Apple Archives - Capital Berg

Differential Privacy for Apple Users

June 28, 2016 By Waleed Javed

Apple will introduce a differential privacy algorithm to protect user data.

Apple announced it will introduce differential privacy in their iOS and macOS, which means they will securely collect data from their users in order to provide advanced AI services.

Connected technologies are more and more valued in modern life. It impacts not just consumer markets, but also public transport and energy supply.

The new approach in technology helps building insights that were not possible before. Google already collects a large quantity of information from its services. However, many users are concerned about their privacy and want more control on what type of information about them gets to be used by the companies.

Apple’s Approach to AI Systems

Apple wants to build a system that can protect the user’s privacy while collecting information that is useful to developing future features for their services.

An example of how the AI will work is the recommendation for a certain emoticon if the user in question seems to prefer that drawing more than others.

Differential privacy would include collecting data and usage patterns. The private information will be obscured to protect the person. The new system promises to keep individual identities protected.

Apple will use patterns noticed in user collected data to discover general patterns that would later be the foundation of an enhanced user experience.

The company already announced that it will use the data collected with differential privacy methods to enhance the app search. The algorithms will crowdsource deep links’ popularity in order to count the frequency of visits, while never associating the link to one particular user.

How is Differential Privacy Better?

The algorithm will contain hashing, noise injection and sub-sampling in order to secure the privacy of their users.

For example, hashing means scrambling the data before storage, and it and it will make the owner of the data to be difficult to trace.

Sub-sampling is a technique that permits Apple to analyze information directly on the person’s device, extracting only the pattern without any personal details.

Noise injection includes random data injection inside the collected information which will protect against cross-reference.

In comparison, Google’s anonymized data method removes any personally identifying information from the data package before using it. The system has its flows, as in 2007 Austin University researchers managed to connect a Netflix anonymized database with public IMDb information and compromised the identity of a part of the Netflix users.

Differential privacy was built to resists deanonymization attempts and thus can better protect users’ privacy.

Image Source: Wikipedia

iPhone No Longer Belongs to just Apple in China

May 4, 2016 By Denise Ehrlich

chine

First off, I have to start by admitting that I am somewhat biased against Apple. It has nothing to do with their products per se, nor does it have to do with the price range of most of their devices. My problem is with the way the company treats its customers and with the way they always act like they’re entitled to everything.

That, plus the recent scandals during which the company made any mobile device older than iPhone 6 unable to connect to the internet and bricked the phones of anyone who didn’t want to pay upwards of $ 150 to change a button on their phones made me lose even more of my positive views of the company. Still, my bias has nothing to do with the following story.

iPhone vs. IPHONE

The indisputable tech titan just lost one of the most embarrassing lawsuits they could have lost. According to reports and news sites all over the world, iPhone no longer belongs to just Apple in China. Instead, a Chinese company now has the right to make passport holders, handbags, and other leather products and to brand them IPHONE.

The lawsuit started in 2012, as the international tech company filed a lawsuit to order the Chinese company Xintong Tiandi to stop making IPHONE products. It turns out that even though the Chinese company filed the patent in 2007, five years after Apple filed their own, Apple could not prove that the iPhone was a renowned trademark in the country before then.

So, starting with the conclusion of the lawsuit, the Chinese company Xintong Tiandi can make as many leather products as they want, and all of them will be labeled IPHONE. Yeah, the court didn’t really care about the distinction in capitalization, so the company can stylize it however they want.

Chinese Apple

This isn’t the first time Apple has lost a lawsuit in China. In fact, back in 2012, Apple was ordered to pay a Shenzhen tech company $60 million in order to settle a dispute over the iPad name. Take that and combine it with the recent iPhone lawsuit, and we’ve got ourselves some troubled times for the company.

Apple stockholders have been selling their stocks because they are afraid of the Chinese dictatorship, and the company has been bleeding profits and shares for about a year and a half now. Things aren’t looking very good for the company, especially if they keep punishing their user base, and many already believe the company’s future in China at least to be somewhat shaky.

In the meanwhile, you can get all the IPHONE leather products you want by just following the link in the image source description.

Image source: IPHONE Luxury Leather

LearnSprout Is Now Available With Apple Devices

January 30, 2016 By June Harris

"An example of an index of the LearnSprout educational platform owned by Apple"

The LearnSprout educational platform has a user-friendly interface.

For all the iOS loving teachers there is good news to share, LearnSprout is now available with Apple devices. The purchase was officially confirmed by the company. The acquisition was made in order to bolster the educational featured tools on the Apple’s iPad.

Apple Is Learning From the Competition

After the success that Google had with the Chromebook laptops, Apple is learning from the competition. This is the main reason for which LearnSprout is now available with Apple devices. The giant wants to regain the teacher market after the sales fell more than 50 percent from 2012 and 2015 while Google and the Chromebook registered a more than 50 percent rise in the sale of the devices.

What is Apple Planning?

After the purchase was made and confirmed, an official at the company was asked what the reason for the acquisition was. He responded that Apple generally buys small companies that develop technological equipment or software from time to time, but they do not discuss their plans or purposes.

According to Bloomberg, the purchase was made by Apple so it can start working on an educational software of its own. The main focus is creating an educational tool that will be 100 percent compatible with the iPad. This information was not confirmed by the Apple company.

What is LearnSprout?

The LearnSprout data system is a software developed three years ago in San Francisco. With it, 12K educators can easily track the performances of their students, from grades to absences and special situations. In order to start the program, the company managed to raise approximately $4.7 million from different investors, including Samsung Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Formation 8.

After Apple took over LearnSprout in the summer of 2015, all the money received from other investors were returned, according to The Information outlet.

There have been teachers and schools that started working with the LearnSprout program and the results are quite favorable. The great advantage of the LearnSprout is the fact that it has a very user-friendly interface and it can be used by the teachers without making their life too complicated or distracting their attention from the students.

Tales of the LearnSprout Success

One teacher, in particular, has even mounted a video on YouTube trying to underline the advantages of using the learning program. She gives the example of a kindergartener that was missing quite a lot of school. Because their parents couldn’t speak English she was concerned that the information she was trying to pass on would not be understood, so she printed out an attendance graphic using the LearnSprout. The situation was resolved in the end, the teacher finding out the reasons for the child’s absence.

You can see the whole story in the video below.

Image source: www.learnsprout.com

A Photo of The Next iPhone Allegedly Leaks Online

January 25, 2016 By Cliff Jenkins Scott

After the first video was released last week, a photo of the next iPhone allegedly leaks online to add more fuel to the rumors about Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) upcoming device. Dutch website One More Thing first posted the image of the smartphone to be launched by Apple in the next couple of months.

The video online claimed to be showing off the upcoming iPhone, but the source was considered questionable due to the fact that it was hard to tell it was actually the 4.7-inch phone. With no size to compare, it was deemed as difficult to discern if it was another similar model. However, a picture has surfaced, one that is allegedly the real deal.

It looks like the iPhone 6s, but it isn’t?

The image displays an iPhone 5, for the purpose of scale, and the upcoming model to be released by Apple. Reportedly, the rumors were wrong in its name by dubbing it iPhone 6C. However, the next launch from the company will instead be titled iPhone 5se, with the suffix likely standing for “special edition” to show the “enhanced version of the iPhone 5”. However, without confirmation from Apple themselves, the community can only suggest and theorize about the next release.

The picture shows that the alleged iPhone 5se looks similar to the latest 4.7-inch iPhone 6s and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus, including the curved edges and Touch ID. It’s possible that the upcoming smartphone will include the fingerprint unlock feature, which has proven to be rather popular among users. Furthermore, the iPhone 5se could potentially be powered by the Apple A8 chipset and the M8 motion co-processor. The chipset is also currently present in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

The upcoming smartphone will be equipped with an 8 megapixel camera, and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera as well. In terms of support, it will most likely be able to capture Live Photos and shoot a 3 seconds long video. Other features might include the standard autofocus and panorama, and possibly Apple Pay with NFC connectivity.

The iPhone 5se is set to launch this spring, alongside the new Apple Watch 2 that has been promised to arrive with a slew of improvements over the previous model. KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo estimates the price of the next iPhone to reach between $400 to $500. However, more official confirmations are likely to follow in the wake of the few online leaks. All the theories could be put to rest.

One feature that will likely be missing is the 3D Touch that has been introduced with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. It’s possible that it will be reserved only for the latest, high-end models that we will see launched from Apple. If rumors are true, the upcoming iPhone 7 will certainly be included in that list.

Apple’s iPhone 7, however, is expected to launch at some point in September 2016. Rumors centered around the high-end device are boasting of a curved screen and the removal of the “home” button. It would be interesting to see what sort of improvements Apple will make, and perhaps add in new functions to their tech.

Image source: mirror.co.uk

Apple Might Be Jumping On The VR Bandwagon

January 23, 2016 By Marlene R. Litten

New reports suggest that Apple might be jumping on the VR bandwagon by hiring Virginia Tech professor and expert in the field, Doug Bowman. The market is likely to get hotter and hotter in the following years. Like many other fields, Apple does not want to be left out.

With virtual reality titans coming, such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, it seems that the industry is getting closer and closer to becoming more than just tech found in sci fi movies. Titles are being announced, and more players are joining them at the table. It appears that it will be a true leap forward in technology and gaming, specifically. Now, it only remains to be seen which company will bring forward the epitome of this new step.

VR and AR headed for $120 billion by 2020

Apple has, so far, remained out of the running, considering its only mild interest in the market. However, with experts estimating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to bring around $120 billion in revenue by 2020, the company seems to want in. It’s certainly not the first time Apple would come in late into the game. It’s in line with their strategy and the move all but confirms the true potential of the VR industry.

Apple clearly sees an opportunity that Bowman is likely expected to fulfill. As a VR and AR expert, and an award-winning developer for HoloLens, he will aid the company in dipping their toe into the market. However, this will likely happen over time. So far, Apple has only created a few VR experiences, but purchased AR technology firm, Metaio, and PrimeSense. It seems that they are preparing for a product of their own.

Apple’s strategy is to innovate at the right time

According to market analyst, Joost Van Dreunen from SuperData Research, the hiring of Bowman might suggest Apple’s faith in VR of turning a profit. It validates the investments of other company giants, such as Facebook, Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, and Google. However, it’s possible that Apple is, once again, holding back and waiting for the opportune moment to strike with something innovative.

That is how Apple often enters the market, according to Van Dreunen.

Microsoft and Blackberry proved the demand for smartphones, then Apple came in and revolutionized it. The same happened with MP3 players before Apple brought in the iPod, and then once again with tablets. The company analyzes the market, watches potential, observes, and then finds a way to bring their own product with an added improvement. Perhaps the same will happen with virtual reality and augmented reality.

Their strategic focus has always been innovation and timing. Only when those two factors are properly decided will we see an Apple product likely stepping into the market. And Bowman might just be the front man for it.

Image source: briansolis.com

Apple’s Latest Security Patch can still Be Bypassed

January 16, 2016 By Carol Harper

Patrick Wardle confirmed that Apple’s latest security patch is still vulnerable to malware attacks.

Everyone is keen on thinking that Macs are among the safest devices on the market. But it would seem that Apple’s products are as vulnerable as other devices. According to a tech specialist, Apple’s latest security patch can still be bypassed by any malware program.

The Gatekeeper forgot to lock the gate

Patrick Wardle, a researcher and a computer specialist, is currently working with the tech giant in order to find the holes in Mac’s security protocols.

For many months now, the avid researcher kept probing Mac’s defense. Wardle declared the last version of Gatekeeper was very loose in terms of security, meaning that any malware application, masquerading as a legit app could get past the security system and infect the computer.

After many trials and errors, Apple managed to release a new patch, one that will be able to repair any breach in the security net. Discovering Apple’s newest addition to the Gatekeeper, Wardle took it upon himself to test the strength of the program.

It was he who declared that the new patch was so inefficient in terms of security, which he managed to find around it in just 5 minutes.

So, let’s talk about malware. We all know for a fact that last year nearly every gadget available on the market was targeted by malware attacks. It wasn’t any different in Apple’s case. Moreover, it would seem that the latest hack attacks were focused on bringing down the allegedly fool-proof Mac protection grid.

According to Wardle and to several tech specialists, infecting a Mac with a malicious code was a piece of cake. Malicious code would be embedded in legit applications, thus being capable of following the all-seeing Gatekeeper.

The security program primary goal is to check the digital signature of the application. If the application had Apple’s digital signature, then Gatekeeper would allow the user to install the application. Same thing happened with the digital signature of third-party applications.

But it seems that the Gatekeeper wasn’t infallible. In fact, very often, seemingly legit applications available on the web contained malware code.

Wardle, a computer scientists, declared that Apple’s latest security patch can still be bypassed. Currently, the researcher is aiding Apple to patch all the holes in Gatekeeper’s security grid.

Until another version of the app blocker is launched, Wardle recommendation to the user is to download applications directly from Apple’s online store. Furthermore, the users must download these applications via a secure/ encrypted internet connection.

Photo credits:www.pixabay.com

Gartner Report: Apple Beats Samsung With Massive iPhone Sale in Q4

March 4, 2015 By Denise Ehrlich

As per the latest report from Gartner, Apple has generated considerable profit of $18 billion in the fourth quarter. In comparison, Samsung admits that its profit fell dramatically 37 percent.

Thus Far, it is the highest profit rate of the iPhone maker. Earlier, Samsung was enjoying the top rank since last four years.

At last, Cupertino based firm took the crown from its biggest competitor: Samsung. It is the first time when Apple sold such a massive number of smartphones all around the globe.

The report from Gartner is entirely based on the fourth quarter sales of both the phone manufacturer. It reveals that Apple shipped more than 74.8 million units in fourth quarter of 2014. The figure is equal to 20 percent of the entire market share.

On the flip side, Samsung sold nearly 73 million units that signify 19.9 percent market share. It is certainly surprising for everyone as the firm sold 89.3 million units in 2013.

Anshul Gupta, research analyst at Gartner, discussed Samsung’s current position in detail. He informs that Samsung’s performance weakens in the fourth quarter. The South Korean lost around 10 percent market sharing merely in a single quarter. However, the firm is striving to get its position back from Apple.

iMac 2015: Mixture of Original Mac and iPad Air

January 15, 2015 By Carol Harper

The first iMac, that was launched nearly 30 years ago, was similar to the shape of a box.

Recently, the group of engineers of Curved lab designed a concept “iMac of 2015”. The company introduced the new Mac on its 50^th anniversary. It is as if the engineers have created a little baby of Apple. They have combined the modern day technology with simplicity of old days.

The new product is still at its concept phase. It is a mixture of the boxy shape of the Lisa with the new sleek aluminum design of iMac.

However, the company plans to include all the features of modern desktop in the old design. The device would probably come with an 11.6 inch touch screen, 128 GB of solid state storage, camera, microphone and an SD card slot. Additionally, the company would offer both: touch screen and mouse. The option will allow users to effortlessly switch between the two.

Apple, Google New Settlement To Resolve Employee Poaching Lawsuit

January 14, 2015 By Denise Ehrlich

4 Silicon Valley firms including Apple Inc. and Google Inc. have consented to a new agreement that would resolve an antitrust legal claim by tech workers, who blamed the companies of scheming to abstain from poaching each other’s employees.

Claimants blamed Apple, Google, Intel Corp. also Adobe Systems Inc. in the 2011 claim of constraining job mobility and, thus, keeping a lid on salaries.it

The case has been strictly viewed because of the likelihood of enormous harms being rewarded and for the chance to look into the world of some of America’s best tech firms.

US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, Calif., rejected a $324.5 million settlement of the claim last year as excessively low after one of the named claimants objected.

That employee will support the new contract, his lawyer Daniel Girard said, which could be a joint payment of $415 million; the New York Times reported referring a person close to the concessions.

Delegates for Apple, Intel and Adobe declined to remark. A Google representative couldn’t be arrived at, nor could a lawyer for the claimants.

The case was based mostly on emails in which Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, previous Google CEO Eric Schmidt and some of their opponents’ detailed plans to abstain from poaching one another’s prized engineers.

In dismissing the $324.5 million deal, Koh over and again alluded to a related 2013 settlement including Disney and Intuit.

Apple and Google employees got relatively less than Disney employees, Koh said, despite the fact that claimants’ attorneys had “substantially more influence” against Apple and Google.

To match the prior settlement, the deal with Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe “would need to total at least $380 million,” Koh said.

In the short court filing on Tuesday, the firms said claimants would file a detailed clarification of the new deal “quickly.” Koh will then likely choose whether to acknowledge or reject it.

Google, Apple Offer New Deal to Settle U.S Poaching Lawsuit

January 14, 2015 By Cliff Jenkins Scott

Finally, four firms of Silicon Valley technology have reached a settlement for a lawsuit. The court case alleges that the four tech companies have infringement antitrust lawsuits.

Google, Intel, Apple and Adobe system were involved in the lawsuit which claims that the companies agreed that they would not poach workers of each other. Such kind of agreement is against the antitrust laws of the country.

The analysts were closely observing the lawsuit which was filed in 2011. Lucy Koh, the U.S District Judge rebuffed a settlement offer of $324.5 million. He stated that the offered amount was low as compared to the violation of antitrust laws. Hence, it was expected that the case would cause big damages to the four big tech companies of the world.

The emails of Steve Jobs, Eric Schmidt and other companies are the biggest evidence for the lawsuit. In that emails, the head of the four tech companies agreed to avoid poaching each other’s engineers. The agreement allowed companies to keep low salary scale of the high engineers.

Surprisingly, the court filing of Tuesday verified that the case is resolved. However, the companies have kept the terms and conditions of the settlement in dark.

The spokesman of Google, Intel and Adobe refused to make any comment on the issue. Nonetheless, Intel’s spokesman confirms that the company does not wish to disclose the amount of settlement.