As part of its new suite of educational apps and experiences for children, Apple today announced that it is increasing the amount of free iCloud storage available to kids and teachers.
Instead of providing each student and teacher with the standard 5GB of free storage, Apple is now offering 200GB of storage at no additional cost.
Every student that has an Apple ID managed by a school will have access to 200GB of storage space for storing assignments, resources, and other documents in the cloud. The new storage space goes hand-in-hand with ClassKit and the Classwork app, which stores assignments in the cloud so students and teachers can access them anywhere.
This is not a program that's available to any student -- it is limited to students who have Apple IDs that were provided by their school.
Regular students and standard users of Apple devices will continue to be limited to 5GB of free storage space.
Logitech today revealed two new accessories for the sixth-generation iPad: the Logitech Crayon and Logitech Rugged Combo 2, both designed to help students become "more creative and productive" in the classroom. The accessories were announced during Apple's "Field Trip" event in Chicago earlier today.
The Logitech Crayon is a digital pencil, similar to Apple Pencil, but comes in at a cheaper price of $49, roughly half the price of the Apple Pencil (Apple is selling its first-party Pencil to schools for $89). Logitech said that its alternative leverages Apple Pencil technology to deliver sub-pixel precision, low latency, and tilt support.
The Crayon works with a wide variety of apps and software already found in classrooms, including Apple's newly updated iWork suite. The physical build of the Crayon allows for easy gripping that also prevents rolling to reduce the potential for accidental drops. The device has an 8-hour battery life, and includes other kid-friendly features like a pry-resistant tip and tethered rubber cap.
“iPad opens up new opportunities for learning, both inside the classroom and beyond,” said Michele Hermann, vice president of mobility at Logitech. “We’ve brought years of design expertise into the classroom with Logitech Crayon and Rugged Combo 2, which take advantage of the new iPad's capabilities. Together, these products give students more opportunities to be creative and all new ways to complete their school work, taking learning to new heights.”
Secondly, Logitech's updated $99.99 Rugged Combo 2 case for the new iPad was announced, created with input from educators so that it can survive "daily wear and tear" in classrooms. The case integrates a protective screen covering that doubles as a keyboard, and also includes a slot for the Logitech Crayon.
The keyboard section is detachable and its keycaps are pry-resistant as well as silent while students type on them. Powered by the iPad, the case as a whole is spill-resistant and can protect the iPad from a drop of up to four feet. Logitech launched the first Rugged Combo iPad case one year ago, following Apple's early 2017 9.7-inch iPad update.
The keyboard physically connects to the Rugged Combo 2 case using a proprietary connector to deliver a secure keyboard connection, making iPad an approved device for testing.
In addition to being durable, the Rugged Combo 2 case offers an adjustable kickstand for a wide range of viewing angles and four use modes: Typing mode, for taking notes; Viewing mode, to watch educational apps and videos; Notebook mode, for writing with digital pencils and reading; and Travel mode, which protects the iPad screen during transport. It also features a pencil holder that’s a perfect fit for Logitech Crayon or Apple Pencil, so students always have the tools they need at hand.
Logitech's new accessories will be available for schools to buy in the United States beginning this summer, found on Apple's education website.
Apple today announced it is working on a new version of its iWork productivity suite for iOS during its "Let's Take a Field Trip" event at Chicago's Lane Technical High School, where it also introduced a refreshed low-cost 9.7-inch iPad with Apple Pencil support.
Integrated Apple Pencil support in the new upcoming versions of Pages and Keynote will enable users to add drawings directly to reports and take advantage of smart annotation features, while students in particular will benefit from using the input device in Numbers to add to their "lab reports", said Apple.
Teachers on the other hand will be able to mark up students' Pages reports directly using an iPad and Apple Pencil, thanks to the suite's enhanced markup functions. When users annotate, for example, the markup anchors to the word or image. So as edits are made, the pencil annotations move.
"iWork is a powerful suite of apps designed for iPhone, iPad and Mac that is used in classrooms around the world," said Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of Apps Product Marketing. "With Apple Pencil support on iPad, the new Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps now let students bring a whole new level of creativity to their documents, spreadsheets and presentations, while the innovative new Smart Annotation feature gives students the ability to give, receive and incorporate feedback easier than ever before. Students can also use the built-in, real-time collaboration tools available in iWork to explore and learn together."
Apple also announced that it is building digital book creation into the new version of Pages, which will come pre-installed on the new $329 9.7-inch iPad. Books generated within Pages can include photos, videos, Apple Pencil illustrations, and more.
Pages, Numbers, and Keynote on iOS and Mac are free and come preloaded onto most devices, including the new 9.7-inch iPad. Today's updates will be available to download "soon" on the App Store and Mac App Store.
Apple today announced an all-new 9.7-inch iPad, describing the tablet as its "most affordable iPad" yet and confirming it will work with the Apple Pencil. Apple said that the device was designed for powerful AR apps.
The tablet has a 9.7-inch Retina display that features a higher-resolution touch sensor to enable support for Apple Pencil, previously only compatible with iPad Pro. Apple Pencil provides a "fluid and natural" drawing experience with sensors that measure pressure and tilt so that users can take notes or illustrate in various apps.
The new iPad has an A10 Fusion chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture, providing 40 percent faster CPU and 50 percent faster graphics performance when compared to the previous generation 9.7-inch iPad. Apple said that both front and rear cameras provide HD video recording for everything from document scanning to FaceTime calls.
One of the main applications aimed at the new iPad is augmented reality, fueled by the device's Retina display, powerful chip, enhanced cameras, and advanced sensors with a gyroscope and accelerometer. The tablet was built for mobility and durability for students, sporting an aluminum unibody construction.
The 32GB iPad with Wi-Fi is priced at $329 in the U.S. and $459 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and Apple Pencil can be purchased separately for $99. Schools will be able to buy iPad for $299 and Apple Pencil for $89. The new iPad is available to order beginning today and will arrive in stores later this week in more than 25 countries, listed below:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK, the US, India, Russia, Thailand, and Turkey. More countries and regions will follow in April, with South Korea and others coming in May.
Apple during its education-focused event in Chicago today announced that its existing iOS "Classroom" app will be making the move to Mac, beginning with a beta this June.
Classroom is a "teaching assistant" that helps teachers manage their students' iPads, as well as guide kids through lessons, keep them on track, and share their work. Using the app, teachers can launch apps, books, and websites on all student devices simultaneously, and send or receive documents. Classroom also allows teachers to view their students' screens so that they "stay focused," and other administrative options like password resets.
At the same time, the company revealed a new cloud-based app called "Schoolwork" that lets teachers assign handouts and track the progress of their students. Apple said that Schoolwork "builds on the success" of the Classroom app and both apps will be combined to help educators "get the most out of integrating Apple technology into schools."
“Creativity sparks a deeper level of engagement in students, and we’re excited to help teachers bring out that creativity in the classroom,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
“When you combine the power of iPad, the creativity of Apple Pencil, over a million iPad apps in the App Store, the rich curriculum in Everyone Can Code and Everyone Can Create, and unique Classroom and Schoolwork apps that support students and help schools manage technology in the classroom, we believe we can amplify learning and creativity in a way that only Apple can.”
Using Schoolwork, teachers will be able to make handouts that include PDFs, links, and other documents, as well as check in on the progress of every student for a specific assignment. Schoolwork will integrate with third-party apps using Apple's ClassKit API, acting as a hub of sorts for a classroom's projects and assignments. Schoolwork will be available for teachers in June.
There will also be a new "Apple Teacher" professional learning program available online, aimed at helping teachers build skills, chart their progress, and get inspired to launch new lesson plans. The program will allow teachers to earn badges shaped like gold stars, encouraging them to continue using the program and evolve their classroom.
Apple's "Let's Take a Field Trip" event in Chicago begins at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (8:00 a.m Pacific), where the company is widely expected to unveil a lower-cost iPad, new education-focused initiatives, and perhaps make some other announcements.
Apple is not providing a live video stream of today's event, but will post the video on its website and the Apple Events app on Apple TV following the event. We will be updating this article with live blog coverage—no need to refresh—and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds.
Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.
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Apple's education event has concluded. Our live coverage of the announcements is available in chronological order ahead…
Apple is at an impasse with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the development of an anti-spam iPhone app. The app is meant to allow users to report unsolicited calls and text messages as spam, preventing further spam on their devices (via Reuters).
Last October, Apple first agreed to help India "tap into new iOS features" to build the app, but in the ensuing months Apple is said to have raised concerns over the privacy implications of allowing the app broad access to customers' call and text logs.
Apple and the Indian regulator have "not met since November," and India in January reportedly asked Apple for "basic clarifications" on what the iOS app would be able to offer users. In a statement last week, Apple said that the app remains in ongoing development because as it stands now it "violates the privacy policy of the App Store." Apple plans to keep working with the regulator and India's engineers to "continue discussing ways they can design their app to keep users' personal data safe."
In hopes of moving things along at a faster clip, TRAI head R.S. Sharma has said that he is consulting a legal team to see how Apple could be pushed into a faster development cycle.
“We will take appropriate legal action,” Sharma told Reuters in an interview. “This is unjust, it shows the approach and attitude of this company.” He did not elaborate on what action the regulator might take.
Apple did not comment on Sharma’s remarks, but said that it shared TRAI’s goal of protecting customers from unwanted calls and messages. Apple said it would not modify its guidelines to allow any app access to contacts, see call logs or view text messages as those functionalities violate a user’s data security and privacy.
Prior to the iPhone app, there has been an Android version of India's "Do Not Disturb" app for about two years, requiring users to grant the app permissions to access contacts and view text messages so that users can report spam and telemarketers. For Google's version of the app, the company said that it believes in "the ability of users to make purchasing and downloading choices without top-down enforcement or censorship."
For the next steps with Apple, the company offered to have its technical teams meet with TRAI, but the Indian government is said to be waiting on "more details" from Apple first. Although Sharma threatened legal action, one former TRAI consultant stated that the Apple/TRAI disagreement is "likely to be more of a public relations battle," as opposed to a legal one.
Over the years, Apple has frequently had to balance its beliefs in user privacy and security as they sometimes conflicted with the laws and requests from foreign governments. Notably, last summer Apple removed a majority of VPN apps from the iOS App Store in China, following regulations passed earlier in 2017 that require such apps to be authorized by the Chinese government.
A few days later in an earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated: "We would obviously rather not remove the apps, but like we do in other countries, we follow the law wherever we do business. In this particular case ... we hope that over time, the restrictions we're seeing will be loosened, because innovation requires freedom to collaborate and communicate, and I know that is a major focus there."
Good morning, Chicago! We’re going back to school today for some exciting announcements in education. pic.twitter.com/7FhJ927reO
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 27, 2018
When the store comes back online, there's a decent chance Apple's new AirPower wireless charging mat could be available to order, given a trio of reports that claimed the accessory will launch by the end of March. We'll also be keeping an eye out for a new optional case required to charge AirPods with AirPower.
Apple already announced a new collection of Apple Watch bands that will be available to order by the end of this month, so look for those to appear on the online store soon, potentially alongside new iPhone cases.
Apple may outline the availability of iOS 11.3, which is nearing the end of its beta testing period. We've outlined everything new in the software update, including battery health information, iMessage syncing via iCloud, health records, ARKit improvements, new Animoji characters on iPhone X, and more.
Wild cards would be a second-generation iPhone SE, a new Gold or (PRODUCT)RED edition iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and/or iPhone X, and more, but given Apple's event is at an untraditional venue and isn't being live streamed, today's announcements will likely be underwhelming for those expecting a lot.
MacRumors will provide full coverage of the Chicago event throughout the day, with a live blog, news stories, video recap, and more. Mac users can get headlines right on their desktops by enabling Safari push notifications. We'll also be live-tweeting the event through @MacRumorsLive on Twitter.
Apple said it will share a video recap of the event via its website and Apple Events app on Apple TV shortly after the keynote concludes.
Xiaomi unveiled its new Mi Mix 2S smartphone at a packed auditorium in Shanghai today, claiming that the handset surpasses iPhone X in several departments while only being half the price of Apple's flagship device.
From the front, the maximum screen, minimal bezel design of the 5.9-inch phone looks almost identical to the Mix Mix 2 announced barely six months ago, but there are some changes to the rear, and the handset includes a number of internal updates, including support for Qi wireless charging, but it still lacks rated water resistance.
Like the original Mix Mix 2, a slim bezel below the device's full HD LCD display houses a 5-megapixel front-facing camera in the right corner, which allows Xiaomi to avoid an iPhone X-esque notch area up top. Meanwhile, the ceramic back panel is home to a fingerprint sensor and a new 12-megapixel dual camera system consisting of a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens, with portrait mode features and optical image stabilization.
At one point during the event, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun compared the iPhone X and Mi Mix 2S cameras side-by-side to demonstrate how much faster the Mix 2S can focus and capture subjects in shot, owing to the phone's advanced dual-pixel autofocus. Lei Jun noted that the phone has picked up a DxOMark photo score of 101, with an overall score of 97 – the same as the iPhone X – and claimed that the camera can detect up to 216 scenes and translate text or convert currencies in real-time, thanks to its AI-powered capabilities.
Internally, the phone sports a new, more energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, coupled with either 6GB or 8GB of memory, along with the same 3,400mAh battery as the earlier model, a mono speaker, and no headphone jack.
The Mix 2S will come in 64, 128, or 256GB of storage capacities, and is available in black or silver, both starting at 3,299 yuan (about $526) for the base model, and rising to 3,999 yuan (about $640) for the top-spec device which includes a 7.5W fast-charging wireless pad. The Android 8.0 Oreo-running handset will be available to buy in China from next week, before rolling out to Xiaomi's other established markets, which presumably precludes it from launching in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. However, the phone does support all global 4G LTE networks out of the box.
Foxconn is best known as an Apple supplier that assembles Apple's devices and supplies components to the Cupertino-based company, but as of today, it's taking over a major Apple accessory maker.
Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT), a Foxconn subsidiary, today announced that it has acquired Belkin International in a deal that's worth $866 million. The acquisition includes the Belkin brand along with Linksys, Wemo, and Phyn, other companies owned by Belkin.
One of Belkin's recently introduced wireless charging accessories
The acquisition will allow Foxconn Interconnect Technology to "further tap into premium accessories and the smart home market." The deal is also expected to expand Belkin's presence both in the United States and "key markets globally."
"FIT is excited to acquire Belkin and its capabilities in the premium consumer products space," said Sidney Lu, CEO, FIT. "Integrating Belkin's best-in-class capabilities and solutions into FIT, we expect to enrich our portfolio of premium consumer products and accelerate our penetration into the smart home."
"This move will accelerate our vision of delivering technology that makes the lives of people around the world better, more convenient and more fulfilling. I am thrilled to take our brand portfolio of Belkin, Linksys, Wemo and Phyn to new heights," said Chet Pipkin, CEO and founder, Belkin International. "We see significant synergies with FIT, including leveraging its world-class manufacturing capability to enhance Belkin's operating efficiency and competitiveness. The transaction also grants us access to more resources to invest in our people and to aggressively pursue opportunities in the marketplace."
Under the Belkin brand, Belkin offers a wide range of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch cases, cables, adapters, wireless chargers, and more, while the Wemo brand offers HomeKit-compatible home automation devices. Through Linksys, Belkin sells wireless routers and similar accessories, and the Phyn brand offers a smart water assistant for monitoring for leaks.
All of the Belkin-owned brands will continue to operate as subsidiaries under Foxconn Interconnect Technology.
Every year, Apple offers free WWDC scholarships to students and STEM organization members who don't have the $1,599 necessary to purchase a ticket to the company's developer conference.
Apple began accepting WWDC scholarship applications for 2018 today, as was first announced on March 13 when Apple shared WWDC 2018 event dates. Apple plans to award up to 350 scholarships, which will include a free WWDC ticket, free lodging, and a free one year Apple Developer membership.
Scholarship applicants, who must be at least 13 years old, can use Apple's WWDC scholarship website to submit an application. Apple is asking scholarship applicants to create an interactive scene in Swift playground that's able to be experienced within three minutes.
Apple recommends that applicants "be creative" and use templates in Swift Playgrounds for inspiration. Apple will judge requirements based on technical accomplishment, creativity of ideas, and content of written responses on the accompanying application.
All submissions must be individually created, as Apple will not consider group work. Open source software is permitted, but its use must be explained on the submission form. Swift playground must be built using Swift Playgrounds on iPad or Xcode on macOS. A full list of rules are available on Apple's WWDC18 Scholarship website.
Each applicant must be registered for free with Apple as an Apple developer or a member of the paid Apple Developer Program. Applicants will need to be enrolled part-time or full-time in an accredited course of study or be a member of a STEM organization.
Apple will be accepting scholarship applications through Sunday, April 1 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and winners will be notified on Friday, April 20.
This year's Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off on Monday, June 4 and it will last through Friday, June 8. Apple is expected to hold a keynote on June 4 where new software and perhaps new hardware products will be unveiled. Scholarship students who aren't picked to attend will be able to follow along with the conference using the WWDC app.
Apple today seeded the seventh beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update to developers and public beta testers, one week after seeding the sixth beta and over a month month after the release of a macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Supplemental Update to address a bug that could cause apps to crash when receiving a character from the Indian language Telugu.
The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 beta can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.
macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.3.
The update offers support for some features that are available in iOS 11.3, like Messages on iCloud, which uploads all of your iMessages to the cloud. It will also support Business Chat, a feature coming when iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4 are released to the public, and it includes support for eGPUs. Apple released release notes for macOS High Sierra beta 6 in certain countries, providing details on what's included in the update. The notes are below:
- Adds support for Business Chat in Messages in the U.S. and Canada - Adds support for external graphics processors (eGPU) - Fixes a graphical corruption issue affecting some iMac Pro apps - Adds a keyboard shortcut for moving to the rightmost open tab in Safari by pressing Command +9 - Adds a feature for sorting Safari bookmarks by name or URL - Fixes a bug that could prevent links from appearing in Messages - Improves protection o confidential data by filling usernames and password fields in Safari only when selected - Displays new warnings in the Safari Smart Search Field when interacting with forms that require credit card data or passwords on unencrypted web pages - Displays more information on how personal data is used by certain features
The macOS 10.13.4 update also brings the smoke cloud wallpaper that was previously only available on the iMac Pro and it introduces a warning when opening up a 32-bit app as part of an effort to phase them out.
In the future, Apple plans to phase out 32-bit Mac apps, just like it did with 32-bit iOS apps. Apple says macOS High Sierra is the last version of macOS that will support 32-bit apps without compromises.
We're nearing the end of the macOS High Sierra beta testing period and a release could come any day now.
In addition to our standalone articles covering the latest Apple news and rumors at MacRumors, this Quick Takes column provides a bite-sized recap of other headlines about Apple and its competitors on weekdays.
Monday, March 26
Highlights
1. Spotify for Apple Watch to debut at WWDC? An anonymous and unverified tipster has informed MacRumors that Spotify will unveil an official Apple Watch app at WWDC 2018 in June, based on personal involvement with the project.
Third-party Spotify app Snowy, which was never released, as its developer Andrew Chang was hired by Spotify to help build their official Apple Watch app
The app will supposedly be a lead example of Apple's tentatively named StreamKit framework that will enable cellular Apple Watch models to receive push notifications from third-party apps like Facebook and Twitter, completely independent from a paired iPhone, on watchOS 5.
2. Are corporations that use Wikipedia giving back? Wikimedia's revenue chief Lisa Gruwell expresses some concerns about seemingly one-sided relationships with companies that utilize its information.
"I don't mean to sound like the Lorax here," said Gruwell. "If you overuse something and you don’t give back to it, you can harm it. In the case of Alexa and Siri, our content gets intermediated. Wikipedia works because people can contribute to it, people can edit it. Also, once a year, when we ask people can donate. When they get their information not from us — but Wikipedia content through something like Siri or something like Alexa — that opportunity to either contribute back as an editor is broken, and that opportunity to contribute, to donate is also broken."
Gruwell said Wikimedia's relationship with Google is by far the best, both in terms of how much they contribute to the organization—more than $1 million in the 2017 fiscal year—and how the companies work together.
By comparison, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft all contributed around $50,000 through their employee donation matching programs, while Amazon wasn't named on Wikimedia's list of donors in 2017 whatsoever.
An illustration of the size difference between traditional LEDs and Micro-LEDs via CNET
The new Acer Chromebook Tab 10 is the first tablet to run Chrome OS, which has previously been available on laptops, desktops, and tablet/PC hybrids.
According to Google, the Acer Chromebook Tab 10 is designed to give schools the "easy management and shareability of Chromebook laptops" in a lightweight device that offers touch and stylus functionality along with Google Expeditions AR integration.
It features a 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 display in a 9 inch by 6.6 inch body that weighs just over 1.2 pounds. Like other Chrome OS devices, it supports Google Play, giving students and teachers access to millions of Android apps, and it can be managed by IT professionals right alongside other Chromebook devices a school might already have in use.
There's a built-in 2-megapixel HD webcam at the front of the tablet, along with two speakers and a microphone. A 5-megapixel rear camera is designed to allow children to capture photos and videos, and it features a 9-hour battery for all-day usage.
Inside, the Chromebook Tab 10 is powered by a 6-core 3399 RockChip processor and it includes 4GB of RAM and 32GB integrated memory. It charges via an included USB-C port that can also power other devices.
Each Chromebook tablet comes equipped with a low-cost Chromebook Wacom EMR stylus that doesn't require charging or pairing. It uses advanced machine learning to "predict student writing for a natural writing experience" with zero-latency digital input for drawing, taking notes, and more.
Chromebooks are popular, easy-to-use low-cost options that many schools have already adopted, which is what Apple has to compete with through its rumored low-cost iPad. Acer plans to sell the Chromebook Tab 10 for $329 starting in April, and that's a price point Apple may be planning to beat.
Rumors have suggested Apple's new low-cost iPad will have a price tag as low as $259, and to match some of the features available with Chrome OS devices, Apple may be planning to include support for the Apple Pencil.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said last week that Apple Pencil support is "likely" for the new low-cost iPad. It's not clear if Apple will introduce a lower-cost Apple Pencil to go along with the tablet, though, as the Apple Pencil is currently priced at $99.
Aside from Apple Pencil support and a possible price tag, we don't know much about the tablet that Apple plans to introduce tomorrow, but we don't have long to wait to find out details. Apple won't be live streaming its event, but we'll have coverage here at MacRumors.com and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Law enforcement officials are revisiting proposals that would require tech companies to build backdoor access into electronic devices to allow for better access to data in criminal investigations, reports The New York Times.
This is an issue that was heavily debated following the 2016 legal dispute between Apple and the FBI over the iPhone 5c that belonged to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook. The government wanted Apple to create software that would allow them to access data on the device, which Apple refused to do.
In response to rumors over renewed efforts to build such a tool, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi told The New York Times that weakening security protections in iOS devices would be a grave mistake, maintaining Apple's stance on the issue.
"Proposals that involve giving the keys to customers' device data to anyone but the customer inject new and dangerous weaknesses into product security," he said in a statement. "Weakening security makes no sense when you consider that customers rely on our products to keep their personal information safe, run their businesses or even manage vital infrastructure like power grids and transportation systems."
Apple has continually argued for the need for improvements to device security to stay ahead of hackers and other bad actors who exploit security vulnerabilities in iOS devices. During the dispute over the San Bernardino device, Apple refused to build a backdoor tool into its devices and argued that if such a tool existed, it could easily end up in non-government hands.
Federighi has previously spoken passionately on the issue, and in early 2016, he published an op-ed in The Washington Post using the same argument he reiterated in his statement to The New York Times. iOS devices, he said, are "part of the security perimeter that protects your family and co-workers." From Federighi in 2016:
To get around Apple's safeguards, the FBI wants us to create a backdoor in the form of special software that bypasses passcode protections, intentionally creating a vulnerability that would let the government force its way into an iPhone. Once created, this software -- which law enforcement has conceded it wants to apply to many iPhones -- would become a weakness that hackers and criminals could use to wreak havoc on the privacy and personal safety of us all.
According to The New York Times, FBI and DOJ officials have been "quietly" meeting with security researchers to work on approaches that would provide "extraordinary access" to encrypted devices like the iPhone. Based on this research, DOJ officials "are convinced" there's a way to create a backdoor to access data without weakening a device's defense against hacking.
One method under discussion involves a special access key that would be generated when a device encrypts itself, allowing data to be unlocked without a user's passcode. The key would be stored on the device itself, in a part of the hard drive that would be encrypted separately. Only the device manufacturer, with a court order, would be able to access it.
Susan Landau, a computer security professor at Tufts University, told The New York Times that this would create "significant additional security risks" given that "so many more tech companies" would need to access these keys to comply with the inevitable flood of law enforcement access requests.
Talks inside the executive branch have reportedly been renewed over whether to ask Congress to enact legislation that would require tech companies to create a new access mechanisms for law enforcement officials. The talks are said to be in a preliminary stage with no imminent request for legislation ready at this time.
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.
Last month, popular smart home accessory manufacturer iDevices launched Instant Switch, a Bluetooth switch that pairs with other iDevices products like outlets and switches to provide an additional point of manual control.
For example, it can be paired with a hard-wired Wall Switch to provide control at another convenient place in the room without the need for wiring a second switch. Alternatively, it can be paired with a Switch or Outdoor Switch to provide convenient control of a switched outlet located in a hard to reach place behind furniture or outside.
While the Instant Switch itself doesn't directly support HomeKit, it is indirectly compatible as it pairs with other iDevices products that are part of the HomeKit ecosystem.
The Instant Switch runs on a CR2032 coin cell battery that lasts up to two years, and it can be mounted in a variety of configurations, including stuck anywhere you wish with an included 3M Command Strip, screwed into empty space in an existing electrical gang box, or even stuck stuck next to an existing gang box to make it look like an integral part of a multi-gang setup.
Instant Switch without faceplate (left) and disassembled to access battery (right)
The Instant Switch comes with a narrow white magnetic faceplate for a clean look, or you can use your own single or multiple rocker faceplate for a customized look. A built-in level in the Instant Switch makes it easy to ensure you're mounting it correctly.
Installation is simple, and iDevices includes several parts to help with the process. An included manual walks you through the steps, which include removing the battery pull tab to power up the switch, using the iDevices Connected app to pair the Instant Switch to an existing iDevices product (which may require a firmware update if you haven't kept up to date), and mounting the Instant Switch in your preferred location.
App setup is dead simple, as the Instant Switch automatically enters a pairing mode for 30 minutes after you activate the battery and the app will automatically spot the Instant Switch as an available device to add. The app asks you to place the Instant Switch in the location where you want to mount it in order to ensure a good wireless connection to the paired switch, and then it takes about a minute to complete the pairing process.
At that point, you can mount the Instant Switch and you should be ready to go. My Instant Switch did go through a software update as soon as I was done setting it up, but a status light on the Instant Switch that can flash or shine solid in a variety of colors lets you know what it's doing and whether there are any problems.
The most complicated installation scenario involves installing into an existing gang box within the wall. The Instant Switch is a standard size, so it will fit easily mount into the box, but you will have to attach an included ground wire assembly and connect it to the existing ground within the box.
If you're not installing in a gang box, things are even easier, and iDevices includes two 3M Command Strips to allow you to stick the Instant Switch securely to any surface. If you want to install it next to an existing gang box, just get a faceplate cover that's one switch larger than the box, and you can easily attach the Instant Switch in the extra faceplate slot for a cohesive look. iDevices recommends against using metal faceplates, as they can interfere with the wireless signals, but I've never experienced any problems with the metal ones I use throughout my house.
iDevices Instant Switch (left) mounted to a double-gang faceplate and paired with an iDevices Wall Switch (right) installed in a single-gang box
The clever design of the Instant Switch makes it easy to mount and use, with an outline on the back of the switch making it easy to see where to stick the Command Strip, a ball level to ensure the switch is in proper position before sticking it to the wall, and a breakaway tab at the bottom of the switch that lets you get to the Command Strip for removal. The rocker switch itself can also be removed by squeezing a pair of tabs on the switch, letting you access the battery for replacement.
Rear of switch with 3M Command Strip attached (left) and switch mounted on wall (right)
I've spent a couple of weeks using the Instant Switch paired alternately with a Wall Switch and a Switch, and while this is a fairly straightforward product that performs one simple switching task, it can be a handy addition to your smart home — if you're already part of the iDevices ecosystem. Unlike other some switches and buttons like the Logitech POP that are directly compatible with HomeKit and can be used to control any other HomeKit devices including entire scenes, the iDevices Instant Switch is limited to extending a single iDevices switch or outlet at a time.
Finished installation with magnetic faceplate
In one of my testing scenarios, I mounted the Instant Switch at an entry to my living room to create a 3-way setup. The room has a ceiling light controlled by an iDevices Wall Switch at one entry, so it's nice to have a second point of control at the other entry without needing any dedicated wiring. The Instant Switch operates similarly to the company's Wall Switch in that you have to press the top portion of the switch to turn on the light and the bottom portion to turn it off, with the switch returning to its neutral position once you release the switch. There is a very brief delay upon activating the switch as it communicates with the paired device, but it's barely noticeable.
The Instant Switch also offers dimming capabilities when paired with a supported product like the iDevices Dimmer Switch. A single press on the Instant Switch turns the paired switch on or off, while pressing and holding will increase or decrease brightness. A double press quickly adjusts brightness to maximum or minimum.
I also tested the Instant Switch paired with a Switch tucked behind a couch that controls a table lamp in my living room. Without the Instant Switch, I'd have to use Siri, the Home app, or the iDevices app on one of my iOS devices to control the lamp, as the button on the Switch is inaccessible due to its location. With the Instant Switch, I can give that switch manual control from any location I choose within the room.
I'm looking forward to using an Instant Switch during the Christmas season to pair with the iDevices Outdoor Switch I use to control my exterior Christmas lights. I typically keep the lights on a schedule in the iDevices app, but if I need to manually turn them on or off, I currently have to pull out one of my iOS devices or venture out onto the cold front porch to hit the button on the switch. With the Instant Switch, I'll be able to mount it right by my front door to easily turn the Christmas lights on and off while staying warm.
The Instant Switch proved easy to set up and it was fast and reliable in controlling paired accessories. At $34.95 through Amazon and other retailers, pricing is fairly competitive with similar products, and this is a well thought-out accessory, although it would be nice if it could work outside of the iDevices ecosystem. If you're already invested in iDevices products, this is a great way to expand manual control of these smart home devices.
Note: iDevices provided the Instant Switch and a Switch to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
Microsoft today announced that its Microsoft Edge browser is available for download on the iPad and Android tablets, four months after it was first released for the iPhone and Android smartphones.
Designed to create a seamless browsing experience for Windows 10 users who also have Apple or Android devices, the Microsoft Edge browser features content and data syncing between the iOS version of the app and the PC version.
A "Continue on PC" feature lets users push websites from a PC to a mobile device and vice versa (Windows 10 Fall Creator's Update required) and the "Hub View" features easy access to favorites, reading list, history, and books.
Passwords, favorites, and reading lists are all synced across devices where a user is signed in to create a personalized browsing experience no matter which device a PC user is browsing on.
Microsoft Edge also features a built-in QR code reader, voice-based search, and an InPrivate browsing mode.
Microsoft Edge for iPad and iPhone can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link] There's also a new version of the browser for Android tablets, available from Google Play.
A few retailers have kicked off the week with new discounts on App Store and iTunes gift cards, offering either straight percentage discounts on the cards or BOGO sales. Below we've rounded up each retailer that has offers going on this week, so if you're interested be sure to visit the sites and place your order before they end.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Costco - Ends March 31
If you're a Costco member the company has some of the best iTunes gift card sales this week, with discounts of up to 18 percent off. These will be delivered via e-mail and Costco places a limit of two card codes per member.
Target has again launched its usual buy one, get one iTunes card promo, allowing users to purchase one card for full price and get another for 20 percent off. The offer is valid on $15, $25, $50, and $100 iTunes cards and will be delivered via email.
The 20 percent discount will be applied to the lower priced item, so multiple price tiers can be added at once, and after two cards are placed in your cart you'll notice the discount. A few examples of BOGO discounts available from Target are listed below (note that REDcard holders can get an additional 5 percent off their total order price):
2x $15 iTunes cards - $27, down from $30
2x $25 iTunes cards - $45, down from $50
2x $50 iTunes cards - $90, down from $100
2x $100 iTunes cards - $180, down from $200
Best Buy
Best Buy is offering simple 10 percent discounts on a variety of iTunes gift card tiers, the best being $10 off $100. Note that Best Buy's sale is covering both physical cards as well as those delivered via e-mail.
As part of its new suite of educational apps and experiences for children, Apple today announced that it is increasing the amount of free iCloud storage available to kids and teachers.
Apple is at an impasse with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) over the development of an anti-spam iPhone app. The app is meant to allow users to report unsolicited calls and text messages as spam, preventing further spam on their devices (via 
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
