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Apple is more than just the iPhone manufacturer. This $2 trillion company's decisions impact many facets of technology, financials, and everyday life. When the company is rumored to be getting into something new, the entire world pays attention. And since 1997, AppleInsider has been covering this fascinating electronics maker from every possible angle. From details of the next-generation iPhone and MacBook to key indicators expected to drive the company’s stock price, AppleInsider Daily has you completely covered on a daily basis.
Welcome to the AppleInsider Daily podcast for Thursday, February 8th, 20-24. I'm Charles Martin, and we begin today with ... problems!
On Thursday, the company LogMeIn, which makes the LastPass password manager, reported that a fake version of the app was appearing in the Apple App Store with the same name, but under the name “Parvati Patel.” The fake app is mimicking the real LastPass’ branding and user interface, and could conceivably be a tool for later phishing attempts. The real LastPass team also reached out to Apple, and the app now appears to have been removed.
In another snafu situation, Apple recently thanked a security researcher for their help in identifying a vulnerability — days after that same researcher was indicted for exploiting another vulnerability to defraud Apple out of merchandise, gift cards, and services.
Noah Roskin-Frazee, who worked with ZeroClick Labs, has been credited for finding other software vulnerabilities. However, once he found a vulnerability in a backend system Apple uses to place orders on hold, he and a co-conspirator used a password reset tool to gain access to an Apple contractor employee’s account, and used it to order and steal some $2.5 million in gift cards, iPhones, and Macs.
The scheme continued successfully from December of 2018 until the following March. They were finally caught when one of the pair extended the AppleCare on one of the stolen products, revealing their true identity.
But wait, there’s more in the way of screw-ups. Due to some bad maps data from both Apple and Google, drivers in Scotland keep trying to turn into an alley that has been closed for driving, narrowed down, and turned into a pedestrian area. The area in Edinburgh is called Greenside Lane is no longer a road at all, having had steps added.
Until just recently, though, both Apple Maps and Google Maps believed it was still a road, and would send drivers that way. Locals have taken to posting pictures of cars, vans, and even large trucks becoming stuck on the steps, because they are following the directions of their sat-nav’s, known in the US as GPS systems.
The change was actually made by the local council last November. As of February 1st, both Google and Apple Maps appear to have corrected their information. Users of the mapping systems can report errors like this one, but Apple requires infrastructure changes like permanent road closures to be reported on a Mac, rather than directly on iPhones. Users can also update business details in the same way.
And one more problem before we move on: Apple has released iOS and iPadOS 17.3.1 as well as macOS Sonoma 14.3.1, which primarily fixes a rare bug that caused periodic duplication of text.
In other tech news, Google has made its rebranded AI assistant tech, now called Gemini, available on the iPhone as an app. The technology, formerly called Bard, comes in two flavours: Gemini, for everyday needs, and Gemini Advanced, a paid version which will cost $20 per month.
Google plans to incorporate the basic version of Gemini into GMail, Google Docs and other of its app offerings in the future. The technology is English-only at the moment, but available in more than 150 countries, and if you want to try it out, just update or download the iOS Google app — but be aware of Google’s quote privacy unquote policies when using this or any other Google service.
Speaking of Google, it and Apple, Microsoft, Meta and other Big Tech companies have joined a new consortium mandated by the Biden administration to support safe development of so-called Artificial Intelligence. According to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the AI Safety Institute Consortium, or A-SICK, has two goals: to set safety standards, and to protect the US’ innovation ecosystem.
Some 200 companies working in this field are part of the consortium, but the other big names include Amazon, AMD, Cisco, HP, IBM, Intel, Northrop Grumman, Nvidia, Palantir, and Qualcomm.
In rumour news, let’s talk this fall’s iPhone 16. The newest speculation originated from the sometimes-accurate but highly unreliable May-gin Boo, posting on XTwitter, who suggests that the forthcoming iPhone will get a new, thinner camera bump reminiscent of the iPhone X’s pill-shaped bump.
This could be in line with speculation that all models of the iPhone 16 will be able to shoot spatial video by having at two of the cameras work together alongside the LIDAR depth information to produce 3D video. AppleInsider rates this report as “possible.”
Speaking of “possible,” another rumour rated the same way by AppleInsider claims that the iPhone 16 Pro will get a Capture Button next to an Action Button, dedicated to taking pictures as one can now using the upper volume button — but this new version will also act as an auto-focus button as well. Users would gently press the capture button to auto-focus, then press it fully to take the picture.
In Apple Vision Pro news, the forthcoming update visionOS 1.1 is shaping up to be a significant release, with various safety features and now mobile device management being included, making the headset even more attractive to IT departments. Features promised in the MDM rollout include single sing-on support, identity management, managed Apple IDs, and other security features.
Apple’s Steve Sinclair believes that enterprise use will be a large part of the overall Vision Pro market, and consequently companies like Jamf see many opportunities for businesses and enterprises to make even more use of the Apple Vision Pro than your typical consumer.
But it’s not all smooth sailing for the new device. Apple is selling developers a USB-C dongle to connect the Apple Vision Pro to a Mac, but developer Dimitri Boon-nawl discovered that in fact this $300 accessory was limited to USB 2.0 speeds.
The strap is used by developers to directly connect to a Mac in order to, in Apple’s words, help accelerate the development of graphics-intensive apps and games. Some feedback, and perhaps a more useful revision of this developer-only product, will likely happy in June at the WWDC conference.
Finally for today, a word of advice: don’t try to jump the gun by bringing an Apple Vision Pro into another country … at least not yet. In addition to paying an import tax if you bring the headset into a non-US country, you could also get hit with fees, fines, and even the confiscation of the device.
Customs officials in Berlin report that so far, eight people have been stopped trying to bring Apple Vision Pros into Germany. Although individuals can declare their own person Vision Pro on arrival, businesses must declare the products in advance. If they fail to do this, they risk both confiscation of the device and the possibility of criminal tax proceedings, at least in Germany.
And if you think you’ll get around the problem by mailing it to yourself, think again. On top of the risk of it getting quote lost unquote or stolen, the post office can also impose fines and fees on illegally shipped goods. On top of the other costs involved, in Germany you’re also responsible for a 19 percent value added tax, or VAT, on the retail price of the Vision Pro converted into local currency.
You can hear more news and analysis from AppleInsider on the WEEKLY AppleInsider podcast that’s out every Friday, as well as our HomeKitInsider podcast that's out every Monday -- links to both shows are in the notes for this one.
If you would like to support the AppleInsider Daily podcast, we are now accepting sponsorships. Contact information can be found in the show notes.
I've been Charles Martin, and THIS has been the AppleInsider Daily podcast for Thursday, February 8th, 20-24. Thank you for listening.