Reported in Bloomberg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irS_zBKHbgU
Apple is quietly working on artificial intelligence tools that could challenge those of OpenAI, Alphabet's Google and others. Mark Gurman reports in "Bloomberg Markets." ...
They were firstquick to add an App ... on their phones. And making it easy to link to Siri.
Which I have often use for accessing ChatGPT.
Is seen by some as an abandonment of Siri? Somehow don't think so ...
Pricey indeed, likely first specialty applications.
Vision Pro: Apple's new augmented reality headset unveiled By Tom Gerken & James Clayton at Apple Park in California in BBC News
Apple has unveiled a much-anticipated augmented reality headset, Apple Vision Pro, in its first major hardware launch for almost a decade.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said the new headset "seamlessly blends the real world and the virtual world".
The tech firm also announced its latest iPhone operating system, as well as updates to MacBook Air.
The headset has a two-hour battery life, costs $3,499 (£2,849) and will be released early next year in the US.
The cost is considerably more than virtual reality headsets currently on the market. Last week Meta announced its Quest - which costs $449.
Apple said little about generative artificial intelligence - the buzzy technology that is the talk of Silicon Valley.
The company's share price fell slightly during the announcement, made at a developer's conference at Apple Park, the company's headquarters, in Cupertino, California.
The BBC is among the media outlets at the event, but has yet to try out the new device.
'Ski goggles'
Apple Vision Pro looks different to similar headsets on the market - and is more reminiscent of a pair of ski goggles than a virtual reality headset.
Apple used the phrase "augmented reality" to describe what the new device does.
Augmented reality, also known as mixed reality, superimposes virtual objects in the world around us - enabling us to mix reality with virtual reality by looking through a screen.
Users can access apps, watch movies, and write documents in a virtual world. But so far, there is little evidence of a big market for this kind of wearable tech.
Hartley Charlton, senior editor of MacRumors, was unsure how much the headset would appeal to the general public.
"It won't appeal to mainstream consumers at first on account of its extremely high price point and immediate shortcomings as a first-generation device," he said, "such as its separate wired battery pack."
But he said Apple has a track record of "overcoming scepticism" about new devices, and has historically encouraged people to "part with their cash to add a new gadget to their repertoire".
Still waiting for the possibilities in a number of domains.
Apple Glasses: Everything We Know
Thursday April 13, 2023 3:58 PM PDT by Juli Clover
For several years, rumors suggested that Apple would follow its mixed reality AR/VR headset with a set of lighter weight augmented reality "Apple Glasses" that would launch sometime around 2024.
Apple Glasses Purple Feature
Rumors have shifted and the Apple Glasses project is on hold, though Apple still has plans to release the technology in the future. This guide aggregates everything that we know about the Apple Glasses so far, but be warned that this is a project that is several years out.
Apple Glasses Design
The Apple Glasses are supposed to be more of an everyday wearable product than the headset, and they will resemble traditional glasses.
The glasses are said to look similar to regular glasses, with lenses that have built-in displays that can be interacted with using gestures.
Apple was rumored to be planning to use Sony's microOLED displays that feature an ultra-fast response rate, ultra-high contrast, a wide color gamut, high luminance, low reflectance, and integrated drivers for a thin and light design.
Leaker Jon Prosser claimed that the glasses will look similar to Ray-Ban Wayfarers or the glasses that Tim Cook wears, while Bloomberg said a prototype Apple developed resembles high-end sunglasses with thick frames that house the battery and chips.
iPhone Reliance
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested the Apple Glasses would be marketed as an iPhone accessory, serving as a connected display while offloading computing, networking, and positioning to the iPhone.
Apple was said to be planning to sell the glasses for somewhere around $499, with prescription lenses available for an additional cost.
Development Delay
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has postponed development on the Apple Glasses because of technical difficulties. Apple has not been able to develop the hardware required for a lightweight wearable with the power of an iPhone and enough battery life to run it.
Work on the device has been scaled back, but has not been stopped entirely. Apple is said to see the Apple Glasses as a product that could one day replace the iPhone.
Launch Date
The Apple Glasses are expected to launch in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest.
!! Update: Surprisingly, you can now log into ChatGPT on the Iphone, works well so far, BASICS free ..... Testing Further >>> Update: The basic system does stall occasionally, to the point of me having to reboot the phone. ...
Interesting, and now it seems that Apple in IOS 7 they appear to be including ChatGPT access to a Language model and even beyond. Being tested. That would be interesting.
See Here: https://apps.apple.com/app/openai-chatgpt/id6448311069
Begs other questions: Will Apple add its own Generative AI? Integration with Siri? Novel capabilities to be added.
What are Apple’s plans for generative AI? Tim Cook wants to be ‘thoughtful’
Sean Michael Kerner @TechJournalist
Join top executives in San Francisco on July 11-12, to hear how leaders are integrating and optimizing AI investments for success. Learn More
On a string of recent earnings calls from big tech companies including Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon, generative AI was heralded as a big push for the future.
On Apple’s second-quarter earnings call on May 4, unlike his counterparts at other large technology vendors, CEO Tim Cook did not include any comments about artificial intelligence in his prepared opening remarks.
For the record, it was another strong quarter for Apple that topped analysts’ expectations with revenue coming in at $94.8 billion.Join us in San Francisco on July 11-12, where top executives will share how they have integrated and optimized AI investments for success and avoided common pitfalls.
During the question-and-answer session with analysts, Cook was asked by analyst Shannon Cross of Credit Suisse for the Apple CEO’s take on generative AI overall, and more specifically on how the technology will fit into Apple’s products.
Cook provided few details, keeping to Apple’s long-standing strategy of retaining a high degree of security about its future efforts.
“As you know, we don’t comment on product roadmaps,” Cook said.
Apple will take a deliberate and thoughtful approach to generative AI
Though Cook declined to comment on future products, he did provide insight into how Apple is thinking about AI and how it will fit into the company’s products and services.
“I do think it’s very important to be deliberate and thoughtful in how you approach these things,” Cook said. “And there’s a number of issues that need to be sorted, as is being talked about in a number of different places, but the potential is certainly very interesting.”
Cook did not elaborate on the specific issues, though there is no shortage of topics being discussed in the industry at large about the impact and risks of AI.
There are ongoing industry conversations about bias in how AI analyzes and generates content. There are also issues around AI explainability — organizations need to be able to explain how a model generated a certain result. Issues around safety and risks to society at large are a topic that the Biden administration is now tackling with a set of initiatives announced this week as well.
AI is already part of Apple products
Apple is certainly no stranger to AI.
The Siri voice assistant makes use of natural language processing (NLP) across Apple products including Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac computers and HomePod devices, to help users execute tasks. AI is deeply integrated into the company’s iOS software as well, with capabilities such as Deep Fusion for improving image quality. In 2021, Apple hired Samy Bengio, a former leader of Google’s AI efforts, to help Apple build out its own.
“We’ve obviously made enormous progress integrating AI and machine learning throughout our ecosystem and we weaved it into products and features for many years,” Cook said.
Cook also noted that AI is present in features found on iPhones and Apple Watches today, including fall detection, crash detection and electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality.
“These things are not only great features, they’re saving people’s lives out there,” Cook said. “We view AI as huge and we’ll continue weaving it in our products on a very thoughtful basis.” .... '
Health Coaching, Easy?
Apple Said to Be Developing an AI Heath Coach
Codenamed Quartz, the monthly subscription service will guide users through their exercise, diet, and sleep-related goals.
By Adrianna Nine April 28, 2023
Apple is reportedly working on bringing AI to its devices to coach users through their health goals. Bloomberg chief correspondent Mark Gurman, known best for his reliable Apple reporting, wrote Tuesday that the Cupertino-based company was developing a new bid to convert and maintain users interested in health-related features.
Referred to internally as Quartz, the service offers users tips and motivation for exercise, eating habits, and sleep. Quartz will pair user data gleaned from the Apple Watch with its custom AI to “make suggestions and create coaching programs tailored to specific users,” according to Gurman’s sources. Users must pay a monthly subscription fee to use Quartz, which will have its own exclusive app.
Though Apple declined to comment when Gurman asked about the service, insiders said the company will likely roll out Quartz sometime in 2024. (Like virtually any release window, this is always subject to change.) In the interim, Apple is expected to introduce an iPad version of the iPhone Health app under iPadOS 17 this fall. The app will allow users to visualize their health data in larger formats, which are valuable for spotting long-term trends and reading electrocardiogram (ECG) results. Users can also start tracking their emotions in either version of the app by answering mood-related questions and comparing how they’ve felt over longer periods. ...'
Like the idea, But how easy will it be? Lots of dated rumor out there, warning.
You might be able to write your own Apple AR/VR headset apps
Includes link to a podcast in TechRadar, By David Nield
The long-rumored Apple AR/VR headset might possibly, at last, be launching later this year – and we've got a new set of leaks around app development for it, hinting that everyone will be able to create augmented reality experiences on this device.
According to sources speaking to The Information(opens in new tab) (via MacRumors(opens in new tab)), Apple is working on software development tools to make the app creation process as straightforward as possible. The more apps get built, the more appealing the headset will be.
These tools mean that even consumers could build their own apps through Siri, the report says: so you could just describe the experience that you wanted to see in augmented reality, and Siri would interpret your commands and build it for you.
One of the examples mentioned in the article is being able to build an app showing virtual animals walking around a room, just by describing it to Siri. No coding or computer graphic design skills would be required to put it together.
It's worth noting that the information sourced in the story is from 2021, so it might be a little outdated at this stage – and it's obviously unconfirmed and unofficial to begin with. However, it's logical that Apple would want to make app development as easy as it can.
The report also mentions that Apple is working on AR content for the headset, with health and wellness a priority. One potential use of the device is as a meditation aid, enabling users to sit in digitally generated, calming scenes of their choosing. .... '
Meanings of disruption unclear, both are acquiring some key technologies. Same with Microsoft.
Apple and Google are both at their biggest risk of disruption in over a decade By Matt Weinberger Jan 13, 2023, 3:44 PM in BusinessInsider
This year, Apple and Google will both face their first real tests in a very long time.
Apple could finally open its walled garden, potentially disrupting the App Store juggernaut.
The rise of ChatGPT threatens Google's stranglehold over search — and its ad business.
Over the last few years, it's often felt like the tech industry was on cruise control.
Each innovation — folding screens, 5G, even the blockchain and cryptocurrency — failed to shake a sense that the future of tech is moving forward incrementally rather than exponentially. Google has spent the last decade-plus guarding its advertising business; Apple has built as many moats around its all-important iPhone business as possible, happily collecting App Store fees and Apple Music subscriptions.
Now, though, both businesses are about to face what are arguably their most existential threats to date. And while it's far too soon to write a eulogy for either company, you will see Apple and Google swiftly move to play defense in a way neither has had to in recent memory.
For Apple, regulatory pressure worldwide seems to have finally cracked its infamous walled garden, as new rules threaten to undermine its App Store hegemony. The timing is especially interesting, as Apple is said to be preparing to launch a new set of smart glasses poised to extend the App Store's hold over consumers and developers alike for a new generation of computing. ... '
Emerging, evolving gear comesfrom game world, will this be seen seriously in industry?
VR headset prices high as Apple bides its time
Published 14 hours ago in BBC, By Zoe Kleinman Technology editor
Last week in Las Vegas I boxed, hunted for cute aliens, flew a laser-shooting robot and drew my own masterpiece - all in virtual reality.
Some of the headsets I used to try out these experiences cost almost twice as much as the smartphone we used to snap the photo above. Arguably they have a lot less functionality, for now at least. So are they worth it?
HTC's new Vive XR Elite, out next month, will cost £1,299 or $1,099. Meta's Quest Pro launched a couple of months ago, priced at £1,499 or $1,499.
Meta declined to tell us how many it has sold so far, but my guess is not that many. It is aimed at businesses and (wealthy) early-adopters, designed to be a teaser for Meta's vision of the future, rather than a bestseller.
Evolving hardware
The hardware involved in VR has often been described as off-putting and, to be fair, it once was. Early headsets were renowned for being clunky and heavy, and many required tethering by cables to a high-end PC, powerful enough to process the graphics.
These new headsets are comparatively lighter and far more portable. The Vive XR Elite folds up into a case about the size of a tub of peanuts.
HTC's newer headsets come with a clever little bit of internal design - you can adjust the lenses to correct common vision impairments, which is good news for short-sighted people like me who do not enjoy wearing glasses and a headset at the same time. ... '
Retagging our Reality:
In Engadget:
By Mariella Moon|@mariella_moon|December 2, 2022 8:05 AM
Apple has internally changed the name of its upcoming mixed reality headset's accompanying software from "realityOS" to "xrOS," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As the reporter notes, the new name better represents the software's capabilities: "XR," after all, stands for extended reality, and the headset is expected to have both augmented and virtual reality features.
In addition to the internal name change, Gurman says a shell corporation named Deep Dive LLC has also filed a trademark for the brand "xrOS" in the US and in other countries, including ones in the European Union and in Asia, the UK, Australia, Mexico, Ukraine, Japan and Canada. In its application, Deep Dive wrote that it's applying for a trademark for "head-mounted displays" and devices that provide "virtual reality and augmented reality experiences." Apple hasn't confirmed whether it's behind this filing.
Earlier this year, though, Vox Media product manager Parker Ortolani found a patent application for "realityOS" filed by a shell company called Realityo Systems LLC. Bloomberg also reported back in August that yet another shell company with a different name filed applications for "Reality One," "Reality Pro" and "Reality Processor." ... ' '
Big Players and more Meta Reality Hype and Prep
Apple Is Now Calling Its AR/VR Headset Operating System ‘xrOS’
By Josh Norem on December 5, 2022 in ExtremeTech
Apple seems to be getting close to the launch of its much-hyped AR/VR headset, as it’s reportedly settled on a name for the operating system. Noted Apple soothsayer Mark Gurman is reporting it’s going to be xrOS. This is shorthand for “extended reality,” as opposed to strictly augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR). Previously it was believed to be called realityOS, but Apple has allegedly ditched that for a shorter name, the report said. (The Bloomberg article is paywalled and was summarized by MacRumors.)
The device will be Apple’s first new product since the Apple Watch, which debuted in 2015. The new naming confirms Apple’s plans to follow in the footsteps of the Meta Quest Pro by offering mixed, or extended, reality. That approach will allow the user to experience both VR, a fully digital world, and AR, virtual objects overlaid with reality. This is seen as a more flexible offering than just sticking with one technology. Current headsets like the Meta Quest 2 and Valve Index are strictly VR headsets. ... '
Been asked to give some Comment on Supply Chain Aspects of Chip Availability. Comments?
TSMC to Produce 4nm Chips at Arizona Fab in 2024 By Josh Norem on December 2, 2022 in ExtremeTech
It was previously reported that Apple has been urging TSMC to begin producing some of its more advanced chips in America. This would allow Cupertino to claim it’s using American-made silicon in its devices, a first for Apple. A new report confirms this will indeed be happening, but TSMC won’t be making 3nm chips at first, contrary to earlier reports. Instead, it will be focusing on its N4 process, which should be online in 2024. By then, that will be far from bleeding-edge technology, but the company will eventually produce 3nm chips in Arizona as well.
News of TSMC’s plans comes from notable Apple reporter Mark Gurman and company of Bloomberg. Previously TSMC was expected to start production of 5nm chips in Arizona, but it has apparently jettisoned that notion in favor of N4 production, which is a more advanced version of its process. It still falls under the 5nm family of products but offers improved efficiency and performance. The company is investing $12 billion into the fab in order to get production started by 2024. It will reportedly announce its plans next week during a presser with President Joe Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Apple CEO Tim Cook will be at the event as well.... '
Fees for crypto transfers
Coinbase removes NFT transfers from iOS app following dispute with Apple
By Duncan Riley in SiliconAngle
Coinbase Inc. is the latest company to have issues with Apple and its App Store policies, claiming that it has been forced to remove nonfungible token transfers from its iOS wallet because Apple wants a cut of the transfer fees.
Nonfungible tokens, better known as NFTs, rose to popularity in late 2020. Although interest in them has dropped precipitously, there is still an active market for buying and selling them. Most NFTs reside on the Ethereum blockchain and transfers on the blockchain require “gas,” a transaction fee, to make a transfer. It’s a fee that all users may pay to perform any function on the Ethereum blockchain.
Apple, for unclear reasons, now thinks it’s entitled to a 30% cut of the gas fee of any NFTs transferred using Coinbase. The case is unlike other disputes with Apple wherein developers, most notably Epic Games Ltd., argue that Apple’s 30% cut is unfair. At least when buying items in “Fortnite,” Apple is taking a cut out of Epic Games’ profits. There’s nothing to take from Coinbase because it’s not a fee it receives, keeps or profits from.
“For anyone who understands how NFTs and blockchains work, this is clearly not possible,” Coinbase wrote in a tweet. “Apple’s proprietary In-App Purchase system does not support crypto, so we couldn’t comply even if we tried.” .... '
Commercial partnerships examined.
Will Apple find more room to grow inside of Target?
14 EXPERT COMMENTS
by Matthew Stern in Retailwire
Target is expanding its partnership with Apple so that more people looking for Apple products at the general merchandise retailer can have an experience closer to what they would get at the Apple store.
The Apple at Target store-within-a-store concept is now operating in 150 Target store locations, according to a press release. The current count represents a threefold increase from the begnning of the year.
The concept dedicates twice as much selling space to Apple products than are usually found in Target stores. The shops are staffed by Apple-trained Target tech consultants.
Along with the expansion of the brick-and-mortar relationship, Target is giving Target Circle members four free months of trial access to Apple Fitness+ and will be offering deals on other Apple services, as well.
Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Target, called Apple at Target another reason for customers to “choose Target for all their shopping and tech service needs.”
Target has had a great deal of success with other store-within-a-store partnerships.
Its partnership with Starbucks, which began in 1999, is not only still in operation but has scaled to more than 1,300 of Target’s 1,900 locations, according to an article on TechCrunch. Target even began folding Starbucks orders into its curbside pickup service in February of 2022.
Target has also experimented with smaller-scale in-store shops. In 2016, when FitBits and other health monitors were still buzzworthy technology, Target piloted a “connected health” section in 510 of its stores. The shops were anchored by health technology from a vendor named Qardio, and were adjacent to store pharmacies.
This is also not the first time Apple has opened stores inside of other electronics retailers.
In the mid-2000s, Apple began opening shops inside of Best Buy locations, as an article from 2007 on the iPod Observer website discusses. The shops maintained the look and feel that the Apple Store had at the time, and were staffed by an Apple expert. .... '
Implications? And to what degree? Only most serious, and how often? So what then is an upgrade? seems perilous for users. Also in Schneier with comments,
Apple clarifies security update policy: Only the latest OSes are fully patched in ArsTechnica
New document confirms what security researchers have observed for a few years.
ANDREW CUNNINGHAM - 10/27/2022, 12:18 PM
Earlier this week, Apple released a document clarifying its terminology and policies around software upgrades and updates. Most of the information in the document isn't new, but the company did provide one clarification about its update policy that it hadn't made explicit before: Despite providing security updates for multiple versions of macOS and iOS at any given time, Apple says that only devices running the most recent major operating system versions should expect to be fully protected.
FURTHER READING
PSA: Apple isn’t actually patching all the security holes in older versions of macOS
Throughout the document, Apple uses "upgrade" to refer to major OS releases that can add big new features and user interface changes and "update" to refer to smaller but more frequently released patches that mostly fix bugs and address security problems (though these can occasionally enable minor feature additions or improvements as well). So updating from iOS 15 to iOS 16 or macOS 12 to macOS 13 is an upgrade. Updating from iOS 16.0 to 16.1 or macOS 12.5 to 12.6 or 12.6.1 is an update.
"Because of dependency on architecture and system changes to any current version of macOS (for example, macOS 13)," the document reads, "not all known security issues are addressed in previous versions (for example, macOS 12)."
In other words, while Apple will provide security-related updates for older versions of its operating systems, only the most recent upgrades will receive updates for every security problem Apple knows about. Apple currently provides security updates to macOS 11 Big Sur and macOS 12 Monterey alongside the newly released macOS Ventura, and in the past, it has released security updates for older iOS versions for devices that can't install the latest upgrades. ... '
New emphasis on Security Apple Security Research
Apple Launches New Security Research Hub
Apple engineers share technical details about the team's work on memory safety features on the new Apple Security Research site.
dr_staff_125x125.jpg Dark Reading Staff
Apple's work on hardening the memory allocator has made it harder for attackers to exploit certain classes of software vulnerabilities on iOS and Mac devices, the company's security engineers wrote on a new website Apple launched to share technical details behind iOS and MacOS security technologies.
The new initiative, Apple Security Research, also offers tools to help security researchers report issues to Apple, get real-time status updates for submitted reports, communicate securely with Apple engineers investigating the issue, and provides information about the Apple Security Bounty program. The intent behind the new security hub is to share with the research community how Apple engineers approach security challenges, and also to invite researcher contributions and feedback.
Memory safety is a key area of focus, especially since memory safety violations are the most widely exploited class of software vulnerabilities. On Apple platforms, improving memory safety includes "finding and fixing vulnerabilities, developing with safe languages, and deploying mitigations at scale," the engineers wrote in a technical post on XNU memory safety. ... '
Interesting direction here for collaborative 'intelligent efforts' efforts
Samsung and Google make it easier to share your smart home with Matter
The two companies are bringing expanded Matter multi-admin capabilities to their platforms, letting you easily move smart home devices between them.
By JENNIFER PATTISON TUOHY / @jp2e Oct 12, 2022, 1:00 PM
Samsung reveals how Matter’s multi-admin feature will work with SmartThings.
Ahead of its annual developer conference, Samsung has revealed details about how Matter smart home devices will work on its Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets. The company announced you’ll soon be able to use Galaxy devices to onboard Matter-compatible devices to both SmartThings and Google Home ecosystems.
The interoperability with Google Home is building on top of Matter’s multi-admin feature. Multi-admin is a key part of the Matter specification that all devices and platforms are required to support. It allows a device in one ecosystem to be shared with and controlled by another. So, for example, an Amazon smart thermostat could be controlled by the Apple Home app or Apple’s Siri voice assistant if everything is Matter-enabled. .... '
Apple has done innovation quite well, Look forward to their Mixed Reality efforts.
Apple Might Use ‘Reality’ Naming Convention for Its Mixed Reality Devices
By Josh Norem on August 30, 2022 at 12:15 pm in ExtremeTech
It’s been previously reported that Apple has been working on a mixed reality device for over seven years now. Incredibly, we still have no firm launch plans or any definitive details about the mysterious device. However, recent trademark filings by law firms allegedly associated with Apple give us a clue about possible naming conventions.
Previously it had been reported Apple was working on an operating system for the clandestine headset named Reality OS (rOS). As it turns out, the rest of the device’s parts might have similar branding. Trademark applications have been filed in various countries for the names Reality One, Reality Pro, and Reality Processor, Bloomberg reports. This seems to indicate two models for Apple’s upcoming headset; the base model One and a Pro version. Whatever custom silicon it puts inside will inevitably be labeled a Reality processor. Because TSMC hasn’t spun up its 3nm fab just yet, it’ll likely be a 5nm part that’s based on the M2 design. It will reportedly include 16GB of memory and a second chip to handle graphics. .... '
Is this finally the case? See:
Apple Just Killed the Password—for Real This Time
By Wired, June 8, 2022
Your passwords are terrible. Year after year, the most popular passwords leaked in data breaches are 123456, 123456789, and 12345—'qwerty' and 'password' come close behind—and using these weak passwords leaves you vulnerable to all sorts of hacking. Weak and repeated passwords are one of the most significant risks to your online life.
For years, we've been promised a more secure, password-free future, but it seems like 2022 will actually be the year that millions of people start to move away from passwords. At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference yesterday, the company announced it will launch passwordless logins across Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs around September of this year. Instead of using passwords, you will be able to log in to websites and apps using "Passkeys" with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. It's the first major real-world shift to password elimination.
So how does it work? Passkeys replace your tired old passwords by creating new digital keys using Touch ID or Face ID, Apple's vice president of internet technologies, Darin Adler, explained at WWDC. When you are creating an online account with a website, you can use a Passkey instead of a password. "To create a Passkey, just use Touch ID or Face ID to authenticate, and you're done," Adler said.
From Wired Full Article.
> See also from TWIT regarding PassKeys
https://twit.tv/shows/security-now/episodes/874?autostart=false Podcast
https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-874-Notes.pdf , p 9-10 Notes
Steve Gibson/Security Now's overridding conclusion is here for my own reference: "...For those of us here, in the know, we’re probably better off allowing the Apple, Google and Microsoft Passkeys fanfare to drive industry-wide adoption (assuming that it does) while holding off, ourselves, until either the cross-platform Passkeys dynamic sharing question is answered — and I don’t know how it can be — or waiting until the inevitable 3rd-party supplier creates a deliberately cross-platform solution. That’s probably the answer. ... " Will be following this closely.
Interesting approach by Apple to make IOS more secure, at a cost. Useful for some users that are particularly susceptible to external threats. Here an intro from Apple.
An iPhone screen shows the new Lockdown Mode capability.
Lockdown Mode is the first major capability of its kind designed to offer an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security.
Apple today detailed two initiatives to help protect users who may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. Lockdown Mode — the first major capability of its kind, coming this fall with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura — is an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security. Apple also shared details about the $10 million cybersecurity grant it announced last November to support civil society organizations that conduct mercenary spyware threat research and advocacy.
“Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market. Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture. “While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are. That includes continuing to design defenses specifically for these users, as well as supporting researchers and organizations around the world doing critically important work in exposing mercenary companies that create these digital attacks.”
Lockdown Mode offers an extreme, optional level of security for the very few users who, because of who they are or what they do, may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from NSO Group and other private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. Turning on Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura further hardens device defenses and strictly limits certain functionalities, sharply reducing the attack surface that potentially could be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware. ... '
Have had different levels of experience with them over the year, it depends much on their individual background. Apple at one time 'flew in' a group to help work with execs being trained with new devices. Experience was OK.
Apple may be rethinking the role of its ‘geniuses’ in stores
Apr 28, 2022, by George Anderson in Retilwire
Apple has pumped the brakes on hiring new associates to work its Genius bars in some stores leading to speculation that the tech giant may be rethinking how it deploys workers in its locations.
Bloomberg was the first to report that Apple has chosen not to fill open Genius positions in some stores. It has also not moved ahead with verbal job offers made to some individuals slated to work at the company’s stores. The news service reports that Apple has not put a widespread hiring freeze in place or laid off geniuses.
Apple’s reality along with many other retailers is that in-store shopping patterns have changed since the advent of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The company is assessing staffing levels and the functions that workers perform. Some stores in recent years have eliminated the use of Genius Bars and opted to put more associates on the floor to help customers.
The company has tested a flexwork model where store staff are able to work remotely some weeks and on-premises on others. Associates working at home handle online sales, customer service and tech support.
Apple yesterday launched its online Self Service Repair Store. The site gives customers access to repair manuals and genuine parts and tools for its iPhone 12, 13 and third–generation SE models.
The tech giant has made a concerted effort in recent years to diversify its service network using third-party providers. Apple said it has nearly doubled the number of independent repair providers for its products giving consumers nearby access across most of the U.S. Eighty percent of Apple customers, according to the company, are within a 20-minute drive to an authorized service provider. ... '
