Yoni Heisler

Author Archives: Yoni Heisler

Steve Wozniak chimes in on the Apple/FBI debate

At this point, it seems that there's truly no end in sight for Apple's ongoing legal battle with the FBI. While the FBI and the DOJ have made it clear that they want Apple to create a new version of iOS designed to bypass iOS security mechanisms, Apple has made it clear that it's not even going to entertain the idea. Quite the opposite, Apple CEO Tim Cook even categorized the FBI's request as akin to asking Apple to create the software equivalent of cancer.Over the past few weeks, many tech companies have come out in support of Apple. Indeed, any time a tech figure of any prominence has been interviewed in recent weeks, the topic of discussion invariably turns to mobile encryption.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

OS X hit by first ever piece of ransomware

Over the last 15 years or so, Apple's Mac platform has traditionally been a much safer computing environment than Windows. Of course, this wasn't necessarily due to OS X having incredibly stronger security protections, but was rather a reflection of the fact that hackers were prone to targeting Windows given its stature as the most commonly used OS on the planet.But the times they are a chagin'. As the Mac has become more popular in recent years, hackers are increasingly setting their sights on OS X users who may now be operating with false sense of security as it pertains to malware.Illustrating this changing dynamic, OS X over the weekend was hit with its first piece of malware. This past Saturday, Transmissionbt.com issued a warning indicating that version 2.9 of Transmission - a popular and easy to use BitTorrent client - was infected with ransomware. As such, victims of the attack were greeted with messages stating that their hard drive had been encrypted and that the only way to decrypt it was to pay a fee of about $400.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Tim Cook defends Apple’s refusal to help the FBI in new interview

Apple CEO Tim Cook this week appeared on ABC News where he laid out in precise detail exactly why Apple is refusing to comply with a court order that would have the company help the FBI hack into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.The crux of Apple's position, as relayed by Cook, is that helping the FBI in this particular instance would only open the door to even more government requests. With such a precedent in place, Cook believes that the software tool the FBI wants Apple to develop will inevitably be used for nefarious purposes.“Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices," Cook explained in an open letter published last week.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Apple’s 14 most important announcements at WWDC 2015

WWDC 2015Apple on Monday kicked of WWDC with its standard keynote address. Per usual, the event was chock full of exciting and surprising announcements that touched on all things iOS, Mac, and Apple Watch. From a brand new music service to an Apple Watch SDK, there's a whole lot of information to digest, and both developers and Apple enthusiasts alike will have a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Here are a few of the more important announcements Tim Cook and co. made yesterday.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

How to watch the WWDC livestream on Windows and Android

With WWDC slated to begin in less than an hour now, Apple will be providing live streams of what promises to be an exciting event. That said, live streaming will only be officially supported on either iOS devices or Macs. Which is to say, Windows or Android users who want to keep tabs on what Apple is announcing today are out of luck.Or so you might have thought.As it turns out, there is a clever way for Windows and Android users to tune in to Apple's live presentation today.Here's how it works.Download the popular VLC media player app to your computer or your smartphone. The desktop link is here while the Android link is here.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

WWDC 2015 Rumors: What to expect from Apple

Tomorrow at 10 A.M Pacific Time, Tim Cook and his trusted cadre of lieutenants will take the stage at Moscone West in San Francisco where they will show us what the company has been working on over the last 12 months.When it comes to Apple related announcements, WWDC is undoubtedly one of the most exciting events of the year. Per usual, there's been a steady stream of rumors pointing to what we can expect to see from Apple tomorrow. To help you get acquainted with what some of the announcements may touch on, below is a broad overview of what Apple will likely touch on during tomorrow's highly anticipated presentation.iOS 9To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

HTC Fail: Company posts photos of 24-karat gold M9 that were taken with an iPhone

 HTC on Friday took to Twitter to announce a new limited edition 24-karat gold M9 that it's releasing to celebrate Saturday's Champions League final. That's all well and good, but in one of the three photos HTC posted online, it's clear that they were taken with (gasp!) an iPhone.Here's the offending photo.Nothing terribly shocking at first glance, but if we zoom in a little bit on the lower right hand corner on the right-hand device, well, that's an iPhone 6 we see taking the shot.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Apple Watch to launch in seven new countries this month

After a slow initial rollout, it's finally seems that Apple is getting a handle on Apple Watch supply.The Cupertino-based company yesterday announced that the Apple Watch is poised to launch in an additional seven countries come Friday, June 24.The countries being graced with the Apple Watch treatment include Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan. This will soon bring the total number of countries that carry the Apple Watch to 16.“The response to Apple Watch has surpassed our expectations in every way," Apple executive Jeff Williams said in a press release, "and we are thrilled to bring it to more customers around the world."To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

iOS 9 rumor roundup, part deux

With June already in full swing, the Apple world is gearing up for arguably the most exciting and important part of the year - WWDC. Though Apple doesn't typically announce major new hardware announcements at WWDC anymore, the company's annual developers conference is still compelling because it's where we get our first glimpse into upcoming versions of iOS and OS X, the software that powers Apple's beloved hardware.Of course, because the iPhone remains Apple's primary moneymaker, the most interesting thing to keep an eye on at WWDC this year will be iOS 9. While we already covered a few items we can expect to see in Apple's next-iteration of iOS, we're back with a second round of iOS 9 rumors to keep you in-the-know ahead of what are bound to be some exciting Apple announcements come Monday.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

9 most important announcements at Google I/O 2015

What's new with GoogleGoogle I/O, the search giant's annual developer conference, kicked off yesterday with a number of big announcements. Here are some of the more interesting and impactful items we learned about Google's upcoming software initiatives.Android MGoogle announced Android 6.0 is coming later this year. Tentatively dubbed Android M – we're sure a candy-themed name like Milky Way is likely to be announced soon – the next iteration of Android promises to improve overall speed, performance, and polish, while introducing a number of interesting features.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

How BlackBerry got blindsided by the iPhone

Apple in 2007 introduced the world to the iPhone and the smartphone industry would be the same. In an instant, Apple's take on what a phone should look like and how it should operate became the de-facto standard amongst all manufacturers hoping to compete in the burgeoning smartphone market.And while some companies, like Samsung, ably adjusted their products accordingly, others, like BlackBerry, were completely blindsided by the new consumer-oriented smartphone market that had been created.It almost seems like ages ago, but BlackBerry devices in the early to mid-2000's were incredibly popular and represented the gold standard amongst smartphones. Yet once the iPhone was introduced, BlackBerry's fall from grace wasn't too far behind.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

12 lesser-known Apple Watch tips and tricks you should know

It can even tell the time!Nearly four weeks after the Apple Watch first launched, it seems that Apple has finally gotten a grasp on supply issues. With the pool of Apple Watch users growing each and every week, it's high time that we focus on some of the cooler and lesser-known features of Apple's new wearable. While some basic features like checking text messages or answering calls are pretty well known, the Apple Watch, as with most Apple products, houses a number of compelling features underneath the surface which serve to make the device all the more useful.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

iPhone 6s release may come as early as August

While the first few iterations of the iPhone were all released during the summer months, the iPhone 4s completely turned Apple's iPhone release schedule on its head. Due to various production problems that resulted in delays, the iPhone 4s was released in October of 2011. Since then, Apple has adjusted its iPhone release schedule accordingly, with each new iPhone models now debuting during the fall.But now we're hearing word that Apple's next-gen iPhone, prematurely dubbed the iPhone 6s, might be released sometime in August. According to a recent report in GforGames, which typically has a decent track record with respect to Apple rumors, rumblings from Apple's supply chain suggests that Apple doesn't anticipate any yield issues with its next-gen iPhone and may revert back to a summer launch schedule.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Microsoft study claims technology shortens our attention span

In a report that may not surprise anyone, a new study from Microsoft reveals that our attention spans are at an all-time low, and the culprit, not surprisingly, is the ubiquity of technology which now touches every corner of our lives 24/7.Indeed, you can thank the iPhone for ushering in the smartphone era and creating a world where most of us remain tethered to our devices, lest we miss a text message or the latest sports scores.According to Microsoft's study, which was conducted via EEG scans, the average attention span dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2013. To put that data into context, the average attention span of a goldfish is about 9 seconds, according to the study.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

iOS 9 rumor roundup

With WWDC now less than a month away, it's only a matter of time before Apple takes the wraps off of iOS 9, the mobile software that will power Apple's next iteration of iPhones.While typical iOS updates involve the rollout of hundreds of new features, iOS 9 will reportedly be a bit different. Indeed, with a growing chorus of users complaining that iOS has become too unwieldy and a bit buggy, iOS 9 will purportedly focus more on under the hood enhancements rather than a bombardment of cool new features.In that vein, it's fair to look at iOS 9 as the mobile version of Snow Leopard, Apple's 2009 OS X release that was designed primarily to increase machine stability and improve overall system performance.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

iPhone 6s to feature 2GB of RAM, Force Touch, sturdier aluminum frame and much more

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus incorporated what were arguably the most significant upgrades Apple's smartphone had ever seen. In addition to much larger screens, the iPhone 6 models also introduced to Apple Pay, Cupertino's take on mobile payments.Not surprisingly, iPhone 6 sales have been record-setting, which of course leads one to wonder what Apple has planned in order keep its iPhone sales momentum going strong.Well, thanks to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we now know a whole lot more about what type of new features we can expect to see in Apple's next-gen iPhone models.One of the more exciting things about Apple's upcoming iPhones, according to Kuo, and originally relayed by GforGames, is that they will finally come with 2GB of RAM. With more RAM in tow, next-gen iPhones will likely run a bit smoother, a bit faster, and will be able to handle more intensive apps.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Apple trying to destroy Spotify’s free tier and streaming music on YouTube

With Apple gearing up to launch a revamped Beats music service at WWDC, The Verge is reporting that Apple is already aggressively trying to defeat some longstanding competition.Specifically, Apple is supposedly trying to convince music labels to stop supporting Spotify's free tier of streaming music. As a quick refresher, Spotify Premium members can pay $9.99 for unlimited on-demand music streaming while the free tier offers users a more limited offering with ads.What's more, Apple has reportedly gone so far as try and persuade music labels to drop their support for YouTube's music licensing program. To sweeten the deal, Apple has allegedly offered "to pay YouTube's music licensing fee to Universal Music Group of the label stopped allowing its songs on YouTube."To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Why the Apple Watch is in short supply

The Apple Watch launch has been somewhat peculiar insofar as Apple has limited purchases to online orders only. What's more, many consumers who were able to get their orders in won't be receiving their devices until mid-May, with some unlucky folks having to wait until June and July.So what's going on here? Isn't Apple supposed to have the best and most efficient supply chain in the business? Couldn't Apple have foreseen pent up demand for the Apple Watch and adjust supply accordingly?For weeks, there has been rampant speculation as to why the Apple Watch rollout has been so staggered. Now, thanks to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, we finally have some insight into what went down behind the scenes.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

How waterproof is the Apple Watch?

Ever since the Apple Watch was unveiled, back in September, there's been a lot of discussion surrounding how the device might withstand water. In the months leading up to the actual Apple Watch release, there were a few reports indicating that the device was not waterproof, but rather water resistant. Which is to say, getting a few splashes of water on the device won't ruin it but it's not something you'd want to go swimming with.Now that the Apple Watch is on store shelves, or available for pre-order to be more exact, the inevitable wave of amateur Apple Watch durability testing has begun. And, as luck would have it, Apple Watch users will be glad to know that their new wearable is much more water friendly than anyone initially assumed.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Video: How waterproof is the Apple Watch?

Ever since the Apple Watch was unveiled back in September, there's been a lot of discussion surrounding how the device might withstand water. In the months leading up to the actual Apple Watch release, there were a few reports indicating that the device was not waterproof, but rather water-resistant. Which is to say, getting a few splashes of water on the device won't ruin it, but it's not something you'd want to go swimming with.Now that the Apple Watch is on store shelves, or available for pre-order to be more exact, the inevitable wave of amateur Apple Watch durability testing has begun. And, as luck would have it, Apple Watch users will be glad to know that their new wearable is much more water-friendly than most initially assumed.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

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