From today, Apple Watch owners can complete a new Apple Watch activity challenge in celebration of black history.
The Unity challenge, which is listed in the Activity app on the iPhone, asks users to close their Move rings seven times in a row during February.
Let's celebrate Black history this month and keep the momentum going all year long. To start, earn this Unity award by closing your Move ring seven days in a row during February.
Completing the challenge will award users with a unique badge viewable in the Awards section of the Activity app on iPhone and Apple Watch.
In what seems to be a glitch, there are a few reports on Reddit of users having already been awarded the challenge, as if stats from the last week of January have mistakenly been taken into account.
Nvidia's GeForce Now game streaming service has been updated to work with Macs powered by Apple silicon, offering official support for both M1-equipped and Intel-based machines for the first time.
GeForce NOW for Mac lets you use a virtual GeForce GTX gaming PC in the cloud to run games that otherwise may not be possible to play on a Mac. The only requirement is a good internet connection, with the virtual gaming PC handling all of the GPU and CPU requirements.
GeForce NOW integrates with Steam and works with games users already own, in contrast to other gaming services that provide access to a large catalog of games. Users need to purchase the games they play, with GeForce NOW providing the power to play them.
GeForce NOW requires a fast internet connection to use, demanding a 25Mb/s download speed at a minimum and a 5GHz wireless router. Nvidia recommends a 50Mb/s connection or higher to account for other potential internet traffic.
Apart from official support for the new Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models powered by Apple silicon, version 2.0.27 of Nvidia's browser client also adds support for Google Chrome, as noted by XDA Developers.
MacRumors tests NVIDIA GeForce Now on a Mac
GeForce NOW can also be accessed on iPhone or iPad through Safari by visiting the GeForce NOW website. The service is priced at $24.99 for a 6-month Founders membership subscription. Due to high demand, the $4.99 monthly memberships are currently sold out.
2/3 Correction: This article originally reported that GeForce NOW offered native support for Macs with Apple silicon, when in fact the support is "official" (Nvidia's term) rather than native. Apologies for any misunderstanding.
Apple has released an iCloud password extension for Google's Chrome browser on Windows that allows iCloud Keychain passwords to be used on PCs.
Called simply "iCloud Passwords," the extension allows users to access passwords in Google Chrome that have been generated in Apple's Safari browser. It also enables iCloud syncing of passwords generated in Chrome, making them available on Apple devices, too.
The feature was alluded to last week when Apple released a new version of iCloud for Windows 10, which included "Support for iCloud Passwords Chrome Extension," despite the extension being unavailable.
iCloud Passwords is available now in the Chrome Web Store for both Windows and Mac.
Apple has paid over $25 million for the rights to upcoming movie "CODA," setting a new Sundance Film Festival acquisition record, reports Deadline.
Directed and written by Siân Heder, "CODA" stars actress Emilia Jones as Ruby, the only hearing individual in her deaf family. As her high school years come to an end, Ruby is torn between staying at home to help family or heading off to college to pursue her dreams.
Deadline reports that a "pitched battle" between Apple and Amazon took place for the film's worldwide rights. The $25+ million deal set a new record for a film acquisition at this year's virtual Sundance Film Festival, beating last year's $22.5 million acquisition from Hulu/Neon for the film "Palm Springs."
Apple TV+ has been available for free since November 2019 for those who purchased an eligible Apple device in September 2019 or later. Apple recently announced plans to extend all Apple TV+ free trials until July 2021, giving the company more time to present original content to viewers.
Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year in the United States, but Apple is currently crediting paid subscribers as well.
This week saw a good mix of Apple news and rumors, led by the release of iOS 14.4, a blockbuster earnings report from Apple, and a fresh report that the next Apple Watch might be able to monitor blood glucose levels.
We also went hands-on with Apple's new "Time to Walk" feature for Apple Watch, while AirPods Max owners can now purchase standalone ear cushions to mix and match colors. Read on for all of the details!
iOS 14.4 introduces a notification on iPhone 12 models with non-genuine cameras, the option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications, and more.
Apple also released watchOS 7.3, which expands the ECG app on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer to Japan, Mayotte, Thailand, and the Philippines, and introduces a new "Unity" watch face based on the Pan-African Flag. tvOS 14.4 is out too, while macOS 11.2 remains in beta.
Apple this week announced that its App Tracking Transparency privacy measure will be required starting with the next beta versions of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS 14, meaning that apps will need to request permission to track users and collect their device's random identifier for advertising purposes. Apple says the software updates will be publicly released in the early spring.
Apple Reports Record-Breaking Quarter With $111B in Revenue
Apple this week reported its earnings results for the first quarter of the 2021 fiscal year, which corresponds with the fourth quarter of the 2020 calendar year.
Apple has thrived financially during the pandemic as many customers work, learn, and connect with others from home. Apple launched many new products and services during the quarter, including the entire iPhone 12 lineup, rave-reviewed M1 Macs, a redesigned iPad Air, the HomePod mini, the AirPods Max, Apple Fitness+, and Apple One subscription bundles.
Apple Watch Series 7 Rumored to Feature Blood Glucose Monitoring
The Apple Watch Series 7 will reportedly feature blood glucose monitoring via an optical sensor, according to a report this week by ETNews.
The report, which mainly focuses on the blood glucose capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, explains that Apple is intending to bring blood glucose monitoring to the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.
Apple has been gradually expanding the health monitoring capabilities of the Apple Watch, most recently adding the ability monitor blood oxygen levels in the Apple Watch Series 6 introduced last September.
Hands-On With the New Apple Fitness+ 'Time to Walk' Feature
Apple this week officially introduced Time to Walk, a new feature that allows Apple Watch users who subscribe to Apple Fitness+ to listen to audio stories from celebrities, musicians, athletes, and other influential guests while they walk — similar to podcasts. For wheelchair users, the feature is named Time to Push.
Time to Walk episodes are automatically downloaded to the Apple Watch with a Fitness+ subscription, and users can start an episode directly from the Workout app. New episodes ranging from 25 to 40 minutes in length will appear in the Workout app from a different guest each Monday through the end of April, according to Apple.
The first guests include musicians Dolly Parton and Shawn Mendes, NBA star Draymond Green, and actress Uzo Aduba, known for her role as Suzanne Warren on the Netflix original series "Orange Is the New Black."
AirPods Max ear cushions attach to the ear cups magnetically and can be popped right off, so making a swap to a new color is simple.
MacRumors mocked up all of the AirPods Max color combinations that are possible, so if you're wondering how a particular color might look with your AirPods Max, the article is a valuable resource. The replacement ear cushions were initially estimated to ship in one business day, although delivery of colors other than silver and black quickly slipped into late March or early April. The first orders are, however, already arriving in customers' hands.
In other product news, Apple this week announced that it will be releasing a limited-edition "Black Unity" version of the Apple Watch Series 6. This special model will be available throughout February in honor of Black History Month and comes with a "Black Unity" Sport Band based on the Pan-African Flag.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple TV+ subscribers have begun receiving emails from Apple letting them know that they'll continue to be credited $4.99 for each month they've been charged for the service from February through June 2021.
The credit will be applied to a subscriber's Apple ID and can be used for games, movies, and other Apple services.
The last time Apple issued credits to Apple TV+ subscribers was in November 2020. On that occasion, the credits were deposited monthly through January 2021, so Apple is effectively extending the credits for another five months. As before, expect the amount to vary based on Apple TV+ pricing in other countries.
Apple's email suggests the credits are being given to allow subscribers more time to check out the latest Apple original content, but it initially described the deposits as a thank you to users for subscribing to the service.
Back in October, Apple TV+ subscribers who have free access to the service through an eligible device purchase beginning in September 2019 had their one-year trial extended until February 2021, and in January, Apple renewed free trials until July.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with designer Philip Lee of Classicbot to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iBoy, which is a cute little desktop toy that's been designed as an homage to Apple's 2001 iPod Classic.
The iBoy is a cross between a little robot and a classic iPod, featuring a functional rotating click wheel complete with clickable buttons, an iPod-style mirror-like finish on the back, EarPod antennas, magnetic arms and legs, and simple but endearing facial expression.
There are no electronic parts inside the iBoy as this is an iPod replica figurine that's meant for display, but it does look like a functional MP3 player. The working click wheel with its satisfyingly clickable buttons turns the iBoy into a desk toy that's perfect for fidgeting with during a stressful day.
The magnetic arms and legs can be detached and there's an included headphone wire that can be added to morph the iBoy from robot mode to an MP3 player mode that even more closely resembles the iPod.
iBoy is made from an iPod-like glossy white ABS plastic with silk-screened details and full ports and iPod details that make it unmistakable as a toy robot inspired by the iPod's design. For those who prefer a darker aesthetic, Lee has also created a U2 version of the iBoy that's colored black and red like the special edition U2 iPod that Apple released.
We have 15 iBoys to give away to MacRumors readers as part of our giveaway, and each winner can choose the traditional white color or the red and black U2 color. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (January 29) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 5. The winners will be chosen randomly on February 5 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple is working on in-screen fingerprint technology for the iPhone 13, a feature that would be available right alongside Face ID as a secondary biometric option, according to The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern. Stern shared the tidbit in a piece looking at Samsung Galaxy S21 features that could be incorporated into the next-generation iPhones.
We've heard several other rumors about in-display Touch ID functionality from reliable sources like Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, both of whom have said that this is a feature Apple is considering adding to the new iPhones. A secondary Touch ID option would be useful for situations where Face ID is not optimal, such as when wearing a face mask.
According to Stern, she heard from a former employee who said the company was working with optical sensors for in-screen fingerprint reading, which "can be more reliable" than an ultrasonic solution.
Optical in-display fingerprint sensors work using light, and in Android phones that have adopted this technology, the screen lights up with a fingerprint icon where you're meant to place a finger to provide light, and a camera creates an image of your finger. Optical sensors can be easy to fool because they're using a 2D image.
Ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are a newer technology and use small sound waves to make a 3D map of a fingerprint, a more secure solution that's not easily fooled, and one that works better when fingers are wet. Ultrasonic fingerprint sensing technology is much more expensive, however.
The Touch ID home buttons that Apple has used in the iPhone, iPad, and Macs, are capacitive. Capacitive sensors use a series of tiny capacitors to create a fingerprint data map that's hard to trick as it's not using a straight fingerprint image.
It's worth noting that optical-capacitive hybrid sensors exist, so if Apple does go with an optical solution, the Touch ID functionality won't necessarily be as insecure as some optical sensors that are used by Android manufacturers. In fact, it's very unlikely Apple would use a standard optical sensor, but an optical-capacitive hybrid would combine the fast scanning benefits of the optical sensor with the security of a capacitive sensor, and this system wouldn't be able to be easily fooled.
Stern says that according to her source, whichever solution Apple decides to adopt will need to meet the security standards of its current Touch ID Home button, so there will be no downgrade in functionality.
Though Stern's source says that Apple is working on optical technology, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple is going to use ultrasonic technology. He has said that GIS will provide "large-area sensing ultrasonic" technology to Apple, with Qualcomm providing an ultrasonic module and lamination. For what it's worth, Apple has also patented "acoustic" Touch ID functionality, which would work in-display.
Regardless of implementation, the return of Touch ID to the iPhone would be welcome as it would provide more authentication options for unlocking the iPhone in different situations, as well as an extra layer of security. So far, we don't have confirmed rumors that this is a technology that's definitely coming to the next-generation iPhones, nor is it clear that all 2021 iPhones would get the technology, especially if a more expensive ultrasonic solution is employed.
Apple earlier this week began selling standalone replacement ear cushions for the AirPods Max, and now customers who ordered the cushions have begun receiving them.
The AirPods Max ear cushions arrive packaged in a simple white box with a picture of the cushions in the appropriate color on the front. Each ear cushion is separated inside by a cardboard divider, and are designed to be easy to remove from the box.
Packaging is standard Apple packaging and is similar to the boxes and materials used for accessories like Apple Watch bands and Apple Pencils.
MacRumors reader Sven sent us photos of his AirPods Max ear cushions in black, which he is using with his silver AirPods Max.
AirPods Max ear cushions are available in silver, black, red, sky blue, and green to match all of the available AirPods Max colors, but it's possible Apple could offer unique colors in the future given that the design allows for mix and match colors.
We previously mocked up all of the AirPods Max color combinations, so if you want to know what a particular color ear cushion might look like with your AirPods Max, it's a good resource.
Standalone ear cushions are priced at $69 per pair, and right now, the silver and black ear cushions will ship out in a matter of days. Green, sky blue, and red cushions are not available right now and will deliver at the end of March at the earliest.
Those also happen to be the three colors of AirPods Max that are in short supply. Right now, all AirPods Max orders placed directly with Apple will arrive in early March, but third-party retailers have been listing stock on occasion and the silver and space gray colors are most commonly available.
Apple has given a series order to "WeCrashed," a limited series that will detail the the "greed-filled rise and inevitable fall" of WeWork, a startup that provides flexible shared workspaces for people.
"WeCrashed" is based on the podcast "WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork," and it is set to star Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway, both of whom will also serve as executive producers on the series.
Lee Eisenberg created the series, and it will be directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, known for "This is Us" and "Crazy Stupid Love."
In early 2019, WeWork was valued at close to $50 billion as it prepared for an IPO, but the company crashed after a series of articles highlighted mismanagement and odd behavior from then CEO Adam Neumann, who was quickly ousted. The IPO was canceled and the company's valuation plunged to $5 billion.
Apple has not provided details on a launch date, but "WeWork" joins upcoming titles that include "Lessons in Chemistry" with Brie Larson, "Kitbag" with Joaquin Phoenix, "Emancipation" with Will Smith, "Killers of the Flower Moon" with Leonardo DiCaprio, and "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" with Samuel L. Jackson.
Xiaomi has today revealed its "Mi Air Charge Technology," which is able to wirelessly charge devices from across a room with 5W of power.
Mi Air Charge Technology offers a "true wireless charging" solution, with no cables or stands. Devices charge remotely with 5W of power, using advanced spatial positioning and beamforming energy transmission.
Xiaomi has developed an isolated charging pile unit with five phase interference antennas, which can accurately detect the location of a smartphone. A phase control array with 144 antennas then transmits millimeter-wide waves directly to the phone through beamforming.
For smartphones, Xiaomi has developed a corresponding miniaturized antenna array with a "beacon antenna" and a "receiving antenna array." The beacon antenna broadcasts low-power positional information, while the receiving antenna array uses 14 antennas to convert the millimeter wave signal emitted by the charging pile directly into electric energy via a rectifier circuit.
The remote charging technology is capable of charging multiple devices within a radius of several meters, with each device able to receive 5W of power. Xiaomi also notes that physical objects placed in between the charging pile and the device do not reduce the charging efficiency.
Xiaomi says that it is looking to expand the technology to smartwatches, wristbands, and other wearables, as well as smart home speakers, desk lamps, and more in the future. It is unclear how close Xiaomi is to bringing its Mi Air Charge Technology and charging pile to the consumer market, but today's reveal may suggest that it is sooner rather than later.
The announcement indicates that progress on remote wireless charging technology within the industry is steadily developing. Several years ago, Apple was rumored to be partnering with Energous to deliver its own remote wireless charging solution. Apple is still believed to be researching new wireless charging technologies, and with the advent of MagSafe on iPhone 12 models, the company is clearly interested in new ways to power devices.
A few notable iPad deals remain ongoing as we head into the end of January, including sales on the 10.2-inch iPad, 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the latest iPad Air. These sales offer up to $100 off select iPad models, with prices as low as $299.00 for the 32GB Wi-Fi 10.2-inch iPad.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Lowest-ever prices also remain on both models of the 2020 iPad Air. The 64GB Wi-Fi tablet is priced at $559.00 ($40 off) and the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is priced at $699.00 ($50 off). Otherwise, you'll find quite a few iPad Pro models being discounted on Amazon.
iPad Air
Wi-Fi 64GB - $559.00 at Amazon ($40 off, lowest price)
Wi-Fi 256GB - $699.00 at Amazon ($50 off, lowest price)
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Last month, Apple introduced privacy labels on the App Store, providing users with a broad overview of the data types an app may collect, and whether the information is used to track them or is linked to their identity or device.
Apple has required developers to provide this privacy information when submitting new apps and app updates to the App Store since early December, but the labels function on an honor system, with fine print indicating that "this information has not been verified by Apple." As such, there is always the potential that some apps will be dishonest.
On that note, The Washington Post's Geoffrey A. Fowler recently did a spot check and discovered "more than a dozen" apps with "either misleading or flat-out inaccurate" privacy labels. One of these apps was a game called "Satisfying Slime Simulator," which Fowler said was sending his iPhone's advertising identifier and other device information to companies like Facebook, Google, and Unity, despite its privacy label indicating "No Data Collected."
Fowler listed several other apps with "No Data Collected" labels that he found to be covertly collecting user data, such as Rumble, Maps.me, and FunDo Pro. He also found the popular game Match 3D to be "sending an ID for my phone that could be used to track me to more than a dozen different companies," despite having a label that claimed it only took "data not linked to you." Match 3D has since updated its label to reflect "data used to track you."
In response to the report, Apple said it "conducts routine and ongoing audits of the information provided" and works with developers to correct any inaccuracies, adding that "apps that fail to disclose privacy information accurately may have future app updates rejected, or in some cases, be removed from the App Store entirely if they don't come into compliance."
This issue will be partially addressed by Apple's upcoming enforcement of a privacy measure it calls App Tracking Transparency. Starting with the next betas of iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and tvOS 14, developers will be required to get a user's permission to track their activity across other apps and websites and access their device's random advertising identifier, known as the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA), for targeted advertising and ad measurement purposes.
Apple said that, at the software level, App Tracking Transparency will prevent developers from accessing a user's IDFA unless they grant permission, preventing an app from silently tracking their activity in this manner. However, there are still other ways for apps to track users, so the accuracy of privacy labels will still not be guaranteed.
"Palmer," an original film that follows a former college football phenomenon who returns to his hometown after a stint in prison, is now available exclusively on Apple TV+.
Described as a story of "redemption, acceptance, and love, Palmer stars Justin Timberlake in its titular role.
Written by Cheryl Guerriero, "Palmer" follows a former college football phenomenon named Eddie Palmer (played by Timberlake) who, after a stint in prison, returns to his hometown to get his life back on track. There, he faces not only lingering conflicts from his past but also a much more surprising challenge as he finds himself suddenly in charge of a unique young boy who has been abandoned by his wayward mother.
Alongside Timberlake, "Palmer" stars Juno Temple, Alisha Wainwright, June Squibb, and Ryder Allen. The film is produced by Sidney Kimmel, John Penotti, Charlie Corwin, Daniel Nadler, and Academy Award winner Charles B. Wessler. The screenplay was written by Cheryl Guerriero, and it is directed by actor Fisher Stevens.
Apple recently announced plans to extend all Apple TV+ free trials until July 2021, giving people more time to watch the available original content before making a decision on whether to subscribe. Apple TV+ has been available for free since November 2019 for those who purchased an eligible Apple device in September 2019 or later.
Without the free trial, Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, but Apple is also currently crediting paid subscribers as well. Apple TV+ is available on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Macs, consoles, and other set-top boxes, as well as smart TVs from brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG.
Encrypted messaging app Signal has been updated with several new features that reflect its increase in popularity, including chat wallpapers, an "About" section in user profiles, and more.
In a change that should appeal to former WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger users, Signal now lets you set chat wallpapers for individual chats, or set a single default background for all chat threads.
Similarly, the app now offers support for animated stickers, while Signal users can create their own APNG animated sticker packs in Signal Desktop.
Elsewhere, expanded chat list previews display the sender's name in group chats, so it's easier to decide which threads to look at first.
In addition, the update includes a new setting to lower data usage for calls, and users can automatically pause attachment downloads while a call is in progress. The developers have also improved image compression and quality.
The update comes at just the right time for Signal. The privacy-focused chat app recently enjoyed a surge in account sign-ups after a bungled privacy policy update by rival service WhatsApp caused a user exodus from the Facebook-owned platform.
The app also got the thumbs up from prominent Signal users like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Edward Snowden, which only added to mainstream interest in the app.
The last major update came in December, when the app rolled out support for encrypted group video calls. Signal Private Messenger is a free download [Direct Link] for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store.
Rumors that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai about developing an Apple Car have been in the air over the last few weeks, and a new Reuters report today provides further details on the state of play between the two companies.
According to the report, the outlook for a deal has dimmed because Hyundai executives are divided over the prospect of working with Apple. Hyundai's main concern is that it could become a contract manufacturer for another brand.
"We are agonizing over how to do it, whether it is good to do it or not," said a Hyundai executive aware of the internal discussions on the tie-up with Apple. "We are not a company which manufactures cars for others. It is not like working with Apple would always produce great results."
According to the report, Apple and Hyundai first started talks over a car partnership in 2018, when Apple's car project was headed by Alexander Hitzinger, who now works for Volkswagen. However, progress in the talks has been hampered by Hyundai's historical reluctance to work with other companies.
"It is really difficult (for Hyundai) to open up," this person said, adding that the South Korean company would likely to have to replace some executives to avoid a culture clash under any partnership with Apple.
"Apple is the boss. They do their marketing, they do their products, they do their brand. Hyundai is also the boss. That does not really work," the person said.
Despite its reluctance, Hyundai is said to have excess capacity, therefore contract manufacturing would help it secure production volume.
Apple reportedly wants to source major components of its own design – frames, bodies, drive trains, and other parts – from a variety of places and rely on Hyundai or Kia, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate, for a final assembly site. Previous reports also suggested that Kia's Georgia plant in the U.S. could become the production base, which would suit Apple better.
Rumors that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai first surfaced earlier this month, suggesting that Apple is planning to work with the automaker to produce electric vehicles and develop batteries due to the high costs of the technology and the necessary production facilities.
Hyundai initially confirmed its electric vehicle discussions with Apple in a statement to CNBC, but the statement was revised hours later with no mention of Apple. Apple has not commented on reports of the negotiations.
Reuters last month reported that Apple Car production may begin around 2024. However, a report from Bloomberg last week said that the Apple Car is "nowhere near production stage" and could be ready in around five to seven years.
Apple and Hyundai reportedly want to reach a partnership agreement for the upcoming Apple Car by March, although today's report seems to cast doubt on any deal being signed off anytime soon.
Apple today shared a new video in its ongoing "Shot on iPhone" series, this time highlighting a short film about a Chinese New Year legend reimagined as a contemporary coming-of-age story.
Directed by American filmmaker Lulu Wang, "Nian" tells the story of a little girl who grows curious about a mythical creature that lives in the forest and – so her parents say – likes to eat children.
But when her rice cakes are mysteriously eaten in the woods one day by an unseen presence, the little girl begins to wonder if the legend is really true, and fearlessly decides to seek out the creature, who turns out not to be quite as monstrous as her parents' stories suggest.
The heartwarming 12-minute short film was created by the team behind the Golden Globe nominated film "The Farewell" and was shot with an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple also included a behind the scenes look at how the film was shot.
Apple has shared several prior videos and photographs in the "Shot on iPhone" series. Click the relevant tag at the bottom of this article to see all of our previous coverage.
iOS 14 added a new "BlastDoor" sandbox security system to iPhones and iPads to prevent attacks carried out with the Messages app. Apple didn't share information on the new security addition, but it was explained today by Samuel Groß, a security researcher with Google's Project Zero, and highlighted by ZDNet.
Groß describes BlastDoor as a tightly sandboxed service that's responsible for parsing all of the untrusted data in iMessages. A sandbox is a security service that executes code separately from the OS, and this one operates within the Messages app.
BlastDoor takes a look at all incoming messages and inspects their content in a secure environment, which prevents any malicious code inside of a message from interacting with iOS or accessing user data.
As can be seen, the majority of the processing of complex, untrusted data has been moved into the new BlastDoor service. Furthermore, this design with its 7+ involved services allows fine-grained sandboxing rules to be applied, for example, only the IMTransferAgent and apsd processes are required to perform network operations. As such, all services in this pipeline are now properly sandboxed (with the BlastDoor service arguably being sandboxed the strongest).
The feature has been designed to thwart specific attack types, such as those where hackers used shared cache or brute force attacks. As ZDNet points out, security researchers have been finding iMessage remote code execution bugs over the past few years that could allow an iPhone to be infiltrated with just a text, which BlastDoor should address.
Groß found the new iOS 14 feature after investigating a Messages hacking campaign that targeted Al Jazeera journalists. The attack wasn't working in iOS 14, and investigating why led to his discovery of BlastDoor.
According to Groß, Apple's BlastDoor changes are "close to the best that could've been done given the need for backwards compatibility," and will make the iMessage platform significantly more secure.
This blog post discussed three improvements in iOS 14 affecting iMessage security: the BlastDoor service, resliding of the shared cache, and exponential throttling. Overall, these changes are probably very close to the best that could've been done given the need for backwards compatibility, and they should have a significant impact on the security of iMessage and the platform as a whole.
It's great to see Apple putting aside the resources for these kinds of large refactorings to improve end users' security. Furthermore, these changes also highlight the value of offensive security work: not just single bugs were fixed, but instead structural improvements were made based on insights gained from exploit development work.
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