New Mac Studio and Studio Display- Apple Unveils

Apple has released Mac Studio and Studio Display recently to meet all the needs of people so that they can create the studio of their dreams. M1 Max and the new M1 Ultra power Mac Studio power the Mac Studio. It is the strongest chip across the world for a private computer. This PC is the first one that offers an unprecedented level of performance. It comes with an extensive array of connectivity. The model is available in a compact design that can sit within arm's reach on the desk.

Mac studio allows you to do those things that you can't do on any other desktop-like rendering massive 3D environments and playing back 18 streams of ProRes video.

You will find the Studio Display a complete complement to Mac Studio, and it enables you to pair with any Mac. The model comes with a 27-inch 5K Retina display, a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, and a six-speaker sound system with spatial audio.

Mac Studio and Studio Display combined can transform any work position into a creative powerhouse. You can order them as they are available today. But, these will arrive at the people from Friday, March 18.

According to Greg Joswiak, they couldn't be excited too much to release a new Mac Studio and Studio Display. He is Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

Mac Studio:

People who are willing to push the limits of their creativity can use Mac studio as it offers more capability to customers. Mac Studio can deliver breakthrough performance, a high range of connectivity for peripherals, and a modular system.

Desktop Design by Apple Silicon:

It can reimagine its exceptional performance using the power and efficiency of Apple silicon. Each element inside the Mac Studio comes with a design to optimize the performance of M1 Max and M1 Ultra. Thus, it can offer huge power and capability in a form factor.

The desktop consists of single aluminum extrusion. Its footprint size is only 7.7 inches, whereas its height is only 3.7 inches. What makes Mac Studio unique is that it consumes tiny space, and as a result, it can fit under most displays perfectly.

It comes with an exceptional thermal design offering an extraordinary amount of performance. The model contains a unique system of double-sided blowers, airflow channels, and 4,000 perforations that help to make a path for air through the internal components to cool the high-performance chips. The efficiency of Apple silicon makes the Mac studio quiet even under massive workload conditions.

Gaming Performance with M1 Max and M1 Ultra:

The desktop can offer great CPU and GPU performance and more unified memory than other devices. You can find new features that other desktops don't have. M1 Max enables you to take creative workflows to new levels. If you need more computing power, choose M1 Ultra as it is the next giant leap for Apple silicon. It can offer excellent performance to Mac Studio.

Mac Studio Display:

This display comes with a gorgeous 27-inch 5K Retina screen. Besides, it has a sensational camera and audio to let you enjoy the integrated experience Mac users love.

Slim Aluminum design:

The display comes in a stunning aluminum design with narrow borders. It has an all-aluminum enclosure coming with almost all advanced features. Here, you can find a built-in stand enabling you to tilt the display up to 30 degrees.

It offers a stand option that can adjust the height using a counterbalancing arm. Thus, it can fit in any workspace. Its adjustable feature makes it weightless. The model features a VESA mount adapter supporting landscape or portrait orientation.

5K Retina Display:

It comes with a 27-inch 5K Retina display with more than 14.7 million pixels. Besides, the device offers 600 nits of brightness and a P3 wide color. It comes in more than one billion colors making the picture quality awesome. In addition, it has True Tone technology that can automatically manage the display's color temperature when the environment changes. Thus, users can have a more natural viewing experience. Studio Display can provide a unique nano-texture glass option for workspaces with bright light sources.

Sensational Camera and Audio System:

Its A13 Bionic chip offers a nice experience with its top-quality camera and audio system. The model comes with an ultimate video conferencing screen with a 12MP Ultra-Wide camera (Center Stage). It is a feature that can keep people centered in the frame. Both make studio Display an ultimate video conferencing display.

It features a studio-quality, three-microphone array and a low noise floor offering voice recordings and crystal-clear calls. Besides, there exists a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system that can provide an excellent listening experience.

In addition, it has four force-canceling woofers that decrease distortion and create bold and articulate bass. Two high-performance tweeters are making proper mids and crisp highs.

It has speakers compatible with spatial audio for music and video with Dolby Atmos. Thus, the product can offer an awesome viewing experience.

Pricing and Availability of New Mac Studio and Studio Display:

Customers can get Mac Studio and Studio Display available on apple.com/store and at the Apple Store app. They will also get them available in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The cost of Mac Studio begins at $1,999 and $1,799 for education in the United States. You can find extra configure-to-order options at apple.com/store.

The price of Studio Display is $1,599 (US) and $1,499 (US) for education. It has extra technical specifications like nano-texture glass.

If you want to buy Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad, it will cost $199 US. On the flip side, the cost of Magic Trackpad is $149 US, and Magic Mouse is $99 US. These are available in silver-and-black color options at apple   .

Conclusion: 

It has three USB-C ports coming with speeds up to 10Gb/s. These help to connect high-speed peripherals. A Thunderbolt port lets you connect Studio Display and other connected peripherals to their Mac using a single cable. The cable can offer 96W of power to a Mac notebook, enabling the display to charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro quickly. You can connect up to 3 Studio Displays to a MacBook Pro. Thus, it can offer a strong edit bay or animation workspace.

New iMac with Advanced M1 Chip and 4.5K Retina Display

The first time Apple has revealed a new iMac gamut of striking and appealing colors, presenting a more compressed and slim design enabled by the M1 chip. It gives a robust performance in a significantly less and thin display of just 11.5 millimeters, through 500 nits of sharpness, 24 inches 4.5 retina display along with 11.3 million pixels, and beyond zillion of colors that provides rich screening experience.

New iMac Features:

It also comprises a 1080p HD camera, quality mics, and a six-speaker audio system, making it the supreme audio and camera in Mac ever. Hence, Touch ID gets in the device never before, making it easier to log in safely, buy things with Apple Pay, and switch user profiles by finger touch. 

Apps are launched with astonishing speed by blending the potency and functioning of macOS Big Sur and M1. The regular task gets much quicker and smoother, like editing a 4k video, and the large picture gets done quickly as ever.

iMac is the most intimate, mighty, competent, and amusing it has ever been, and buyers can place an order for it at the beginning of Friday, April 30. iMac will be available from the second half of May.

Fresh Designs Enabled in M1

The brand new iMac is remarkable from each angle due to its thinner and compressed design. It is enabled by the brutal power efficiency of M1 and system-on-chip architecture. The thermals and logic board are combined and condensed in size compared to the earlier generations, which leads to the lost view of the side profile of iMac. The significantly more compressed figure of the Mac lessens the volume of iMac by fifty percent, occupies less space, and is handy in any place.

The new device comes with soft colors and slim front borders that permit users to concentrate on their content. It comes in a range of colors like pink, blue, purple, yellow, silver, and orange that can be easily customized and fits in less space than other laptops or desktops. With summing up its features, here comes a brand-new robust connector that combines magnetically and neatly intertwined two-meter long color balanced cable.

Exquisite 24-Inch 4.5K Retina Display

iMac is known for its world-class display. The new range is accompanied by a 24-inch 4.5k Retina display with a slim border and 11.3 million pixels. Along with the color spectrum of P3, a zillion of shades plus 500 nits of sharpness, the pictures and video gets more bright and vivid. Its new display also gives True tone technology features that automatically adjust the temperature of any color as the environment gets changed to grant a natural screening experience.

Furthermore, the 4.5K Retina display of the latest range has a market-leading light controlling coating for much ease and readability.

Supreme Speaker, Mic, and Camera

The new iMac presents a 1080p Hd camera that is the best in Mac, giving the best video quality and best performance in dim light. It takes the benefit of picture signal processors in the Neural engine and M1 chip, which enhance the quality of the image by improving noise cancellation, more excellent powerful range, and better image quality by automatically adjusting the exposure according to surrounding lighting. Hence, the user will appear best while connecting with relatives on a video call.

The new Mac is accompanied by studio-quality studio-quality three-microphone for uninterrupted calls and crystal-clear audio recording, which makes it distinct from others. 

 

It comprises woofers of force-canceling on both sides for effective results by lowering random vibrations, making it a great sound system. The pair is stabilized with the top-performance treble speaker. Hence the product is an enormous sound stage with powerful bass clear-cut mids and high.

Low Environmental Impact

The new Mac reduces its influence on nature because it is formulated by utilizing a less-carbon aluminum compound and entirely reusing the tin combining with the critical logic board. Therefore, Macs will always be liberated from dangerous compounds and meet Apple’s special status for power efficiency.

In a Stumble for Apple, a FaceTime Bug Lets iPhone Users Eavesdrop

A critical flaw allows eavesdropping on other FaceTime users, very easily. Apple has disabled one of its communication software features while waiting to deploy a patch. For three months, it has been possible for others to activate the microphone and camera of your iPhone remotely. The major bug in the FaceTime app was revealed on Monday, January 28th.

As reported by the US site 9to5Mac, the software flaw results from the group call function set up by Apple in October with the update iOS 12.1 to call up to 32 people simultaneously. It allows anyone to spy on a contact whose iPhone is running iOS 12.1 or later, even if they decline their call.

The major security flaw allowing eavesdropping affects the latest version of iOS. This bug has just been detected. It appeared with one of the new tools introduced on iOS 12, the group video call on FaceTime.

With this FaceTime bug, users can remotely listen to conversations on other iPhones even before their call is accepted. Even more disturbing, this critical flaw is easily exploitable and has been reproduced by many users on social networks, and Apple has already recognized the problem.

Unfortunately, since Facetime is not yet an App on the App Store, it will probably have to wait until an update of iOS. While waiting to deploy a patch, Apple has decided to suspend group calls on FaceTime. This will naturally limit the exploitation of this flaw.

This is not the first time that Apple has recognized a significant security breach in one of its systems. In November 2017, MacOS High Sierra allowed you to log in to a protected session as an administrator without a password. A fix was deployed the next day.

How does the fault work? 

A video posted on Twitter shows how the FaceTime bug works. An iPhone user initiates a FaceTime call and then inputs own number into the field dedicated to adding other participants to the conversation. The recipient’s microphone then starts, without even answering the call.

Internet users also noticed that it was possible to activate the front camera if the recipient pressed the power button or volume of his iPhone, a manipulation that usually ignores the call. These two bugs have also been observed on Macs.

When you call someone from FaceTime, and before they answer, you can drag the screen up to add another person to the conversation. This third person can be your own phone number.

That’s when a group video conference starts with the audio turned on. The first called number can then be listened to without having to accept the conversation. The transmitted sound is bi-directional, the added person can therefore also listen to the exchange.

How to disable FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad? 

Even though Apple has disabled Group Facetime from their server it is recommended that you manually disable it. You can easily disable FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad. Open the Settings and locate Facetime. Slide the toggle from green to grey to switch off Facetime.

Apple has said in a comment to Buzzfeed that they are aware of the bug and will issue a patch later in the week to fix it.

An Apology after Apple Sends wrong AD Spend Data to Developers

Recently certain developers got sent ad- spend data belonging to other apps and developers. This led to some awkward and uncomfortable questions being asked. iOS developers are given a choice whether to opt in for Apple’s search ads basic service. Developers have to pay only when their app has been installed by a user. Apple, in sending the-end-of-month ad review, has also inadvertently sent details of various developer’s ad spend details to different developers.

On Wednesday Apple acknowledged their mistake and issued an apology to all their developers. They also mentioned that henceforth all data pertaining to ad spend details can be obtained by the developer logging on to their account to prevent further mishaps in the future.

What is Apple’s Search Ad’s Basic Service? 

As a developer getting your app known to the world is always a struggle. Apple helps in solving the problem to a certain limit.

Search Ads basic is a service whereby, Apple advertises for a developers app in the app store, in exchange for signing up for this service as well as paying for the service as and when the app of the developer is downloaded.

This is cost effective as the developer pays only when the app is installed rather that when the user is just interested and does not actually download the app.

With the search Ads basic service developers get an end of month statement in which they can review the performance of their ads. They also get information such as their apps installs, average-spend per install, ads spend numbers related to their ad expenditure on the app store and more.

The search ads basic service was launched in December of 2017 and is targeted at young and emerging developers to promote their apps in the app store. Their apps will be listed in the search results. This service not only promotes an individual’s app but also gives the developer’s app a chance to be seen by the users on the app store as otherwise users would not even know of the existence of such an app.

What’s an even bigger advantage for developers is that they pay only when the app is installed as opposed to paying on an impression per app basis. Besides this the search Ads basic service also gives developers intelligent automation features in which results can be maximized with lesser efforts and a feature where developers can track performance on their individual dashboards.

Apple’s Apology after sharing different developer’s ad spend details:

Developers like to keep all their ad spend details such as installs, their expenditure related to the ads on the app store and so forth confidential. So when they got data pertaining to other developers there was also a more than probable chance that their own private ad data was being seen by someone else.
Apple realized their mistake and acknowledged their part in it by apologizing saying that the problem occurred due to “processing error” and hence forth all data will be available on an individual developer’s personal account.

Apple is Reportedly Renaming iBooks to Books

iOS 11.3: Apple plans to rearrange the iBooks app from the App Store

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple will reorganize the iBooks application later this year with a major overhaul, with a new Reading Now tab, a separate section for audiobooks, and a store interface that uses the same design as the App Store under iOS 11.

The report follows last night's launch of the first iOS 11.3 beta, which includes a name change from the iBooks app to just "Books." However, for the moment, there is a change in the user interface. In addition, the iBookstore will become the Apple Books Store. The app itself makes virtually no changes in the current beta, although the dark theme now uses a true black background color on iPhone X.

While Apple has planned a number of its top chart apps as well as stores in late years, one feature of the company’s involvement has perceptibly stayed unswayed: iBooks. Reported to a news report in Bloomberg, that’s primed to alter as Apple is reportedly arranging the app with a simplex programme and a spic-and-span front, and has employed a new administrator to superintend the work. Bloomberg reports that the application will be called “Books” and will reportedly be release soon (may be within some months).The programme will be easy, high spot books that are presently being read, on with a abstracted tab meant for audio books.

The store will besides be undergone inspection and repair to contest the newly redesigned Application Store. The piece of work also aired that Apple employed Kashif Zafar in Dec 2017, to head iBooks. Zafar antecedently employed as the V.P of digital products for Barnes & Noble’s Nook section, ahead tossing to Audible, where he set up the company’s podcast system, Channels.

Six years ago, the Dep. of Justice defend Apple as well as various leading publishing firm of conspiring to increase ebook prices, as well as a regime court subordinate that Apple complot to rise the cost of ebooks, and was issuing a sinewy $450 million fine. Since then, Apple’s store as well as apps have mostly flown under the radar, while Amazon has henpecked the ebook industry. The two evolution could signaling a revived attempt from Apple in the publication business.

Newly, Google proclaimed that it was offering audiobooks through with Google Play, while Audible has successful with a momentous thrust into the avant-garde content business with first-string presentation, audio books assistance on Kindle devices, and fresh digital attributes. Both the companies also compounded ways last year ended upsets from European publishing houses that Apple’s alone business with Audible was quelling contest. With its fresh act and a new design app, Apple could be orienting itself to get over a spirit in the publication world again by rendering a finer reading experience for its users, merely besides by fastening conjointly ebooks as well as audio books in a single program.

iPhone X: The Way Forward for Apple

Apple as a company has seen tough times in its history. Without exception though, its tough times have inevitably coincided with the departure of the locomotive in the Apple machinery: Steve Jobs. Jobs was ousted from the company he founded with Steve Wozniak twice. Both times, the company floundered and the man was invited back. Unfortunately, Steve Jobs isn’t coming back any more. So, what does the future hold for the company he built? A long history behind iPhone X

Apple recently launched the iPhone X to much consternation online. Some people lauded it as a bold step forward as we have come to expect from Apple. Gadget review sites expressed concern about how effective the new design might actually be. Whether the gadget lives up to mark remains to be seen since the gadget has not yet been launched. However, what we can say definitively is that the collective business process at Apple has undergone a sea change. The company launched two iPhones: the iPhone 8 which is the replacement for last year’s iPhone 7 and the iPhone X. What made the decision even more bizarre is the fact that the iPhone X costs just shy of USD 1000. It is the most expensive iPhone ever released.

So, what gives? What is the purpose, the raison d’etre for the iPhone X? Is it really the step that Apple is going to take going ahead? Or will it be a one-off creation intended for people who think phones are good replacements for trophies? Whatever will become of the iPhone 9? Will there even be an iPhone 9 next year?
The answers to these questions are not with us. As with all things Apple, the gadget was meant to be the bombshell that would leave everyone dumbstruck. Instead what we do have is a debate about whether Apple the company is undergoing an existential crisis.

The iPhone X is not revolutionary in any way. Its technical specifications are not a significant departure from Apple’s other gadgets. Its storage space on offer is in line with iPhones from the past. From the outside, the gadget seems to have only a few defining features: the top notch that houses an array of sensors and is border by screen on its two ends and the lack of a physical home key / button. No home button means that the gadget does without a fingerprint sensor or TouchID. Instead, Apple is touting FaceID, a kind of facial recognition system that will remain exclusive to the gadget. However, people have already expressed significant concern about the efficacy of FaceID and the remarkable drop in security it presents.

Whether the iPhone X succeeds in the market is anyone’s guess. Apple’s gadgets have a history of defying expectations since its customers are not ordinary customers. They are governed mostly buy passion and not logic. And for the most part Steve Job’s Apple did a great job of meeting the expectations of such demanding customers. But now that the miracle maker has left us for a better place, what will happen to his beloved company remains to be seen.

How an iOS Developer Just Uncovered the Next iPhone

The HomePod Firmware

Developer Guilherme Rambo thought that it could be a mistake when he had seen Apple’s release of firmware for the forthcoming HomePod speaker, which will not show up till December. Getting more curious over the issue, he had begun probing through the code where he had discovered and probably the last thing which he least expected was the next iPhone of Apple.

Rambo discovered in the HomePod not hints or rumours which had earlier been disclosed but Apple’s documentation of one of its largest releases in years. It endorses a fresh look with a slimmer bezel, an end of the home button together with a powerful new face-recognition feature. It seems to be the major bombshell of Apple leak in years, coming from Apple itself.

The HomePod firmware had first been seen on an official public update feed of Apple recently and Rambo had unpacked it with the intention of gathering anything of interest on how Apple’s Siri powered speaker would function before Apple had comprehended its error and had drawn the code. Similar to the iPhone, the HomePod tends to run iOS which is discreet.

Developers had access to a beta version of iOS 11 for over a month now. However, for a developer like Rambo of a Brazilian e-commerce company, he could quickly make a critical discovery. The HomePod firmware which had been released by Apple was iOS 11.0.2, was a full two patches ahead of what is publicly made available.

Face ID Feature

Supporting the discovery of Rambo, iOS developer Steven Troughton-Smith commented that `it was a process Apple goes through every year, to make sure developers can still access the upcoming iOS without disclosing too much about the unexpected iPhone which would be coming up at the final release’. Comprehending the prospective for discovery he had begun to work stating that he had decided to search for strings within the firmware which could be linked to the rumoured `Face ID’ feature.

He further added that he had searched for the word `face’ and observed that it matched many symbols in BiometricKit, which is the framework that presently handles Touch ID. These references do not prevail in the iOS 11 beta. Rambo kept on persisting with his probe into the issue.

An iPhone 8 does not make references to face recognition. Yet as Rambo went ahead in the investigation through BiometricKit, he came across similar expressions utilised in listing a fresh Touch ID finger `EnrollTouchID’ had a face-authentication counterpart - `EnrollPearlID’. `Pearl ID’ continued to appear all through his explorations, always linked to facial recognition.

Discovered Internal Codename

This may not stop to what Apple considers its face recognition feature but calling it Pearl ID at this stage probably had no intention of hiding its purpose. Troughton-Smith had stated that `the codename just makes it easier to find all the related pieces of code in the OS and by inspecting the code you can then see what type of function it has.

 When Rambo had seen it, it was an unreleased, unexpected Apple feature laid bare. Speculating what `Pearl ID’ meant, led him to a larger discovery. Rambo adds that during the exploration for references to `Pearl ID’ he located a reference to Pearl D-22 and decided to search for D22 and found that it is the internal codename for the `iPhone Pro’ or `iPhone 10’.

 Apple had left little doubts to what it could mean though there were not many D22 references. Rambo had located a file in the PassKit framework utilised by Wallet known as `Payment_glyph_phone-D22.caar’ which is a format type that Apple tends to utilise in storing vector graphics for animated UI elements. When Rambo had extracted that image he viewed an iPhone different from any he had seen earlier since it did not exist till then.

Significant Overhaul of iPhone

He also discovered another reference to D22 in a video file which was not present in the firmware, known as `Enrollment_Tutorial_Loop-D22’ that probably displays iPhone 8 owners on how to register their face with Pearl ID. Rambo had informed that there are some references in the firmware which recommend this D22 model would have a diverse battery charging system, though iOS 11.0.2 provides no hints to what those variances could be.

 The disclosures detail the unreleased iPhone of Apple to the earlier unthinkable degree excepting the early debut of iPhone 4 by Gizmodo in 2010. The slightly bezeled design together with the lack of a home button seems to mark the most significant overhaul of iPhone in years. The face-ID feature tends to be primed by the company, in being a focal point of the ultimate introduction of the phone.

 Troughton-Smith had stated that this could be a rough situation for Apple and for them to be the source of the only concrete leaks regarding it and its design would be to upset a lot of people internally. Beside embarrassment, the influence on actual sales could be subdued.

Internal Security of Apple – Slipped

The founder of Jackdaw Research, Jan Dawson, commented that he thinks that the kind of people probably to wait for a new iPhone based on leaks were possibly aware of all the reporting on the subject in advance.

He also observed that while this seems to confirm the prevailing rumours, the real test of the upcoming features of the iPhone is how well they function and firmware can only tell you so much. In this case, the main takeaway seems that the internal security of Apple has once more slipped as it occurred when macOS Sierra had shown off MacBook Pro with OLED touch panel of Apple, last fall, just a few days before the official unveiling of the product.

Apple had more time on the iPhone 8 than it had on its whole line of laptop put together and while airing it out a month before its announcement could have a material effect on the company and it certainly was not helpful. Tim Cook CEO of Apple had stated at the most recent earnings call of the company that they were seeing what they believe to be a pause in purchases of iPhone which they are of the belief is owing to the earlier and more frequent reports regarding the future iPhones.

Mac Mini: Features, Specifications, for Apple’s Affordable Desktop Computer

Mac mini: Apple’s affordable desktop computer

The Mac Mini is Apple's most cost-effective product. However, one often wishes for more possibilities with the equipment. Apple's Mini Mac is a full-fledged computer that can handle most tasks, but there are often special features that Apple can not satisfy, depending on the application. A good example is the basic version of the Mac Mini with 2.5 GHz Core i5 CPU. There is just a basic configuration with 500 gigabytes of hard disk and four gigabytes of memory. The memory can be upgraded itself very easily, but if you need more disk space or even a super-fast SSD want to use, must take the Quadcore model and much deeper into the pocket.

The prices for the Mac Mini start at 499 euros for a i5 processor with 1.4 GHz and two cores as well as 4 GB of memory and a 500 GB hard drive. The price list ends with a Mac mini with i7 CPU and 3 GHz, 16 GB RAM and a SSD with 1 TByte for 2,330 euro. Apple also offers its smallest computer with a FusionDrive for 2 TByte.

The interface is quite generous, so there are two Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port, one SDXC memory card slot, one Gigabit Ethernet port and one audio port, as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and WLAN 802.11ac.

Even in the latest Mac mini-generation, Apple puts on an Intel Core i5. This is now clocking at 2.6 GHz and scores the best in two of our benchmark tests. In addition, the 8 GB memory is particularly noticeable. Many other manufacturers still use 4 GB of RAM on their devices.

It hurts hardly that the working memory of the Mac mini can not be extended. For everyday tasks in the office and multimedia area, the Mini-PC is enough.

The integrated HDD hard drive with 1 TByte ensures sufficient storage space. In addition, the Apple Mac mini has four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports and one SD card, reader. Connect a screen using HDMI. For access to the Internet, a LAN port and WLAN-ac are available. In addition, Apple's OS X 10.10 operating system is preinstalled. Owners of the predecessor model will, however, miss the integrated speakers.

While equipment and performance are convincing, the hardware upgrade mainly affects the energy efficiency. In the test, the Mac Mini consumes 55.3 watts under full load - for a mini PC much too much. In addition, the operating noise is clearly perceptible. All in all, the current Mac mini generation is a good and necessary step forward, but it brings some new problems with it.

Apple Mac mini (MGEN2D / A):

For owners of the previous model of 2015, the Apple Mac mini (MGEM2D / A), an upgrade to the new generation is hardly worthwhile. For all others, the older model is a good and favorable alternative. The equipment is the same as the smaller hard disk (500 GB) with the current Mac Mini identical. Although you have to make some cuts in performance, power consumption and operating noise are much lower. In addition, the Mac Mini 2015 costs around 200 euros less than the current model.

Imagination Technologies Accuses Apple of Unethical Behaviour in Chip Dispute

Dispute Between Apple & Imagination Technology

Apple has been accused by Imagination Technology for breaking its own ethics as the clash between the British microchip company and its biggest customers have turned very bitter. The Hertfordshire founded group that had been abandoned in April by Apple after the Silicon Valley giant had stated that it would be taking the graphics technology in-house, informed that talks on determining the standstill between the two had stalled and recommended legal action would be the next step.

Apple had depended on the designs of Imagination for the graphics chip which tends to power the iPhone as well as the iPad for years and Apple accounts for almost half of the sales of Imagination. The dispute of Imagination is that Apple would be capable of designing its own chips without paying for access to the intellectual property of the British company and has put itself for sale with analyst stating that the company may combat to survive without further payments.

 Recently the chief executive of Imagination, Andrew Heath had informed that Apple’s claims that the maker of iPhone would no longer need to pay royalties that were `unsubstantiated’ and has labelled the actions of Apple as unacceptable.

Contract Dispute

He further commented that they do not believe that this is an acceptable business practice nor in line with the ethics statements of Apple considering suppliers. He also mentioned that there had been `no progress’ with regards to the contract dispute that Imagination had opened and that it is revising its options, signifying legal action as a prospect. The full-year results of the British company had been published recently indicating that there could be life after Apple.

It also exposed a pre-tax profit of £2.4m against a £29.4m loss the previous year and adjusted operating profits, which shred out the effects of recent rearrangement, increased to £29.2m. The revenues increased 19% to £145.2 due to a series of new contracts approved last year together with the weaker pound. The shares of Imagination had increased by 6.5% and had dropped in April when the company had confirmed that Apple intended to terminate its relationship in the next two years.

However it had recovered after Imagination had put it up for sale in June. The company had informed that it is in initial discussions with probable bidders and analysts vender such as Intel, Qualcomm and ARM Holdings as the potential owners.

Imagination – Big GPU Designers

Oliver Knott, an analyst at N+1 Singer had commented that `without Apple it was difficult to see how it survived as a viable business. He informed that failing to resolve the dispute would make it difficult for Imagination in signing up more customers in the near future.

Apple had refrained from commenting. Imagination had been one of the big GPU designers in the smartphone industry together with another British group – ARM Holdings, and America’s Qualcomm. Smartphones usually tend to have two processors, the brains which are at the core of the functions of the device, the central processing unit – CPU and graphics processing unit – GPU.

 Though the CPU is devoted to the number munching which runs the application, the GPU is said to be responsible in creating images and videos. In the case of smartphones, more commanding GPUs tend to be very important in the midst of the rise of sharper as well as superior screens together with higher-definition video.

Apple is said to be equally exclusive among smartphone manufacturers in which it builds the microchip utilised in its iPhone though it does not make them from scratch. It warrants the powerVR GPU technology from Imagination in its processors.

3D-Sensing Camera – Augmented Reality Technology

Apple has been paying Imagination a royalty for this on every iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch as well as AppleTV it tends to sell. Considering that Apple is said to be the biggest smartphone, tablet and smartwatch maker by volumes and profits in the world, the same has been an extremely profitable relationship for Imagination.

The revenue for Imagination from Apple had been £60.7m just over half of its total sales and it had been expected to be £65m this year. Moreover Apple also had an 8% stake in Imagination and had reflected on purchasing the company outright at one point of time. Imagination had been informed by Apple that it intended in developing its own GPU technology, putting an end to the use of the technology of Imagination.

 It plans to do so in 15 months to two years’ time, in line with the anticipated time scale for the next one iPhone probably to be released in September 2018. GPUs are significant in the working of the camera and its function and reports propose that Apple has been working on a 3D-sensing camera for augmented reality technology, something which will need an increase in graphics processing power.

Moreover GPUs tend to also be critical to machine learning technology like speech and image recognition. Apple which tends to do more data processing on the device than its rivals, requires a high-powered processor for this purpose, for privacy reasons.

iPhone Spying Bugs Revealed By Wikileaks Have Been Fixed, Apple Says

Apple iPhone is revered as the most secure device which even government security agencies can get into. But Wikileaks has revealed a number of vulnerabilities in the iPhone which can be easily utilized by the agencies to launch ‘zero day’ attacks. Apple was quick to swing into action which resulted in fixing all the vulnerabilities before can think about using it against millions of iPhone users. Wikileaks also pointed that a number of hacking tools were exclusively developed by the GCHQ which is the infamous British spy agency.
Apple has released an statement where it confirmed to fix all the vulnerabilities present in the 8,761 pages long documentation published by the Wikileaks. These vulnerabilities were not just limited to the iPhone but also the iPad and iOS as a whole.

Some tips to secure iPhone from hackers

• Make use of PIN or fingerprint security: This will help you in securing the smartphone against unwanted individuals getting inside your phone. 
• Make use of longer password: Simply going to the settings followed by ‘Touch ID & Passcode’ and turn the ‘Simple Passcode’ off. Now indulge in creating a complex and longer password for your phone which consists of upper and lower case letter along with numbers & symbols. 
• Boost your privacy settings: Carefully allot the privileges for different apps by simply turning them on/ off by going to the Settings followed by ‘Privacy’. 
• Don’t forget to activate the self destruct: When someone tries to break into your phone then you can set it for self-destruct where all the data will be deleted instantly. This feature can be activated by simply going to the Settings followed by the enabling the ‘erase data’. This will ensure that your iPhone turns the device cleans after ten incorrect PIN guesses. 
• Turn of the notification: One doesn’t need to unlock the device in order to read the notification and this can result in revealing too much about you than you wish.

Apple has worked towards fixing the 14 different iOS vulnerabilities and it has been found that most of it was linked to the older version of the operating system. When compared against the Google’s Android operating system Apple iPhone is always considered to be highly secured and protected device. Secondly Apple tends to offer or bring over-the-air security updates to the iPhone more quickly than Google. Android platform isn’t known to be hyper active when it comes to operating system version up-gradation and updates.

Wikileaks has given a dramatic revelation to the world wherein it stated that CIA has dedicated the whole specialized unit of the Mobile Development Branch for the iOS devices. The reason behind is pretty simple as most of the prominent figures in the field of entertainment, politics and business tend to use iPhone than the Android device. Quite incidentally Apple has been in fierce battle against FBI over creating a backdoor in it device which will help agencies get into iPhone.

How to Try Microsoft Office With Apple’s New Touch Bar

Science and technology have developed so much that every now and then a new technique is launched at the market. The big and renowned companies are always researching on the fact that how they can continue to rule the world with the help of their new and developed technologies. Apple is one of the most talked about company that is always bent on providing top-notch services to their customers by providing new benefits and privileges to its users almost on a regular basis.

When the executives of Apple launched the latest MacBook Pro in October, they added an incentive to it in order to attract a large number of people. Apple have included a Touch Bar in this MacBook Pro which is considered as a very calculative move that is sure to attract a large number of will and with this innovation Apple will reach up to the highest level of success, where Apple and its products will be the final choice of all the people. They are also promoting this added advantage at a very rapid pace, so as to develop interest among its buyers.

The Touch Bar is displayed at the topmost row as a leaping step ahead towards the users. This touch bar is also supposed to be displayed at the very top row in the keyboard of the laptop and thus enables you to work with Microsoft Office as well which is a third party application. and moreover, Microsoft is the only application that provides this new Touch Bar features.

The whole crux behind this development is that Touch Bar feature allows functioning of Microsoft Word or Excel users even after the application have been removed. It is possible that you will be able to see and work on the last updated document and can also apply the text formatting tools. For using Outlook the Touch Bar is also capable of highlighting your schedule for the day.

This is a very essential feature that is added to this MacBook Pro. As the Touch Bar will ensure its users more productivity as they can see, compare and then choose that what they require to be fastest. Geekwire has noted that after the launch of MacBook Pro, Microsoft can discover toolbars that are sensitive to context.
The privilege of being able to acquire high-priority features, is something that has influenced Microsoft to develop its own Ribbon toolbar even before a decade. The ribbons are the set of icons and symbols that is located at the top of your Word or Excel Screen. But, how effective it is? the answer to this question stands on debatable grounds.

Microsoft was almost facing a dilemma to figure out whether they are over doing or not. As they introduced so many features over the years that they are now worrying whether that will be an added disadvantage as the users will have to think over before getting at the correct feature that they require at the current time. Though, the recent developments resemble a Touch Bar it can still be summed up as another intriguing problem.

EU to hand Apple hefty Irish tax bill

EU Orders AAPL.O to Pay Hefty Tax Bill

Recently, Apple-AAPL.Ohad been orderedby the European Commission antitrust regulators to pay up 13 billion euros around $14.5 billion, by way of taxes together with interest to the Irish government after ruling that a special scheme to route profits through Ireland had been illegal state aid. It is said that Commissioner Margrethe Vestager would be holding news conference on antitrust case towards noon (1000 GMT) in Brussels.

In spite of the subject of the case not provided, she was expected to feature her verdict on why a deal which had stimulated the U.S. tech giant to route vast profits through Ireland had broken EU state aid laws apart from government giving some firms unfair advantages.The decision is probably to annoy Washington who hadblamed Brussels of disturbance against the corporate success stories of U.S.

Ireland had been accused by the European Commission in 2014 of evading international tax rules by permitting Apple to house profits amounting to tens of billions of dollars from tax collectors for maintaining jobs. The accusation had been rejected by Apple as well as Ireland and both have stated that they would be appealing any contrary decision.

Decision – Reverse Engineered

The source had mentioned that the Commission would recommend a figure in back taxes, expecting it to be collected though it would be the decision of the Irish authorities to calculate precisely what are maintained. An excess bill of 1 billion euros ($1.12 billion) would have been more far more than the 30 million euros each the EU had earlier ordered the Dutch authorities to pull through, for their tax deals, from U.S. coffee chain Starbucks and Luxembourg from Fiat Chrysler.

 It is said that both the companies have appealed those decisions. In 2014, when it had opened the Apple investigation, the Commission had informed the Irish government that the tax decisions agreed in 1991 and 2007 with the iPhone maker amounted to state aid and could have broken the EU laws.

The Commissioner had mentioned that the decisions were reverse engineered to make sure that Apple had the nominal Irish bill. The minutes of meetings between the representatives of Apple as well as the Irish tax officials had indicated that the tax treatment of the company had been inspired by employment considerations.

EU Executive’s Tax Investigations – Departed from International Taxation Standards

Apple tends to hire 5,500 workers or about a quarter of European based staff in the Irish city of Cork where it seems to be the largest private sector employer stating that it paid 12.5% rate of Ireland on all the income which it tends to generate in the country.

The low corporate tax rate of Ireland which had been a cornerstone of economic policy for 20 years, had drawn investors from most of the important multinational companies, where the staff accounts for nearly one in 10 workers in Ireland. Dublin had been urged by some opposition Irish lawmakers to accumulate whatever tax the Commission tends to order.

 However, the foremost opposition party Fianna Fail, supporting the minority administration relies on passing laws stated that it would assist an appeal depending on the reassurances it had been provided by the government so far. Last week the U.S. Treasury Department had published a white paper which stated that the EU executive’s tax investigations had departed from the international taxations standards and could have been an enormousinfluence on the companies in U.S. The Commission had stated that it tends to treat all companies likewise.

Apple to launch its own reality TV show

Apple Launching its Reality TV Show

Apple is in the development of launching its own reality TV show – Planet of the Apps and a casting call for the event had been put out recently for developers in the age of 18 and above who would be interested in making smartphone apps for the Apple setting. Apple had made an announcement earlier in the year that it intends launching it first original TV series and now the world seems to know a little more regarding what it would look like.

The show is said to be co-produced by a newly shaped company owned by Ben Silverman, a reality TV guru. Apple had partnered with Propagate, a new production company developed by the guy behind `The Biggest Loser’ together with Howard T Owen who had worked on MasterChef Junior with Musician Will.i.am also on board for the said project.

Mr Silverman had informed that the original program would follow on `how apps are developed and created and incubated’. The pair had drawn their vision for the show, in a report that had been published by tech blog 9to5Mac. It stated that `Planet of the Apps will give app creators the chance to break through and share their ideas with the world. This is an exciting format which taps into what is driving culture today. We can’t wait to see the ground-breaking ideas accepted for the show, grow into viable businesses’.

Pursing an Original Content Division

The ascension of Netflix together with the fragmented market of content providers laid by internet based services has been on the rise in companies interested in producing their own original content. When Apple had stated earlier in the year that it intended creating the TV show, the software and service boss of the company, Eddy Cue had mentioned that Apple was not moving wholesale in the production of innovative content.

 He had informed the New York Times in March that this does not mean that they would go into a huge amount of movie production or TV production or anything like that. But last year, rumours have been doing the rounds that Apple has been discovering the notion of pursuing an original content division and had been in talks with various leading television companies regarding launching an internet-based TV service.

Planet of the App – Accepting Online Applications

There is a possibility that the achievement of the forthcoming show would regulate the extent of the potential venture into original content of Apple. Casting call for the show `Planet of the App’ would be accepting online applications till August 26 together with filming set to take place somewhere next year. As per the show’s website, contestants would be receiving `hand-on guidance from some of the most influential experts in the tech community, featured placement on the App store.

The winners probably will get mentorship from tech and entertainment experts and those who would be chosen for the final round would get an opportunity to meet with top-tier VCs investing around $10m over the course of the season. The show is said to be shot in Los Angeles and is planned to be released in 2017.

Apple Gets Patent for Wrap Around iPhone Screen

Apple’s Patent for 360-Degree Screen

Apple has been granted a patent recently for a 360 degree screen which would be putting a display on all sides of the iPhone, front/back and slide. The back of the iPhone of Apple would now become a thing of the past due to a wraparound display screen. The application states that `the wraparound display considerably tends to increase the available display area which can be utilised for display of icons, data, video, images and such’. The application of Apple states that the360-degree screen would enable customers to play video games or watch videos which could be played on both ends of the phone.

Moreover it would also display a still photo which could appear in a continuous circle around the iPhone. All the switches which are presently found towards the side of the iPhone would be computer-generated instead of physical buttons as per the patent application. The switches namely the volume control can be extended in size. Details pertaining to the actual plans in incorporating this feature into an upcoming version of an iPhone have not been disclosed in the patent application. Often patent have been approved for inventions which are not brought to the market by the patent holder for motives like the cost of new device or issues in getting it to function in the real world.

One of Multiple Continuations of Original Filing

Apple was seen last month getting inventive with screen settlement in its patent filings with some wild as well as wacky iPad setups. In April of last year and just published, a new patent filed describes a system of building a `portable electronic device with a wraparound display’ which seems silly as well as amazing in alike measure. Though the `new’ is a relative term in patents and Apple had first filed this concept way back in 2011, it was granted in 2014.

This is said to be one of multiple `continuations’ of the original filing. From the contents of the patent, it seems that Apple is not patenting any definite screen technology but instead a manufacturing process which tends to stick a flexible OLED display beneath a seamless piece of glass which wraps all the way around the device. The glass could be opaque in some areas in order to conceal any unsightly seams in the display.

Removable End Cap

Since OLED displays tend to lit up per pixel, any sections of the screen which are hidden by the opaque glass would not be wasting power. There is no example of where a rear facing camera could be on a device, in the drawings, probably under the glass in the back. However one of the possibilities could be of a `removable end cap’ which could be swapped for other modules.

 There are various examples of phone with secondary display towards the back and apparently the clear analog here seems to be Samsung’s Galaxy Edge phone that wrap the screen over the sides. The traditional disclaimer here states that Apple patents plenty of stuff which eventually ends up in a product.

Hackers Can Silently Control Siri from 16 Feet Away

Radio Waves – Silently Trigger Voice Commands

A group of French researcher have observed that though Siri may be your personal assistant, it also listens to other voices and obeys the orders of any hacker who tend to talk to her and in some cases, which silently transmit commands through radio as far as 16 feet distance.

A pair of researches at the ANSSI, which is a French government agency dedicated to information security have revealed that with the use of radio waves it could silently trigger voice commands on any Android phone or iPhone having Google Now or Siri enabled with a pair of headphones together with microphone plugged into its jack.

They cleverly hack those headphones’ cord as an antenna, manipulating its wire to convert secret electromagnetic waves into electrical signals which tend to appear on the operating system of the phone to be audio coming from the user’s microphone.

Without conversing, the hacker can utilise that radio attack to tell Siri or Google Now to make calls and send texts, dial the hacker’s number in turning the phone into an eavesdropping device, send spam and phishing messages through email, Facebook or Twitter and send the phone’s browser to a malware site.

Electromagnetic Waves – Laptop Running Open-Source Software GNU Radio

The two French researchers, Jose Lopes Esteves and Chaouki Kasmi have written in a paper published by the IEEE, that the possibility of inducing parasitic signals on the audio front-end-of-voice-command-capable devices could give rise to critical security impacts.

 Or as Vincent Strubel, director of their research group at ANSSI puts it in a simple manner that the sky is the limit here and everything that one can do through the voice interface, can be done remotely and discreetly through electromagnetic waves.

The work of the researchers which was at first presented at the Hack in Paris conference in summer, though received little notice outside a few French websites, utilizes a relatively simple collection of equipment.It tends to produce its electromagnetic waves with a laptop that runs the open-source software GNU Radio, a USRP software defined radio, an amplifier and an antenna.

Minimum Form – Fit in a Backpack/Powerful Form – Fit in Car, Van

According to the researchers, in its minimum form, it could fit in a backpack and their setup has a range of about six and a half feet while in a powerful form which tends to require huge batteries and could only basically fit in a car or van, the researchers state that they could extend the attack’s range to over 16 feet.

The researcher’s silent voice command hack however have some serious limitations and it can only work on phones which have microphones enabled headphones or ear buds plugged into them. Several of the Android phones do not tend to have Google Now enabled from their lockscreen or have it set only to respond to commands when it recognizes the voice of the user.

 iPhones tend to have Siri enabled from the lockscreen through default; however the new version of Siri for iPhone 6s validates the voice of the owner as Google Now does. The other limitation is that attentive users would be likely to see that the phone has been receiving mysterious voice command and cancel them before the activity has been completed.

Without the features of security, Kasmi and Esteves suggest that any smartphone’s voice features can represent security responsibility, either from an attacker with the phone in hand or that which is hidden in the next room.

iPhone 6S Plus Review

iPhone 6S Plus offers better screen, robust performance, longer battery life and an awesome camera but it does have its own shortcomings.

No new improvements in looks and designs

It is very difficult for the users to spot the difference between the two models i.e. 2014 iPhone 6 Plus and latest iPhone 6S Plus. Apple has introduced a new color scheme for the iPhones this year which is ‘Rose Gold’ and it is not available for the last year’s model. If any user possesses this color then he will be able to make the difference otherwise both the phones are undistinguishable from each other. However latest iPhone 6S has a small ‘S’ stamped right at the back cover, happens to be just 0.2 mm thicker and 20 g heavier than last year’s variant.

iPhone 6S Plus is a phablet device which comes with 5.5 inch display at a resolution 1080p along with pressure sensitive touch feature. It has a pixel density of 401 pixels but seems almost similar to the last year’s model.

iPhone 6S Plus offers a splendid performance

iPhone 6S Plus is christened with new Apple’s dual core A9 processor which offers splendid performance. It is loaded with a GB RAM which makes it faster than other iPhone models as they run on A8 processor. Moving from one app to another, multitasking and playing or running system intensive apps is quite great but not as smooth as found on the Android devices with similar specifications.

One thing worth mentioning is that this iPhone remains throughout the software and hardware intensive usage which is a delight for the iPhone users. Battery life as expected is pathetic on this device which fails to offer a full day usage without the need of pluging in the charger. Phone’s battery happens to drain quite steeply when browsing the web but the stand by time has been improved considerably.

Apple’s new iOS 9

Apple has unveiled its new iOS 9 along with bundling with iPhone 6S Plus and updates has been released to bring it on the all the iPhones. This OS is more responsive on the iPhone 6S Plus and comes loaded with a number of iOS 9 features like ever on Siri and minor changes in the user interface. It is quite tricky to make Siri understand your voice pattern and it will require a really quite place to do so.

More features makes iPhone 6S Plus more adorable

3D touch will take a little time to get accustomed to and this feature offers an opportunity to perform various tasks without really opening a number of apps. Touch ID sensor will allow you to add another layer of security to the phone wherein you can lock and unlock your device by simply pressing your thumb on the home button.

Apple has just provided users with a 12 megapixel but it is as good as any other camera even better in some instance. iPhone 6S Plus boasts of the 4k video recording capability but it is extremely memory consuming as a one minute video can take up-to 300 mb of space.

Parallels Can Help You Put Windows on Your Apple Mac

Loved Windows and wish if someone can bring it in your Mac laptop? Now there is a company, which is listening to your wishes, and it has brought brand new software, which will offer such exquisite features. Parallels had recently announced its new version of software, which can effectively bring the most loved features of the Windows 10 Os on the Mac devices. This software has been named Parallels 11 and it comes loaded with the capability of running full version of Windows OS on the Mac computers without the need of any rebooting.

Features of Parallel 11

The earlier versions of the Parallels had supported the Windows 10 but this one brings a whole range of new features. Parallel 11 signature feature is the Coherence mode wherein Mac users can easily run the elements of the Windows OS alongside the Apple’s OSX. This wasn’t possible in the earlier versions and this feature is aimed at providing the best of features of both the OS on a single platform in a redefined manner.

Apple’s Siri is only limited to its range of iPhone and iPad devices and it has yet to make its appearance on the Mac series of laptops. But Microsoft had already brought its Cortana digital assistant onto the Windows laptop from along with the Windows Phone platform. Parrallel 11 best feature is the bringing of Cortana on the Mac laptops. This voice controlled assistant can be brought alive wither by going through the Windows taskbar or by just saying “Hey Cortana” on the Mac.

Cortana woks amazingly on Mac

On putting Cortana under limited test in the Mac laptop, this feature happened to work amazingly well without any glitches. Users can easily call up the Cortana and conduct searches, set reminders, check out the weather and traffic conditions as well as hearing some jokes , all of it on their Mac. As usual, the response wasn’t completely perfect as it gives on the Windows laptops but it was extremely good for most of the normal tasks.

Parallels brings huge improvement in software with new version

Parallels latest version of its software is well defined and subtle with the aim of making the task of switching between the two major computer OS i.e. Windows and OSX a breeze. Parallel 11 allows the users to see both the Windows Action Center as well as the Apple’s Notification Center at same time without any hindrance. Users will be surprise to find how well both the Os are working in coherence by just looking in the Apple dock, which will be listing out all the open Windows programs and the Windows taskbar.

Furthermore, Parallels also brought the Mac’s “Quick Look” feature, which allows users to preview by just hitting the spacebar in the Windows mode. One small feature, which is worth mentioning is that right-click on the file resulting in opening of file in Mac works well in the Windows also. Parallels 11 will be made available at a price of just $80 and it will also support the upcoming Apple’s OS called El Captain.

Samsung Looks to Get a Head Start On Apple with Its Next Jumbo Smartphone

Samsung had long been the top Smartphone maker which had the highest market coverage over the years with its flagship Galaxy S models. But Apple slowly and surely crept on and finally seized the top Smartphone coverage by sharing it with Samsung this year. Samsung is hoping to make considerable leap in the market by launching its new jumbo sized hybrid between Smartphone and tablets ahead of Apple.

Samsung is set to release the new entrant in Galaxy Note and Galaxy S flagship with Note 5 and S6 Edge Plus. Galaxy Note 5 will possess a metal black body instead of the plastic along with a hugely improved stylus. On other Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will feature a 5.7 inch screen which curves over the sides of the device.

Samsung quietly shifts the launch date

Samsung for a long time had kept introducing its Smartphone at the Berlin based IFA electronic in September but this time it’s releasing much earlier than expected. The reason for releasing the new devices ahead of schedule in its New York is attempt to counter the release of Apple’s next iPhone, which will be unveiled in early September.

The next iPhones will possess bigger screen, which is creating pressure upon Samsung to get into market earlier with its bigger devices and dominate over the market with boosting of sales. In simple words Samsung is saying its customers to look out for its devices to buy this time around. Samsung Note line will be launching ahead of the bigger screen iPhone for the first time in the market with the release of next iPhone in the September 9 event.

Apple goes the bigger way

Apple devices were usually happened to be smaller in size but great in performance. However, Apple even jumped into bigger screen by introducing new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus which took away the shine and advantage from the Samsung devices. Going with bigger screen helped Apple churning out immense sales with 47.5 million devices sold in just June quarter, which is 35% hike against the previous year stats.

With bigger screen iPhones Apple made its entry into the phablet business with pomp and success. It should be noted that 13% of Smartphone sold in US in the second quarter were devices with 5.5 inch screen or larger. Apple is on the verge of quickly dominated in the Phablet market which was once dominated by the Samsung Note and Galaxy devices.

Samsung rise up to the challenge

Samsung had made significant changes in its Note line by bringing hardware redesign to lend a more premium feel to the device and divert them from the Apple devices. Though Samsung had not much change to its Galaxy S Smartphone over the years and this time they had introduced much talked curved screen. In order to compete in the highly competitive Smartphone market it is necessary for the Samsung to create buzz among the consumers and get them excited about its Smartphones, otherwise it will be extremely tough to challenge the rise of other Smartphone maker and most importantly Apple.

Watch Out for These Serious Mac Attacks

Apple’s esteemed line of Mac devices are about to go through troubled times with the emergence of new age advanced bugs and glaring loopholes in Apple’s operating system. Security researchers had unearthed a new kind of vulnerability in the Mac devices, which allows the hackers install devious ad-wares like VSearch without even requiring the password. VSearch is a notorious malware, which infects the Mac devices with numerous pop-up ads and redirects the users to different search engine whenever they try to use Google.

VSearch bug reported earlier by vigilant security researcher

A German security researcher named Stefan Esser had made this bug public earlier this week. It should be noted that the generally accepted protocol is to inform Apple about the new bug discoveries not to disclose it to the public and cause a furor. Some of the hackers had already taken advantage of this bug found by the German researcher. They had actively used this newfound vulnerability to attack Macs devices as said by a security company named MalwareBytes in their blogpost.

How this bug works and how it can be neutralized?

This bug is designed to effectively take advantage of the Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) features that determines which programs are allowed to make changes on the computer without the need of password. Yosemite makes a list of those programs and keeps it hidden in a file named Sudoers. However, this bug allows the malware to get listed in the Sudoers file which simply means that the malware gets the capability to install any in any part of the OS without users approval via password.

Esser had provided a fix to solve this malware issue. It should also be noted that next patch for the Yosemite will include the bug fix because even Apple about this vulnerability for a while.

Another deadly bug, which take over the control of Mac device

Another group of security researchers had found a more threatening bug, which has the ability to take permanent control of the Mac device. Users can effectively get rid of most vicious malwares by reinstalling the operating system but this new vulnerability in Mac devices turn the game away from the users. Using this particular vulnerability hacker can easily install the malware directly in the computer’s firmware, which is responsible for booting up the computer.

A team of researchers had developed this worm and named it Thunderstrike 2 which can easily take the advantage of this security flaw in Mac deices.

This worm can be installed on the computer just like any other malware where people happen to click on wrong links or fails to the ploy of phishing scam. Once installed this malware takes a nastier turn and keeps looking for the devices connected to Mac in order to load them with worm. Other users when uses the same infected Ethernet adapter happens to get their Mac devices infected too. This bug has not been fixed till now by the Apple.

Apple Obtains Touch ID-Related Patents From Biometric Security Firm Privaris

Apple Procures TouchID Patents from Privaris 

As reported by David Goldman to CNN, Apple has been trying to procure the property assets of Privaris, a Charlottesville, Virginia based biometric security firm. It is probably more likely that Privaris has gone out of business and Apple has obtained the company’s patent portfolio together with other property though the possibility of an acquisition cannot be ruled out entirely.

Privaris mainly makes tiny fingerprint readers which are attached to key chain. Several of the patents of Privaris portfolio are made up of fingerprint and touchscreen technology for the purpose of transaction, control machine and to back up personal data. It was reported that Privaris had recently transferred 26 of its 31 patents to the iPhone maker, inclusive of the 4 patents in December 2012 together with a dozen more in October 2014. The patents are mainly connected to fingerprint and touchscreen technology which could lead to Touch ID enhancement on the future devices.


Updated Touch ID with Reduced Errors

KGI Securities’, well known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in February last, had informed investors that the next iPhone would be having updated Touch ID with reduced errors. For instance, one of the patents of Privaris shields the ability of using a touchscreen and fingerprint reader simultaneously while another invention enables the user to open a door with the iPhone on scanning the fingerprint and holding the phone up to a reader just the way one would pay for items with Apple Pay.

Although the transfer of patents have created achievement rumours, the website of Privaris has not been updated since 2010 and none of the company’s senior officials or employees seem to have updated their LinkedIn profiles with status at Apple.It has been reported that Privaris had raised $29 million in funding, had developed a line-up of PlusID personal biometric devices in order to access computers, websites, networks, software, VPNs, online apps and secured printers. Its products serve as a device to unlock office door and can add to security for an RSA SecureID token before logging into a computer.

Products & Services – Access Control System

Besides this, the company had also provided other products as well as services connected to access control systems, biometric computer security, fingerprint authentication, biometric security software together with access cards, technologies of which fall within the margin of Touch ID. Mikhail Avandy, founder of SmartUp, a company which offers legal advice to startups had commented that they have found Apple’s next acquisition while Goldman reports that Avady who had first discovered that Privaris’ patents had been transferred to Apple had observed that none of Privaris founders had changed their LinkeIn profiles to Apple, presuming that the deal could not have been completed.

Privaris also had some patents which could make the iPhone’s TouchID sensor quite useful. However, it is not clear about Apple’s purpose with the technology. Apple purchases licenses and patents a lot of intellectual property which it never utilises. No comments have been made by Apple and Privaris in this regard. The company has also sold in August 2012, 4 smart card patents to 1PerfecId and has held only one patent of its original 31.