Apple unsettled by the UK’s draft surveillance bill

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s position on encryption is pretty clear: it’s important and shouldn’t be weakened with so-called “backdoors” that would give governments open access to communications. Now, the company has emphasised its stance yet again in a written response to the UK’s draft Investigatory Powers Bill, a new piece of legislation that seeks to collate, clarify and extend the surveillance capabilities from previous laws.

According to The Guardian, Apple’s submission to the Joint Select Committee, which is currently evaluating the draft bill, reads:

“We believe it would be wrong to weaken security for hundreds of millions of law-abiding customers so that it will also be weaker for the very few who pose a threat. In this rapidly evolving cyber-threat environment, companies should remain free to implement strong encryption to protect customers.”

But it’s unclear exactly how the Investigatory Powers Bill would affect encryption. In the opening section of the draft legislation, published in November, the UK’s Home Office says there will be no “additional requirements in relation to encryption” above what is already set out in RIPA, the UK’s primary piece of surveillance legislation. That law requires companies, when served with a notice tied to an interception warrant, to hand over customer data in a readable, preferably decrypted format. That’s reliant on the company actually having that capability, which Apple doesn’t — at least not for iMessage, which uses end-to-end encryption.

In its submission, Apple is said to have highlighted a passage in the draft bill that would, it believes, give the UK government the power to forcibly alter iMessage. This, it argues, would break encryption and finally allow agencies like GCHQ to access private communications. Apple’s concerns could be referencing the “technical capability notice” that’s mentioned in the new draft bill. Such a request could include “the removal of electronic protection applied by a relevant operator to any communications or data.” The full extent of that wording remains unclear, however. Would it stop companies from offering end-to-end encryption in the first place? Or would it mean, like now, that it’s only valid if the company in question has the ability to remove such protections?

Apple seems concerned that it would lead to required “backdoors.” Its submission reportedly reads: “The creation of backdoors and intercept capabilities would weaken the protections built into Apple products and endanger all our customers. A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too.”

These comments echo what Tim Cook has said in recent interviews with the Telegraph and the CBS TV program 60 Minutes.

The Guardian says Apple has also slammed the government’s proposals which make clear, for the first time, the powers that UK law enforcement agencies have to hack phones and computers. The draft bill includes “a new obligation” to “assist in giving effect to equipment interference warrants.” Again, the full extent of this power is unclear, but it could mean that the government would be able to force a company like Apple to tinker with its hardware or software. It reportedly told the Committee:

“It would place businesses like Apple – whose relationship with customers is in part built on a sense of trust about how data will be handled – in a very difficult position.”

The company’s full, eight-page report should eventually be published by the Joint Select Committee, giving us a better understanding of its complaints and how they relate to specific passages in the bill. The BBC says Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Twitter have filed responses too, most likely with some similar concerns. They’ll add to the chorus of companies that are questioning not just the feasibility of the bill’s proposals, but the wording and how each policy would work in practice.

Source: The Guardian, The BBC

Apple Confirms 12-Inch MacBook Shown on ’60 Minutes’ as Fake ‘iPhone 7’ Video Surfaces

Apple has confirmed to Tech Insider that the notebook pictured behind Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell during the 60 Minutes special Inside Apple is the 12-inch MacBook released in April, debunking some users on Reddit and social media who speculated the notebook could be an ultra-thin MacBook Pro.

12-inch MacBook pictured behind Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell (Image: CBS)

The chances of Apple leaving an unreleased MacBook in plain sight for a national TV program were slim to begin with, especially in a room full of Apple’s top executives. In a later segment, Apple even covered desks in its secretive design studio so that cameras could not capture what the company is working on next.

The rumor mill is also abuzz after a fake “iPhone 7” leaked video circulated on Chinese social media overnight. The exact source of the sketchy video is unknown, but it falsely depicts an alleged Foxconn employee handling a purported next-generation iPhone prototype that seemingly lacks a home button.

The staged video shows a metallic device with an Apple logo, but it is noticeably thicker than the iPhone 6s and includes regulatory information that is questionable for such an early prototype. The prototype more closely resembles an HTC One M9 with thin bezels along the top and bottom of the screen.

Foxconn has been the source of iPhone leaks in the past, including the iPhone 6 rear shell and dimensions, but it is unlikely Apple has provided the supplier with an assembled “iPhone 7” prototype over nine months ahead of its expected release. No other physical components for the next-generation iPhone have leaked to date.

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Apple Criticizes Proposed UK ‘Investigatory Powers’ Surveillance Bill

Apple today spoke out against the UK’s proposed Investigatory Powers bill, expressing concern that it would “weaken security” for millions of law-abiding customers, reports The Guardian. Apple added that in a “rapidly-evolving cyber-threat environment,” technology companies should be allowed to “implement strong encryption to protect customers.

Introduced last month by UK home secretary Theresa May, the Investigatory Powers bill allows for the bulk collection of website records by law enforcement agencies. It requires web and phone companies to store records of websites visited by every UK citizen for 12 months, and it has provisions that would require technology companies to build in backdoors or help bypass encryption on devices to allow access to information.

Apple and other technology companies believe the implementation of such a bill could inspire other countries to adopt similar measures. In a letter written to the parliamentary committee looking over the bill, Apple expressed concern about the scope of the bill and asked for changes to be made before it’s passed. In its current incarnation, Apple worries the bill could give the UK government enough power to demand changes to the way iMessage works, ending the encryption that makes it inaccessible even to Apple.

“The creation of backdoors and intercept capabilities would weaken the protections built into Apple products and endanger all our customers. A key left under the doormat would not just be there for the good guys. The bad guys would find it too.”

Apple went on to say the legislation could cause businesses to have to deal with a set of “overlapping foreign and domestic laws” that will “inevitably conflict” and lead to the risk of sanctions. UK agencies could, for example, ask for information stored in data centers in other countries, infringing on that country’s data protection laws. “That is an unreasonable position to be placed in,” Apple wrote.

Other technology companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo, also plan to submit evidence to the parliamentary committee in the hope of getting the proposed bill changed.

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.
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App Store Holiday Sales: Final Fantasy VII, Lara Croft GO, Notability and More

Ahead of Apple’s annual iTunes Connect winter shutdown starting tomorrow, a number of developers have discounted their paid apps and games on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch this week.

The holiday savings should be locked in place until Apple resumes accepting app submissions and updates on December 29. Apps on sale include Final Fantasy VII, Lara Croft GO, Scanner Pro, This War of Mine and more.

Apps on Sale

There are dozens of other iOS apps discounted for the holidays beyond those listed above. Keep track on our sister website AppShopper.

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New ‘Apple Museum’ in Prague Shows Off Largest Private Collection of Apple Products

A newly opened Apple Museum in Prague is showing off the largest private collection of Apple products, housing Macs, iOS devices, and other Apple paraphernalia from 1976 to 2012. The museum opened its doors last Thursday, and an inside look has been shared on Imgur.

Located in a renovated historical building, the exterior windows of the Apple Museum are decorated with quotes from Steve Jobs, artistic product arrangements, and one popular quote of unknown origin.

Three apples changed the world. The first tempted Eve, the second inspired Newton, and the third was offered to the world half eaten by Steve Jobs.

Included is an Apple Lisa, which is one of 100,000 made, an Apple II, and several other older Mac and NeXT Computer products. One section displays a range of printers Apple produced, while another houses iterations of the PowerMac and iMac and a third includes different iBook, PowerBook, and MacBook models.

Little known Apple accessories like the Apple camera are on display, and there’s an entire section dedicated to the complete iPod family, including the special edition Beatles box set sold in 2008 for $795. Each version of the iPhone and iPad, starting with the original 2007 and 2010 models, is also shown off on dedicated tables in order of release.

Miscellaneous products, papers, contracts, and other small odds and ends from Steve Jobs’ time at Apple, NeXT Computer, and Pixar are available at the museum, as are mementos from his early life, including a high school yearbook. The full assortment of images is available on Imgur and is well worth checking out for those who won’t be able to visit the museum in person.

According to the Prague Post, there are more than 12,000 meters of computer cabling installed in the museum, which students from the Czech Technical University helped assemble. Also on the site is a bistro that includes all raw vegan foods, in honor of Steve Jobs’ preferred diet, and there’s an interactive space for children.

Tickets for the Apple Museum are available from the Apple Museum website for 11 euros. The site also includes details about the creation of the museum, the history of Apple, and will offer a 3D tour, information on Steve Jobs’ diet, and products to purchase in the future.

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Astropad App Updated With Support for iPad Pro, Apple Pencil

Astropad, the app designed to turn the iPad or iPhone into a graphics tablet for the Mac, was today updated with support for Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil accessory.

For those unfamiliar with Astropad, it works alongside an accompanying Mac app to mirror the Mac’s display to the iPad, allowing the iPad’s touch screen and controls to be used for editing photos and creating art in Mac apps like Lightroom and Photoshop.

With today’s update, Astropad has been optimized for the large screen of the iPad Pro, and it’s gained features specifically implemented for the Apple Pencil. There’s advanced stroke tuning to remote stray points for better stroke quality, tilt support for more accurate brush simulation, and a custom pressure curve designed with the Apple Pencil in mind.

For all users, latency has been reduced, especially for Macs with dual graphics cards, and image quality has been improved.

Astropad Graphics Tablet can be downloaded from the App Store for $19.99. [Direct Link]

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Apple and Ericsson Settle Litigation With Global Patent License Agreement

Ericsson announced today that it has reached a seven-year global patent cross licensing agreement with Apple for standard-essential technologies, including GSM, UMTS and LTE cellular standards, thereby settling all litigation between the two technology companies.

Apple will make an upfront payment to Ericsson and continue paying royalties on an ongoing basis. The terms of the agreement are confidential, but investment bank ABG Sundal Collier believes Apple could be charged around 0.5% of iPhone and iPad revenue, per Reuters.

The licensing agreement applies to several technology areas, including 5G development, video network traffic management and wireless network optimization, and grants certain other undisclosed patent rights. The deal ends all litigation before the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. District Courts and European courts.

“We are pleased with this new agreement with Apple, which clears the way for both companies to continue to focus on bringing new technology to the global market, and opens up for more joint business opportunities in the future,” said Kasim Alfalahi, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson.

Apple originally filed suit against Ericsson in January 2015, arguing that it was demanding excessive royalties for patents not essential to LTE standards. Ericsson countersued in a Texas courtroom just hours later, seeking an estimated $250 to $750 million in annual royalties for Apple to continue licensing its patented wireless technologies. Apple declined to honor those demands.

Ericsson subsequently sued Apple again in February 2015 for allegedly infringing 41 wireless-related patents that it believed to be critical to the functionality of products such as the iPhone and iPad. At the time, Ericsson filed two complaints with the U.S. ITC in an effort to secure a U.S. sales ban on infringing products, in addition to filing seven complaints with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The U.S. ITC agreed to launch an investigation into the Apple-Ericsson patent infringement claims in March 2015, and Ericsson extended the lawsuit to Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in May 2015, but today’s agreement precedes any courtroom rulings.

Ericsson is the world’s largest provider of mobile network equipment and holds over 35,000 patents related to 2G, 3G and 4G wireless technologies. Ericsson’s cellular technology patents are considered essential and are subject to fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND).

Apple’s previous licensing deal with Ericsson signed in 2008 expired in January 2015.

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60 Minutes Airs ‘Inside Apple’ Special Providing Close Look at Company

60 Minutes on Sunday aired an Inside Apple special with correspondent Charlie Rose that included interviews with a number of Apple’s senior executives alongside closer looks at Apple’s secretive design studio, camera lab, mock next-generation Apple Store and under construction Campus 2 project.

Watch “Inside Apple, Part One” (Image: CBS)

Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed a wide range of topics with Rose, starting with the legacy of co-founder Steve Jobs. “This is Steve’s company,” said Cook. “This is still Steve’s company. It was born that way, it’s still that way. And so his spirit I think will always be the DNA of this company.”

Rose then accompanied Apple design chief Jony Ive for a rare look inside Apple’s secretive design studio, where a team of 22 designers work on the future of Apple products. Apple covered many of the desks to ensure Rose could not see what the company is working on next.

Ive explained how he prototyped the Apple Watch, beginning with a sketch of the watch casing transformed into a 3-dimensional electronic blueprint sent to a high-precision CNC machine for milling. The watch casing is then sanded and polished by hand by veteran craftsmen at Apple.

Rose and Ive inside Apple’s secretive design studio (Image: CBS)

The design chief also reflected on the complex engineering process that was required to create Apple’s new 12-inch MacBook, including working with Apple’s head of hardware engineering Dan Riccio to create the custom-shaped terraced battery that fits inside the notebook’s ultra-thin enclosure.

The segment revealed that Apple senior director Graham Townsend leads a team of 800 engineers and specialists working on the iPhone’s camera. Townsend showed Rose a micro suspension system that stabilizes the camera when its owner’s hand shakes, and explained how Apple engineers calibrate the camera. Read more

Apple Stores to Begin Selling Accessibility Accessories in Early 2016

Apple is rumored to begin selling accessibility-related accessories and peripherals in its retail stores sometime in early 2016. The report, from Mac Otakara [Google Translate], states that the new iOS- and OS X-supported devices will go on sale between January and March of next year.

No specific hint was given as to what kind of peripherals users can expect to find within an Apple Store once accessibility products go on sale at the company’s retail locations. Apple has been a big supporter of accessibility on the software side for years now, offering features such as Grayscale, AssistiveTouch, VoiceOver, accessibility shortcuts, and more.

Apple’s various accessibility efforts even earned it the Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind back in May.

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