Ahead of the HomePod launching in Canada, France, and Germany in three days from now, the speaker has gained the ability to read the news in those countries.
Siri can now provide news briefs from a handful of sources in Canada, for example, including CBC, Global TV, CTV, and CNN. To start, say "Hey Siri" and then say something like "read me the news" or "what's the news today?"
MacRumors reader Pedro Marques, who lives in Toronto, Canada, shared a demonstration of the feature with us today:
Meanwhile, in Germany, the same functionality works with sources such as public broadcasting radio station Deutschlandfunk, according to MacRumors reader Marco.
Apple previously announced that HomePod sales will begin in Canada, Germany, and France on Monday, June 18. The speaker will be available to order in white and space gray through Apple's online store, retail stores, and the Apple Store app on iPhone and iPad, and at select authorized resellers, including Best Buy.
The speaker will be priced at $449 in Canada, and €349 in Germany and France, according to Apple's online store.
HomePod first launched in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia in February. Canadians, of course, could simply drive south of the border, purchase a HomePod in the United States, and bring it back to Canada, where it worked fine, beyond a few features like news that are now being added.
In related news, Apple's TV app recently gained live news in Canada. CBC News is available for free, or $4.99 per month without ads, while CTV News Go is offered through authentication with a cable provider like Bell or Rogers. Other options include CNN, BNN Bloomberg, and online news network Cheddar.
Apple today launched a new ad campaign focused on the Mac, carrying the tagline "Behind the Mac" and highlighting a trio of creators who have used Macs to "make something wonderful." There are four ads in the series, with the first, set to Daniel Johnston's "Story of an Artist," showing a variety of people using Macs as part of their creative processes.
Three other ads focus on specific Mac users from various disciplines:
- Photographer and disability advocate Bruce Hall, who is legally blind, uses his Mac and iPhone to help "see the things that always felt out of reach." Some of Hall's work is part of the permanent collection of the U.S. Library of Congress.
- Music artist Grimes uses a Mac "from start to finish" to write all of her music, edit music videos, and create digital art for her singles.
- App developer Peter Kariuki from Rwanda used his Mac to code the SafeMotos app for connecting passengers with safe motorcycle taxi drivers. The app monitors motorcyle riders on the road to "detect unsafe driving habits and help them become better drivers."
Apple has highlighted the campaign on its homepage and Mac section of its website.
AT&T this afternoon announced that it has completed its acquisition of Time Warner, just two days after a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the merger could move forward.
"The content and creative talent at Warner Bros., HBO and Turner are first-rate. Combine all that with AT&T's strengths in direct-to-consumer distribution, and we offer customers a differentiated, high-quality, mobile-first entertainment experience," said Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. "We're going to bring a fresh approach to how the media and entertainment industry works for consumers, content creators, distributors and advertisers."
The news comes after the United States Justice Department said that it would not seek a stay to stop the merger from happening. The DoJ can, however, appeal the decision if it chooses to do so even after the completion of the merger.
In a statement earlier this week, the DoJ said it believes that the merger between the two companies will make the pay TV market "less competitive and less innovative."
AT&T's purchase of Time Warner had been on hold since November, when the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to put a stop to it based on the argument that it would lead to higher bills and fewer options for consumers.
AT&T's successful acquisition of Time Warner and the judge's ruling in favor of the two companies has already had an impact on the television market, with Comcast moving forward with a $65 billion all-cash offer for Fox's assets.
Just in time for the FIFA World Cup, which began today, live sports are now available in Apple's TV app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV in Canada.
At launch, Sportsnet, TSN, RDS, CBC, and DAZN will bring sports content from a large selection of major sports leagues to the TV app on iPhones and iPads with iOS 11.2 and later, the fourth-generation Apple TV, and Apple TV 4K.
Here is a list of the Canadian providers and services available in the TV app's new Sports tab, which debuted in the United States last November:
Sportsnet — MLB, NHL, NBA, Premier League, WWE, Tour de France, and more
TSN GO — FIFA World Cup, CFL, PGA TOUR, and more
RDS GO — TSN content in French in Québec
DAZN — NFL, MLS, MLB Network, European soccer, tennis, and more
CBC — Calgary Stampede in July, rugby, and more
While it is already possible to simply open the apps listed above and stream sports content, the TV app provides a nice overview of live and scheduled content from each provider in one dedicated place.
If the Toronto Blue Jays are planning on Sportsnet, for example, simply open the TV app, tap on the play button, and the Sportsnet app will open and begin streaming the game. For an upcoming game, tap on the "Up Next" button to receive push notifications when it begins or when the score is close.
iPhone and iPad users can also ask Siri for real-time sports updates, including FIFA World Cup information, or ask to tune into a specific game.
Of course, users must have each provider's app to stream, and some require a subscription or cable authentication. To stream games via the Sportsnet app, for example, users must have a $24.99 per month Sportsnet NOW subscription or authenticate with a cable provider like Bell, Rogers, Shaw, or Cogeco.
Live news in the TV app has also expanded to Canada. CBC News is available for free, or $4.99 per month without ads, while CTV News Go is offered through authentication with a cable provider like Bell or Rogers. Other networks available include CNN, BNN Bloomberg, and online news network Cheddar.
iOS 12 introduces USB restrictions that effectively put an end to law enforcement access to iPhones and iPads using devices like the GrayKey box, but Grayshift, the company that makes the box, may have already developed a workaround.
VICE's Motherboard shared an email from a forensic expert who planned to meet with Grayshift, which said the company had "gone to great lengths" to futureproof its technology and that USB Restricted Mode had been "already defeated."
Grayshift's GrayKey iPhone unlocking box, via MalwareBytes
"Grayshift has gone to great lengths to future proof their technology and stated that they have already defeated this security feature in the beta build. Additionally, the GrayKey has built in future capabilities that will begin to be leveraged as time goes on," a June email from a forensic expert who planned to meet with Grayshift, and seen by Motherboard, reads, although it is unclear from the email itself how much of this may be marketing bluff. "They seem very confident in their staying power for the future right now," the email adds.
A second source that spoke to Motherboard said Grayshift addressed the topic of USB Restricted Mode in a webinar several weeks ago.
Coming in iOS 12, USB Restricted Mode prevents USB accessories from connecting to an iPhone or iPad if it's been more than an hour since the device was last unlocked.
The setting is enabled by default and it will not allow USB-based accessories like the GrayKey box to connect to an iOS device until a passcode is entered, effectively disabling the current techniques law enforcement officials across the United States are using to access locked iPhones.
Motherboard's sources did not share details on how Grayshift plans to avoid the new USB restrictions, so it's not clear if the GrayKey box will continue to function or if Grayshift has another iPhone access solution in the works.
Despite Grayshift's potential workaround, law enforcement officials are concerned about the changes Apple is implementing, and are said to be frustrated with the attention the GrayKey box has received in the media. "Some vendors are frustrated with GrayKey," one researcher told Motherboard. "They feel the media hype brought too much attention to the attack vector."
Apple yesterday confirmed its plans to implement new USB access restrictions in iOS 12 and clarified that it is aiming to defend customers against hackers, not frustrate law enforcement officials.
"At Apple, we put the customer at the center of everything we design. We're constantly strengthening the security protections in every Apple product to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data. We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we don't design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs," Apple said in a statement to MacRumors.
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.
Apple today shared a new promotion that will allow Apple Pay users to get two free bike rides through the ofo app from now until June 20.
Ofo is a smart bike sharing service that's designed to let users pick up and use a bike for short trips around various cities where ofo bikes are available.
The ofo service operates in multiple countries around the world, including the US, the UK, Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Israel, Austria, and Kazakhstan. The Apple Pay deal is, however, limited to the United States.
Ofo normally charges users $1 per hour to borrow an ofo bike, with Apple Pay providing two $2 off coupons that are good for two two-hour rides with the promo code "Apple18." Each coupon is available for seven days after the promo code is used and will be applied to the next two rides when available.
Apple Pay must be selected as a default payment method before the code is applied, and riders who download the app and get a free trial should wait to apply the code after the trial ends.
In addition to promoting ofo, Apple's most recent Apple Pay email highlights other transit-related services including Lyft, LimeBike, ParkMobile, MTA eTix, Ventra, and MBTA mTicket.
watchOS 5, the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch, was introduced last week alongside iOS 12 and macOS Mojave. The update doesn't include design changes or new watch faces, but it does introduce some fun new features that make the Apple Watch more useful than ever, like Walkie-Talkie.
We went hands-on with the new watchOS 5 update in our latest YouTube video to give MacRumors readers an idea of what to expect from the software when it launches this fall.
Walkie-Talkie, the coolest new feature in watchOS 5, will let you use the Apple Watch like, well, a Walkie-Talkie, with opt-in push-to-talk communication. In the first beta of watchOS 5, which is available to developers, the Walkie-Talkie app is unfortunately not functional, listing a "Coming Soon" message when you open it up. We'll have a separate video when it launches, so make sure to stay tuned for that.
There are other great new features in watchOS 5, though, like a new Podcasts app that lets you listen to podcasts right on your wrist without needing to open up your iPhone.
For those of you who like competition, Apple's added a new Workout option that lets you challenge your friends to a 7-day fitness competition to see who can earn the most activity points, which is great for motivation.
Yoga and Hiking, two new Workout types, have been added, while runners will be pleased to see rolling mile pace, custom pace alerts, and cadence for better than ever tracking. Automatic Workout detection means your watch will never fail to start or stop recording your workouts, even if you forgot to manually use the Workout app.
The Siri Watch face now supports sports, maps, heart rate, and third-party apps, so you'll see more useful suggestions, plus notifications are now actionable so you can do more right from your wrist. watchOS 5 also introduces limited support for WebKit, so you can view website menus, see full Mail messages, and click links in the Messages app without needing to pick up your iPhone.
It's worth noting that watchOS 5 is going to be limited to Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watch models. That means that it won't run on the original Apple Watch.
What are you most excited for in watchOS 5? Let us know in the comments and make sure to check out our watchOS 5 roundup for more details on the new operating system.
Apple today introduced updates for its iWork apps, adding new features to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for both iOS devices and Macs.
Today's update introduces support for recording, editing, and playing audio directly within documents, spreadsheets, and slides in all three apps. There are options in Settings to use the Apple Pencil to select and scroll, and all of the apps support a variety of new editable shapes and support for mathematical equations using LateX or MathML notation.
Charts in Pages and Keynote support rounded corners on columns and bars, while Numbers and Keynote support gradient and image fills for shapes and text boxes.
Full release notes for all three iOS updates are below:
Pages
Easily record, edit, and play audio directly on a page.
Smart annotation marks now stretch and wrap to follow your text as you edit.
Quickly switch between drawing and smart annotation modes on iPad.
A new option in Settings > Pages lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll
Track text changes in shapes and text boxes.
Add colors and images to backgrounds in page layout documents.
Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
Add mathematical equations to page layout documents using LaTeX or MathML notation.
Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
Easily browse templates by category.
Save a different auto scroll speed per document when using presenter mode.
Improved support for Arabic and Hebrew.
Keynote
Edit existing or create new master slides.
Easily record, edit, and play audio directly on a slide.
A new option in Settings > Keynote lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll.
Export a presentation as a movie or images.
Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
Add mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation.
Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
Improved support for Arabic and Hebrew.
Numbers
Easily record, edit, and play audio directly in a spreadsheet.
A new option in Settings > Numbers lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll
Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
Add mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation.
Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
Easily browse templates by category.
On the Mac, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote support mathematical equations using LaTex or MathML notation, rounded corners on columns and bars when using charts, and new editable shapes.
Keynote includes improved compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint, and Numbers includes improved compatibility with Microsoft Excel.
Pages and Keynote both include improved support for Arabic and Hebrew, with Pages also gaining support for tracking text changes in shapes and text boxes and the ability to add colors and images to backgrounds in page layout documents.
All of Apple's iWork apps are free downloads that can be obtained from the App Store and Mac App Store.
Apple is working on dozens of original television shows and may also expand into feature films, with the company said to be close to signing a deal for an animated movie.
According to Bloomberg, Apple may soon sign a deal with Cartoon Saloon, an animation studio based in Ireland. While Cartoon's Saloon's movie has yet to be made, Apple is aiming to secure distribution rights for the United States and other countries.
It's unclear how Apple plans to make the movie available, but a theatrical release, necessary to qualify for Academy Awards, is possible, one of the people said. Apple and Cartoon Saloon had no immediate comment on Thursday.
Cartoon Saloon has previously produced Academy Award-nominated animated films including "The Secret of Kells," "The Song of the Sea," and "The Breadwinner."
Bloomberg warns that the talks have not yet finished and that the deal could still fall apart, but Apple's discussion with Cartoon Saloon suggests the company is interested in content beyond TV shows.
At the current point in time, Apple has established deals for at least 16 television shows, ranging from science fiction series "Amazing Stories" to podcast-based drama series "Are You Sleeping."
It is not yet clear how Apple's television shows (and potentially films) will be distributed, but it does have a TV app where it recently made one of its first shows, "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" available to watch.
The first of Apple's TV shows could see a debut as soon as 2019, though it's not known if the content will be free, available as part of Apple Music, or distributed through an as-of-yet unannounced video service.
Verizon today announced the launch of a third "Unlimited" data plan option, which provides users with 75GB of LTE data, 20GB of LTE hotspot access, 720p video streaming, 5 TravelPass sessions per month, and 500GB of Verizon Cloud storage.
The new "Above Unlimited" plan joins Verizon's two other "Unlimited" plans, Go Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited. While Verizon calls these plans unlimited, all three have data caps on the amount of LTE data that users can access per month before having their speeds downgraded or limitations on video quality.
The existing Go Unlimited plan, Verizon's cheapest option, provides users with unlimited LTE data, but it restricts streaming video to 480p and limits mobile hotspot speeds to 600Kb/s.
The current Beyond Unlimited plan provides users with 22GB of LTE data per month, with access to 720p video streaming and 15GB of hotspot data.
Neither of the two current plans include TravelPass access or extra cloud storage. Verizon's TravelPass is designed to let customers use their domestic talk, next, and data allowances while traveling outside of the United States for $5 to $10 per day, with Above Unlimited offering five free days.
Verizon's new Above Unlimited plan is priced at $95 for one line, compared to $85 for Beyond Unlimited and $75 for Go Unlimited. For a family of four, pricing for Above Unlimited is at $60 per line. The new plan option will be available for Verizon customers and those new to Verizon starting on June 18.
Unlimited data plans from carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have become increasingly complicated in the year and a half since carriers readopted unlimited data options. All three carriers now offer different unlimited tiers with various add-ons and restrictions, making unlimited cellular data plans as difficult to decipher as prior non-unlimited plans.
In the United States, carriers began seriously embracing affordable "unlimited" data plans starting in 2015, when T-Mobile introduced its simple T-Mobile ONE plan with unlimited talk, text, and 4G data for $70 per month. Verizon followed in February of 2017 with its first unlimited plan, as did AT&T.
Prior to 2015 and T-Mobile's intervention, carriers primarily relied on limited data plans that provided 2-10GB of data to customers after largely eliminating unlimited data plans in the years following the launch LTE networks.
A few weeks ago, MacRumors shared news of exclusive sale partnerships with Twelve South and RAVPower, both of which will be ending this Friday, June 15. Each sale offers savings on useful Apple accessories, including desk organization products from Twelve South and charging devices from RAVPower. As a friendly reminder we'll briefly recap the sales below, so be sure to check all of the items discounted with our exclusive promo codes and then place your orders before the end of June 15.
Our collaboration with well-known accessory company Twelve South allows you to enter the promo code MacRumorsSetups to get 20 percent discounts on five items that are aimed at decluttering your Mac workspace. We launched the sale in conjunction with Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last week so that developers can save a little money on upgrading their desk, but of course any of our readers can use the code if interested.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with RavPower. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Head to our full post on the sale for more information on shipping and item descriptions, then check out the Twelve South products discounted below:
In our other exclusive sale, RAVPower offers a collection of exclusive promo codes to our readers that includes discounts of 50 percent off a battery case for iPhone 6, 35 percent off the RAVPower Fast Wireless Charging Pad for iPhone X and iPhone 8, and more. You can find all of the items on sale and their exclusive promo codes in the list below, and you'll have until 11:59 p.m. PT on June 15 to claim them.
Visit our full post on the sale for more information and then browse all of the RAVPower accessories on sale below:
An exclusive collection of backpacks, messenger bags, sleeves, and more from cycling brand Rapha is now available from the online Apple Store and, starting tomorrow, Apple retail stores.
Apple recently started carrying a selection of cycling gear like the SmartHalo Bike System and the Lumos Smart Bike Helmet, and it's now expanding that lineup with Rapha's accessories.
All of the accessories are available in blue, black, or yellow with perforated accent striping, and are made from what Rapha says are "high-quality hardest-wearing Italian fabrics" that have been treated with Durable Water Repellent and "tested in extreme conditions."
The Mini Messenger Bag and the Backpack include magnetic clasps that are designed to allow the bags to be attached to the handlebar of the bike, while the device cases include padding to keep your iPad or Mac safe. All accessories also have AquaGuard zippers in addition to the water repellent treatment to make them rain and spill resistant.
Namely, in the latest beta version of Steam Link on TestFlight, Valve has removed the option to purchase games within the app. Instead, the app now informs users that games are available to purchase on a PC, or Mac, according to Eli Hodapp, editor-in-chief of MacRumors sister website TouchArcade.
Moments ago, Valve pushed out an updated version of the Steam Link app to TestFlight testers which […] removed the ability to buy anything through the actual app itself. When you connect to your PC via the Steam Link app and browse the store, the button you used to be able to push to buy things has been changed to say "Available to purchase from your PC."
Shortly after Steam Link was rejected, Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller explained that it had "discussed these issues with Valve" and would "continue to work with them to help bring the Steam experience to iOS and Apple TV in a way that complies with the store's guidelines," in an email shared by MacStories.
Steam Link app now says games are available to purchase on PC
Steam Link, unveiled early last month, will allow users to stream Steam games to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV from a Mac or PC via a 5GHz Wi-Fi network or a wired Ethernet connection. The app, originally set to launch May 21, will include support for both the Steam Controller and Made for iPhone controllers.
In his hands-on last month, Hodapp said the app works so well that "it feels like there's some kind of actual wizardry powering it all."
If you're the kind of person who is always hungry for "real" PC-like game experiences on your Apple device, but have been dismayed by the amount of junk on the App Store, you can basically delete everything else but the Steam Link app. I'm still dumbfounded by Apple apparently allowing this on their platform, as I could see a very real situation where many people just straight up stop buying things from the App Store and exclusively purchase Steam games through Valve instead.
Valve hasn't specified when it will resubmit Steam Link to Apple for reconsideration, and it remains to be seen if the change will satisfy Apple's guidelines, but it sounds like the app is one step closer to being released on the App Store.
Russian company ElcomSoft today claimed that the latest version of its Phone Breaker software can remotely access iMessage conversation histories stored in iCloud, although there are several strings attached.
Namely, the person attempting to extract iMessages from an iCloud account would need the following before being able to do so:
Elcomsoft Phone Breaker version 8.3
The associated Apple ID email and password for the iCloud account
The passcode, if an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or system password, if a Mac, of at least one device on the account enrolled in Messages in iCloud, which requires iOS 11.4 and macOS 10.13.5 or later
Access to a two-factor authentication method, such as a trusted secondary device, which may or may not have the same passcode or system password, or a SIM card for a phone number that has been authorized to receive one-time verification codes via SMS
It's worth noting that if the perpetrator has obtained physical access to at least one of your trusted secondary devices, and its passcode, they would be able to read at least part of your iMessage history regardless by simply opening the Messages app.
Apple obviously cares very deeply about the security of its customers, but if a bad actor has gained access to another person's Apple ID credentials, your passcode, and at least one of your Apple devices, or your SIM card, there arguably isn't really much the company can do at that point to protect you.
That's why it's so important, as Apple routinely stresses, to set a strong password for your Apple ID, not share that password with others, enable two-factor authentication, and keep careful possession of your devices. It also helps to set a strong alphanumeric passcode on an iOS device, rather than a four-digit one.
Apple says iMessages are protected with end-to-end encryption, and notes that messages can't be accessed by anyone without your device passcode. As an additional safeguard, Apple requires that users have two-factor authentication turned on for their Apple ID accounts to enable Messages in iCloud.
ElcomSoft's tool seems to be taking advantage of the fact that, if iCloud Backups are turned on, a copy of the encryption key protecting iMessages is included in the backup, according to a support document on Apple's website:
If you have iCloud Backup turned on, a copy of the key protecting your Messages is included in your backup. This ensures you can recover your Messages if you’ve lost access to iCloud Keychain and your trusted devices. When you turn off iCloud Backup, a new key is generated on your device to protect future messages and it is not stored by Apple.
Given the extenuating circumstances required, the vast majority of users shouldn't have anything to worry about. But it's a good reminder to maintain strong security practices on all of your devices to stay safe.
Apple this morning shared five new iPhone X photography tutorial videos on its website and YouTube channel, with each taking a football (soccer in the U.S.) theme to celebrate the first day of the World Cup.
Each short video walks users through a series of step-by-step instructions on how to use the special shooting modes featured on the iPhone X.
The modes covered in the tutorials include Pano (panoramic), Burst mode, Slo-mo, and one covering best use of backlight when shooting on iPhone X.
Apple has also published a video called "How to Shoot Soccer on iPhone X", which is basically a series of clips showcasing what kind of pitch action can be captured using an iPhone X.
Apple has shared several tutorial videos like this in the past, which are sometimes tied to new releases, but this time Apple has gone with a distinctively event-tied theme in World Cup 2018, which is being held in Russia.
Earlier this week, Apple added several special World Cup features to Siri, enabling users to keep abreast of all the action, stats, and fixtures over the coming weeks. Apple also plans to highlight football apps and games throughout the month, as well as feature World Cup content in the News app, amongst other coverage.
Twitter today announced several changes to the desktop and mobile Twitter experience to make relevant breaking news, events, and stories easier to discover.
Going forward, the Explore section of Twitter will be organized using topic tags so users can more quickly see what's happening in news and entertainment and what's most relevant to them.
Twitter is also improving search with related news, events, or stories that are listed at the top of search results when you search for something.
Twitter's "Happening now" timeline that was introduced last year for sports is being expanded to include breaking and personalized news, with Twitter offering up personalized news offerings at the top of your timeline.
Notifications are also being expanded to include news based on user interest in addition to breaking news. These notifications can be toggled off by going to the recommendations section of Twitter's settings.
As for Moments, the feature that aggregates trending news stories and relevant happenings, Twitter is organizing it into a vertical display like the Twitter timeline, rather than a horizontal orientation.
For some Moments in the United States, Twitter is implementing multiple timelines, which are designed to help users see all of the best tweets surrounding a story. These timelines will include a recap showing tweets you may have missed, a collection of the latest tweets, and top commentary.
For the World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow, Twitter has also introduced a dedicated World Cup page that will be available at the top of the timeline on Twitter for web, Android, and iOS.
The Explore, notification, and search changes are coming to iOS and Android "in the coming months," while the changes to Moments are available starting today.
Apple CEO Tim Cook with WWDC 2018 scholarship winners
Among those developers were some 350 scholarship winners, who each received a complimentary WWDC ticket, lodging for the week, and a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Program.
Each year, students aged 13 or older at accredited schools and STEM organizations can apply to become a WWDC scholar. This year, Apple tasked applicants with creating a short interactive scene in a Swift playground, and winners were selected based on the technical skills shown, creativity, and accompanying written responses.
An example of a winning submission from Giovanni Filaferro, a four-time WWDC scholarship winner from Italy.
Apple was kind enough to provide me with a media pass to attend WWDC this year, and during my week in San Jose, I crossed paths with a few of these scholars. After learning about how much fun they were having, I was inspired to connect with more scholars to have them share their day-to-day experiences.
Apple has confirmed that it is closing a technological loophole that allows law enforcement officials to hack into iPhones through USB-based hardware solutions like the GrayKey box, reports The New York Times.
Apple said it was planning an iPhone software update that would effectively disable the phone's charging and data port -- the opening where users plug in headphones, power cables and adapters -- an hour after the phone is locked. In order to transfer data to or from the iPhone using the port, a person would first need to enter the phone's password.
As we shared last week, the feature that prevents USB accessories from connecting to an iPhone or iPad if it's been more than an hour since the device was last unlocked is included in iOS 12. This setting is enabled by default and it will not allow USB-based accessories like the GrayKey box to connect to an iOS device until a passcode is entered. Charging, however, is still possible as it does not require a data connection.
Apple's new setting effectively disables the techniques that law enforcement officials have been using to access locked iPhones over the past couple of years. A current popular iPhone unlocking option, for example, is the GrayKey box, which has been sold to hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the United States.
The GrayKey box is designed to plug into the Lightning port of an iPhone where it uses a data connection to brute force a passcode in as little as a few hours. With the change, the GrayKey box will not work on an iPhone unless it has been less than an hour since the device was last unlocked. The short time period available for access via USB essentially renders the GrayKey box useless.
Located under Touch ID & Passcode, the USB access setting can be disabled, but most users will have no reason to turn it off as there's no real benefit to doing so. All iOS devices will have this setting turned on by default after upgrading to iOS 12, which means law enforcement officials will have a much more difficult time accessing devices running iOS 12 and beyond.
As The New York Times points out, law enforcement officials have become aware of the changes Apple is planning to implement in iOS 12 and they're not happy. Chuck Cohen, who leads an Indiana State Police task force on internet crimes against children, told The New York Times that the Indiana State Police had unlocked 96 iPhones using the GrayKey box in 2017.
"If we go back to the situation where we again don't have access, now we know directly all the evidence we've lost and all the kids we can't put into a position of safety," said Cohen.
iPhone unlocking devices like the GrayKey box, however, are often not only used by law enforcement officials and can be used by hackers and other nefarious individuals, making it crucial for Apple to patch the security flaw that allows the devices to work.
Apple is not aiming to thwart law enforcement efforts with its on-device security changes. The company regularly complies with requests for the data that it stores on its servers, and has a dedicated team of professionals to respond to these requests. Since 2013, Apple has responded to more than 55,000 U.S. government requests seeking information relating to over 208,000 devices, accounts, or financial identifiers.
Apple also has a team for responding to national security requests, and in 2017 alone, Apple received 29,250-29,748 National Security Requests from the U.S. government. Specific numbers are not available because of U.S. law.
An Apple spokesperson told MacRumors that Apple is always working on strengthening security protections and addressing iPhone vulnerabilities as quickly as possible to defend customers against hackers.
"At Apple, we put the customer at the center of everything we design. We're constantly strengthening the security protections in every Apple product to help customers defend against hackers, identity thieves and intrusions into their personal data. We have the greatest respect for law enforcement, and we don't design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs."
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.
AT&T this 
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