use to include display cover glass would necessitate a massive increase in sapphire production.

Last November, it was revealed that Apple had struck a deal with GT Advanced Technologies to build a sapphire production facility in Mesa, Arizona. That facility is not yet operational, however, with Apple still hiring its own staff and GT Advanced Technologies recruiting employees to perform the bulk of the work at the facility.

Sapphire has been seen as a potential successor to high-strength glass for display covers, although Corning claims that its Gorilla Glass 3 outperforms sapphire at lower cost. Apple has reportedly experimented with sapphire display covers at one point and found them infeasible, but improvements in the material and production technologies since that time may have convinced the company to revisit the possibility.

Apple Adds ‘Happy Birthday, Mac’ Section to Mac App Store [Mac Blog]

In celebration of the Mac’s 30th anniversary, Apple today added a new “Happy Birthday, Mac” section to the App Store. The section, which features apps and games from both Apple and third-party developers, is intended to “capture the spirit” of what makes the Mac extraordinary.

When the Macintosh debuted on January 24, 1984, it fundamentally changed what a computer was – and what it could do. Software developers had an incredible new playground for their imaginations, allowing them to create groundbreaking apps and games unlike any seen before. And that’s just as true of the Mac today as it was then. Celebrate the Mac’s 30th anniversary with our specially chosen assortment of apps and games that capture the spirit of what makes this computer so extraordinary.

The new Mac App Store page is divided into three separate sections: Apps Made by Apple, Unforgettable Apps, and Amazing Games. In the first section, Apple features many of its own Mac apps, including OS X Mavericks, Logic Pro X, Final Cut Pro, and its iWork and iLife suite of apps.

Unforgettable apps includes popular Mac App Store offerings like Evernote, Pixelmator, and Fantastical. There are apps from a wide range of categories like Productivity, Utilities, Graphics & Design, Photography, Reference, and more.

Apple’s Amazing Games picks include some of the best selling titles in the Mac App Store, like BioShock Infinite and the recently released Tomb Raider. While the new Mac section does not offer any particular deals, it is a solid collection of high-quality apps for the Mac.

Along with the apps, Apple also includes a link to its homepage, which is currently featuring a tribute to the Mac with a visual timeline and a “Mac 30” video that looks at the Mac’s past and present.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the day Steve Jobs first introduced the Mac at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California. Along with a new Mac App Store section and a tribute on its website, Apple is celebrating the milestone with a number of interviews. Several Apple executives discussed the Mac with Macworld yesterday and Tim Cook did an interview with ABC, which will air tonight.

Teardown of Original Macintosh 128K Shows How the Mac Has Progressed [Mac Blog]

In honor of the Mac’s 30th anniversary today, iFixit has partnered with Cult of Mac and The Vintage Mac Museum to tear down an original Macintosh 128K. Analysis of the well-known vintage hardware obviously reveals no surprises, but does highlight just how far technology has come in the past 30 years.

Thirty years of progress yields some impressive changes to input peripherals. Keyboards and mice are now wireless, thinner, and comprised mainly of sturdy, non-yellow metal.

And we now have arrow keys! In typical Apple fashion, they ditched the arrows on the original Mac to force people to use the mouse, a strange new accessory at the time.

The engineering of the Macintosh 128K reflects the do-it-yourself culture from which this Mac emerged. Unlike the current Mac models, the 128K is relatively easy to repair, earning a repairability score of 7 out of 10. Most main components, with the exception of RAM, are user replaceable and easy to access since adhesive was not used in the assembly process. Deep-set case screws and electrocution hazards from power supplies are the biggest hindrances to a self-repair.

Originally released as the Apple Macintosh, the Macintosh 128K was unveiled thirty years ago by Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984 at the company’s annual stockholders meeting. The presentation showcased the computer’s then revolutionary graphical UI and speech technology.

Incipio and AT&T Debut ‘Cashwrap’ iPhone Payment Case With NFC [iOS Blog]

Incipio and AT&T have partnered to produce the Cashwrap Mobile Wallet Case, which is an iPhone case that supports NFC and the Isis Mobile Wallet, allowing its users to pay with their smartphones at participating stores.

The Isis Mobile Wallet is an app designed to let users make payments with their phones. The mobile app works with Android apps without the need for a case, but because the iPhone does not support NFC, customers who wish to use Isis will need the Cashwrap case.

Using the Incipio Cashwrap™ Case, consumers with an iPhone 4, 4S, 5, and 5S can utilize the Isis Mobile Wallet® to pay and save at stores with just a tap of their smartphone. The Isis Mobile Wallet holds participating payment and loyalty cards, as well as offers. The Incipio® Cashwrap™ Mobile Wallet Case is the only Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile solution for iPhone 5/5s.

The case comes in a variety of color combinations and includes both a secure element microNFC and a Micro-USB cable. Users will also need the free Isis app and a supported account from Wells Fargo, Chase, American Express, and more.

The Cashwrap Mobile Wallet Case can be purchased from the AT&T website for $69.99 and will be in AT&T stores beginning on January 31.

Apple May Be Forced to Unlock 4G on All Compatible Belgian iPhones [iOS Blog]

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has announced federal government approval of a bill that prevents electronics manufacturers from blocking 4G on compatible devices (via De Standaard). The bill was proposed by Economy Minister Johan Vande Lanotte in response to consumer complaints, and as a result, Apple may be forced to enable 4G connectivity on all 4G-compatible iPhone handsets sold in Belgium, regardless of carrier.

The ruling marks a big win for Belgian consumers, who complain Apple is playing favorites by only enabling 4G access for customers who purchase iPhones from the manufacturer’s commercial partner Mobistar. Mobistar recently launched its 4G network and its coverage is still expanding.

Other carriers like Proximus and Base have active 4G networks, but have been unable to secure 4G approval from Apple, and customers who purchase a 4G-capable iPhone 5/5s/5c from these other carriers are limited to 3G service. This block only affects iPhone owners as Android owners with a 4G handset can access 4G services on all three major wireless carriers.

Apple may face stiff penalties if it fails to comply with the terms of this bill.

(Thanks, Pauline!)

Tim Cook Discusses Apple’s Cuture of Secrecy, Sapphire, and More in ABC News Interview

In honor of today’s thirtieth anniversary of the introduction of the Macintosh, Apple CEO Tim Cook and executives Craig Federighi and Bud Tribble recently sat down for an interview with ABC News. ABC’s David Muir was a guest on Good Morning America this morning, where he introduced a short preview of the interview, which airs in full tonight.

In the clip, Muir talked candidly to the trio of executives about Apple’s culture of secrecy, the company’s plans for its Arizona sapphire manufacturing plant and the iWatch. Cook was forthcoming in the interview about his work habits and Apple’s rumored black curtains, but as usual he adeptly deflected questions about Apple’s future product roadmap.

The full interview will air tonight at 6:30 PM on World News with Diane Sawyer.