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Feds agree to unlock iDevices for an Arkansas prosecutor
Arkansas prosecutor Cody Hiland doesn't have to go after Apple to unlock an iPhone and an iPod belonging to two teenagers accused of killing a 66-year-old couple. According to Associated Press, the FBI has agreed to help him crack the devices open. The prosecutor believes that one of the teenagers charged of capital murder and aggravated robbery used his iPod to talk about his plan to kill the victims. He thinks he can find more evidence in the device, as well. Based on recent events, the agency could be more than capable of delivering on its promise.
The Feds are demanding that Google unlock phones as well
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) compiled and released a map of where the federal government is currently taking Apple, Google -- and in some cases, both -- to court in order to compel the companies to unlock a suspect's phone. There are reportedly 70 cases in which federal prosecutors have invoked the All Writs Act, according to court records from October. The ACLU managed to turn up 63 of them -- nine of which targeted Google; the rest, Apple.
Some iOS 9.3 users can't visit web links
As important an update as iOS 9.3 may be, it's clear that Apple still has to work out a few kinks. Some users are reporting that they can't open web links after the upgrade, whether it's in official apps (such as Mail, Messages and Safari) or, in some cases, third-party apps like Chrome. If you're affected, tapping a link either does nothing or triggers nasty crashes and freezes. Some users report having success by using other apps, toggling JavaScript off and on or uninstalling apps that use Safari extensions, but there don't appear any surefire fixes.
Apple opens pre-orders for the iPhone SE and new iPad Pro
Usually, a few days after an Apple event, I log on from Europe in the morning and wonder why so many American's are still online. That day is iPhone pre-order day. That day is today, if you're after the diminutive SE, or 9.7-inch iPad Pro, both announced on Monday. If you're set on the phone, then your choices are fairly straight forward. It's only available in (much-maligned) 16GB, and more reasonable 64GB editions costing $399 and $499 respectively -- on all four main US carriers. If you're trading up from an iPhone 5s or earlier, Apple will shave a few bucks off your payment plan, but you might be better off just selling your older handset privately.
FBI leans on forensic software maker to crack terrorist iPhone
When the Department of Justice and FBI said they'd found another way to infiltrate San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook's iPhone 5c without asking Apple to weaken its security, they raised a big question: just who was this "third party" they were talking about? We might have a good idea after today. Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth claims that the FBI is getting help from CelleBrite, an Israeli firm that specializes in phone-oriented forensic software, to extract data from Farook's phone. If the company manages to crack the contents of the device, it won't have any reason to pester Apple... about this particular iPhone, anyway.
Everything you need to know from Apple's 'Loop You In' event
Apple squeezed a surprising amount of news into an hourlong press conference, but hey -- not everyone has time to sift through the day's events. If that's you, well, we've got a handy video recap of the new/neat/off-the-wall stuff unveiled in Cupertino earlier today.
The iPhone SE is a powerful little blast from the past
We've had years to get used to the the iPhone 6 family and its curvy lines, but some people still yearn for the crisper angles -- and smaller screens -- of iPhones past. For them, Apple's new iPhone SE comes across as a sort of low-cost love letter. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Apple took most of what was special about the iPhone 6s and stuck it into a close approximation of the handsome, chamfered body made famous by the iPhone 5. I just got the chance to put the SE through its paces, and one thing seems clear from the get-go: It's a fascinating blend of old and new that will probably sell like hotcakes.
How does the SE stack up to the rest of the iPhone line?
The iPhone SE is the newest member of Apple's smartphone line, with a smaller size that makes it more pocket-friendly than either the 6s or 6s Plus. But, while the SE boasts a diminutive frame and familiar design, is that enough to make you choose it over its bigger siblings? Though you'll have to wait for our review for the ultimate verdict, we can at least compare the specs side by side to see how the SE stacks up on paper.
Apple's 4-inch iPhone SE starts at $399, arrives next week
There's a lot of love out there for the tiny iPhone 5s -- Apple says it sold over 30 million of them last year -- but there's no doubt that its 2013-era hardware is getting rusty. Enter the iPhone SE, Apple's first concerted effort at building a small phone in the age of big smartphones. It looks pretty much the same as the iPhone 5s, but it packs in the more powerful A9 and M9 chips from Apple's current flagship, the iPhone 6s. There's also an upgraded 12-megapixel camera with Live Photos and 4K video, as well as Apple Pay support (the 5S had Touch ID, but lacked the secure hardware for Apple Pay). The iPhone SE starts at $399 (£359) for the 16GB model -- Apple's cheapest iPhone pricing ever -- and there's also a 64GB model for $499 (£439).
Supreme Court will review Apple damage claims against Samsung
If Apple wants Samsung to cough up a lot of money for allegedly violating its patents, it's going to have a real fight on its hands. The US Supreme Court has agreed to review the damage claims in Apple's design patent lawsuit against Samsung, giving the Korean firm a chance to reduce the sizeable payout it'd otherwise have to make. This doesn't guarantee that Samsung will get what it wants, and this will likely postpone (if not cancel) an imminent retrial over the damages. Also, it's notable that the review won't challenge the patents themselves.
Here's what to expect from Apple's 'Loop You In' event
In just a few days, Apple is going to make headlines for more than just its hard line on encryption. The company invited the tech press to Cupertino on Monday to "loop" us in to the newest additions to its product lineup, and we'll be there live-blogging and hands-onning and generally doing what we do best. Before we board our flights and check our bags, though, let's take a few moments to run through all the things we expect to see (plus a few things we're quietly hoping for).
iOS malware uses copy protection to infect 'pure' devices
Ne'er-do-wells have so far exploited holes in Apple's FairPlay copy protection primarily to distribute pirated iOS apps, but it now looks like they're turning their energy toward hurting users. Palo Alto Networks says it has discovered AceDeceiver, the first malware that uses FairPlay to infect its targets. Install a bogus iOS management utility for Windows (Aisi Helper) and the software will launch a man-in-the middle attack that grabs app authorization codes and uses those to install infected apps on any iOS device you connect to the system. Unlike many iOS attacks, this doesn't require that the target use a jailbroken device -- the apps are allowed to run as if they were completely legitimate.
LastPass app takes the pain out of two-factor sign-ins
Many will tell you that it's wise to use two-factor authentication to lock down your internet accounts. Actually using it, however, is another story -- there's only so many times you can enter passcodes from your phone before you tear your hair out. LastPass thinks it has a better way. It's launching a LastPass Authenticator app for Android, iOS and Windows Phone that softens the blow when you have many accounts. Instead of entering a passcode to get into LastPass, you can have Authenticator send a simple verify button to sign in with one tap.
Waze helps you plan future trips based on expected traffic
Traffic can ruin your careful planning for that appointment in the 'burbs, but Waze can help with a feature called "planned drives." After you enter the destination, date and time, it will open a special screen that shows how busy your route will be at a given hour. "This takes into account expected traffic conditions based on smart algorithms, aggregated traffic history and predictive analysis," according to the Google-owned company.
Apple's response to DOJ filing in San Bernadino case: Nope!
Apple continues to refuse complying with the feds' demands to open up the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c. Cupertino has filed a reply brief in response to the DOJ's filing, stating that the government is attempting to "rewrite history by portraying the [All Writs] Act as an all-powerful magic wand rather than the limited procedural tool it is." Apple also reiterated that to comply would be dangerous to the "security and privacy of millions of citizens." Company exec Eddy Cue expressed the same sentiments in the past.
AirJamz is a wristband that turns air guitar into wear guitar
The tagline reads: "AirJamz is the wearable Air Guitar that you have to see to believe." To be fair, you probably can believe it, especially if you're familiar with Zivix. The company is best known for Jamstik, a small wireless guitar that helps you learn to shred, or play more than just axe-sounds, with your iPhone and iPad. AirJamz is for those that want to forego the whole playing part altogether, and just pretend they're slaying. Imagine Guitar Hero boiled down into a $50 wristband with an accelerometer and an app that "plays" guitar if you strum along in time and you've basically got it. We got to see it in action at SXSW, demoed by some of the world's finest fictional fretboard aficionados.
Apple schedules a March 21st event to 'loop us in'
Apple has been keen on a spring event in years past, and today Cupertino confirmed 2016 will be no different. Tim Cook & Co. will host the latest product announcement in just over a week on Monday, March 21st. Reports indicate that we may be in for a new 4-inch iPhone, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro and some Apple Watch updates. There's likely to be software news as well, and we could be in for an unexpected "one more thing," too. You can bet your biscuits we'll be there to cover the shindig, so keep an eye out for liveblog details and more ahead of the big day.
YouTube veterans want you to livestream cooking
There are plenty of cooking shows in the internet era, but they tend to be pre-recorded, passive affairs. The results are predictable, and you probably won't get to ask questions about the recipe. That's where YouTube veterans Steve Chen (who co-founded the company) and Vijay Karunamurthy think they can help. They've launched Nom, a service that's all about livestreams for cooking and eating. Think of it as a specialized, gastronomical take on Periscope. Individuals and whole teams can broadcast live video from PCs or iOS devices, take input from viewers (including images and videos), and schedule shows. They can even use two live cameras, if the budget allows.
Google Photos now shows Live Photos from your iPhone 6s
If you frequently snap Live Photos with your iPhone 6s, you now have an easy way to preserve those photo/video hybrids for the ages. A fresh Google Photos update for iOS lets you both back up and view Live Photos, so you shouldn't have to choose another cloud storage service or (gasp) resort to taking still shots. And it's still a useful update even if you aren't in a rush to get a 6s -- there's better navigation (fewer times accessing that omnipresent hamburger menu) and lower cache use when you're tight on device space. Grab it now if you're determined to keep your Live Photos for posterity.
Government using sci-fi, fantasy to justify iPhone unlocking
San Bernardino County's district attorney has made its argument as to why Apple should unlock Syed Farook's iPhone and it's, it's something. Ars Technica dug out the court filings in which officials claim that the device could have been used to introduce a "dormant cyber pathogen" onto government networks. Of course, there's no official definition of what that means, unless it's a fantastical euphemism for virus. The documents are so weirdly alarmist (and, you know, wrong) that San Bernardino itself has distanced itself from the filing.
